Packing Sheets On-edge Into Receiver Patents (Class 271/181)
  • Patent number: 5290025
    Abstract: A device for discharging flat objects into a receptacle, especially pieces of mail or letters at the output of a sorting machine in which the letters are routed vertically disposed in pockets and are released above the said device, wherein the device comprises:a flat main guide surface inclined at an angle relative to the vertical plane and down which the flat object at the output of the pocket falls under gravity,a deflecting and retaining plate downstream of the main surface, anda receptacle inclined at an angle relative to the horizontal plane,the plate being movable from an initial position in which its lower edge is parallel to and close to the base of the lowermost wall of the receptacle, to an end position in which it is near to the uppermost wall of the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale D'Automatisme CGA-HBS
    Inventors: Christian Plent, Bernard Constant, Michel Divoux, Jacky Gregoire
  • Patent number: 5288066
    Abstract: An apparatus for automatically loading currency notes (11) into a currency cassette (12) includes first endless belt feeder (54, 56) for feeding notes (11) to an entry nip of second endless belt feeder (76, 78). Each note (11) fed to the second feeder (76, 78) passes over part of the periphery of a pulley (74) associated with the second feeder (76, 78), whereby, when the trailing portion of the note (11) moves out of engagement with the first feeder (54), this portion is deflected away from the feed path defined by the first feeder (54, 56). The second feeder (76, 78) is driven in an intermittent manner, so that notes are fed by the second feeder (76, 78) in overlapping manner into the open top of the cassette (12). Pusher arms project into an open end of the cassette and are periodically operated so as to push notes already present in the cassette (12) into the interior thereof away from said end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1994
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventor: David A. Hain
  • Patent number: 5255904
    Abstract: A feeder of an image forming apparatus which includes a storing device for storing a stack of recording mediums and an endless belt to be used in the conveyance of a recording medium to an image forming section of the apparatus. A speed control device is provided for varying the speed of the endless belt driven by a driving device when a portion of the endless belt passes the storing device. Also provided are a plurality of pickup rollers which are disposed adjacent to the endless belt in correspondence with each respective storage device for moving the endless belt into engagement with a foremost recording medium in the storing device in order to convey the recording medium to the image forming section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazushige Taguchi, Hiroshi Takahashi, Kazunori Bannai, Tetsuya Fujioka, Fumio Kishi
  • Patent number: 5251738
    Abstract: A currency handling system comprises a stand alone apparatus that includes a currency acceptor, a currency stacker with a separate, removable currency cassette and a coin feeding device. The currency acceptor is mounted on the inside of a hinged door to allow easy access for maintenance. The currency acceptor is positioned in operable relationship to the currency stacker so that currency exiting the currency acceptor feeds directly into stacking position. A currency positioning plate is connected to a drive motor and the currency is pushed by the positioning plate into the currency cassette mounted in the currency stacker. The currency cassette is a separate removable component that includes a biasing element. When the currency cassette is full and this condition is detected by the sensors, the currency cassette is simply replaced in toto, and an empty currency cassette is inserted into the currency stacker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: Sevens Unlimited, Inc.
    Inventor: Stanley P. Dabrowski
  • Patent number: 5224693
    Abstract: A multistage paper feeding/conveying apparatus has a plurality of recording paper storing devices vertically arranged at multiple stages; a paper feeder for feeding a sheet of recording paper one by one from arbitrary one of the recording paper storing devices; and a vertical conveyer vertically extending and opposed to a paper feeding side of each of the recording paper storing devices. The vertical conveyer conveys the sheet of recording paper fed from the paper feeder to a paper receiving section of an image forming apparatus. The paper feeder has a single paper feeding unit which can selectively come in contact with a front end portion of an uppermost sheet of recording paper on an upper face thereof with respect to sheets of recording paper stored within the plural recording paper storing devices. The paper feeding unit and the vertical conveyer have a single endless conveying belt and a device for forming an electric charge pattern for adsorbing the sheet of recording paper to the endless belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazushige Taguchi, Hiroshi Takahashi, Kazunori Bannai, Tetsuya Fujioka, Fumio Kishi
  • Patent number: 5209395
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a lockable, removable cassette for attachment to a bill validator is disclosed. The cassette is removed from a bill validator by service personnel and transported to a central office, where an authorized person unlocks a hinged door with a separate key to remove stored bills. A lever is turned to a predetermined position which unlocks the cassette from the bill validator, and locks a pusher plate to prevent unauthorized bill removal. The lever is prevented from being turned clockwise and from further rotation past the predetermined position. When the hinged door of the secured cassette is opened by authorized personnel, the lever is released from its locked position arming the cassette. The emptied cassette can now be returned to the service person who can now reconnect it to a bill validator by further rotating the lever, which locks the cassette in place and unlocks the pusher plate to prepare the cassette to receive bills accepted by the validator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Assignee: Mars Incorporated
    Inventors: John Zouzoulas, Raymond D. Regan, Robert Clauser
  • Patent number: 5205702
    Abstract: Apparatus for introducing rolled steel into the entrance of a processing machine such as a cold shear or straightening machine including a roller path for carrying the steel sections at a speed of transport in a direction of transport toward one of the shear and straightening machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1993
    Assignee: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Karlheinz Varwig
  • Patent number: 5195739
    Abstract: An apparatus for preventing a bill from being pulled out. The apparatus includes a hang preventing mechanism which has a tongue for preventing a bill from hanging from a bill accumulating box into a bill passage. The bill is conveyed through the bill passage to the bill accumulating box. The hang preventing mechanism is pivotally supported and is spring biased by a biasing mechanism for holding the tongue to prevent a bill, received in the bill accumulating box, from hanging from the bill accumulating box while the tongue is allowed to turn by a bill which passes through the bill passage for entering the bill accumulating box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: Nippon Conlux Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Watabe
  • Patent number: 5176374
    Abstract: A device incorporated in image forming equipment for transporting a paper sheet fed from any one of a plurality of vertically spaced paper feeding sections along a vertically extending common transport path. The common transport path is defined by an endless dielectric belt whose volume resistivity is selected to be 10.sup.8 to 10.sup.13 .OMEGA..multidot.cm. The belt transports a paper sheet upward while attracting it electrostatically thereon. A charging section implemented with a corona discharger and a counter electrode that face each other with the intermediary of the belt is located at each position where a path extending out from a particular paper feeding section merges into the common transport path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1993
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuru Yamada
  • Patent number: 5154409
    Abstract: A film storage device for storing films fed by a feed system in a magazine includes a pressing mechanism, angularly displaced with respect to a direction in which a film is fed, for pressing the film into the magazine, a film feeder coupled to the pressing mechanism and angularly movable for forcibly delivering the film into the magazine along the direction, and a drive mechanism for moving the pressing means into the magazine. The film storage device also has a system for storing and displaying the number of films stored in the magazine, and also for detecting a mismatch between the types of the cassette and the magazine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiko Kondoh
  • Patent number: 5131645
    Abstract: A sweeper assembly for use in a document conveyor system having belt conveyor means operative to convey generally flat documents in upstanding on-edge relation to a stacker station. The sweeper assembly includes feed augers adapted to receive the lower edges of documents from the stacker station and move the lower edges of the documents into conveyor belt means operative to convey the documents to accelerator rollers which accelerate movement of the documents into a container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1992
    Assignee: Bell & Howell Company
    Inventor: Mario Ricciardi
  • Patent number: 5119954
    Abstract: A mail document sorting device includes a document input feeder, and at least one singulation device for orienting and singulating the documents so that indicia on their faces can be disposed at a predetermined level about a data reference plane. Single documents pass to an indicia reader, which generates indicia indicating signals. An electronic/computer mechanism processes the indicating signals, and provides for sorting the read documents into bins. A plurality of the bins is located in side-by-side horizontal array, with an elongated belt disposed along the array of bins for moving documents received therefrom. The elongated belt has an inboard edge adjacent the array of bins and an outboard edge remote from the array of bins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1992
    Assignee: Bell & Howell Company
    Inventors: Eduard M. Svyatsky, George Paroubek, Frederick P. Hegland
  • Patent number: 5112042
    Abstract: A document transfer system for receiving a cluster of stacked documents within the first end of an output holder and, by using movable partitions, advancing the clusters to the second end of the output holder, thereby permitting a next document cluster to be received within the output holder at the first end. A document cluster at the second end of the output holder is then, using extendable and retractable gates, transferred from the output holder to a separate holder for further processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1992
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: David J. Tilles, Stanley K. Wakamiya, Bruce A. Krein, Dale H. Brown, Sharon A. Duggan, Mark S. Schroeder
  • Patent number: 5104114
    Abstract: A device for stacking flat objects directly into a container. The container includes a movable bottom which constitutes the stack bottom during a stacking process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1992
    Assignee: Licentia Patent-Verwaltungs-GmbH
    Inventor: Hanno Gillmann
  • Patent number: 5083761
    Abstract: A sheet storing apparatus wherein sheets ejected from a copying machine one after another are stacked in order, and the sheets are supplied to the copying machine again. The apparatus comprises a sheet storing unit wherein sheets are stored, a transporter for transporting sheets to the storing unit, a regulator for preventing sheets supported by a sheet support surface of the storing unit from moving back toward the entrance thereof, a pressure member for pressing each sheet transported to the unit against the support surface and a refeeder for feeding out the stored sheets one by one. Each time a sheet is transported to the unit, the pressure member presses the sheet, whereby the end of the sheet passes through the regulator to be put between the support surface and the regulator. Also, in feeding sheets out of the unit, the pressure member presses the sheet stack against the refeeder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1992
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Johdai, Keichi Kinoshita, Toshio Matsui, Takeshi Yoshikai, Tadashi Maruyama, Kazuhito Ozawa, Hiroki Yamashita
  • Patent number: 5082273
    Abstract: A slip storing apparatus for storing slips successively issued by a slip issuing machine. The slip storing apparatus comprises: a conveying mechanism for conveying slips issued by the slip issuing machine in one direction, and a slip storing unit having a slip support surface for supporting slips at their lower edges, declined to the rear at an angle to a horizontal plane, and a movable slip holding member having a slip holding surface substantially perpendicular to the slip support surface and supported for movement along a plane including the slip support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1992
    Assignee: Tokyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuji Matsumoto, Mitsuo Uchimura, Tsugio Shiozaki, Osamu Koizumi, Ikuzo Sugiura, Yoshihiko Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 5064185
    Abstract: An envelope processing system (20) includes an input transport section (22); a processing/transport section (24); and a discharge transport section (28). Envelopes are fed on-edge from the input transport section to the processing/transport section (24) by a feeder section (40) comprising a feeder (72) and a feed assist device (80). When a signal controller (190) monitoring the feeder (72) detects a significant delay between the feeding of envelopes, the feeder (72) is enabled to acquire greater contact with the next envelope by displacing the feed assist device (80) out of its normally biased co-planar position with a feed belt (130) of the feeder (72), resulting in a greater force vector on the next envelope in the direction toward a singulation region (73). A stacker section (38) comprising the discharge conveyance section (28) includes introductory conveying device (302), stacker conveying device (304), and a discharge magazine (300).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1991
    Assignee: Bell & Howell Phillipsburg Company
    Inventor: Mario Ricciardi
  • Patent number: 5060924
    Abstract: This invention relates to a device for picking up one piece of cloth (1) from a stack (2) of cloth pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: Cimcorp Oy
    Inventors: Pentti Airaksinen, Jarmo Pohjolainen, Matti Miettinen, Seppo Varjus, Reijo Leppaniemi
  • Patent number: 5056432
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a printer with a sheet feeding apparatus having a printer body incorporating a printing mechanism for printing onto continuous forms. A cutter is provided close to a continuous forms discharging port on the printer case. Following the cutter downstream, there is provided a sheet feeding belt that rotates at a rate higher than the feed rate of the continuous forms. Along the belt, there are provided a sheet traversing section, a sheet direction changing section, a sheet pushing section and a sheet stacker, in that order from upstream to downstream. The sheet traversing section seizes and feeds horizontally each sheet cut by the cutter. The sheet direction changing section perpendicularly changes the feed direction of each cut sheet. The sheet pushing section pushes each sheet onto the sheet stacker where an orderly stack of sheets is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1991
    Assignee: Tokyo Electric Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuaki Sugimoto, Tomio Nishijima, Teruhisa Inoue, Yoshihiko Sugimoto, Masashi Suzuki, Izumi Matsushita
  • Patent number: 5018939
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating piled iron sheets one by one has a plurality of magnets arranged vertically with the same magnetic poles thereof facing each other. Magnetic fluxes generated from the magnets react with each other at a position between the magnets and flow horizontally and then vertically, with the result that opposite, vertically separating forces act on two superposed iron sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1991
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Sanmei Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomomi Kishi, Kanshi Nonami, Masahiko Takeuchi, Naoyuki Yoshitani, Hideo Niwa
  • Patent number: 5009332
    Abstract: A card output hopper apparatus (20) receives cards (82) and delivers them to a preselected card tray (42). The output hopper rotatable deflector (52). The deflector (52) is situated in a recieving position to deflect a delivered card (82) toward a card tray (42). The deflector (52) rotates as the card is delivered to drive the card past a retainer (64) and onto a card stack in the card tray (42). The deflector (52) is also rotatable to a receiving position to deflect the card toward an opposing card tray (44).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1991
    Assignee: Datacard Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin H. Sannel, Steven A. Miller, Robert A. Sells
  • Patent number: 5003325
    Abstract: An electric field paper stabilizing system for an electrographic plotter, printer, or the like includes a continuous transport belt for passing a recording medium in substantially a complete revolution past a writing head. The belt is conductive or has a conductive surface conformably coated with a minimally thin dielectric material of high dielectric strength and permittivity. A recording medium such as electrostatic writing paper has a conductive surface adjacent the dielectric coating on the conductive transport belt. Electrode means are provided in the dielectric coating for holding the paper at ground potential. A differential potential is applied between the back side of the paper and the conductive transport belt whereby the paper and belt function as parallel conductive plates of a capacitor. The electric field developed between the conductive paper and the belt provides a strong hold down force which immovably registers the paper to the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1991
    Assignee: Rastergraphics, Inc.
    Inventor: Andreas Bibl
  • Patent number: 4997176
    Abstract: A despository apparatus for stacking envelopes in a container (24) includes a transport (16) for conveying an envelope (122') from an entry slot (22) of the apparatus into a receiving zone of the container (24), the receiving zone being separated from a storage zone of the container (24) by resiliently mounted flaps which in operation permit one-way passage of an envelope from the receiving zone into the storage zone. A pusher block (146) is arranged to push an envelope in the receiving zone past the flaps and into the storage zone against the pressure exerted by a block of elastomeric material held in the storage zone in a somewhat compressed condition. For the purpose of simplifying the construction of the apparatus, there is employed a single bidirectional electric motor (80) for driving the transport (16) when operating in one sense, and for driving an actuator (108) for the pusher block (146) when operating in the opposite sense.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1991
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventor: David A. Hain
  • Patent number: 4974826
    Abstract: Apparatus for stacking a plurality of documents on one edge thereof in vertically disposed position which comprises a movable stacker carriage adapted for movement between a forward and a rear position. An upper stacking screw worm rotatable about a horizontal axis is rigidly attached to the movable stacker carriage and functions to move documents laterally away from the carriage and into stacked relationship. At least one lower stacking screw worm and preferably two lower stacking screw worms rotatable about horizontal axes are rigidly attached to the movable stacker carriage and function to move documents laterally away from the carriage and into stacked relationship. The upper and lower stacking screw worms are rotatable. The stacking apparatus is adapted for use with a device for delivering single documents thereto and the stacking apparatus can be used with a movable transport element such as a conveyor for transporting stacked documents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1990
    Assignee: Bell & Howell Company
    Inventors: Edward M. Svyatsky, K. George Rabindran, Kevin Beers
  • Patent number: 4951934
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for stacking flat articles, such as postal items. First guide (9), which form part of a stacker head (7) and which bound a stack of articles (2) already stacked in a stacker bed (1) in a plane of stacking (D), carry out an imposed to-and-fro pulse movement between a rest position (A) and an outermost position (C) transversely to a supply line (3) and in line and level with the stack to make stack space for a short time for an article (2.2) to be stacked, which article is entering at that moment via the supply line (3). The pulse movement can be realized by hanging the first guide (9) on the one hand by way of a first set of parallel leaf springs (17, 18) to a frame part (19, 20, 31, 32) in such a way that they can swing, and on the other hand by coupling them to the driving end (28) of drive (25, 26) carried on bearings in the frame part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1990
    Assignee: Staat der Nederlanden Staatsbedrijf der Posterijen, Telegrafie En Telefonie
    Inventor: Geert J. Prins
  • Patent number: 4949950
    Abstract: A system and method of transporting a sheet along a sheet path with electrostatic forces by applying corona charges to the sheet in pulses from high voltage corona generating electrodes in plural arrays extending along at least one side of the sheet path and subjecting the charged sheet to an electrical field pattern, defined by unevenly opposing electrodes spaced on the opposite side of the sheet path to provide an electrostatic force component acting on the charged sheet to move the sheet along the sheet path. The unevenly opposing electrodes may include grounded electrodes adjacent the downstream end of each array and commonly biased electrodes adjacent the upstream end of each array. Three different embodiments are illustrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1990
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph F. Stephany
  • Patent number: 4940219
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming a stack of flat objects such as letters on a support is disclosed. A conveyor moves flat objects to the support. A stacking apparatus moves the flat objects onto the support into abutment against a jogging wall of the support. The conveyor and stacking apparatus are supported on a table which is movable relative to the support and stack. The stacking apparatus extends between the conveyor and jogging wall and includes an end having an axis about which the stacking apparatus is pivoted so as to be displaceable towards and away from the end of the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1990
    Assignee: Bertin & Cie
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Volat
  • Patent number: 4940223
    Abstract: In an apparatus for receiving generally rectangular individual sheets and for storing the same in a container (14) in orderly condition, which container is arranged in a housing and has a throughput opening (34) connected with an input opening of the housing by a transport belt (18) for serially transporting the individual sheets, the throughput opening in at least the direction of one edge of the sheets is smaller than the corresponding measurement of the sheets. At the end of the transport belt (18, 24) a stacking apparatus (22) is arranged in front of the throughput opening and includes a stack support surface (30) for forming a stack of sheets, the sheets being arranged upright on the stack support surface (30) and parallel to the throughput opening (34). For inserting the sheets in the container (14) a pusher (48) is provided which is shiftable in the direction toward throughput opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1990
    Assignee: Nixdorf Computer AG
    Inventors: Peter Weigel, Guenter Holland-Letz
  • Patent number: 4887808
    Abstract: An improved compact bill acceptor having a frame provided with transport means for carrying a bill inserted therein along a path from an inlet to the space between a ram and the front opening of a bill box carried by the frame and a compound slide connected between the frame and the ram for reciprocating the ram to drive a positioned bill into the bill box. Preferably the bill box has open sides closed by side panels pivotally mounted on the frame to permit the box to be unloaded through one of the sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1989
    Assignee: Rowe International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald A. Dekker, Lawrence Zandstra
  • Patent number: 4864461
    Abstract: A machine unit provided with an electrostatic retention means disposed at a desired position. The electrostatic retention means includes a pair of electrodes, an attraction member associated with the pair of electrodes and in which static electricity is induced so as to generate an electrostatic attraction force which attracts and retains an object, and a power source circuit for supplying positive and negative charges to the pair of electrodes while sequentially and alternately changing the polarity thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Abisare
    Inventor: Keiji Kasahara
  • Patent number: 4858744
    Abstract: A vertical slot-type currency validator has a note path which includes pressure elements for urging the bill into proper registration with a magnetic reading head within the path. The slot acceptor further includes an optical interrupt and restricting tab which is operative to indicate a bill has actually been stacked while preventing unauthorized attempts at removal of the bill. Further, a sensor is provided at the top of the note path to assure that the note has actually reached the full end of the path and is properly aligned for punching into the stack. A pair of side rails are provided for vertical transport of the bill, such side rails being slightly angled inwardly toward the center of the note path and including ball rollers which facilitate movement of the bill in any direction, and particularly into a stack under control of a punch. The punch includes a rubberized pad overlaying a rigid back plate for efficiently removing the bills for the rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Assignee: Ardac, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony H. Dolejs, Henry M. Stopar, Patrick Swetel
  • Patent number: 4856769
    Abstract: A conveyor surface composed of a single belt, a plurality of belts or of other structures such as a plurality of panels or other moving surface, or a fixed surface over which sheets of non-conductive material as paper or textiles can be caused to travel or can slide. The surface is composed of two sets of areas, intermingled in one of several ways, the two sets of areas being of material of opposite electrostatic properties (spaced apart on the triboelectric scale) so that when a sheet is conveyed the two sets of areas develop opposite electrostatic reaction to the sheet to give an overall zero or near-zero electrostatic resultant force on the sheet or other item being conveyed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1989
    Assignee: Edward W. Andrew, Ltd.
    Inventors: Edward D. Andrew, Peter Hayhurst
  • Patent number: 4854570
    Abstract: A sheet feeding system comprises an interlock assembly for use with a sheet store which includes, a carriage slidably mounted in a housing. A disc shaped locking member locks the carriage in a first position relatively to the housing. A probe can be inserted into the carriage to move a spring biassed plunger out of engagement with the disc to allow the disc to move into an aperture in the probe in order to lock the probe with the carriage for movement relative to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1989
    Assignee: De La Rue Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Harvey G. Martin, Roger Pilling, Steven M. Hosking
  • Patent number: 4844446
    Abstract: A currency stacker-sorter having a movable receiver which receives a bill from a currency validator and carries the bill laterally to a position opposite the inlet of a selected one of a plurality of storage boxes, whereupon a ram mechanism is activated to place the bill into the selected storage box. The currency stacker includes a closed-loop position control system for selectively positioning the receiver mechanism at a desired location, the position control system including an optical encoder for sensing the position of the receiver mechanism relative to the inlets of the storage boxes. The ram mechanism also includes an optical encoder which allows that mechanism to complete a ram sequence in response to a single trigger pulse from the currency validator. Each storage box of the stacker-sorter includes a spring-loaded pressure plate connected to a rear portion of the box through a scissors linkage. Each compartment also includes a compartment FULL switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Assignee: Standard Change-Makers, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew G. Thie, James D. Miller
  • Patent number: 4844438
    Abstract: There is disclosed a tag stacker and tag stacking method for taking tags from an output device such as a printer and stacking them in a stack. Tags are inputted one-by-one into the stacker and are moved from a generally horizontal orientation to a generally vertical orientation in a stack. Tags are fed one-by-one into the stack in a hopper, the tags are tamped to settle them in the hopper and the stack is advanced by a conveyor as the stack builds. A side of the stack is guided by an adjustable side guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Assignee: Monarch Marking Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Mistyurik, Bruce E. Taylor, Orville C. Huggins
  • Patent number: 4815916
    Abstract: A plurality of magnetic elevator devices disposed along the sides of a vertical stack of magnetizable steel objects, such as sheets or rods, separates them and raises the uppermost one vertically. Sensing devices in a control system sense when the object reaches a transport position and actuate a transport mechanism to move to another location. Each magnetic elevator device comprises a magnetic structure (permanent magnet or electro-magnet) and a pair of elongated, vertically extending, laterally spaced apart contact rails of opposite magnetic polarity which engage the edges of the stacked objects. Each contact rail comprises a magnetic portion having a point of minimum reluctance near its top and a non-magnetic, low-friction surface portion (plastic or stainless steel) which slidably engages each object to guide it and to hold it spaced from the magnetic portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Assignee: Unico, Inc.
    Inventor: James A. Beck
  • Patent number: 4809967
    Abstract: An apparatus for stacking bank notes, including: a main body provided with a passage with a takeout portion for a bank note and a stacker box held thereon and having a master box and a receiving member inside thereof, the master box provided oppositely to the takeout portion with an opening defined between a pair of supporting members on both side thereof, the receiving member being furnished with force toward the supporting members. The apparatus further includes a forcing member movable into the master box across the passage through the opening to a position beyond the supporting members, and a pair of unfolding members protruded from both sides of the forcing member to each side at the above mentioned position at least when the forcing member is moved beyond the supporting members, whereby the bank note is force against the receiving member and then both side portions of the bank note are smoothed out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1989
    Assignee: I.M. Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroatsu Kondo
  • Patent number: 4809966
    Abstract: This bill validator accumulates bills between a pair of spaced parallel stationary members forming an entrance of a bill accumlating box and a bill compressing plate provided in the bill accumulating box. A push member is disposed in the vicinity of the entrance of the accumulating box. This push member is actuated by a reciprocating mechanism to push a bill positioned at the entrance into the accumulating box and thereby add this bill to a stack of accumulated bills. Constant springs are provided in association with the bill compressing plate. These constant springs enclose a bill accumulating space in the accumulating box with their winding shafts being pivotably connected on the accumulating box and their taken out ends being fixedly secured to the bill compressing plate. The constant springs urge the bill compressing plate to the entrance of the accumulating box with a constant pressing force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1989
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Nippon Coinco
    Inventors: Osamu Kobayashi, Hiroshi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 4807736
    Abstract: An apparatus for discriminating authenticity and denomination of paper money bills and stacking the same includes at the transfer passage through which the paper money bills are transferred in an unfolded condition guide pieces which form a pushing-in part which is adjacent the reverse face of the paper money. Sending-out elements are arranged ahead of the guide pieces. The sending-out elements are movably supported and include spaced apart moving pieces, such that when the sending-out elements turn, the moving pieces push the paper money bills into the stacker box and spread them out moving from a front portion of the transfer passage to a rear side of the guide pieces and pushing the pushing-in part while the distance between the moving pieces expands. This structure enables the apparatus to press the paper money into the stacker box and at the same time spread out the paper money.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1989
    Assignee: I.M. Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroatsu Kondo, Arihiko Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 4805894
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for stacking predetermined sheets of various intermixed sizes in a stacking location by advancement of stacking devices into that location, selectively guide further sheets past the stacking location. That guiding of further sheets past the stacking location is mechanically slaved to the advancement of the stacking devices into the stacking location. Where the stacking devices are withdrawn from the stacking location preparatory to each stacking of a predetermined sheet, the guiding of that predetermined sheet into the stacking location is mechanically slaved to such withdrawal of the stacking devices. Where the sheets are stacked against a movable wall, an unobstructed space for receiving each sheet guided to the stacking location is permanently preserved between the movable wall and the withdrawn stacking devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Assignee: TransTechnology Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew J. Scherer, Dwight G. Westover, William H. Spencer, Bayani E. Roldan
  • Patent number: 4789149
    Abstract: An apparatus which facilitates the pocketing of documents in a pocket in a business machine like a sorter. As a document is to be pocketed, it is moved along a rib structure (located on a pusher plate) which has a decelerating portion thereon to decelerate the document and to move the document against a side member in the pocket as it approaches a stop member within the pocket to thereby minimize the noise created by the first few documents entering the pocket. A second rib structure positioned near the top edge of the pusher plate engages the leading edge of a document to direct the document against a side wall in the pocket to also minimize the noise mentioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1988
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Brian E. Ray, Victoria M. Lant, Robert W. Phillips
  • Patent number: 4775277
    Abstract: The invention concerns itself with the automatic processing of metal sheets. These are placed onto pallets (6) in form of stacks (7) and are fed to a pallet storage (4) in form of a high multi-tier shelf coordinated to each production machine (1). Between the pallet storage (4) and the production machine is provided a transport device (9) movable vertically along the pallet storage, which accepts a pallet (6) with a sheet metal stack (7) or delivers an empty pallet (6). The transport device (9) contains a single-sheet feeder (11), for example in the shape of suction heads (20) which lift off the topmost sheet, place it on a sheet support table (23) and from there feed it to the production machine. So as to facilitate the disengagements of the sheets from one another, magnets (18) are so arranged that under their influence they spread the forward positions of the sheets from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1988
    Assignee: Kleindienst GmbH
    Inventor: Jan Zeleny
  • Patent number: 4772003
    Abstract: An apparatus for stacking signatures or the like includes a guide plate having a predetermined angle of inclination and a conveyor for successively loading signatures onto the upper end of the guide plate from the upper side of the latter. The foremost end of a stack of signatures which are being stacked on the guide plate is supported by a first support member which gradually lowers through a section from the signature loading position to an intermediary position, and is then supported by a second support member through a section from the intermediary position to an unloading position. The rearmost end of the stack of signatures is supported by a third support member through the entire section from the loading position to the unloading position. For this purpose, the first, second and third support members are repeatedly moved along the guide plate in relation to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1988
    Assignees: Dainihon Insatsu Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Tokyo Kikai Seisakusho
    Inventors: Yosuke Nobuta, Touri Takahashi, Junzo Nagashima, Kazuo Yoshida, Masao Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 4765607
    Abstract: An improved banknote stacker is described which provides a high level of flexibility and a high degree of stacking efficiency with a reduced level of jams and crumpled banknotes. In one embodiment the improved banknote stacker includes upper and lower housings having molded fingers and slots for interconnection with a banknote validator, banknote transport apparatus including a self adjusting belt-pulley arrangement, a prestorage compartment, a banknote pusher having a home sensing arrangement which allows it to be controlled using a simple open-loop control, and a banknote magazine for storing stacked banknotes and providing ready access to the stacked banknotes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1988
    Assignee: Mars, Incorporated
    Inventor: John Zouzoulas
  • Patent number: 4754962
    Abstract: Apparatus for handling and stacking thin flexible objects or strips, which is particularly useful for labels and may also be used for tickets, cards, etc. In the preferred embodiment shown a supply of the strips is provided by withdrawing an elongated sheet from roll stock and cutting it into strips by coacting knife drum and strip support drum apparatus. A vacuum drum picks up the strips from the strip support drum and transfers the strips to a stacking apparatus. The transfer drum has grooves formed in its periphery to receive stripping fingers extending from the stacking apparatus. The stripping fingers divert the strips from the transfer drum to a stacking position at the stacking apparatus. A magazine and strip pusher are disposed on the opposite sides of the stacking position. Side and bottom wall extensions of the magazine define the stacking position and support the strip therein. The strip pusher includes a frame positioned across from the magazine opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1988
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois Plastic Products Inc.
    Inventor: Robert F. Kontz
  • Patent number: 4743006
    Abstract: A fanner magnet assembly including a power actuated carriage and a magnet assembly mounted on the carriage for lost motion relative to the carriage and for pivotal movement relative to the carriage. The magnet assembly is moved forwardly into engagement with a side face of the associated stack of metal sheets, whereafter the forward movement of the carriage is continued as allowed by the lost motion connection between the magnet assembly and the carriage to a predetermined initial position, whereafter proximity switches function to withdraw the carriage relative to the magnet assembly to an operative position in which the desired amount of side loading is applied to the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1988
    Assignee: Tek-Matik, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Bolle, Jr., John R. Herronen, Joseph M. Wright
  • Patent number: 4722519
    Abstract: An improved banknote stacker is described which achieves reduced levels of jamming and improper stacking. A banknote is directed to a prestorage compartment using a pulley, belt and roller drive assembly. During a pusher cycle, a pusher plate drives the banknote from the prestorage compartment into a banknote storage magazine, and then the pusher plate returns to its original position. Just prior to the pusher cycle, rollers in the roller drive assembly are retracted to release the banknote. The pusher plate is specially designed to prevent banknote slippage, and it is preferably driven by the same drive mechanism which retracts the rollers to insure that a pusher cycle will follow shortly after the retraction of the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1988
    Assignee: Mars, Inc.
    Inventor: John Zouzoulas
  • Patent number: 4717144
    Abstract: An arrangement for collecting sequentially transported bank notes includes two endless belts (21, 22) and a collecting chamber (1) having a plurality of movable flaps (3, 4) spaced sequentially in the direction of transport and briefly swung out simultaneously to displace each bank note to one side of the chamber. The flaps swing when 4/5ths of an incoming bank note are located in the chamber, and may also be arranged to swing out a second time after a predetermined interval. The lower flaps (3) are smaller than but similar in configuration to the upper flaps (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1988
    Assignee: Inter Innovation AB
    Inventor: Rolf Rosengren
  • Patent number: 4678072
    Abstract: The bill device comprises a main part made of an elongated casing. A bill insertion slit is formed at an end portion of a front panel of the casing and a bill conveying passage of an L-shape is provided in the casing and communicates with the bill insertion slit for conveying a bill in the longitudinal direction. A bill discrimination device is provided in a short straight portion of the bill conveying passage nearer to the bill insertion slit and a reciprocating mechanism is provided on one side of a long straight portion of the bill conveying passage for effecting a bill accumulating operation. A bill accumulating box is provided on the other side of the long straight portion of the bill conveying passage for accumulating bills pressed toward it by the reciprocating mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1987
    Assignee: Nippon Coinco Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Kobayashi, Masaki Akagawa, Hiroshi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 4674934
    Abstract: Apparatus for accumulating rows of paper sheets which are disposed in vertical planes has two pairs of endless chain conveyors whose upper reaches advance at a relatively low speed below two sheet feeding conveyors which deposit successive sheets between the front and rear sheet confining plates of one pair of chain conveyors while the chain conveyors of the other pair advance a fully grown row at a relatively high speed below a pair of claws which lift the fully grown row and transfer it sidewise to the next processing station. The chain conveyors of the other pair then advance their sheet confining plates at the high speed to a waiting position in which their leading confining plate is located immediately behind the trailing confining plate of the chain conveyors of the one pair. The cycle is thereupon repeated except that the growing row of sheets is being accumulated between the plates of the chain conveyors of the other pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1987
    Assignee: Grapha-Holding AG
    Inventor: Hanspeter Honger