Means To Retard Sheets Patents (Class 271/182)
  • Patent number: 12054348
    Abstract: A method for generating decks of sheet elements (18) comprises the steps of positioning a set of numerous sheet elements (18) onto a transport surface of a transport device (30) to partly overlap in transport direction (T). The set of overlapping sheet elements (18) is moved against a stop member (44). The stop member (44) is moved in the transport direction (T) with a lower velocity than a velocity of the transport surface. By maintaining displacement of sheet elements (18) which are not yet contacting stop member (44) all sheet elements are shifted towards stop member (44) to define a deck. The method is carried out by a corresponding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: BOBST MEX SA
    Inventor: Pierre Robadey
  • Patent number: 11612944
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device, in particular a roll cross-cutter, for forming a shingle stream of underlapping or overlapping sheets, in particular of paper or carton sheets, having a transport apparatus for transporting sheets, having a shingling apparatus for underlapping or overlapping sheets in regions, having a deceleration apparatus, downstream of the shingling apparatus in the transport direction of the sheets, for decelerating shingled sheets, in particular by forming a deceleration gap for the passage of shingled, combined sheets, and, preferably, having a cross-cutting apparatus upstream of the shingling apparatus for cutting a material web into individual sheets. According to the invention, the shingling apparatus is designed to be adjustable, in dependence of the cut length, in and/or opposite the transport direction of the sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: BW Papersystems Stuttgart GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Schilling, Hansjörg Klein
  • Patent number: 11413887
    Abstract: A recording device has: a recording head configured to perform recording on a medium; a medium storage below the recording head configured to store the medium to be recoded; a supply path comprising a first curved supply path curved so as to be convex upward and transporting the medium fed out of the medium storage in a reversed direction via the first curved supply path; and a reversing path comprising a second curved path curved so as to be convex downward and transporting the recorded medium into a direction including a vertically upward component via second curved path from a direction including a vertically downward component; wherein the supply path joins the reversing path, and the first curved path and the second curved path overlap when viewed horizontally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Misawa, Toshihiro Imae
  • Patent number: 10384478
    Abstract: Media cutting apparatus including a cutter arrangement to cut media along a line perpendicular to the direction of movement of the media, and a first roller to rotate media cut by the cutter arrangement to change the orientation of a longitudinal axis of the media. The cutter arrangement is arranged to cut the media prior to and after rotation by the first roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: HP Indigo B.V.
    Inventors: Shamai Opfer, Itzik Kent, Ilan Meiri
  • Patent number: 10189658
    Abstract: A stacking apparatus for value documents, having a stack deposit device and a braking device which is arranged along the transport path of the value documents immediately before the stack deposit device. On the transport shaft of the braking device at least one driving roller is firmly mounted and at least one roller rotatably supported on the transport shaft. At least one cam roller is firmly mounted on a braking shaft of the braking device and at least one eccentric roller. By a rotation of the braking shaft, the eccentric roller can electively be brought in engagement with the opposing driving roller so that a value document becomes clamped between these, or be brought out of engagement with the opposing driving roller, so that the value document is no longer clamped between these, but rather is brakable by the engagement between the cam roller and the rotatably supported roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: GIESECKE+DEVRIENT CURRENCY TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventor: Markus Sperl
  • Patent number: 10068162
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a printing module, a transporting mechanism and a sorting module. The printing module prints data on media in order. The transporting mechanism transports the media past the printing module. The sorting module is disposed downstream of the transporting mechanism, and comprises an output mechanism, a rack and a driving pinion. The output mechanism transports the media out in a first direction. The rack is connected to the output mechanism. The driving pinion meshing with the rack drives the rack and the output mechanism to reciprocate in a second direction, different from the first direction, to sort the media into stacks. Thus, the sorting function can be achieved without providing a larger space and moving a discharge tray, and this is advantageous to the miniaturization of the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Avision Inc.
    Inventor: Chia-Hsin Lin
  • Patent number: 9914613
    Abstract: In a sheet discharge mechanism for enabling a wide range of sheets stored on a sheet discharge tray from a processing section, a brake lever for reducing a velocity of a sheet fed from a sheet discharge outlet is held detachably relative to an attachment frame above the sheet discharge tray, and it is possible to select whether brake action is made corresponding to sheet discharge conditions. A sheet discharge mechanism includes a sheet discharge path having a sheet discharge outlet, a sheet discharge tray disposed on the downstream side of the sheet discharge outlet with a level difference, and a brake section of a sheet carried out at the sheet discharge outlet, wherein the brake section includes a lever member in which its base end portion is axially supported by an attachment frame, and its front end portion moves up and down corresponding to a load amount of sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: CANON FINETECH NISCA INC.
    Inventors: Masaaki Shinohara, Junya Ozawa, Naoto Takeshita, Hiroyuki Hirokawa, Masataka Hamada
  • Patent number: 9873585
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body having an opening, an image forming unit, storage portions, each to store a sheet inside the main body, and a moving unit. The image forming unit forms an image on a sheet. The moving unit moves the sheet stored in each of the storage portions, and stop the sheet in an exposure state where a trailing edge of the sheet is inside the main body and a leading edge of the sheet is exposed outside the main body through the opening. The moving unit moves a first sheet stored in a first storage portion and a second sheet stored in a second storage portion, and stops the first sheet and the second sheet in the exposure state, wherein the leading edge of the first sheet and the leading edge of the second sheet are exposed outside the main body through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroharu Tsuji, Masayoshi Fukatsu, Yohei Suzuki, Daisuke Kaneko
  • Patent number: 9623684
    Abstract: A media sheet router moves sheets from a digital printer through the router and selectively to a plurality of finishers at full process speed. A router inlet path is aligned with the printer outlet path. Two router outlet paths are disposed at ninety degrees to the left and right of the router inlet path. The router outlet paths are each aligned with a finisher inlet path or another router. First and second turning elements are each mounted at forty-five degrees to the router inlet path and at ninety degrees to each other. Each turning element directs the sheets in a helical path to the router outlet paths. Transfer belts hold the sheets against each turning element. A bypass transfer moves the sheet to a bypass outlet path aligned with a bypass finisher inlet path. Diverters selectively direct the sheets onto the turning elements or the bypass transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Douglas K. Herrmann
  • Patent number: 9617090
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the invention includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet; a plurality of storage portions each configured to store the sheet with the image formed thereon by the image forming unit; an opening configured to expose the sheet stored in the storage portion to the outside; and a sheet moving unit configured to move the sheet until a leading edge of the sheet stored in the storage portion passes the opening and a portion of the sheet is exposed from the opening to the outside. The sheet moving unit exposes sheets stored in a plurality of the storage portions in a stacked manner from the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Genki Takahashi, Masayoshi Fukatsu, Hiroharu Tsuji, Yohei Suzuki, Daisuke Kaneko, Kazuhisa Sato, Hajime Sugaya, Yuu Matsuda
  • Patent number: 9586776
    Abstract: There is provided a conveyance apparatus including: a conveyance roller; a plurality of driven rollers; a plurality of roller holders; an biasing member biasing each of the roller holders toward a first position; and a movable member having a plurality of cam portions. Each of the cam portions has: a first inclined surface abutting against one of the roller holders from a side of one of the driven rollers, during a movement process of the movable member from a third position to a fourth position, to thereby move one of the roller holders from the first position toward a second position; and a second inclined surface arranged upstream of the first inclined surface in a moving direction, and abutting against one of the roller holders from the side of one of the driven rollers, during the movement process of the movable member from the third position to the fourth position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuta Uchino, Wataru Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 9567181
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus having an apparatus main body includes an image forming unit provided within the apparatus main body, a stacker portion provided on an upper surface of the apparatus main body, and a sheet storage portion provided between the image forming unit and the stacker portion. The image forming unit forms an image on a sheet. The stacker portion may receive, as stacked sheets, sheets on which images are formed by the image forming unit. The sheet storage portion may store, within the apparatus main body, a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroharu Tsuji, Masayoshi Fukatsu, Yohei Suzuki, Daisuke Kaneko
  • Patent number: 9334135
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sheet braking device for braking sheets transported in a transport direction. The sheet braking device comprises at least one holder, at least one sheet guide unit arranged adjacent to the at least one holder, and at least one sheet braking unit which is held by the at least one holder, is arranged adjacent to the at least one sheet guide unit, comprises at least one sheet braking body which has a first braking region to exert a braking force on the sheet to be braked, and comprises at least one second sheet braking body which has a second braking region to exert a braking force on the sheet to be braked. The at least one sheet braking unit is configured in such a way that in order to reduce the speed of the sheet, the first braking region and the second braking region are spaced from each other in the transport direction when acting upon the sheet to be braked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: BHS Corrugated Maschinen-und Anlagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Grill, Alfons Gnan
  • Patent number: 9221226
    Abstract: A personalized packaging production system includes an in-feed tray, an out-feed tray, a cutting table disposed intermediate the in-feed tray and the out-feed tray and an interchangeable cutting/creasing assembly. A sheet feeder is positioned between the in-feed tray and the cutting table to feed media sheets from the in-feed tray to the cutting table, and an exit nip is positioned between the out-feed tray and the cutting table to remove media sheets from the cutting table to the out-feed tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Linn C. Hoover, William J. Nowak, Robert A. Clark, Peter J. Knausdorf, Thomas J. Wyble
  • Patent number: 9126761
    Abstract: A variable guide system for shingling in-store adhesive signage cards that works with the offset moment/trajectory resulting from some shingling systems by employing multiple adjustable hold downs guides. Adjustments to the hold downs guides are made on the fly by an operator using easily accessible and controllable thumb screws. The thumb screws facilitate side to side movement and angle adjustment of each guide individually in order to prevent jamming of the cards while being shingled at the guides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas K Herrmann, Gregory A Ludgate, Kevin St. Martin
  • Publication number: 20150115524
    Abstract: A sheet discharge device includes a sheet discharge roller, a driven roller and a restraint member. A sheet is discharged in a specified discharge direction while passing through a nip portion between the sheet discharge roller and the driven roller. The restraint member is disposed adjacent to the driven roller in a sheet width direction orthogonal to the discharge direction. The restraint member makes contact with a sheet surface of the sheet. When the sheet passes through the nip portion, if the pressing force received from the sheet is equal to or larger than a predetermined value, the restraint member is slid in the sheet width direction by the pressing force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventor: Shota ONISHI
  • Publication number: 20150084271
    Abstract: There is provided a document processing device and a document processing method capable of aligning and loading documents being transported surely and at a high speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Jun Kuriyama, Fumio Koyama
  • Patent number: 8827265
    Abstract: Sheet deceleration apparatus and methods for decelerating a sheet of material for use in a sheet stacking or other application. The deceleration apparatus includes a rotatable cam nip, rotatable about a first axis and provided on one side of the travel path, such that the sheet of material can pass by the cam nip. The cam nip includes a lobe end, such that when the lobe end is away from the travel path, the sheet of material can pass substantially unimpeded past the cam nip, and when the lobe end is near the travel path, the sheet of material is nipped by the cam nip decelerating the sheet of material from the first speed to a second speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: J&L Group International, LLC
    Inventors: Craig H. Gendreau, Curtis A. Roth, Lynn E. Vershum, Kevin P. Brown, Michael G. Harrington
  • Patent number: 8777212
    Abstract: A medium feeding device 1 includes a feeding roller 3 which conveys a medium S1 in a conveying direction, a brake roller 4 that is arranged to press the feeding roller 3 with a predetermined pressure, and a separating power generating device 7 which is connected to the brake roller 4 and generates rotational load in a direction counter to the conveying direction with respect to the brake roller 4. The separating power generating device 7 includes a torque limiter 19 which generates an upper limit torque T1 which is a fixed load as a first load generating unit, and an electromagnetic brake 23 which can change the generated load as a second load generating unit. The torque limiter 19 and the electromagnetic brake 23 are connected in parallel to the brake roller 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventor: Ryoichi Yasukawa
  • Patent number: 8763779
    Abstract: A bill processing apparatus comprises a bill housing part capable of housing a bill therein and a bill conveyance mechanism that conveys the bill to the bill housing part. And in the bill processing apparatus, the bill housing part comprises a receiving port that accepts the bill conveyed by the bill conveyance mechanism and conveyor members which are capable of contacting the bill conveyed-in from the receiving port, and are driven along a conveying-in direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventor: Takao Nireki
  • Patent number: 8640584
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for decelerating sheets which are to be placed on a stack. The apparatus comprises rotatably driven clamping elements, which are provided with clamping zones that intermittently reach to the feeding plane of the sheet when revolving. The apparatus further includes a mating element which is rotationally disposed on the opposite side of the conveying plane of the sheets such that a sheet can be clamped between the clamping zones and the mating element. The clamping elements are connected to an asymmetrical rotary drive unit while being equipped with ring segment-shaped clamping zones on a section of the circumference thereof. A deflecting device is also provided which deflects the rear edges of the sheet from the feeding plane in a downward direction arranged at a distance from and upstream of the clamping elements in the direction of travel of the sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Bielomatik Jagenberg GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Karl Thievessen, Dirk Voessing
  • Publication number: 20130320614
    Abstract: Sheet deceleration apparatus and methods for decelerating a sheet of material for use in a sheet stacking or other application. The deceleration apparatus includes a rotatable cam nip, rotatable about a first axis and provided on one side of the travel path, such that the sheet of material can pass by the cam nip. The cam nip includes a lobe end, such that when the lobe end is away from the travel path, the sheet of material can pass substantially unimpeded past the cam nip, and when the lobe end is near the travel path, the sheet of material is nipped by the cam nip decelerating the sheet of material from the first speed to a second speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: J&L GROUP INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventors: Craig H. Gendreau, Curtis A. Roth, Lynn E. Vershum, Kevin P. Brown, Michael G. Harrington
  • Patent number: 8505908
    Abstract: Sheet deceleration apparatus and methods for decelerating a sheet of material for use in a sheet stacking or other application. The deceleration apparatus includes a rotatable cam nip, rotatable about a first axis and provided on one side of the travel path, such that the sheet of material can pass by the cam nip. The cam nip includes a lobe end, such that when the lobe end is away from the travel path, the sheet of material can pass substantially unimpeded past the cam nip, and when the lobe end is near the travel path, the sheet of material is nipped by the cam nip decelerating the sheet of material from the first speed to a second speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: J&L Group International, LLC
    Inventors: Craig H. Gendreau, Curtis A. Roth, Lynn E. Vershum, Kevin P. Brown, Michael G. Harrington
  • Patent number: 8390881
    Abstract: A print control method allowing a printing apparatus to perform printing based on a plurality of contents used for outputting a plurality of components to be finally integrated is provided. The CPU determines whether component basis post-processing is set in each of the plurality of contents. The printing sequence is determined such that a first content determined as a content in which the component basis post-processing is set is printed in advance of a second content determined as a content in which the component basis post-processing is not set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Ozaki
  • Patent number: 8235614
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image forming portion that forms an image on a surface of a sheet, a feeding device that feeds the sheet in a sheet feeding direction, a sheet receiving portion, and an engagement portion selectively moves between a first position and a second position. When the engagement portion is in the first position, the engagement portion engages the leading end of the sheet. When the engagement portion is in the second position, the engagement portion does not engage the sheet. When the engagement portion is in the first position, the engagement portion engages a leading end of the sheet before a trailing end of the sheet passes the feeding device. The sheet receiving portion receives the sheet after the engagement portion engages the leading end of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayuki Takata, Yoshikazu Takahashi, Kazama Goto, Naoya Okazaki
  • Publication number: 20120038100
    Abstract: Disclosed is a sheet feeding apparatus having a sheet buffer function (temporal storage function), which has a simple structure without a buffer drum and feeds a present sheet and a subsequent sheet by stacking the present sheet and the subsequent sheet. The sheet feeding apparatus includes a pair of discharge rollers including a driving roller and an idle roller, a first feeding path connected to the discharge rollers, a second feeding path located at a rear of the first feeding path, branch flaps installed at a branch part of the first and second feeding paths, a sheet detecting sensor installed on the first feeding path, a cam holder for rotatably supporting both ends of a rotating shaft of the driving roller, and a cam for moving the cam holder up and down to allow the driving roller to selectively engage with the idle roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventor: Kijo JUNG
  • Patent number: 8079587
    Abstract: A sheet braking mechanism for a sheet punching and/or embossing machine for the braking a sheet in a processing station of the sheet punching and/or embossing machine, includes a movable pneumatic sheet brake and a movable carrier, on which at least one brake brush is mounted. The pneumatic sheet brake and the carrier are mechanically coupled, for example, by a driving element, so that a movement of the pneumatic sheet brake causes a movement of the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Sascha Holzschneider, Peter Palmen, Anna Wysgol
  • Patent number: 8052371
    Abstract: A bag supply apparatus for supplying bags onto a conveyer for transporting a bag bundle stacked such that an upper level bag is shifted forward, including a bag lifting device, which is provided with a pair of bag support members disposed facing one another on the left and right sides near the rear edge of a belt conveyor, and a rotation mechanism, which imparts translational motion of rotation in symmetric in a vertical plane with respect to the conveyance direction of the belt conveyor. The bag supporting portions of the bag support members contact the bag bundle from below to lift up the rear edge portion of the bag bundle and then separated from the bag bundle outwardly. While the bag supporting portions thus lifting the bag bundle, a new bag is fed into the space between the conveyance surface of the belt conveyor and the bag bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Toyo Jidoki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakazu Setozaki, Tohru Yoshikane
  • Patent number: 8042803
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a medium stacking apparatus for an automatic medium dispenser. A medium stacking apparatus according to the present invention comprises a medium box provided with a seating space allowing medium to be pulled and stacked therein, inlet rollers provided to face each other and to rotate in opposite directions relative to one another so that the medium are pulled into the seating space, a damping unit colliding against the medium pulled into the seating space by the inlet rollers, and a pressing unit for pressing down a trailing end of the medium. The damping unit and the pressing unit are connected to both ends of a link by the pins to cooperate with each other. Thus, the medium are stacked in the seating space, so that the following medium can be pulled therein without any interference. According to the present invention, there is an advantage in that a stacking reliability is enhanced when medium are stacked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: LG N-SYS Inc.
    Inventor: Su-Min Lee
  • Patent number: 7976019
    Abstract: An improved sheet accumulator for stacking serially fed sheets transported on a paper path includes a guide deck. Above the guide deck, a plurality of parallel belts are positioned to provide a driving force for sheets on the deck. Within the accumulator, a ramp apparatus is positioned across the paper path whereby sheets driven by the belts on an upstream portion of the accumulator deck are driven over the ramp apparatus and deposited in an accumulating region of the accumulator deck on a downstream side of the ramp apparatus. Sheets are stopped by an accumulator stop mechanism located at a downstream end of the accumulating region that prevents movement of sheets by the belts while sheets for an accumulation are being collected. When an accumulation is completed, the accumulator stop mechanism allows sheets to be transported from the accumulating region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Masotta, William J. Wright, Robert E. Manna, Charles C. Fuller, John W. Sussmeier
  • Patent number: 7970294
    Abstract: A document feeding apparatus includes a first delivery roller delivering a document sheet discharged from a fixing unit, a second delivery roller discharging the document sheet to a paper delivery tray, a motor driving the second delivery roller, a lever installed at the downstream, or upstream, side of the first delivery roller out of a document sheet transporting pathway, which rotates at a predetermined angle when contacting the document sheet and returns to an original position when not contacting the document sheet, a sensor sensing a rotation time and a returning time of the lever, and a controller determining a double feeding or slipping state of the document sheet based on a signal transferred from the sensor regarding the rotation time and the returning time of the lever, and controlling the driving speed of the motor according to the determination result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dae-lim Shin
  • Patent number: 7946582
    Abstract: Disclosed are a multi-sheet buffer module and a modular printing system incorporating the buffer module. The buffer module includes a primary sheet transport path that extends horizontally across a frame. Vertical buffer paths extend downward and upward from the primary sheet transport path. Each buffer path connects to a secondary sheet transport path, which provides a loop back connection to the primary sheet transport path. As a stream of sheets moves along the primary sheet transport path, sheets printed out of order will be selectively diverted into the sheet buffer paths. Then, at the proper moment, the sheet buffer paths will feed the buffered sheets into the secondary sheet transport path(s), which will transport them to the primary sheet transport path, such that they are inserted at the proper locations back into the stream of sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Eun Suk Suh
  • Patent number: 7931268
    Abstract: This device for braking a flat product, in particular a signature, has a support, a brake shoe for braking the flat product, the brake shoe being movable between a position allowing the passage of the flat product and a position effecting braking of the flat product, and a drive for driving the brake shoe from the passing position towards the braking position. The drive includes an eccentric element which is movable in rotation and co-operates with the brake shoe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Goss International Montataire SA
    Inventors: Franck Chagnon, Philippe Herda, Thierry Melon, Jérôme Peres, Eric Pierda, Jean-François Robert, Philippe Robin, Thierry Vauchelle
  • Patent number: 7913999
    Abstract: A system, method, and resulting resilient belt type sheet compiler with a mixed sheet length mode is provided. The device includes a resilient belt transport for sequentially feeding sheets from a sheet inlet to a compiler tray, the compiler tray having a lead edge stop and a trail edge wall. A monitoring means is positioned proximate to the trail edge wall for detecting a lead end and a trail end of sequentially fed sheets from the sheet inlet to the compiler tray. A sheet brake, responsive to the monitoring means detecting a short sheet, selectively stalls the detected short sheet until a lead end of a subsequent sheet is detected by the sensor or subsequent sheets are absent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Steven Robert Moore
  • Patent number: 7887040
    Abstract: A sheet deceleration apparatus includes a pair of rotatable rollers, being rotatable about first and second axes, the rollers positioned on opposite sides of the travel path. At least one of the rollers is moveable relative to the other to nip the sheet between the rollers to reduce the travel speed of the sheet. A vacuum conveyor is further provided along the travel path subsequent the pair of rollers to control delivery of the sheet to a stacking hopper. A third rotatable roller, or similar apparatus, may be included in some embodiments, for pushing the sheet of material away from the vacuum conveyor at the appropriate time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: J & L Group International, LLC
    Inventor: Curtis A. Roth
  • Patent number: 7887049
    Abstract: A sheet brake system for braking printed sheets includes a plurality of brake elements each circulating about at least one respective geometric revolution axis, and a common drive roll for driving the brake elements. The drive roll circulates about a geometric roll axis and is connected in drive terms to each brake element through a frictional contact of the drive roll. The roll axis is disposed offset eccentrically relative to the at least one revolution axis of each brake element. The brake elements can, for example, be brake bands. A sheet delivery having the sheet brake system and a printing press having the sheet delivery, are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Albert Maul, Michael Diews
  • Patent number: 7878502
    Abstract: A slowing device includes a flexible slowing member that extends transversely to the trajectory of sheets being fed. The member is movable between at least two limit positions, one in which its trajectory encounters that of the sheets, the other in which the slowing member is moved aside from the trajectory of the sheets. A drive device moves the slowing member between its limit positions. The drive device for the slowing member includes a pneumatic actuator which acts on a linear cam that pivots about a transverse shaft. A roller rolls along the surface of the linear cam. The roller and the slowing member are supported by a support that pivots about a transverse shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Bobst S.A
    Inventors: Vitor A. Slemer Dos Santos, Patrice Chatry
  • Patent number: 7823881
    Abstract: A method of depositing sheets coming out of a sheet-processing machine includes decelerating the sheets and depositing the sheets of a main pile. Certain sheets are decelerated and fed to a second sheet pile. The system includes a device for decelerating the sheets arriving from the sheet-processing machine and for depositing the sheets on a main pile. A chain gripper system is configured to hold and decelerate a trailing edge of the sheets. The chain gripper system includes an adjustable gripper opening cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Böttger, Andreas Detmers, Peter Förch, Edmund Klein, Oliver Lang, Sven Lippardt, Markus Möhringer, Patrick Roth
  • Patent number: 7804621
    Abstract: The method or system for controlling a printing or copying system for processing single sheets, a first single sheet and at least a second single sheet immediately following the first single sheet is processed with aid of n processing units. A required minimum distance between the first and the second single sheet is determined for each processing unit. A delay distance is determined for the first and at least for each of the n?1 following processing units. A difference between the minimum distance of a processing unit and a sum of the delay distances of the preceding processing units is formed. A smallest possible distance with which the second single sheet is fed to the first processing unit after the first single sheet is determined by a highest value of the determined minimum distance of the first processing unit and the determined differences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Oce Printing Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Hubert Drexler
  • Publication number: 20100176549
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to sheet deceleration apparatus and methods for decelerating a sheet of material for use in a sheet stacking or other application. The deceleration apparatus includes a pair of rotatable rollers, being rotatable about first and second axes, the rollers positioned on opposite sides of the travel path. At least one of the rollers is moveable relative to the other to nip the sheet between the rollers to reduce the travel speed of the sheet. A vacuum conveyor is further provided along the travel path subsequent the pair of rollers to control delivery of the sheet to a stacking hopper. A third rotatable roller, or similar apparatus, may be included in some embodiments, for pushing the sheet of material away from the vacuum conveyor at the appropriate time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Inventor: Curtis A. Roth
  • Patent number: 7735824
    Abstract: A sheet processing machine for the processing of sheets of paper, cardboard, and the like, includes at least one processing station, one delivery unit, one sheet transport system including circulating gripper carts, which are driven by individually actuated linear drives, a machine control system and braking devices located in the entry zone of processing stations. The back edge of the respective sheet at its stop position in the delivery unit and/or the at least one processing station lies directly above the back edge of the delivery stack and/or the back edge of a tool or die of the processing station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hendrik Frank, Michael Pasuch, Peter Palmen
  • Patent number: 7661668
    Abstract: A sheet-speed reduction mechanism for a fan wheel including: fan wheels that hold, between fan blades thereof, a signature transported from a printing press thereto, and that rotates with the held signature; a stopper portion that restricts the front end of the signature held between the fan blades, and that then discharges the signature from the inside of the fan wheels; and speed-reduction guides that presses a surface of the signature advancing between the fan blades before the front end of the signature comes into contact with the stopper portion, so as to reduce the advancing speed of the signature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Komori Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 7651090
    Abstract: A paper conveyance apparatus includes a stacking portion; a feeding mechanism to extract and feed paper from the stacking portion one sheet at a time; and an intermediate portion for conveying the fed paper to the vicinity of a feeding port or feeding device of a main body of an image forming apparatus. The intermediate portion includes a plurality of conveyance devices and a plurality of paper detecting devices disposed from the upstream side to the downstream side of a conveyance path. The paper conveyance apparatus further includes a control device for reducing the conveyance speed of the plurality of conveyance devices when the leading edge of the paper is detected by a detecting device disposed at least one device further toward the upstream side than a paper detecting device disposed furthest downstream of the plurality of detecting devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Tohoku Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiichi Satoh, Mituru Takahashi, Yoshiyuki Araseki, Tomotaka Osada
  • Publication number: 20090315255
    Abstract: A device for diverting printed products is provided. The device includes a first rotating support having a first pad mounted thereon, a second rotating support having a second pad mounted thereon, a third rotating support having a third pad mounted thereon and a fourth rotating support having a fourth pad mounted thereon. The first pad has a different thickness than the second pad and the first and second rotating supports rotate together. The third pad has a different thickness than the fourth pad and the third and fourth rotating supports rotate together. A method for diverting printed products is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: Goss International Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Adrian ST. OURS, Kevin Lauren COTE, Lothar John SCHROEDER
  • Publication number: 20090243197
    Abstract: A slowing device includes a flexible slowing member that extends transversely to the trajectory of sheets being fed. The member is movable between at least two limit positions, one in which its trajectory encounters that of the sheets, the other in which the slowing member is moved aside from the trajectory of the sheets. A drive device moves the slowing member between its limit positions. The drive device for the slowing member includes a pneumatic actuator which acts on a linear cam that pivots about a transverse shaft. A roller rolls along the surface of the linear cam. The roller and the slowing member are supported by a support that pivots about a transverse shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: Vitor A. SLEMER DOS SANTOS, Patrice CHATRY
  • Patent number: 7578501
    Abstract: An apparatus feeds paper inserts or other flat products from one area to another. The apparatus is particularly useful for newspaper insert machines. A rotating gripper drum or pusher disk feeds paper products from the bottom of a stationary stack down into open moving pockets. Roller assemblies are employed to first speed up the product and then slow the product down as the product exits the feeder. In operation, the product is first quickly accelerated to a speed faster than the circumferential speed of the drum or pusher disk, to maximize feeding speed, and then is quickly decelerated to a slower speed, to prevent the product from bouncing or crumpling in the bottom of the pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Muller Martini Mailroom Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Harry C. Noll, Jr., Randy R. Seidel, Timothy E. Goszka
  • Patent number: 7549723
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes: a recording unit which records an image by ejecting ink to a conveyed recording medium; a conveying unit which returns the recording medium, on which the image has been recorded by the recording unit, in order toward an upstream side in a conveying direction; and a reversal unit which is provided at a downstream side of the conveying unit in a returning direction, the reversal unit including a plurality of holding units which respectively suck and hold a recording medium that has been returned by the conveying unit, reverse the recording medium, and send the recording medium to the recording unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Mihara, Toru Nishida
  • Patent number: 7451979
    Abstract: An improved sheet accumulator for stacking serially fed sheets transported on a paper path. The accumulator includes a guide deck. Above the guide deck, a plurality of parallel belts are positioned to provide a driving force for sheets on the deck. Within the accumulator, a ramp apparatus is positioned across the paper path whereby sheets driven by the belts on an upstream portion of the accumulator deck are driven over the ramp apparatus and deposited in an accumulating region of the accumulator deck on a downstream side of the ramp apparatus. Preferably, snap-down belts are provided between ramp structures snap transported sheets quickly into place on the stack and to hold them there. Sheets are stopped by an accumulator stop mechanism located at a downstream end of the accumulating region that prevents movement of sheets by the belts while sheets for an accumulation are being collected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Masotta, William J. Wright, Robert E. Manna, Charles C Fuller, John W. Sussmeier
  • Publication number: 20080265493
    Abstract: An air delivery device and printing or coating machinery using the same. In one configuration, the air delivery device is an air knife that cooperates with a printing device such as a printing press, coating machine or the like. In a particular configuration, the air knife is situated adjacent a set of cylinders in the printing device such that upon a sheet or related piece of printed substrate being put in an air flowpath created by the air knife, one or more operations can be performed on the still wet printed or coated sheet to minimize the chance of contact of the wet sheet surface with sheet delivery or related components. Examples of such operations may include turning, bending or folding the sheet, as well as drying the ink or coating placed on the sheet by the printing machinery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventor: Robert Wall
  • Patent number: 7429038
    Abstract: A finisher for an image forming apparatus includes a pair of rotatable downstream rollers and a pair of rotatable upstream roller between which a path on which an imaged medium travels. The finisher determines when a trailing edge of the medium is about to leave a nip of the upstream rollers and then stops a leading edge of the medium. By stopping the leading edge of the medium, the medium buckles and the trailing edge registers against the upstream nip line. A finishing device performs a hole punch, staple, or other finishing operation to the medium when the trailing edge registers against the upstream nip line. The finishing operation is performed at a speed equal to or greater than a speed at which the image forming apparatus forms the image on the medium and outputs the medium to the finisher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond Matthew Ruthenberg, Joseph Andre Michel Loiselle, Robert Hugh Brown