By Suction Retarder Patents (Class 271/183)
  • Patent number: 11352232
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus, in particular a roll cross cutter, for forming a shingled stream of underlapping or overlapping sheets, in particular paper or cardboard sheets, comprising a transport device for transporting sheets, a shingling device for underlapping or overlapping of the sheets at least in some regions, a braking device following the shingling device in the transport direction of the sheets for braking of shingled sheets, in particular by the formation of a brake gap for the passage of sheets brought together in a shingled manner, and a cross-cutting device upstream of the shingling device for cutting a material strip into individual sheets. According to the invention, an intake section is provided between the shingling device and the braking device for intake and further transport of a sheet, trailing in the shingled stream, into the braking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: BW Papersystems Stuttgart GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Schilling, Hansjörg Klein
  • Patent number: 11279580
    Abstract: A sheet suction device includes a bearing member configured to bear a sheet on a circumferential surface of the bearing member and rotate, a plurality of suction holes in a bearing region in the circumferential surface of the bearing member, a suction device connected to the plurality of suction holes, the suction device configured to suck the sheet through the plurality of suction holes, and a rotary valve between the bearing member and the suction device. The rotary valve includes: a first member communicating with the suction device, and a second member contacting the first member, the second member communicating with the plurality of suction holes. The first member includes a first groove on a side surface in a circumferential direction of the first member, the first groove communicating with the suction device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Miyagawa
  • Patent number: 11221579
    Abstract: A printer for producing a print media moving in a process direction including a print engine, a fuser, a full width array and a duplexing path. The print engine is operatively arranged to receive the print media and to apply a first dry marking material to a first surface of the print media. The fuser is arranged subsequently to the print engine in the process direction and is operatively arranged to receive the print media with the first dry marking material applied to the first surface of the print media and to fix the first dry marking material on the first surface using at least one of heat and pressure. The full width array is arranged subsequently to the fuser and is operatively arranged to obtain a first image of the first surface of the print media, the first image being used to quantify a flatness of the print media and/or image quality of the first image. The duplexing path is arranged subsequently to the full width array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Eliud Robles Flores, James A. Spence, William G. Osbourne, Dragana Pavlovic, Michael J. Martin, David C. Craig, Roberto A. Irizarry
  • Patent number: 11174113
    Abstract: Disclosed is an automated insert feeding system and related methods, capable of removing bulk-packaged items from a tray or other package, and separating the bulk-packaged items individually for distribution into individual packages in high speed reliable fashion. The disclosed systems can also be loaded with multiple packages of the pre-packaged items for automatic feeding into the system which allows human operators to load several packages and allow the system to work unattended, thereby reducing man-hours spend on the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: SERPA PACKAGING SOLUTIONS LLC
    Inventor: Fernando Serpa
  • Patent number: 11021338
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a conveying body, a pressing body, and an attracting device. The conveying body conveys a sheet. The pressing body presses the sheet to a circumferential surface of the conveying body at an upstream side from an operation start position at which an operation with respect to the sheet starts, in a sheet conveying direction. The attracting device sucks and attracts the sheet onto the conveying body. The attracting device includes an attracting unit having an attracting region extending shorter than a distance between the pressing body and the operation start position. The attracting unit rotate together with the conveying body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Yuichiro Maeyama
  • Patent number: 11014034
    Abstract: A dust removing device for a long bag filter having a large diameter employs a method of injecting amplified air through a dual injector having two injectors vertically arranged on the same axis to exhibit a stronger dust removing force than a conventional bag filter dust removing device, and is thus applicable to a bag filter having relatively a large diameter and a long length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Inventor: Kwang Sup Cho
  • Patent number: 10894684
    Abstract: A post-processing device includes a discharge port through which a sheet is discharged, an intermediate tray, a discharge tray and an air sending part. The air sending part includes an upper air sending member, an upper switching member, a lower air sending member, a lower switching member and a controller. The upper air sending member generates a downward air flow from above the discharge port. The upper switching member is distributable the air flow generated by the upper air sending member to above the intermediate tray and to above the discharge tray. The lower air sending member generates an upward air flow from below the discharge port. The lower switching member is distributable the air flow generated by the lower air sending member to below the intermediate tray and to above the discharge tray. The controller controls the upper switching member and the lower switching member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Takehiko Okada
  • Patent number: 10889456
    Abstract: A handling system (100) for handling stackable flat elements, in particular carton elements. The system (100) includes a supporting table (102) on which at least an edge portion (303) of a stack (101) of flat elements is supportable, a clamping device (103) configured for clamping a first part (113) of the edge portion of the stack (101) to the supporting table (102), and a lifting device (104) configured for lifting a second part (114) of the stack (101) from the supporting table (102).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: BOBST GRENCHEN AG
    Inventor: Stefan Wick
  • Patent number: 10865064
    Abstract: A sheet stacker includes a sheet ejector, a sheet stack portion, and air blowers. The sheet ejector ejects a sheet. The sheet stack portion stacks the sheet ejected by the sheet ejector. The air blowers blow air from blow ports toward the sheet ejected from the sheet ejector. Each of the air blowers includes an air generator, an air guide, a first blow portion, a second blow portion, and a switcher. The air generator generates the air. The air guide guides the air to each of the blow ports. The first blow portion blows the air toward the sheet. The second blow portion blows the air in a direction different from a direction in which the first blow portion blows the air. The switcher performs switching so that the air guide guides the air to one of the first blow portion and the second blow portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki Kawasaki, Takahiro Itou, Hiroshi Hirako
  • Patent number: 10745236
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes conveyers to convey a sheet. The conveyers include a registration conveyer which a plurality of sheets is to sequentially contact and is configured to bend a preceding sheet contacting the registration conveyer toward a direction in which the preceding sheet does not obstruct an entry of a following sheet to the registration conveyer when the conveyers overlay and convey the plurality of sheets after the plurality of sheets sequentially contacts the registration conveyer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Michitaka Suzuki, Shinji Asami, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Tomomichi Hoshino, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Makoto Hidaka, Koki Sakano, Akira Kunieda, Takuya Morinaga, Yohsuke Haraguchi
  • Patent number: 10662009
    Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a sheet stacking table, an air blower, a feeder, and an air sucker. The sheet stacking table stacks a bundle of sheets. The air blower blows air to the bundle of sheets to float an uppermost sheet from the bundle of sheets. The feeder feeds the uppermost sheet. The air sucker sucks air in such a direction that a sheet in vicinity of the uppermost sheet moves away from the feeder. The air sucker includes a suction nozzle to suck air, a suction fan to generate a negative pressure, a suction duct to communicate the suction nozzle with the suction fan, and an opening-and-closing mechanism to shut off and release ventilation in the suction duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Masato Hashimoto, Tatsuya Sugawara, Hideaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10562325
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid discharge apparatus including: a transporting unit that transports a medium in a transporting direction, a discharge portion that discharges a liquid to the medium positioned in a discharge range, and a supporting portion that has a first supporting surface and a second supporting surface, as a supporting surface supporting the medium to be transported by the transporting unit, in which the first supporting surface supports the medium in the discharge range and does not have unevenness in a width direction intersecting the transporting direction, the second supporting surface supports the medium on a downstream side of the discharge range in the transporting direction and includes uneven portions in which a first portion and a second portion which is further recessed than the first portion are formed alternately in the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Ryota Takenaka, Mikio Kitagishi
  • Patent number: 10486416
    Abstract: A device for overlapping sheets includes at least one blower box and a supply table. Multiple sheets are guided into a region of the blower box consecutively, in the same transport direction, and are arranged at a distance from one another on the supply table. A blower nozzle is arranged in the blower box, on the side thereof facing the supply table. A blowing direction of the blower nozzle is oriented and parallel to the supply table and against the transport direction of the sheets. The supply table is arranged below the blower box and multiple blower nozzles are arranged in the blower box, one after the other, in the transport direction of the sheets, on the side thereof facing the supply table. A respective blowing direction of the blower nozzles is oriented in parallel to the supply table, and against the transport direction of the sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer AG
    Inventors: Carsten Reinsch, Michael Koch
  • Patent number: 10464765
    Abstract: An arrangement (100) for handling flat elements (202), in particular paper elements (202). A guiding structure (101) is provided, along which a flat element (202) is guidable and transportable along a transport direction (T). A hold-down element (102) is coupled to the guiding structure (101) for holding down the flat element (202) to the guiding structure (101). The hold-down element (102) has a support section (103) on which the flat element (202) is supportable. The hold-down element (102) extends along an extending direction (116) having a component perpendicular to the transport direction (T), wherein suction holes (104) are arranged along the extending direction (116). A suction unit (110) includes a suction opening (111) coupled to the suction holes (104) of the hold-down element (102), an air inlet (112) and an air outlet (113), wherein the suction unit (110) directs air from the air inlet (112) to the air outlet (113) for generating an air flow (114).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: BOBST MEX SA
    Inventors: Patrice Chatry, Olivier Fauconneau
  • Patent number: 10287113
    Abstract: A sheet stacker including a sheet conveyor arrangement and a stacking bay, wherein sheets delivered by the sheet conveyor arrangement are formed into stacks; the stacking bay including a stacker platform. The stacker platform is provided with a vertical lifting and lowering movement with respect to a stationary supporting structure and is controlled to move downwards while a stack of sheets is formed thereon. The stacker platform supports a stack conveyor configured and controlled to perform at least an evacuation motion, to remove a completed stack from the stacking bay. The evacuation motion of the stack conveyor is oriented such that a completed stack is moved from the stacking bay onto an evacuation conveyor arranged under the sheet conveyor arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Guangdong Fosber Intelligent Equipment Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Mauro Adami
  • Patent number: 9908734
    Abstract: A printing system includes an endless metal transport belt for transporting sheets in a transport direction, wherein the metal transport belt comprises multiple through holes through which an underpressure or overpressure may be applied on the sheets, a sheet separation system for separating the sheets from the metal transport belt by applying a local overpressure, and a sheet separation guide which guides the separated sheets away from the metal transport belt. The sheet separation system includes a stationary sliding surface, wherein the metal transport belt slides over the stationary sliding surface, wherein the stationary sliding surface includes a number of blow holes which define the overpressure zone, and wherein the blow holes are configured to apply a local overpressure in the overpressure zone through the metal transport belt onto the underside of the sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: OCÉ-TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventors: Roy H. R. Jacobs, Reinoldus F. Winarto
  • Patent number: 9630794
    Abstract: A sheet stacking device (77) is provided with a sheet discharge platform (76) on which image forming sheets (P), which have been subjected to heating and drying processing after images are formed using ink, are stacked; and a nozzle (162) that blows air to a side surface of a sheet bundle in a horizontal direction. Air is blown to the sheet bundle stacked on the sheet discharge platform (76) while the height of the sheet discharge platform (76) is adjusted by a sheet discharge platform raising and lowering device (100) so that a gap is formed between the sheets in the vertically middle portion of the sheet bundle. According to the sheet stacking device (77), a plurality of image forming sheets (P) can be efficiently cooled on the sheet discharge platform. Accordingly, the occurrence of blocking can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Yuhei Chiwata, Takayuki Nakamura, Koji Furukawa, Shintaro Anzai
  • Patent number: 9610780
    Abstract: A method for transferring a sheet in a sheet transport assembly from a supplying conveyor to a receiving conveyor. The method includes arranging a contact side of a sheet in contact with a transport belt of the supplying conveyor, advancing the sheet on the transport belt in a transport direction along a process unit, which applies a process to a process side of the sheet opposite to the contact side, and to a transfer area where the sheet is transferred to a receiving conveyor. To correct for curl deformation of the sheet, air flow is directed onto the process side of sheet, which urges the sheet towards a supporting element. The air flow is controlled in response to a curl deformation behavior of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: OCE-TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventors: Peter G. La Vos, Johannes H. A. Dinnissen, Daisuke Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 9573780
    Abstract: A sheet transport assembly is provided for transporting a sheet along a process unit configured for applying a process to the sheet. The sheet transport assembly includes: a conveying unit including a transport belt and a deflection element. The transport belt is configured for advancing the sheet in a transport direction along the process unit to the deflection element, the sheet being placed with a contact side on the belt and a process side towards the process unit. The deflection element is arranged in contact with the transport belt to deflect the transport belt downstream in the transport direction relative to the process unit. The sheet transport assembly further includes a separating unit for separating the sheet from the transport belt. The separating unit is connected to an air supply source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: OCE-TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventors: Peter G. La Vos, Albert M. Van Beek, Johannes H. A. Dinnissen, Daisuke Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 9465563
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus (20) for defect detection in a printing system (1). The apparatus (20) comprises: a sensing unit (21) having at least one first sensor device (22) for sensing a surface geometry or topology of a sheet (S) to be printed as the sheet (S) travels on a transport path (P) of the printing system (1) and for generating data (I) representative of that surface geometry or topology; and a processor device (25) for processing the data (I) from the first sensor device (22) to detect and classify deformations (D) in the surface geometry or topology of the sheet (S) based on at least one predetermined criterion, wherein the at least one predetermined criterion is adjustable or variable to suit operating conditions in the printing system (1). Further, the invention provides a corresponding method of detecting defects in a printing system (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: OCE-TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventors: Daisuke Kawaguchi, Catharinus Van Acquoij, Ernest J. J. Clevers, Petrus L. J. Oteman
  • Patent number: 9387667
    Abstract: There is described an inspection system (10) for inspecting the quality of printed sheets which are transported by a sheet conveyor system comprising at least one sheet gripper system (3a, 3b) including a plurality of spaced-apart gripper bars (32) for holding the printed sheets by a leading edge thereof. The inspection system (10) comprises an optical quality control apparatus for carrying out inspection of a first side of the printed sheets while the printed sheets are being transported by the sheet gripper system (3b). The optical quality control apparatus includes a line camera (11) for scanning the first side of the printed sheets at an inspection location which is situated at a location proximate to a portion of the sheet gripper system (3b) where the gripper bars (32) transporting the printed sheets undergo a change of direction of displacement while the printed sheets are still being scanned by the line camera (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: KBA-NotaSys SA
    Inventors: Johann Emil Eitel, Axel Siemer, Johannes Georg Schaede
  • Patent number: 9193554
    Abstract: A braking device 1 for braking advancing of the rear portion of a flat sheet when the sheet is advanced and is displaced by being pulled by its front portion: a surface over which the sheet is advanced, a suction hole 10 in the surface which communicates with an exhaust orifice 30 via an air circulation channel 20, a principal compressed air injection device 40 which, by a Venturi effect, indirectly generates a braking suction air flow through the suction hole 10, a secondary compressed air injection device 50 which, by a Venturi effect, indirectly generates a cleaning suction air flow through the suction hole 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: BOBST MEX SA
    Inventor: Jean-Claude Ansermot
  • Patent number: 9027473
    Abstract: A printing device 300 for printing elements in the form of sheets 10, includes a platen press 310 which hot stamps to affix to each sheet 10 with a colored or metallized film from at least one stamping strip 320. A transport device 340 introduces each sheet 10 one after the other into the platen press 310 by pulling the sheet 10 by its front edge. The printing device 300 further includes a device 360 able to partially restrain each sheet 10 by its rear portion during the phase of introducing the sheet 10 into the platen press 310.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Bobst Mex SA
    Inventor: Jean-François Fornay
  • Publication number: 20150069696
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for imbricating sheets and depositing them on a stack (23), having a braking device, which is arranged upstream of the stacking region and acts in each case on the trailing edge of a supplied sheet (5) and having at least one transporting-air bar (19), which extends into the stacking region above the supply plane and has nozzles which expel compressed air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Andreas Schilling, Hansjoerg Klein, Markus Kremer
  • Patent number: 8960666
    Abstract: A device for the generation of a shingled stream of flat, flexible objects along a conveyor path, wherein successive objects develop an overlap with a length, includes a first and a second suction and conveyor device having a first and second unit, respectively, and each having at least one conveyor belt. The first and second units are each configured to generate a vacuum through a whirlwind to attract at least one of the objects and are each disposed in a casing having a suction aperture. The second suction and conveyor device is disposed downstream from the first suction and conveyor device in a direction of the conveyor path with a mutual offset corresponding to the length of the overlap and is disposed at an angle relative to the direction of the conveyor path. The first and second suction are separated by a spacing in a transversal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: BDT Media Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Patrick Enderle, Peter Kearney, Andreas Wardak
  • Patent number: 8622379
    Abstract: A device and process for processing flat articles such as pieces of paper by utilizing a stream of under-shingled flat articles and generating a gap at predetermined intervals. The under-shingling process incorporates an accelerating and decelerating portion wherein each flat article is accelerated and then decelerated while a tail portion of the article is lifted such that the next flat article can slide underneath to establish an under-shingled stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Inventor: Robert Fokos
  • Patent number: 8360413
    Abstract: A device and process for processing flat articles such as pieces of paper by utilizing a stream of under-shingled flat articles and generating a gap at predetermined intervals. The under-shingling process incorporates an accelerating and decelerating portion wherein each flat article is accelerated and then decelerated while a tail portion of the article is lifted such that the next flat article can slide underneath to establish an under-shingled stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Inventor: Robert Fokos
  • Patent number: 8152168
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming a stream of overlapping sheets or stacks of sheets, includes a first transport device to deliver overlap-free sheets or stacks of sheets at a speed v1 along a plane of transport EV. A second transport device carries away the sheets or stacks of sheets at a speed v2 along a plane of transport EH. A decelerating device is arranged to receive the sheets or stacks of sheets at the speed v1 from the first transport device, decelerate the sheets or stacks of sheets to the speed v2 and deliver the decelerated sheets or stacks of sheets to the second transport device to form the stream of overlapping sheets or stacks of sheets. The decelerating device comprises a suction roller unit actuated independently of the transport devices. The suction roller unit comprises a stationary element and an unevenly driven movable element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: E.C.H. Will GmbH
    Inventor: Niko Rossfeldt
  • 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: 7942402
    Abstract: An apparatus for feeding sheets to a sheet processing machine smoothes out and fixes a sheet through the use of a suction groove disposed transversely relative to a sheet transport direction, before the sheet is gripped by an onward transport device. A sheet-fed rotary printing press having the apparatus is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Jens Forche, Christian Hieb
  • Patent number: 7931272
    Abstract: A sheet delivery has an endless conveyor for conveying printed sheets and a secondary gripper with a gripper bar for holding printed sheets received at their trailing edges from the endless conveyor, to be deposited on a delivery stack. A transmission generates an annular circulatory movement of the gripper bar. A first balance weight and a second balance weight are provided for compensating for interference torques and are braced for rotation in relation to one another by a spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Markus Möhringer, Stefan Mutschall
  • Patent number: 7918443
    Abstract: A device and process for processing flat articles such as pieces of paper by utilizing a stream of under-shingled flat articles and generating a gap at predetermined intervals. The under-shingling process incorporates an accelerating and decelerating portion wherein each flat article is accelerated and then decelerated while a tail portion of the article is lifted such that the next flat article can slide underneath to establish an under-shingled stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Inventor: Robert Fokos
  • 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: 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: 7735829
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for turning a sheet during its transport through a printing press permit improved printing results as a result of improved sheet guidance. A sheet is tautened following a transfer from a first transport device to a second transport device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Hans Butterfaβ, Daniel Conzelmann, Peter Hachmann, Arno Jünger, Markus Kramer
  • Patent number: 7628396
    Abstract: A high speed sheet stacker includes a plurality of vacuum transport sub-assemblies interdigitated with an adjacent sub-assembly and provided with a spatial pitch that is less than or equal to a predetermined shingle distance. The collective vacuum transport assembly can thus acquire shingled sheets and transport the shingled sheets as a set, with each sheet being offset by at least one shingle distance. As a result, speed and acceleration requirements for the vacuum transport and the sheets being transported are greatly reduced compared to conventional vacuum transports that essentially transport sheets singularly. A shingled transport zone may be provided upstream of the vacuum transport system to accommodate sheets of varying size. In various embodiments, three to five vacuum transport sub-assemblies are provided to transport three to five sheets as a set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Steven R. Moore, Paul J. Degruchy
  • Patent number: 7588247
    Abstract: A delivery device in a sheet-fed offset rotary printing press includes a plurality of suction units and at least one guide unit. The plurality of suction units are arranged above a pile board on an upstream sheet convey direction side below a sheet under conveyance in a widthwise direction of the sheet, and draw by suction the sheet under conveyance in slidable contact with it. The guide unit is arranged between suction units among the plurality of suction units which are located at two ends, and moves the sheet at substantially the same speed as a convey speed of the sheet under conveyance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Komori Corporation
    Inventor: Takanobu Aoki
  • Patent number: 7513499
    Abstract: A sheet brake for braking sheets made from a printing material contains circulating brake elements and at least one sheet support that is disposed between the brake elements and forms a blowing device. The sheet support contains a first nozzle array having air nozzles and a second nozzle array having air nozzles. The air nozzles of the first nozzle array are configured to produce blown air volumetric flows, which are smaller than blown air volumetric flows from the air nozzles of the second nozzle array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Müller, Andreas Detloff, Peter Hachmann, André Kreller, Michael Pasuch
  • Publication number: 20080169601
    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: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: HEIDELBERGER DRUCKMASCHINEN AG
    Inventors: Hendrik FRANK, Michael PASUCH, Peter PALMEN
  • Publication number: 20080023908
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus that can perform stable sheet conveying for a medium that has low tear-resistance, easily sticks to something and is difficult to convey. Therefore, sheet conveying means is controlled, so that during a sheet conveying operation for each path, after a sheet has been conveyed, reverse feeding is performed to release sticking, and sheet feeding is thereafter completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2005
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventor: Tetsuya Murase
  • Patent number: 7275742
    Abstract: An apparatus for conveying sheets in a printing press makes reliable sheet guiding possible with a low outlay on material and at low cost and includes an apparatus for conveying sheets in a printing press having at least one conveyor element for a sheet along a conveying path and at least one guide element for the sheet in the conveying direction, at least one elongate spring element being provided as a guide element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Thomas Schäfer, Steffen Siegemund
  • Patent number: 7261291
    Abstract: A sheet-processing machine contains at least one processing station in the form of a printing unit, and a delivery with an endless conveyor and after-grippers that are guided by a mechanism connected to a drive. The after-grippers take over the processed sheets from the endless conveyor and release them over a stack. The sheet-processing machine provides for it to be possible for the mechanism to be set to positions that are correlated with different formats of the processed sheets, and for the drive that actuates the mechanism to keep the mechanism at one and the same phase angle with respect to the printing unit in each of the positions. Therefore, even in the event of different formats of the processed sheets, user-friendly placing of the stack is possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Peter Förch, Markus Möhringer, Paul Nicola
  • Publication number: 20070176355
    Abstract: An overlap detection apparatus mounted to a printing press includes a sheet detection sensor for detecting whether a portion of the sheets passing a given position is a non-overlapping portion or an overlapping portion; a signal output section for outputting an overlapping signal on the basis of the detected results of the sheet detection sensor, in which the overlapping signal takes a first form for the overlapping portion and takes a second form for the non-overlapping portion; and a determination section for determining that the sheets of paper are being correctly conveyed while each being displaced by a given amount from an upstream sheet of paper in the conveying direction and overlapping the same when a portion of the overlapping signal taking the first form is equal to a given reference portion, and determines that the sheets of paper are not being correctly conveyed when the portion of the overlapping signal taking the first form is not equal to the given reference portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: RYOBI LTD.
    Inventors: Masamichi Sasaki, Yoshinori Teraoka
  • Patent number: 7210679
    Abstract: A method for conveying sheets through a printing machine and an apparatus for conveying the sheets permit adaptation of a sheet brake to various sheet thicknesses by reducing a speed of the sheets in the direction of advance by bringing the sheets individually one after another into contact with at least one suction element moved in the direction of advance, and by holding each sheet by the action of a suction apparatus on the suction element along a conveying section, dependent upon the sheet thickness, the suction action of the suction element along the conveying section is changed locally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Thomas Schäfer, Jürgen Fürbass, Andrew McLellan
  • Patent number: 7168699
    Abstract: A sheet-processing machine includes a conveyor for transporting processed sheets at a processing speed and for releasing the sheets for braking to a depositing speed. A braking element serves for the braking of the released sheets to the depositing speed. A drive is provided for the braking element, and a drive connection is provided for connecting the drive to the braking element. Further included are an overrunning clutch in the drive connection, and a brake for retarding the braking element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Thomas Schäfer, Frank Gunschera, Carsten Kelm, Sven Kerpe, Ralf Steinmetz, Ralf Wadlinger
  • Patent number: 7059598
    Abstract: A conveying arrangement for sheet quires, includes at least two successively arranged conveying devices of which a front conveying device as seen in a conveying direction has a lower speed than a rear conveying device. At least one ionization device electrostatically charges the sheet quires. An area of the front conveying device includes a suction device for administering suction air to the sheet quires in at least one region of the sheet quires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: E.C.H. Will GmbH
    Inventors: Günther Hagemann, Frank Herpel, Jürgen Peter
  • Patent number: 6983933
    Abstract: A sheet-processing machine includes a delivery, a guide surface for sheets being processed and a sheet brake in the delivery. The sheet brake has at least one brake shoe movable over the guide surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Edmund Klein, Peter Thoma
  • Patent number: 6969059
    Abstract: A shingling apparatus for sheets of paper or paperboard includes a pair of independently operable vacuum plenums in a gap between an in-feed conveyor and a reduced speed shingling conveyor. One of the vacuum plenums decelerates an incoming sheet to shingling conveyor speed while the second vacuum plenum captures and pulls down the tail of the sheet to allow the faster moving following sheet to override the tail. This dual vacuum action enhances sheet control, requires very little vertical displacement of the sheets at the vacuum plenums, and enhances the squareness of the shingle that is formed. The system may also include a downstream shingle separator including a translating connection that assists in pulling the necessary gap between downstream shingle portion being directed into a stacker and an upstream shingle portion that is accumulated until the downstream shingle portion is stacked and discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Marquip, LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey U. Gafner
  • Patent number: 6969066
    Abstract: An apparatus for improving sheet feeding in a direction of movement to a process station, including: a contact surface having ribs spaced along contact surface in the direction of movement, apertures being defined in the space between each rib; a blower; and an air plenum for supplying a vacuum generated by the blower to the contact surface so that when an leading edge of the sheet passes by the contact surface the vacuum pulls the leading edge of the sheet towards contact surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Steven M. Ferrarese, John Meyers, Mark F. Scholand, Scott J. Phillips, Jacob Eyngorn, David G. Savini
  • Patent number: RE39441
    Abstract: A printer has a media transport with a rigid, air-transmissive platen. A movable air-transmissive flexible web overlays the platen. A suction device communicates with the platen to draw air through the web and through the platen such that a sheet of media carried on the web is biased toward the platen. A valve sheet overlays or underlies the platen, and includes a plurality of shut-off elements, each movable in response to temperature changes between a closed position in which the element contacts a portion of the platen to prevent air flow through that portion of the platen, and an open position, in which the element is spaced apart from the platen to admit air to the platen portion. The shut off elements may include resistive heaters and bimetallic strips so that application of electricity generates heat to flex the strip to an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Geoff Wotton, Robert M. Yraceburu, Steven B. Elgee