Receding From Delivery Zone (e.g., Retractor) Patents (Class 271/214)
  • Patent number: 10543998
    Abstract: An apparatus for aligning at least one note of value along a transport path includes at least one transport element driven by at least one first drive unit and at least one counter-pressure element arranged opposite to the transport element. The transport path of the note of value extends between the transport element and the counter-pressure element. The counter-pressure element is ball-shaped and is mounted so as to be freely rotatable. Further, the apparatus includes a second drive unit for displacing the transport element along its axis of rotation so that a note of value arranged between the transport element and the counter-pressure element is moved transversely to the transport direction during displacement of the transport element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Wincor Nixdorf International GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Langhuber, Thomas Kemmerling, Michael Schild, Ludger Hoischen, Paul Freitag
  • Patent number: 9938106
    Abstract: A sheet housing device includes a supporting member, a driving pulley, a driven pulley, a timing belt, a driving part, a stacking tray and rotating members. The driving pulley and the driven pulley are rotatably provided at one end and another end in a longitudinal direction of the supporting member, respectively. The timing belt is windingly stretched between the pulleys. The driving part drives and rotates the driving pulley. The stacking tray is fixed to the timing belt and attached to the supporting member to move between both ends of the supporting member according to rotation of the timing belt. The rotating members are provided at another end side more than a rotational center of the driving pulley and at both outsides more than the timing belt and are rotatably attached by having a rotating shaft parallel to a rotating shaft of the driving pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Masahiko Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 9802780
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus provided with a collection tray for receiving a discharged sheet and shifting, a discharge unit (binding unit constituting a part of a sheet processing apparatus) for discharging a sheet, a shift rail (up-and-down rail including an up-and-down rack) provided in the discharge unit to permit a shift of the collection tray corresponding to a sheet collection amount of the collection tray, a drive member (up-and-down motor) that shifts the collection tray along the shift rail, and an extension rail capable of being added and set onto the shift rail to extend a shift range of the collection tray. By this means, it is possible to increase a collection amount of sheets relatively with ease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: CANON FINETECH NISCA INC.
    Inventor: Misao Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9221640
    Abstract: The present application relates to techniques and equipment to stack mailpieces for sweeping. The mailpieces are manufactured on a mail processing machine such as, but not limited to an inserter or wrapper. More particularly, there is provided an on-edge conveyor where components have been ergonomically positioned to permit the filling of a mail tray in an efficient manner with minimal lifting of weight. A quantity of mailpieces that have already been offset can be pulled over the rolled/rounded edge of the conveyor into an awaiting mail tray supported on a roller conveyor. The operator is then able push the full tray to the side, load another empty tray, and repeat the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Bell and Howell, LLC
    Inventors: Neal Middleberg, Gerard A. Derome, Richard D. Johnson, Lenny Neifert, Mark Gerard Paul
  • Patent number: 9051149
    Abstract: A sheet ejection device includes a sheet receiving tray provided with a sheet stack plane, a detector for detecting ejected sheets at a reference position, and a controller. Both side end of the sheet stack plane is made higher than a center thereof when viewed along a sheet ejection direction. The reference position functions as a reference for a height level of a center of an uppermost surface of stacked sheets on the sheet stack plane. During a sheet ejection operation, the controller moves the tray downward by a preset height level every ejection of a preset number of sheets until the detector detects sheets, and then newly starts to move the tray downward by the preset height level every ejection of the preset number of sheets from a time when the detector detects sheets. According to the device, sheets can be prevented from being stacked on the tray erroneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: RISO KAGAKU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yukimori Matsumine
  • Patent number: 9033339
    Abstract: A paper sheet stacking apparatus includes: a stacking tray on which paper sheets are stacked; a driving section to drive the stacking tray in up and down directions corresponding to a height of the paper sheets stacked; a paper-sheet upper surface detecting section to detect an upper-most surface of the paper sheets to be stacked onto the stacking tray; a position detecting section to detect a position of the stacking tray by using a plurality of sensors respectively disposed at different positions arranged in a vertical direction, along which the stacking tray moves up and down; and a control section that determines whether or not the stacking tray is currently in a full loaded condition, based on the position of the stacking tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Norishige Kato
  • Patent number: 9010747
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (10) for handling notes of value, comprising a supply module (1000) for supplying notes of value to a value note receiving region (1004) of a value note cassette (16a to 16d), wherein the notes of value are receivable in a value note receiving region (1004) in the form of a value note stack (1006). The supply module (1000) comprises at least one retaining element (1008, 1010), which, in a retaining position, contacts a front-side note of value of the value note stack (1006) and holds the value note stack (1006) in the value note receiving region (1004). In a supply position, the retaining element (1008, 1010) is arranged such that a note of value is suppliable to the value note stack (1006).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Wincor Nixdorf International GmbH
    Inventors: Udo Petermann, Paul Freitag
  • Patent number: 8947681
    Abstract: An insertion system includes an enclosure supply device, an envelope supply device, an insertion device to insert an enclosure supplied from the enclosure supply device into the envelope supplied from the envelope supply device, a first input unit to input identification data of the enclosure inserted into the envelope in each of multiple insertion setting records, a second input unit to input identification data of the enclosure set in the enclosure container of the enclosure supply device, and a controller to determine whether the identification data of the enclosure to be inserted, input by the first input unit, matches the identification data of the enclosure set in the enclosure container, input by the second input unit, and to control supply of the envelope by the envelope supply device as well as supply of the enclosure by the enclosure supply device based on a result of the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shingo Matsushita, Takeshi Sasaki, Satoshi Saito, Ikuhisa Okamoto, Junichi Tokita, Akira Kunieda, Takahiro Watanabe, Jun Yamada
  • Patent number: 8919766
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a compiler surface that receives sheets of media, and a registration surface positioned at one end of the compiler surface. The leading edges of the sheets of media contact and are aligned by the registration surface. A rotatable cam is positioned at the other end of the compiler surface. The rotatable cam has a lobe, and the surface of the lobe is a high-friction surface. When the rotatable cam is at a “first” rotation position, this causes the lobe to contact the bottom sheet as the sheets of media are received onto the compiler surface. When the rotatable cam is at a “second” rotation position, this causes the lobe to move out of the way and avoid contacting any of the sheets of media as the sheets of media are ejected from the compiler surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: XEROX Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy G. Shelhart, Aaron M. Moore, Samuel P. Sadtler
  • Patent number: 8794622
    Abstract: A stacker includes a plurality of sheet stacking units individually movable upward and downward. Sheets are selectively stacked onto either of the stacker trays. To remove the sheets stacked on one of the stacker trays, a door is opened. In a state where the door is open, the stacker trays moved by respective elevation units are movable only downward. In this manner, accidental upward movement of each of the stacker trays caused by a malfunction of a motor or the like is regulated, whereby damage to the stacker is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Obuchi, Yasuo Fukatsu, Naoto Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8783680
    Abstract: A paper output structure includes a printer enclosure and a paper output extending device. The paper output extending device includes a pivot shaft, a drive gear, and a toothed bar which is capable of internal telescopic extension by means of a drive gear which includes a great gear portion and a first small gear portion. A printed sheet of paper is slightly stretched so as to be dropped uncrinkled and perfectly flat into the output tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wen-Chung Lo, Pan-Chih Liu, Chang-Hsiu Wu
  • Patent number: 8752826
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a supply holding section that holds paper, which is supplied to a printing section, in an overlapping manner; a paper discharging roller that discharges the paper from the printing section; a discharge holding section that holds the paper, which are discharged from the paper discharging roller, in an overlapping manner, and is installed movably to the supply holding section, in an overlapping manner; and a moving unit that is moved to move the discharge holding section to the supply holding section so as to widen a difference of a height between the discharge holding section and the paper discharging roller according to a decrease of a holding amount of the paper in the supply holding section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shintaro Komuro, Satoshi Kawamura, Shoma Kudo
  • Patent number: 8708336
    Abstract: A drive controlling unit causes an ascending and descending unit to lower a recording medium discharge tray, and then causes raising of the recording medium discharge tray until detection of the upper surface of the recording medium by an upper surface detection sensor. A determining unit determines whether a raising time of the recording medium discharge tray measured by a measuring unit is a predetermined abnormal time. When the raising time is determined by the determining unit not to be the abnormal time, the drive controlling unit causes the recording medium discharge unit to execute the subsequent recording medium discharge into the recording medium discharge tray. When the raising time is determined by the determining unit to be the abnormal time, the drive controlling unit causes the recording medium discharge unit to stop the subsequent recording medium discharge into the recording medium discharge tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Taguchi
  • Patent number: 8688263
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and a system for inserting documents (32) in an automated manner into load supports, in particular into containers (30), which are transported by means of a conveyor (26) in an order-picking system (10), comprising: a document guiding device (40) for storing one, preferably single, document (32), and for mechanically guiding same to an assigned load support, which passes the document insertion apparatus (12;12?) by means of the conveyor (26) in an automated manner such that the document (32) can be moved actively into the assigned load support, wherein the document guiding device (40) comprises receiving members (42, 44; 90) which are arranged substantially oppositely horizontal and are mounted movably relative to each other, wherein in a receiving position (FIG. 6A) the receiving members (42, 44; 90) receive the document (32) in a space therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: SSI Schaefer Peem GmbH
    Inventors: Max Winkler, Robert Fankhauser
  • Patent number: 8657283
    Abstract: There are provided a sheet stacking apparatus capable of stably stacking a large number of sheets and an image forming apparatus. The sheet stacking apparatus configured to stack sheets includes a plurality of discharge units disposed to an apparatus main body in a vertical direction and configured to discharge sheets, a plurality of sheet stacking units disposed to be independently elevatable on a side surface of the apparatus main body corresponding respectively to the plurality of discharge units and configured to stack thereon the sheets discharged from the discharge units, and an alignment unit disposed between the plurality of sheet stacking units and configured to sequentially align a position in a width direction perpendicular to a discharging direction of the sheets stacked on a lower sheet stacking unit among the plurality of sheet stacking units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Iwata, Hideki Kushida
  • Patent number: 8608151
    Abstract: A station for loading plate elements (1, 1a), from an initial pile of the elements in a storage device (4) to an infeed station for a machine for processing the elements. An unloading device (7) unloads the elements (1a) from the initial pile (3). An intermediate storage device (16), stores the unloaded elements (1) in the form of an intermediate batch (19) and is positioned downstream of the unloading device (7), a conveyor device (18) for conveying the elements (1) from the storage device (16) to the infeed station, and a shingling device (21) for shingling the elements (1) and being positioned downstream of the storage device (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Bobst Mex SA
    Inventors: Mauro Chiari, Olivier Gaillard, Raymond Lambelet
  • Patent number: 8590882
    Abstract: A feeder unit includes: a first tray that keeps a storage position in which the first tray is stored within the base portion and an operation position, and is provided at one end of a feeding path of a medium so as to place the medium thereon; a cover member that is openably and closeably provided to cover the first tray in the storage position when being closed or uncover the first tray when being open; and a first power transmitter that transmits power to open and close the cover member to the first tray, and the first power transmitter is configured so as to displace the first tray to the operation position with the displacement of the cover member when the cover member is switched to an open-state, and to the storage position with the displacement of the cover member when the cover member is switched to a closed-state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masafumi Furuyama, Toshio Miyake
  • Patent number: 8550453
    Abstract: An assembly includes a currency cassette, a pressure plate, and a plurality of gears rotatably connected to at least two opposite edges of the pressure plate. In an implementation, a plurality of substantially parallel racks are configured to engage a plurality of the gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: MEI, Inc.
    Inventor: Evan J. Cost
  • Patent number: 8353509
    Abstract: A stacker device includes a conveying belt, a longitudinal receiving guide, a paper sheet discharge detecting part, a first detecting part having a rod body, a second detecting part, and a control part for controlling the guide drive mechanism and the belt drive mechanism. The control part is formed so as to control both the mechanisms so that after the predetermined time T, which is required for the paper sheet to be stacked on the stacking surface after the paper sheet discharge detecting part detects the rear edge of the paper sheet having been conveyed to the discharging roller, passes and until the first detecting part detects the paper sheet, the longitudinal receiving guide and the conveying belt move to the upstream side of the conveyance direction at the same time, and after that, until the first detecting part does not detect the paper sheet, the longitudinal receiving guide and the conveying belt move to the downstream side of the conveyance direction at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Duplo Seiko Corporation
    Inventors: Ryuichi Oota, Hideki Oiwa, Masasuke Funase, Takaaki Maeda
  • Patent number: 8351088
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus with a structure capable of reliably discharging a document, and a multi-functional machine having the same are disclosed. The image reading apparatus includes a document feed path having a document outlet, a reading unit which reads an image of a document fed through the document feed path, and a guide member which is disposed at the document outlet downstream of the reading unit to form a curl on the trailing end portion of the document. The curl formed on the document may make it possible for a subsequent document being discharged to push the curled document out of the document outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: SAMSUNG Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae Hoon Choi, Yong Sok Yang
  • Patent number: 8326208
    Abstract: A paper discharge device includes a discharge member, a paper carry portion, a first moving section, a pair of paper side end register sections, a second moving section, and a discharge paper control section. The paper carry portion carries thereon paper discharged by the discharge member. The first moving section moves the discharge member in a paper width direction to shift the position of paper. The pair of paper side end register sections holds the paper from both sides in the paper width direction. The second moving section moves the pair of paper side end register sections in the paper width direction. The discharge paper control section, when the shifting direction of the paper by the first moving section is switched from one direction to the other direction, controls the second moving section to move the pair of paper side end register section in the other direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Tamura, Yoshiyuki Takaishi, Ryuichi Sato
  • Patent number: 8297615
    Abstract: The sheet processing apparatus is provided with: an apparatus main body that performs processing for a sheet; a sheet stacker on which a sheet transported from the apparatus main body is stacked in a first state where the sheet stacker is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane, and that is downwardly movable; and a moving-down unit that moves the sheet stacker down. The sheet stacker is provided so as to be detachable from the apparatus main body, and so as to change posture from the first state to a second state where the sheet stacker is less inclined relative to the first state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Nakamura, Ryuuichi Shiraishi, Toshio Kawachidani, Yoshimasa Sasaoka, Munetake Nagata
  • Patent number: 8262086
    Abstract: The sheet processing system includes: an image forming unit forming an image on a sheet; a sheet stack unit that lowers along a moving route, as more sheets are stacked on the sheet stack unit, the sheets each having an image formed by the image forming unit and being transported through a first route; a processing unit provided in a housing, and applying processing to a sheet having an image formed by the image forming unit, the sheet being transported through a second route; a cover member provided so that a part of the housing is openable, partially reaching a position in the moving route when the part is opened, and allowing a user to operate the processing unit by opening the part; and a moving unit moving the sheet stack unit to a position where the sheet stack unit does not interfere with the cover member, upon abnormal transportation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hidehisa Kitazawa
  • Patent number: 8240662
    Abstract: A sheet finishing apparatus includes a conveyance section which is disposed in a space section which is surrounded by peripheral walls of an image forming apparatus main body and conveys a recording medium discharged from the image forming apparatus in a paper discharge direction, a frame which is positioned in the space section and contains the conveyance section, and a removal mechanism to bring the conveyance section into a removal mode in synchronization with an operation of extracting the frame from the space section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba TEC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Isao Yahata
  • Patent number: 8240663
    Abstract: A security container for storing documents of value in stack form is provided with a stacking pocket for receiving documents of value in a stacked form, a bottom element disposed in the stacking pocket on which rests a fed document of value or a stack of fed documents of value, and an inlet opening leading into the stacking pocket which is disposed such that documents of value fed to the security container fall onto the bottom element. In the transport direction there is disposed at least one closing element with at least one portion which is deflectable from a closing position, in which it prevents a motion of a document of value back into the inlet opening, into a passing position in which it guides the document of value and in which onto the portion there acts a restoring force driving towards the closing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Giesecke & Devrient GmbH
    Inventor: Walter Krämer
  • Patent number: 8167301
    Abstract: A paper sheet processing apparatus including a housing part capable of stacking a paper sheet in a stable condition. A bill processing apparatus includes: a bill housing part capable of stacking the bill having been inserted into a bill insertion slot. The bill housing part includes a regulatory member having an opening through which a bill to be received; and a contact face which regulates a movement of the bill by contacting. The regulatory member is configured to make a coefficient of friction on the contact face contacting the bill greater than a coefficient of friction caused between stacked and housed bills.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventor: Takao Nireki
  • Patent number: 8157259
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a drive control unit which drive-controls a movable tray on which a sheet discharged from a predetermined sheet discharge port is stacked, in such a manner that the movable tray sequentially descends according to a sheet discharge operation; an arrival position acquisition unit which acquires, in predetermined timing, arrival position information indicating an actual arrival position of the movable tray when the movable tray is drive-controlled by the drive control unit using a predetermined lower limit position as a target position; a fullness setting unit which sets a full position in the sheet stacking, of the movable tray, on the basis of the arrival position information acquired by the arrival position acquisition unit; and a fullness notification unit which gives a notification that the movable tray is full according to the arrival of the movable tray at the full position, are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Chiaki Iizuka
  • Patent number: 8146914
    Abstract: An assembly includes a currency cassette, a pressure plate, and a plurality of gears rotatably connected to at least two opposite edges of the pressure plate. In an implementation, a plurality of substantially parallel racks are configured to engage a plurality of the gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: MEI, Inc.
    Inventor: Evan J. Cost
  • Patent number: 8002274
    Abstract: A sheet stacking unit that stacks sheets thereon is movable up and down. A lifting unit moves the sheet stacking unit up and down. A driving unit drives the lifting unit. A control unit controls a driving speed of the driving unit. A position detecting unit detects a position of the sheet stacking unit in an up-and-down direction. The control unit controls the driving speed according to the position of the sheet stacking unit detected by the position detecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Takashi Saito, Masahiro Tamura, Nobuyoshi Suzuki, Shuuya Nagasako, Naohiro Kikkawa, Kazuhiro Kobayashi, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Hitoshi Hattori, Junichi Tokita, Akira Kunieda, Ichiro Ichihashi, Hiroshi Maeda, Atsushi Kuriyama
  • Patent number: 7971874
    Abstract: Provided is a printing assembly for printing and binding pages. The assembly includes pinch rollers for feeding a sheet of paper into the assembly, and a printhead arrangement arranged after the rollers for printing on the paper. The assembly also includes an adhesive applicator arranged after the printhead for applying adhesive to the printed paper, as well as a binding press arranged after the applicator for binding printed sheets of paper together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7963523
    Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet stacking apparatus, whose lifting and lowering mechanism having excellent assembly properties and maintenance properties. A sheet stacking apparatus includes: a stacking portion which stacks a discharged sheet thereon; a housing portion which can support the stacking portion so as to lift and lower the stacking portion; and a lifting and lowering mechanism which lifts and lowers the stacking portion. In the sheet stacking apparatus, the stacking portion has a connecting portion which connects the stacking portion to the housing portion. The connecting portion can connect the stacking portion to the housing portion in a direction perpendicular to the lifting and lowering direction of the stacking portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuri Yoshimura, Masayoshi Fukatsu, Atsushi Ogata, Junichi Sekiyama, Hiroharu Tsuji
  • Patent number: 7931273
    Abstract: A discharge tray which needs to turn as a cover of an apparatus body opens and closes can be folded. When the cover is opened, the discharge tray is folded, and a wide installation area and a wide occupying area are not required. An image forming apparatus includes the apparatus body which forms an image on a recording paper sheet, an upper cover 130 which opens and closes the apparatus body, and a discharge tray 200 on which a sheet discharged from the apparatus body is stacked. The discharge tray is divided into a sheet stacking portion 133 and trays 210, 220 and 230 in a discharge direction of the recording paper sheet, and the discharge tray is provided over the apparatus body and the cover. The trays are turnably connected such that they can be folded as the upper cover opens and they can be extended as the upper cover closes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kouhei Mizuguchi
  • Patent number: 7891661
    Abstract: A sheet stacking device includes a liftable/lowerable sheet stacking portion on which sheets to be ejected are stackable. The sheet stacking portion moves downward as an amount of stacked sheets increases. The sheet stacking device includes a movable member disposed below the sheet stacking portion with a space therebetween, and a detecting portion configured to output a signal in accordance with a position of the movable member. Ejection of the sheet to the sheet stacking portion is stopped on the basis of the signal output from the detecting portion in accordance with downward movement of the movable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yusuke Obuchi
  • Patent number: 7793926
    Abstract: A page stacking and binding apparatus for stacking and binding pre-glued pages includes a frame. A support tray is mounted on the frame and is configured to receive the fed pages such that the pages fed into the tray can rest in an aligned condition. The support tray is movable with respect to the frame. A vibrator is engaged with the support tray to impart vibratory movement to the support tray so as to facilitate said alignment. A binding press is operatively positioned with respect to the support tray to press the aligned pages against each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7789384
    Abstract: A printing assembly comprising a printhead; a feed mechanism for feeding pages past the printhead; an adhesive application station for applying a two-part adhesive onto opposite sides of each page; and a page-binding tray for receiving the printed pages and binding the pages together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7788887
    Abstract: A filling device including a web-forming station (A), a filling station (B), a sampling station (C), and a retrieval station (D). A first box conveyor (3) for conveying boxes exiting a folder-gluer (1) and for forwarding them from the web-forming station (A) to the filling station (B) along a forwarding path (Ta). A second box conveyor (10) for conveying boxes forwarded by the first box conveyor (3) and for transferring them from the sampling station (C) to the retrieval station (D) along a transfer path (Tt).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Bobst S.A.
    Inventor: Michel Baenninger
  • Publication number: 20100117292
    Abstract: A sheet aligning mechanism that aligns sheets of paper includes, in a shift tray, a pair of main joggers and a pair of sub joggers, which are arranged downstream of the main joggers in a sheet discharge direction, for use in width-direction alignment of the sheets. One of the sub joggers is configured to move from a position where the sub jogger is not upwardly receded to an upwardly-receded position so that the thus-opened up space, of which height corresponds to a height difference between the two positions, can be utilized for sheet removal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventor: Hirotaka Iwata
  • Patent number: 7712735
    Abstract: An unstacker device for unstacking flat objects comprises a motor-driven feed magazine controlled so as to move flat objects in a stack and on edge facing an unstacking head provided with a motor-driven drive having a perforated belt and a suction chamber, which motor driven drive is actuated so as to separate a current first object from the stack and so as to eject it in a direction that is transverse to the direction in which the stack of flat objects is moved, in which device the motor-driven drive is actuated and stopped each time a current object is unstacked, and the stack of flat objects is straightened up in the magazine in response to detection of signals delivered by a plurality of sensors disposed in the unstacking head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Solystic
    Inventors: Pierre Chorier-Pichon, Stephane Ambroise, Stephane Samain
  • Patent number: 7699309
    Abstract: A collector for stacking sheets of paper, plastics, and cardboard has a feeding device and a tray downstream of the feeding device in the feeding direction. The tray is arranged in a lowered position relative to the feeding device. A stop is provided downstream of the tray. At least one transport roll transports sheets individually from the feeding device onto the tray to form a stack. An adjusting element is arranged in an area where the feeding device and the tray adjoin, wherein the adjusting element is adjustable between a lowered rest position and a position of use lifted relative to the rest position. In the position of use, the adjusting element lifts a trail end of a first sheet that has reached the tray such that a following second sheet is moved into a position underneath the trail end of the first sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Mathias Bäuerle GmbH
    Inventor: Wilhelm Markgraf
  • Patent number: 7631865
    Abstract: A medium guide elevating device includes a rotor, a medium guide unit, a sensor, a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion. The rotor is driven in forward rotation or in reverse rotation. The medium guide unit is moved to a first position when the rotor is driven in forward rotation, and is moved to a second position when the rotor is driven in reverse rotation. The sensor has a selector switch that switches between an on state and an off state. The sensor enters the off state when the medium guide unit is located between the first position and the second position. The first engaging portion engages the selector switch to switch the sensor to the on state when the medium guide unit is moved to the first position. The second engaging portion engages the selector switch to switch the sensor to the on state when the medium guide unit is moved to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yasumichi Okuda
  • Patent number: 7621685
    Abstract: Disclosed are a printer and a stacker and methods. The printer prints selectively on one or both sides of a printable web and sheets or labels are cut from the web and stacked in the stacker. The printer has an unwind mechanism that accepts and holds web rolls of different widths in center-justified relationship with respect to a print head. The printer has a spindle for mounting an ink ribbon core with a detent for center-justifying the ink-ribbon with respect to the print head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC
    Inventors: Raymond A. Blanchard, Jr., Donald J. Ward
  • Patent number: 7600751
    Abstract: An apparatus for handling mailpieces produced by a mailpiece insertion system, comprising at least one mailpiece stacking assembly and a combination support/conveyor deck. The mailpiece stacking assembly accepts a plurality of mailpieces, i.e., as they are created by a mailpiece insertion system, and aligns the mailpieces to define a mailpiece stack. The support/conveyor deck is operative to convey mailpiece containers along a mailpiece handling path and includes loading and transport sections. The loading section is, furthermore, adapted to alternately reposition each of the mailpiece containers from an in-plane position to an out-of-plane position relative to the mailpiece handling path. The in-plane position is operative to transport the mailpiece containers along the mailpiece handling path while the out-of-plane position is operative to spatially reposition each of the mailpiece containers for alignment with a side edge of the mailpiece stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventor: Boris Rozenfeld
  • Patent number: 7584959
    Abstract: A media stacker which can be inserted into a main body of a liquid ejecting apparatus and stack a discharged recording medium moves downward in an inclined direction to be located below a liquid ejecting portion and a discharge portion when the media stacker is being inserted and moves upward in the inclined direction to be located vicinity to a discharge slot when the media stacker is being extracted. A guide mechanism for guiding movement of the media stacker and a guide gear which is rotated while following to the guide mechanism are formed on both sides of the media stacker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masaaski Kinoshita, Atsushi Sumii
  • Patent number: 7523926
    Abstract: Provided is a printing arrangement having a driving station operatively driving pages along a path, an adhesive application station to apply a two-part adhesive to opposed sides of sequential pages to facilitate binding of such pages, and a printing station to print upon the pages. The printing arrangement has a page binding support tray which includes a tray suspended from a frame via dampers, said tray operatively receiving the pages after printing and after the adhesive has been applied. The tray also includes a vibrator arranged below a corner of the tray, and a number of semicircular disks spaced apart from each other and fixedly mounted to a common rotatably driven shaft extending along an axis of rotation arranged on the frame. The disks and shaft are configured to bind the pages by applying pressure to the adhesive when said shaft is driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7438287
    Abstract: A device for receiving documents is described and in one example, a device for stacking media in a mail creation inserter system is described including at least one document support member (30), adapted to receive documents and to be moved along a longitudinal axis by its own weight, and an actuator member (32) for allowing said support to move, placed on the path of movement of the documents and adapted to move between a first or blocking position preventing longitudinal movement of said support and a second or released position allowing longitudinal displacement thereof, movement from the first position to the second position being triggered by the contact of at least one document (36) with said actuator member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: SECAP Groupe Pitney Bowes S.A.S.
    Inventor: Patrick Fournier
  • Patent number: 7398967
    Abstract: A printing assembly for printing on consecutive sheets of print media includes a printing station having at least one printhead configured to print on sheets of print media passing through the printing station. A feed station is positioned upstream of the printing station and is configured to feed the sheets of print media through the printing station along a feed path. An adhesive applicator station is positioned downstream of the printing station and is configured to apply adhesive to each of the sheets of print media. A tray is positioned downstream of the adhesive applicator station. The tray has a floor and side walls that are configured so that sheets from the adhesive applicator station bear against the side walls in a substantially aligned manner. A pressing mechanism is mounted on the tray and is reciprocally displaceable relative to the tray to press and bind the sheets together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20080088082
    Abstract: A sheet accumulation apparatus includes a tray moving device elevatably provided at an apparatus frame and having a fork member; a tray device detachably attached to the fork member; a driving device for elevating the tray moving device; and a carrier device having a hand truck frame with a fork member. An operation handle is connected to the hand truck frame for accommodating the tray device separated from the tray moving device to transport the tray device from the tray moving device. The tray moving device and the carrier device are structured so that the tray device is transferred between the tray moving device and the carrier device at an attachment/detachment position at which the tray moving device is lowered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Applicant: NISCA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Makoto Iino, Hiroto Akiyama, Tomohisa Shimizu, Masato Hosaka, Masaki Higuchi
  • Patent number: 7344134
    Abstract: A stacking apparatus for stacking a plurality of flat articles on edge is provided that receives articles in an article receiver that includes a stop wall to receive the front edge of each article and stop horizontal motion of the article and a rotatable segmented roller for receiving the bottom edge of each article. The segmented roller is rotatable about a central axis of the cylinder and includes a planar surface, the planar surface receiving the bottom edge of each flat article when the planar surface is in a horizontal position. The segmented roller is rotatable from a stopped position wherein the planar surface is in the horizontal position to form a gap to receive the bottom edge of one article at a time to a rotating configuration wherein the cylindrical outer surface of the segmented roller drives the one article against a stacking conveyor bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: KFW Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph J. Keane, Donato C. Farole, Mark W. Ricker, Kurt D. Schultz
  • Publication number: 20080023910
    Abstract: An installation and a method are disclosed for storing printed products in one or more layers. In the installation and the method, the printed products are stored on at least one substantially circular conveyor track. The track on which the printed products are stored is provided with at least one opening for discharging the lowermost layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2004
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventor: Sten Wallsten
  • Patent number: 7213514
    Abstract: A sheet delivery mechanism for a sheet-fed printing machine which is adapted to reduce changes in the position of sheet material in a stack during a stack changeover operation and which facilitates the formation of a stack with properly aligned edges. The sheet-delivery mechanism includes at least one length adjustable edge guide 16 supported between a stack support plate 14 and a cross element 15 which can be detachably connected to the frame of the sheet delivery mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Dieterich Dettinger, Arno Gartner, Erich Lang