And Yieldable Connection In Moving Means Patents (Class 271/222)
  • Patent number: 11731850
    Abstract: In some examples, a substrate handling system includes a sheet processing machine and at least one alignment device that includes at least four stops. At least one stop is configured as a front stop, at least one stop is configured as a rear stop, and at least two stops are configured as lateral stops. The at least two lateral stops are arranged opposite one another, and the at least one front stop and the at least one rear stop are arranged opposite one another. The alignment device includes at least one support element that is configured as a propping element for propping at least one partial stack of sheets in the alignment device. Further, at least one respective support element is arranged at the at least two lateral stops and at the at least one rear stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: KOENIG & BAUER AG
    Inventors: Hans Christiansen, Dragan Dragoz, Kurt Genefke, Kaj Verner Madsen, Kim Nielsen, Julian Schubert
  • Patent number: 11136208
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide method for receiving sheets for a sheet supplying apparatus. The method includes converting an up and down motion of a tray to a rotational motion of a rotary member by a movement conversion mechanism, converting the rotational motion of the rotary member around a rotational axis to a linear motion of a cylindrical member parallel to the rotational axis by the rotary member and a cam and slider mechanism, and elastically pressing an end portion of the cylindrical member of the cam and slider mechanism in the rotational axis direction to lift the tray by a compression spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Wataru Ikeda
  • Patent number: 11097912
    Abstract: Printing devices include a printing engine and a media tray connected to a frame. The media tray is adapted to hold a stack of media supplied to the printing engine for printing. A magnetic trailing edge guide that is shaped to contact a corner of the stack of media is connected to a tether that is connected to the frame. A storage device is connected to the frame, and the storage device is shaped to accommodate the magnetic trailing edge guide. The length of the tether allows the magnetic trailing edge guide to reach the corner of the stack of media and to reach the storage device. The magnetic trailing edge guide includes a magnetic element adapted to magnetically hold to at least the media tray and the storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. Clark, Brian R. Ford, Arthur H. Kahn
  • Patent number: 9409739
    Abstract: Sheet alignment module and post-processing device comprising such sheet alignment module for aligning sheets in an operative orientation on a substantially horizontal sheet support member, comprising a support roller, the support roller being rotatably mounted on the sheet alignment module and configured to support the sheet alignment module during a sheet aligning movement, the sheet alignment module further comprising a jogger member comprising a substantially flat surface extending in a substantially vertical direction, the jogger member is moveably mounted on the sheet alignment module such that the jogger member is freely moveable in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the sheet alignment module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: OCE-TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventor: Johannes H. A. Dinnissen
  • Patent number: 9067753
    Abstract: In a finisher in which a sheet discharged by a pair of discharge rollers is stacked on a stack tray moveably provided in a sheet stack direction so that the position of a top surface of the sheet is constant and the sheet stacked on the stack tray is aligned by a pair of aligning members moveably provided in a width direction perpendicular to a discharge direction of the sheet, as a stack amount of the sheets stacked on the stack tray, which amount is detected by a stack amount detecting portion, is increased, the pair of aligning members upon the alignment are controlled to approach the top sheet stacked on the stack tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoto Tokuma, Akito Sekigawa
  • Patent number: 8695966
    Abstract: A paper retrieving mechanism includes a base, a handle movably connected to the base, and a resisting element. The base supports an amount of paper, and defines a first slot. The paper is to be placed over the first slot. The resisting element passes through the first slot, and is connected to the handle. The handle is to be acted upon by an external force to drive the resisting element to move along the first slot to push the paper to move relative to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kung-Huang Tsai, Ching-Wei Chen, Shih-Wei Cheng
  • Patent number: 8699040
    Abstract: A paper-feeding device and a multi-functional printer are provided. The paper-feeding device includes a base, a driving axle, a position-limiting element and a retaining element. The base has a first assembling portion. The driving axle, the position-limiting and the retaining elements are all in the base. The position-limiting element has a second assembling portion and two position-limiting portions on radial directions of the second assembling portion between the inserting portion and the body. The retaining element includes a swing frame, a paper-separating element and a spring. The body of the swing frame is located between the two position-limiting portions. The first and second pivoting portions coaxial and connect the body are pivoted respectively to the first and second assembling portions. The inserting portion of the paper-separating element is sheathed by the body and the separating element leans against the driving axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignees: Kinpo Electronics, Inc., Cal-Comp Electronics & Communications Company Limited
    Inventors: Shih-Jer Din, Ken-Hua Chang
  • 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: 8651480
    Abstract: A finisher 100 includes a pair of bundle discharge rollers 130, a lower stack tray 137, and a width-direction aligning portion 200. The width-direction aligning portion includes a pair of aligning members 1 and a driving motor. The aligning member includes a pair of first aligning members 91 that is rotatably supported while being movable in the sheet width direction orthogonal to the discharge direction and a pair of second aligning members 92. The driving motor rotates the pair of first aligning members and moves the pair of first aligning members in the width direction. When the pair of first aligning members rotates and one of the pair of second aligning members abuts on the sheet, the pair of second aligning members forms opposite surfaces in which the sheet can be aligned in the width direction, and the pair of first aligning members align the sheet by the opposite surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Watanabe, Hideki Kushida, Toshiyuki Iwata
  • Patent number: 8540229
    Abstract: The alignment unit includes: an upstream-side pressing portion that presses a side edge of the sheet; and a downstream-side pressing portion that presses the side edge of the sheet. The downstream-side pressing portion includes: a first pressing portion that is arranged downstream of the center of gravity of a predetermined-size sheet and upstream of the downstream edge of the predetermined-size sheet and that presses the predetermined-size sheet; and a second pressing portion that is arranged downstream of the downstream edge of the predetermined-size sheet and downstream of the center of gravity of a large-size sheet having twice or more than twice the length of the predetermined-size sheet and that presses the large-size sheet. The second pressing portion is formed to protrude further toward the center side in the width direction than the first pressing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroharu Tsuji
  • Patent number: 8393617
    Abstract: A sheet alignment device includes a first alignment arm, a second alignment arm, a first sensor and a controller. The first alignment arm includes a first blocking piece and a second blocking piece. During the sheet-aligning action of each sheet, the first alignment arm is moved for a preset distance from a standby position. Then, the first alignment arm is moved back to the standby position, and a waiting time is required to introduce a next sheet into the sheet placement tray. When the first sensor is no longer interrupted by the second blocking piece of the first alignment arm, the controller starts to calculate the moving distance of the first alignment arm. Since the moving distance of the first alignment arm is calculated at the same start point during the sheet-aligning action of each sheet is performed, the possibility of resulting in the moving distance error is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Primax Electronics, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ching-Tse Wang, Chia-Wen Wu
  • Patent number: 8256766
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirotaka Iwata
  • Patent number: 8113510
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus that processes sheets transported in a transport direction and stacked on a tray, including: a sheet moving device configured to be brought into contact with an upper surface of a sheet stacked on the tray and to be moved in a width direction intersecting with the transport direction to move the sheet in the width direction; an alignment member against which a side edge of the sheet moved in the width direction by the sheet moving device is brought into abutment, to align the sheet; and a guide member configured to hold down the sheet between the sheet moving device and the alignment member with the sheet moving device in contact with the upper surface of the sheet, wherein the guide member is moved integrally with the sheet moving device in the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Finetech Inc.
    Inventor: Yuki Kurosu
  • Patent number: 8109505
    Abstract: A printer includes a main body and a paper holding device. The main body is capable of printing and outputting paper. The paper holding device is secured to the main body, and includes a paper tray, a plurality of sliding members, a connecting mechanism, and a driving mechanism. The paper tray is configured for receiving the outputted paper. The sliding members are slidably located on the paper tray. The connecting mechanism is attached to the paper tray and connected to the sliding members. The driving mechanism is attached to the paper tray and capable of driving the connecting mechanism to slide the plurality of sliding members to shape a space to fit the size of outputted paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Kun Shih, Chun-Hsien Lin, Chen-Lu Fan
  • Patent number: 7670100
    Abstract: In a stack of flexible sheets on a substrate having an outer edge, some of the sheets project laterally past one of the edges. The stack is tamped together by a stabilizing element shiftable horizontally toward and away from the one edge of the substrate and a drive that shifts the stabilizing element horizontally toward the stack and substrate for engaging the projecting sheets and pushing same inward on substrate to a position lying on or inward of the outer edge without vertically bending or deflecting the sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: MSK-Verpackungs-Systeme Gesellschaft MIT Beschrankter Haftung
    Inventors: Reiner Hannen, Norbert Vermeulen
  • Patent number: 7420703
    Abstract: A system and method for flipping a media sheet. The novel system (10) includes a first mechanism (12) for receiving and holding a media sheet (16) and a second mechanism (118) for rotating the first mechanism (12) about an axis parallel to a transverse axis of the media sheet (16). In an illustrative embodiment, the first mechanism (12) is comprised of a predetermined number of slots (14), each slot (14) adapted to receive and hold a media sheet (16). Inversion of a media sheet (16) is accomplished by inputting a sheet (16) with a leading edge and a trailing edge into a slot at an input position (18), rotating the first mechanism (12) until the slot is at an output position (20), and outputting the sheet (16) with the former trailing edge now leading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Madsen, Robert Jewell, Craig Hopper
  • Patent number: 7281708
    Abstract: When the rear end of a sheet bundle S is brought to reach the clamping portion between a rocking roller and a rear end aligning wall by conveyance means, the individual timings, at which the rocking roller and the rear end aligning wall move to the escape position, are controlled to drop said sheet bundle S onto a stack tray, and then the rear end aligning wall is moved from the escape position to the support position thereby to register the rear end of the sheet bundle S dropped on the stack tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsushige Murata, Hiromichi Tsujino, Yuzo Matsumoto, Takako Hanada
  • Patent number: 7264237
    Abstract: The sheet stacking-aligning apparatus or the sheet processing apparatus includes a substantially horizontal stacking tray, a rear end aligning unit for aligning a rear end of a sheet bundle on the stacking tray, and a control unit for controlling an operation of the rear end aligning unit for aligning the sheet bundle when it is in an upstream position of the stacking tray, and the stacking tray is provided substantially horizontally. It is thus made possible to increase the stacking space, thereby increasing the number of stackable sheets and to achieve the alignment of the rear end of the sheet bundle with a simple configuration, thereby improving the stacking-aligning property of the sheet bundle on the stacking tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuhito Kato, Daisaku Kamiya, Daiju Yoshino
  • Patent number: 7172186
    Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus includes a sheet transport path for transporting a sheet; a discharge device disposed adjacent to the sheet transport path for sequentially transporting the sheet; a support tray disposed adjacent to the discharge device for temporarily supporting at least a part of the sheet transported by the discharge device; a stacker disposed at a downstream side of the support tray for stacking and storing the sheet transported from the support tray; a sheet pushing member disposed on the support tray for abutting against an edge of the sheet stacked on the support tray; and a drive device capable of rotating in forward and reverse directions. The drive device reciprocally moves the sheet pushing member between a retracted position at an upstream side of a stacking position where the sheet is stacked on the support tray and a transport position at a downstream side of the stacking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Nisca Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Saito, Yuji Hanawa, Hiroki Imazu
  • Patent number: 6901239
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a media reject device of a media dispenser including a media reject box being positioned in a receiving space of a main body and having a reject hole for inserting defective media, a door unit for opening/closing the reject hole, and a locking unit for unlocking the door unit when the media reject box is inserted into the receiving space, and locking the door unit when the media reject box is separated from the main body. The media reject device of the media dispenser consults user's convenience and prevents the media from being stolen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: LG N-SYS Inc.
    Inventor: Jae Wook Ahn
  • Patent number: 6832759
    Abstract: A sheet-shaped medium aligning apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and a sheet-shaped medium after-treatment apparatus where an arranging device is moved from a position predetermined to arrange sheet-shaped mediums on a sheet piling device to a position receiving the sheet-shaped mediums in a body so that, in taking out the sheet-shaped mediums from the body, an injury of hands or destruction of the arranging device can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuuya Nagasako, Kazuya Tsutsui, Masahiro Tamura, Akihito Andoh
  • Patent number: 6827347
    Abstract: A paper sheet processing device that accommodates various types of paper sheet performs a smooth accommodating action by accurately performing a full-state detection action in respect of the accommodated paper sheets. Full-state detecting unit 2 of the paper sheet container (paper money container) stores current values exceeding a reference value as detection signals a, b, c and, of the stored detection signals a, b, c, determines that the stacker 42 constituting a paper sheet accommodating section is full based on the detection signal c stored in the substantially latter half period K′ of the paper sheet accommodating action period T′ by the paper money guiding unit 43.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Nippon Conlux
    Inventors: Yukio Ito, Yuichi Sakamoto, Tadahiro Iwai, Tetsuro Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 6382616
    Abstract: A sheet treating apparatus has a discharging device for discharging a sheet with an image formed thereon to a sheet stacking device, the stacking device having an abutment reference member disposed on the leading end side of the sheet stacking device and an urging member disposed on a sheet trailing end side of the sheet stacking device for urging the sheet discharged from the discharging device toward the abutment reference member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Waragai, Teruo Komatsu, Yasuyoshi Hayakawa, Tomoyuki Araki, Atsushi Ogata, Masayoshi Fukatsu
  • Patent number: 6361042
    Abstract: A sheet alignment device is provided with a movable aligning member and a variable push member, movable to push one or more sheets fed onto a tray toward a sheet aligning reference surface defined on the tray, thus to align the sheets. The sheets of large size are pushed at the point close to the center of gravity of the sheets toward the aligning reference surface mainly by the variable push member, and the sheets of small size are pushed at the point close to the center of gravity of the sheets toward the aligning reference surface mainly by the movable aligning member. The sheets of any size can be properly pushed stably without experiencing an undesirable rotational moment, thus to be exactly aligned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Nisca Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Shimura, Takashi Saito
  • Patent number: 6116591
    Abstract: A paper supply tray of a printer, including: a main body, for receiving sheets of paper or other printable material, insertable into and detachable from the printer; a guide, for supporting an edge of the received sheet, capable of sliding in the main body; a locking mechanism for immovably locking the guide; and a plurality of position determining holes formed in the main body along a path where the guide is slidable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jeong-hoon Kim
  • Patent number: 6102385
    Abstract: A finisher includes an additional-working tray and a leading edge stopper and trailing edge stopper for aligning folded and unfolded sheets fed into the additional-working tray. The leading edge stopper contacts a leading edge of each sheet when it is fed into the additional-working tray. The trailing edge stopper is movable relative to the additional-working tray in accordance with a sheet length. The trailing edge stopper is adapted to align one or more sheets received in the additional-working tray relative to a discharge direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Wakamatsu, Norihiko Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6065748
    Abstract: An item processing arrangement transporting items at ;a prescribed nominal speed along a given transport track, with one or severed sort-pockets and associated diverters disposed therealong, whereby, in each sort-pocket, there is provided inject-reaction-guide arm assembly adapted to drive a so-diverted item into its pocket and comprising: an inject roll to accelerate and drive the item faster than this nominal speed; an arm assembly coupled to rotate with this inject roll and including a guide arm adapted to guide a so-injected item toward its position in the stack in the pocket; this inject roll and guide-arm being arranged to rotate the arm away from its stack each time an item is entering under the action of the the speed differential, and also arranged to be spring-driven to return the arm toward its the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Unisys Corporation
    Inventor: Sammy C. Hutson
  • Patent number: 6024359
    Abstract: A document processing arrangement transporting sheets at a prescribed nominal speed along a track, terminated by sort-pockets, each with an associated diverter plus a guide assembly for guiding and driving a so diverted sheet into its pocket, the guide comprising an inject roll to accelerate the sheet, plus an arm assembly coupled to rotate with the roll and including an arm for guiding a so injected sheet toward its position in the pocket stack; this roll and arm assembly being arranged to rotate the arm away from its stack each time a sheet is entering, and also to be spring-driven to return the arm toward its stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Unisys Corp
    Inventor: Sammy C. Hutson
  • Patent number: 5772201
    Abstract: A damping apparatus has a first damper mechanism positioned at a leading end of a sheet which is introduced into a sheet stacking region, for movement in the direction A away from the sheet stacking region to absorb shocks produced by the sheet when the sheet hits the first damper mechanism, and a second damper mechanism combined with the first damper mechanism, for movement in the direction A away from the sheet stacking region to absorb the shocks produced by the sheet S while the shocks produced by the sheet are being absorbed by the first damper mechanism and then after the first damper mechanism starts moving back in the direction B toward the sheet stacking region. Sheets can successively be introduced at a high speed into the sheet stacking region, and are effectively prevented from being folded or improperly positioned in the sheet stacking region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Shinozuka
  • Patent number: 5711520
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of stacking documents in an arrangement for transporting checks at a prescribed nominal speed along a given transport track, with one or several storage-pockets and associated diverter means disposed there-along, one for each storage-pocket, this involving: providing an injecting-reaction-guide structure for each storage pocket, and arranging each guide structure to drive a so-diverted document into its pocket and to include an inject roll structure to accelerate and drive the check faster than nominal speed; a coupling arm assembly structure to cooperate with each guide structure and inject roll structure, and to include an arm structure adapted to guide a so-injected document toward its position in the stack in its pocket; the roll structure and arm assembly structure being arranged to direct the arm structure away from its stack each time a document is entering under the action of the speed differential, and to later return the arm structure toward its stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Inventor: Sammy C. Hutson
  • Patent number: 5522589
    Abstract: A document processing arrangement transporting checks or like financial documents at a prescribed nominal speed along a track, terminated by sort-pockets, each with an associated diverter plus a guide assembly for guiding and driving a so-diverted document into its pocket, the guide comprising an inject roll to accelerate the document, plus an arm-assembly coupled to rotate with the roll and including an arm for guiding a so-injected document toward its position in the pocket-stack; this roll and arm assembly being arranged to rotate the arm away from its stack each time a document is entering, and also to be spring-driven to return the arm toward its stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: Unisys Corporation
    Inventor: Sammy C. Hutson
  • Patent number: 5419545
    Abstract: A document processing arrangement transporting checks or like financial documents at a prescribed nominal speed along a track, terminated by sort-pockets, each with an associated diverter plus a guide assembly for guiding anddriving a so-diverted document into its pocket, the guide comprising an inject roll to accelerate the document, plus an arm-assembly coupled to rotate with the roll and including an arm for guiding a so-injected document toward its position in the pocket-stack; this roll and arm assembly being arranged to rotate the arm away from its stack each time a document is entering, and also to be spring-driven to return the arm toward its stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: Unisys Corporation
    Inventor: Sammy C. Hutson
  • Patent number: 5374051
    Abstract: A relief device for the tamping mechanism of an offset sheet set stacker. A sheet set stacker is provided having a plurality of retractable tamping mechanisms for alternately offsetting sheet sets within the stacker. Each tamping mechanism is provided with a spring biased follower arm which locks the tamping mechanism in an operative position. A relief device in the form of an oblong pivot mount allows the tamping mechanism to not only pivotally retract from an operative position but to also shift a slight amount transversely to the paper path process direction. This slight shift prevents a binding of the tamper against the just compiled sheet stack and minimizes the occurrence of sheet stack disturbance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1994
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Vernon W. Ulrich, Carl B. Lewis
  • Patent number: 5226642
    Abstract: Apparatus for forming a sheet delivery pile in a printing press, the apparatus including a sheet receiving surface for the formation thereon of the sheet delivery pile, a rotatable shaft, a sheet stop member attached to the rotatable shaft and extending along the leading edge of the sheet delivery pile, a lever member attached to the rotatable shaft, an oscillation device for reciprocally oscillating the rotatable shaft between a first position wherein the sheet stop member is in contact with the leading edge of the sheet delivery pile and a second position wherein the sheet stop member is out of contact with the leading edge of the sheet delivery pile, and a biasing arrangement for biasing the sheet stop member in a direction from the second position and towards the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Udo Ganter
  • Patent number: 5183250
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing items in selected configurations and a system and method for controlling the same. More particularly, an apparatus for producing mail pieces and a system and method for controlling it to produce mail pieces in a variety of configurations are disclosed. The apparatus includes a laser printer and folding sealing apparatus controlled by a data processor. The folder sealer apparatus combines sheets printed by the laser printer with pre-printed sheets and envelope forms, which also may be printed by the laser printer or may be windowed envelopes, folds the sheets as necessary and folds and seals the envelope form about the folded sheets to produce a mail piece. A user inputs a configuration for the mail piece which is translated by the data processor into a data structure and transmitted to the controller of the folder sealer apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1993
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Carl A. Miller, Morton Silverberg, Steven A. Supron
  • Patent number: 5152622
    Abstract: The invented printer includes a paper drive and mechanisms which hold paper in proper alignment in the drive. Specifically, it includes a pressure plate capable of bringing a sheet of paper into contact with a drive roller so that the paper is properly aligned, a wrapper which keeps paper in proper contact with the drive roller, a media edge contactor that presses against paper, a carriage guide support which helps to insure proper alignment of the paper during printing, and a back-out restraint to prevent paper from backing out of the printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Steve O. Rasmussen, Allan G. Olson, Vance M. Stephens, William R. Huseby
  • Patent number: 5060929
    Abstract: A pair of back sheet stops are pivotably mounted on a sheet delivery assembly and move in an oscillating manner to align a stack of sheets on a main pile board. As an auxiliary deposit table is inserted above the main sheet pile to allow removal of the main sheet pile while the printing machine is running, the back sheet stops are maintained in contact both with the main sheet pile and also with an interim sheet pile being formed on the auxiliary deposit table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Helmut Kohlmann
  • Patent number: 5054766
    Abstract: A paper positioning device having a paper positioning member which is pivotable in abutment against one edge of a paper sheet loaded on a receptacle for moving the paper sheet to a positioning position for thereby positioning the paper sheet. By a simple mechanism and control, the movement of the paper positioning member is slowed down at the positioning position and accelerated until the positioning member reachines it. The paper positioning member performs a pivoting movement twice while a drive shaft associated therewith performs a reciprocating movement once. The device is, therefore, no only durable but also positions paper sheets efficiently and positively without damaging the paper sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1991
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyoshi Seki, Nobuyuki Morii, Takashi Komada, Masatoshi Hosoi, Yoshihide Sugiyama, Atuhisa Hujiwara, Masashi Shimada, Tsutomu Ichinose, Yuji Ueno, Goro Mori, Toshiyuki Kikuchi, Masahiro Minato, Shin Umeda, Hirobumi Yoshino
  • Patent number: 5044625
    Abstract: A bi-directionally vertically bin indexed multi-bin sheet sorter, for a fixed position sheet output, such as a copier or printer, with a sheet edge alignment registration jogging system for tamping sheets which are in the immediately previously loaded bins directly above or below the bin being loaded (the bin adjacent the fixed sheet output) concurrently with that bin being loaded but without interfering with the feeding of the sheet into that bin. A single jogging system is stationarily mounted adjacent the sheet output to intermittently horizontally move a jogging member (which extends vertically alongside all three of these adjacent sorter bins) into the above and below bins for tamping sheets therein towards a registration position, such as a corner stapling position, but is configured to not extend into the sheet feeding path and to not tamp sheets in the bin being loaded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Paula E. Reid
  • Patent number: 5039081
    Abstract: A squaring and aligning assembly for the transfer frame of a corrugated sheet stacking and feeding apparatus is mounted within a transverse guide member in the form of an elongated channel. Separate squaring shoes at each side of the machine are selectively moved along the channel. They can be connected in centered positions along opposite flights of a powered chain to center a block of sheets relative to the machine. One can be connected to a chain flight in an off-center position to align the block of sheets in an off-centered aligned condition. Either shoe can be clamped to the channel for edge alignment in response to movement of the remaining shoe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1991
    Assignee: Thermoguard Equipment, Inc.
    Inventor: David Shill
  • Patent number: 4925172
    Abstract: A low-cost finisher that creates stapled books includes a tray that is tilted at an acute angle backward and away from the direction of incoming copy sheets. Copy sheets are fed into and slide down the copy sheet support surface of the tray and against a rear registration wall of the tray under the influence of tampers. Another tamper forces the copy sheets against a side registration guide of the tray to align them in the head of a stapler. Stapled books are transported out of the tray to a catch tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth G. Christy, Thomas F. Cooper, Richard Dastin
  • Patent number: 4867436
    Abstract: A sheet aligning arrangement adapted to accommodate a plurality of sheets fed into it for aligning, and to feed out the aligned sheets one sheet by one sheet. The arrangement includes a feed roller, a first aligning member movable between a first position defining a sheet aligning reference position and a second position parallel to the first position and defining a sheet transport reference position, a second aligning member located in a position confronting the first aligning member, and pivotable in a direction intersecting at right angles with a sheet transport direction, and a displacing device for displacing the first aligning member to the first position during the alignment to effect aligning together with the second aligning member, and also for displacing the first aligning member to the second position during the re-feeding of the sheets by the feed roller, while pivoting the second aligning member to align the sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Hanada, Yasuo Nakamura, Kazuyuki Fukui
  • Patent number: 4730821
    Abstract: The device includes a side wall (13), which leaves open a slot (15) of a variable width relative to a support (11). The flaps of letter envelopes are inserted into the slot (15) angled at 90 degrees, where the letter envelopes rest in a stack on the support (11) and are maintained on their side by the side wall (13). Three sensors (36, 38, 39) serve to provide signals for a motor control of the position of the side wall. The side wall can be manually moved against the force of a spring (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1988
    Assignee: Hasler AG
    Inventor: Daniel Fluckiger
  • Patent number: 4431177
    Abstract: Sheet offsetting and registering apparatus including a sheet transport to transport a sheet to a receiving station; sheet restrainer to restrain the sheet during a portion of the transport path adjacent the receiving station, an offset registration member positioned along an edge of the sheet transport adjacent the portion of the transport path having the sheet restrainer and being movable laterally with a directional component perpendicular to the direction of sheet transport, and a pivotally mounted arm to laterally move the offset registration member perpendicular to the direction of sheet transport as said sheet is transported past the registration member to gently tap the edge of the sheet and offset and register it during its path of travel. In a specific embodiment the sheet restrainer is a rotatable inverting and stacking wheel with at least one arcuate sheet retaining slot into which a sheet may be inserted such that its beam strength is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1984
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Jack Beery, Werner F. Hoppner
  • Patent number: 4319744
    Abstract: A jogger for lateral alignment of sheets in a sheet-delivering device of a sheet-processing machine, such as a printing machine, has displaceable diaphragm; resiliently yieldable member; and a pusher member connected with the diaphragm and the resiliently yieldable member so that upon displacement of the diaphragm in one direction, the pusher member first moves toward a sheet-delivery device against the force of the resiliently yieldable member and then tilts after contacting a sheet stack in the sheet-delivery device, wherein the diaphragm is elastic and pneumatically impingeable to perform the displacement, so that the pusher member automatically adjusts upon the sheet stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1982
    Assignee: Veb Kombinat Polygraph "Werner Lamberz" Leipzig
    Inventors: Hartmut Nagel, Hans Zimmermann, Fritz Pieper, Dieter Plage
  • Patent number: 4318541
    Abstract: A device for positioning sheets in a stack in a sheet-processing machine includes a number of stops positioned at the front edges of the sheets being stacked for aligning the front edges of the sheets, and two joggers located at lateral sides of the stack. Each jogger includes an oscillating plate having a horizontal arm and a vertical arm which extends towards the upper end of the stack. The plate is provided with a drive imparting the oscillating movement to the vertical arm thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1982
    Assignee: Veb Kombinat Polygraph "Werner Lamberz" Leipzig
    Inventors: Hartmut Nagel, Hans Zimmermann, Fritz Pieper
  • Patent number: 4147340
    Abstract: Apparatus for stacking and jogging cut sheets or carton blanks continuously includes a pair of side-by-side chambers comprising two side walls and a central divider panel and being open at the front, rear, top and bottom. A U-shaped elevator is disposed in each chamber and means is provided for raising and lowering each elevator individually. A plurality of vertically disposed, spaced stop fingers are mounted at the front of each chamber for outward swinging movement as a unit to permit removal of stacked blanks but normally operating as fixed stops for the blanks being fed to the chamber. Each chamber has a pair of vertical jogger plates and a motor, lever, linkage and pivot mechanism reciprocates one of the jogger plates toward and away from the divider panel and the other jogger plate toward and away from the stop fingers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1979
    Inventor: Homer F. Butts
  • Patent number: 4033576
    Abstract: A paper feeding and receiving system for use on presses and duplicators, such system including a paper feed regulator assembly which has a microswitch mounted on a supporting arm above a vertically reciprocable feed table for sensing the height of papers vertically stacked thereon. An electrically actuated solenoid is mountable on the duplicator or press, and operates in response to closure of the microswitch to actuate a pawl latch lever and mechanical linkage to control and effect the incremental elevation of the paper feed table disposed below the microswitch. The paper feed and receiving system further includes a balance beam subassembly mounted on the paper feed table for supporting dual, horizontally spaced, vertically extending stacks of paper to facilitate simultaneous feeding of two sheets of paper to the press or duplicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1977
    Assignee: J.I.M. Corporation
    Inventor: Jay E. Stanfield
  • Patent number: 4025069
    Abstract: An apparatus for straightening a stack of cards is disclosed. The apparatus includes a frame, an arm pivotally secured to the frame at one end thereof, a spring biasing the arm away from the stack of cards, a leaf spring secured at one end thereof to the arm near the pivoted end resiliently biased toward the stack of cards, a backstop secured to the frame, and a solenoid that can be actuated to project the arm toward the stack of cards so that the leaf spring presses against the stack of cards and also to urge the upper most cards in the stack against the backstop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1977
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew L. Amort
  • Patent number: RE30031
    Abstract: A device for jogging or laterally tapping a loosely formed stack of sheets in order to form neat piles in receiving bins having a plurality of vertical rows of shelves. A jogging rod periodically is activated to move the stack of sheets located upon the shelves against a uniform backing device assuring a vertical stack, the jogging rod is movable to a position allowing access to the shelves from the side having the jogging mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1976
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1979
    Assignee: Norfin, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald L. Snellman