Members Adjustable To Sheet Size Patents (Class 271/223)
  • Patent number: 5860647
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which paper fed from a paper feeder is transported to image forming portions. A toner image is formed on the paper, and a pair of paper discharge rollers of a discharge unit are disposed at the rear end of a paper storing unit to discharge the paper into the paper storing unit. Preferably, the paper storing unit is disposed inside of the apparatus, with a lid or panel covering an access opening after the paper discharge operation has been completed, the paper storing unit is withdrawn from the apparatus; and/or feeds a stack of paper outside the apparatus upon opening of the panel. Therefore during the image forming operation, the leakage of noise made in the apparatus is prevented or reduced. Furthermore, since paper is discharged toward the front of the image forming apparatus, the width of the apparatus is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masumi Ikesue
  • Patent number: 5851008
    Abstract: A paper handling device adapted to allow for the size of an accumulator region to be varied is disclosed. Apparatus 1 includes a feed section 2, and an accumulation region 3. Paper is fed into accumulation region 3 by roller 16, and out of accumulation region 3 via rollers 26. Thus, there are no belts extending across the accumulation region, and its size can be readily altered by mutual movement of track parts 19, 20. This allows for different sized paper to be easily accommodated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Intelmail Australia Ptd. Ltd.
    Inventors: Heros Dilanchian, Miro Mackiewicz, Christopher Malouf
  • Patent number: 5835503
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for serially programming or testing a programmable logic device. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of: instructing the programmable logic device, in one instruction, to load program data, load address information and program the program data into a memory location defined by the address information; loading the program data into a data storage element and the address information into an address storage element; and programming the program data into the memory location. The novel method further comprises the step of instructing the programmable logic device, in one instruction, to read verify data from the memory location, to compare the verify data with the program data and to program the program data into the memory location. The novel method further comprises the steps of comparing the verify data with the program data and generating a verify signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Christopher W. Jones, Babar Raza
  • Patent number: 5810349
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) for depositing sheet products (39, 40) at an offset has a deposition tray (2) that can be rotated alternately by 180 degrees in opposite directions about a vertical axis (41), and is equipped with a vertically movable deposition table (34). Delimiters (19, 20), arranged symmetrically to the rotation axis (41) and parallel to one another, and extending transverse to transport direction A of the sheet products (39, 40), are provided above a top starting position of the deposition table (34). Associated with each of the delimiters (19 or 20) are pivotedly arranged holding elements (17, 33 or 18, 32), which can be placed on the sheet products (39, 40) deposited on the deposition table (34). The delimiters (19 or 20) and the associated holding elements (17, 33 or 18, 32) are each configured as horizontally displaceable assemblies (21, 22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Helmut Bloser, Gerhard Glemser, Juergen Ries
  • Patent number: 5803631
    Abstract: A print media alignment apparatus is disclosed. An embodiment includes a first member configured to apply a varying force to at least one print media sheet of a print media stack. This force varies from a minimum below a first print media stack height to a maximum at a second print media stack height. The alignment apparatus also includes a second member configured to apply a constant force to the print media stack irrespective of the stack height. Another embodiment includes a print media width adjuster configured to be moveable adjacent a print media stack having at least one sheet of print media, the print media stack defining a plane. The alignment apparatus also includes a wall on the width adjuster. The wall includes a wall first print media contact surface configured to slope at an angle with respect to the plane. The alignment apparatus further includes a member attached to the width adjuster, the member including a member print media contact surface configured to be perpendicular to the plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey Glen Bingham, Carl David Beckett, Craig Daniel Sunada
  • Patent number: 5782469
    Abstract: A stacking device for stacking card-shaped products in vertically upright positions. The stacking device has a brake stop that is flexible in the moving direction of the card-shaped products and mounted on a rocker-type drivable component. The rocker presses against the stack end in the stacking direction to advance the stack to receive additional products. The stacking device further includes a stack receiver defining the front end of the stack and including a holding bracket with a bearing surface. The stack receiver preferably is adjustable to accommodate varying widths of products to be stacked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Esselte Meto International GmbH
    Inventors: Jurgen Schoon, Heinrich Volk
  • Patent number: 5743518
    Abstract: A paper stacking apparatus for an image reading apparatus and an image reading apparatus with a paper stacking apparatus wherein paper sheets can be stacked appropriately to allow a large amount of paper sheets to be read rapidly at a time are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Takashimizu, Masahiro Yoshida, Toshiaki Anzai, Toshio Saito
  • Patent number: 5709382
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a sheet stacking device for stacking sheets sequentially driven out of the apparatus body has a stack tray including a base, and a pair of side fences mounted on the base and each having an inclined portion. The side fences are moved to positions matching the width of sheets beforehand. When the sheet driven out of the apparatus body falls onto the base, the opposite widthwise edges of the sheet are reshaped in an inverted arch configuration by the inclined portions of the side fences. Hence, sheets sequentially stacked on the base have their opposite edges accurately aligned with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Tohoku Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Shima
  • Patent number: 5692745
    Abstract: A document accumulator for high-speed document assembly includes first and second pulleys, a first outer belt extending between the first and second pulleys for contacting and transporting a document, a second outer belt extending between the first and second pulleys, and extending generally parallel to and horizontally displaced from the first outer belt, for contacting and transporting a document, and an inner belt generally parallel to and horizontally displaced from both the first and second outer belts such that it lies between the first and second outer belts. A first side guide has a first vertical surface adjacent to a horizontal reach of the first outer belt, and a second side guide has a second vertical surface adjacent to a horizontal reach of the second outer belt. A belt-dampening table having a horizontal surface adjacent to it horizontal reach of the inner belt is provided for dampening oscillations of the inner belts which occur at high speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: Bell and Howell Phillipsburg Company
    Inventors: Leonard Neifert, Mark Ricker
  • Patent number: 5690030
    Abstract: A combination of a printing press and a chainless delivery system therefor includes adjustable sheet stops disposed in a horizontal plane, the delivery system being subdivided into a part proximate to the press and a part distal to the press, one of the sheet stops being a rear sheet stop fixedly connected to the distal part of the press, the distal part being adjustable horizontally, together with the rear sheet stop, in a direction towards and away from the printing press.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Martin Greive
  • Patent number: 5647587
    Abstract: A document accumulator capable of tool-less adjustment to accomodate a plurality of paper sizes includes a shaft laterally oriented across a paper path through the accumulator, a guide element mounted to the shaft for contacting and guiding documents transported through the accumulator, a connector for slidably connecting the guide element to the shaft, and a compressible O-ring inserted between the shaft and the connector for imparting friction therebetween, whereby the guide element can be translated along the shaft without the use of a tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: Bell & Howell Phillipsburg Company
    Inventors: Michael Smart, Mark Ricker, Leonard Neifert
  • Patent number: 5639078
    Abstract: In a sheet compiling and fastening system, in which a plurality of printed sheets may be stacked in a compiler with their opposing lateral edges being tamped with opposing edge tampers repositionable to different sheet dimensions, dual U shaped binding edge registration members are respectively connected to these dual edge tampers, laterally offset, so as to automatically reposition therewith for optimized registering of a binding edge of the sheets which is orthogonal to the tamped sheet edges. A single stapler is movable parallel to this binding registration edge for selectably plurally stapling the stacked sheets, and the edge registration members are dimensioned to be movable by the edge tamper movement system directly through the open jaw of the stapler to avoid interference and provide a more compact system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Barry P. Mandel, Joseph J. Ferrara, Frederick A. Green
  • Patent number: 5615875
    Abstract: In a sheet-fed printing press, there is provided a device for receiving sheet piles thereon, including a pile table movable up and down, spacers disposed on the pile table, and pile supports of respective sizes corresponding to respective sizes or formats of the sheets disposable on the pile supports, the spacers being distributed over and locally fixed to the pile table so that the respective pile supports of varying sizes rests on a selected number of spacers sufficient for safely supporting the respective pile supports against tilting, the pile supports of respectively smaller size resting on a smaller number of the respective spacers than the pile supports of respectively larger size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Martin Greive, Bernd Ruf
  • Patent number: 5613672
    Abstract: A paper retainer assembly for attachment to a feed-in mechanism at a paper inlet or a feed-out mechanism at a paper outlet, includes a flexible, linear paper retainer, such as a metal or plastic wire. The paper retainer is operable to be extended to an extended position for use and retracted to a retracted position when not in use. The assembly also includes a locking mechanism operable to maintain the paper retainer in the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Masayuki Tanaka, Yuji Ohashi, Masashi Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 5590873
    Abstract: A document accumulator capable of tool-less adjustment to accommodate a plurality of paper sizes includes first and second shafts laterally oriented across a paper path through the accumulator, first and second multi-grooved pulleys affixed to the first and second shafts, respectively, and at least one endless belt extending between the shafts, the endless belt engaging a first groove of the first multi-grooved pulley and a first groove of the second multi-grooved pulley. The belt is translatable without the use of tools into a second groove of the first multi-grooved pulley and a second groove of the second multi-grooved pulley for making a paper-size adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Bell & Howell Phillipsburg Company
    Inventors: Michael Smart, Steven McCay
  • Patent number: 5553843
    Abstract: In a reproduction system in which a reproduction apparatus with an output of printed sheets at a sheet output position (usually edge registered) is operatively connected to an output sheet processing apparatus having a sheet input position (usually center registered) for sequentially receiving and processing the printed sheets, a lateral alignment system is provided for laterally aligning the sheet input position of the output sheet processing apparatus directly with the sheet output position of the reproduction apparatus without an intermediate sheet transport. The lateral alignment is preferably with a universal interconnect and transporter module or unit adapted to support and transport various different sheet processing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Richard C. Schenk
  • Patent number: 5536000
    Abstract: A sheet media handling system is provided for use in a sheet processor, such system incorporating a pair of pivotal rail members which adjust laterally to afford support of variously-sized sheets. The system employs both input and output support structures, the input support structure including a pair of relatively movable side walls which adjust to accommodate sheets of different size. The rail members are linked by cooperative camming engagement with an elongate linkage arm which extends between the rail members to ensure simultaneous pivot of the rail members between respective sheet-supporting and sheet-releasing positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: Kieran B. Kelly
  • Patent number: 5537195
    Abstract: A sheet-accommodating cassette includes a cassette body for accommodating sheets. The cassette body is made up of a main container and a sub container. Both the main container and the sub container have a plurality of engagement portions which enable them to be coupled to each other at one of a plurality of positions selected according to the size of the sheets to be accommodated. A sheet-accommodating cassette, which is formed by coupling the main container to the sub container in such a manner that the cassette can accommodate sheets of a large size, is housed in an image-forming apparatus body with part of the cassette protruding from the image-forming apparatus body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Sagara, Kiyoshi Amano, Ken Murooka
  • Patent number: 5527025
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming sheet material assemblages includes a plurality of pockets which are movable past a plurality of sheet material feeders. Each of the pockets includes a sheet material support which is movable between any one of a plurality of closed positions and an open condition. When the sheet material support is in a closed position, it blocks the lower end portion of the pocket and supports sheet material in the pocket. When the sheet material support is in the open condition, it is ineffective to block the lower portion of the pocket so that the sheet material assemblage can move out of the pocket through the lower end portion of the pocket. An actuator is provided to move the sheet material support from the open condition to a closed position. The sheet material support is connected with side portions of the pocket by a four bar linkage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: AM International, Inc.
    Inventor: James R. Schlough
  • Patent number: 5473420
    Abstract: An apparatus for stacking, registering and attaching one or multiple sets of electrophotographic printing machine output. The copy sheets are discharged from the machine and fall into an inclined compiling tray and are longitudinally registered by flexible, endless belts contacting the top surface of each sheet. The belts are restrained from deforming and walking along the top of the stack by an idler member allowing greater stack capacity in the tray. Each sheet is then laterally shifted by a tamping mechanism to laterally register the sheet. Once a complete set of sheets has been discharged and fully registered the sheets of the stack are then attached by a stapler or some other sheet fastening or binding device and the stock is discharged from the compiling tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Charles D. Rizzolo, John R. Falvo
  • Patent number: 5441254
    Abstract: Apparatus for manipulating streams of discrete sheets or webs of coherent sheets has a frame for a carriage which supports several tools for depression, alignment, orientation, stoppage, severing, flexing and/or other manipulation of sheets. At least some of the tools are adjustable in or counter to the direction of advancement of sheets and/or transversely of the direction of advancement of sheets in order to change the setup for the manipulation of different sheets or for a different manipulation of sheets. The operation of the parts which serve to adjust the tools can be automated, and such parts comprise a locating device which is movable longitudinally or transversely of the path for the sheets or web and can be coupled to two or more discrete distancing elements which are affixed to or form part of holders for the tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1995
    Assignee: E.C.H. Will GmbH
    Inventor: Alfred Besemann
  • Patent number: 5439209
    Abstract: A device for arranging sheets of paper (32) in a stack (33) having a frame (2) to be mounted fixed in place, with an inlet opening (62) for introducing the sheets (32) to be stacked. The arm (4) is pivotably seated at its rear end on the frame (2) and contains a conveying member (45) driven by a motor (43) for conveying the sheets (32). A container (3) is provided for receiving the sheets (32), with a vertically displaceable carriage (12) and a drive member (15) for displacing the carriage (12). The front end of the arm (4) is pivotably connected to with the carriage (12). There is a sensor (68) at the front end of the arm (4) for detecting the upper edge of the stack (33), and a control device (67), connected with the sensor (68) and the drive member (15), for maintaining the front end of the arm (4 ) at the height of the stack (33) being formed. Finally, an exchangeable cassette (28) for receiving the stack (33) can be inserted into the container (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Inventor: Kurt Runzi
  • Patent number: 5423656
    Abstract: Device for jogging a pile of sheets includes a pushrod extending in a direction towards a sheet pile, the pushrod having a thrust plate disposed on an end thereof pointing in the direction towards the sheet pile, a device for holding the pushrod, the holding device being displaceable in a jogging direction, a drive connectible to the holding device for imparting a jogging movement thereto in the jogging direction, the pushrod being mounted so as to be displaceable in the direction towards the sheet pile for adjusting the position of the thrust plate relative to the holding device, an adjusting device for adjusting the pushrod in position for effecting a format adjustment, the pushrod being variable in length, a device for varying the length of the pushrod, and a device for fixing the pushrod at and for releasing the pushrod from a respective length thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1995
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Filsinger, Roland Hirth
  • Patent number: 5419548
    Abstract: A sorter for sorting sheets successively supplied thereto, comprising: a fixed frame; a movable frame movable vertically with respect to the fixed frame; a plurality of bins arranged one over another at a predetermined distance and each having an upper surface sloping upwardly in a sheet supply direction for receiving thereon one or more of the sheets, the bins being supported on the movable frame; a non-sort bin situated upwardly of the bins and supported pivotally on an upper portion of the movable frame for receiving the non-sorted sheets, the non-sort bin being biased normally so as to slant upwardly in the sheet supply direction; and a holder mounted on the fixed frame, at a position to which the sheets are to be supplied, for holding the non-sort bin horizontally against the bias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: Riso Kagaku Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Ueda, Terutoshi Nakao
  • Patent number: 5411252
    Abstract: A side guide device adjustably positioned between two laterally spaced frame members includes a pair of side guide plates, each having vertical and horizontal members and a transverse mounting plate. A pair of rail members are mounted on the laterally spaced frame members. Each of the rail members includes a longitudinal groove wherein ends of the transverse mounting plate are adjustably positioned within the grooves of the rail members whereby the side guide members are positionable longitudinally. The transverse mounting plate includes at least two lateral slots through which the side guide members are adjustably mounted whereby the side guide members are positionable laterally. There is structure for locking the transverse mounting plate at a fixed position in the grooves of the rail members. The side guide plates are mounted below the locking plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth W. Lowell
  • Patent number: 5407192
    Abstract: A sorter for sorting sheets successively supplied thereto, comprising: a fixed frame; a movable frame movable vertically with respect to the fixed frame; a plurality of bins arranged one over another at a predetermined distance and each having an upper surface sloping upwardly in a sheet supply direction for receiving thereon one or more of the sheets, the bins being supported on the movable frame; a non-sort bin situated upwardly of the bins and supported pivotally on an upper portion of the movable frame for receiving the non-sorted sheets, the non-sort bin being biased normally so as to slant upwardly in the sheet supply direction; and a holder mounted on the fixed frame, at a position to which the sheets are to be supplied, for holding the non-sorer bin horizontally against the bias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Riso Kagaku Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Ueda, Yasuhiro Fujimoto, Terutoshi Nakao
  • Patent number: 5382016
    Abstract: A sheet sorter with includes a bin unit including a plurality of bins for accommodating sorted sheets, sheet stacker for accommodating non-sorted sheets, sheet switcher for selectively guiding the sheets to the plural bins or to the sheet stacker, stapler for stapling the sheets accommodated in the bins, for each of the bins, and controller for controlling the sheet switcher to direct the sheet to the bins in response to instructions for sorting and stapling the sheets, to direct the sheet to the sheet stacker in response to instructions for accommodating the sheets without sorting, and to direct the sheets to the bin unit in response to instructions for stapling the sheets without sorting. The apparatus further includes a reciprocating aligning member which is driven to an alignment position during movement of the bins and is again driven to the alignment position to complete the aligning operation after completion of the movement of the bins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Kobayashi, Koichi Murakami, Masakazu Hiroi, Naho Wakao
  • Patent number: 5377966
    Abstract: A compact automatic document feeder having a document storage portion including a document tray for placing thereon given original documents to be fed into an image processing device such as a copying machine, and a document receiving device disposed on the document tray. The document receiving device comprises document holding members movable widthwise for holding the document to be fed into the image processing device, and document supporting members for receiving the document discharged from the image processing device is adapted to effectively divide the document stacked on the document tray and the discharged document independently, so as to prevent the document being discharged from colliding with the document left on the document tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Assignee: Nisca Corporation
    Inventor: Masaki Ohmori
  • Patent number: 5374050
    Abstract: A jogger having a jogger plate is floatingly supported by a four-bar linkage swingably mounted upon a support post. The four-bar linkage is a parallelogram-type linkage which enables the jogger plate to maintain its orientation in space regardless of any swinging movement experienced by the parallelogram linkage. An adjustable weight is provided to control the force exerted upon a signature stack during operation. The jogger plate is adjustable to provide proper positioning of the plate relative to the stack being jogged into alignment. Sensors control the operation of the jogger assembly responsive to the presence of a stack to be jogged and responsive to the movement of the jogging assembly to a given position displaced from the nominal operating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1994
    Assignee: Prim Hall Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: John E. Prim
  • Patent number: 5366216
    Abstract: A print material handling system is described which comprises an input tray, and an output tray, with the trays having at least one common side wall which is adjustable laterally relative to the other side wall such that adjustment of the moveable side wall simultaneously adjusts the width of the input and the output trays. As the moveable wall is adjusted, the support structures defining the bottom of the input and the bottom of the output tray are simultaneously adjusted such that the input and output trays support print material of various widths. Additionally, the invention includes at least one retractable wing positioned on one of the side walls. The wing can be manufactured in a relatively narrow width because the wing will always be positioned adjacent a print material side edge due to the simultaneous adjustment of the input and output trays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: Eric L. Ahlvin
  • Patent number: 5346206
    Abstract: A product handling system for stacking printed products. The system includes a plurality of product stacking bins, a conveyor, a gapper and a plurality of diverters. In a preferred embodiment, the stacking bin is a compensating stacking bin including a temporary holding device which drops products onto a platform after a predetermined number of products have accumulated therein, a compression device which compresses the product stack on the platform, a compensation device which rotates the product stack on the platform and a product pusher device which pushes the product stack off of the platform. The system also includes a control processor to control the system. The diverter of the present invention has a low profile and can be integrated with a stacker conveyor. The system is actuated by pneumatic power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: Rima Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Horst Steinhart
  • Patent number: 5342038
    Abstract: A stacking apparatus has lower and upper continuous, rotating elastic cords 10, 11, between which delivered sheets 2 are conveyed to a pair of transport rollers 3. The rollers 20, 21 of the pair have wedge-shaped recesses 26, 27 with stop shoulders 28, 29, which are in alignment when the rollers are in their normal or rest position. The sheets strike these shoulders and stack up into a bundle 55, which is transported away in response to a discharge signal by the synchronous rotation of the rollers through an integral number of revolutions. The apparatus enables an efficient gathering of sheets into a precisely aligned bundle, which facilitates further processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Inventor: Walter Suter
  • Patent number: 5313257
    Abstract: A paper cassette adapted to be removably mounted in a paper feed section of an image forming device. The paper cassette is generally constructed of a main frame and an auxiliary frame slidably engaged with the main frame. The auxiliary frame is moved forwardly or rearwardly relative to the main frame in accordance with a longitudinal size of the desired sheets of paper to be stored in the paper cassette. Thereafter, the auxiliary frame is fixedly positioned by a position adjusting member provided on the main frame. Thus, a longitudinal size or length of the paper cassette to be mounted into the paper feed section of the image forming device can be varied in accordance with a longitudinal size of the desired sheets of paper to be used, thereby reducing the types of paper cassettes required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kashima, Naohisa Kinoshita, Mitsuaki Inoue
  • Patent number: 5297787
    Abstract: A sheet cassette is provided with an adjustable paper storage area capable of accommodating multiple paper sizes, through the adjustment of a guide plate. The adjustment of one set of guide plates automatically adjusts the other guide plate pair, which moves in a perpendicular direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masami Shirai
  • Patent number: 5280897
    Abstract: The distance between a paper discharging portion and an intermediate tray in a paper discharging device is increased, thus increasing the quantity of papers stacked in the intermediate tray, and also allowing the easy correction of jamming and preventing curling downwardly and rearwardly of papers discharged from the paper discharging portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1994
    Assignee: Mita Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Maekawa
  • Patent number: 5251888
    Abstract: Each of the pockets (3), which are arranged at regular distances apart and are moveable along an endless path, is provided with two vertically adjustable stops (14, 15) for the printed product (12) placed into the pocket (3). The stops (14, 15) are mounted displaceably in a pocket carrier (8). Within the pocket carrier (8) there is horizontally arranged a slide (18) which has two elongated openings (19, 20) of slight inclination to the horizontal. A projection (21, 22) on each stop (14, 15) is guided in the corresponding opening (19, 20) of the slide (18). A displacement of the slide (18) accordingly effects a vertical displacement of the stops (14, 15). A guide member (28) which is displaceable in the direction of the slide (18) on a carrier (29) fixed to the machine has a guide groove (32) for a projection (27) arranged on the protruding end of the slide (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: Grapha-Holding AG
    Inventor: Albert Eugster
  • Patent number: 5251889
    Abstract: A reproduction apparatus including a logic and control unit, and a sheet storage tray having selectable sheet alignment positions and a movable sheet edge guide for positioning at a selected sheet alignment position. A mechanism for automatically positioning the sheet edge guide includes magnetizable reed switches, a magnetic member attached to the sheet edge guide and controls for counting and moving the magnetic member relative to a selected magnetizable reed switch through a first motion in a first direction for a first total number of counts, and through a second motion in a second and opposite direction for a second total number of counts equal to one-half the first total number of counts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Christopher C. Spencer, Raymond M. Quackenbush, Michael J. Wendell
  • Patent number: 5240243
    Abstract: A suspendable or hanging sheet receiving bin for a printer or plotter which includes a front wall, a back wall, and a bottom wall, all joined together in a bar or wire grid network to define a sheet receiving region. The sheet receiving region has a length dimension, a width dimension, and a depth dimension all defining at one end of the bin an opening for receiving paper fed from the output of the printer or plotter. The front wall of the bin includes a plurality of U-shaped or hook-shaped members having upwardly faced convex surfaces for receiving stacked sheets of paper falling into the opening of the bin and for enabling the sheets to be stacked uniformly and readily accessible to an operator for removal from the bin after the completion of the printing or plotting operation. Advantageously, the bin is provided with an adjustable tray or lever member which may be positioned at different locations along the depth dimension of the bin for receiving different length sheets from the plotter or printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Ronald S. Gompertz, Victor Escobedo
  • Patent number: 5207418
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for the accumulation, cutting, and stacking of continuously moving web material such as fabric tape that is to be printed and cut by appropriate processing apparatus into a plurality of discrete labels The method and apparatus provide for the accumulation of the continuously-supplied web between a base and an overlying resilient spring member while other processing steps such as web cutting are being performed on the web. The spring member engages the tape to temporarily suspend its forward advancement while allowing the tape to accumulate between the spring member and the base. The cut labels are stacked in a bottom-fed stacking assembly having a stacker chute that is angled both rearwardly with respect to the machine front and backwardly in the direction of label advancement to permit the removal of previously processed labels during operation of the processing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Assignee: Markem Corporation
    Inventors: Johnathan P. Oakes, Jeffery B. Brooks, David A. Kearney
  • Patent number: 5193799
    Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating depositing copy sheets in a collecting bin (6, 15) which, in the sheet entry direction, is arranged in a downwardly inclined position and is provided with a stop member (14) associated with the leading portion of the sheets. The trailing portion of the sheets is associated with guide element (19, 30) directing the incoming sheets onto the top of the sheet stack already deposited. Above the sheet stack (23, 23a) rollers (22, 26) are arranged which are driven in sheet entry direction and associated with the trailing portion of the sheet and whose surface area facing the sheet stack (23, 23a) lines beneath the entry plane of the sheets defined by the guide elements (19, 30) to the extent that also in the case of curled sheets it confines the top of the sheet stack (23, 23a) in a position beneath the sheet entry plane keeping the feed path open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Gert Scheufler, Gert Haertwich, Dietmar Blaettner
  • Patent number: 5190279
    Abstract: A low cost copy output stacker for engineering size copies includes a vertical catch tray molded into front doors of a copier/printer for accepting the lead edge of the copies and allowing the copies to bend over the top of the catch tray in a stacked position under gravity. A manually operated hinged stop is positioned in a down position blocking the path of copy sheets in order to keep them from reaching the bottom of the catch tray for stacking copy sheets size 11" to 24" and positioned in an up position for copy sheet sizes 24" to 48".
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel L. Morris, David A. Bartman, Albert E. Andrews
  • 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: 5175583
    Abstract: An electronic photo processor having a lower main body provided with a tray inserting slot, and a top cover which can be opened and closed elastically from and to the lower main body, is disclosed. The processor comprises a slidetype opening and closing apparatus for opening and closing the top cover from and to the lower main body. A paper supplying apparatus supplies selectively a plurality of papers and enables the papers to be supplied as being inclined downwards from the top cover. A paper transferring apparatus is formed on the lower main body, for transferring papers supplied from the paper supplying apparatus. An optical apparatus is provided with a scanning unit for scanning a laser beam by converting an electrical signal to the laser beam and a reflecting mirror for reflecting the laser beam. A developing means develops the transfered paper with the laser beam. A fixing apparatus is formed on the lower main body for performing heat treatment of the papers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Assignee: Hyundai Electronics Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Myung H. Noh, Soon T. Jang
  • Patent number: 5152513
    Abstract: A sheet reversing apparatus comprises a support in which sheets are stacked, an entrance section for guiding the sheet to the support, a blowing mechanism for directing an air stream to a sheet stack on the support to separate a lowermost sheet from remaining sheets, and a feeding mechanism for attracting the sheet to feed it. Further, stopper plates are provided to be pivoted above the support so that it cooperates with the support to pinch and brake the sheet therebetween in a continuous reversing mode wherein the incoming sheet is immediately fed and that it abuts against the incoming sheet by a portion thereof opposing a leading end of the sheet in a stack reversing mode wherein while the sheets are being stacked the lowermost sheet is separated and fed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Kiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Ogasawara, Junichi Matsuno, Masataka Kawauchi, Makoto Kurosawa, Masaaki Koseki, Tetsuro Takahashi, Youichi Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 5147092
    Abstract: An improved accumulator and method of accumulation into stacks of a number of seriatim-fed sheets selectively in the manner of "over" or "under" accumulation and for conveying accumulated stacks to further equipment. The accumulator comprises driven endless elastic belts to drive sheets therebetween and a driven roller pair for nipping and feeding the sheets to a stacking location to be accumulated therein. The nip of the roller pair is offset in relation to the plane in which sheets are driven thereto by the belts. The roller pair drives a sheet in positively nipped manner to the stacking location selectively over or under a previously arrived sheet. Further included in the roller-accumulator is a stop gate device for stopping sheets fed to the stacking location and for selectively releasing accumulated stacks to be transported by and between the endless elastic belts to further equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Assignee: Bell & Howell Phillipsburg Company
    Inventors: James N. Driscoll, Thomas E. Bieber
  • Patent number: 5143363
    Abstract: An automatic document conveying device for an image processor having a transparent plate disposed on the upper surface of a housing for placement of a document to be processed thereon. The automatic document conveying device comprises a document introduction portion, a main portion and a document delivery portion. The document introduction portion includes an introduction portion frame member, a document table extending upstream from the introduction portion frame member, a document introduction passage extending from the document table to the transparent plate inside the introduction frame member, a document sender for sending the document into the document introduction passage from the document table, and a document introducer for introducing the document onto the transparent plate from the document introduction passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: Mita Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichiro Irie, Yoshiyuki Takeda, Tsuyoshi Nagao, Yasuhiko Kida
  • Patent number: 5141220
    Abstract: An apparatus for depositing copy sheets comprises a collecting bin (6, 15) which in the sheet entry direction is arranged in a downwardly inclined position and is provided with a stop member (14) associated with the leading edge of the sheets. The trailing-edge portion of the sheets is associated with a guide element (19) directing incoming sheets onto the top of the sheet stack already deposited.Above the sheet stack to be formed rollers (22) forming part of a sheet entry path, are arranged, associated with the trailing-edge portion of the sheets to be deposited, and are driven in sheet entry direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1992
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Helmut Ettischer
  • Patent number: 5118093
    Abstract: An image-forming machine having a conveying passage for conveying a sheet material through a transfer zone, a first and a second feed device for feeding the sheet material to the conveying passage, a first feed passage for conducting the sheet material delivered from the first feed device to the conveying passage, a second feed passage for conducting the sheet material delivered from the second feed device to the conveying passage, and a first and a second opening-closing member for opening and closing the first and second feed passages. Various improvements are made on the first and second opening-closing members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Assignee: Mita Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Makiura, Tadakazu Ogiri, Shigeki Hayashi, Naoyuki Ishida, Masami Fuchi, Hiroaki Nakamura, Katsuhide Yamaguchi, Hiroshi Kubota
  • Patent number: 5106051
    Abstract: A box for supporting a printer intended for connection to a computer, the box being intended to be placed on a table in a workroom. The box includes two side wall pieces, a bottom-piece and a top-piece, which pieces can be fitted together to form a parallelepipedic box; the box further includes two side-supports which cooperate displaceably with a groove or channel provided in the bottom-piece, this groove or channel extending perpendicularly to the side-walls; the side-supports have a height which is equal to the internal height of the box between bottom and top and which side-supports are provided with support-parts which project outwardly at right angles from the side-supports and which fit in and slide in the groove or channel. The box can be used for bottom-feeding and rear-feeding or printing paper to the printer, and the box is configured to enable similar boxes to be stacked on one-another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Inventor: Bjorn Jondelius
  • Patent number: 5096177
    Abstract: A recycling automatic document feeder for a copier which feeds a stack of documents loaded on a document table one by one to a predetermined exposing position, returning the document to the top of the stack after imagewise exposure, and refeeding such documents one by one to the exposing position. A discharge section is movable on and along the table in an intended direction of document feed. The document feeder is capable of returning documents of various sides easily to the top of the document stack which is located at a document feed position on the table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shiro Saeki, Goro Mori, Masumi Ikesue, Fumitaka Hyodou, Kunihiro Uotani