Sheet-impact Bumper Member Patents (Class 271/224)
  • Patent number: 12221311
    Abstract: A stacking unit includes a processing tray, an alignment section, a transport section, and a moving section. The processing tray has a placement area in which one or more paper sheets are placed. The alignment section aligns leading edges of the paper sheets. The transport section transports the paper sheets to the alignment section. The moving section moves the paper sheets in ±X directions. The alignment section includes: a first alignment surface having a first friction coefficient; and a second alignment surface having a second friction coefficient. The second alignment surface is positioned upstream of the first alignment surface in a +A direction and closer to a center of the placement area in the ±X directions than the first alignment surface is.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takeru Oguchi, Masaki Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 11989993
    Abstract: Disclosed is a banknote accumulating device, including a storage chamber and a limiting mechanism arranged above the storage chamber; the storage chamber includes an inlet for inputting banknotes; the limiting mechanism includes a reset member, a driving mechanism and multiple limiting members which can move independently of each other; the reset member is configured to enable each of limiting members to have a tendency to move to a first position; the driving mechanism is configured to selectively drive one of the multiple limiting members to move from a first position to a second position, so that the limiting part of the limiting member reaches in the moving path of the banknotes in the storage chamber; the distances between the positions of the limiting parts of multiple limiting members in the moving path and the inlet are different. Further disclosed are a limiting mechanism and a cash recycling and handling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: SHANDONG NEW BEIYANG INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhenxing Zhao, Jiawu Tan, Yong Yuan, Chuntao Wang, Qiangzi Cong
  • Patent number: 11516359
    Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for identifying, isolating, and/or aligning sheets. An identification system can facilitate accurate identification of a sheet by (i) vacating one or more components of the system that are not the sheet from a zone of detection, and/or (ii) determining a reference axis of the sheet. An isolation system can facilitate accurate isolation of a sheet by (i) providing targeted air flow, and/or (ii) introducing a wave into the sheet. Identification systems and/or isolation systems described herein may facilitate isolation of sheets that were previously fastened together by one or more fasteners. An alignment system can facilitate accurate alignment of a first sheet at an upstream location relative to a second sheet at a downstream location via machine learning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Ripcord Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Christopher Hall, Jens Jordan Hurley, Jonathan Floyd Grubb, Joseph David Dills Hartnagle, Arthur Joseph Petron, Alex Fielding
  • Patent number: 11431867
    Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for identifying, isolating, and/or aligning sheets. An identification system can facilitate accurate identification of a sheet by (i) vacating one or more components of the system that are not the sheet from a zone of detection, and/or (ii) determining a reference axis of the sheet. An isolation system can facilitate accurate isolation of a sheet by (i) providing targeted air flow, and/or (ii) introducing a wave into the sheet. Identification systems and/or isolation systems described herein may facilitate isolation of sheets that were previously fastened together by one or more fasteners. An alignment system can facilitate accurate alignment of a first sheet at an upstream location relative to a second sheet at a downstream location via machine learning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: RIPCORD INC.
    Inventors: Kevin Christopher Hall, Jens Jordan Hurley, Jonathan Floyd Grubb, Joseph David Dills Hartnagle, Arthur Joseph Petron, Alex Fielding
  • Patent number: 11134163
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an exit tray, a displacing mechanism, and a controller. A sheet is ejected on the exit tray. The displacing mechanism displaces a position of the sheet on the exit tray. The controller controls the displacing mechanism. The controller determines whether the sheet is a valid sheet that meets a predetermined condition or an invalid sheet that does not meet the predetermined condition. The controller controls the displacing mechanism so that a position of the valid sheet differs from a position of the invalid sheet on the exit tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Kiyotaka Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 11072509
    Abstract: An example apparatus includes a media receiving portion having a leading edge receiving region and a trailing edge receiving region for receiving media traveling onto the media receiving portion in a direction from the trailing edge receiving portion the leading edge receiving portion. The example apparatus further includes a leading edge stop coupled to the media receiving portion at the leading edge receiving portion. The leading edge stop is resiliently coupled to the media receiving portion to bias against movement of the leading edge stop from a resting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Kevin Lo, Daniel Fredrickson, Tim Roels, Brett Thomas Buchholtz, Steven Brown, Hunter Dane Cantrell
  • Patent number: 9302507
    Abstract: A method of transporting a print medium in a printer. The includes suctioning the print medium onto an upper surface of a plurality of moving belts. The print medium experiences greater suction at an upstream side of the belts relative to a downstream side of the belts, the upstream and downstream sides being defined relative to a media feed direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Memjet Technology Limited
    Inventors: William Stone Cressman, Kenneth Andrew Regas, Jonathan Day Lucas, David Collins Burney, Patrick Kirk, Steve Inderieden, Neil Doherty, Lai Say Poh, Joo Beng Koh, Gilbert Magsakay
  • Patent number: 9212011
    Abstract: A stacking device which stacks together web members which drop down while drawing a parabolic arc, this is provided with a horizontal movement limit part which limits movement of web members in a horizontal direction, a temporary supporting unit which can take a projecting position where it projects from the horizontal movement limit part and a retracted position where it is pulled in from the projecting position and does not stick out from the horizontal movement limit part, and a receiving table which is positioned under the temporary supporting means at the projecting position and stacks the web members. The temporary supporting unit temporarily supports a web member at the projecting position and, after that, shifts to the retracted position to make the web member drop under the temporary supporting unit, so that the stacking device stacks the web members on the receiving table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayuki Matsumoto, Yoshio Yano, Hiroyoshi Takada
  • Patent number: 9016687
    Abstract: There is disclosed a printer and a stacking system to receive and stack tags. The stacking system includes a tag stacker and a removable tag-receiving tray to facilitate transferring a stack of tags from the tag stacker to the place where the tags are to be used. A method of handling tags involves the provision of at least first and second removable trays wherein a first tray with a stack of tags can be replaced by an empty second tray so that the stacking of additional tags can recommence without waiting for the first tray to be emptied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
    Inventors: Donald J. Ward, Pieter-Jan N. Nijs
  • Patent number: 9004486
    Abstract: Devices and methods to collect and align print media sheets. According to a device herein, a tray has a base and receives print media sheets. Registration guides are connected to the tray. The registration guides define a corner in the tray. A tamper mechanism comprises a rotating helical brush extending perpendicularly from the base adjacent to a side of the tray opposite the corner. The tamper mechanism is positioned to tamp the print media sheets against the registration guides causing a stack of the print media sheets to be squared against the corner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy P. Foley, Frank B. Tamarez Gomez, Steven M. Russel, Jeffrey N. Swing
  • Patent number: 8820742
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing, a first discharge opening and a second discharge opening, a sheet discharge portion, a restricting member and a sheet discharge tray. The sheet discharge portion is connected at a position below the first discharge opening, and the sheet discharged through the first discharge opening is to be placed thereon. The restricting member stands up on a downstream side of the sheet discharge portion in a discharging direction of the sheet and can come into contact with a downstream end edge of the sheet discharged to the sheet discharge portion in the discharging direction. The sheet discharge tray includes a first fixing portion and a second fixing portion to be fixed to an upper end part of the restricting member and is attachable above the sheet discharge portion, and a sheet discharged through the second discharge opening is to be placed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Koyanagi, Shinsaku Yoneda
  • Patent number: 8757615
    Abstract: Disclosed is a compact bill accumulation device which has a bill accumulation space with decreased depth and does not cause bill accumulation errors. The bill accumulation device (100) is provided with front guides (8) and reverse guides which form a bill accumulation space, and with a bill stopper (6) which, disposed on the front guides (8), stops bills released by a by a feed roller (1), wherein bills stopped by said bill stopper (6) are accumulated on a stage (4). Multiple V-shaped grooves are formed on elongate ribs (18) and disposed along the long direction of the ribs, said grooves extending in the short direction thereof; said ribs (18) are arranged in rows and at prescribed intervals on either side of the front guides (8) so as to be perpendicular to said released bills.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Komatsu, Shinji Sado
  • Patent number: 8752827
    Abstract: Provided is a medium stacking apparatus, which comprises a stacking frame and a damper. The stacking frame forms a stacking space in which media are stacked, and comprises a medium inlet. The damper collides with the medium introduced through the medium inlet, and absorbs a shock from the medium. The damper comprises one or more damping ribs that extend in a stacking direction of the media and are elastically deformed by a collision with the medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: LG CNS Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sumin Lee
  • Patent number: 8714547
    Abstract: A paper discharge apparatus including, a paper loading portion for loading a paper which is discharged; a paper rear-end abutting portion which a rear end of paper in a paper conveying direction abuts; a pair of paper holding members for holding the paper at the paper holding position when the paper is discharged; a paper holding member moving device which is connected to at least one of the pair of the paper holding members and moves the pair of the paper holding members from a paper holding position to a paper loading position; when the pair of the paper holding members reach the paper loading position, the paper holding member moving device moves at least one of the pair of the paper holding members in the opposite direction of the paper conveying direction and makes the rear end of the holding paper abut the paper rear-end abutting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Masaaki Uchiyama, Hiroyuki Wakabayashi, Tsutomu Anezaki
  • Patent number: 8590888
    Abstract: A storage device for a franking machine, which storage device comprises: a receptacle for receiving mailpieces ejected one-by-one by the franking machine; a longitudinal referencing wall extending over a longitudinal edge of the receptacle and against which the mailpieces rebound before they accumulate on the receptacle; and a vertical back wall extending along a side edge of the receptacle and that the mailpieces hit before they rebound against the longitudinal referencing wall; the vertical back wall forming an angle ? with a perpendicular to the longitudinal referencing wall; and the receptacle being inclined relative to the horizontal and towards the longitudinal referencing wall at an angle ? so that the angle ? between the receptacle and the longitudinal referencing wall forms an acute angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Neopost Technologies
    Inventor: Régis Desire
  • 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: 8403323
    Abstract: A sheet stacking device and method of stacking sheets, wherein a first pressing member engages with an edge of a new sheet to be deposited on top of a previously deposited sheet on a sheet receiving plane and presses down the edge, while a second pressing member maintains a pressure onto an edge of the previously deposited sheet. The second pressing member engages with the edge of the new sheet and presses down the edge onto the previously deposited sheet on the receiving plane, while the first pressing member maintains a pressure onto the edge of the new sheet. Thus, the sheets may always be pressed down on the edge by at least one of the first and second pressing members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Oce Technologies B.V.
    Inventors: Stan H. L. A. Rutten, Johannes H. A. Dinnissen, Robertus P. C. Quirijnen
  • Patent number: 8276907
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes: a recording unit that performs a recording operation on a sent recording medium; a main body that has the recording unit; a discharge stacker that places the recording medium discharged from the main body therein; and a flexible member that forms a lateral closed region by connecting a downstream end in a discharge direction of the discharge stacker and the main body on the upper side of the downstream end in the discharge direction of the discharge stacker in a placing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Shiohara, Munetoyo Aono
  • Patent number: 8170463
    Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet processing apparatus that can prevent, with higher certainty, lift of the trailing end of each sheet placed in sheet stacking portion. This apparatus includes a first holding member and a second holding member that prevent lift of the trailing end of each sheet from an intermediate stacking portion. When introduced to the intermediate stacking portion, the subsequent sheet comes into contact with the first holding member, so that the first holding member moves to the retracting position. As the subsequent sheet continues to be conveyed, the subsequent sheet comes into contact with the second holding member, so that the second holding member moves from the restricting position to the retracting position. As the trailing end of the sheet is introduced, the first holding member moves from the retracting position to the restricting position, to hold down the trailing end of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Ogata, Masayoshi Fukatsu, Junichi Sekiyama, Hiroharu Tsuji
  • 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: 8074981
    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 connecting mechanism, and a sliding mechanism. The paper tray is configured for receiving the outputted paper. A driving gear member is located on the paper tray. The connecting mechanism is located on the paper tray and connected to the driving gear member. The sliding mechanism is located on the paper tray and connected to the connecting mechanism. The driving gear member controls the sliding mechanism by the connecting mechanism to shape a space to fit the size of the outputted paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Kun Shih, Chun-Hsien Lin, Chen-Lu Fan
  • Patent number: 8011654
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet stacking apparatus including: a sheet stacking portion on which a sheet is stacked; a sheet conveying portion which conveys the sheet onto the sheet stacking portion; a first aligning member moving along a sheet conveying direction to align the position of the sheet stacked on the sheet stacking portion; and second aligning members which move in a width direction crossing the sheet conveying direction to align the position in the width direction of the sheet stacked on the sheet stacking portion, wherein the second aligning members align the sheet stacked on the sheet stacking portion, and the first aligning member aligns the sheet aligned by the second aligning member, and the sheet conveying portion conveys the next sheet onto the sheet stacking portion while the first aligning member is moving for aligning the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenichi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 7887051
    Abstract: A catch tray for stacking sheets discharged from an apparatus that includes a first sheet-stacking area and a second sheet-stacking area. The tray further includes a first stopper regulation part disposed, within the second sheet-stacking area, on a downstream side of the sheet discharging direction that regulates edges of discharged sheets of a largest size allowed to be stacked on the catch tray and a second stopper regulation part in the first sheet-stacking area that regulates edges of the discharged sheets of a size smaller than the largest size and elastically deforms in the sheet discharging direction when a sheet of the largest size is discharged so as to allow the first stopper regulation part to regulate an edge of the sheet of the largest size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryosuke Hirokawa, Yasuhiro Sagawa
  • Patent number: 7857307
    Abstract: The invention is to provide a sheet accumulation apparatus enabling to uniformly load tabbed sheets into a train of sheets for load and store the sheets on a tray. The sheet accumulation apparatus has a sheet outlet for successively discharging the sheets, a tray means for loading to hold the sheets thereon, a sheet carrier means for discharging the sheets from the sheet outlet to the side of a downstream, a sheet front end regulating means for colliding the sheets sent by the sheet carrier means against the regulating means at the sheet front ends and regulating them, and a sheet rear regulating means disposed to the tray means for regulating the positions of the sheets from the sheet outlet at the sheet rear ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignees: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Icn., Nisca Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Tamura, Toshio Shida, Hiroto Akiyama
  • Patent number: 7850168
    Abstract: A recording medium discharge mechanism is provided with a side wall member capable of changing position between an upright state in which small size sheets are caught when small size sheets are discharged and a laid flat state in which a placement surface of a discharge space is extended for placement of large size sheets when large size sheets are discharged by a discharge mechanism having the discharge space, whose downstream side in a paper discharge direction has been opened. In the upright state, the side wall member does not protrude laterally from an apparatus. Furthermore, in the laid flat state, large size sheets can be placed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuya Shinkawa, Shinichi Azumi, Yuhi Akagawa, Nobuyuki Kimoto
  • Patent number: 7828289
    Abstract: A stacker tray assembly for a photocopier is easily mounted or removed from the copier, and permits facile handling of large copies. The stacker tray assembly for a photocopier for producing large copies has a main plate which has a copy side for insertion into the copier and a copy receiving end for receiving copies oppositely disposed therefrom. The stacker tray assembly also has a tilt plate at the copy receiving end to support the copies, as they exit the copier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Inventor: Willard G. Mumford
  • Patent number: 7793932
    Abstract: The present invention provides a paper collecting tray that reduces or eliminates paper curling. The collecting tray has a wire structure using springs or movable bands to support various size papers. These springs are provided in one embodiment to support paper sheets having 8.5 inch widths, 24 inch widths and 36 inch widths. These are configured to provide substantial support for the sheets and configured to prevent paper curling when the paper is passed to the collecting tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: David Alan Bartman
  • Patent number: 7762546
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device including: (a) a sheet discharger configured to discharge a sheet in a discharging direction; (b) a tray configured to receive the sheet discharged by the sheet discharger; (c) a stopper protruding upwardly from the tray; and (d) a guide provided by an upper surface of the tray and located on an upstream side of the stopper in the discharging direction, and configured to warp the discharged sheet such that the warped sheet has a downwardly convex shape in its cross section that is perpendicular to the discharging direction, for thereby allowing a leading end of the warped sheet to pass over the stopper and to be positioned on a downstream side of the stopper in the discharging direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keisuke Wakakusa, Masatoshi Izuchi
  • Patent number: 7748705
    Abstract: A paper discharge tray 6 includes: a paper loading portion 7 provided in a bent form including a first tray surface 7a and a second tray surface 7b; a rear wall 8 for supporting and aligning the trailing end of paper discharged on the paper loading portion 7; and an installation portion 10 provided along the paper loading portion 7. On two portions of the first tray surface 7a, there are provided guide members 11 each having a first slope 11a that inclines upward in the paper discharge direction (direction indicated by an arrow A in the figure). When paper of a predetermined size is discharged on the guide members 11, the paper slides down along the first slopes 11a and the second tray surface 7c, and then is loaded with the trailing end of the paper aligned by the rear wall 8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Masayuki Yamada
  • Patent number: 7697883
    Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet processing apparatus that can prevent, with higher certainty, lift of the trailing end of each sheet placed in sheet stacking portion. This apparatus includes a first holding member and a second holding member that prevent lift of the trailing end of each sheet from an intermediate stacking portion. When introduced to the intermediate stacking portion, the subsequent sheet comes into contact with the first holding member, so that the first holding member moves to the retracting position. As the subsequent sheet continues to be conveyed, the subsequent sheet comes into contact with the second holding member, so that the second holding member moves from the restricting position to the retracting position. As the trailing end of the sheet is introduced, the first holding member moves from the retracting position to the restricting position, to hold down the trailing end of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Ogata, Masayoshi Fukatsu, Junichi Sekiyama, Hiroharu Tsuji
  • 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: 7641195
    Abstract: The sheet conveying apparatus includes a first member configured to convey a sheet along a predetermined conveying path while holding the sheet, a second member configured to convey a sheet along the predetermined conveying path while holding the sheet, and a changing unit configured to change a first state in which the first member and the second member convey the same sheet along the predetermined conveying path and a second state in which the first member and the second member convey different sheets in the predetermined conveying path according to a length of a sheet along the predetermined conveying path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshimasa Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7588249
    Abstract: A hopper is provided including a pile plate, a backstop, a jogger opposite the backstop, the backstop and jogger being separated to permit a signature stack to be placed therebetween on the pile plate, and a flexible guide located opposite the jogger, adjacent to the backstop. A hopper is also provided including a pile plate, a backstop, a jogger opposite the backstop, the backstop and jogger being separated to permit a signature stack to be placed therebetween on the pile plate, and a toothed guide located opposite the jogger and adjacent to the backstop, a plurality of teeth of the toothed guide facing the signature stack. Methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Goss International Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: Glen Roger Caron, James Aurthur Pangle
  • Patent number: 7547015
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image forming part forming an image on paper, and a housing accommodating the image forming part and having a paper stack part stacking paper discharged from the image forming part, and the image forming apparatus includes an accommodating part formed in an edge of the paper stack part and extending in a paper discharge direction; a base plate mounted in the accommodating part to be slidable in the paper discharge direction and a reverse direction opposite to the paper discharge direction; and a stopper hinge-coupled to the base plate to be tiltable among a stand up position where the stopper blocks paper discharged from the image forming part, a rear folding position where the stopper is folded onto the base plate and is at least partially accommodated in the paper stack part, and a front folding position where the stopper is folded in the paper discharge direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bong-hee Lee, Ho-min Lim
  • Patent number: 7464930
    Abstract: A movable sheet stacking device including: a sheet receiving section which is provided with respect to a sheet exit section of an image forming apparatus and is for receiving ejected sheets being ejected from the sheet exit section in an ejecting direction and moving the sheets in a direction opposite to the ejecting direction; an end-portion restriction plate which comes into contact with a front end of the sheets moving in the opposite direction to stop the movement of the sheets; and a restriction-plate driving section which sets a position of the end-portion restriction plate according to a sheet type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junya Masuda, Yoshinori Shiraishi, Yasuhiro Takai, Toyokazu Mori, Kohichi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 7401775
    Abstract: In an apparatus for aligning sheets that are deposited on a sheet stack, there are sheet leading edge stops disposed so as to be vertically displaceable by a common leading edge shaft. An auxiliary stack carrier that is to be introduced into the stack region for nonstop operation causes the leading edge shaft or leading edge stops to be raised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Roland Hirth, Rainer Klenk
  • Patent number: 7344135
    Abstract: A downstream edge of a first guide plate has a convex shape in a carrying direction such that a width thereof gradually reduces from both lateral sides toward the center. A central portion of the downstream edge is formed with a protrusion, a width of which becomes narrower in the carrying direction. An upstream edge of a second guide plate has a concave shape in a reverse direction to the carrying direction so as to correspond to the shape of the downstream edge of the first guide plate. A central portion of the upstream edge is formed with a cutout, a width of which becomes narrower in the carrying direction. The downstream edge of the first guide plate is adjacent to the upstream edge of the second guide plate, and the protrusion is adjacent to the cutout so as to enter thereinto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kimitake Fukushima
  • Patent number: 7300053
    Abstract: A sheet storage device improved in terms of its performance in aligning sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus. In the sheet storage device, a plate-like shock absorber is superimposed on a surface of a fence member forming an end fence, and a lower end portion of the shock absorber is fixed to the fence member, with an intermediate portion thereof being curved so as to be convex and an upper end portion thereof being movably engaged with an engagement portion formed at an upper end of the fence member. In the intermediate portion, a spacer is provided between the fence member and the shock absorber to form a gap between the shock absorber and the fence member at a position where the shock absorber is hit by the sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Tohoku Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukihiro Asano
  • 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: 7243913
    Abstract: A sheet post-process apparatus of the present invention, when sending sheets of paper collected on a standby tray to a processing tray, has a standby tray realizing an improved lining capacity of sheets of paper and a pair of tray members for loading ejected sheets of paper is formed so as to project from the wall face of the standby tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasunobu Terao, Tokihiko Ise, Hajime Yamamoto, Reiji Murakami, Hiroyuki Taki
  • Patent number: 7156799
    Abstract: A paper folding machine is provided including a housing having upper and lower fold plates constructed for quick and easy removal of the upper plates from the machine so that repairs may be made. The machine includes an automatically adjustable stacking arm movable to positions corresponding to the settings of the machine for fold type and size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: The Hedman Company
    Inventors: Richard Abramson, John Kosla
  • Patent number: 7029008
    Abstract: To provide an accumulating device 71 that is capable of securely accumulating sheets or the like P having dimensional differences on the basis of the rear ends in the taking-in direction thereof. The stopper 111a advances from upward to the advanced position between the tip end regulating wall 79 and the rear end regulating wall 80 and stops the tip ends in the taking-in direction of sheets or the like P to be taken in, whose length in the taking-in direction of sheets or the like P is shorter than the maximum length. The stopper 111a is supported movably in the vertical direction with respect to the advancing and retreating mechanism by which the stopper 111a is caused to advance and retreat between the advanced position and the retreated position, and presses sheets or the like P in the downward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Glory Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Nishida, Toshihiko Kobayashi, Tsuguo Mizoro, Toyoshige Kuroiwa, Kosaku Fukuda
  • Patent number: 6991228
    Abstract: A sheet depositing device for depositing sheets or sets of sheets fed sequentially from a paper processing apparatus onto a depositing platform and against a depositing registration barrier, the sheet depositing device including a sheet catcher adapted to rest on said depositing platform or adapted to rest on sheets stacked on the depositing platform, the sheet catcher being movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the depositing platform and engaging the leading edge of incoming sheets before they abut with the depositing registration barrier, and further containing a sheet engaging member suspended from the sheet catcher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Oce-Technologies, B.V.
    Inventors: Henricus Johannes Schaareman, Christophorus Lambertus Spoorenberg
  • Patent number: 6918733
    Abstract: A hold down clamp for holding down a stack of sheet material, preferably on a transportation trolley selectively in operative association with a printing machine. The hold down clamp has a vertically adjustable holding arm selectively lockable along a substantially upright guide member. The holding arm has at least one release member for releasing locking, the release member being movable in the direction away from the stack. This allows the holding arm to be pliable upwardly in case of emergency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Ingo Neuber, Dirk Dobrindt
  • 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: 6880823
    Abstract: A sheet collection apparatus has a stacking portion to stack mails in the standing position, a back-up plate in contact with one end of stacked mails in the stacked direction, and take-in rollers arranged at the positions contacting the other end of stacked mails. The take-in rollers are rotated at a slower peripheral speed than the conveying speed of mails taken in the stacking portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shinichi Itoh, Naruaki Hiramitsu
  • Publication number: 20040207150
    Abstract: A material deflector plate system adapted for mounting below the forwardly declining surface of a material-guiding discharge chute includes a base frame for mounting rearwardly of the discharge edge of the declining surface and a deflector-plate support structure reciprocably depending from the base frame for reciprocation between rearwardmost and forwardmost positions. Hingedly depending from the support structure are alternatively collapsible and deployable first and second deflector plate sets. The system can alternatively assume storage and operative attitudes. A storage attitude is one in which the deflector plate sets are collapsed and the support structure is disposed sufficiently rearwardly with respect to the base frame that at least a majority of the length of the collapsed deflector plate sets is disposed rearwardly of the chute discharge edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventor: Louis J. Hendzel
  • Patent number: 6682067
    Abstract: An apparatus for stacking articles on edge is provided which has a discharge magazine for stacking the articles face-to-face and on-edge. The magazine has an article edge receiver having a non-offset position and an offset position. The article edge receiver has a register wall for aligning the articles in the non-offset position and a segmented rotational offset disk for aligning the articles in the offset position. The disk has a cut out segment having a planar stop edge surface. The cut out segment is rotatable from an article receiving position to an article bypass position. When in the receiving position, the planar stop edge surface is at a right angle to the two faces of the article. When in the article bypass position, the segmented rotational offset disk allows the articles to bypass the segmented rotational disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: KFW Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph J. Keane, Donato C. Farole, Glenn A. Nester
  • Patent number: 6666136
    Abstract: A paper-feed roller and a fabrication method thereof in an office automation machine, such as a photocopier, a printer, and a facsimile machine, etc, includes forming a plastic roller along a general stainless shaft by a molding and forming a ceramic coating layer on a surface of the plastic roller. Accordingly, the paper-feed roller is capable of providing an economical effect in a fabrication cost and preventing a slipping of paper or a paper jam that is caused by a heat distortion and an abrasion occurring on a surface of a long time operated roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong-hyun Lee