With Means To Align Sheet Patents (Class 271/226)
  • Publication number: 20040178566
    Abstract: The present invention includes apparatus and methods for feeding a mailpiece along a feed path in a mailing machine. An endless drive belt has a lower belt run adapted to feed a mailpiece in a downstream direction. A plurality of pivot arms are mounted in a sequence below the lower belt run. Each pivot arm has a respective roller mounted on a free end of the pivot arm. A respective bias mechanism associated with each pivot arm biases the pivot arm in an upward direction such that the roller contacts the lower belt run. A first pivot arm actuates a second pivot arm in a downward direction when the first pivot arm is actuated in a downward direction by a mailpiece fed by the endless belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Applicant: Pitney Bowes Incorporated
    Inventor: Walter J. Kulpa
  • Publication number: 20040135310
    Abstract: A paper registration apparatus for a duplex printer which performs side registration of a sheet of paper before the paper is transferred toward a feed roller to print an image on a rear side of the paper after a front side of the paper is printed. The apparatus includes a lower guide plate supporting the paper thereon and having a groove formed at one side, a side wall guide vertically installed at the side of the groove of the lower guide plate parallel to a direction of a paper transfer route to perform a side registration of the sheet of paper, and a duplex transfer roller installed perpendicular to the direction of the paper transfer route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventor: Chun-Seung Yang
  • Patent number: 6747429
    Abstract: A print control system according to the present invention comprises: a paper rear edge holding/driving control part for driving and controlling a paper feed motor so that the rear edge of a paper, which is fed by the paper feed motor, is held in a predetermined holding region; a usual paper feed control part for controlling the paper feed motor so as to carry out a usual paper feed operation; and a control selecting part for selecting one of the paper rear edge holding/driving control part and the usual paper feed control part on the basis of the kind and feed amount of the paper and the presence of detection of the rear edge of the paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hitoshi Igarashi
  • Publication number: 20040104529
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a delivery processing apparatus for delivering a sheet after implementing a prescribed sheet processing upon aligning the sheet, comprising an aligning means for aligning a sheet, a conveying means for conveying the sheet to the aligning means and a bundle delivering means disposed on an upstream side of the aligning means in a sheet conveyance direction for delivering a sheet bundle done with a sheet processing. The bundle delivering means is able to choose a conveyable state for conveying the sheet upon nipping the sheet and a non-conveyance state for not conveying the sheet, and wherein when a first sheet among plural sheets to be conveyed to the aligning means by the conveying means is conveyed the conveyable state is chosen whereas when a sheet of the second or later is conveyed the non-conveying state is chosen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kaoru Sato, Mitsuhide Takamura
  • Patent number: 6719287
    Abstract: A method of aligning sheets prior to transferring them to a sheet-processing machine includes feeding a respective sheet, by a first sheet edge thereof, against a stop; gripping the sheet by at least one sheet holder, and displacing the sheet holder at least approximately transversely to the stop in a direction towards a first control region; and onwardly moving the sheet holder, while the sheet is held thereby, over a given first distance, after a second sheet edge has reached the first control region; and a device for performing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Heidleberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Andreas Henn
  • Publication number: 20040065994
    Abstract: A sheet registration system for a sheet transport path of a reproduction apparatus providing positive feeding yet lateral registration of a wide range of different image substrate sheets. Independent sheet transport units with plural radius sheet feed rollers spaced along the sheet transport path engage sheets being fed to provide positive feeding of even very short sheets from one sheet transport unit to another, yet provide automatic opening of the nips of selected units to allow lateral registration movement of even a very long sheet in the downstream lateral sheet registration system. The same drive motor rotatably driving each sheet transport unit is controlled in rotational position to selectively open the number of open sheet feeding nips needed for the lateral registration movement of that particular sheet length. The mating idlers for the sheet feed rollers need not be moved to open the nips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Publication date: April 8, 2004
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Mark R. Halvonik, Douglas K. Herrmann
  • Publication number: 20040051236
    Abstract: The invention relates to devices for aligning sheets (1), which are overlapped with an offset and supplied to the device by a stream feeder and which can be transferred to a device (63) that is located downstream, after alignment of the front edge and one lateral edge of the sheets. At least part of a sheet can be brought to rest on the periphery of an alignment cylinder (62), which is used to align the front edge of the sheet by means of front lay marks located on the periphery of said cylinder. At least one recess is provided on the periphery of the alignment cylinder, which, by the application of a negative pressure to said recess allows at least part of the sheet to be fixed by friction on the periphery of the alignment cylinder, in such a way that in the contact zone, drive forces from said cylinder can be transferred by friction to the sheet. A measuring device (64) determines the offset of a lateral edge of the sheet in relation to a predetermined set alignment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Inventors: Johann Emil Eitel, Kurt Georg Nagler, Johannes Georg Schaede
  • Publication number: 20040046313
    Abstract: A sheet lateral registration system, especially for high speed printer print media, which can also provide sheet deskewing as well as lateral sheet registration, having substantially increased lateral translation movement re-centering time for the lateral sheet registration system by utilizing at least two lateral shifting rollers having at least two different radii which provide automatic nip closings and openings in their rotations (relative to opposing idlers), with larger radius circumferential lengths coordinated to the downstream distance of the subsequent sheet acquisition system. Additionally disclosed are coordinated position non-slip sheet feeding nips which may be positioned in the paper path between these dual radius deskewing and lateral registration rollers and the image transfer station of the printer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas K. Herrmann, Mark R. Halvonik
  • Patent number: 6702280
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, an apparatus and process are provided for transporting sheet-shaped print material. A first transport element and a first contact element are actuated to transport a sheet-shaped print material with alignment against an alignment stop. A second transport element and a second contact element are actuated to transport sheet-shaped print material past the alignment stop without alignment against the alignment stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Kurt Blank, Olaf Martens, Jürgen Ries
  • Publication number: 20040041337
    Abstract: An apparatus for handling a sheet of material comprises: a paper accumulator that receives at least one sheet of paper, and at least one first roller that applies a force against a first edge of the sheet in a first direction parallel to the first edge, so as to move the sheet within the paper accumulator at least until a second edge of the sheet reaches a registration position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventor: Israel Cruz Ruiz
  • Publication number: 20040026846
    Abstract: A paper treating unit includes: a paper loading table for loading paper; a first paper aligning member that regulates position of the paper by sliding back and forth in the paper proceeding direction; a second paper aligning member disposed upstream of the first paper aligning member in the paper proceeding direction to regulate the position of the paper in the paper proceeding direction; a third paper aligning member disposed along the paper proceeding direction to regulate the position of the paper in a width direction perpendicular to the paper proceeding direction by sliding back and forth in the direction perpendicular to the paper proceeding direction; and a position detecting unit that detects the position of the first to third paper aligning members. The first and third paper aligning members are disposed independently of the paper loading table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Applicant: Hitachi Printing Solutions, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Shiraishi, Yasushi Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 6681697
    Abstract: A device for aligning sheets on a feeder of a sheet-processing machine includes a plurality of pivotably disposed front lays and a plurality of pivotably disposed top lays, the top lays being vertically adjustable. The front lays and the top lays are respectively assigned to and combined with one another and have a common pivoting drive. A push rod vertically adjusts the top lays, and a wedge-like slide actuates the push rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Markus Möhringer, Jochen Renner
  • Patent number: 6666451
    Abstract: A method and a device for aligning sheets. The device includes a first and a second supporting stop for supporting the sheet against gravity in a first non-aligned position of the sheet. The device further includes two alignment stops and an actuator for moving the sheet from the first non-aligned position to a second aligned position. In the second aligned position, a substantially straight edge of the sheet contacts the two alignment stops and the first supporting stop supports the sheet while the second supporting stop does not support the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: AGFA-Gevaert
    Inventors: Paul Leys, Kris Bruyndonckx
  • Patent number: 6641134
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for advancing a receiver into registered relationship with a moving image-bearing member. A motor is provided that is responsive to motor drive pulses. A drive member engages the receiver, and a drive coupling connects the drive member and the motor. An encoder generates encoder pulses that correspond with movement of the image-bearing member. A pulse generator generates motor drive pulses in response to the encoder pulses to accelerate the receiver to a speed approximately equal to the speed of the image-bearing member speed. A timer determines an amount of delay time between detection of the receiver by an in-track sensor and the beginning of a subsequent movement of the motor. A delay mechanism delays the acceleration of the receiver to the image-bearing member speed by the amount of delay time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Michael T. Dobbertin, Timothy J. Young
  • Patent number: 6637744
    Abstract: A device for positioning sheets in a station of a sheet-processing machine comprising a movable bearing surface for holding at least one edge zone of a sheet, actuators driving the bearing surface in the plane thereof, sheet grippers accompanying the motion of the bearing surface and adapted to grip or release the edge zone of the sheet between sheet grippers and the bearing surface. The sheet grippers are connected to the bearing surface by at least one joint comprising a number of levers forming a parallelogram articulated around horizontal pivot axes. A piston comprising a permanently compressed spring eliminates the radial clearance between the pivot axes. Lateral clearance thereof is eliminated by a spring strip which is rigid in the transverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Bobst S.A.
    Inventor: Fabio Bettinelli
  • Publication number: 20030193133
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a delivery processing apparatus comprising an alignment stage, an aligning means having an alignment member operable to align a sheet on the alignment stage and to escape to a home position during a non-alignment period, a conveying means for conveying the sheet on the alignment stage, a sheet processing means for performing a prescribed processing to the sheet on the alignment stage, a delivery portion for stacking the sheets and a stacking amount detecting means having a detection member selectively moving to a detection position and a non-detection position at a region overlapping an operation region of the alignment member to detect the stacking amount of the sheet delivered to the delivery portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kaoru Sato, Mitsuhide Takamura
  • Publication number: 20030189285
    Abstract: An image recorder is provided. For mounting two plates on a drum, two side-to-side adjustment sections are used. Each of the side-to-side adjustment sections includes an outer nut portion and an inner nut portion movable by respective ball screws in a first direction perpendicular to a second direction in which the plates are fed. When a plate is fed with reference to the center of the drum as seen in the first direction, the inner nut portion is pivoted about the corresponding ball screw aside to a location such as not to hinder the movement of the plate. Thus, when a plurality of side-to-side adjustment sections are provided for side-to-side adjustment of plates, at least one of the side-to-side adjustment sections which is not in use is prevented from interfering with the plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Applicant: DAINIPPON SCREEN MFG. CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuma Kan, Arifumi Omoto, Koichi Nishimura
  • Patent number: 6601846
    Abstract: A sheet discharge apparatus includes a sheet storage tray for receiving a sheet; a discharge device for discharging the sheet transported from a processing apparatus to the sheet storage tray; a reference member for aligning an edge of the sheet on the sheet storage tray; a transport device for transporting the discharge device between a first position for the discharge device to discharge the sheet to the sheet storage tray and a second position for the discharge device to align the sheet discharged on the tray against the reference member; and a control device for controlling an operation of the discharge device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Nisca Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Saito, Shigeyuki Sanmiya
  • Publication number: 20030132567
    Abstract: A recording apparatus has a paper feeder wherein single sheets of paper can be set, a paper delivery device for transporting paper fed from the paper feeder to a recorder, and a control unit for controlling operation of the paper feeder and the paper delivery device. The control unit has a skew removal execution mode of only the first sheet of paper where the paper tip is bitten into a paper delivery roller forming a part of the paper delivery device and then the paper delivery roller is reversely rotated for ejecting the paper tip for the first sheet of paper at the start of recording and then forward rotating the paper delivery roller for delivering the sheet of paper whose skew is removed to the recorder and delivering the second and later sheets of paper to a record area without executing the skew removal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaki Shimomura, Kazuhisa Kawakami, Tsuyosi Yamanaka, Masafumi Furuyama, Toru Fukushima
  • Publication number: 20030122297
    Abstract: An image forming device capable of distinguishing the type of paper, and a driving controlling method thereof. The an image forming device includes a paper conveyance path disposed in a body of the image forming device, to guide an upside and an underside of the paper which is conveyed from a paper feeding apparatus to an image forming portion; a feeding roller disposed in the paper conveyance path, to convey the paper from the paper feeding apparatus to the image forming portion; and a paper type distinguishing sensor disposed in the paper conveyance path upstream with respect to the feeding roller, to distinguish the type of the paper and output a distinguishing signal. Accordingly, before the paper enters into the image forming portion, the distinguishing signal is output from the paper type distinguishing sensor as the feeding roller is rotated in a reverse direction to align a front end of the paper in parallel with the feeding roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Karp-Sik Youn
  • Publication number: 20030090056
    Abstract: A method for detecting the alignment of document in an automatic document feeder provides an optical scanner that has an automatic document feeder and a document. The automatic document feeder has a colored pattern layer in corresponding to a scanning window of the optical scanner. The document has at least a side edge. When the document is being fed into the automatic document feeder, the side edge is just positioned between the scanning window and the colored pattern layer. When the automatic document feeder is switched on to feed in the document, a first image retrieval is made from the document placed on the scanning window. After the document is fed in to an appropriate length, a second image retrieval is made from the document placed on the scanning window. A slant value is calculated out by the result of comparing the first.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Inventor: Po-Hua Fang
  • Patent number: 6561508
    Abstract: A device for transferring a sheet via a peripheral region of a cylinder includes an airflow-generating device for applying at least one air flow to the peripheral region of the cylinder, with which the sheet is associated, the airflow being directed in a direction of rotation of the cylinder; and a method of operating the device for transferring a sheet via a peripheral region of a cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Helmstädter, Raimund Schröder
  • Publication number: 20030085512
    Abstract: A collector apparatus and method capable of collecting material in two modes of operation, flats and letters. With a minor adjustment, the apparatus can be transformed from a two-stage device optimal for the letter mode of operation, to a one-stage device optimal for the flats mode of operation. The apparatus includes a first staging area, a second staging area generally disposed downstream from the first staging area, and a conveying device. The first staging area includes a first staging surface and a first stage transport assembly, and the second staging area includes a second staging surface and a second stage transport assembly. The conveying device is adjustable between the flats and letters modes. In the letters mode position, the conveying device provides a first material flow path running through the first and second staging areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventors: Neal J. Middelberg, Gerard A. DeRome, Edward J. Kapturowski, Ronald J. Mich, Robert B. Bennett, Dale R. Curry
  • Patent number: 6557848
    Abstract: A paper-stopping mechanism applied in an automatic document feeder (ADF). The paper-stopping mechanism includes a shaft, a stepping motor for carrying the shaft to rotate, a cam structure having a first protruding portion and a second protruding portion and carried by the shaft to rotate the first protruding portion and the second protruding portion thereof, a paper-stopping arm having a bearing point, wherein the bearing point is moved against by the first protruding portion to move the paper-stopping arm upward, and an elastic buckling device for buckling the paper-stopping arm when the paper-stopping arm is moving upward to stay at a paper-feeding position, and for shifting when the second protruding portion of the cam structure is rotated against the elastic buckling device for removing the paper-stopping arm from the elastic buckling device to return to a paper-stopping position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Silitek Corporation
    Inventors: Sidney Hsiao, Jones Wu, Jackly Liu, Julian Liu
  • Publication number: 20030042669
    Abstract: The invention relates to an alignment unit for sheet material (1) which is upstream of the conveyor plane (9) for the sheet material (1). Feed of the sheet material (1) takes place via driven surfaces (33) which touch at least one side of the sheet material (1). The alignment unit (8) holds rotation elements (25, 38) which grip the sheet material (1) and which correct the offset of the sheet material (1) with reference to the direction (22) in which it is running. Of them, at least two rotation elements (25) which lie in one plane can be moved to the remaining rotation elements (38).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventor: Jurgen Sahlmann
  • Publication number: 20030042664
    Abstract: A method and a device for aligning sheets. The device includes a first and a second supporting stop for supporting the sheet against gravity in a first non-aligned position of the sheet. The device further includes two alignment stops and an actuator for moving the sheet from the first non-aligned position to a second aligned position. In the second aligned position, a substantially straight edge of the sheet contacts the two alignment stops and the first supporting stop supports the sheet while the second supporting stop does not support the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Paul Leys, Kris Bruyndonckx
  • Publication number: 20030042670
    Abstract: The invention concerns an aligning unit (8) for sheet-like material (1), which is aligned with rotation elements (25), (34) before the passage of a conveying plane (9) with respect to the conveying direction (22) through a machine processing sheet-like material (1). The sheet-like material (1) is gripped on at least one side by the rotation elements (25), (34). The area of contact (36), (44) between the sheet-like material (1) and segmented rollers (25) aligning the latter is minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventor: Jurgen Sahlmann
  • Patent number: 6471424
    Abstract: A printer is provided, which comprises a printer body 20 including a paper sheet feeding unit for setting paper sheets therein for printing and a paper sheet discharging unit, and a printer controller 10 of the printer body 20. When setting again paper sheets after printing on one surface in the paper sheet feeding unit for printing on the other surface, the printer body 20 is adapted to print, under control of an instruction from the printer controller 10, a first symbol indicating that the paper sheets should be set in the paper sheet feeding unit with the upper, lower, left or right part of the printed surface directed in the paper sheet feed-out direction and also with the printed surface up or down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: NEC Corp.
    Inventor: Takasi Hirose
  • Patent number: 6446959
    Abstract: A device for aligning sheets laterally on a feed table of a sheet-processing machine, having a side stop, includes a suction pull nozzle movable transversely to a sheet transport direction and being formed with a plurality of suction openings, the suction openings being distributed so that the number of suction openings arranged in the sheet transport direction becomes greater in a transverse direction towards the side stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen A.G.
    Inventors: Hans Butterfass, Markus Möhringer, Markus Röper
  • Patent number: 6439569
    Abstract: A sheet accumulator of compact design has a circular paper path. Individual sheets moving along a main (linear) path enter the accumulator one by one, and each sheet is then diverted onto and around the perimeter of a set of driven disks. The disks are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the paper sheets. The disks then urge each sheet against a set of stops. Each subsequent sheet enters the circular path between the disks and the previous sheet, so that it too is urged and registered against the stops. When the accumulation is complete, the stops are retracted and a set of rolls is engaged to exit the sheets out of the accumulator. The accumulated stack of sheets is then diverted back into the main (linear) paper path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas M. Lyga
  • Publication number: 20020096824
    Abstract: A method of aligning flat copies in a sheet-processing machine includes the steps of determining the actual position of a sheetlike material in relation to a coordinate system; implementing a nominal position of a cylinder that accommodates the sheetlike material to be aligned on the jacket surface of the cylinder by correctively controlling non-contacting radial/axial magnetic bearings so as to compensate for position changes of the cylinder or components thereof from the nominal position; and maintaining the cylinder in the nominal position thereof until the aligned sheet material is transferred to transport units arranged farther downline; a device for performing the method; a printing unit having the device; and a multicolor rotary printing machine having the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Inventors: Peter Forch, Andreas Henn
  • Publication number: 20020074717
    Abstract: A pre-registration system increases the latitude of present active registration systems by decreasing the lateral offset of sheets before they reach the active registration system. This is accomplished by pivoting and translating a sheet supply elevator with stepper motors in conjunction with sensing a lateral edge of sheets in order to direct the sheets to the proper lateral position to be fed into the active registration system with a minimum of lateral offset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Alan G. Schlageter
  • Publication number: 20020063381
    Abstract: A method of correcting a position of sheet material on conveying elements, the sheet material extending from a surface of a first sheet-conveying element to a surface of a second sheet-conveying element following downline from the first sheet-conveying element, as viewed in a conveying direction of the sheet material, which comprises detecting an actual position of a leading edge of the sheet material by at least one sensor element disposed on the first sheet-conveying element; by a control unit, making a comparison between a nominal and the actual position of the sheet material; and, if the actual position deviates from the nominal position of the sheet material, causing an actuator to fix the sheet material to the following second sheet-conveying element so as to perform a correction of the position deviation; a reversing or turning device in combination with the correction device; a printing unit having the correction device; and a multicolor printing machine in combination with the correction device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Inventor: Andreas Henn
  • Publication number: 20020038931
    Abstract: To prevent wavy swell from causing in sheet in transferring thereof and avoid wrinkle from being produced in later printing steps, there is provided a sheet transfer machine forward from a printing drum and a press roll. The machine is provided with upper and lower guide plates respectively formed with hole portions. Upper and lower rolls are disposed at the hole portions. There are provided hold rollers for pressing sheet coming from between the upper and the lower guide plates to an upper face of the lower guide plate downstream from the upper roll in a direction of transferring print sheet. In printing, swell is prevented from being produced by pressing the print sheet coming from between the two rolls by the hold rollers. When the sheet is sandwiched by the printing drum and the press roll and printed in later steps, wrinkle is not produced in the print sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2001
    Publication date: April 4, 2002
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Sugimoto
  • Publication number: 20020030321
    Abstract: An automatic document feed device having reading means for stopping a conveyed document to a reading position on a platen and sequentially reading images of two sides of the document one side by one, includes an adjusting unit, provided upstream of the reading position on the platen, for adjusting an edge of the document, wherein the adjusting unit have a function for adjusting the edge of the document which is fed to read one side, and for reversing the document through the platen and adjusting the edge of the document which is fed again to read the other side of the document. A feed unit includes one of feed guide members and a feed roller in the feed path. The feed path unit is rotatably supported, thereby enabling the feed path to open.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Applicant: Nisca Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiko Sugiyama, Osamu Jinza, Motoaki Nakayama, Akiharu Higaki, Masataka Hamada
  • Publication number: 20020027321
    Abstract: The paper guide for a scanner has an upper guide and two lower guides: the inlet lower guide and the outlet lower guide. The inlet lower guide overhangs over an output lower guide and is separated by a gap in the direction of the paper movement. The paper is scanned at the gap by the scanning light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Publication date: March 7, 2002
    Inventors: Thomas Sheng, Chi-Yao Chen
  • Publication number: 20020020960
    Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus capable of suppressing noise and reliably correcting skew feed of a sheet, and an image reading apparatus having the sheet feeding apparatus. A sheet conveyed by a conveying member is pressed against a registration roller pair in a stop state, thereby forming a loop in a loop formation space between the conveying member and the registration roller pair. A lower member which forms the lower surface of the loop formation space has a shape with which the sheet conveyed by the conveying member moves toward the registration roller pair along an upper member which forms the upper surface of the loop formation space in forming the loop. When the lower member is pressed by the sheet conveyed by the registration roller pair while attenuating the loop, the lower member moves downward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Waragai, Yasuyoshi Hayakawa, Atsushi Ogata
  • Publication number: 20020011706
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process and a device for alignment of sheet material (1) which is conveyed in one conveyor plane (9). The sheet material is conveyed on bodies (35) of revolution and aligned by means of triggerable alignment elements (25) in the conveyor direction (22) and perpendicular to the conveyor direction (22). The alignment elements (25) are assigned to an alignment unit (8). The alignment motion necessary for alignment of the sheet material in the conveyor direction (2) and perpendicular thereto takes placed by separate alignment elements (25) which can be triggered independently of one another during conveyance of the sheet material (1) with the process speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2001
    Publication date: January 31, 2002
    Inventors: Dieter Karl- Heinz Dobberstein, Joachim Heinrich Haupt, Karlheinz Walter Peter, Jurgen Sahlmann, Gerhard Rudolf Sing, Rolf Johannes Spilz, Hans-Gunter Werner Staack, Frank Pierel, Lutz Michael Wagner
  • Publication number: 20020003333
    Abstract: A method for the register-true alignment of sheets (1) before the transfer to a sheet-processing machine with the assistance of a carrier (7,9) that is movable in the machine cycle and is driven as a function of a signal, in order to feed the sheets individually to an aligning stop. To permit exact and reliable alignment even at high machine speeds with an uncomplicated mechanism, the signal is generated when a sheet edge (12) to be fed passes a predetermined location between the carrier (7,9) and aligning stop (5), and in response to the signal, the carrier performs a preset movement, identical from sheet to sheet, by which the carried-along sheet (1) is fed to the aligning stop with a speed greater than zero, but substantially less than the maximum sheet speed during the feeding movement. The method is particularly suitable for side-edge alignment, but is also suitable for leading-edge alignment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 1998
    Publication date: January 10, 2002
    Inventors: ANDREAS HENN, BERNHARD WAGENSOMMER, JUERGEN MAASS, BURKHARD MAASS
  • Patent number: 6305285
    Abstract: In a high speed sheet printing or coating machine there is a tendency for the sheets to move about as they are being fed to the datum stops, so that precise registration is not achieved. This is remedied by exerting a damping force which pulls each sheet continuously towards a fixed support surface 12 before and during registration and during printing or coating. The damping force comprises vacuum and/or magnetic forces which settle each sheet rapidly on the fixed support surface as it is fed into contact with the datum stops. The vacuum force is provided by drawing air through an array of holes 26 in the fixed support surface into an underlying chamber 24 evacuated through a pipe 28 by a vacuum pump, and is adjustable either by controlling the flow rate through the pump or by controllably venting the chamber or pipe to atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Crabtree of Gateshead Ltd.
    Inventor: Andrew Steven
  • Patent number: 6296243
    Abstract: A sheet supply apparatus for supplying record sheets to an image forming apparatus, the sheet supply apparatus including a sheet supply table for supporting the record sheets stacked thereon, sheet supply means provided above the sheet supply table and contacting a topmost face of the record sheets for supplying the one record sheet to the image forming apparatus during one period comprising a sheet supply executing time period for supplying the record sheet to the image forming apparatus and a sheet supply nonexecuting time period for not supplying the record sheet thereto, left and right movement instructing means for instructing to move the sheet supply table in a direction orthogonal to a transfer direction of the record sheet, left and right moving means for moving the sheet supply table in response to an instruction from the left and right movement instructing means, and control means for executing a control of moving the sheet supply table when a sheet supply operation by the sheet supply means is stop
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Riso Kagaku Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Nishimura
  • Patent number: 6293537
    Abstract: A device of aligning or arranging a paper in a printer comprising a transport part including feed roller and pinch roller, and which transports or counter-transport a paper between the rollers; a pickup roller which supplies a sheet of papers of paper load cassette to the roller; a paper feed plate providing the pressure for the frictional power to pick up a paper; and one-way clutch for preserving frictional power between a pickup roller and a paper when the feed roller which drives the pickup roller rotates in a counter direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jin-Ho Park
  • Patent number: 6267372
    Abstract: The apparatus has an input pocket into which a stack of sheets is inserted. At least the sheet to be picked from the stack by the picking device is transported by means of a feed device to a picking device which then picks one sheet from the stack at a time. To improve singling quality, a presingling device is provided which first transports only part of the stack to the picking device. In order to ensure that stacks of different-sized sheet material are singled reliably, an aligning device is provided which transports at least the sheet to be picked from the stack in the direction of a defined stop and thus aligns the sheet against said stop. The aligning device preferably cooperates alternatingly with the feed device. To increase singling reliability, a pressure plate is provided in the presingling device for acting upon the presingled partial stack with a certain pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Giesecke & Devrient GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Mylaeus, Kurt Schübel, Dirk Müller
  • Patent number: 6264196
    Abstract: A method for laterally aligning a sheet in a sheet-processing machine, the sheet being retained by sheet grippers which are displaced axially on a common carriage with respect to an alignment cylinder, includes fixing the carriage when it reaches a predetermined desired position; and device for performing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Kurt Lötsch
  • Patent number: 6264195
    Abstract: An adjustable tray for holding a supply of sheet material is provided. The tray includes a selectively movable backstop, and a selectively movable slide plate. An adjustment mechanism is provided that is selectively movable between an automatic position in which adjustment of the backstop affects adjustment of the slide plate, and a custom position in which adjustment of the backstop is independent of adjustment of the slide plate. The adjustment mechanism can be provided as a rod element. The backstop can be movable within a predetermined range of motion, in which case the adjustment mechanism can be adapted to move the slide plate to a position outside the range of motion of backstop. In an embodiment, the rod element is adapted to move the slide plate forward of backstop's range of motion. The tray can further include a plurality of levers, mounted on the tray, corresponding to respective sheet material sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Tim M. Hoberock, Angela K. DiFronzo
  • Publication number: 20010004144
    Abstract: A guide apparatus for guiding sheets to a sheet-processing machine, in particular a printing machine, and a method of operating the guide apparatus are described. The guide apparatus has at least one guide element which is disposed above a feed table and whose distance from the feed table can be set with the aid of a height-adjusting device. The guide apparatus is distinguished by the fact that the height-adjusting device has a first drive and a second drive, which can be actuated independently of each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Publication date: June 21, 2001
    Inventors: Gaby Fasler, Markus Mohringer, Jochen Renner
  • Publication number: 20010002077
    Abstract: An apparatus capable of performing pick operations on multiple sizes in a printing device is disclosed. This apparatus separates a media sheet from a stack and drives it along a media path. The apparatus also corrects any pick skew of the media sheet caused during the pick operation before the media sheet is transferred to the drive roller. By ensuring that the traversing media sheet has a leveled leading edge, the pick skew of the media sheet is substantially eliminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 1998
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Inventors: CHING YONG CHUA, AH CHONG JOHNNY TEE, SENG LIM RICHARD WU, PUI WEN HUANG
  • Patent number: 6237911
    Abstract: A sheet material guide (1) for guiding banknotes as a sheet material to a banknote processor used for service machines such as an automatic vending machine, an exchanging machine, pachinko ball dispensing machine and a medal dispensing machine, wherein a banknote conveying path width changing device (21) comprises and arm (22) disposed in the banknote conveying direction and having both ends thereof rotatable supported on the side of an upper chute (8) and a guide rotor (27) rotatably supported at an intermediate portion (22c) of the arm (22) in the banknote conveying direction of the arm (22) and having a plurality of sheet plates (23) having mutually different widths and radially disposed in the banknote conveying direction, and when one of the sheet plates (23) of the guide rotor (27) is disposed between the upper and lower chutes (8, 2), the side (23b) of the sheet plate (23) defines the side surface of a banknote conveying path (12), thereby changing the width of the banknote conveying path in multiple s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Nippon Conlux
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Mori, Tadashi Hatamachi
  • Patent number: 6233038
    Abstract: An imaging system is provided for imaging media of while supported at an imaging position on a support surfaces. The system includes a loading device configured to move the medium to be imaged along the support surface to the imaging position. During loading, the leading edge of the medium, which extends across the medium width and substantially perpendicular to a direction of movement of the medium, moves in a direction towards a registration device. A registration device is contacted by the leading edge of the medium during loading so as to position the medium in the imaging position on the support surface. A medium securing device secures the medium to the support surface and a perforation mechanism subsequently punches or notches the medium prior to imaging. A drive mechanism is provided to move the perforation mechanism and the registration device, typically prior to loading of the medium, to a position which corresponds to the particular width of the medium to be imaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Agfa Corporation
    Inventors: Akim Lennhoff, G. Bradley Mills, Philip A. Rombult, John D. Kennedy, Edward C. Comeau, Norman F. Rolfe
  • Patent number: 6213464
    Abstract: A skew feed or damage in the sheet in automatic feeding is avoided. In an image forming apparatus provided with a printer for recording an image, the printer is provided with a feeding port for enabling manual insert sheet feeding and an automatic sheet feeder (ASF) is detachably mounted on the feeding port to enable automatic sheet feeding through the feeding port. As shown in the drawings, the printer is provided with a printer sheet guide for manual insert sheet feeding, while the ASF is provided with an ASF sheet guide for automatic sheet feeding, and the ASF sheet guide is displaced toward the inner side of the sheet by a predetermined amount with respect to the printer sheet guide. Thus, the sheet automatically fed utilizing the ASF sheet guide does not contact the printer sheet guide, whereby the skew feed of the sheet and the damage to the sheet end can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Inoue, Koh Hasegawa, Shinya Asano, Takashi Nojima, Akira Kida, Takeshi Iwasaki, Noriko Kawasaki