Oppositely-disposed Side-edge Aligners Patents (Class 271/240)
  • Patent number: 5510909
    Abstract: A paper feed roller (5) is divided into a first roller (5a) and a second roller (5b); a slit (58) through which about 10 to 20 sheets of documents can pass is formed between the first roller and a gate plate (57) opposite to this; and the paper fed out therefrom is fed out to a space between the second roller (5b) and a separation pad (7) in contact with this.Also, there is adopted a construction in which the pressing force of a paper conveyance spring is transformed by a slide cam sliding in a direction parallel to the paper feed roller; and the paper width detection sensor is assembled by a fitting construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Assignees: PFU Limited, Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Shuichi Morikawa, Masahiko Futatsuka, Satoshi Ishida, Yasunori Miyauchi, Minori Masuda, Makoto Takagawa
  • Patent number: 5507481
    Abstract: A passbook transport and handling apparatus (10) for transporting a passbook between a customer using an automated banking machine and a printer (12) located inside the banking machine includes first belt flights (32) movable on first pulleys (22). The transport further includes second belt flights (34) movable on second pulleys (28). The second belt flights are disposed traversely intermediate of the first belt flights so that a passbook carried therein between is engaged firmly but with limited slippage. The passbook is guided through the transport by a first fixed edge guide (44). A second edge guide (46) is mounted on a spring (48) so as to bias the passbook into alignment as it passes through the transport. A gate member (72) is movable between positions blocking or admitting a passbook to the transport. Movement of the gate member as well as the belt flights is under control of a processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignee: Interbold
    Inventors: Jerry L. Meyer, Wayne D. Wellbaum, H. Thomas Graef
  • Patent number: 5483888
    Abstract: A device for actuating lateral sheet guides in accordance with respective sheet format widths to be processed includes an actuator disposed on an operating side of a rotary printing press for displacing a side stop transversely to the longitudinal direction of a sheet, the actuator being disposed so as to be visible and freely accessible on an operating side of a sheet pile, adjustable lateral sheet guides disposed in a feed region and a delivery region of the printing press, mutually cooperating tensioning devices form-lockingly connected to the actuator and to the lateral sheet guides and being simultaneously adjustable by the actuator in the feed region and in the delivery region symmetrically to a center of a printing unit of the printing press.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Martin Greive
  • Patent number: 5465953
    Abstract: A bank note conveying equipment which is capable of preventing a jam during conveyance of bank note caused by damaged bank note and any problems in collecting and storing the bank note in a bank note storing unit. Bank notes are held between a pinch roller and an endless belt on a bank note conveying path, and conveyed along the bank note conveying path according to the rotation of the endless belt. When the bank note deviates from the bank note conveying path, either of modifying rollers provided outside the bank note conveying path in the widthwise direction thereof holds the bank note therebetween and rotates so that the bank note may be brought back to the bank note conveying path, and thereby correcting the conveying posture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Ace Denken
    Inventors: Takatoshi Takemoto, Noriaki Kano, Eiji Ito, Kozo Sekimoto
  • Patent number: 5454648
    Abstract: A paper guide includes a wing that extends over a respective lateral edge of the print media and a dimple formed on a bottom side of the wing that contacts the print media between the respective lateral edge and an edge of the maximum printable area. The dimple separates the print media from the wing so as to avoid smearing the ink in the maximum printable area. Two embodiments of the dimples are shown. A first embodiment of the dimple includes a central elongate portion having first and second hemispherical portions at respective ends thereof. The second embodiment is a substantially semi-hemispherical shaped dimple. The second embodiment can operate either by itself or in conjunction with a second substantially identical semi-hemispherical dimple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: Ghai K. Lee
  • Patent number: 5433427
    Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet feed device having a sheet supporting device for supporting a sheet, a regulating member for regulating both one lateral edge and a rear edge of the sheet, and a positioning device for positioning the regulating member in a position depending upon the size of the sheet supported by the sheet supporting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noriyoshi Ishikawa, Yoshinori Sugiura, Takeshi Niimura
  • 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: 5388954
    Abstract: A unit for feeding semifinished parts, whereby a carriage travelling along a straight slideway supports a rectangular table in turn supporting a parallelepiped stack of semifinished parts and which is floatable by means of an air cushion. The carriage presents a device for positioning the stack and comprising four articulated arms, each fitted to the carriage and having, on its free end, a locating element designed to contact the lateral walls of the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: Comau S.p.A.
    Inventors: Giorgio Marinoni, Arturo Baroncelli
  • Patent number: 5374052
    Abstract: A direction of movement of substantially fiat elements, such as sheets or business forms, is changed about 90.degree., without rotation of the forms. Nip rolls receive the forms driven in a first direction and accelerate the forms to make them airborne until they hit an adjustable abutment on the opposite side of an endless belt conveyor from the nip rolls. The endless belt conveyor conveys the forms in a second horizontal direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The forms may be shingled when moved both in the first and second directions, or can be deshingled by controlling the aspect ratio of the forms, the ratio of speeds of the elements, and the degree of shingling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1994
    Assignee: Moore Business Forms, Inc.
    Inventor: James C. Folsom
  • Patent number: 5370048
    Abstract: A sheet-supporting mechanism for supporting sheets above a side guide recess in the feed table of a sheet-fed rotary printing press includes a plurality of guide bridges disposed in the recess parallel to the direction of sheet travel and slidably mounted on tie-bars in the recess for movement transverse to the direction of sheet travel. A plurality of compression springs are interposed between the lateral faces of the guide bridges to bias the bridges apart and permit the sheet side guide to move in the recess transverse to the direction of sheet travel in order to accommodate sheet formats of varying widths. The springs are preferably leaf springs and are disposed below the upper surface of the bridges which lie in the plane of the surface of the feed table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Erich Pietsch, Jurgen Grobklab, Reinhold Achenbach
  • Patent number: 5368643
    Abstract: A board to be coated is conveyed by means of first transport means in the form of a roller conveyor to a curtain coating device. The latter comprises second transport means in the form of two conveyor belts, each of which runs round an associated straightening bar in the direction of transport of the board. The straightening bars are movable and as they move towards one another they align the boards at the side edges thereof in such a manner that the side edges extend approximately parallel to the direction of transport of the board. Conical rollers are connected to the straightening bars. During alignment, that is to say, when the straightening bars are moved towards one another, the board to be coated is at the same time lifted from the roller conveyor by means of the conical rollers and conveyed via the surfaces of the conical rollers to the conveyor belts. The latter engage laterally at the board edges and transport the board through a pouring curtain for the purpose of coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation
    Inventor: Kaspar Kuster
  • Patent number: 5368147
    Abstract: A testing device for bank notes, or similar instruments of payment in sheet form for automatic vending machines, has a testing channel (20) with a transport device (7) and scanning devices for recognizing and checking the authenticity of the bank note (3). An input channel (2) of variable width is in front of the testing channel (20). The input channel (2) includes two channel halves (21), one on either side of the longitudinal center axis (22) of the input channel (2). The two channel halves (21) can be adjusted synchronously against the force of a spring. In their contact position, the channel halves (21) determine the minimum width of the channel, and in their separated end position they determine the maximum width. A bank note (3) of any type is introduced into the input channel (2) at its locked maximum channel width as far as a passage detector (19) arranged in a starting region of the testing channel (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: NSM Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wilhelm Menke, Arjen J. Mulder
  • Patent number: 5368284
    Abstract: A roll or strip feed system for inserting flat stock to the operative position of a machine tool consisting of an automatic material lift apparatus working in conjunction with a centralizing guide to feed flat stock intermittently into an entry guide roller which pushes strip stock to an operative machine position, and thereafter, pulls the remnant strip by means of exit rollers to a discard position. The roller assemblies are pneumatically controlled as to tension and driven electrically as the total operation is under control of a pre-programmed controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: I G Incorporated
    Inventor: Lawrence B. Renth
  • Patent number: 5365817
    Abstract: A sheet cutting apparatus including an air removing mechanism and a sheet overlap preventing mechanism. The air removing mechanism includes an aligning device for pushing edges of a stack of sheets, which stack is placed on a table before being cut, towards a center of the stack to align the edges of the stack, and a cover member for covering the stack on the table such that the stack can be hermetically sealed, a pushing device for pushing the stack form above, and an evacuation device for removing air from a space between the table and the cover member to hermetically seal the space. The sheet overlap preventing mechanism is provided with a first restriction device for restricting a displacement of a plurality of stacks of cut sheets, with respect to a thickness direction of each of the stacks of cut sheets, and a second restriction device for restricting a displacement of portions to be cut off from the stacks of the cut sheets, with respect to a thickness direction of each of the portions to be cut off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Maeda, Nobumitsu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 5332208
    Abstract: A paper supplying deck is insertable into and withdrawable from a paper supplying portion of a body resulting in electrical connection between the side of the paper supplying deck and the side of the body through a drawer-type connector when the paper supplying deck is inserted and interruption of such electrical connection when the drawer is withdrawn. The paper supplying deck has a paper carrying portion with a paper width setting mechanism and a variable resistor the resistance value of which is changed in dependence on the paper width setting mechanism, thereby changing an output paper width detecting voltage. On the wide of the paper supplying deck, a resistance which prevents the paper width detecting voltage from amounting to a power source voltage even though the resistance value of the variable resistor reaches a maximum value, is connected in series with the variable resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1994
    Assignee: Mita Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Tsuji, Shigeo Kurand, Yoshihiro Tohnai, Yukio Hashimoto, Hidekazu Sakagami
  • Patent number: 5332209
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus wherein paper sheets are fed to a transport system along a predetermined feed path having a center line. The apparatus is provided with a pair of edge guides opposedly arranged about the center line for holding the paper sheets. Movement of one of the edge guides results in the corresponding movement of the other about the center line. With the use of a clutch disc, either paper guide may be moved independently of the other effectively changing the center line relative to the feed path of the transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1994
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: John A. Romansky, Randall R. Maysick
  • Patent number: 5330173
    Abstract: A hand scanner support and paper guide apparatus is disclosed for mechanically scanning a thin sheet, e.g. a sheet of paper, using a scanner designed to be hand-held. The apparatus includes a housing which includes a planar upper wall which serves as a flat surface along which the thin sheet is moved. A support assembly is connected to the housing and supports the scanner a spaced distance above the planar upper wall as the thin sheet is moved past the scanner. A guide assembly is connected to the housing and guides the thin sheet in a straight path as the thin sheet is moved along the planar upper wall. A drive assembly is housed within the housing and moved the thin sheet past the scanner. The drive assembly includes a driven, thin-sheet-contacting element such as a cylindrical roller; and a slot, in the planar upper wall, permits the cylindrical roller to contact and move the thin sheet as it lies on the planar upper wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Inventors: Gary L. Wensink, Paul E. Keyes, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5308436
    Abstract: Business forms may be manually inserted into cooperation with a conveyor between a folder and a sealer by providing an outer movable cover for the conveyor, and an inner normally stationary cover underneath the outer cover. An interlock, formed by a magnet and a reed switch, is provided between the inner cover and the conveyor. A slot is formed in the inner cover, with first and second guide elements extending upwardly and downwardly, respectively, from the slot. Each of the guide elements has a plate, the first guide element having one upstanding guide edge, and the second guide element having adjustably spaced first and second S-shaped guide edges. A planar transition portion of the first guide element overlaps and is connected to the second guide element, and a planar transition portion of the second guide element is connected to the bottom of the inner cover. The second guide element plate makes an angle of between about 30.degree.-60.degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: Moore Business Forms, Inc.
    Inventors: George E. Walter, Rebecca L. Parker
  • Patent number: 5292116
    Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet feeding apparatus having a sheet supporting tray removably mountable within the sheet feeding apparatus and adapted to stack and support sheets, a regulating device provided on the sheet supporting tray and adapted to regulate and position lateral edges of the sheets stacked in the sheet supporting tray, an urging mechanism for urging with a predetermined urging force the sheets stacked in the sheet supporting tray against the regulating device, and an urging force adjusting mechanism for adjusting the urging mechanism so that the urging mechanism can urge the sheets against the regulating device with greater force during insertion of the sheet supporting tray into the sheet feeding apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryukichi Inoue, Yutaka Kikuchi, Yasuyoshi Hayakawa, Naoki Asano, Kazuhiro Nomoto
  • Patent number: 5240244
    Abstract: A process and an apparatus for prestacking in a sheet feeder of a rotary printing press provided with lateral stack stops, which can be adjusted to the format of the sheet to be printed, the printing press also having an automatic lateral stacking orientation and a stack raising apparatus, which are designed so that they make possible an easy manual prestacking in the sheet feeder by the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gerhard Pollich, Heiner Luxem
  • Patent number: 5234097
    Abstract: A belt-like tire component member 8 is conveyed to a shaping drum 2 by a belt conveyor 1. There is provided a conveyor belt 6 having a reverse surface with at least one toothed portion 12 which protrudes from the reverse surface at a predetermined position in width thereof and endlessly extends along a longitudinal direction of the belt, a driving drum 4 which drives the conveyor belt 6 and has teeth 14 formed on the outer peripheral portion corresponding to the toothed portion 12 so as to mesh with the toothed portion, and a driving motor 7 which drives the driving drum 4 and controls its rotational speed. There is provided a plurality of air holes 11 on the conveyor belt 6, and an air chamber 9b which is disposed under the conveyor belt 6 so as to contact therewith and to communicate with the air holes 11. Air is supplied to and discharged from the air chamber 9b by a blower 24.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1993
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Okuyama
  • Patent number: 5215303
    Abstract: A sheet alignment device to align the edges of recording sheets stacked on a sheet stacker of a duplex unit in a two-sided copying apparatus, in which a document image has been copied onto the first surface of the recording sheet and the recording sheet is reversed so that another document image can be copied onto the second surface of the recording sheet. The device has an edge pushing member which can be driven in the range from the maximum width to the minimum width of the recording sheets used in the apparatus in order to align the edges of the recording sheets, a driver which moves the edge pushing member in the width direction of the recording sheet, a detector which detects the width of the edge pushing member located in a home position, and a controller which controls the movement of the edge pushing member to the home position being narrower than the maximum size of recording sheet and wider than the minimum size, based on the result of the detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Yasushi Yamada, Tsuyoshi Mizubata, Masaru Ushio
  • Patent number: 5209467
    Abstract: Apparatus for conveying flat articles of varying width. The apparatus includes: a deck to support the flat articles; a device for moving the flat articles across the deck in a path from an upstream position to a downstream position, the deck having a pair of opposing slots extending perpendicular to the path; an arm below the deck pivotably secured with a center pin to the deck between the deck slots; a pair of links pivotably secured to the arm; a pair of guide plates pivotably secured to the links, each of the guide plates having a slot extending perpendicular to the path and slidingly engaging the center pin; a projecting member extending from each of the guide plates and slidingly engaging the deck slots; and a side guide fixedly secured to each of the guide plates, whereby movement of one of the guide plates in a direction closer or further from the path causes the other of the guide plates to simultaneously move closer or further from the path while the side guides retain a parallel relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventor: Roderick N. Schmaling
  • Patent number: 5203246
    Abstract: A system for aligning and squaring folded and glued boxes being conveyed serially in line or in a shingle utilizes a fixed set of alignment wheels positioned parallel to and on one side of the shingle and a set of adjustable alignment wheels positioned on the opposite lateral edge of the shingle. The adjustable alignment wheels can be adjusted as a unit to pivot on a vertical axis and to move laterally slightly into the path of the shingle. The pivot arm on which the adjustable wheels are mounted accommodates major misalignment of the initially incoming shingle, but is pivoted to an aligned position in the direction of shingle movement by the force of the moving shingle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Assignee: Marquip, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean W. Smitterberg, Timothy C. Prochnow, William R. Nachtrab, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5183526
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for facilitating manual feeding of business forms into business forms handling equipment to bypass the automatic feeder, primarily in the production of mailers from forms having pressure sensitive adhesive strips. Mounted at the interface between the conveyor and folder of the handling equipment is a transparent plastic plate having a slot with forms guides, and a forms centering scale adjacent the slot. A finger opening in, and an upstanding finger tab on, the quadrate plate may be provided to allow it to be lifted out of place covering the interface area between the conveyor and folder. An interlock engaging projection is provided on the plate for stopping operation of the equipment when it is removed. One may bypass the automatic feeding of the conveyor by manually inserting forms into the slot guided by the forms guides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1993
    Assignee: Moore Business Forms, Inc.
    Inventor: George E. Walter
  • Patent number: 5172138
    Abstract: A positioning apparatus for positioning a reciprocally movable member, such as a guide member for a sheet of recording paper, between a reference position and a predetermined position. The apparatus includes a detector for detecting that the movable member is in the proximity of the reference position, and a counter for counting the amount by which the movable member is shifted while the detector is detecting that the movable member is in the proximity of the reference position. A controller stores the value counted by the counter, and controls drive of the movable member when the movable member is being returned to the reference position based on the count in the counter and the stored count value. A second counter may be provided to count the amount by which the movable member is shifted from the reference position to the predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1992
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Okazawa, Toshiyuki Itoh, Kaoru Sato, Tatsuto Tachibana, Akihisa Kusano
  • Patent number: 5165679
    Abstract: An apparatus for conveying sheets having various widths. The apparatus includes a hollow drum having a plurality of holes disposed on the outer circumferential surface thereof, a suction device for sucking air through the plurality of holes toward an interior of the drum, and a plurality of conveying belts wound on the hollow drum and adapted to be conveyed around the drum and in sliding contact therewith. The conveying belts are spaced apart from one another in the widthwise direction of the sheets so as to define gaps therebetween. Additionally, a plurality of spaced apart pressing belts are alternatingly disposed with respect to the conveying belts such that the pressing belts oppose the gaps between. In this manner, the widthwise ends of the sheets are contacted by the inside edges of a pair of conveying belts so as to convey the sheets in the proper direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1992
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Noboru Kinomoto
  • Patent number: 5152622
    Abstract: The invented printer includes a paper drive and mechanisms which hold paper in proper alignment in the drive. Specifically, it includes a pressure plate capable of bringing a sheet of paper into contact with a drive roller so that the paper is properly aligned, a wrapper which keeps paper in proper contact with the drive roller, a media edge contactor that presses against paper, a carriage guide support which helps to insure proper alignment of the paper during printing, and a back-out restraint to prevent paper from backing out of the printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Steve O. Rasmussen, Allan G. Olson, Vance M. Stephens, William R. Huseby
  • Patent number: 5145168
    Abstract: A pivot brake is used in conjunction with a ball-on-belt transport and dual registration edge guides to rotate and register the output of printers by 90.degree. to satisfy on-line finishing requirements. As a sheet is fed into the rotation mechanism by the ball-on-belt transport, it encounters the pivot brake which retards its travel. The ball-on-belt transport continues to drive the sheet, thereby rotating it about the brake and into the registration edge guides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Robert R. Jonas, Robert F. Rubscha
  • Patent number: 5129644
    Abstract: A workpiece is aligned in the X, Y coordinate plane at a predetermined X, Y reference coordinate. Separate X and Y coordinate transports rapidly transport and align the workpiece. Deceleration means prevent the workpiece from slipping on the work surface. An adjustable, stationary workpiece engaging plate speeds the cycle time of the device by providing dual coordinate alignment of the workpiece. Sensors are provided to detect the presence of a workpiece properly aligned in the X, Y coordinate plane. The sensors may be either individually connected or coupled through a control means to previous and succeeding workstations in such a manner that the invention can interrupt the "fault chain" that occurs when a workpiece becomes fouled along the assembly line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1992
    Assignee: Juki America, Inc.
    Inventors: David G. Thomason, Yoichi Enomoto
  • Patent number: 5127646
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a regulating member for regulating a sheet fed from the magazine in the widthwise direction, the regulating member being movable between a regulating position and a retreating position. The image forming apparatus further includes a cover member for opening and closing the magazine. When the cover member closes the magazine, the regulating member is in the retreating position, and when the cover member opens the magazine, the regulating member is in the regulating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1992
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoyuki Matsuda, Yukiyoshi Yamakoshi, Hiroshi Tomita, Hajime Takei, Fuminori Moro, Homare Sano
  • Patent number: 5098081
    Abstract: In a machine for processing sheet material, an apparatus for centering and deskewing the sheet material being processed, comprises a deck; a pair of side guides adjustably located above the deck; adjustment limiting structure coupled to the side guides for limiting the distance adjustments can be made; linkage structure operatively coupled to the side guides and to the adjustment limiting structure for maintaining fixed center adjustments to the side guides, the linkage structure comprising at least three links, including a center link pivotally mounted to a center point of the deck and two end links, each of the end links coupled to one of the side guides; and friction structure coupled to each of the side guides for maintaining a position of the side guides after an adjustment is made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventor: Carlos L. DeFigueiredo
  • Patent number: 5092579
    Abstract: A mechanism for preventing the skew of a cut paper sheet, for use in a duplex printing machine or a paper reversing mechanism having a switchback mechanism for switching the cut sheet backward from its trailing end by reverse rollers and so on immediately after the cut sheet subjected to the printing at a printing portion is once discharged onto a reverse plate by paper discharge rollers and so on, the mechanism comprising: a plurality of paper guides formed on a surface of the reverse plate of the switchback mechanism so as to limit the lateral movement of the cut sheets of several kinds in the direction of the width thereof, the paper guides being arranged in a manner to correspond respectively to the widths of the cut sheets of several kinds to be discharged onto the reverse plate, the distance between each two paper guides for guiding a respective one of the cut sheets being slightly greater than the width of the corresponding cut sheet, and the paper guide for guiding the wider cut sheet being higher tha
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Tokoro, Mitsuaki Hayakawa, Kazuo Sugano
  • Patent number: 5091754
    Abstract: This invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a convey path comprising lateral movement apparatus for controlling a widthwise position of a sheet member to be conveyed, wherein the lateral movement apparatus is curved in a convey direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Abe, Junichi Kimizuka, Akihisa Kusano, Kaoru Sato, Toshiyuki Ito, Kazuhiko Okazawa, Toshihiko Inuyama, Takahiro Azeta, Yoshiro Tsuchiya, Hiroshi Yukimachi, Tadashi Yagi, Hiroo Kobayashi, Masahito Otsuka, Tsuyoshi Waragai, Takamasa Sawada, Hiroaki Miyake, Toshifumi Moritani
  • Patent number: 5087028
    Abstract: An aligning table such as e.g. used in feeders for folding and printing machines comprising a lower sheet guide and an upper sheet guide which is defined by two side walls which extend in the conveying direction and between which a plurality of holding-down elements likewise aligned in the conveying direction are arranged, is improved such that the side walls are connected together by at least one guide bar which extends perpendicularly to said walls and on which the holding-down elements are slidingly mounted, whereby interfering sheets of paper, paperboard, cardboard or the like can simply and rapidly be removed from the aligning table without applying high forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1992
    Assignee: Stahl GmbH & Co. Maschinenfabrik
    Inventor: Eckhard Frohlich
  • Patent number: 5031894
    Abstract: A mechanism registers a sheet of film and advances it toward an imaging station for exposure by a laser scanning system. A registration member is located along a surface that receives the sheet and the member is engageable by an edge of the sheet for registering and guiding the sheet toward the station. An urging guide located along another portion of the surface is skewed relative to the registration member and spaced from it so that the end portions of the guide and registration member nearest the station are spaced apart sufficiently to enable the sheet to lie flat on the surface while other portions thereof are sufficiently close together to prevent the sheet from lying flat on the surface. The guide projects above the surface and is tilted away from the registration member so that the guide imparts a component of force onto a sheet resting thereon which urges the sheet toward the registration member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1991
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Mark D. Bedzyk, Roger S. Brahm
  • Patent number: 5014972
    Abstract: In an electrophotographic copying apparatus, the document stack to be fed is curved when it rests on a fixed curved stack-holding tray. The document stack is lifted by a pair of lifting blades having the curvature of the stack which move horizontally relative to the ends of the stack to move in and out beneath the sides of the stack, and thereafter move vertically to lift the entire stack out of the path of the returning copy. A vacuum belt arrangement is provided for moving successive documents from the top of the stack into the electrophotographic copying machine. The document loops through the machine and returns at a lower level, aligned with an opening beneath the bottom of the stack. Moving belts running beneath the stack carry the returning document into alignment under the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd., Ricoh Corporation
    Inventors: Carl P. Anderson, Edward E. Mayer
  • Patent number: 5011126
    Abstract: An automatic sheet stack loading mechanism of a paper sheet feeding apparatus has a main lift for supporting a stack of sheets to be fed thereon. The main lift is incrementally moved upwardly to place the uppermost sheet of the stack at a predetermined height position with respect to a sheet separator disposed over the stack and operating to separate the sheets one by one from the stack. When the stack of sheets is consumed considerably, parallel horizontal spits are inserted under the stack from both transverse sides of the stack thereby to support the load of the stack and to enable the main lift to be lowered to receive a new stack of the sheets. The insertion of the spits in the transverse direction of the stack is advantageous in that the central portion of the sheets of the stack along the direction of feed of the sheets is maintained at constant height irrespective of downward deflection of the spits so that adjustment in position of the sheet separator is not required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1991
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Insatsu Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daiji Suzuki, Yasuhiro Sudo
  • Patent number: 4949134
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an intermediate tray wherein a copied paper on which an image has been formed is stored. In the case of a double-face copy, the copied paper is stored in the intermediate tray in a manner that a surface on which an image has been formed is faced upward and, in the case of a multi-copy, the copied paper is stored in the intermediate tray in a manner that a surface on which an image has been formed is faced downward. The intermediate tray has two movable guide members which sandwiches the copied paper stored in the intermediate tray in a width direction thereof. The movable guide members are moved so as to go and come back once at every timing when a sheet of copied paper is stored in the intermediate tray, whereby both side ends of the copied paper are pushed by the movable guide members to be aligned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1990
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Iwaki, Yoshiharu Mita, Akihiko Suto, Shinichi Kikkawa, Yasushi Handa, Sadaki Kodera
  • Patent number: 4919414
    Abstract: A shingle handling and squaring device (18) is disposed between a sheet shingler (5) and stacker (9) and mounted above a stack infeed conveyor (19). The device includes a pair of side carriages (23,24), each of which carries a pair of freely rotatable longitudinally in-line tamping rollers or wheels (29-32), the peripheries of which are adapted to engage an edge of the traveling sheet material (6). The wheels are mounted for rotation about generally vertical but slightly inclined axes (48) and have tapered peripheries (51) so that the wheels nevertheless present truly vertical faces to the sheet material. The wheels are counterbalanced (56). In addition, when the stacker infeed nip roll (17) is raised by the entry of shingled sheets, a device (57-60) is provided to release the nip roll from the sheets to prevent binding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1990
    Assignee: Marquip, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl R. Marschke, Richard H. Thomas, William D. Wendorf
  • Patent number: 4917370
    Abstract: A launcher for launching pieces of sheet metal into a roll former is disclosed. The launcher includes laterally spaced conveyor belts having parallel upper reaches which support the piece of sheet metal and transport it to a launch position. While located in the launch position, opposed pushers engage opposite edges of the sheet and move it laterally into a predetermined lateral location in which it is centered and aligned with the roll former. Thereafter, longitudinally spaced gripper rolls engage and grip the opposite sides of the sheet at longitudinally spaced locations. The gripper rolls operate to feed the sheet and maintain gripping thereof until substantially the entire sheet enters the roll former. Therefore, proper alignment is maintained and uniform roll forming is produced. The pushers along one side of the sheet move to a fixed position to precisely locate the adjacent edge of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1990
    Assignee: White Consolidated Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Graham W. Batts
  • Patent number: 4907792
    Abstract: A sheet guide adjusting apparatus for copy machines, phototelegraphic apparatuses, photo-engraving machines and the like, comprises a pair of sliding members supported on a machine body and able to move in a reciprocal manner to apply guides to the edges of sheets, and a drive mechanism mounted on the machine body and able to move in a reciprocal manner between and operatively interconnecting the sliding members. One of the sliding members and the drive mechanism being provided with clamping devices for clamping the sliding member and the drive mechanism in relative to the machine body, whereby the guides can be positioned to match the size of sheets by a center-standard method when the drive mechanism is fixed in a stable position in relation to the machine body, and the guides can be positioned to match the size of sheets by an edge-standard method when one of the sliding members is fixed in a stable position in relation to the machine body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1990
    Assignee: Iwatsu Electric Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Morimasa Washiashi, Toshio Koike
  • Patent number: 4874160
    Abstract: A paper cartridge for a paper processing apparatus such as a copier includes a table on which sheets of paper are placed and two side plates and a back plate which are movable perpendicularly to and along the direction of their transportation, respectively, to arrange these sheets of paper at a desired position. Each of these plates is provided with a sensor for detecting the presence of a sheet and these plates are moved according to the outputs from these sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1989
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazushi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 4858911
    Abstract: An apparatus for conveying a base is disclosed which comprises a crosswise base guide for causing a centerline in a conveyance direction of the base to coincide with a centerline in the conveyance direction of the apparatus, a base position detecting sensor for causing the crosswise base guide to start its operation and base breadth detecting sensors for causing the crosswise base guide to stop its operation. The apparatus may further comprise base guide moving mechanism for causing a centerline of the crosswise base guide to coincide with the centerline of the thin film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Assignee: Somar Corporation
    Inventors: Takao Matsuo, Shigeo Sumi
  • Patent number: 4850583
    Abstract: A device (10) for advancing documents (12) from an input location (14) to an output location (16) along a path includes belts (24, 26) for capturing a document (12) and for temporarily imparting a stiffness to the document that is greater than the inherent document stiffness. Structure (34, 60) is provided for driving belts (24, 26) to move the document (12) from the input location (14) to the output location (16) along the path. A guide (90) is disposed adjacent the belts (24, 26) and along the path for contacting the edges of the document (12) to thereby cause lateral aligning shifts of the document (12) transverse to the direction of document (12) advance, while the document (12) is captured by belts (24, 26) and while the document (12) is being advanced along the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Assignee: Recognition Equipment Incorporated
    Inventor: William C. Monday
  • Patent number: 4844441
    Abstract: A sheet conveyance table for a sheet rotary press disposed in a gap between a plurality of conveyance tapes conveying a sheet fed from a sheet feeder and a feed board. The sheet conveyance table is constituted by stays suspended in the gap perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction; a pair of support tables, supported at two end portions of the stays, and a plurality of sheet receiving members. The pair of support tables are movable in a widthwise direction of the rotary press to adjust for sheets received from the conveyance tapes having different widths. The support tables also support side registering devices which align one side of the sheet as it passes over the sheet conveyance table. The sheet receiving members are formed by a thin plate material having a substantially U-shape when viewed from the top and are arranged along the stays so that their widths are increased when the support tables are displaced away from each other and reduced upon movement of the support tables towards each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Assignee: Komori Printing Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chuzabro Motohashi
  • Patent number: 4842574
    Abstract: A table top buckle chute fold machine is disclosed in which improved and more reliable squaring of the paper to the folding rolls is accomplished by lightly driving an inserted sheet of paper with a friction roller against a selected one of several deflector assemblies. The deflector assemblies each include a deflector member spaced away from the rollers to direct the advancing edge of the paper inwardly so as to be abutted against the back of a recessed guide groove. An intermittently engaged drive roller causes the squared paper to be forcibly advanced against the groove, causing the sheet to buckle and be nipped between another pair of driven nip rollers, forming a first fold at the location determined by the location of the particular deflector assembly activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Inventors: Noel L. Noble, Edward A. Bluthardt, Jeffrey L. Goins
  • Patent number: 4828247
    Abstract: An apparatus for conveying a base by means of feed rollers and presser rollers in disclosed which comprises a base support member for supporting the base in place. The base support means is projected to a predetermined position when the base is fed to a pressure applying position. The apparatus is provided with a base holding member for temporarily fixing in place the base which has been fed to the pressure applying position, without changing a condition of the base. The base support means operated in cooperation with or independently of the base holding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Assignee: Somar Corporation
    Inventors: Takao Matsuo, Shigeo Sumi
  • Patent number: 4825059
    Abstract: In an apparatus for recording and reproducing information, an information recording medium is reciprocated relative to a head for effecting information recording and reproduction, under such conditions that one end of the recording medium is urged against a guide member extending in a direction of the reciprocation of the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1989
    Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Canon Denshi Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Kurihara, Kenichi Suzuki, Kazuo Minoura
  • Patent number: 4767116
    Abstract: The apparatus for the lateral straightening of printing products on a conveyor has guide members in the form of endless toothed belts arranged on opposite sides of the conveyor which are given, by motor-driven pulleys, a movement in the same movement direction and with approximately the same feed speed of the conveyed material. At the same time, the pulleys move inwardly toward each other, converging at the width of the printed products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1988
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventor: Jurg Eberle