Between Superposed Conveyor Couple Patents (Class 271/272)
-
Patent number: 7068400Abstract: The present invention relates to a driving device for a scanning module. An active gear wheel and a passive gear wheel are disposed respectively on two rigid frames. These two rigid frames are connected by a rigid component to avoid relative displacement between the two wheels due to external force or change of temperature. The rigid component of the present invention may also be adopted as a guiding track for the scanning module.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2001Date of Patent: June 27, 2006Assignee: Lite-On Technology CorporationInventors: Kung-Ho Su, Chin-Te Liu
-
Patent number: 7066463Abstract: A platesetting system and method comprising a pair of dual capstan rollers that receives a recording medium and records an image on the received medium as the medium is transported through the system. The system and method advantageously enable at least a portion of the image to extend from a leading edge of the medium to a trailing edge of the medium.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2002Date of Patent: June 27, 2006Assignee: ECRM IncorporatedInventors: Michael C. Zembko, John W. Berrigan, John L. Connolly
-
Patent number: 7063417Abstract: A recording apparatus capable of preventing a recording medium from contacting a recording unit and causing a jam thereof on conveying is provided. The recording apparatus of the present invention has a paper feed roller placed further upstream in a conveying direction in a normal conveying direction of the recording medium than a record head for recording on recording paper and a sheet inverting portion for inverting the recording paper like a loop and feeding it to the paper feed roller. The recording apparatus is constituted to stand by, for a predetermined time, for the conveying of the recording paper in a state in which a leading end of a backside of the recording paper in the normal conveying direction is in the sheet inverting portion in the process of inverting the recording paper in the sheet inverting portion.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2004Date of Patent: June 20, 2006Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Koya Iwakura, Tetsuyo Ohashi, Masahiro Taniguro, Junichi Yoshikawa
-
Patent number: 7040613Abstract: A sheet feeder having parallel opposing shafts with rollers or belts for engaging sheets. The sheet feeder having one control to adjust the height of both sides of one shaft so that the rollers apply the same force to both sides of the sheet to feed the sheet straight preventing the sheets from jamming in the sheet feeder. The sheet feeder can have manual or electronic height adjustments. The gap between the shafts can be quickly and easily changed for quickly changing production runs with different thickness product. The shafts are three-piece shafts for ease of changing the rollers on the shaft. All the bearings are pregreased and sealed to protect the bearings from dirt and debris. Rods connect the height adjustment on both sides of the shaft so both sides are adjusted by the same amount at the same time.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2003Date of Patent: May 9, 2006Assignee: Multifeeder Technology, Inc.Inventor: Arild Vedoy
-
Patent number: 7040617Abstract: A platesetting system and method comprising a pair of dual capstan rollers that receives a recording medium and records an image on the received medium as the medium is transported through the system. The system and method advantageously enable at least a portion of the image to extend from a leading edge of the medium to a trailing edge of the medium.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2005Date of Patent: May 9, 2006Assignee: ECRM IncorporatedInventors: Michael C. Zembko, John W. Berrigan, John L. Connolly
-
Patent number: 7011307Abstract: A paper sheet detection apparatus comprising a conveying belt which conveys a paper sheet along a conveying surface, a detection sensor which is provided opposite to the conveying surface and detects a paper sheet conveyed by the conveying belt, a sensor guide which is provided in at least the paper sheet take-in side of the detection sensor and formed with upper and lower guide members disposed opposite to each other at both side of the conveying surface, a nozzle which is provided in the opposite surface of the upper and lower guide members, and a gas supply device which supplies compressed gas to the upper and lower guide members and ejects the gas from the nozzle between the pair of guide members.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2003Date of Patent: March 14, 2006Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Masao Obama, Masashi Suzuki
-
Patent number: 6995880Abstract: An image reading apparatus for reading both surfaces of a document has a first reading device and a second reading device disposed at a side opposite to the first reading device to sandwich a reading station for reading the document, thereby simultaneously reading both surfaces of the document transported to the reading station. The reading station includes a first path to guide the document to be read by the first reading device and a second path for guiding the document to be read by the second reading device. A gap in the second path is narrower than a gap in the first path. This structure does not cause document transport problems and attains quality readings of both surfaces of the document while having different optical reading means.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2001Date of Patent: February 7, 2006Assignee: Nisca CorporationInventors: Tetuyuki Tohyama, Masaki Fukuda
-
Patent number: 6969066Abstract: An apparatus for improving sheet feeding in a direction of movement to a process station, including: a contact surface having ribs spaced along contact surface in the direction of movement, apertures being defined in the space between each rib; a blower; and an air plenum for supplying a vacuum generated by the blower to the contact surface so that when an leading edge of the sheet passes by the contact surface the vacuum pulls the leading edge of the sheet towards contact surface.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2002Date of Patent: November 29, 2005Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Steven M. Ferrarese, John Meyers, Mark F. Scholand, Scott J. Phillips, Jacob Eyngorn, David G. Savini
-
Patent number: 6964414Abstract: In a printing apparatus or copier, a vertical portion of a paper path is formed between two flat members. To remove jammed paper from the path, one of the flat members is moved, by a hinge, from the other, releasing any sheet in the path. Released sheets drop down the path and land on a bottom structure. The bottom structure causes a sheet landing thereon to incline away from the hinge, so that a user can remove the sheet without having to reach far into the path.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2003Date of Patent: November 15, 2005Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventor: Keith L. Willis
-
Patent number: 6951334Abstract: A sheet discharge apparatus of the invention is equipped with discharge rollers for discharging a sheet, a storage tray for receiving the sheet discharged by the discharge rollers, a positioning plate established to align at least one edge of the sheet discharged by the discharge rollers, an alignment belt for pressing the sheet against the positioning plate for alignment, and a jogger established at an upstream side of the positioning plate for shifting a position of the sheet discharged to the storage tray for stacking. The jogger is controlled to move the sheet to a preparatory alignment position near the positioning plate before the sheet is pressed against the positioning plate by the alignment belt.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2002Date of Patent: October 4, 2005Assignee: Nisca CorporationInventor: Takashi Saito
-
Patent number: 6918586Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for providing positive control of a printable medium in a printing system such that high speed processing of the printable medium can be achieved without damage to the product (e.g., printed signatures). Exemplary embodiments are directed to a carrier system which contacts (e.g., grips) the printable medium from both sides to provide positive control over the printable medium as it is transported from one area of positive constraint (e.g., a folding mechanism of a folder device) to another area of positive constraint (e.g., transport tapes and/or a signature deceleration device located downstream of the cutting cylinders).Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2000Date of Patent: July 19, 2005Assignee: Goss International Americas Inc.Inventors: Kevin Lauren Cote, Richard Daniel Curley
-
Patent number: 6910690Abstract: A positive control signature transferring assembly, for use in a lower folder, transports and diverts signatures under positive control. The assembly has a first positive control deceleration device having grippers for transporting some of the signatures of a stream of signatures to a first delivery stream. The assembly has a gripper cylinder containing a plurality of grippers for gripping a leading edge and a trailing edge of each of the remaining signatures in the signature stream for transporting the signatures on the gripper cylinder. A second positive control deceleration device has grippers for transporting the remaining signatures released by the gripper cylinder to a second delivery stream. In this manner, the signatures are positively controlled at all times and alignment and fixed pitch errors are significantly reduced.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 1999Date of Patent: June 28, 2005Assignee: Goss International Americas, Inc.Inventors: David Clarke Pollock, Matthew Thomas Sharkady, Paul Emmett Bredenberg, Kevin Lauren Cote, Richard Daniel Curley, John Marshall Gaffney
-
Patent number: 6899664Abstract: A folded paper return device is provided for use in combination with a sheet material folding machine, such as a paper folding machine. A paper folding machine including the inventive folded paper return device is also provided. The sheet material folding machine is particularly suited for folding sheets of paper.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2003Date of Patent: May 31, 2005Inventor: Gregory R. Gale
-
Patent number: 6890114Abstract: A discharging unit has multiple discharging rollers for transporting sheets downstream from a recording head in the direction of transporting, arrayed in the direction of transporting. Of the multiple discharging rollers, a second discharging roller disposed farthest downstream in the sheet transporting direction is formed with higher precision than a first discharging roller disposed further upstream.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2003Date of Patent: May 10, 2005Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Koichiro Kawaguchi
-
Patent number: 6877743Abstract: This invention relates to a document accumulation device comprising an accumulation receptacle provided with a mobile accumulation guide for receiving a bundle of documents to be folded and drive means constituted by a motor roller driven in rotation by motor means and associated with a free counter-roller adapted to pivot about a pivot pin, in order, on the one hand, to drive and align these documents one after the other against the accumulation guide and, on the other hand, thereafter to eject in one go the bundle of documents thus formed by accumulation in said receptacle, this device further comprising displacement means, constituted by an electro-magnet of which the core having two positions of displacement is connected to a piece supporting said free counter-roller, in order to position these drive means, on the one hand, in a first position in which they are subjected to a rathermore weak drive effort to ensure drive and alignment of the documents and, on the other hand, in a second position in which tType: GrantFiled: January 29, 2003Date of Patent: April 12, 2005Assignee: Neopost IndustrieInventors: René Van Den Berg, Herve Duval
-
Patent number: 6866264Abstract: A device for moving a sheets transversely to its conveying direction with a toothed belt for driving a spindle, whose conveyor rollers for grasping the sheet are attached with a blocking device with at least two toothed gears on the drive belt, whereby the toothed gears have blocking members that strike each other based on a certain gear transformation ratio of the two toothed gears following a certain number of rotations of the toothed gears and which block the movement of the toothed gears.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2002Date of Patent: March 15, 2005Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: Dirk Dobrindt
-
Publication number: 20040262837Abstract: A sheet transport apparatus includes a transport path for transporting a sheet, and drive and follower roller units disposed in the transport path. The drive roller unit has a drive shaft and at least two drive rollers arranged on the drive shaft in a direction perpendicular to a sheet transport direction. The follower roller unit has a follower shaft and at least two follower rollers contacting the at least two drive rollers. An urging device is attached to the follower shaft for pressing the at least two follower rollers to the at least two drive rollers in a direction with a predetermined angle with respect to the drive shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2004Publication date: December 30, 2004Inventors: Masataka Hamada, Tetsuya Noda, Osamu Jinza
-
Publication number: 20040256794Abstract: A device for alternate transport of sheet-shaped materials (1) has at least one frictional wheel (41, 42) as well as a housing (20, 21, 22), an actuating element (30), a drive (34) for the actuating element (30), a control (70) for the drive (34) and at least one driven transport element (50, 52), whereby at least one frictional wheel (41, 42) is mounted so that it can rotate at the end of a spring plate (10), whereby the spring plate (10) is mounted with respect to the housing (20, 21, 22) and the actuating element (30) in such a way that the spring plate (10) can be brought into a first active bending state and into a second passive bending state by means of the actuating element (30), whereby in the active bending state the at least one frictional wheel (41, 42) is in working connection with the transport element (50, 52) and in the passive bending state it is not.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2004Publication date: December 23, 2004Inventors: Ulrich Barthold, Andreas Schweizer, Dieter Wagner
-
Publication number: 20040255701Abstract: Systems and methods for the detection of substances (particularly particulate substances) within mail pieces, specifically letters and other “flats” of mail. In particular, the systems and methods are for the detection of residues of Chemical or Biological Warfare Agents (CBWAs) which may be present within the mail pieces. The system is principally designed to be included as part of Dual Pass Rough Cull System (DPRCS) for the collection and detection of the residue when the contaminated mail piece first enters a mail facility and before it is intermingled with other mail pieces.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2003Publication date: December 23, 2004Inventors: James J. Strohmeyer, William Blumfelder, John Tehan, Dennis Osterhorn, Joseph Matteoni, William J. Nelgner, Brian Lybarger, David Schenken, James Wagy
-
Publication number: 20040256795Abstract: In a sheet feeder of the present invention, a groove-shaped concave provided on an inner surface of a bearing extends therethrough in a direction where a rotational shaft of a feed roller extends. A surface of the rotational shaft of the feed roller is supported on a pair of outer edges of the groove-shaped concave formed on the inner surface of the bearing. A bottom of the groove-shaped concave is substantially circular-arc and concentric with the inner surface of the bearing other than the groove-shaped concave. The bottom of the groove-shaped concave is formed at such a depth that the surface of the rotational shaft of the feed roller does not contact the bottom while the rotational shaft of the feed roller is supported on the outer edges of the groove-shaped concave.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2004Publication date: December 23, 2004Inventor: Kunio Sawai
-
Publication number: 20040251618Abstract: In a recording medium conveyance device for conveying a recording medium gripped between a conveyance roller which is driven by a driving device and has a number of protrusions provided on its surface and a pressing roller arranged opposite to the conveyance roller, there is further provided with a pressing force varying device for varying the pressing force of the pressing roller acting on the recording medium, wherein the recording medium conveyance device varies the conveyance amount of the recording medium by varying the penetration amount of the protrusions into the recording medium through varying the pressing force of the pressing roller by the pressing force varying device.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2004Publication date: December 16, 2004Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA HOLDINGS, INC.Inventor: Yasushi Niizeki
-
Publication number: 20040251616Abstract: In the sheet feeder, a first intermediate gear support shaft is inserted into a bearing of a first intermediate gear, and contains a bearing engaging part including a sectional shape having a substantial D-shaped cut having a flat part and a circular part. The bearing engaging part having a substantial D-shaped cut of the first intermediate gear support shaft contains two support parts and located on the boundary line between the flat part and the circular part. The support parts are arranged so as to support the circular bearing of the first intermediate gear at two positions sloping by a predetermined angle right and left for the line of a force which passes the center of the first intermediate gear and is applied to the first intermediate gear from the rotation. The support parts have a chamfered or rounded shape.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2004Publication date: December 16, 2004Inventor: Kunio Sawai
-
Publication number: 20040251617Abstract: A sheet feed shaft is provided wherein mutually opposed spike-shape projections are formed throughout the whole surface of a metallic rod.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2004Publication date: December 16, 2004Inventors: Sakae Tsukada, Eiji Tsukada
-
Publication number: 20040212145Abstract: An auto-bill-dispensing machine is provided. The auto-bill-dispensing machine comprises bill receiver having a plurality of security hooks positioned axially between two positioning plates formed on the two sides of the upper chassis of the bill receiver, and the security hooks are against within a plurality of blocking grooves of the lower chassis to block the bill passage. When the bill enters into the bill passage and being held against on the security hooks, the security hooks of the bill receiver will be out of the blocking groove of the lower chassis to let the bill pass through, and after the bill passes the security hooks, the security device will return to the original position to make the security hooks support within the blocking groove of the lower chassis to prevent the bill being pulled back by a string, a tape, a steel wire or a glued metallic plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2003Publication date: October 28, 2004Inventors: Ya-Hui Yang, I-Chia Lin
-
Patent number: 6802504Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for providing diagnostic information relating to the performance of an inserter system having a roller arrangement for conveying a document in a linear direction and first and second sensors located in close proximity to the roller arrangement. Each of the sensors are operable to detect at least the presence of a leading edge of a document conveying in close proximity to each sensor. The control system of the inserter determines the time it takes for a leading edge of a document to convey from said first sensor to said second sensor and compares that time to a prescribed threshold time and provides diagnostic information based upon the measured times values.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2002Date of Patent: October 12, 2004Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Arthur H. DePoi, Shahzad H. Malick, Gregory P. Skinger
-
Publication number: 20040190972Abstract: A feeding device for feeding a recording medium in a feed direction, including: a drive roller having an annular recess; and a driven roller rotatably held and positioned such that a radially outer end portion of the driven roller is positioned within the annular recess of the drive roller. The driven roller is displaceable away from the drive roller, so that the recording medium is fed to pass between the drive and driven rollers, with the recording medium being gripped by the radially outer end portion of the driven roller and the radially outer end portion of the drive roller.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2004Publication date: September 30, 2004Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Takamitsu Kawai
-
Publication number: 20040178571Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a plurality of roller pairs, which are drive roller segments and driven roller segments that press against the drive roller segments, disposed in pairs at a downstream side of a reading point. At least an outer layer of each of the drive roller segments is constructed of a material, such as a rubber, having a high coefficient of friction relative to a document sheet and at least an outer layer of each of the driven roller segments is made from a material having a low coefficient of friction relative to the document sheet. The drive roller segments are disposed on an axis perpendicular to a sheet feed direction, whereas the driven roller segments are disposed on axes inclined to the sheet feed direction symmetrically about a centerline of a width of the document sheet.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2004Publication date: September 16, 2004Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takashi Ohama, Ryoichi Matsushima
-
Patent number: 6789795Abstract: A variable pressure document infeed transport provides a first driving pressure on a document being transported in a first direction along a document transport path of a self-service terminal, and provides a second driving pressure which is greater than the first driving pressure on a document being transported in a second direction which is opposite the first direction along the document transport path of the self-service terminal. The first driving pressure means may be provided by a first plurality of idlers centered along the document transport path, and the second driving pressure means may be provided by a second plurality of idlers off-centered along the document transport path.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: NCR CorporationInventors: Fredrik L. N. Kallin, Owen H. Wilson
-
Patent number: 6786663Abstract: A discharging unit has multiple discharging rollers for transporting sheets downstream from a recording head in the direction of transporting, arrayed in the direction of transporting. Of the multiple discharging rollers, a second discharging roller disposed farthest downstream in the sheet transporting direction is formed with higher precision than a first discharging roller disposed further upstream.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2001Date of Patent: September 7, 2004Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Koichiro Kawaguchi
-
Publication number: 20040150156Abstract: A frameless media path module is provided for a media processing system feeding media streams through a media path structured for serial or parallel flows. The frameless media path module includes a plurality of media guides and not less than two media transport nips operated by at least one actuator. Means is included for attaching the frameless media path module to a supporting structure. Media state sensing electronics detect media edge or relative motion and intermodule electrical communication capability is provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2003Publication date: August 5, 2004Applicant: Palo Alto Research Center, Incorporated.Inventors: Markus P.J. Fromherz, David K. Biegelsen, Mark H. Yim, Kimon D. Roufas, Daniel G. Bobrow
-
Patent number: 6764071Abstract: Methods and apparatus for moving media along a media path employ an increase in the force with which a gripping surface contacts the media in order to compensate for wear experienced by the gripping surface. The force is increased as a function of a measured variable which can be the number of revolutions of a feed roller on which the gripping surface is defined. The variable can alternatively be elapsed time, or can be a number of sheets of media that pass a given point on the media path. An apparatus in accordance with the present invention includes a wear compensator which is configured to cause the increase in force with which the gripping surface contacts the media.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2003Date of Patent: July 20, 2004Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventor: Tim M. Hoberock
-
Patent number: 6755412Abstract: An insert feeding assembly includes an insert support, an overlapping feeding assembly, a separating assembly, and a main drive assembly. The insert support provides support for a stack of inserts, the overlapping feeding assembly converts the stack of inserts into an overlapping stream of inserts, and the separating assembly separates individual inserts from the overlapping stream and ejects these separated inserts out of the feeding assembly. The insert support includes an insert plate assembly and an insert guide assembly. The overlapping feeding assembly includes a suction cup assembly, a lap roller drive assembly, and a belt conveyor assembly. The separating mechanism includes a speed up roller assembly. The feeding assembly includes approximately 50% fewer parts than other known feeders and can operate at a printer press speed of approximately 75,000 inserts per hour.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2002Date of Patent: June 29, 2004Inventor: Charles Dwayne Glowner
-
Patent number: 6736395Abstract: A mechanism for freeing document jams in a machine that transports documents, the machine including a housing having an interior portion and a pivotable cover adapted to permit easy access to the interior portion of the machine housing, the cover pivoting from a closed and locked position to an open and locked position and being spring biased is described.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2002Date of Patent: May 18, 2004Assignee: Ascom Hasler Mailing Systems, Inc.Inventors: Roger Frey, Olivier Conca, Gerhard Staufer, Andreas von Niederhausern
-
Patent number: 6729617Abstract: A device for conveying flat objects in series and edge-on, in which the flat objects (12) are moved in a conveying direction (D), while at the same time being separated each from the next by a spacing which is normally constant, has a synchronization system (2) capable of compensating for any variations in spacing between two consecutive objects. The system includes two parallel rows (3, 4) of driven wheels (3A-4C) made of elastically deformable elastomer and between which each object is gripped and moved in the conveying direction. Each wheel has a rotation spindle (6), the position of which is fixed, and the wheels are rotated by a motorization system which is controlled to accelerate and/or retard the movement of each object between the two rows of wheels on the basis of a detection whether the front edge of the object has been early or late in passing a determined position upstream of the two rows of wheels compared with a time reference indicating the spacing between objects.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2002Date of Patent: May 4, 2004Assignee: SolysticInventors: Francois Chaume, Laurent Buffat, Claude Diebold
-
Publication number: 20040070143Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a metal feed roller driven by a drive source and a plastic pinch roller pressed against the feed roller. A sheet is held between the feed roller and the pinch roller, to convey the sheet to a recording unit. An elastic ring having a high wear resistance is fitted over a part of an outer surface of the pinch roller in a width direction of the pinch roller. Accordingly, the elastic deformation of the elastic ring reduces or absorbs load (impact) that causes a rear end of the sheet to flick or spring and the improper sheet feeding, when the rear end of the sheet passes through a nip portion between the feed roller and the pinch roller. Thus, variances in the sheet feeding amounts and the poor image formation are prevented.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2003Publication date: April 15, 2004Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Teruo Deshimaru, Tomohisa Higuchi
-
Patent number: 6719286Abstract: To provide a sheet conveying apparatus of low cost and high durability and also to provide an image forming apparatus having the same. A sheet S1 is pinched and conveyed by a metal driving roller having roughness provide on its surface and a pinch roller coming in pressure contact with the driving roller and thereby driven to rotate. And the pinch roller is formed of synthetic resin, so that the pinch roller can be manufactured less costly and the durability of the same can be increased.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2000Date of Patent: April 13, 2004Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazuo Ohyama, Makoto Kashimura
-
Patent number: 6702282Abstract: A roller support includes a body member, a bushing member, and a step member. The body member includes a first guide roller receiver that is adapted to receive an end of a first guide roller. The bushing member extends from a surface of the body member and has a central bore that extends through the body member. The step member is positioned adjacent the bushing member and extends from the surface of the body member in the direction of the bushing member.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2002Date of Patent: March 9, 2004Assignee: Fargo Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Martin A. Pribula, Gary M. Klinefelter
-
Patent number: 6698746Abstract: A device for transporting sheets in a region of a selectively usable sheet pile feeder includes a crosscutter of a sheet-fed processing machine having conveyor belts and contact-pressure devices cooperating therewith for feeding the sheets from the crosscutter, and a separating device of the sheet pile feeder, whereon contact-pressure devices are disposed.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2001Date of Patent: March 2, 2004Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AGInventors: Hermann Karl Buck, Holger Edinger
-
Patent number: 6692000Abstract: A bearing containing and force applying device comprises a single piece member including an adjustable force applying spring clip having a chest portion for mounting over and against a bearing device. The chest portion has first and second edges; a first surface, and a second surface for contacting an outer or back end of the bearing member. The adjustable force applying spring clip also has bearing retaining members connected to the second surface of the chest portion for receiving and retaining the bearing member; and resilient shoulder portions connected the first and second edges and bent backwards towards the first or back surface of the chest portion.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2001Date of Patent: February 17, 2004Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Ronald G. Borne, Carlie A. Cuff
-
Patent number: 6687570Abstract: A flexible buffer transport system for staging accumulated documents for transfer to a synchronous downstream transport. Control of movement of accumulations in the buffer being independent of the length of the documents. The system includes a plurality of roller nips in series. The roller nips are spaced a uniform distance apart. Each of the roller nips are driven by an independently controllable motor in communication with a controller. Position sensors also communicate with the controller. The sensors sense positions of lead and trail edges of accumulations of documents within the buffer transport system. For each sampling period in the operating cycle and for each roller nip, the controller determines motion control. First, the controller determines which nips should be slaved together based on which are needed to control a particular accumulation of documents under its control.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 2002Date of Patent: February 3, 2004Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: John W. Sussmeier, Gregory P. Skinger, John R. Masotta, William J. Wright
-
Patent number: 6687569Abstract: A buffer transport system for staging accumulated documents produced by an input module of an inserter system. The system including a plurality of roller nips in series. Each of the roller nips are driven by an independently controllable motor in communication with a controller. The series of roller nips form stopping stations along the length of the buffer transport. Each of the stopping stations has a uniform length and is comprised of two or more of the roller nips. The roller nips in any given stopping station are electronically geared together under the control of the controller. The controller controls stopping stations to transfer accumulated documents within the stopping stations to a next downstream stopping station when it is sensed that the next downstream stopping station is open. If the next downstream station from a given station is not open, then the controller does not instructs the station to transfer documents downstream.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 2002Date of Patent: February 3, 2004Assignee: Pitney Dowes Inc.Inventors: Gregory P. Skinger, John W. Sussmeier, John R. Masotta, William J. Wright
-
Patent number: 6682069Abstract: A conveyor system conveys sheets of different widths in a direction normal to the direction of width with an edge of each sheet held along a reference position. The conveyor system includes a drive roller and a nip roller and conveys the sheet with the nip roller urged toward the drive roller under its gravity and a predetermined urging force. The nip roller is heavier at a part on the side of the reference position than at a part on the side opposite to the reference position and is substantially uniform in weight over a predetermined length between the end on the side of the reference position and a part at a predetermined distance from the end on the side of the reference position, and the predetermined urging force is set stronger on the side opposite to the reference position than on the side of the reference position.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2001Date of Patent: January 27, 2004Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.Inventor: Tadanobu Shibabuki
-
Publication number: 20040012143Abstract: A sheet material conveying apparatus is provided with retard levers for supporting a retard roller shaft, which are rotative centering on the central axis of rotation so as to press the retard roller to a conveying roller. Retard pressing springs are hooked to the spring latches of the retard levers, and the hooks of a slider. When the limiter gear of a torque limiter rotates, the tightening force exerted by a stepped spring against an inner race is caused to change, thus changing the rotating-load torque of the retard roller. A motor enables the limiter gear to rotate, while moving the slider up and down. In this way, it is made possible to change the rotating load torque of the retard roller, while changing the pressurized contact force of the retard roller against the conveying roller. With the structure thus arranged, it is attempted to make the life of rollers longer, and to prevent the occurrence of double feeding of sheet material.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2003Publication date: January 22, 2004Applicant: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kosuke Yamamoto
-
Publication number: 20040007810Abstract: The present invention relates to a driven rotary body rotating in pressure contact with and driven by a conveyance rotary body, said drive rotary body comprising a shaft portion molded from a resin in a united body, a recess positioned around a center in a longitudinal direction for parting a mold horizontally in the longitudinal direction of the driven rotary body and a roller portion positioned on each side of the recess.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2003Publication date: January 15, 2004Applicant: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masaya Shinmachi, Yasutsugu Saijo, Tetsuhiro Nitta
-
Patent number: 6666602Abstract: A method and apparatus is described for feeding a print media through a closed, curved path such that any abrasion of any special coating on the printing surface of the media is prevented. A motor driven pulley subsystem bridging the entrance and exit of the path is selectively adjustable to change the positioning and shape of the media as it passes therethrough.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2001Date of Patent: December 23, 2003Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventor: Bruce G Johnson
-
Publication number: 20030193126Abstract: Methods and apparatus for moving media along a media path employ an increase in the force with which a gripping surface contacts the media in order to compensate for wear experienced by the gripping surface. The force is increased as a function of a measured variable which can be the number of revolutions of a feed roller on which the gripping surface is defined. The variable can alternatively be elapsed time, or can be a number of sheets of media that pass a given point on the media path. An apparatus in accordance with the present invention includes a wear compensator which is configured to cause the increase in force with which the gripping surface contacts the media.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2003Publication date: October 16, 2003Inventor: Tim M. Hoberock
-
Patent number: 6626596Abstract: A wide-width format printer having detachable and replaceable paper feed unit components includes an automatic sheet feeder having a feeding width corresponding to standard width print media, a manual sheet feeder having a feeding width corresponding to standard width print media plus an additional width, paper feed unit for feeding print media fed from either the automatic sheet feeder or the manual sheet feeder through a paper path which passes a print position to a media ejection portion, the paper feed unit comprising at least first and second detachable print roller sections, first and second detachable spur wheel sections, at least two detachable friction wheels and a drive roller, wherein the first detachable print roller section and spur wheel section oppose each other, the second detachable print roller section and spur wheel section oppose each other and wherein the first and second detachable printer roller segments are aligned coaxially and the first and second detachable spur wheel segments are aType: GrantFiled: June 22, 2001Date of Patent: September 30, 2003Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiromitsu Hirabayashi, Shinji Kanemitsu
-
Patent number: 6616136Abstract: A friction plate coupling structure inside an automatic document feeder. The friction contact surface of the friction plates is designed to have a slant surface resembling a frustum so that overall contact area is increased and stability of the coupling between the friction plates is improved.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2002Date of Patent: September 9, 2003Assignee: UMAX Data Systems, Inc.Inventors: Yin-Chun Huang, Pi-Chun Chen, Ji-Mei Tsuei
-
Patent number: 6618172Abstract: A drive system for a digitizing scanning apparatus of the type which scans an image, such as a light transmissive document in the nature of an x-ray or the like, and enables generation of digital signals representative of that image. The drive system is uniquely designed with three main drive rollers and a pair of idler rollers operable in combination therewith for driving the light transmissive document in such manner that there is a relatively constant drive force on the document which is independent of document thickness and which also allows for a uniform driving movement without any shatter or vibration in the document, which would otherwise distort and materially interfere with proper screening and digitizing of the document.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2000Date of Patent: September 9, 2003Inventor: Richard K. Gerlach
-
Publication number: 20030155706Abstract: An auxiliary scanning feed mechanism has a pair of curved feed guides for guiding a stimulable phosphor sheet along a curved feed path, and first and second roller pairs rotatable in synchronism with each other for gripping and feeding the stimulable phosphor sheet along the curved feed path. The first and second roller pairs have respective first and second drive rollers disposed inwardly of respective curved sections of the curved feed guides and respective first and second driven rollers.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2002Publication date: August 21, 2003Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.Inventor: Satoru Tsutoh