Of Successive Sheets To Plural Receivers In Succession Patents (Class 271/287)
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Patent number: 11023193Abstract: A processing apparatus for a print unit configured to print an image by using a printing material includes a processor configured to determine a value related to a remaining amount of the printing material in the print unit, output printing material information based on the determined value related to the remaining amount, and determine whether a replenishment printing material is ordered. The processor is configured to determine an order time to order the replenishment printing material by using the value related to the remaining amount of the printing material, and output the printing material information at a shorter interval before the replenishment printing material is ordered than after the replenishment printing material is ordered.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2019Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Masafumi Miyazawa
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Patent number: 10346109Abstract: A terminal device may send a registration request to a print intermediation server. The registration request may cause the print intermediation server to register virtual printer related information. The terminal device may receive authentication information from the print intermediation server. The terminal device may send image data related information to the print intermediation server. The image data related information may be related to target image data representing a target image of a print target. The image data related information may be associated with the virtual printer related information and the authentication information in the print intermediation server. The terminal device may send the authentication information to an actual printer. The authentication information may be used by the actual printer to obtain target print data. The target print data may be data which is created from the target image data by the print intermediation server.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2017Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Fumio Okumura, Naoto Shiraga, Takeshi Miyake, Takanobu Suzuki
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Patent number: 10052864Abstract: A controller of a printing apparatus is configured to determine whether there is a stack-full tray, restrict discharging of the printing sheet to the stack-full tray and reduce the number of copies made in the sort printing process, store the page number of the page currently printed in association with a stack-full tray, obtain image data corresponding to the page associated with the stack-full tray onwards when it is determined that the full stack status of the stack-full trays is released, and the obtained print images with making the tray of which status is changed from the full status to the non-full status.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2016Date of Patent: August 21, 2018Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Tsutomu Tanaka
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Patent number: 9886224Abstract: A terminal device may send a registration request to a print intermediation server. The registration request may cause the print intermediation server to register virtual printer related information. The terminal device may receive authentication information from the print intermediation server. The terminal device may send image data related information to the print intermediation server. The image data related information may be related to target image data representing a target image of a print target. The image data related information may be associated with the virtual printer related information and the authentication information in the print intermediation server. The terminal device may send the authentication information to an actual printer. The authentication information may be used by the actual printer to obtain target print data. The target print data may be data which is created from the target image data by the print intermediation server.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2016Date of Patent: February 6, 2018Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Fumio Okumura, Naoto Shiraga, Takeshi Miyake, Takanobu Suzuki
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Patent number: 9703238Abstract: An image forming system includes: an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet; one or more sheet carrying devices successively disposed on the downstream side of the image forming apparatus; and a control device that controls the image forming apparatus and the one or more sheet carrying devices based on a job that designates a page configuration containing a page order and sheet types, wherein the sheet carrying device includes a bypass conveyance path along which the sheet output from an upstream device is conveyed toward a downstream device, and a sheet tray unit that temporarily stores the sheet output from the upstream device and discharges the sheet toward the bypass conveyance path, and the control device divides the job into sheet types and determines a printing order of the divided sheet types and sheet types to be stored in the sheet carrying device.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2016Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Kenji Izumiya, Kiyoto Kojima, Satoshi Ogata, Hirokatsu Kodama
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Patent number: 9612781Abstract: To prevent a printing apparatus from performing unnecessary processes, there is provided an image processing apparatus which is communicable with the printing apparatus and comprises: a determining unit configured to determine whether or not authentication information of the printing apparatus has been set in a print job; and a controlling unit configured to control to not transmit the print job to the printing apparatus in a case where it is determined by the determining unit that the authentication information has not been set in the print job, and control to transmit the print job to the printing apparatus in a case where it is determined by the determining unit that the authentication information has been set in the print job.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2015Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Toru Shinnae
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Patent number: 9542134Abstract: A terminal device may send a registration request to a print intermediation server. The registration request may cause the print intermediation server to register virtual printer related information. The terminal device may receive authentication information from the print intermediation server. The terminal device may send image data related information to the print intermediation server. The image data related information may be related to target image data representing a target image of a print target. The image data related information may be associated with the virtual printer related information and the authentication information in the print intermediation server. The terminal device may send the authentication information to an actual printer. The authentication information may be used by the actual printer to obtain target print data. The target print data may be data which is created from the target image data by the print intermediation server.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2014Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Fumio Okumura, Naoto Shiraga, Takeshi Miyake, Takanobu Suzuki
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Patent number: 9169101Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing, a first discharge opening and a second discharge opening, a sheet discharge portion, a restricting member and a sheet discharge tray. The sheet discharge portion is connected at a position below the first discharge opening, and the sheet discharged through the first discharge opening is to be placed thereon. The restricting member stands up on a downstream side of the sheet discharge portion in a discharging direction of the sheet and can come into contact with a downstream end edge of the sheet discharged to the sheet discharge portion in the discharging direction. The sheet discharge tray includes a first fixing portion and a second fixing portion to be fixed to an upper end part of the restricting member and is attachable above the sheet discharge portion, and a sheet discharged through the second discharge opening is to be placed thereon.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2014Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventors: Tsuyoshi Koyanagi, Shinsaku Yoneda
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Patent number: 8833767Abstract: A document storage device includes a document storage rack, a document distributing apparatus, and a transmitting roller. The document storage rack defines a first storage space and a second storage space. A first protecting door is mounted on the document storage rack to close and lock the first storage space. The second storage space is readily accessible. The document distributing apparatus includes a controlling pole and a first distributing roller connected to the controlling pole. The transmitting roller transmits a document to the first distributing roller. The controlling pole moves the first distributing roller between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the first distributing roller transmits the document into the first storage space. In the second position, the first distributing roller transmits the document into the second storage space.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2013Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.Inventor: Chien-Hao Lu
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Patent number: 8693010Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image forming unit, a second image forming unit. In combined processing to perform two types of processing including one-sided image formation and two-sided image formation, if the one-sided image formation is performed, an image is formed on one side of the sheet by the second image forming unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2011Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Mika Sumii, Hiroshige Inoue
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Patent number: 8657286Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus which is capable of efficiently stacking sheets of various sizes while efficiently using space therein to thereby realize compactness thereof, and maintaining a high availability. Stacker trays for stacking sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus can be separately removed. It is detected whether any of the stacker trays is removed. When large-size sheets are stacked, a stacker control section causes the stacker trays to operate as one tray to stack the sheets in a state extending on the stacker trays, whereas when small-size sheets are stacked, the section causes one of the stacker trays to stack the sheets. Further, when one stacker tray is removed to make it impossible to stack the large-size sheets, the section causes a display section to display a guide message advising setting of the removed stacker tray.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2008Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Naoki Ishikawa, Tsuyoshi Moriyama, Yasuo Fukatsu, Hitoshi Kato
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Patent number: 8613446Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus includes a stack unit which includes a first stack tray and a second stack tray which can be individually elevated and is configured to stack a sheet on at least one of the first stack tray and the second tray, and a control unit configured to control the stack unit to stack the sheet in a first stack mode in which the sheet is stacked on at least one of the first stack tray and the second stack tray without being extended over the first stack tray and the second stack tray and a second stack mode in which the sheet is stacked on across the first stack tray and the second stack tray, the control unit capable of selecting the first stack mode and the second stack mode with respect to a same size sheet.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2010Date of Patent: December 24, 2013Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshiyuki Miyake, Mitsuhiko Sato, Naoto Watanabe, Takayuki Fujii, Yushi Oka, Takashi Yokoya, Hiromasa Maenishi, Yutaka Ando
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Patent number: 8561982Abstract: A sheet carrying apparatus, being applicable in (i) an automatic document feeding apparatus and/or (ii) paper feeding and conveying mechanism of an image forming apparatus, has an opening in that part of a curved guiding surface of a lower conveyance guide of a sheet conveyance guiding section constituting a curved conveyance path, which receives a front end of a document fed to the curved conveyance path. The opening has such a size in a guide width direction orthogonal to a document conveying direction, which is passable for a small size sheet not larger than a predetermined size. With this, the small size sheet passed through the opening is sorted out.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2010Date of Patent: October 22, 2013Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hironori Ogasawara
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Patent number: 8482759Abstract: A CPU of a printing apparatus selects one of a plurality of setting permission information items based on sheet property information in a case in which printing processing is performed employing a specific sheet type. Subsequently, the CPU of the printing apparatus performs a setting regarding each of a plurality of printing setting items so as to obtain a setting permitted in the selected setting permission information item in a case in which printing processing is performed employing a specific sheet type. Thus, a printing apparatus capable of executing the printing settings of a plurality of printing setting items appropriately is provided.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2007Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takeshi Utsunomiya
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Patent number: 8430396Abstract: A value note cassette comprising a fixed first storage compartment for receiving notes of value and at least a fixed second storage compartment for receiving notes of value. Further, the value note cassette comprises a supply unit for supplying the notes of value to the storage compartments. The storage compartments are designed such that notes of value are stackable therein.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2010Date of Patent: April 30, 2013Assignee: Wincor Nixdorf International GmbHInventors: Günter Holland-Letz, Ayhan Aslan
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Patent number: 8403325Abstract: An image forming apparatus for printing multiple copies of a document, the document having N (where N is an integer) pages, includes an image forming unit configured to print images on a plurality of sheets according to an input print job, a sheet stacking unit configured to stack sheets printed by the image forming unit, and a control unit configured to divide a print job which prints M (where M is an integer) copies of each of the N pages of the document into a plurality of print operations in a case where a group mode in which sheets are stacked into N groups, each group having M copies of a respective page of the document, is set in the print job, wherein each of the plurality of print operations is for printing less than M copies of each of the N pages of the document.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2008Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tsuyoshi Moriyama, Hitoshi Kato, Yasuo Fukatsu, Naoki Ishikawa
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Patent number: 8393621Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus includes a conveyance portion, a first sheet stacking portion, a second sheet stacking portion, and a controller. The conveyance portion includes a holding portion that moves while holding a downstream end of a sheet. The first and second sheet stacking portions include stacking surfaces and the second sheet stacking portion is arranged downstream of the first sheet stacking portion. The controller controls to cause the holding portion to convey to the second sheet stacking portion. When the sheet to be stacked on the second sheet stacking portion passes over the first sheet stacking portion, an upstream end of the sheet in the sheet conveying direction is guided along the first sheet stacking portion stacking surface, on which a sheet is not stacked, while the downstream end of the sheet is held by the holding portion.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2012Date of Patent: March 12, 2013Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kenichi Hayashi, Yusuke Obuchi
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Patent number: 8371568Abstract: This is a media transport system that can accommodate various size media or sheets. The system has a series of even sized bins that can accommodate both small and large sheets. Above the bins is located a sheet diverter that when lowered diverts the small sheets into a small portion of the even sized bin. When the sheet diverter is raised, it permits the large sheets to be unblocked by it and fall into the largest portion of the even sized bin. When the large sheets are housed in the bin, they are supported on a short pusher which is located between two large pushers. Both the small and large sheets are in substantial collated alignment when housed in the bins.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2010Date of Patent: February 12, 2013Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Douglas K Herrmann, John P Parson, Robert L Powell
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Patent number: 8366107Abstract: A media presenter is described. The media presenter comprises: a chassis including a central track; a nose coupled to the chassis at a nose end of the chassis; and a carriage. The nose includes a presenting end distal from the chassis, and a nose track arranged to couple to the central track to provide a presenting track extending from the chassis to the presenting end. The carriage is mounted on the presenting track for movement therealong, and comprises a carriage body and a carriage plate movable between an open position at which media items can be placed on the carriage plate, and a closed position for clamping media items between the carriage plate and the carriage body.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2010Date of Patent: February 5, 2013Assignee: NCR CorporationInventors: Scott Deas, Gordon Burke, Michael Rennie, Scott L. Colston
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Patent number: 8282098Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus includes a sheet stack portion having a plurality of separately elevatable stacker trays configured to stack a conveyed sheet and arranged one after the other in a sheet conveying direction. When a number of sheets to be stacked is greater than a number of sheets stackable on a stacker tray, the sheets are conveyed on one stacker tray and then stacked on another stacker tray so that the sheet stacking apparatus is capable of stacking a large number of sheets.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2007Date of Patent: October 9, 2012Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kenichi Hayashi, Yusuke Obuchi
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Patent number: 8228525Abstract: A method of digital printing in which each of the page images of a print job with a large number of sequential pages to be printed is classified as to the job or document type. Upon occurrence of a fault in printing, upon fault clearance and resumption of printing, only those pages having the same classification as the pages involved in the fault are reprinted in sequence from the fault.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2007Date of Patent: July 24, 2012Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Amy Moormann Zaremski, Dragana Pavlovic, Bradford Freeman
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Patent number: 8208161Abstract: A photo printing device includes a microprocessor, operable to receive photo printing data, a printer, configured to print photographs from the photo printing data, an order sorter, having a plurality of moveable bins for receiving prints from the printer, and means for conveying information to a user related to operation of the order sorter.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2008Date of Patent: June 26, 2012Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Craig A LeVier, Timothy J Carlin, Anton Tabar
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Patent number: 7811017Abstract: A non-gated print media crossover for a printing system includes crossover pathways which intersect at a crossover junction. A control system controls arrival of sheets of print media at the crossover junction whereby a sheet conveyed on the first crossover pathway traverses the junction in an intersheet gap between sheets traversing the junction on the second crossover pathway. The printing system includes print media processing units, such as marking engines, paper sources, and output destinations, which are connected by a conveyor system incorporating the crossover.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2005Date of Patent: October 12, 2010Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Stan Alan Spencer, Daniel W. Costanza
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Patent number: 7789389Abstract: A media dispenser has a delivery module for feeding media, a stacking module for stacking the media, which are fed through the delivery module, on a stacking plate, and a delivery clamp module for clamping the media stacked on the stacking module and delivering the clamped media to the customer, and for feeding the media, which the customer did not take out, to the stacking plate. A path through which the media clamped by the delivery clamp module are fed to a reject box is opened by moving the stacking plate of the stacking module. The method comprises the steps of returning the media onto the stacking plate by a clamp assembly, opening a reject slot by allowing a driving plate to be moved by a driving source and the stacking plate to be moved together with the driving plate, and dropping the media as the clamp assembly unclamps the media through the opened reject slot.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2005Date of Patent: September 7, 2010Assignee: LG N-Sys Inc.Inventor: Kyung-Ho Ko
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Patent number: 7651092Abstract: An object of this invention is to provide a convenient printing system applicable not only to the office environment but also to the POD environment. To accomplish this, a printing system capable of supplying a print medium to a printing apparatus from a plurality of feeding apparatuses each having a feeding unit for feeding a print medium, a multi feed detection unit for detecting occurrence of multi feed of overlapping print media, and a multi feed discharge unit for discharging multi-fed print media includes a multi feed discharge destination setting unit for, when the multi feed detection unit detects occurrence of multi feed, setting which of multi feed discharge units is to accept multi-fed print media, and a control unit for controlling the feeding apparatus to discharge the multi-fed print media to the multi feed discharge unit set by the multi feed discharge destination setting unit.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2008Date of Patent: January 26, 2010Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toyomi Hirao, Kouichi Unno
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Patent number: 7571909Abstract: The invention is to provide a sheet treating apparatus achieving a space saving and enabling easy identification of an output mode of sheets. The sheet treating apparatus of the invention for treating sheets after image formation is accommodated in a space formed in an image forming apparatus, and includes plural sheet stacking devices which stack treated sheets, and a lifting and lowering device which independently lifts and lowers the plural sheet stacking devices.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2005Date of Patent: August 11, 2009Assignee: Canon Finetech Inc.Inventors: Naoto Saeki, Hiroshi Suzuki, Atsushi Takada, Akihito Nagayama
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Publication number: 20090146371Abstract: This disclosure relates to a printing integration system. Specifically, this disclosure provides a means to integrate one or more pairs of substantially vertically aligned marking engines using an intersection transport. The intersection transport includes a media sheet input intersection transport, a single horizontal transport, and a media sheet output intersection transport.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2007Publication date: June 11, 2009Applicant: Xerox CorporationInventors: Barry Paul Mandel, Steven Robert Moore, Martin Krucinski
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Patent number: 7515290Abstract: A CPU of an image forming apparatus, such as a color electrophotographic copying apparatus, reads print step information from a memory, such as a USB memory, that stores print image data and print step information relating to a plurality of print steps for producing a print of the print image data and a progress state of the print steps. The CPU updates the progress state of the print steps stored in the memory subsequent to the print step being performed by a printer in the image forming apparatus, displays a next print step to perform based on the read print step information, and controls the printer. The image forming apparatus thus avoids leaks of the print data, and prevents useless printing and erratic job processing. Thus, even an inexperienced operator can provide sophisticated high quality print service using the image forming apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2004Date of Patent: April 7, 2009Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akira Negishi, Kazuhiko Ushiyama
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Patent number: 7469896Abstract: An image forming system includes: a first sheet stacking device including a rack, provided downstream of an image forming apparatus in a conveyance direction of a recording sheet and connected with the image forming apparatus, for stacking the recording sheet delivered from the image forming apparatus; a second sheet stacking device, which is provided downstream of the first sheet stacking device and connected with the first sheet stacking device; and a controller for controlling the image forming apparatus and the first and second sheet stacking devices. At least one of the first and second sheet stacking devices has a job stop button for stopping a printing job, and when the job stop button is turned on while the printing job execution is in progress, the controller controls the sheet stacking device to stop a stack of a recording sheet to the rack.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2005Date of Patent: December 30, 2008Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Hiroyasu Sato, Hisao Hosoya, Toshio Shida
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Patent number: 7441773Abstract: An image forming system includes: a first and second stacking sections arranged at a position different from each other for stacking a sheet with an image formed thereon by an image forming section; a first conveyance path and a second conveyance path longer than the first one for conveying the sheet to the first and second stacking sections, respectively through a common conveyance path, wherein an interval between sheets fed along the common conveyance path is smaller than the difference between the second and first conveyance paths; a switching section for switching a conveyance path of the sheet conveyed along the common conveyance path between the first and second conveyance paths; and a control device controls such that an (N+1)th sheet is stacked on the first stacking section after the N-th sheet has been stacked on the second stacking section.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2004Date of Patent: October 28, 2008Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Seitaro Kasahara, Toshio Shida
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Patent number: 7357391Abstract: A device (10) for stacking sheets and a device for depositing notes, which comprises a plurality of such devices (10), are shown. The device (10) comprises at least one carrying face (16, 18) for carrying a sheet stack, the carrying face itself or the surface of a sheet stack located on it forming a stack face for depositing the sheets. It comprises, furthermore, a roll-on device with a first roller (30) which can be adjusted transversely with respect to its longitudinal axis along an adjustment path which is directed parallel with respect to the stack face, and with at least one first belt (26) which is led from above around the first roller and, parallel with respect to the stack face, to a first fastening point (28) in the region of one end of the adjustment path, at which fastening point said first belt is secured, the stack face (16) being pressed from below against the at least one first belt (26) in order to retain the sheet stack.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2004Date of Patent: April 15, 2008Assignee: Wincor Nixdorf International GmbHInventor: Martin Landwehr
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Patent number: 6641135Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the storage and/or dispensing of sheet-like material, in particular bank notes 23, comprising a compartment module (10) having a plurality of compartments (11), a slider (6) which can be travelled into and out of a compartment (11) so that a sheet-like material (23) lying in front of an opening (11a) of the compartment (11) can be inserted into and/or dispensed from the compartment (11) while being folded; and a guide device (3) which is displaceable between two positions, with in the first position the sheet-like material (23) being able to be introduced into the guide device (3) and the opening (11a) of the compartment (11) being blocked, and in the second position the opening (11a) of the compartment (11) being free so that the sheet-like material (23) can be inserted into the compartment (11); and a guide device for sheet-like material (23), in particular bank notes, comprising a first guide plane (3a); a second guide plane (3b), which is opposite the first guideType: GrantFiled: July 18, 2001Date of Patent: November 4, 2003Assignee: Löwen Automaten Gerhard W. Schulze GmbHInventor: Alfred Weinheimer
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Publication number: 20030141658Abstract: A drop-box mechanism or system is disposed adjacent to an article conveyor and atop a flat mail storage tub and comprises a platen movable between first and second chambers at which the open top of the storage tub is respectively uncovered and covered. When the platen uncovers the storage tub, deflecting fingers move downwardly so as to cover the platen tracks and the space defined between the bottom of the drop-box mechanism and the open top of the storage tub so as to prevent flat mail articles from becoming jammed within the tracks or from being inadvertently discharged through the space defined between the bottom of the drop-box mechanism and the open top of the storage tub. In this manner, the predetermined conveyed order of articles is preserved so as to facilitate sequence address delivery of the articles to recipients.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2002Publication date: July 31, 2003Applicant: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATIONInventors: Douglas A. Slocum, Patrick J. Fitzgibbons
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Patent number: 6567722Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for storage and dispensing of bank notes, preferably having a device connected in series to verify genuineness of bank notes inserted. To provide the apparatus which is characterized by a simple and therefore economical performance construction with the required security of pay-out, a compartment module having components lying next to each other, separated from each other by partitions and opened at their end sides is provided which is guided moveably by a controlled drive. To store the bank notes, a slider travelable to and fro by a controlled drive is guided in the housing in the transverse middle plane of the bank note supplied in each case, this slider pushing the bank notes while folding them in the middle in a loop-like manner into a compartment of the compartment module traveling into the middle plane.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2000Date of Patent: May 20, 2003Assignee: NSM AktiengesellschaftInventor: Wilhelm Menke
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Patent number: 6547501Abstract: A device for preparing a book spine includes a plurality of movable pockets, each pocket having an angled back, a packer and a spine stop at a lower end of the pocket for receiving the spine. The spine stop has a first collect position, a second position wherein the spine stop is lower with respect to the packer than in the collect position but still holds the spine, and a third position wherein the spine stop is rotated away from the spine. A method for preparing a spine is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2001Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AGInventor: James Richard Schlough
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Publication number: 20030052446Abstract: A sheet or set receiving post processing machine has a plurality of vertically spaced sheet or set receiving trays extending generally horizontally at an incline, a sheet delivering infeed with vertically spaced gates, and a vertically movable sheet sender extending horizontally between each infeed location and a selected tray, wherein the sheet sender has a stapler for stapling sets of sheets thereon and wherein the sender has first and second offsetting devices for offsetting sets of sheets, whether or not stapled, and for feeding the sets to the trays in offset relation.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2002Publication date: March 20, 2003Inventors: Toshio Endo, Kiichiro Noguchi, Kenji Umehara
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Patent number: 6515735Abstract: A stacker apparatus is disclosed which includes a plurality of trays for receiving sheet-like media discharged from two or more medium exits. Between two upper and lower medium exits (4C, 4D) included in the two or more medium exits (4A to 4F), a tray holder (8C) on which the upper side tray (7C) for receiving sheet-like media (20) discharged from the upper side medium exit (4C) of the two upper and lower medium exits (4C, 4D) in a stacked state can be removably and securely held is disposed.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2002Date of Patent: February 4, 2003Assignee: Fujitsu LimitedInventor: Hidehiko Takoh
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Patent number: 6481711Abstract: An output mechanism for use with an inkjet printer for printing a multi-page document, including plural paper-receiving output trays; a controller for determining the total number of pages, the number of copies of each page to be printed, and the paper-receiving tray which will receive each printed page, wherein each page is provided with sufficient time to dry before a subsequently printed page is stacked on top thereof; and a paper directing mechanism for directing the paper to a specific paper-receiving tray.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2000Date of Patent: November 19, 2002Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.Inventor: Charles Michael Pickett
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Patent number: 6364548Abstract: A transfer apparatus for transferring pre-processed sheet materials discharged from an outlet of a sheet processing apparatus includes a transfer unit provided outside of the outlet for receiving the sheet materials discharged from the outlet and transferring the sheet materials to a plurality of collecting sites. The transfer unit is capable of selectively shifting the transfer direction thereof in such a manner as to transfer each of the sheet materials to a predetermined collecting site.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 1999Date of Patent: April 2, 2002Assignee: Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd.Inventor: Kenji Todoki
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Patent number: 6331003Abstract: A recording medium discharging apparatus which can be mounted on top of the image forming apparatus includes a plurality of recording medium storers and a locking mechanism for locking the discharging apparatus to the image forming apparatus when the discharging apparatus is mounted on the image forming apparatus. The locking mechanism includes a release lever for unlocking the discharging apparatus by being manipulated to shift in the same direction as the discharging apparatus moves away from the image forming apparatus to be dismounted from it. The locking mechanism prevents the discharging apparatus from falling off the image forming apparatus even if external force is applied to the discharging apparatus mounted on the image forming apparatus. The release lever for unlocking the discharging apparatus makes it easy to dismount the discharging apparatus from the image forming apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 1999Date of Patent: December 18, 2001Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Eiji Yokota, Atsuo Hirose, Kazuhiko Takagi, Hiroyuki Kashima, Kazumasa Makino
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Publication number: 20010022421Abstract: A delivery apparatus for sorting a single stream of signatures into two or more streams, the apparatus includes two counter-rotating bucket assemblies. Each bucket assembly includes a plurality of buckets spaced from one another along a common axis. The respective common axis of each bucket assembly is disposed parallel to the common axis of the other. Each of the buckets of one of the bucket assemblies is disposed adjacent to and in a respective common plane with a respective one of the buckets of the other of the bucket assemblies. Further, each of the buckets includes a plurality of blades, the tips of the blades of each bucket defining a circumference. A respective circumference of one bucket overlaps the circumference of the other bucket disposed in the common plane. Two neighboring blades have respective surfaces defining a slot therebetween.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2001Publication date: September 20, 2001Applicant: Quad/Tech, Inc.Inventors: Karl P. Schaefer, Ingermar S. d'Agrella, Richard J. Fox
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Patent number: 6257572Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a main body and a sheet post-processing unit. The main body has a first discharge path, a second discharge path, a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion. The sheet post-processing unit has a first sheet receiving path and a second sheet receiving path each connecting to a common sheet transport path, a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion. The first discharge path is connected to the first sheet receiving path by coupling the first mounting portion of the main body to the first mounting portion of the sheet post-processing unit. The second discharge path is connected to the second sheet receiving path by coupling the second mounting portion of the main body to the second mounting portion of the sheet post-processing unit. By providing the plurality of mounting portions in the top and side portions of the main body, the sheet post-processing unit can easily be disposed on the top or side of the main body.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 1999Date of Patent: July 10, 2001Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kou Yamada, Yuuji Takarabe, Shinji Matsumoto
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Patent number: 6250631Abstract: A sheet handling unit including a processing station having a stapling mechanism for stapling a plurality of sheets; a plurality of mail trays for receiving sheets transported from the processing station; and a bulk tray for receiving sheets transported from the processing station. The processing station is fixedly provided in a sheet handling unit body. The sheets transported from the processing station are delivered switchably to any of the mail trays or to the bulk tray.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 1999Date of Patent: June 26, 2001Assignee: Kyocera Mita CorporationInventors: Katsuhiko Hanamoto, Nobuhiro Nishioka, Yohichiro Irie
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Patent number: 6170822Abstract: A paper currency reception/delivery machine having a high degree of general-purpose utility and implemented in a simple structure of a small size at low cost and capable of handling foreign paper currencies of different sizes and other leaflets is imparted selectively with given ones of intelligent functions such as discrimination of denominations, recycling on a denomination-by-denomination basis, replenishment, collection and detailed check and the like. The paper currency reception/delivery machine includes a loop-like paper currency transport path extending in one direction by way of a paper currency checking means, a paper currency reception/delivery port, a temporary custody unit, a delivery-destined paper currency storing unit, a received paper currency storing unit, a recycling-destined paper currency storing unit, a replenishment/collection-destined paper currency storing unit and a rejection-destined paper currency storing unit.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 1998Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Riichi Kato, Itsunori Utsumi, Kunihisa Matsuura
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Patent number: 6149148Abstract: A hurdle board assembly for separating sheet piles in a delivery of a sheet-fed printing machine includes a hurdle board. A plurality of spacer elements are connected to the hurdle board at locations in the vicinity of the border of one surface of the hurdle board. The spacer elements are respectively movable between a condition wherein they are retracted into the hurdle board and a condition wherein they extend vertically from the hurdle board. Respective prestressing devices are provided for prestressing the spacer elements, respectively, in a direction in the condition wherein the spacer elements, respectively, extend from the hurdle board. Respective locking devices are provided for securing the spacer elements, respectively, in the retracted condition. The locking devices are deactivatable from a side of the hurdle board so as to release the spacer elements.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 1999Date of Patent: November 21, 2000Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AktiengesellschaftInventors: Erich Zahn, Rainer Klenk, Richard Mack
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Patent number: 6003865Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a main assembly having an upper frame and a lower frame, the upper frame being rotatably openable with respect to the lower frame; a sheet accommodating device having at least one sheet receiving tray for receiving a sheet discharged from the main assembly, the sheet accommodating device being movable between an operative position for accommodating the sheet and a retracted position away from the main assembly; and a connector for connecting the sheet accommodating means to the main assembly, the connector being effective to keep the sheet accommodating device away from the main assembly when the upper frame is being closed.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 1995Date of Patent: December 21, 1999Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kenichi Hayashi
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Patent number: 5970228Abstract: A common output unit such as a print server maintains security when an output request unit, serving as a client, sends a job to be processed to the output unit. The output unit accepts and puts the job in queue. The output unit then creates a collation key that is sent back to the output request unit, which stores the collation key in a storage medium. The output unit searches the storage medium for the collation key and processes the queued job corresponding to the collation key. The print server includes a locked stacker and an ordinary stacker to minimize the output waiting time of the print job.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 1997Date of Patent: October 19, 1999Assignee: Fujitsu LimitedInventor: Mitsumasa Nezu
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Patent number: 5903284Abstract: A sheet sorting apparatus is equipped with a control device for controlling the sorting of sheets from a sheet processing device and a memory for storing data concerning the number of sorted sheets. The memory has a back-up power source that is independent of the sheet processing device which discharges sheets to the sorter and includes a transmitter for transmitting the data stored in the memory to this upstream sheet processing device.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 1997Date of Patent: May 11, 1999Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shunji Sato
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Patent number: 5862307Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a communication apparatus connected to a plurality of circuits in which recording paper on which received image data is printed is discharged to discharge trays which are individually provided for the respective circuits, so that the discharged sheets of recording paper are easily classified. A communication apparatus used individually in connection with a plurality of circuits is constituted so that received image data is printed on recording paper and is discharged to trays which are individually provided for the respective circuits. Specifically, when the printing of the image data is instructed, the tray number which is allowed to correspond to the reference circuit identification information memorized in the table for the tray selection which coincides with the circuit identification information memorized in the control table of the received information of the parameter memory part.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 1996Date of Patent: January 19, 1999Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Keiji Watanabe
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Patent number: 5833232Abstract: An apparatus for accumulating sheets from a secondary source and changing their conveyance direction 90.degree.. The accumulator is a group of vertically stacked bins that discharge batchwise and are loaded from the secondary source alternately by way of a diverter. Discharge is synchronous with a directionally constant primary sheet source.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 1996Date of Patent: November 10, 1998Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Edward M. Ifkovits, Karel J. Janatka, Richard F. Stengl, Joseph F. Zuzick, Jr.