Aligning At Stack Patents (Class 271/3.02)
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Patent number: 9505572Abstract: Aspects provide for a printer with automatic paper sheet count discovery, via determining an initial weight of printer paper sheets within a printer paper feeder tray. A single sheet is removed from the paper feeder tray to a staging area of the printer, and a revised weight is determined for the sheets within the paper feeder tray while the single sheet of paper is removed to the staging area. The single sheet is fed back into the paper feeder tray via a printing path bypass of the printer. The weight of the single sheet determined as a function of the difference between the initial weight and the revised weight. A quantity of printer paper sheets currently loaded within the paper feeder tray and available to satisfy a print job is determined as equal to the initial weight divided by the weight of the single sheet.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2016Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Alessandra Asaro, Giulia Carnevale, Marco Gianfico, Roberto Ragusa
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Patent number: 8919759Abstract: The feeder device comprises a support structure (2) wherein, between a feeder plate (3) and an opposite surface (4), there is defined an input receptacle (5) for the introduction of one or more documents (BC) to be processed, and a motorized aligning and conveying device (6), adapted to engage and urge a document (BC) introduced into the input receptacle (5) towards a lateral stationary aligning surface (50).Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2012Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: Panini S.p.A.Inventors: Ivano De Santi, Ugo Panini
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Patent number: 8844927Abstract: A sheet loading apparatus includes a loading member which loads the sheet discharged by the discharge member, a tip support member which abuts against the leading edge of the sheet discharged by the discharge member in the sheet discharge direction, a rotation member which abuts against an upper surface of the sheet discharged to the loading member, and is rotated to transport the sheet to the stopper side, and a control section which controls a transport amount of the sheet through the rotation member based on a loading amount of the sheet loaded on the loading member.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2012Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroyuki Hazu, Ken Iguchi, Yuichi Saito, Isao Yahata, Takahiro Kawaguchi, Yoshiaki Sugizaki, Kikuo Mizutani, Hiroyuki Taki, Hiroyuki Tsuchihashi, Chiaki Iizuka, Hidetoshi Yokochi, Toshiaki Oshiro, Yoichi Yamaguchi, Hiroyuki Sugiyama, Jun Ishii
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Patent number: 8814157Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a sheet stacking unit where sheets to be processed are stacked, a regulating member, a sheet waiting unit, a first moving unit, a second moving unit, and a control unit. The regulating member abuts on one edge of sheets conveyed to the sheet stacking unit. The sheet waiting unit keeps sheets waiting, stacks the waiting sheets displaced sequentially, and then conveys the sheets to the sheet stacking unit. The first moving unit sequentially moves the conveyed sheets, starting from a lowermost sheet, to be abutted against the regulating member. The second moving unit moves the conveyed sheets to the first moving unit. The control unit controls a moving speed of the second moving unit so that a next sheet does not reach the first moving unit until the sheet moved by the first moving unit is abutted against the regulating member.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2012Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yohei Gamo
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Patent number: 8616547Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus capable of improving sheet processing performance and productivity is provided. While sheets are conveyed in a piled state toward a rear-end stopper, displacement is produced between the sheets by a pair of discharge rollers. Even if adhesion occurs between the sheets during conveyance thereof, the adhesion between the sheets can be removed before the sheets come into contact with the rear-end stopper.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2012Date of Patent: December 31, 2013Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hideki Kushida, Yusuke Obuchi, Toshiyuki Iwata, Rikiya Takemasa
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Patent number: 8419005Abstract: There is provided a paper sheet handling apparatus capable of processing a deviated banknote in a banknote storage bin so as to displace the banknote to an optional position. The banknote handling apparatus incorporates a deviation processing means making contact with at least one side of a banknote in a paper sheet storage bin in which banknotes are stacked one upon another, for applying a force to the banknote at least in a direction of deviation of the banknote. The deviation processing means falls, during operation thereof, either in a condition in which it makes contact with a paper sheet in the paper sheet storage bin or in a condition in which it does not make contact therewith.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2008Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: Hitachi-Omron Terminal Solutions, Corp.Inventors: Akira Nomiyama, Eisuke Shiomi
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Patent number: 8387967Abstract: An apparatus for handling stacks (18) of printing media (11) which are arranged above one another and are made from packaging material, in particular a magazine (16) for excise stamps, coupons or the like, preferably within an apparatus for producing packs (10) for cigarettes, having a shaft (19) for receiving the stack (18), which shaft (19) is delimited at least partially by preferably stationary walls (20) and is, in particular, upright. The shaft (19) can have at least one suction device (25) which acts in regions on the stack (18) in order to hold and/or align the printing media (11) on the wall (20) by means of vacuum.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2010Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co. KG)Inventors: Martin Bischoff, Harald Freudenberg
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Patent number: 8371579Abstract: A sheet alignment apparatus includes: a sheet storage section for storing sheets; a sheet push-up section for conveying the sheets in the sheet discharge direction; a sheet discharge section having a pair of forward and reverse rotatable rollers configured to align sheet between the rollers and the sheet push-up section and to then discharge the sheets by sandwiching the sheet in the nip portion between the pair of rollers; and a sheet width direction alignment section located between the sheet storage section and the sheet discharge section and configured to align the sheets in the width direction perpendicular to the sheet discharge direction, wherein the sheet discharge section causes the pair of rollers in the reverse direction so as to separate the sheet edge in the sheet discharge section from the nip portion before the lateral alignment performed by the sheet width direction alignment section.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2011Date of Patent: February 12, 2013Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Masahiro Kaneko
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Publication number: 20120299235Abstract: A printing stock feeder system may include, but is not limited to: a support stand; a feed deck rotatably coupled to the support stand; a printing stock storage stack; and a printing stock transfer mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2011Publication date: November 29, 2012Inventors: James P. Schmidt, Jeffrey Schmidt
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Patent number: 8267399Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus capable of improving sheet processing performance and productivity is provided. While sheets are conveyed in a piled state toward a rear-end stopper, displacement is produced between the sheets by a pair of discharge rollers. Even if adhesion occurs between the sheets during conveyance thereof, the adhesion between the sheets can be removed before the sheets come into contact with the rear-end stopper.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2010Date of Patent: September 18, 2012Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hideki Kushida, Yusuke Obuchi, Toshiyuki Iwata, Rikiya Takemasa
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Patent number: 8146909Abstract: A conveying unit receives a sheet from an upstream unit and conveys the sheet on a conveying path. A stacking unit stacks the sheet conveyed from the conveying unit. An aligning unit sets the sheet back in a direction opposite to a sheet conveying direction and aligns the sheet by bumping the sheet against a reference wall. A sheet discharging unit discharges the sheet aligned on the stacking unit. When a predetermined condition is satisfied, a control unit sets a timing for discharging the sheet by the sheet discharging unit earlier than a normal sheet discharge timing.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2009Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: Ricoh Company, LimitedInventor: Hiroyuki Kuno
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Patent number: 8056872Abstract: A lightweight hand-removable backstop structure is provided, the backstop structure having: a backstop support; and an elongated substantially rigid structure arranged to be removably installed upon and rigidly supported in position by the backstop support, the elongated substantially rigid structure having first, second and third elongated sections, with first and third sections being generally vertically arranged, and the second section being generally horizontally arranged, the first section being configured to be hand-mounted upon and mechanically supported by the backstop support; the second section being disposed between and operatively rigidly interconnecting the first and third sections, the third section having at least one substantially flat large surface portion arranged to have a generally vertical orientation, the backstop structure being of sufficient length in a horizontal direction such that all of the third section and at least a portion of the second section extend over at least part of a paType: GrantFiled: September 28, 2009Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Inventor: Stanislaw J. Kozera
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Publication number: 20110074082Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a sheet feed tray on which a first sheet bundle is stacked at a first position where sheet feeding to a conveyance path can be performed, and a conveyance tray on which a second sheet bundle is stacked at a second position adjacent to the sheet feed tray, and which conveys the second sheet bundle to the sheet feed tray and stacks the second sheet bundle on the sheet feed tray after the first sheet bundle is fed, presses the stacked second sheet bundle to a side plate provided in a direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the conveyance tray, and aligns an end of the second sheet bundle.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2010Publication date: March 31, 2011Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tokihiko ISE
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Publication number: 20100314821Abstract: A sheet container includes a case configured to contain a plurality of sheets stacked in a stacking direction, a first regulating member configured to regulate a first side of the sheets along a first direction perpendicular to the stacking direction, a second regulating member configured to regulate a second side perpendicular to the first side along a second direction perpendicular to the stacking direction and the first direction, the second regulating member to form a rectangular area with the first regulating member under the sheets, a tray configured to support a lower surface of a lowermost sheet of the sheets, and a guide member inclined with respect to the stacking direction, the first direction and the second direction on the rectangular area, and formed higher from a position lower than the lower surface of the lowermost sheet as approaching a closest corner in the rectangular area.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2010Publication date: December 16, 2010Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Masahiro OHNO
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Patent number: 7828281Abstract: When a sheet is conveyed from a processing tray to a stacking tray, a bar-like pushing member is moved in a direction of the stacking tray in synchronization with an ejector. Consequently, simultaneously with the movement of the sheet by the ejector, a lower surface of a leading end of the sheet is pushed to relax and reduce a contact force between the lower surface of the leading end of the sheet and the stacking tray (or an upper surface of a sheet already stacked on the stacking tray). As a result, static friction at the leading end of the sheet is changed to dynamic friction and the entire sheet is conveyed to the stacking tray without bending.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2008Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yasunobu Terao, Mikio Yamamoto
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Publication number: 20100084802Abstract: The present invention relates to a media stacking apparatus for an automatic media dispenser. A media stacking apparatus according to the present invention comprises a media box provided with a seating space allowing media to be pulled and stacked therein, inlet rollers provided to face each other and to rotate in opposite directions relative to one another so that the media are pulled into the seating space, a damping unit colliding against the medium pulled into the seating space by the inlet rollers, and a pressing unit for pressing down a trailing end of the medium. The damping unit and the pressing unit are connected to both ends of a link by the pins to cooperate with each other. Thus, the media are stacked in the seating space, so that the following medium can be pulled therein without any interference. According to the present invention, there is an advantage in that a stacking reliability is enhanced when media are stacked.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2008Publication date: April 8, 2010Applicant: LG N-SYS Inc.Inventor: Su-Min Lee
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Patent number: 7637502Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus which perform a process to sheets comprising a stacking tray on which stacks the sheets to be performed a process; a discharge roller pair; a first path in which conveys a sheet to the discharge roller pair, shorter than the length of the minimum sheet size being conveyed in the sheet conveying direction; a second path branched from the first path and meeting with the first path at the upstream side in the sheet conveying direction of the discharge roller pair; and a path switching member, wherein a first sheet conveyed while processing the sheets on the stacking tray is guided into the first path by the path switching member, and when the front end of the first sheet projects from the discharge roller pair, the discharge roller pair is apart from each other and the first sheet is held in the first path, and the path switching member is changed over, and a second conveyed sheet is guided into the second path, when the front end of the second sheet projects from the discharge rolleType: GrantFiled: August 29, 2005Date of Patent: December 29, 2009Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hironobu Ata, Atsushi Ogata, Kenichiro Isobe, Hiroharu Tsuji
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Publication number: 20090315244Abstract: An improved document feeder flag assembly is disclosed. The improved document feeder flag assembly allows single handed, on the fly loading of a document sorter. A method for loading a document sorting machine with a single hand, while the method of operating the machine is also disclosed. The document feeder flag assembly includes a baseplate and a pivot post attached to the baseplate. Further, the assembly includes a flag arm having a first side and a second side, the first side of the flag arm is attached to the pivot post. There is also a feeder flag having a first side and a second side, the first side of the feeder flag being attached to a second side of the flag arm. The document feeder flag assembly also includes a resistance device attached between the feeder flag and the flag arm.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2009Publication date: December 24, 2009Inventor: David B. Tratar
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Publication number: 20090315245Abstract: An improved document feeder flag assembly is disclosed. The improved document feeder flag assembly allows single handed, on the fly loading of a document sorter. A method for loading a document sorting machine with a single hand, while the method of operating the machine is also disclosed. The document feeder flag assembly includes a baseplate and a pivot post attached to the baseplate. Further, the assembly includes a flag arm having a first side and a second side, the first side of the flag arm is attached to the pivot post. There is also a feeder flag having a first side and a second side, the first side of the feeder flag being attached to a second side of the flag arm. The document feeder flag assembly also includes a resistance device attached between the feeder flag and the flag arm.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2009Publication date: December 24, 2009Inventor: David B. Tratar
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Publication number: 20090236788Abstract: A paper sheet accumulating/feeding apparatus to execute an accumulating processing, in which paper sheets conveyed by a conveyance unit are accumulated in an accumulating unit in a direction of accumulation, and a feeding processing, in which paper sheets accumulated in the accumulating unit are fed to the conveyance unit, comprising a rotating member including one or more pieces, which spread radially from an axis thereof, the rotating member being provided in the vicinity of a connection between the conveyance unit and the accumulating unit to enable the piece or pieces to slap and move a paper sheet in the accumulating unit in the direction of accumulation at the time of accumulating processing, and a guide member provided to guide the piece or pieces to enable the same to be stored toward the axis of the rotating member, whereby the paper sheet accumulating/feeding apparatus is able to readily set the piece or pieces long and endures an operation over a long term and frequent operations.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2009Publication date: September 24, 2009Inventor: Sho Mizuno
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Publication number: 20090189327Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus including: a stack tray on which a sheet successively delivered from a delivery port is stacked, the stack tray including: a folding route receiving the sheet from the delivery port; a sheet folding device provided in the folding route to fold the sheet; and a sheet stacking surface for stacking the sheet, wherein the sheet processing apparatus is operable in selectively between a first mode in which a sheet from the delivery port is stacked on the sheet stacking surface, and a second mode in which a sheet folded by the sheet folding device is stacked on the same sheet stacking surface as in the first mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2009Publication date: July 30, 2009Inventors: KOKI SATO, SATOSHI IWAMA, EIJI FUKASAWA, HISASHI OSADA, SHIN TSUGANE
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Publication number: 20090146361Abstract: An improved document feeder flag assembly is disclosed. The improved document feeder flag assembly allows single handed, on the fly loading of a document sorter. A method for loading a document sorting machine with a single hand, while the method of operating the machine is also disclosed. The document feeder flag assembly includes a baseplate and a pivot post attached to the baseplate. Further, the assembly includes a flag arm having a first side and a second side, the first side of the flag arm is attached to the pivot post. There is also a feeder flag having a first side and a second side, the first side of the feeder flag being attached to a second side of the flag arm. The document feeder flag assembly also includes a resistance device attached between the feeder flag and the flag arm.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2007Publication date: June 11, 2009Inventor: David B. Tratar
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Patent number: 7530566Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus includes driving rollers that are arranged in a leading end position in a sheet conveying direction of a standby tray and axis of which are perpendicular to the conveying direction and driven rollers that rotate following the driving rollers and are provided in a front portion in the sheet conveying direction of the standby tray such that an interval thereof narrows in the sheet conveying direction. The driven rollers may be arranged in the front in the sheet conveying direction of the standby tray while being spaced apart from the standby tray.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2007Date of Patent: May 12, 2009Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yasunobu Terao, Tomomi Iijima, Mikio Yamamoto, Takahiro Kawaguchi, Hiroyuki Taki
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Publication number: 20090066003Abstract: A sheet aligning device includes a sheet feeder that discharges a sheet in a first direction, a sheet tray on which the sheet is stacked, a sheet jogger that aligns the sheet on the sheet tray in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a sheet detection filler that detects a state of the sheet on the sheet tray. The sheet detection filler detects a position of a topmost sheet in the stack of sheets on the sheet tray and determines an alignment position from where the sheet jogger is to begin alignment of the sheets.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2008Publication date: March 12, 2009Inventors: Akira Kunieda, Masahiro Tamura, Makoto Hidaka, Hitoshi Hattori, Junichi Tokita, Ichiro Ichihashi, Nobuyoshi Suzuki, Shuuya Nagasako, Naohiro Kikkawa, Kazuhiro Kobayashi, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Hiroshi Maeda, Tomoichi Nomura
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Publication number: 20090066002Abstract: The present application is directed to methods and devices for aligning media sheets in an input tray of an image forming device. The input tray includes a support surface and at least two spaced apart side walls. A first side wall includes a reference surface to align the media sheets. A second side wall includes a plurality of biasing members. The biasing members bias the media sheets toward the reference surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2007Publication date: March 12, 2009Inventors: Jason Lee Rowe, Darin M. Gettelfinger, Franklin Joseph Palumbo, Philip David Jones
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Publication number: 20090066004Abstract: The invention relates to an individual-sheet stacking apparatus including a frame, a support which is displaceably guided at the frame and which is fitted with a rest surface for the individual sheet stack and having a pressurizing spindle to alternatingly shift and release the support. The pressurizing spindle consists of a pressurizing shaft rotatably supported at the frame, two pressurizing spindle lateral elements affixed to the pressurizing shaft, and at least two glide shafts configured in a fixed or rotatable manner at the pressurizing spindle lateral elements, the glide shafts being fitted with glide rollers. A drive means drives the pressurizing spindle into rotation.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2007Publication date: March 12, 2009Applicant: BEB INDUSTRIE-ELEKTRONIK AGInventors: Hans Blaser, Armin Zobeli
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Publication number: 20090026688Abstract: In a sheet supply/convey supporting device, a sheet placing unit includes a pair of guide members and a supporting plate that form a space for holding a sheet stack, and a carriage member supports the sheet placing unit and includes a driving mechanism for lifting or lowering the sheet placing unit. The supporting plate supports the sheet stack and is movable between an opened position at which a bottom of the space is opened and a closed position at which the bottom of the space is closed.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2008Publication date: January 29, 2009Inventor: Yoshihisa Minakawa
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Publication number: 20090014939Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus includes a sheet stacking unit, an aligning unit, a moving member, a discharging member, and a discharging motor. The discharging motor drives the discharging member for discharging a pile of sheets in an operation pattern that is selected, depending on a predetermined condition, from among a plurality of operation patterns.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2008Publication date: January 15, 2009Inventors: Ichiro Ichihashi, Masahiro Tamura, Nobuyoshi Suzuki, Shuuya Nagasako, Naohiro Kikkawa, Kazuhiro Kobayashi, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Makoto Hidaka, Hitoshi Hattori, Junichi Tokita, Akira Kunieda, Hiroshi Maeda, Tomoichi Nomura
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Publication number: 20080251984Abstract: A hopper is provided including a pile plate, a backstop, a jogger opposite the backstop, the backstop and jogger being separated to permit a signature stack to be placed therebetween on the pile plate, and a flexible guide located opposite the jogger, adjacent to the backstop. A hopper is also provided including a pile plate, a backstop, a jogger opposite the backstop, the backstop and jogger being separated to permit a signature stack to be placed therebetween on the pile plate, and a toothed guide located opposite the jogger and adjacent to the backstop, a plurality of teeth of the toothed guide facing the signature stack. Methods are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2007Publication date: October 16, 2008Applicant: Goss International Americas, Inc.Inventors: Glen Roger Caron, James Aurthur Pangle
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Publication number: 20080224380Abstract: Embodiments include methods, apparatus, and systems for providing a media pick assembly with a motorized carriage.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2007Publication date: September 18, 2008Inventors: Robert M. Yraceburu, Steve O. Rasmussen, Stephen McNally
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Publication number: 20080169597Abstract: An apparatus for aligning sheet stacks in a feeder of sheet processing machines includes a motor-driven aligning plate and a movement converter situated between a motor drive and the aligning plate. The movement converter forces a movement describing approximately a circular path onto the aligning plate. A vertical speed component of the aligning plate during aligning corresponds to an upward speed of a feeder stack. A method for aligning sheet stacks in a feeder of a sheet processing machine as well as a sheet processing machine, are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2008Publication date: July 17, 2008Applicant: HEIDELBERGER DRUCKMASCHINEN AGInventors: Reinhard Lappok, Andre Putz, Guido Zanders
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Patent number: 7264237Abstract: The sheet stacking-aligning apparatus or the sheet processing apparatus includes a substantially horizontal stacking tray, a rear end aligning unit for aligning a rear end of a sheet bundle on the stacking tray, and a control unit for controlling an operation of the rear end aligning unit for aligning the sheet bundle when it is in an upstream position of the stacking tray, and the stacking tray is provided substantially horizontally. It is thus made possible to increase the stacking space, thereby increasing the number of stackable sheets and to achieve the alignment of the rear end of the sheet bundle with a simple configuration, thereby improving the stacking-aligning property of the sheet bundle on the stacking tray.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2005Date of Patent: September 4, 2007Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Katsuhito Kato, Daisaku Kamiya, Daiju Yoshino
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Patent number: 7156799Abstract: A paper folding machine is provided including a housing having upper and lower fold plates constructed for quick and easy removal of the upper plates from the machine so that repairs may be made. The machine includes an automatically adjustable stacking arm movable to positions corresponding to the settings of the machine for fold type and size.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2005Date of Patent: January 2, 2007Assignee: The Hedman CompanyInventors: Richard Abramson, John Kosla
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Patent number: 7014184Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for preventing the misalignment of sheet material in hoppers adapted to feed sheet material to disk separators are disclosed. In one aspect, a floating backguide is provided. The floating backguide moves independently of the hopper with which the backguide is associated. The floating backguide may be pivotally mounted at a first end and free to deflect to a limited degree at a second end. In one aspect, the deflection of the second end is limited in the horizontal direction by two stationary bars and in the vertical direction by two stops. The vertical deflection of the second end of the backguide may also be limited by a resilient material, for example, a spring or an elastomer. A method for feeding sheet material to a disk separator using a floating backguide is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2003Date of Patent: March 21, 2006Assignee: Prim Hall Enterprises Inc.Inventors: David F. Hall, Thomas Venne
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Patent number: 6767012Abstract: A sheet finishing apparatus has a stacking tray for stacking sheets formed with indicia; a processing tray on the stacking tray for receiving sheets; a movable aligning plate on the processing tray that moves traverse to the direction of discharge of the sheets; with a plurality of aligning operations. The first aligning operation has a distance of L1 from the aligning position of the movable aligning plate to the first aligning operation starting position. The last aligning operation is a distance of L2 from the aligning position of the movable aligning plate to the final aligning operation starting position. L1>L2 for the last sheet of a plurality of sheets in a set. A first and second aligning operation are performed on each of a set of sheets. The distance from the aligning position in the second aligning operation to the aligning start position is L1, wherein L1>L2>L3.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2001Date of Patent: July 27, 2004Assignee: Nisca CorporationInventor: Shinya Sasamoto
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Patent number: 6695304Abstract: Envelope alignment of a vertical stack of envelopes in an envelope hopper is maintained by mechanically vibrating a preselected part of the hopper. In a first embodiment, the vibration is caused by a reciprocating shuttle having a wedge-shaped member attached to it. The reciprocating shuttle and wedge member are positioned at the bottom of the hopper so that the shuttle and wedge-shaped member support all of the envelopes. The reciprocation of the shuttle and hence the reciprocation of the wedge-shaped member continually jostles the envelopes. The wedge-shaped member ejects the lowermost envelope in the hopper when the reciprocating shuttle is displaced from a retracted position to an extended position. A motor is used to cause continuous reciprocation of the shuttle. In alternative embodiments, different parts of the envelope hopper are vibrated by any suitable vibration-causing member.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2002Date of Patent: February 24, 2004Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventor: Todd C. Werner
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Patent number: 6557848Abstract: A paper-stopping mechanism applied in an automatic document feeder (ADF). The paper-stopping mechanism includes a shaft, a stepping motor for carrying the shaft to rotate, a cam structure having a first protruding portion and a second protruding portion and carried by the shaft to rotate the first protruding portion and the second protruding portion thereof, a paper-stopping arm having a bearing point, wherein the bearing point is moved against by the first protruding portion to move the paper-stopping arm upward, and an elastic buckling device for buckling the paper-stopping arm when the paper-stopping arm is moving upward to stay at a paper-feeding position, and for shifting when the second protruding portion of the cam structure is rotated against the elastic buckling device for removing the paper-stopping arm from the elastic buckling device to return to a paper-stopping position.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2001Date of Patent: May 6, 2003Assignee: Silitek CorporationInventors: Sidney Hsiao, Jones Wu, Jackly Liu, Julian Liu
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Patent number: 6471429Abstract: Sheet processing apparatus including a first tray for stacking sheets received from an image forming apparatus, a discharge unit for discharging the sheets from the first tray in a bundle, a second tray for stacking the sheets discharged from the first tray, a discriminating unit for discriminating an attribute of a sheet to be stacked on the first tray, and a controller for selectively controlling whether or not to discharge sheets by the discharge unit in accordance with a discrimination of the discriminating unit.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2000Date of Patent: October 29, 2002Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshinori Isobe, Katsuhito Kato, Yuzoh Matsumoto
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Patent number: 6471424Abstract: A printer is provided, which comprises a printer body 20 including a paper sheet feeding unit for setting paper sheets therein for printing and a paper sheet discharging unit, and a printer controller 10 of the printer body 20. When setting again paper sheets after printing on one surface in the paper sheet feeding unit for printing on the other surface, the printer body 20 is adapted to print, under control of an instruction from the printer controller 10, a first symbol indicating that the paper sheets should be set in the paper sheet feeding unit with the upper, lower, left or right part of the printed surface directed in the paper sheet feed-out direction and also with the printed surface up or down.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2000Date of Patent: October 29, 2002Assignee: NEC Corp.Inventor: Takasi Hirose
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Patent number: 6371474Abstract: When it is detected that a first containing section contains or is being supplemented with used paper sheets, a CPU feeds the used paper sheets one by one to a table incorporated in a housing tray in a second containing section, via a conveyance path. When the housing tray is filled with used paper sheets, the CPU stops feeding and conveyance of used paper sheets from the first containing section to the second containing section, and confirms whether a main body is operating or is in a late-night standby state. If it is confirmed that the main body is operating or is in the late-night standby state, the table in the second containing section is moved into the third containing section, thereby shifting the used paper sheet on the table to the third containing section. The used paper sheets placed in the third containing section are fed to the main body one by one when necessary.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2000Date of Patent: April 16, 2002Assignee: Toshiba TEC Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takafumi Amano
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Patent number: 6209861Abstract: A sheet transport device is provided with a sheet inverting mechanism for retracting a sheet transported along a main transport route into a switchback route to invert the sheet transport direction and returning the sheet into the main transport route to turn the side of the sheet. The sheet transport device has a pair of sheet guides adapted in contact with respective opposite ends of the sheet set on a sheet setting portion to prevent a skew transport of the sheet. The sheet temporarily brought onto the sheet setting portion during a switchback operation from the switchback route is guided between of the sheet guides on the sheet setting portion. During the temporal appearance on the sheet setting portion, the opposite ends of the sheet are aligned by the respective sheet guides. Thereby, securely prevented is an occurrence of a skew transport state of the sheet during the switchback operation.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 1999Date of Patent: April 3, 2001Assignee: Kyocera Mita CorporationInventors: Masayuki Kakuta, Masaki Deguchi, Hiroshi Kobayashi, Jun Kusakabe, Yutaka Aso, Kuniaki Araishi, Shigeo Kurando
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Patent number: 6206367Abstract: An automatic sheet feeder for an ink jet printer is disclosed. The automatic sheet feeder includes a sheet support fixed to a frame. A shaft is rotatably secured to an upper portion of the sheet support, and rotates in a specified direction by a driving force from a driver. A sheet width adjusting guide is movably mounted on one side of the shaft such that a front end is movable along the shaft and a rear end is slidable keeping in contact with the sheet support. At least one feeding roller assembly is rotatably mounted on another side of the shaft, and includes a feeding roller for feeding a sheet by a rotation force of the shaft. The shaft rotates in such a direction that the feeding roller contacts the sheet, and the feeding roller rotates in an opposite direction of the shaft.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 1998Date of Patent: March 27, 2001Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yong-Kon Jo