With Transfer Means Between Conveyor And Receiver Patents (Class 271/306)
  • Patent number: 6695307
    Abstract: A bill handling machine includes a first unit having a depositing port for depositing bills; a second unit having a depositing cassette for holding deposited bills; and a bill transfer mechanism for transferring bills from the depositing port to a depositing cassette. At least one of the first and second units is installable and removable, and the bill transfer mechanism is provided with a first transfer mechanism provided in the installable and removable unit and a connecting transfer mechanism connected to the first transfer mechanism and enabled to control the connection with the transfer mechanism in the installable and removable unit in conjunction with the removal/installation of the unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Kanagawa
  • Patent number: 6675711
    Abstract: A receiving guide is attached to an upper portion of a discharge mechanism section via a bracket. When a photopolymer plate is discharged from a photopolymer plate conveying section, a leading end portion of the photopolymer plate, which is in a state of hanging down slightly, abuts a flat plate portion of the receiving guide. Thereafter, the receiving guide moves in accordance with movement of the leading end portion of the photopolymer plate. Further, the receiving guide moves forward in a conveying direction of the photopolymer plate immediately before conveying of the photopolymer plate is completed, and the photopolymer plate lands on the surface plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignees: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Kawamura, Mamoru Murata
  • Patent number: 6669191
    Abstract: Disclosed is a sheet delivery and position controlling apparatus for an ink jet printer. The sheet delivery and position controlling apparatus includes a sheet discharging unit having a sheet delivery roller for discharging in sequence printed sheets to a sheet stacker, a delay unit having a swivel unit pivotally provided between the sheet delivery roller and the sheet stacker for movable between a first position which does not interfere with the sheet discharged from the sheet delivery roller and a second position which interferes with the sheet discharged from the sheet delivery roller to delay a time period to be placed on the sheet stacker after the printed sheets are discharged, a driving motor, a power transmission unit for transmitting power from the driving motor to the swivel unit to selectively swivel the swivel unit to the first position and the second position, and a control unit for controlling the operation of the driving motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seung-Jae Lee
  • Patent number: 6651558
    Abstract: An inserter (10) for synchronously feeding a preprinted portion (X1) of a pamphlet into a printing press (P) to be adhered to a complemental portion of the pamphlet in substantial registration to form the completed pamphlet is disclosed. The inserter (10) broadly includes a feeder assembly (12), an aligner assembly (14), and a drive assembly (16). The feeder assembly (12) moves a plurality (Xn) of sequential preprinted portions (X1, X2 . . . Xn,) of the pamphlets along a substantially horizontal support surface (42) and then feeds them, one at a time, into the aligner assembly (14). The aligner assembly (14) includes aligner pins (246,248), that are universally spaced independent of the dimension of the preprinted portions (Xn), that aligns each of the pamphlet portions into the desired alignment so that the aligner assembly (14) can introduce them one at a time into the printing press (P) in sufficient registration to allow the formation of the completed pamphlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Inventor: Harry A. Benson
  • Patent number: 6619648
    Abstract: A sheet-sorting apparatus has a stacking tray to stack sheets formed with indicia thereupon, a processing tray to receive said sheets in the process leading to said stacking tray, and when necessary, a path to discharge directly to said stacking tray and a path to discharge said sheets to said stacking tray means via said processing tray means the paths being selectable, enabling a leading set of a plurality of sheets to be discharged directly the stacking tray and continuing to stack subsequent sheet sets in said processing tray through which process leading set of sheets and the subsequent set of sheets are sorted on the stacking tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Nisca Corporation
    Inventors: Shinya Sasamoto, Takashi Saito, Yoshihisa Ogasawara, Keiichi Nagasawa, Shigeyuki Sanmiya
  • Publication number: 20030141659
    Abstract: A single sheet collecting device for stacking sheets of paper or plastic has at least one transport element and at least one stop unit arranged in a transport path of the sheets. First and second deflecting parts are arranged along the transport path of the sheets for moving the sheets during transport for a moment out of a transport plane of the sheets. The first and second deflecting parts are adjustable from a first position for top stacking the sheets into a second position for bottom stacking the sheets and vice versa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Applicant: MATHIAS BAUERLE GMBH
    Inventors: Patric Schuldis, Manfred Fuss, Wilfried Dorer
  • Publication number: 20030137102
    Abstract: A sheet finishing apparatus is provided with a discharge device for discharging a sheet; a support device arranged below the discharge device; a storage device arranged below the support device; an aligning device having a reference member as a reference to align the sheet and alignment rotating members for moving the sheet to the reference member; a shift device for shifting the discharge device to move the sheet to a position where the sheet can contact the alignment rotating members; a finishing device for finishing the sheet aligned by the discharge device, the shift device and the aligning device in a state that the sheet straddles between the support device and the storage device; and a transport device for transporting the sheets finished by the finishing device to the storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventor: Takashi Saito
  • Patent number: 6588741
    Abstract: The invention relates to a stacking device as well as to a method for depositing sheets on a stack. The task of the invention is to provide a stacking device that deposits sheets on a stacking unit quickly, cost effectively and reliably. The invention solves this task with a method for depositing sheets and a stacking device that contains two gripping devices for alternately gripping and depositing sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: NexPress Solutions LLC
    Inventor: Dirk Dobrindt
  • Patent number: 6585263
    Abstract: A deceleration drum assembly has a deceleration drum with at least one gripper for gripping and transporting signatures. A guide surface assembly is provided which produces a fluid flow for transporting the signature in a contactless manner above the guide surface assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Paul Emmett Bredenberg, Rich Daniel Curley, John Lee Ketchum
  • Patent number: 6557850
    Abstract: A check processing module includes a hardware device disposed along a document track for processing document items moving from an upstream end of the document track to a downstream end of the document track. A number of outer panels covers the hardware device during operation of the check processing module. At least one idler roller is provided for engaging a document item in the document track when the idler roller is in a non-retracted position. When a button is operated by an operator, the idler roller moves from a non-retracted position to a retracted position away from a document item in the document track to allow the operator to more easily gain access to the document track without having to remove any of the outer panels covering the hardware device positioned along the document track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Fredrik L. N. Kallin, Svetozar Doroslovac
  • Publication number: 20030071412
    Abstract: There is provided a sheet discharge device in which matching references are formed at a plurality of fixed positions according to the sheet sizes in order to enable handling of sheets of various sizes, also enabling stabilization of matching performance for a long period by a simple mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventors: Hideki Kimura, Hiroshi Kawamoto, Kazuhisa Mochizuki
  • Publication number: 20030057643
    Abstract: A device for picking up a sheet trailing edge from an upstream cylinder and transferring the sheet trailing edge to a gripper system of a downstream drum, as viewed in sheet travel direction, includes a sucker guide mechanism having a movably mounted sucker carrier whereon sucker heads subjectible to an application of vacuum or suction air are disposed. The sucker carrier is constructed as a tubular part having a longitudinal axis and being movable perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis thereof. The tubular part-is formed with a vacuum or suction air duct extending in the interior thereof and is formed of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic-material laminate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Andreas Fricke, Michael Puckl, Ludwig Reinhard, Matthias Schuster, Gunter Siebdrath
  • Publication number: 20030057632
    Abstract: There is provided a sheet processing apparatus that is capable of preventing sheets conveyed to the sheet processing apparatus from being skewed, wrinkled, damaged, or jammed, and prevent sheets stored in the sheet processing apparatus from being misaligned. The sheet processing apparatus receives a sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus comprising fixing rollers that hold and convey a sheet on which is formed an image at a first conveying speed and with a first conveying force, discharge rollers disposed downstream of the fixing rollers in a sheet conveying direction, for conveying the sheet at a second conveying speed higher than the first conveying speed and with a second conveying force smaller than the first conveying force, and a controller that determines whether a trailing end of the sheet is released from the fixing rollers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Shunsuke Nishimura, Yoshinori Isobe
  • Patent number: 6390468
    Abstract: A sheet material transfer guide is described in the context of a sheet material handling system including a first sheet material processing device and a second sheet material processing device. The transfer guide includes an outfeed mechanism on the first sheet material processing device, and an infeed mechanism on the second sheet material processing device adapted to receive sheet material from the outfeed mechanism on the first sheet material processing device. An angularly adjustable guide mechanism is secured between the infeed mechanism of the first sheet material processing device and the outfeed mechanism of the second sheet material processing device. The guide mechanism can include a ramp member pivotably mounted on a pivot assembly. The pivot assembly can be provided as a pivot member secured to the ramp member, with a pair of pivot member support assemblies mounted adjacent to respective opposite sides of the ramp member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Teodoro Ortiz Michel, Laurent A. Regimbal, Roland Boss
  • Publication number: 20020043757
    Abstract: An apparatus for decelerating signatures moving in tandem fashion through sheet processing equipment is provided. A pair of counter-rotating cams lying in general face-to-face relation along a travel path of the signatures reach into the travel path of the signatures to effectively grab the trailing end of each signature so as to decrease the speed of each signature as the signature continues or to further processing equipment in the sheet handling system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Applicant: Quad/Tech, Inc.
    Inventors: Ingermar S. d'Agrella, Eric L. Kuhne, Gary J. Laatsch, John M. Neary, Karl P. Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20010048192
    Abstract: An apparatus for stacking a predetermined number of X-ray films has a sheet member holding device disposed above a stacking position for temporarily holding at least a first X-ray film, and an actuating device for displacing the sheet member holding device from the stacking position to drop the X-ray film held by the sheet member holding device into the stacking position. The apparatus is capable of stacking a plurality of X-ray films highly accurately and efficiently in the stacking position while avoiding damage to the X-ray films.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Publication date: December 6, 2001
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Nishida, Masayuki Nakagiri, Keisuke Endo, Hideyuki Uezono
  • Patent number: 6264191
    Abstract: A sheet discharging apparatus including a sheet discharging device which discharges a sheet on a sheet discharging tray. A sheet tip portion guide device holds thereupon a tip portion of the sheet discharged from the sheet discharging device, guides the sheet in a sheet discharging direction while holding the tip portion of the sheet thereupon, and releases the sheet by releasing the tip portion of the sheet held thereupon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyoshi Suzuki, Masahiro Tamura, Yukitaka Nakazato, Junichi Iida, Akihito Andoh
  • Patent number: 6257819
    Abstract: A device for hooking, picking up and unloading flexible printed circuits to be introduced into a kiln, comprising one or more jaws to grip the circuit and to rotate freely around a horizontal axis—to supports which slide along vertical guides; handling systems adapted to move the supports along the vertical guides so as to move the jaws from the circuit feed position to the position in which the circuits are inserted into the kiln; systems designed to impose a slight rotation on the supports in at least one direction around the horizontal axis; and systems designed to activate the rotating pistons only at the circuit unloading stage after the treatment cycle in the kiln, so as to place the circuits in a slightly tilted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Inventor: Alessandro Garioni
  • Patent number: 6229139
    Abstract: A document transport for a scanner (100) has a flexible, elongated finger (226) disposed adjacent to a document (134), and a force applied to the finger (226) urges teeth (233) on the finger (226) into contact with the document (134) which urges the document (134) along a path through the scanner (100). A piezoelectric plate (222), which applies the force to the finger (226), requires only a small amount of electrical power. To traverse the scanner (100), a document (134) may also be manually fed along a guide (272). First and second speed-sensing detectors (276a and 276b), disposed along the path traversed by the document (134), permit the scanner (100) to determine a speed at which the manually fed document (134) traverses the scanner (100). To conserve electrical energy, the scanner (100) also includes a document-presence detector (274) for activating the scanner (100) when a document (134) to be scanned is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Xros, Inc.
    Inventors: Armand P. Neukermans, James P. Downing, Timothy G. Slater
  • Patent number: 6024355
    Abstract: For temporarily storing sheets, envelopes and the like, the objects are received one by one in a buffer apparatus and delivered one by one from that apparatus. For each object, a code associated with that object is determined, which code is stored in accordance with the order of receipt of the objects. Each object that is discharged is scanned and the scanning result is compared with a code that on the basis of order information is supposed to be associated with that object. If a particular minimum extent of agreement between the compared data is found, a normal operating status is adhered to. If less than the particular extent of agreement between the compared data is found, an error message status is selected. There is also described a buffer apparatus for temporarily storing the objects. Different objects can indiscriminately be processed in an irregular order and checked for separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Hadewe B.V.
    Inventors: Gerhard Hidding, Bertus Karel Edens
  • Patent number: 5907759
    Abstract: An automatic original feeding apparatus includes an original reading portion, a first feeder disposed upstream of the original reading portion, and a second feeder capable of receiving two originals simultaneously. The second feeder is disposed downstream of the original reading portion, for turning up and resupplying the two originals one after another to the original reading portion. The apparatus also includes a third feeder for directing the two originals resupplied to the original reading portion to a discharge portion. The apparatus also includes a detector for detecting delay in conveyance of a succeeding original. A controller in the apparatus delays feeding of a succeeding original when the delay in conveyance is detected and introduces the succeeding original into the second feeder, after a preceding original in the second feeder is discharged from the second feeder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiko Yashiro
  • Patent number: 5816715
    Abstract: This invention utilizes a simple mechanical buffer that will hold material and a two stage software buffering technique that controls the mechanical buffer to act as a First In First Out mechanical mechanism that allows other system events to be triggered off of dynamic thresholds. The two stage software buffering technique consists of a simple software FIFO with rule based logic to control input into a primary queue input and a secondary reserve queue which holds information as soon as it arrives. The decision to move information from the secondary reserve queue into the primary queue is based upon specific rules that are dynamically executed. This permits the creation of a dynamic threshold and allows the reliable triggering of the systems events. The foregoing permits material that is being produced at one fixed speed to be synchronized with material that is produced at variable speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: James L. Harman, Wesley A. Kirschner, Michael J. Ramadei
  • Patent number: 5682331
    Abstract: An object tracking and motion control system includes a thermal marking unit such as a laser for inducing localized thermal indicia on objects. A thermal tracking unit, typically a two dimensional thermal sensing array, is positioned to measure movement of objects marked with localized thermal indicia. A motion control unit is connected to the thermal tracking unit to permit adjustment of motion of objects marked with induced localized thermal indicia based on their measured movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew A. Berlin
  • Patent number: 5669601
    Abstract: A sheet feeding device is particularly useful in feeding sheets from a stack in apparatus in which a trailing portion of the sheet is returned toward the stack as the sheet moves through a reciprocating path. Corner nails used to help prevent double feeds in the sheet feeding device are attached to a guide means positioned to guide the trailing portion above the stack. The nails and guide means float vertically with respect to the top of the stack, preventing interference between the leading edge of the sheet and the guide means and between the trailing edge of the sheet and the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Terrence L. Fisher
  • Patent number: 5586755
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for detecting sheet misfeed from a tray having at least two sheets whose thickness differs from each other. The thickness of each sheet is detected as it enters into the tray and that value is placed in memory. The thickness of each sheet is detected as it leaves the tray and that value of each sheet is compared to the thickness value in memory for the same sheet when it entered into the tray. If the values match, then only one sheet has been fed from the tray. If the thickness value of the sheet as it leaves the tray is more that the thickness value in memory, then that indicates that more than one sheet has left the tray and a signal is produced which results in the sheet feed system being shut down to enable an operator to correct the situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Paul Hansen
  • Patent number: 5584472
    Abstract: For temporarily storing sheets, envelopes and the like, the objects are received one by one in a buffer apparatus and delivered one by one from that apparatus. For each object, a code associated with that object is determined, which code is stored in accordance with the order of receipt of the objects. Each object that is discharged is scanned and the scanning result is compared with a code that on the basis of order information is supposed to be associated with that object. If a particular minimum extent of agreement between the compared data is found, a normal operating status is adhered to. If less than the particular extent of agreement between the compared data is found, an error message status is selected. There is also described a buffer apparatus for temporarily storing the objects. Different objects can indiscriminately be processed in an irregular order and checked for separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Hadewe B.V.
    Inventors: Gerhard Hidding, Bertus K. Edens
  • Patent number: 5326093
    Abstract: A universal interface for operatively connecting and feeding the sequential copy sheet output of various reproduction machines of widely varying ranges of sheet output level heights to various independent copy sheet processing units having widely varying sheet input level heights with a free-standing movable interface module of a fixed narrow width. A sheet feeding path extends from one side of the module to the other for transporting the copy sheets. This sheet feeding path is preferably bi-directional and reversible for feeding copy sheets therethrough from either side. It is repositionable by vertically repositioning over a large vertical height range integral sheet path ends opening at opposite sides of the interface module, a retention system retains the sheet path ends at a selected height position mating with a selected reproduction apparatus sheet output level and a selected copy sheet processing unit sheet input level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas E. Sollitt
  • Patent number: 5324025
    Abstract: A mechanical buffer for imparting a substantial delay to paper items, such as envelopes which are being individually and sequentially conveyed in a high-speed paper transport system, maintains physical separation between the conveyed items and does not require termination of item movement or item encoding. The buffer employs a directional translation of item motion, i.e., envelope motion in the length-wise direction is changed to motion in the direction of thickness, to achieve a velocity-distance compression. The buffer apparatus includes a continuous loop of item carriers which are individually positioned to have incoming items sequentially and individually inserted therein, the carriers imposing a retarding frictional force proportional to item thickness and mass to arrest item motion in the longitudinal direction as the direction of item motion undergoes the translation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Inventors: Charles M. Chadwick, Peter D. Hotkowski, Michael W. Raymond, Michael D. Strange, Frank A. Todaro, William Wheeler
  • Patent number: 5322275
    Abstract: A bill accumulating storage unit is provided for use with a paper currency acceptor, the storage unit comprising a presser plate on one side of the currency pathway therein and a spring loaded currency support platform on the opposite side of the currency pathway. The presser plate is pivotably mounted to the eccentric center section of one or more cranks having concentric end sections journalled for rotation in the walls of the storage unit. Elongated stacker arms are mounted at a first end to a concentric end of the crank for conjoint rotation therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignee: Coin Bill Validator Inc.
    Inventors: Vedasto Gardellini, deceased, by Maria Gardelline, heiress
  • Patent number: 5290025
    Abstract: A device for discharging flat objects into a receptacle, especially pieces of mail or letters at the output of a sorting machine in which the letters are routed vertically disposed in pockets and are released above the said device, wherein the device comprises:a flat main guide surface inclined at an angle relative to the vertical plane and down which the flat object at the output of the pocket falls under gravity,a deflecting and retaining plate downstream of the main surface, anda receptacle inclined at an angle relative to the horizontal plane,the plate being movable from an initial position in which its lower edge is parallel to and close to the base of the lowermost wall of the receptacle, to an end position in which it is near to the uppermost wall of the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale D'Automatisme CGA-HBS
    Inventors: Christian Plent, Bernard Constant, Michel Divoux, Jacky Gregoire
  • Patent number: 5180159
    Abstract: An apparatus for changing the direction of travel of a flat article being conveyed in a first direction to one of two other directions without changing the orientation of the article. The apparatus comprises a circular deck mounted on a frame. The deck is pivotable along a center axis of the deck between a left position and a right position. There is structure operatively coupled to the deck for conveying the article over the deck, the deck conveying structure having a first end and a second end, wherein, when the deck is in the left position, the deck conveying structure receives the article being conveyed in the first direction at the first end and conveys the article in a second direction of forty-five degrees (45.degree.) to the left of the first direction, and wherein, when the deck is in the right position, the deck conveying structure receives the article being conveyed in the first direction at the second end and conveys the article in a third direction of forty-five degrees (45.degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1993
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventor: Shahzad H. Malick
  • Patent number: 5145167
    Abstract: A trail edge transport belt is provided over the elevator platform which receives sheets from a disk stacker. The trail edge transport belt engages and ensures the proper inversion of sheets moved by the rotating disk regardless of the size and weight of the sheet. To ensure that long, light weight sheets do not collapse on themselves prior to inverting, the trail edge transport belt is rotated at a velocity which is greater than the velocity which the sheets are fed to the disk and/or is arranged at an angle to the elevator platform so that a distance between the transport belt and the elevator platform decreases as the transport belt extends away from the rotatable disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas C. McGraw, Randall E. Van Ryne, Jose J. Soler, Paul D. Keller
  • Patent number: 5135352
    Abstract: A device for edgewise stacking flat single objects such as letters from a belt conveyor system or the like into a container or a fixed or mobile stacking system utilizes a moving container mounted on its side in front of an output module of a sorting system and moving downwardly at a controlled rate. The container is inclined relative to the vertical and the sorted objects are guided into the container by an inclined flat bottomed chute having a single rib at its lower edge, whereby the objects are flatwise stacked into the container. When the container is then turned upwards, the objects (letters) are stacked edgewise and their orientation and face are maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1992
    Assignee: Alcatel Face Societa per Azioni
    Inventors: Mario Scata, Adolfo Passero
  • Patent number: 5103725
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a printer with a sheet feeding apparatus having a printer body incorporating a printing mechanism for printing onto continuous forms. A cutter is provided close to a continuous forms discharging port on the printer case. Following the cutter downstream, there is provided a sheet feeding belt that rotates at a rate higher than the feed rate of the continuous forms. Along the belt, there are provided a sheet traversing section, a sheet direction changing section, a sheet pushing section and a sheet stacker, in that order from upstream to downstream. The sheet traversing section seizes and feeds horizontally each sheet cut by the cutter. The sheet direction changing section perpendicularly changes the feed direction of each cut sheet. The sheet pushing section pushes each sheet onto the sheet stacker where an orderly stack of sheets is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1992
    Assignee: Tokyo Electric Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuaki Sugimoto, Tomio Nishijima, Teruhisa Inoue, Yoshihiko Sugimoto, Masashi Suzuki, Izumi Matsushita
  • Patent number: 5054769
    Abstract: The housing of a delivery unit is engaged with a predetermined part of the body of an image forming apparatus, the housing being pivotable upwardly from the body. An endless belt is wound on a pair of pulleys. One of the pulleys is mounted on a first shaft which is secured to the housing which is latched in position on the body while the other pulley is mounted on a second shaft that is movable with respect to the housing. The second shaft is attached to the body, and the endless belit is stretched to restrain the housing from being unlatched and pivoted upwardly from the body. The delivery unit is attached without use of screws. Accordingly, the delivery unit may be readily placed in its operating position on the body with no possibility of the photoreceptor being damaged. In an image forming apparatus having electric component elements disposed under the delivery unit, the maintenance of the element is facilitated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1991
    Assignee: Mita Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Watashi
  • Patent number: 5052679
    Abstract: An apparatus for sorting photographs has an endless track, driven in upper and lower paths, which bears a plurality of racks, at regular spacings, which are placed in a loading position to receive sheets by groups. A plurality of tray boards form a rack between each two adjacent tray boards for receiving a group of the sheets. The tray board includes a bottom plate attached to the endless track and formed with two slots, a partition plate extending upwardly from the bottom plate to make the rack stand vertically when the rack is on the upper path. Two supporting brackets are secured to the partition plate and extend rearwardly from the partition plate for supporting thereon the group of sheets received in the rack, each supporting bracket being received in the slots of the bottom plate of another of the adjacent tray boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shizuo Sekino
  • Patent number: 5038228
    Abstract: A laser beam printer having a scanner unit and a sheet transport apparatus for use with the scanner unit. The printer includes a sheet feeding part, a photosensitive medium, a transfer part, an upper cover and a scanner unit, the transfer part being provided at an upper portion of the photosensitive medium. The sheet transport apparatus includes an upper transport path for transporting a record sheet from the sheet feeding part to the transfer part of the printer. The sheet transport apparatus further includes a transport path where the scanner unit is provided, the transport path being provided within the upper cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiromi Takada
  • Patent number: 4997179
    Abstract: An automatic sheet feeding device includes a driving roller and a pressing roller which presses a printed sheet against the driving roller. The printed sheet is guided between the driving roller and the pressing roller by a sheet guide fixed to the automatic sheet feeding device or by a leaf spring for supporting the pressing roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1991
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Mizutani, Shyoichi Watanabe, Toshiaki Saito
  • Patent number: 4953843
    Abstract: A separation arrangement removes printed products from an arriving imbricated stream of printed products and supplies such to a buffer branch arrangement. The non-removed printed products arrive at a feeder installation from an infeed device where there is first formed an imbricated buffer stack of printed products. The removed printed products are wound for temporary storage at the buffer branch arrangement in an imbricated or shingled formation with a buffer winding band upon a winding core or mandrel to form a buffer package. Upon interruption of the arriving imbricated stream of printed products these printed products stored in the buffer package are unwound and delivered to the infeed device, so that the supply of the imbricated stream of printed products is not interrupted. Since the buffer package possesses an appreciable storage capacity it is also possible to span longer interruptions of the infed imbricated stream of printed products without having to shutdown the feeder installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1990
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventor: Walter Reist
  • Patent number: 4905983
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring a limp fabric piece (6) wherein the fabric piece (6) is deposited on a low frictional plate (7) supported by a movable carriage (not shown) mounted on wheels (10). The carriage is then moved to a position beneath a frictional gripping device (9) which is then lowered onto the fabric piece (6). The carriage with the low friction plate (7) is then withdrawn from beneath the gripping device (9) and returned to its original position leaving gripping device (9) in frictional engagement with fabric piece (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1990
    Assignee: Pacific Dunlop Limited
    Inventor: Anthony D. Mathias
  • Patent number: 4905052
    Abstract: An apparatus which compensates for the velocity mismatch between adjacent sheet transports. A plate, interposed between the sheet transports, supports the sheet until the leading edge thereof advances from the first sheet transport to the second sheet transport. When the leading edge of the sheet is received by the second sheet transport, the plate pivots away from the sheet to a location remote therefrom. Since the first sheet transport advances the sheet at a greater velocity than the second sheet transport, the sheet forms a buckle to compensate for the velocity mismatch between sheet transports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1990
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: James R. Cassano, Richard M. Dastin, Scott C. Durland, Arthur J. Sobon
  • Patent number: 4830359
    Abstract: A sheet stacker or sorter for a xerographic or other copier has respectively one or more upwardly-inclined or vertical sheet receiving bins fed from below by nip rolls located at the exit of a pair of guide plates which direct the sheet towards the bin. The trail edge of the sheet is lifted from the exit of the guide plates onto a ledge of the bin by a scoop differentially pivoted at the end of a drive arm and a slave arm, the slave arm being limited in its pivotal excursion by pins journalled on the drive arm. With this mechanism a scoop is tipped forward when it enters the bin first depositing the sheet and then the rear wall of the scoop urges the trailing portion of the sheet into conformity against the support face of the bin for improved stacking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1989
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Peter Melnik
  • Patent number: 4822024
    Abstract: A sorter for sorting copy sheets which are produced by a copying machine from an original document includes a plurality of trays which are vertically arranged in multiple stages at predetermined intervals and an indexer for selecting a tray from the plurality of trays to which an individual copy sheet is to be conveyed. The indexer includes a first roller which changes a direction of conveyance of the copy sheets, and the first roller curves the copy sheets upward so that ends of the upwardly curved copy sheets curve downwardly with respect to a bottom surface of the trays, thereby increasing the number of copy sheets which can be stacked in the trays and preventing the occurrence of paper jams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1989
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 4813659
    Abstract: A system for automatically feeding stacks of blanks on to the input conveyor of a hard-pack cigarette packing machine whereby a transfer cage designed to receive the stack is moved to and from a surface supporting a number of stacks and between the supporting surface and the input conveyor by optical control elements designed to detect the position of each stack on the supporting surface, the aforementioned cage being defined by rods, each designed to engage a respective hole formed through the supporting surface and each fitted with a respective engaging element designed to move inside the respective hole in such a manner as to fit beneath the base of the respective stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Assignee: G.D Societa Per Azioni
    Inventor: Armando Neri
  • Patent number: 4786047
    Abstract: Apparatus for conveying a sheet of paper from a power feeder to an exit point including a frame for guiding the moving sheet along a preselected path and including a flexible member between the feeder and the exit point for normally guiding the sheet along the preselected path, the flexible member allowing the sheet to buckle in a direction normal to the plane of and away from the preselected path in response to an obstruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1988
    Assignee: Magnetec Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Bickoff, William J. Smith, Donald L. Suprise
  • Patent number: 4751547
    Abstract: An apparatus in which a range of differing weight copy sheets are advanced from a processing station of an electrophotographic printing machine. At the processing station, developed images are transferred from a moving image bearing member to copy sheets. The copy sheets are separated from the image bearing member with a light weight copy sheet being separated from the image bearing member at a first position. Heavier weight copy sheets are separated from the image bearing member at other positions. The first position is after the other positions in the direction of movement of the image bearing member. A guide is provided for guiding the heavier weight copy sheets onto the sheet transport with the light weight copy sheet being received on the sheet transport without contacting the guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1988
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Louis D. Fratangelo
  • Patent number: 4714394
    Abstract: A proper number of flexible work pieces such as napkins, handkerchiefs and he like are deposited in a proper position or positions for providing packages each of which contains a freely selectable number of pieces. For this purpose the work pieces travel through at least one branching station and from there alternately into two depositors or stacking stations comprising several compartments. The depositors then deposit the work pieces on a stacking table from which the stacks are removed onto a conveyor belt for continuing the conveying, for example into a packaging machine. The branching station includes three suction drums in which the suction is controlled for alternately distributing work pieces into different directions to different stackers. Air permeable conveyor belts run around the suction drums.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1987
    Assignee: Winkler & Duennebier Maschinenfabrik und Eisengieserei GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Guenter Ehlscheid, Gilbert Hauschild
  • Patent number: 4699272
    Abstract: A bill paying machine is disposed between two operators to be used in common by them. The bill paying machine comprises a machine body and a door openably mounted on the front portion of the machine. Disposed inside the machine body are bill containers for holding bills therein, a drawing-out or paying-out device for paying out bills from the bill containers, and a transport device for feeding the bills to the front door. The front door comprises two paying outlets and a distributing device for receiving the bills from the transport device of the machine body and directing the bills to one of two paying outlets in accordance with an instruction by an operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1987
    Assignee: Laurel Bank Machine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiichi Kokubo, Kyoichi Osako, Akira Hirata, Mizuo Oshita, Toshiaki Ito, Kazuyuki Seki, Eiichi Yoshikawa, Osamu Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 4662626
    Abstract: A paper document pocket for receiving and stacking sorted documents from a high-speed reader sorter used in the banking industry and similar applications. The pocket is designed to stack in columns paper documents of various sizes and paper weights in sequential order without producing paper jams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1987
    Assignee: BancTec, Inc.
    Inventors: Rex W. Shores, Robert H. Martin, George Maclean
  • Patent number: 4593993
    Abstract: In an electrophotographic copying machine wherein a photoconductive drum and at least one of the image forming elements, such as developing unit and cleaner, arranged around the drum are assembled into a unit which is removable from and fittable into the machine main body axially of the drum, the machine having a separating belt being provided on the lower frame of the main body, and a device for moving the separating belt into or out of contact with the drum, the device including a lever member supporting the separating belt and permitting the separating belt to move into or out of contact with the drum, and a cam member attached to the unit, which engages with said lever member so as to move the separating belt out of contact with the drum in operative relation with the movement of the unit when the unit is withdrawn and installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1986
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaru Imaizumi