Stripper Cyclically Movable Between Stripping And Nonstripping Position Patents (Class 271/308)
  • Patent number: 11119433
    Abstract: A protruding portion protruding in a rotation axis direction of an image bearing member is provided at a position between the tip of a separation claw and an apex of the separation claw, when the apex of the separation claw is disposed at a position farthest from the surface of the image bearing member in a direction perpendicular to a straight line connecting the tip and the rotation center of a shaft portion of the separation claw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takahiro Ito
  • Patent number: 11016422
    Abstract: An attachment is attached to a holding shaft and includes a first hollow axial portion including a first slit that receives the holding shaft. A supplemental member includes a second hollow axial portion including a second slit that receives the holding shaft. The supplemental member rotates in a forward direction and a backward direction. A restrictor restricts rotation of the supplemental member in the forward direction and the backward direction in a state in which the first slit and the second slit receive the holding shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Takahashi, Hiroshi Kajiyama
  • Patent number: 10870134
    Abstract: A peeling device includes a peeling member and a cover member. The peeling member peels a recording medium, to which an unfixed developer has been transferred from an image holding member, from the image holding member. The leading end of the peeling member contacts the image holding member. The cover member covers a surface of the peeling member with a gap interposed between the peeling member and the cover member. The surface of the peeling member includes at least the leading end of the peeling member, and includes at least a surface of the peeling member on the side opposite to the image holding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuichi Omori, Noriaki Kojima
  • Patent number: 10281859
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transport unit, an image bearing member, a transfer unit, and a detector. The transport unit transports a continuous recording medium. The image bearing member retains an image thereon. The transfer unit has a transfer member that is movable into and out of contact with the image bearing member and transports the recording medium by nipping the recording medium between the image bearing member and the transfer member. The transfer unit transfers the image on the image bearing member onto the recording medium. The detector detects an electrical resistance of the transfer member in a state where the transfer member is disposed at a noncontact position located away from the image bearing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Koide
  • Patent number: 10073394
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier; a transfer unit that transfers an image carried by the image carrier to a continuous medium; a fixing device including a first fixing member that contacts the continuous medium and heats the image transferred to the continuous medium and a second fixing member that is disposed so as to face the first fixing member with the continuous medium therebetween and presses the image, the fixing device fixing the image transferred to the continuous medium, the fixing device being configured so that the first fixing member and the second fixing member are capable of contacting or separating from each other; and a separation member that contacts the continuous medium and separates the continuous medium from the first fixing member when the first fixing member and the second fixing member separate from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kunihiko Sato, Kosuke Yamada, Kazutoshi Sugitani
  • Patent number: 9483007
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer device, a fixing device, an introduction guide member that introduces the leading edge of a recording medium to the fixing device, and a contact guide member that causes the leading edge of the recording medium to contact the introduction guide member. The contact guide member has a first guide part and a second guide part. The first guide part causes the leading edge of a first recording medium, which includes a recording medium of a double-sheet structure, to contact the introduction guide member at a first contact angle. The second guide part causes the leading edge of a second recording medium, which has a feed width greater than the passage width of the first guide part, to contact the introduction guide member at a second contact angle. The first contact angle is greater than the second contact angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Akira Shimodaira
  • Patent number: 9465333
    Abstract: A recording material conveying device includes a stripping claw being in contact with one rotary body of a first pair of rotary bodies, and a supporting member supporting a recording material curved when a jam occurs. The supporting member includes a supporting section located more away from the stripping claw than an imaginary straight line (C) passing a nip portion of the first pair of rotary bodies and a surface on a conveying path's side of the stripping claw, and the supporting section supports the recording material curved when the jam occurs. The recording material conveying device further includes a conveyance guide that is disposed on the downstream side from the supporting member and is displaced toward a pressed direction by a pressing force acting when the curved recording material comes into contact with the conveyance guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Susumu Murakami
  • Patent number: 9440466
    Abstract: A transport mechanism is provided for transporting sheets of a print medium in a printing system. The transport mechanism include a first conveyor device having a first conveyor body which is configured to support a plurality of sheets of print medium, the first conveyor body being movable to convey the sheets along the transport path in the printing system; and a transfer system including a second conveyor device having a movable second conveyor body for supporting the sheets of print medium and conveying the sheets further along the transport path, the transfer system being configured to transfer the sheets of print medium from the first conveyor body to the second conveyor body in a transfer region. The second conveyor body is arranged adjacent or proximate to the first conveyor body in the transfer region, and the transfer system includes spacer means which is configured to maintain a predefined spacing between the first conveyor body and the second conveyor body in the transfer region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: OCÉ-TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventors: Hendricus G. J. Boerstal, Jacobus M. G. Eijssen, Erik E. M. Nolting
  • Patent number: 9141056
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a plurality of separation assemblies disposed opposite a fixing rotary body to separate a recording medium from the fixing rotary body. Each separation assembly includes a separator separatably contacting the fixing rotary body, a contact biasing member anchored to the separator to bias the separator against the fixing rotary body, an arm separatably contacting the separator to isolate the separator from the fixing rotary body, and an actuator connected to the arm to separate the arm from the separator. A controller is operatively connected to the actuator of each separation assembly to control the actuator of at least one of the plurality of separation assemblies to separate the arm from the separator so as to bring the separator into contact with the fixing rotary body by the contact biasing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shin Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8899584
    Abstract: A sheet reversing device including a first conveyance unit, second conveyance unit, third conveyance unit, and sheet pressing member. The first conveyance unit includes a first holder, and a support surface that supports the sheet, and conveys the sheet with an edge held by the first holder, and its entire surface supported by the support surface. The second conveyance unit includes second holders, which convey the sheet. The third conveyance unit is supported to be swingable between a reception position at which the third conveyance unit receives the sheet, and a transfer position at which the third conveyance unit transfers the sheet to the second conveyance unit. The third conveyance unit includes a third holder, and conveys the sheet held by the third holder. The sheet pressing member presses the sheet, transferred from the third conveyance unit to the first conveyance unit, against the first conveyance unit support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Komori Corporation
    Inventors: Hayato Kondo, Naoki Ogawa
  • Patent number: 8630575
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus comprising an image bearing member configured to carry a toner image and a rotatable belt member stretched by a plurality of stretching members and configured to carry and convey a recording material and a transfer member configured to transfer the toner image from the image bearing member to the recording material carried by the belt member by pressing the belt member against the image bearing member and a first lifting member arranged more downstream than the transfer member in a recording material conveyance direction, to which the recording material is conveyed, and configured to locally lift the belt member from the inside thereof in a width direction orthogonal to the recording material conveyance direction and a second lifting member arranged more downstream than the first lifting member in the recording material conveyance direction, is disclosed as one of the aspects of disclosures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takuro Ideguchi
  • Patent number: 8526869
    Abstract: A fixing device is provided with a fixing roller, a peeling claw that peels a recording paper from the fixing roller, a peeling claw holder that rotatably supports the peeling claw, and a support member that movably supports the peeling claw holder to enable the peeling claw to retract by moving apart from the fixing roller, wherein not less than two directions are set as retracting directions of the peeling claw holder to be moved when the peeling claw is caused to retract by moving apart from the fixing roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuya Shinkawa, Atsushi Ide, Yoshinobu Tateishi
  • Patent number: 8459636
    Abstract: This device has an arrival corridor via which the articles arrive, an article-receiving zone on which a stack (P) of said articles is formed, and a rotary actuator (22) suitable for pushing said articles away against a retaining element (32) for retaining the stack. The actuator (22) has at least one protective member (281, 282) for protecting the last article (N) in the stack (P) being formed, said protective member being suitable for being interposed between said last article and a current article (N+1) coming from the arrival corridor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Solystic
    Inventors: Raphael Moulin, Laurent Pellegrin, Olivier De Sousa, Pierre Campagnolle
  • Patent number: 8313190
    Abstract: A stripper blade system has been developed for high throughput inkjet printers. The stripper blade system includes a metallic blade having a leading edge that is less than 0.06 mm in thickness, a blade holder to which the metallic blade is mounted, and an actuator that is associated with the blade holder to move the metallic blade into and out of contact with an intermediate imaging member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Ruddy Castillo, Daniel J. McVeigh, Donald M. Bott, Barry P. Mandel
  • Patent number: 7934712
    Abstract: A device for collecting printed products includes a rotating collecting cylinder to and a controllable holding device that holds and releases the printed products collected in a peripheral area of the collecting cylinder. A diverter includes an exposed end and a support roller. The diverter has an operational position to lift the products off the collecting cylinder and transfer them onto a conveying device, and a non-operational position for collecting the products on the collecting cylinder. A control unit moves the diverter from the non-operational position during an interval between two successive printed products and with the timing of the supplied printed products, to the operational position in which the diverter's exposed end is inserted in the surface area of the collecting cylinder. A circulating control member is drive-connected to the collecting cylinder and includes at least one control cam associated with the support roller in the non-operational and operational positions of the diverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Mueller Martini Holding AG
    Inventor: Heinz Boss
  • Publication number: 20100176549
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to sheet deceleration apparatus and methods for decelerating a sheet of material for use in a sheet stacking or other application. The deceleration apparatus includes a pair of rotatable rollers, being rotatable about first and second axes, the rollers positioned on opposite sides of the travel path. At least one of the rollers is moveable relative to the other to nip the sheet between the rollers to reduce the travel speed of the sheet. A vacuum conveyor is further provided along the travel path subsequent the pair of rollers to control delivery of the sheet to a stacking hopper. A third rotatable roller, or similar apparatus, may be included in some embodiments, for pushing the sheet of material away from the vacuum conveyor at the appropriate time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Inventor: Curtis A. Roth
  • Publication number: 20090212497
    Abstract: A paper ejecting device is provided which allows a sheet jumping from a paper ejecting device to a paper receiving tray to be ejected with a desired shape by changing the corrected shape of the sheet according to the kind (size, thickness) of paper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: DUPLO SEIKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Kawaguchi, Katsunori Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7578502
    Abstract: A sheet delivery for a press has a linear guide in which a single holding crossmember (e.g., a gripper bar) is mounted such that it can be moved to and fro periodically. The holding crossmember is mounted in a further linear guide such that it can be moved to and fro periodically along the further linear guide axis as well. The axes of the linear guides are aligned at an angle to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Peter Förch, Markus Möhringer, Stefan Mutschall, Paul Nicola, Marius Stelter
  • Patent number: 7551883
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention provides a paper separation claw disposed near the surface of at least one of fixing rollers that fix toner on recording paper transported in a sandwiched manner, the paper separation claw being disposed in order to separate the recording paper, and a cavity portion that is open facing the surface of the fixing roller is formed in the paper separation claw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Ide, Yasunori Minakuchi, Noriko Inoue
  • Patent number: 7549636
    Abstract: In one embodiment a media ejection system is disclosed for a printer having a stationary print head and a moveable shuttle configured to hold print media via vacuum pressure while moving the print media past the print head. The media ejection system includes a vacuum release valve, actuable to release vacuum pressure in the shuttle, and a lifter, coupled to the vacuum release valve. The lifter is actuable to mechanically lift the print media from the shuttle, and to simultaneously open the vacuum release valve. In another embodiment, a method for ejecting print media from a moveable shuttle is disclosed. The method includes mechanically lifting the print media from the shuttle and simultaneously substantially equalizing pressure above and below the print media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Schmid, Jonathan Olson
  • Patent number: 7515868
    Abstract: A stripper assembly strips a media sheet from a photoreceptor belt. A support bracket supports a stripping finger base which includes a multiplicity of attached stripping fingers. The support bracket is fixed proximate to the photoreceptor belt in a media stripping position. Each stripping finger has a protruding distal stripping end extending toward the photoreceptor belt to form a gap therewith. The magnitude of the stripping finger-photoreceptor belt gap is controlled by adjusting the position or spacing of the finger base with respect to the support bracket. The support bracket pivots about an inboard pivot axial. The opposite support bracket outboard end is releasable, thus enabling the support bracket to pivot away from the photoreceptor belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory P. Miller, Erwin Ruiz, Mark Stevens, Roger G. Bennett, II, Kenneth W. Luff
  • Patent number: 7487968
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for depositing notes, which comprises a plurality of storage compartments for depositing the notes, means for transporting the notes to the storage compartments and for the organized deposit of the same on stacks disposed in the storage compartments. The inventive device comprises one or more parallel revolving belts on which fingers are successively disposed in the longitudinal direction which cooperate with the belts to give receiving pockets for the notes. Every storage compartment is associated with a respective stripping element interposed between the storage compartment and the belts. For depositing a note in the storage compartment the belts and/or the corresponding stripping element can be adjusted relative each other in such a manner that the stripping element projects into the path of a note that is displaced by means of the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Wincor Nixdorf International GmbH
    Inventor: Martin Landwehr
  • Patent number: 7251450
    Abstract: A paper separator may be equipped with plurality of paper-separating fingers for separating sheet(s) of paper for image formation and abutting and/or backed off from photosensitive body or bodies, paper separator optionally comprising finger body or bodies capable of abutting photosensitive body or bodies; spur(s)—capable of touching so as to guide sheet(s) of paper for image formation which has or have separated from photosensitive body or bodies; and/or support component(s) pivotably supporting paper-separating finger(s) so as to impart restoring force(s) thereto urging paper-separating finger(s) to under the force(s) of its or their own weight(s) bring finger body or bodies into abutting engagement with photosensitive body or bodies, and so as to, when spur(s) is or are touching sheet(s) of paper for image formation, cause finger body or bodies to at least partially overcome restoring force(s) produced by weight(s) of paper-separating finger(s) or portion(s) thereof and back off from photosensitive body or
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Susumu Murakami, Hideshi Izumi, Yoshie Iwakura, Minoru Tomiyori
  • Patent number: 6986575
    Abstract: A printer assembly including a mechanism for rotating a stripper carriage includes a drum blade for stripping media from a drum and a transfix roller blade for stripping media from a transfix roller of an imaging device. The media stripper carriage is accessed and rotated so that a user may maintain parts of an imaging device without having to remove parts of the device. The stripper carriage pivots about a shaft of a transfix roller. A solenoid activates stripping of media from the drum and/or the transfix roller. When maintenance is required, the stripper carriage is rotated by a user and stops at an open position. The user may then clear a jam, clean parts or perform other maintenance on the imaging device. Then, an access door of the device is closed to automatically rotate the stripper carriage to a position in which the imaging device is ready for imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Michael C. Gordon, Devin R. Bailly
  • Patent number: 6746010
    Abstract: An apparatus for conveying a sheet-like recording material is provided. The conveying apparatus includes a recording material feeding device for feeding the sheet-like recording material to a rotating drum from a feeding guide disposed in a direction tangential to the drum; and a recording material ejecting device for ejecting the recording material from the drum to an ejecting guide disposed in a direction tangential to the rotating drum. The feeding guide and the ejecting guide of the conveying apparatus are disposed near to each other in a thickness direction thereof, and the drum is in the same rotational position at the commencement of feeding the recording material to the drum and when the ejection of the recording material from the drum is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takao Ozaki
  • Patent number: 6439372
    Abstract: The invention relates to a conveyor device, including a conveyor belt for transporting workpieces out of a cutting or stamping device and a placement star wheel for putting upright the workpieces, which are delivered horizontally upright. The placement star wheel is mounted downstream of the conveyor strip. Conveyor bands which grip the workpieces on top and/or at the bottom are provided between the conveyor belt and the delivery star wheel. The conveyor bands move at essentially the same speed as the conveyer belt and the placement star wheel and are arranged in such a way to guide the workpieces into the receiving elements of the placement wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Schober GmbH Werkzeug - und Maschinenbau
    Inventor: Klaus Wittmaier
  • Patent number: 6142462
    Abstract: In a method of continuously feeding sheets, a top-sheet pick-up device and a feed table for feeding stacks of sheets to the pick-up device are provided. A stack of sheets are placed on the feed table and fed towards the pick-up device. When it is detected that the uppermost sheets are positioned under the pick-up device, the pick-up device separates the uppermost sheet from the stack. The feed table continues to feed the stack toward the pick-up device by moving additional sheets into position under the pick-up device when no sheet is detected under the pick-up device. Also provided are a feed table including an angle bracket for registering and shingling sheets, and a method of converting a non-continuous high-capacity top-sheet feeder having a top-sheet pick-up device into a continuous high-capacity top-sheet feeder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Bell & Howell Mail & Messaging Technologies Company
    Inventors: James R. Moser, Edward M. Otto
  • Patent number: 6131901
    Abstract: A suction conveyor conveys sheets which are stacked in a hopper of a sheet stacker. The suction conveyor includes a suction box and a suction belt that cycles along the surface of the suction box. Porous sections, having sets of suction holes or the like, are formed intermittently at a prescribed pitch on the suction belt. The leading section of the sheet is suctioned to these porous sections, and the sheets are conveyed by the motion of the belt. A scraper at a terminal end region of the conveyance path forcibly peels off the sheet from the porous sections of the suction belt. The sheets are dropped down with the trailing end dropping before the leading end and are stacked in the hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Isowa
    Inventor: Atsuhisa Hirohata
  • Patent number: 6118971
    Abstract: In an original-feeding device and method, originals are conveyed from an original-tray on which a bundle of originals can be mounted to an original-reading mount. A control unit controls an original-conveying operation so as to separate and feed originals from the bundle of originals mounted on the original-tray onto the original-reading mount either from an uppermost original or from a lowermost original. The control unit can control the original-conveying operation to juxtapose two consecutive originals on the original-reading mount irrespective of whether the originals are fed from the uppermost or lower-most original. In addition, the number of originals in the bundle can be counted if certain conditions exist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shunji Sato, Satoshi Choho
  • Patent number: 6076818
    Abstract: A miniaturized and inexpensive sheet sensing device which is easy to control and simple in construction and makes it possible to reliably sense one circulation of the sheet. A sensing member whose tip end is reciprocatingly displaceable in the direction of stacking of documents is disposed from the top face side to the bottom face side of the documents. At this time, the sensing member is bent and the tip end thereof passes along the side face of the document. In this way, at an initial stage of the conveyance of the document, the sensing member is disposed on the bottom face side of the stack of documents and at this time the sensing member becomes substantially linear, whereby the tip end thereof abuts on the bottom face of the stack of documents. In such a state, the conveying operation is repeated. A sensor senses that the sensing member has passed through the top face side and thereby senses that the conveying operation of the document has made its one circulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ayumu Oda
  • Patent number: 6003854
    Abstract: The holding elements (28), designed as hook-gripper elements (26), are driven in a circulating manner by means of a drive arrangement (44) in a plane at right angles to a stack (16) of printed products that have back margins (20). In the takeover section (46), the cantilever arm (36) of a hook-gripper element (26) comes to bear against the back margin (20) of the topmost printed product (14) of the stack (16). The hook-gripper element is then guided in a sliding manner on the printed product (14) in the direction of a stop, until the hook mouth (38) of the hook-gripper element (26) has seized the back margin (20). From the takeover section up to the transfer of the printed product (14) separated in this way from the stack (16), the direction of movement of the hook-gripper element (26) has a component toward the stop and a component away from the stack (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventor: Alex Keller
  • Patent number: 5996987
    Abstract: The uppermost printed product is lifted from an intermediate stack, that was loaded from below, by a suction arrangement. The lifted product is fed into the active range of a pushing arrangement that is driven in synchronism with the suction arrangement. The pushing arrangement has stops which are arranged one behind another at a distance and circulate along a closed peripheral path and function to push the printed products released by the suction arrangement, one after another, by acting on the trailing edge of the printed products. The printed products are conveyed from the intermediate stack into the effective range of a conveying apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventors: Willy Leu, Hans Frei
  • Patent number: 5908188
    Abstract: In an apparatus for feeding an original document, the time which is needed until the first original document is transported onto a transportation path after storing original documents is shortened. The original documents stacked on an original document supporting plate are successively supplied one by one in order from an uppermost original document. A discharged original document is steadily and easily inserted between the original document supporting plate and the original documents stacked on the original document supporting plate. When a hopper sensor detects that the original documents are stacked on the original document supporting plate, the original document supporting plate is moved upward until the upper surface of the uppermost one of the original documents contact a level sensor. At this stage, the original documents are supplied successively one by one from the uppermost original document by a paper feeding mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Katamoto, Yuji Okamoto, Naoya Okamura
  • Patent number: 5899448
    Abstract: Sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet feed device which operates to feed sheets towards or away from a sheet store. The sheet feed device has at least one resilient portion which flexes against its resilience relative to the remainder of the sheet feed device in response to contact with a sheet in the sheet store. A monitoring system is used to monitor the degree of flexure of the resilient portion to determine how full the sheet store is.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: De La Rue International Limited
    Inventor: Steven Michael Hosking
  • Patent number: 5890821
    Abstract: A print media ejection system actively pushes a media sheet trailing edge into an output tray. The ejection system includes a movable pivot which supports a media sheet within a print zone during printing. Upon completion of printing the pivot moves downward allowing the current media sheet to slide from the pivot into the output tray. After the pivot completes the downward rotational stroke, the pivot rotates back upward to be in position to support the next media sheet. The upward motion of the pivot mechanism actuates a kicker device to rotate toward an output region. The kicker device drives any remaining portion of the media sheet into the output tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Christopher M Lesniak, Donald R Bloyer, Rick M Tanaka
  • Patent number: 5833232
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Edward M. Ifkovits, Karel J. Janatka, Richard F. Stengl, Joseph F. Zuzick, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5803445
    Abstract: An arrangement has a rotor with rotor arms that are arranged in a drum-like manner around an axis of rotation and project on one side from a carrying element that is driven in rotation. The arrangement also has a sucker arrangement that includes a carrying arm which is driven by a drive. At a free end of the carrying arm there is arranged an extension arm with a suction head. The movement path of the suction head runs in the interior of the rotor, with the exception of an approximately V-shaped section of the movement path projecting in a radial direction outside the rotor. When the extension arm runs through this section, it passes through a cutout of the rotor in order to grip a corner region of a printed product and move the printed product into the interior of the rotor. A rotor arm then engages beneath the printed product and lifts it further in order to deliver it to a range of action of a removal conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventor: Jurg Eberle
  • Patent number: 5802434
    Abstract: An image fixing apparatus which includes a rotatable member for fixing an image, a plurality of separation members for contacting the rotatable member, and a mechanism for shifting the contactable member in a direction of a generating line of the rotatable member so as to engage and disengage the separation members from the rotatable member. The shifting of the separation members is timed so that they are separated from the rotatable member a line period shorter than that required for fused toner on the separation member to solidify.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Takehara, Masaaki Sakurai
  • Patent number: 5779370
    Abstract: An apparatus for printing labels having a tacky side and a non-tacky printable side. The apparatus comprises a print head for printing indicia on the printable side of the labels, and a print roller disposed in close proximity to the print head. The print head is thus enabled to print indicia on the labels when the labels are supported by the print roller, the print roller having at least one annular recess in its surface thereof. The apparatus further comprises at least one elongated stripper element retained in and extending from the recess such that upon rotation of the roller, the label is transported to the stripper element. The stripper element thereby lifts the label from the surface of the roller and the label is removed from the print roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Premark FEG L.L.C.
    Inventors: Karl Siegfried Schroeder, Nigel G. Mills, William Howard McMahon
  • Patent number: 5775682
    Abstract: A sheet transfer member (17) has at least one outwardly opening slot (20) into which a sheet can be received. The member (17) is rotatably mounted in use so that a sheet in the slot (20) can be transferred to a sheet stacking position. A portion of the rotatable member (17) comprises high friction insert (22) which, during a dispense operation, withdraws sheets from the stacking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: De La Rue International Limited
    Inventors: Steven Michael Hosking, Raymond William Simpson-Davis
  • Patent number: 5758981
    Abstract: A print media ejection system actively pushes a media sheet trailing edge into an output tray. The ejection system includes a movable pivot which supports a media sheet within a print zone during printing. Upon completion of printing the pivot moves downward allowing the current media sheet to slide from the pivot into the output tray. After the pivot completes the downward rotational stroke, the pivot rotates back upward to be in position to support the next media sheet. The upward motion of the pivot mechanism actuates a kicker device to rotate toward an output region. The kicker device drives any remaining portion of the media sheet into the output tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Christopher M. Lesniak, Donald R. Bloyer, Rick M. Tanaka
  • Patent number: 5716046
    Abstract: In an apparatus for feeding an original document, the time which is needed until the first original document is transported onto a transportation path after storing original documents is shortened. The original documents stacked on an original document supporting plate are successively supplied one by one in order from an uppermost original document. A discharged original document is steadily and easily inserted between the original document supporting plate and the original documents stacked on the original document supporting plate. When a hopper sensor detects that the original documents are stacked on the original document supporting plate, the original document supporting plate is moved upward until the upper surface of the uppermost one of the original documents contact a level sensor. At this stage, the original documents are supplied successively one by one from the uppermost original document by a paper feeding mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Katamoto, Yuji Okamoto, Naoya Okamura
  • Patent number: 5697716
    Abstract: A printer is provided with a hopper dimensioned to retain a plurality of sheets thereon and a sheet feed roller for feeding an uppermost sheet out of the plurality of sheets maintained on the hopper. Further, a separation pawl is located at a corner portion of the plurality of sheets held on the hopper for separating an uppermost sheet from a next sheet if the sheets to be printed upon are relatively thin. A wall surface is located downstream in a sheet feed direction with respect to the plurality of sheets maintained on the hopper is also provided for separating an uppermost sheet from a next sheet if the sheets to be printed upon are relatively thick. A selecting mechanism for selecting either a separating operation utilizing the separation pawl or a separating operation utilizing the wall surfaces also provided on the printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Akahane
  • Patent number: 5695071
    Abstract: A system and a method for sorting are provided for distributing articles, such as mail pieces or other flats, to predetermined destinations. At the destination, the particular article is raked by a raking assembly from a carrier for placement into a container. The container, when full, is gravity fed onto a discharge conveyor and automatically replaced with a new empty container. The carrier operates on two levels for delivery of articles to containers on two levels while maintaining the carriers in a horizontal position throughout the sorting process. A sloped front end of the carrier allows the articles to be transported at a rapid speed and in a continuous fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: ElectroCom Gard Ltd.
    Inventors: Gerald David Ross, Robert Earl Sadler, Jr., John Martin Buday, Jr., Gunther Adam Dorth, David Novak
  • 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: 5655761
    Abstract: Apparatus for accumulating paper sheets singulated from a paper sheet feeder on a registration deck. The apparatus includes: a sheet feeder for feeding the topmost paper sheet from a stack of paper sheets; an accumulator having an accumulation deck for receiving the sheets of paper from the sheet feeder; a registration stop for stopping the advance of the paper sheets along the accumulation deck; a deflector downstream of the sheet feeder and above the accumulation deck; and a pair of top and bottom rollers defining a nip, the nip being located adjacent, upstream and above the deflector and downstream of the sheet feeder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventor: Jose R. Sanchez
  • Patent number: 5617197
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus wherein a plurality of toner images having different colors from each other are successively formed on an image carrier, and the plurality of toner images formed on the image carrier are transferred to a transfer member carried on a transfer member carrier in such a condition that the plural toner images are successively overlapped with each other to thereby form an image, characterized in that the image forming apparatus comprises a pawl-shaped stripping member for stripping the transfer member from the transfer member carrier while being made in contact with a surface of the transfer member carrier at a predetermined timing; a volume electric resistance value of at least a portion of the pawl-shaped stripping member, which is made in contact with the transfer member, is selected to be greater than, or equal to 10 .OMEGA..cm, and smaller than, or equal to 10.sup.7 .OMEGA..cm; otherwise a surface electric resistance value thereof is selected to be greater than, or equal to 10 .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Kawabata, Nobuo Hyakutake, Fumio Furusawa, Masaaki Tokunaga, Ryoichi Tsuruoka
  • Patent number: 5562281
    Abstract: An apparatus for regulating a leading end stacked position in a stacker for successively stacking thin sheet materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Meinan Machinery Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Noriyuki Honda, Yukio Abe, Yoshioki Nozawa, Makoto Isobe
  • Patent number: 5553840
    Abstract: A bill receiving and feeding-out apparatus for a bill receiving and dispensing machine including a bill accommodating box for accommodating bills, a bill reversing mechanism which includes a bill reversing passage for reversing and feeding bills into the bill accommodating box, a bill non-reversing passage for feeding bills into the bill accommodating box without reversing them, a bill feeding-out passage for feeding out bills from the bill accommodating box to a transporting passage, and a bill receiving and feeding-out mechanism which includes a bill accommodating passage connected to the downstream end of the bill reversing passage and to the upper portion of the bill accommodating box at the downstream end thereof, a bill receiving and feeding-out opening facing the downstream end of the bill non-reversing passage and the upstream end of the bill feeding-out passage and a bill accommodating and feeding-out passage connected to the bill receiving and feeding-out opening at one end and to the upper portion
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Laurel Bank Machines Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junichi Arikawa
  • Patent number: 5538233
    Abstract: A document conveying apparatus for a document processor has a pair of width restriction members for correctly positioning documents to be processed. The width restriction members are movable in the width direction of the document processor. First and second rack-and-pinion mechanisms are spaced apart in the document conveying direction and are interlocked so that the racks of both mechanisms move together in a synchronized manner. Each width restriction member is coupled to two of the racks that move in the same direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Mita Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Tanjo, Yasushi Kamezaki, Takashi Kotani, Yukio Tanisaki, Masahiro Nakagawa, Hiroyuki Harada, Masahiro Sako, Hiromichi Oguma