By Air Blast Patents (Class 271/309)
  • Patent number: 10513406
    Abstract: A post processing apparatus includes a post processing unit that performs a post process on a sheet of paper, a duct, and a blower that blows an airflow to the duct. The post processing apparatus has a transport path through which the sheet is transported toward the post processing unit. The duct is provided in a width direction of the transport path. The duct has a slit formed in a sheet width direction, and the airflow having been blown by the blower is blown through the slit toward the sheet transported to the post processing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Changyu Kim, Woong Lee
  • Patent number: 8925917
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, provided is a sheet output device including: a sheet output unit configured to output a sheet; a tray unit on which the sheet output by the sheet output unit is to be stacked; an air blower unit configured to blow air onto the sheet output by the sheet output unit; and a control unit configured to control an airflow rate of the air blower unit according to an amount of the sheet output from the sheet output unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Takahiro Watanabe, Masahiro Tamura, Shuuya Nagasako, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Keisuke Sugiyama, Kyosuke Nakada, Kazuya Yamamoto, Tomomichi Hoshino, Akira Kunieda, Junya Suzuki, Kazunori Konno, Takamasa Matsumoto, Youhei Niitsuma, Kiichiro Goto
  • Patent number: 8792794
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing unit with a nip, two rollers, a guide member, a detection unit and an urging unit. The detection unit is disposed substantially parallel to the guide member opposite to the guide member across a recording medium conveyed between the nip and the two rollers. The detection unit detects jamming of the recording medium on the basis of a pressure greater than a predetermined value applied by the recording medium between the nip and the two rollers. The distance between the guide member and the detection unit is greater than the distance between the guide member and the recording medium passing between the nip and the two rollers while being urged by the urging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jinjyu Okuno
  • Patent number: 8577270
    Abstract: A fusing device includes a rotary fusing part; a heating unit heating the rotary fusing part; a rotary pressure part pressed against the rotary fusing part; nozzles jetting compressed air to paper being conveyed through a nip between the rotary fusing part and the rotary pressure part; and separating parts guiding the paper separated from the rotary fusing part. The nozzles and the separating parts are disposed downstream of the nip in a paper conveying direction so as not to contact the rotary fusing part and the rotary pressure part and are arranged alternately along the length direction of the nip that is orthogonal to the paper conveying direction. The separating parts protrude beyond the tips of the nozzles toward the nip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumihiro Hirose, Takeshi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8559859
    Abstract: An air knife for separating media from a roll in an image forming system includes a body; a first air plenum; a first plenum passage fluidly connected to the first air plenum; a first exit passage fluidly connected to the first plenum passage; a first air exit fluidly connecting the first exit passage to an outside of the body such that the first air plenum is fluidly connected to the outside of the body through the first air exit; a second air plenum separated from the first air plenum such that fluid in the second air plenum is separated from fluid in the first air plenum; a second plenum passage fluidly connected to the second air plenum; a second exit passage fluidly connected to the second plenum passage; and a second air exit fluidly connecting the second exit passage to an outside of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Rebecca Mary Hainley, Brendan H. Williamson, Erwin Ruiz
  • Patent number: 8433229
    Abstract: A fixing device including: a fixing member that is heated; a pressure member to form a nip portion between the pressure member and the fixing member; first blowing unit and second blowing unit both located close to an outlet of the nip portion and separate the recording medium from the fixing member by blowing air to the recording medium, a velocity of the air discharged from the first unit is higher than that of the air discharged from the second unit, whereas a volume of the air discharged from the first unit is smaller than that of the air discharged from the second unit; and the first unit starts discharging air before a leading edge of the recording medium reaches the outlet of the nip portion, whereas the second unit starts discharging air after the leading edge of the recording medium has passed through the outlet of the nip portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Masanori Murakami, Hiroshi Funabiki, Jinju Okuno, Koji Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8424875
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for depositing sheets for a printing machine, preferably for an electrophotographically operating printing machine, said device comprising at least one sheet transport member which can be driven so as to rotate and which is provided for the detection of a lead edge of a sheet and for depositing the sheet after it has covered a rotating path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Jens U. Heise, Bernhard A. Linke, Dieter Gritzuhn, Dirk Dobrindt
  • Patent number: 8249491
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a heater, a rotary fixing member, and a rotary pressing member pressing against the rotary fixing member to form a nip therebetween through which a recording medium bearing a toner image passes to fix the toner image thereon. The fixing device includes an air supply tube disposed downstream from the nip in the direction of conveyance of the recording medium and connected to an air source of an image forming apparatus, to supply compressed air to a plurality of nozzles disposed on the air supply tube along a long axis of the nip perpendicular to the direction of conveyance and inject pulsed compressed air against the recording medium passing through the nip. The air supply tube includes an exhaust opening disposed at an extreme upstream end of the flow of the compressed air outside the recording medium passing area near the air source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumihiro Hirose, Takeshi Yamamoto, Takashi Seto, Kenichi Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 7850166
    Abstract: In a sheet delivery/guide apparatus, a sheet released from a convey device and falling piles on a first pile device. A first blowing device is arranged above the first pile device and blows toward the first pile device. An air controller selectively performs switching between an air supply state and an air supply stop state of the first blowing device for the sheet. A guide member is supported movably and guides the sheet that passes the first pile device while being held by the convey device. A guide member switching unit switches the guide member between a guide position to enter a sheet falling path, extending from the convey device to the first pile device, to guide the sheet, and a retreat position to retreat from the sheet falling path. A controller controls the air controller and the guide member switching unit on the basis of a convey speed of the convey device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Komori Corporation
    Inventor: Shoichi Ichimura
  • Patent number: 7770889
    Abstract: A sortation bin module having a conveyor and diverter module for pneumatically securing, releasing and diverting selected mailpieces to a bank of sortation bins. The conveyor module includes a conveyor surface for transporting sheet material along the feed path and a pneumatic system for developing a pressure differential across the conveyor surface to hold the sheet material on the conveyor surface during transport. The diverter module includes a diverter surface for sorting sheet material from the conveyor surface, i.e., diverting sheet material from the feed path. The diverter module, furthermore, includes a pneumatic system for developing a pressure differential across the diverter surface to hold the sheet material on the diverter surface during sortation. The conveyor and diverter surfaces are also arranged such that the surfaces oppose each other to define a transfer interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Henson C. Ong, Mark A. Clendinning, Dana Hoggatt, Kenneth S. Zaldo
  • Patent number: 7751767
    Abstract: Embodiments herein include an apparatus that can comprise any heating device, such as one having an outer surface adapted to contact items, such as sheets of print media, and a rotatable air outlet (vent, jet, blower, etc.) positioned next to the heating device. The air outlet can be, in one embodiment, part of a tube-shaped air pleneum. In some embodiments, the air outlet can comprise a slit, perforations, rows of jets, etc. and the air outlet can have a length at least as long as the width as the fuser. The rotatable air outlet can be positioned to blow air to remove the items from the heating device and can rotate from a first position to a different second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: William A. Burton, Steven Russel, Lawrence A. Clark
  • Patent number: 7747205
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a fixing device for fixing toner image on a recording material, the fixing device includes: a heating member which heats a recording material; a pressing member which comes into contact with the heating member with pressure; and an air separator which separates the recording material from the heating member by compressed air blown between a leading edge of the recording material and the heating member, the air separator includes a plurality of nozzles disposed in a width direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the recording material and an air emitting amount distribution setting section which unifies an emitting amount distribution in the width direction of the compressed air which is emitted from the nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Makoto Fujii
  • Patent number: 7742730
    Abstract: A system for detecting stripper device blockage in a printing system is disclosed. The system includes a fusing member which during operation contacts a sheet of printer media to fuse a marking material to the sheet, a stripping device configured to apply pressurized air from an air supply through at least one orifice to the fuser member in order to separate the sheet from the surface and a flow measurement device in line with the air supply which measures air flow. The air flow device will assist in performing an assessment check which may include taking a baseline measurement of air flow and a diagnostic measurement of air flow. In the case where the difference between the diagnostic measurement and baseline measurement is above a different threshold, corrective action may be taken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Bryan J. Roof
  • Patent number: 7735820
    Abstract: A sheet delivery apparatus includes sprockets and delivery grippers, a sheet delivery device, a switching cam, and conveyor belt, driving roller, and driven roller. The sprockets and delivery grippers hold and convey a sheet. The sheet delivery device delivers the sheet conveyed by the sprockets and delivery grippers. The switching cam is arranged upstream of the sheet delivery device in a sheet convey direction to release the sheet held by the sprockets and delivery grippers. The conveyor belt, driving roller, and driven roller are arranged below the switching cam to convey the sheet released by the switching cam in the sheet convey direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Komori Corporation
    Inventor: Reiji Ito
  • Patent number: 7562871
    Abstract: A sheet supply system, for use in supplying overlapped sheets to an interfolder, includes a bed roll on which a web is cut into successive sheets. The sheets are supplied to a sheet supply passage leading to retard rolls, which overlap the sheets within the supply passage. The trailing portion of each downstream sheet bulges outwardly as the sheet is supplied to the supply passage. An air tube directs pressurized air into a volume within which the bulge in the downstream sheet is formed. The pressurized air prevents the leading portion of the upstream sheet from being drawn outwardly along with the trailing area of the downstream sheet, by counteracting a vacuum that results from outward movement of the trailing portion of the downstream sheet after it is released from the bed roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Fabio Perini S.p.A.
    Inventors: Andrew L. Haasl, David J. Stubenvoll
  • Patent number: 7392981
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device (01) for aligning at least along one edge several stacked sheets (09) into a book, while maintaining the serial order of sheets, said device comprising an editing table (11), having on one of its sides, a front stop (13) for aligning the edges of the sheets (09). The invention is characterized in that upstream of the editing table (11) is provided a support plate (02), whereon the sheet (09) can be set into a bound book with non-aligned edges, and is further provided in the device (01), a sheet feeder (08, 04, 06) whereby the sheets can be conveyed from the support plate (02) towards the front stop (13) of the editing table (11), while forming a stream of subjacent webs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: KBA-Giori S.A.
    Inventors: Thilo Hahn, Johannes Georg Schaede
  • Publication number: 20080036134
    Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus and an image forming apparatus which can certainly feed sheets without being influenced by an aging change of fan characteristics are provided. An air is blown to sheets stacked on a tray by an air blowing mechanism having a plurality of fans which are independently rotated, thereby loosening the sheets. Prior to starting the feeding of the sheet, rotational speeds of the fans of the air blowing mechanism are controlled so as to be set to target rotational speeds which have been preset every plural fans so that a wind pressure which can loosen the sheets in the driving state of all fans is obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuzo MATSUMOTO
  • Patent number: 7222846
    Abstract: A sheet take-out apparatus is disclosed that includes a sheet-feeding member on which sheets are placed. The apparatus includes an air spout unit to spout out air towards a right or left side of a front portion of the sheets with respect to a take-out direction of the sheets. A take-out unit takes out one sheet from in a predetermined take-out direction. A depression member depresses the sheets against the sheet-feeding member on a rear portion of the sheets. In addition, a method is disclosed for taking-out sheets by means of a sheet take-out apparatus. The sheet take-out apparatus and method are capable of taking out one necessary sheet at a time, regardless of surface conditions of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Haruhiko Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 7017491
    Abstract: A plate discharger includes a peeling claw, a transport device and an air blowing device. The transport device has a rotary shaft, first transport rollers rotatable about the rotary shaft, a driven rotary shaft connected to a drive gear meshed with and driven by a transmission gear disposed sideways from the first transport rollers, second transport rollers rotatable about the driven rotary shaft, peeling rollers pivotable about the rotary shaft, and belts wound around the first transport rollers and peeling rollers. When a printing plate is passed between the first transport rollers and second transport rollers, the air blowing device blows air to the undersurface of the printing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Edamitsu
  • Patent number: 6983692
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a drum having a peripheral surface having passageways therein. A screen having apertures therein is placed over the peripheral surface of the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert W. Beauchamp, Arthur Henschel
  • Patent number: 6722277
    Abstract: A device for turning sheet-like material from a printed side onto an unprinted side uses an impression cylinder which guides the sheet-like material and which is preceded by a transfer cylinder and followed by a further transfer cylinder. The sheet-like, flexurally rigid material is received on the outer surface of the impression cylinder and can be printed with a transmission cylinder. In the gusset between the outer surfaces of the impression cylinder and the preceding transfer cylinder, a contactlessly acting throw-on device is provided which forces the sheet-like material into a curved position corresponding to the curvature of the outer surface of the impression cylinder such that the sheet-like material is curved even in the gusset region. A printing press and a multicolor rotary printing press are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Günter Stephan
  • Patent number: 6681696
    Abstract: Provided, in combination, is a device for turning sheet-like material, with an impression cylinder for guiding the sheet-like material, the impression cylinder being preceded by a first transfer cylinder and followed by a second transfer cylinder, the sheet-like material being receivable on an outer jacket surface of the impression cylinder so as to be printable by a third transfer cylinder, and further included are a storage device, and a device for imparting a deformation in the sheet-like material during entry thereof into the storage device and while the sheet-like material is gripped at an edge thereof; and a printing unit and a multicolor rotary printing machine, respectively, provided with the combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Günther Stephan
  • Patent number: 6394445
    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. Also provided is a guide assembly which increases control over the signatures during the decelerating process and during transport of the signatures to further downstream processing equipment. The guide assembly includes grooved rollers which act as pulleys for belts near the exit stream of the slow-down equipment, wherein the protruding segments between belt grooves act to push the signatures away from the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Quad/Tech, Inc.
    Inventors: Ingermar S. d'Agrella, Eric L. Kuhne, Gary J. Laatsch, John M. Neary, Karl P. Schaefer
  • Patent number: 6318719
    Abstract: A transported-object stacking apparatus includes first fluid discharge unit and second fluid discharge unit. The first fluid discharge unit is disposed on one side of a transported object and is adapted to discharge working fluid in order to press the transported object against transporting unit. The second fluid discharge unit is disposed downstream from the first fluid discharge unit with respect to the direction of transport of the transported object and on the other side of the transported object, and is adapted to discharge working fluid toward a rear half portion of the transported object in order to separate the transported object from the transporting unit. When working fluid is discharged from the first fluid discharge unit, an object transported by the transporting unit is pressed against the transporting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance, S.A.
    Inventor: Atsuo Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 6293541
    Abstract: Featured is a sheet feed unit including a first transport path in which is transported a first sheet, a second transport path and a protrusion. A second sheet is transported in the second transport path and guided at a prescribed angle relative to the first transport path. The protrusion is located or fixed at a confluence of the first transport path and the second transport path. The protrusion also has a guide surface that is placed to allow the second sheet to be guided along the first transport path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takao Horiuchi, Toshihiro Horiuchi
  • Publication number: 20010006276
    Abstract: A guiding device of a machine for processing planar print carriers, the guiding device having a guide surface, over and beyond which sheets are drawn, during operation, simultaneously with positive guidance by a margin of the sheets, which, respectively, extends in a direction of sheet travel, and having nozzles terminating in the guide surface, for conducting therethrough, during operation, a flow of air for forming an air cushion between the guide surface and the respective sheet, comprising a region with a closed surface located on the guide surface, on the path of the print carrier along the guide surface, said region being disposed opposite a respective margin of a processable one of the print carriers of varying format, the margin extending laterally with respect to the direction of sheet travel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventors: Sven Kerpe, Frank Gunschera, Christian Hieb, Markus Gerstenberger
  • Patent number: 6254094
    Abstract: A device for transferring to a downline sheet-guiding cylinder of a reversing device in a sheet-fed rotary printing machine, a trailing edge of a sheet guided on an upline sheet-guiding cylinder, includes at least one lifting device for lifting the trailing edge of the sheet from the upline sheet-guiding cylinder, and a gripper device disposed on the downline sheet-guiding cylinder, the gripper device having a gripper pad extensible out of the periphery of the downline sheet-guiding cylinder for receiving the trailing edge of the sheet from the lifting device outside the periphery, and retractable into the periphery of the downline sheet-guiding cylinder after receiving the trailing edge of the sheet, the lifting device being at least one adjustable blowing nozzle disposed in a stationary manner or on the upline sheet-guiding cylinder, for blowing air beneath the trailing edge of the sheet; and a method of transferring the trailing edge of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Willi Becker, Andreas Fricke
  • Patent number: 6243556
    Abstract: A claw apparatus for a liquid electrophotographic printer prevents a sheet of paper passing through a transfer roller and the fixation roller from adhering to and curling around the transfer roller due to a peel force. In the claw apparatus, a guide portion guides the paper passing between the transfer roller and the fixation roller. A curved portion encompasses a portion of an outer circumferential surface of the transfer roller. An injection portion, formed at the curved portion, injects air through a gap formed between the curved portion and the transfer roller so that the paper passing between the transfer roller and the fixation roller can be guided toward the guide portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seong-soo Shin
  • Patent number: 6208827
    Abstract: A fuser apparatus having a pair of rollers in nip relation to transport a receiver member therebetween to permanently fix a marking particle image to such receiver member, and a dual function air skive assembly for stripping a receiver member adhering to a fuser apparatus roller from the roller. The dual function air skive assembly includes a frame engageable with a roller of the pair of rollers of the fuser apparatus. An air plenum is supported by the frame in operative relation to the fuser roller nip. The air plenum has a first nozzle arrangement directed at an angle to the roller so as to provide a positive air flow to strip a receiver member adhering to the roller therefrom. The first nozzle arrangement has a plurality of nozzle heads respectively configured to provide a positive air flow having a substantially oval cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Muhammed Aslam, Tsutumu Miura, Bruce D. MacLellan
  • Patent number: 6007063
    Abstract: A paper output unit for an ink-jet printer includes: a feed roller for feeding individual sheet of print media into the printer in which the feed roller first rotates in a reverse direction to align a top edge of each individual sheet of print media along a surface before each feeding of the individual sheet of print media into the printer, and then rotates in a forward paper transport direction to feed the individual sheet of print media into the printer for printing; a delivery roller for ejecting the individual sheet of print media led from the feed roller and transported along the paper transport direction in a paper path between the feed roller and the delivery roller upon completion of printing of the individual sheet of print media; a transmission roller for controlling rotation of the feed roller and the delivery roller; a friction star wheel for applying a pushing force to the individual sheet of print media as the individual sheet of print media is being conveyed to the delivery roller so as to prev
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: SamSung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Gyeong-Ho Park
  • Patent number: 6000695
    Abstract: A device for the transport and deposit of sheets in a stacking region is provided. The device includes pneumatic guiding elements below the conveying path and extending across the entire width. A chain-conveyor system and a pneumatic conveyor system following the chain-conveyor system are provided. The devices also provides for selectable paths to plural delivery positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Richard Burkhard Mack, Erich Michael Zahn
  • 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: 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: 5518781
    Abstract: Stripping fingers for use in a copying machine, molded of a liquid crystal polyester resin composition made up of a liquid crystal polyester having a flow temperature of 340.degree. C. or higher and titanium oxide whiskers. The stripping fingers have excellent heat deflection resistance, heat aging resistance, thermal shock resistance, heat load resistance, low attack on the counter roller, good shape retainability of the finger edges, and good non-stick property against toner. Coating with PFA at 330.degree. C. or higher on the stripping finger increases non-tackiness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignees: NTN Corporation, Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Nakamura, Sadatoshi Inagaki, Kuniaki Asai, Tadayasu Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5456573
    Abstract: An improved stacker for an automatic document sorter is described. The stacker is vertical and receives documents at the top thereof and expels them at the bottom. The stacker includes a paddle normally disposed at the top for receiving the first document and subsequent documents stacked thereon. As documents enter the stacker, the paddle drops due to the action of a timing belt and sensor arrangement until it reaches the bottom. At the bottom, a horizontally directed timing belt withdraws the paddle from the stacker and the paddle is then returned by reverse action to the top of the stacker and reinserted thereinto for receiving the next stack of documents. Both timing belts are independently driven by motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1995
    Assignee: Duchossois Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Morris, Robert M. Swec, Leslie P. Lazzeri, Robert S. Frantz, August A. Zachmeier, Horace W. Weeks
  • Patent number: 5445372
    Abstract: Device for depositing printed sheets on a sheet pile, including at least one pair of mechanical grippers for seizing the printed sheets at a respective leading edge thereof, the gripper pair being movable over the sheet pile and being controllable for releasing the printed sheets at a given instant of time, a pneumatic device for applying varying pressure to defined regions over a depositing surface of the respective printed sheets for decelerating and transporting the sheets against a mechanical stop, and adjusting elements for the grippers and the pneumatic device, also includes a control device including a computer and having an input and an output, the control device being connected via the output thereof to the adjusting elements, an input device for receiving sheet-specific and process-specific data being connected to the control device via the input thereof, the sheet-specific and process-specific data including data regarding two-dimensional mass distribution of the respective printed sheet, the adjus
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Peter T. Blaser, Dieter Hauck, Karl-Hermann Miltner
  • Patent number: 5344519
    Abstract: An apparatus for applying thin film polymer labels onto small cylindrical articles includes a label transport drum that is constructed for aiding the transfer of a label onto a cylindrical article. The apparatus includes a label transport drum having a cylindrically configured hub and cylindrical drum mounted on the hub for rotation thereabout. The drum has an outer surface on which labels are fed while the drum is rotated about the hub. A first radially extending, slotted vacuum manifold defines a label retention area and extends circumferentially around a substantial portion of the circumference of the hub. A first radially extending slotted pressure manifold is aligned circumferentially after the slotted vacuum manifold at an article wrapping position. A valve port, circumferentially aligned with the vacuum and pressure manifolds is positioned on the inner surface of the drum and communicates with the area on the drum surface where the leading edge of the label lies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: CMS Gilbreth Packaging Systems
    Inventors: John M. Galchefski, Ian Westbury
  • Patent number: 5293797
    Abstract: A sheet diverter apparatus diverts sheets into alternate paths by guiding the leading portion of each sheet through a gap in a horizontal conveyor into alternate diverter belt conveyor units where the sheet is firmly grasped for transfer. The one conveyor unit is a horizontal unit having a top belt conveyor and a bottom belt conveyor, one of which is offset downstream to form a diverting gap. A diverter is located to successively rotate through the gap and divert the alternate sheet into the angulated conveyor unit. In an upwardly angulated conveyor, the horizontal moving sheet is supported by the bottom conveyor belt of the horizontal unit. In a downward angulated conveyor unit, the length of the gap is selected to maintain sheet flow across a gap in the plane of the sheet. The top conveyor of the horizontal unit assists the support of the horizontal sheet. The linear or surface speed of the diverter cam is greater than the linear speed of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1994
    Assignee: John Brown, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael H. Spalding, Frederick A. Benjamin, Kenneth S. Mielcarek
  • Patent number: 5271323
    Abstract: A sheet reversing assembly for a rotary printing press utilizes one or more arcuately and radially movable gripper assemblies on an impression cylinder to elevate a gripped leading edge of a sheet to be reversed. As the trailing edge of the sheet is engaged by suction grippers on a reversing drum, air blast jets in the vicinity of the abutment surface of the gripper assembly direct air under pressure between the sheet and the surface of the impression cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Jurgen F. F. Munker
  • Patent number: 5114307
    Abstract: A stacker is provided for stacking the slices from the forming, sealing and cutting machines into a plurality of stacks. The stacker includes a conveyor belt, which includes a plurality of apertures, onto which the slices of product are disposed. A vacuum system provides vacuum through the apertures to hold the slices on the belt. Apparatus are provided for moving the belt in order to advance the slices to the stacking locations. The vacuum is sufficient to hold the slices on the belt even when the slices are disposed on the bottom of the belt. A plurality of stacking locations are sequentially provided. Each of the stacking locations includes ejectors for providing positive air pressure at the leading edge of the slice as it is being moved on the belt. As the slice travels on the belt, the positive air pressure "peels" the slice off of the belt and the force of gravity causes the slice to fall into the predetermined stacking location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1992
    Assignee: Schreiber Foods, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent A. Meli, Michael A. Matharani, Ted A. Brzezinski, David L. Shaft, James L. Urmanski
  • Patent number: 5108085
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for making individual flexible web products whereby a web material is tucked outwardly from the surface of a product drum by fixed projections, severed and sealed, and provided to one or more transfer points. The products are there transferred to one or more transfer drums with corresponding indentations, which deliver the products to packing devices. An alternative embodiment provides multiple delivery points by using lateral-shifting transfer drums. The apparatus and method vary and control flexible product width introducing a multiplicity of moving parts, and enhance separation of individual products during transfer while increasing overall production rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1992
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: David A. Smith, Herbert B. Geiger
  • Patent number: 5011132
    Abstract: A load accumulator which has one or more stacking wheels mounted for high speed rotation is provided with an improved conveyor for conveying load items to the stacking wheel. The conveyor includes platforms that extend toward each stacking wheel in a plane located above the stacking wheel. An endless conveyor is mounted above the platforms and has a forward run that extends toward a discharge end from the platform which opens into a pocket of the transfer wheel. A plurality of load pushing fingers are mounted on the conveyor and project toward the platform. The fingers positively drive the load items along the platform and ensure that the load items are correctly positioned for entry into the pockets of the transfer wheel at high speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1991
    Inventors: Peter Guttinger, Marinus J. M. Langen
  • Patent number: 4850948
    Abstract: A laminated package insert is provided having increased compressive strength for a given weight of board stock, and being easier to erect, as compared to previously known inserts. The insert is made from two substantially identical blanks, with identical score patterns, placed face-to-face and adhered in selected areas, leaving other areas adhesive-free. The score lines are formed so that no score line has to be broken backwards during erection, thereby making erection easier, particularly for automatic insert erecting equipment. A method and apparatus for assembling the insert are also provided wherein two feeders alternately feed blanks into a hopper, each successive pair of blands being face-to-face, one blank having adhesive on selected areas of the face facing the other blank. The synchronization of the two feeders is carefully controlled, as is the settling of the blanks in the hopper, using air jets free of turbulence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Assignee: Four M Corporation
    Inventor: Ronald F. Schmitz
  • Patent number: 4835947
    Abstract: A load accumulator for accumulating a load which consists of a plurality of items and transferring the accumulated load into a receptacle of a carton loading machine. The accumulator has a load accumulator spool which has a plurality of pockets formed therein at circumferentially spaced intervals about its perimeter. A transfer channel extends circumferentially of the spool from its perimeter to a radial depth which is greater than that of the inner end of each pocket. A load accumulating platform is provided which has a load arresting extension which extends into the transfer channel and serves to arrest the movement of the load articles which are carried by the spool such that the load items are discharged onto the platform in a side-by-side relationship. A backstop is slidably mounted on the platform for movement toward and away from the spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Assignee: H. J. Langen & Sons Limited
    Inventors: Marinus J. M. Langen, Peter Guttinger
  • Patent number: 4834361
    Abstract: A vane wheel laying out unit for sheet-by-sheet laying out of printing products for high speed roller rotary printing machines comprises a vane wheel including a shaft and a plurality of thin vane star discs fixedly mounted on the shaft in a lamellar fashion at a distance from one another, a band supply unit associated with the vane wheel for supplying printing products to the latter, a plurality of stationary blowing air nozzles each associated with a respective one of the vane star discs of the vane wheel so that a direction and an intensity of blowing air stream from the blowing air nozzles influence a friction between a printing product falling in one vane and an outer side of another vane which is arranged after the one vane, the vane star discs, the band supply unit and the blowing air nozzles are arranged in their position relative to one another so that the printing product before an ejection of its rear edge from the band supply unit is blockable by the one vane which receives the printing product fr
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1989
    Assignee: Veb Kombinat Polygraph "Werner Lamberz" Leipzig
    Inventors: Horst Fenske, Klaus Hertrich, Helmut Schumann, Rudolf Storr
  • Patent number: 4811547
    Abstract: In a device for loading and unloading X-ray film cassettes at least one air blowing nozzle is provided which is positioned at the front open end of the cassette below the film inserting rollers so as to generate an air cushion between the film being inserted into the cassette and the bottom wall of the cassette during the insertion process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1989
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert AG
    Inventors: Herman Raats, Manfred Schmidt, Johann Zanner
  • Patent number: 4786046
    Abstract: The invention provides that a vacuum drum with rows of vacuum ports over its surface is used to transport self adhesive labels from a first location at which the labels are applied (adhesive surface outwards) to the drum to a second location at which the labels are detached from the drum. The labels are held to the drum during the transport by applying vacuum to the ports until the label reaches the second location, when the first and second rows of ports at the leading edge of the label are applied with air under pressure, the pressure of the air supplied to the second row of ports being less than that supplied to the first row and slightly in advance in the time sequence, so that the edge of the label is slightly inwardly of the adjacent label extremity, initially lifted from the drum and then the extremity is blown sharply away from the drum providing effective, positive and reliable detachment of the labels from the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1988
    Assignee: John Waddington PLC
    Inventors: Michael A. Freeman, Brian Nicholson
  • Patent number: 4667949
    Abstract: In a printing machine or the like wherein sheets are delivered seriatim into a receiving tray whereat the sheets come to rest by gravity onto a stack in the tray, a device for facilitating stacking the sheets into the tray at high speed. Each sheet is directed from the machine in a path outwardly over the tray. Guide surfaces act against a lead end of the sheet to prevent upward escape of the sheets from the path. A deflecting mechanism diverts each sheet downwardly into the tray to clear the path for a succeeding sheet. A stop plate is provided beneath the deflecting mechanism for acting against a trail end of each sheet to control and guide the sheet into alignment onto the stack in the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1987
    Assignee: AM International, Inc.
    Inventors: Eber L. Goodwin, James E. Zeigler
  • Patent number: 4643414
    Abstract: A control and regulating apparatus for a sheet-delivery device for sheet-processing machines, and in particular, for sheet-printing machines, is provided.Several of the adjustable elements of the delivery device have separate control motors with feedback of the setting attained to a reference-value-setting meansor they have electromagnetic valves. The reference-value-setting means is provided with a respective input means for paper weight, sheet format and speed of rotation of the machine, and it is connected to or integrated with a computer which supplies to the reference-value-setting means the reference values in respect of all settings of the feeder, such reference values being empirically determined for each operating condition and stored in the form of a family or characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Assignee: Miller-Johannisberg Druckmaschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Willi Weisgerber
  • Patent number: 4625952
    Abstract: A high speed signature inserter packer box to operate with a saddle stitcher at a rate in excess of 225 books per minute includes a very simple and rapid way to convert from operation with a feed hopper signature supply to operation with a stream feeder signature supply. The inserter packer box also has a novel arrangement for controlling the trailing end portion of a signature on the extracting drum in the area where it is grasped by the transfer drum grippers. A low volume, low velocity air stream blows through said area toward the transfer drum to deflect the trailing end portion into a recess in the transfer drum periphery that carries a set of grippers, and the recess is shaped to assure that the deflected trailing end portion is positioned to be grasped by the grippers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1986
    Assignee: R. R. Donnelley & Sons
    Inventors: Jorg Schniter, Thomas Kozyra, Ronald Hastie