Rotary Conveyor Patents (Class 271/314)
  • Patent number: 6773007
    Abstract: A replaceable friction roller is mounted on the driving shaft of a paper conveying roller. The roller is made replaceable by providing a slit from the surface of the roller to the shaft surface. The roller can be split open along the cur when replacing a new roller. The ends of the shaft of the roller are inserted in at least one open mouth socket. The socket has spring action to hold the shaft in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Avision, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Sheng, Szu-Hui Lien
  • Patent number: 6769683
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus comprises a roller, and a bearing fixed to the apparatus main body to rotatably support the roller through the shaft portion of the roller. The bearing is provided with at least two contact portions to be in contact with the shaft portion of the roller, and the shaft portion of the roller is biased to each of the contact portions. With the structure thus arranged, it becomes possible for this apparatus to enhance the sheet conveyance precision or to make the roller smaller at lower costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Soichi Hiramatsu
  • Publication number: 20040119227
    Abstract: A system and method for adaptive and predictive analysis of sensor readings to track documents in a document processing system. The system comprises: a plurality of sensors for sensing a document, wherein each sensor includes an associated filtering system for filtering sensor readings, and a performance tracking system for collecting performance data; and a control system that and adjusts filtering characteristics of the filtering system based on the collected performance data. In addition, a correlation system is provided for using data from at least one upstream sensor to interpret an ambiguous downstream sensor signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Duncan, Rodney G. Moon, Clair F. Rohe
  • Publication number: 20040108651
    Abstract: A transfer device for an inserting device is rotatable about an axis of rotation extending transversely to a feed direction of articles being fed to the transfer device. The transfer device has at least one receptacle for the articles. At least one transport unit for transporting the articles away in a transport direction transverse to the feed direction is provided. A central shaft for driving the transport units is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Ralph Pittelkow, Willi Markgraf
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20040032079
    Abstract: A batch sheet feeder has an upstream first conveyor section arranged to convey sheets singly in a downstream direction to a downstream second conveyor section. The second conveyor section has an upper second conveying section and a lower second conveying section forming a gap therebetween. The gap is largest at an upstream end of the second conveyor section and diminishes in size toward a downstream end of the second conveyor section. A gate positioned proximate the downstream end of the second conveyor section selectively blocks sheets fed along the second conveyor section. In another embodiment, the sheet feeder has a sheet conveyor, sheet sensor, and visual attribute sensor. The visual attribute sensor has a field of view covering an area of the conveyor at a certain downstream location so as to sense an area of any sheet on the conveyor at this downstream location. The visual attribute sensor can compare a sensed area of a sheet at the downstream location with a stored visual attribute.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Publication date: February 19, 2004
    Applicant: Longford Equipment International Limited
    Inventor: Edward J. Cook
  • 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: 6674035
    Abstract: A paper discharge device has a first conveyance path having an input port through which paper is introduced, a second conveyance path having a discharge port through which the paper is discharged, and a third conveyance path. A paper feeding mechanism feeds the paper through the first, second and third conveyance paths. A paper storage space temporarily stores the paper to prevent removal of the paper from the discharge port prior to completion of a paper cutting operation or a paper printing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Akihiko Ito
  • Patent number: 6634639
    Abstract: As a rotary member 21 provided on the back surface side of a guide 5 is rotated, its blades get out to the front surface side through a window 8 formed in the guide 5. With this rotation, the height level of the blades getting out from the window 8 is changed. With the rotation of the rotary member 21, postal matter being led reaches a side plate 3. A bottom plate 2 is slanted such that its side, on which the guide 5 is provided, is higher in level than the opposite side 53. Owing to this slant, a support plate 4 receives gravitational force of the postal matter stack. A wire 16 is held stretched between a holder slide 7 and a wire mounting member 17. Springs 14 and 15 are elongated with movement of the support plate 4 caused by the gravitational force of the stack. The springs 14 and 15 provide increasing forces tending to restore their initial length with their elongation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Hayato Kuroda, Yasunori Kikuzato
  • Patent number: 6626596
    Abstract: A wide-width format printer having detachable and replaceable paper feed unit components includes an automatic sheet feeder having a feeding width corresponding to standard width print media, a manual sheet feeder having a feeding width corresponding to standard width print media plus an additional width, paper feed unit for feeding print media fed from either the automatic sheet feeder or the manual sheet feeder through a paper path which passes a print position to a media ejection portion, the paper feed unit comprising at least first and second detachable print roller sections, first and second detachable spur wheel sections, at least two detachable friction wheels and a drive roller, wherein the first detachable print roller section and spur wheel section oppose each other, the second detachable print roller section and spur wheel section oppose each other and wherein the first and second detachable printer roller segments are aligned coaxially and the first and second detachable spur wheel segments are a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Hirabayashi, Shinji Kanemitsu
  • Patent number: 6626428
    Abstract: A copier has an ejection mechanism for allowing a sheet with a formed image to be ejected via an ejection exit toward the outside of the machine. The ejection mechanism has a switch-back section for allowing the sheet which is passed through a fixing unit at a predetermined process speed to be received for the sheet to be inverted and an ejection roller pair for allowing the sheet which is sent from the switch-back section to be decelerated before the ejection exit and to be sent to the outside of the machine. In order to maintain a conveying pitch at which sheets are continuously delivered, the conveying speed of the sheet passed through the switch-back section is increased, thus shortening the inversion operation time required for the switch-back operation. That is, the conveying speed of the sheet passed through the switch-back section is made higher than the process speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naofumi Soga, Kazumasa Yasui
  • Publication number: 20030178766
    Abstract: A device for conveying and depositing paper on at least one stack, with a device (27) for moving conveyor rollers (1) laterally in the conveying direction of the sheets and a device (28) for transmitting rotations to conveyor rollers (1), in particular to operate within a depositing device of a sheet-processing machine. In order to ensure a quicker lateral movement of conveyor rollers (1) and to protect the devices (27) and (28) from soiling and mechanical effects, members of the same are located within a rod (2), on which conveyor rollers (1) are located. Furthermore, there are possibilities to calibrate the device with respect to the position of conveyor rollers (1) and to adjust height differences within a stack with tensionless equalization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: Dobrindt Dirk, Lutz Rebetge
  • Patent number: 6619652
    Abstract: An arrangement for separating an entire collation of individual sheets from a supply stack for downstream processing. The arrangement includes a supply stack tray for containing the supply stack while the collations in the supply stack are being separated; a separator device positioned adjacent to the supply stack tray for separating a corner of each sheet of the collation from the supply stack; a deflector positioned adjacent to an edge of the collation for deflecting the collation from the supply stack after the collation has been separated by the separator; and a gripper device positioned in a plane proximate to the first sheet in the collation for gripping the entire collation after the collation has been deflected from the supply stack and for moving the entire collation downstream for processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventor: Eric A Belec
  • Patent number: 6616136
    Abstract: A friction plate coupling structure inside an automatic document feeder. The friction contact surface of the friction plates is designed to have a slant surface resembling a frustum so that overall contact area is increased and stability of the coupling between the friction plates is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: UMAX Data Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Yin-Chun Huang, Pi-Chun Chen, Ji-Mei Tsuei
  • Patent number: 6618172
    Abstract: A drive system for a digitizing scanning apparatus of the type which scans an image, such as a light transmissive document in the nature of an x-ray or the like, and enables generation of digital signals representative of that image. The drive system is uniquely designed with three main drive rollers and a pair of idler rollers operable in combination therewith for driving the light transmissive document in such manner that there is a relatively constant drive force on the document which is independent of document thickness and which also allows for a uniform driving movement without any shatter or vibration in the document, which would otherwise distort and materially interfere with proper screening and digitizing of the document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Inventor: Richard K. Gerlach
  • Publication number: 20030141659
    Abstract: A single sheet collecting device for stacking sheets of paper or plastic has at least one transport element and at least one stop unit arranged in a transport path of the sheets. First and second deflecting parts are arranged along the transport path of the sheets for moving the sheets during transport for a moment out of a transport plane of the sheets. The first and second deflecting parts are adjustable from a first position for top stacking the sheets into a second position for bottom stacking the sheets and vice versa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Applicant: MATHIAS BAUERLE GMBH
    Inventors: Patric Schuldis, Manfred Fuss, Wilfried Dorer
  • Patent number: 6585263
    Abstract: A deceleration drum assembly has a deceleration drum with at least one gripper for gripping and transporting signatures. A guide surface assembly is provided which produces a fluid flow for transporting the signature in a contactless manner above the guide surface assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Paul Emmett Bredenberg, Rich Daniel Curley, John Lee Ketchum
  • Patent number: 6578846
    Abstract: A device for transporting a sheet for a sheet-processing machine in a processing direction includes first grippers for gripping the sheet at a leading gripper edge, as viewed in the direction of processing, the first grippers revolving in a first direction during operation. Also provided is a cylinder bearing the first grippers, and having a support surface formed at the circumference thereof for supporting the sheet gripped by the first grippers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Albert Maul, Jürgen Rautert
  • Patent number: 6572100
    Abstract: A document transport utilizes a pneumatic pinch force generator in lieu of a conventional spring-loaded pinch roller, thereby minimizing problems associated with pinch roller inertia and debris collection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Unisys Corporation
    Inventor: Michael N. Tranquilla
  • Patent number: 6557844
    Abstract: A device for transferring sheets in a sheet-processing machine includes a cylinder having at least one gripper device for the sheets, and a control device for opening and closing the gripper device, the control device having a first control cam for recto printing and a second control cam for recto/verso printing, at least one follower element for following the first and second control cams, each of the first and second control cams being formed with a through opening for accommodating a bearing element and, respectively, a cutout formed in the periphery of the first and second control cams and extending as far as the through opening for fitting the first and second control cams to and removing them from the bearing element radially. The first and second control cams, respectively, are of unipartite construction and, in peripheral direction, are aligned with one another so as to provide an at least approximately closed contour path for the at least one follower element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Willi Becker, Daniel Conzelmann, Andreas Fricke
  • Patent number: 6533265
    Abstract: Transfer media is positioned with a positioning apparatus. The apparatus has an output repository, a sensor, a controller, a lateral transporter, and a longitudinal conveyor. The output repository has an offset edge axis. The sensor is configured to sense a lateral position of the media relative to longitudinal alignment with the offset edge axis of the output repository and output an alignment signal responsive to the sensed lateral position of the media longitudinally aligning with the offset edge axis of the output repository. The controller is configured to output a lateral movement signal in absence of an alignment signal from the sensor and output a longitudinal movement signal. In response to the lateral movement signal from the controller, the lateral transporter laterally transports the media towards alignment with the offset edge axis of the output repository.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: Gerardo E. Baldini
  • Publication number: 20030012635
    Abstract: A feeding mechanism comprising an accumulating area. A mechanism for feeding at least one sheet into the accumulating area. An exit mechanism and a mechanism for moving sheets from the accumulating area through the exit mechanism. The moving mean comprises a kicker mechanism at one end of the accumulating area mounted for reciproactable rotary movement to push a stack of sheets through said exit mechanism. A release gate mechanism is provided in front of a stack being accumulated in the accumulating area and mechanism is provided to activate and move the release gate out of the way to permit a stack of sheets to be moved out of the accumulating area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2001
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Applicant: GBR Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew Bakoledis
  • Publication number: 20020190462
    Abstract: The invention relates to a storage drum in turning drives of sheet-printing machines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Applicant: Koenig & Bauer AG
    Inventor: Gunter Peter
  • Publication number: 20020180142
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for stacking small sheets of glass or the like, wherein manual stacking is eliminated and robotic/machine cycle times are significantly reduced, and wherein such an apparatus enables the stacking of small sheets of glass/lites or the like in single and/or multiple rows and/or tiers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventor: Mark Sisk
  • Patent number: 6488279
    Abstract: The invention provides a discharge mechanism of a sheet which can quickly and securely discharge a sheet without deformation. A discharge mechanism is provided at an end of a transfer path and discharging the paper to a tray is constituted by a pair of discharge rollers and a profiling pusher integrally rotating with the discharge roller. A sponge-like body portion and a plurality of projections, integrally formed on a peripheral surface thereof, are formed in the profiling pusher. The protrusion is brought into contact with a surface of the sheet and deformed in a profiling manner so as to allow the sheet to pass therethrough. When the rear end of the sheet leaves the nip, the deformation of the projection is restored and engaged with the rear end of the sheet, thereby forcibly pushing out the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Izumi Fukuda, Akira Oyama
  • Publication number: 20020175461
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium with a recording head, comprising a conveying roller pair for conveying the recording medium, discharging roller pairs for conveying the recording medium in the downstream of the conveying roller pair, and a stepping motor for driving the conveying roller pair and the discharging roller pairs. A peak value of driving current of the stepping motor after a tailing edge of the recording medium passes the conveying roller pair is smaller than a peak value of driving current of the stepping motor before the tailing edge of the recording medium passes the conveying roller pair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Seiji Ogasawara
  • Patent number: 6481710
    Abstract: An apparatus for transporting individual sheets past an exposure station for exposing the individual sheets, including a roller that has parallel spaced annular grooves and has plurality of parallel endless belts on each side of the exposure station, which belts respectively overlie the grooves for pressing the individual sheets against the roller. Guiding fingers extend into the roller parallel annular grooves for lifting the individual sheets from the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert AG
    Inventors: Wolf-Dieter Enders, Jürgen Heyne, Dietmar Schulz, Joachim Schwuchow
  • Publication number: 20020135122
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus comprises a roller, and a bearing fixed to the apparatus main body to rotatably support the roller through the shaft portion of the roller. The bearing is provided with at least two contact portions to be in contact with the shaft portion of the roller, and the shaft portion of the roller is biased to each of the contact portions. With the structure thus arranged, it becomes possible for this apparatus to enhance the sheet conveyance precision or to make the roller smaller at lower costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Soichi Hiramatsu
  • Patent number: 6446956
    Abstract: A paper discharge device for a printer has a housing having a circular inside guide wall, a paper inlet, a paper taking out opening, a paper discharge opening, and a paper discharge space. A paper winding roll is rotatably provided in a space inside the circular inside guide wall. A paper introducing roller is provided for introducing a paper sheet into the paper winding roll, and a paper discharge roller is provided for discharging the paper sheet in the paper discharge space. A first sensor is provided for detecting a rear end of the paper sheet when the paper sheet is fed to the paper discharge opening, and a second sensor is provided for detecting a forward end of the paper sheet when the paper sheet is fed to the paper taking out opening. In response to output signals of the first and second sensors, the rotation of the paper winding roll is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Japan CBM Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Sato, Shinichi Miyashita
  • Patent number: 6439569
    Abstract: A sheet accumulator of compact design has a circular paper path. Individual sheets moving along a main (linear) path enter the accumulator one by one, and each sheet is then diverted onto and around the perimeter of a set of driven disks. The disks are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the paper sheets. The disks then urge each sheet against a set of stops. Each subsequent sheet enters the circular path between the disks and the previous sheet, so that it too is urged and registered against the stops. When the accumulation is complete, the stops are retracted and a set of rolls is engaged to exit the sheets out of the accumulator. The accumulated stack of sheets is then diverted back into the main (linear) paper path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas M. Lyga
  • Patent number: 6422555
    Abstract: An imaging system includes a roller assembly adapted to guide sheet material in the system into an accumulator, a sheet registration assembly. The registration assembly includes a lateral fence extending along a first edge of the accumulator. The lateral fence is adapted to contact a lateral edge of sheets fed into the accumulator. A longitudinal fence extends along a second edge of the accumulator. The longitudinal fence is adapted to contact a longitudinal edge of sheets fed into the accumulator. A helical registration member is mounted in contact with sheet material entering the accumulator and, is adapted for rotation with the roller assembly. Rotation of the helical registration member with the roller assembly causes the helical registration member to exert a force to urge each sheet of material entering the accumulator toward the lateral fence and the longitudinal fence of the accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Israel Cruz, Maximo Gayoso
  • Publication number: 20020074719
    Abstract: A paper feeder including a platen roller for feeding paper sheet supplied from a manual paper supply opening to a printing section and conveying the same after printing again to the manual paper supply opening so as to be discharged. In the paper feeder, the length of the paper sheet supplied from the manual paper supply opening is the same as the distance between a paper sensor disposed at the manual paper supply opening and the paper catching position of the platen roller, and the platen roller is inversely rotated by the length when the power source is switched on, and therefore a paper sheet remaining in a conveyance path can be discharged certainly to the manual paper supply opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventor: Yoshiharu Muranaka
  • Patent number: 6398214
    Abstract: A sheet handling device has a sheet-aligning rotary member with an ejection device for ejecting sheets into a sheet stacking device, a sheet end stopper for holding the end of the sheet stacked in the sheet stacking device; and at least one rotary member for aligning the sheets ejected in the sheet stacking device with the sheet end stopper. The rotary member has an arc-shape outer peripheral surface around a portion of a circumference of said at least one rotary member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junichi Moteki, Yoshinori Isobe, Katsuhito Kato, Yoshimi Mizuta, Takeshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 6398213
    Abstract: A device for enabling access to an interior of an apparatus, with means for unlocking and swinging an upper apparatus housing part supporting a sheet stacking container clear out of a sheet dispensing area of the apparatus that has a sheet discharge unit and is freely accessible for sheet removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Würschum, Anton Oswald
  • Patent number: 6390465
    Abstract: A sheet process apparatus includes a stapler for performing a stapling process on a sheet any a shift sheet discharge unit for performing shift sheet discharging. The shift sheet discharging discharges and stacks the sheets on a tray in a status that the sheet intended to be discharged is shifted from the sheet already put on the tray. A control unit causes the shift sheet discharge unit to perform shift sheet discharging when the stapling process by the stapler is not included in any of a previous-time job and a present-time job. The control unit also causes the shift sheet discharge unit to perform the shift sheet discharging when the stapling process by the stapler is not included in any of a previous-time job and a present-time job. In addition, the control unit also causes the shift sheet discharge unit to discharge the sheet without performing the shift sheet discharging when the stapling process by the stapler is included in at least one of the previous-time job and the present-time job.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuyoshi Kakigi
  • Patent number: 6386536
    Abstract: A hardcopy apparatus including a main roller and a loading mechanism to load a medium into the hardcopy apparatus, said loading mechanism including a vacuum holddown input unit to hold media down onto a surface of said holddown unit. In addition, a method of loading a medium into a hardcopy apparatus including a vacuum holddown unit, a driving roller and a secondary roller, comprises the steps of: manually positioning the medium onto a surface of the holddown unit; by rotating the secondary roller, advancing the medium towards the main roller; and engaging the medium to the main roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: Fernando Juan
  • Patent number: 6371481
    Abstract: A mechanism for reversing and discharging a sheet of the present invention includes a first roller for conveying the sheet and a second roller for nipping the sheet with the first roller. After an image has been printed on the sheet, a drive mechanism causes the first and second rollers to convey the sheet until the trailing edge of the sheet arrives at a position of the inlet side spaced from the first roller by a preselected distance. Subsequently, the drive mechanism rotates the first roller in the reverse direction and moves the second roller along the circumference of the first roller by a preselected angle in the reverse direction, thereby conveying the sheet to an outlet section. The mechanism is capable of discharging the sheet in a side opposite to a side in which the sheet is input, while surely reversing the sheet. The mechanism therefore allows a print head to be arranged in the lower portion of an apparatus to which the mechanism is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Hiromasa Miyake
  • Patent number: 6352253
    Abstract: A discharged sheet stacking apparatus includes a sheet feed-in device for pinching and feeding a sheet onto a sheet stacking portion on which a plurality of sheets are stacked and for causing a tip end of the sheet to abut against a sheet stopper. The sheet feed in device is disposed at a position spaced apart from the sheet stopper by a distance smaller than a length of the sheet. The sheet feed-in device continues the feeding operation while pinching a tail end of the sheet even after the tip end of the sheet abuts against the sheet stopper so that, after a loop is formed in the tail end of the sheet, the sheet is discharged onto the sheet stacking portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuyoshi Hayakawa, Teruo Komatsu, Tsuyoshi Waragai, Atsushi Ogata
  • Publication number: 20020020962
    Abstract: A paper discharge apparatus includes: a paper guide 6 for guiding paper 5 provided from a paper conveyance mechanism 1; a paper guide 7 disposed on a downstream side of the paper guide 6 for deflecting the paper 5 downward; a pair of rollers 9 and 10 between which the paper 5 can be conveyed forward or backward while the paper 5 is held by the rollers 9 and 10; a pair of upper and lower paper guides 21 and 22 disposed on the downstream side of the pair of rollers 9 and 10; and a paper guide 8 by which the paper conveyed backward by the pair of rollers 9 and 10 is guided downward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Applicant: STAR MICRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshinori Takeda
  • Patent number: 6345819
    Abstract: A paper feeding apparatus of a printer is provided. The paper feeding apparatus includes a plurality of paper guide ribs formed by protruding from one side of a rectangular hole of a base frame toward the other side of a rectangular hole and a plurality of rib receiving grooves formed on a feed roller positioned in the rectangular hole and corresponding to the paper guide ribs. With the paper guide ribs and the rib receiving grooves, the paper feeding apparatus prevents paper jam occurring when the upper end of a paper is caught in the rectangular hole and also prevents deterioration of print quality by uniformly maintaining the gap between a nozzle of an ink cartridge and a printable sheet of paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: SamSung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang-Jin Bae
  • Patent number: 6325560
    Abstract: A wide-width format printer having detachable and replaceable paper feed unit components includes an automatic sheet feeder having a feeding width corresponding to standard width print media, a manual sheet feeder having a feeding width corresponding to standard width print media plus an additional width, paper feed unit for feeding print media fed from either the automatic sheet feeder or the manual sheet feeder through a paper path which passes a print position to a media ejection portion, the paper feed unit comprising at least first and second detachable print roller sections, first and second detachable spur wheel sections, at least two detachable friction wheels and a drive roller, wherein the first detachable print roller section and spur wheel section oppose each other, the second detachable print roller section and spur wheel section oppose each other and wherein the first and second detachable printer roller segments are aligned coaxially and the first and second detachable spur wheel segments are a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Business Machines, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Hirabayashi, Shinji Kanemitsu
  • Patent number: 6311973
    Abstract: An apparatus for dropping paper sheets at a predetermined paper-stack position when the paper sheets are ejected from a facsimile device includes a conveyor belt which carries the paper sheets, a housing, containing the conveyer belt, which is detachably installed on the facsimile device where the paper sheets are ejected from the facsimile device such that the conveyor belt extends from a paper outlet of the facsimile device to the predetermined paper-stack position, and a driving motor, driving the conveyor belt to carry the paper sheets, which starts operating about a time when the facsimile device starts a paper-ejection operation thereof and stops operating about a time when the facsimile device stops the paper-ejection operation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuuji Tanaka, Yasuhiro Kawashima, Yasunobu Youda
  • Patent number: 6299161
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for guiding a paper for printing, which includes guide arms for guiding the paper carried between a transferring device and a fixing device. In the apparatus for guiding the paper for printing, the guide arms are mounted and spaced at a width of the paper from each other between the transferring device and the fixing device so as to guide the paper with being in contact with non-image portions of which a surface of the paper has an image formed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: SamSung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nae-Wan Kang
  • Patent number: 6299162
    Abstract: Disclosed is a paper feeding mechanism making it possible to reliably prevent deflection of the paper feeding roller and perform a stable paper feeding free from feeding deviation even when the paper feeding roller is formed as an elongated member. There is arranged a paper feeding roller and a plurality of press contact rollers held in press contact with the paper feeding roller, and there is arranged on the opposite side of the press contact rollers with respect to the paper feeding roller a support block which is held in contact with the peripheral surface of the paper feeding roller to support the paper feeding roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masashi Ogasawara
  • Publication number: 20010022427
    Abstract: A paper discharge device which can temporarily stock paper in the device before the paper is discharged from a discharge port, without a fear of wrinkling or folding the paper during the stock, and without a limitation on the kind and length of paper which can be stocked is disclosed, a paper discharge device comprises a first conveyance path (31) for guiding paper from an input side (16) to between a driving roller (2) and a driven roller (3), a second conveyance path (32), an initiating end thereof being joined to the first conveyance path (31) at a point nearer to the input side than the driving roller (2) and a terminating end thereof being connected to a discharge port (17), a paper stock space (8) provided on an opposite side to the input side (16) with a contact point (P1) of the driving roller (2) and the driven roller (3) being sandwiched therebetween, and a third conveyance path (33) for guiding the paper (60) from the contact point (P1) of the driving roller (2) and the driven roller (3 to the pape
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2001
    Publication date: September 20, 2001
    Inventor: Akihiko Ito
  • Patent number: 6286829
    Abstract: A device for collecting and aligning a stack of sheets of a recording medium is described, in which the particular uppermost sheet of the stack is pulled by a driven carrier finger toward an alignment stop. In order to hold the uppermost sheet of the stack when the next sheet is guided onto the stack, pressure rollers are provided which, during the feeding of the succeeding sheet onto the stack, can be lowered and for a further conveying of the stack can be pivoted off the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: BDT Buro
    Inventor: Tilo Emmrich
  • Publication number: 20010017438
    Abstract: An automatic document feeder (ADF) used in a facsimile machine, photocopier or the like. A sheet path from a sheet inlet to outlet is defined by lower, intermediate and upper frames of the ADF. The sheet path is generally shaped like “C” when viewed laterally. The intermediate frame has a pivotable member that can be opened and closed, and a guide member for guiding a sheet passing over a platen glass. An elastic member is provided for biasing the guide member on the platen surface from a turning portion of the C-shaped sheet path. Therefore, it is possible to maintain a clearance between the platen surface and guide member and prevent the sheet from flapping. A retard roller is removably supported by the pivotable member so that replacing and maintenance of the retard roller is simplified. Further, the pivotable member is a one-piece element and made from resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Publication date: August 30, 2001
    Inventor: Naritoshi Takamtsu
  • Patent number: 6268938
    Abstract: The present invention provides a scanner having an image pickup module which comprises a transparent groove over its scanning surface for scanning a document and also reducing sticking effect when a document with viscous membrane such as a photo picture is carried through the scanning surface of the image pickup module. The scanner comprises an image pickup module and a document roller for rotatably carrying a document through the image pickup module. The image pickup module comprises a housing having a scanning surface, a light source and an elongated light sensor installed inside the housing under the scanning surface. The scanning surface has a line-shaped scanning position parallel to the light sensor. When a document is carried through the scanning position, the light reflected from the document over the scanning position will be received by the light sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Mustek Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Chia-Lin Lee
  • Patent number: 6264194
    Abstract: A sheet handling device includes an ejection device for ejecting sheets; a stack device for stacking thereon the sheets ejected by the ejection device and having a stopper portion for supporting the ends of the sheets; a rotatable feeding member shaped like an endless belt for making contact with the sheets stacked on the stack device to pull the sheets toward the stopper portion; an aligning device for aligning the sheets on the stack device by moving the sheets in the direction orthogonal to the sheet feeding direction; a shift device for moving the endless feeding member between the acting position to act on the surface of the sheets on the stack device and the retracted position to separate from the sheet surface or to reduce the force acting on the sheet surface; and a control device for exerting control so that the endless feeding member is retracted to the retracted position during the aligning operation by the aligning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenichi Hayashi, Katsuaki Hirai
  • Patent number: 6264193
    Abstract: A document conveyance device for conveying single documents on a document stack is described, which includes at least one driven conveying shaft with the interval of the driven conveying shaft from the document stack being variable. The driven conveying shaft includes at least one document conveyance system which comprises a toothed wheel, fixedly disposed on the conveying shaft, with outer toothing and a concentric ring with inner toothing. On the outer ring a friction coating is disposed. The teeth of the toothed wheel and the inner toothing are always meshed in an engagement point. A force component fed in under definition, engages the concentric outer ring such that a force component between the friction coating of the outer ring and the document to be conveyed is active.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: BDT-Bürd-und Datentechnik GmbH & Co. KG.
    Inventor: Siegfried Moeller