With Temporary Support For Incoming Articles During Discharge Of Stack Patents (Class 414/790.8)
  • Patent number: 8960402
    Abstract: Provided is a financial device, which comprises a medium entrance, a medium processing apparatus, and a control unit. A medium is deposited or withdrawn through the medium entrance. The medium processing apparatus processes the medium. The control unit controls the medium processing apparatus. The medium processing apparatus comprises a front guider, a rear guider behind the front guider, a pushing member pushing a medium disposed in a medium processing space, and a supporting guider supporting the medium in the medium processing space. The control unit controls an operation of the medium processing apparatus such that states of the front guider, the rear guider, the pushing member, and the supporting guider when moving of a medium is completed in the medium processing space to deposit the medium are the same as states of the front guider, the rear guider, the pushing member, and the supporting guider when moving of a medium is completed in the medium processing space to withdraw or return the medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: LG CNS Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sumin Lee
  • Publication number: 20150050113
    Abstract: A non-stop rack device for temporary receipt of the flat elements in the form of sheets in a converting machine, the device comprising a plurality of parallel bars which are integral with a mobile support which can be displaced between a receipt position, in which the bars can support temporarily the flat elements which are being stacked, and a released position, in which the said bars are placed spaced from any stack of flat elements. Each non-stop bar is mounted so as to be mobile in transverse displacement relative to the mobile support, and the non-stop rack device also comprises a blocking arrangement, which can block the transverse mobility of each non-stop bar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: BOBST MEX SA
    Inventor: Daniel Cugnoni
  • Patent number: 8951003
    Abstract: A device for stacking veneer sheets (1, 2) while substantially horizontal, the device including a supporting element, that escapes in the advancement direction at a release area from beneath the veneer (2) to be stacked, the supporting element being moved by a conveyor (7), and a controlled element for stopping the veneer to be stacked in a corrected position at a release point. An element for stopping the veneer to be stacked is a gripper (10) that grips the trailing edge of the veneer (2) from below and moves up and down, in the advancement direction of the veneer, and transversely to it, the gripper having a gripping point to the veneer at the trailing edge in the veneer's advancement direction, extended at a distance in the advancement direction from the gripper's transverse travel path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Raute Oyj
    Inventor: Reijo Salovaara
  • Patent number: 8910935
    Abstract: In an apparatus for stacking and feeding sheet products discharged successively from a discharge position, catcher bars 4 are bent to be accumulated at an accumulated position. The sheet products collide against shutter bars 9 to fall onto a conveyor 3 after being discharged successively, for stacking the sheet products on the conveyor 3. The catcher bars 4 are pushed out of the accumulated position to pass between the shutter bars 9 and protrude toward the discharge position so that coming products should be received on the catcher bars 4 after stacking the sheet products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Totani Corporation
    Inventor: Mikio Totani
  • Patent number: 8814492
    Abstract: A method for loading a pallet, including placing packages in layers on a first pallet disposed in a first pallet disposed in a first plane, providing a second pallet above the packed first pallet in a second plane, and transporting the packed first pallet away. Also, a method for unloading for unloading a pallet, including removing packages, particularly bottle crates, in layers from a first pallet disposed in a first plane, providing a second packed pallet below the first pallet in a second plane, and transporting the first pallet away. Also, a corresponding palletizer for loading or unloading a pallet in layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventor: Kurt Perl
  • Patent number: 8770580
    Abstract: In the case of a non-stop device having load-bearing rods (11,12), the load-bearing rods (11, 12) should be arranged so as to be displaceable to different extents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Inventor: Joachim Jakob
  • Patent number: 8628079
    Abstract: A method for forming an auxiliary stack when a sheet stack is changed in a sheet delivery of a sheet-processing machine includes providing an auxiliary stack support for supporting the auxiliary stack during a non-stop stack change and multiple stop and separator elements disposed outside a stacking area in front of edges of the sheet stack to form a gap in a stream of sheets conveyed by a conveying system and released to fall onto the sheet stack. The sheet stack is lowered to form a gap for the auxiliary stack support, the stop elements for the front edge and the rear edge of the sheet stack are moved into a disengaged stand-by position before the main stack is lowered. For this purpose, the stop elements are equipped with remote-controllable actuating devices that are connected to a control unit. A device for forming an auxiliary stack is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Bernd Herrmann, Rainer Klenk, Uwe Peters
  • Patent number: 8618433
    Abstract: A machine tool for separative machining of preferably plate-like workpieces, for example, metal sheets, has a workpiece support and a discharge device on the workpiece support. The discharge device discharges workpiece parts produced as products of the separative machining. The discharge device includes two opening sections are adjustable relative to one another in the horizontal Y direction to form a through-opening for discharge of workpiece parts. The opening sections are adjustable into different positions relative to one another in the horizontal Y direction, to form through-openings of different widths for discharge of workpiece parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: TRUMPF Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventor: Joerg Heusel
  • Patent number: 8366376
    Abstract: This is a paper-stacking support with segmented shelves that can support paper and can also fold upon being rotated around rollers by a driver belt. Once an upper shelf is fully loaded, it is moved downwardly by the drive belt and another shelf is moved into an upper loading position by the drive belt. This allows for a continuous running of the stacking operation without an interruption during the unloading of the stacked paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Douglas K. Herrmann
  • Patent number: 8356967
    Abstract: A stacking system and method that utilizes a device control for precisely controlling the downward movement of at least one printed material support at a first speed, while substantially simultaneously permitting upward movement of the at least one support at a second speed which is greater than the first speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: GammTech Corporation
    Inventor: Gunter Gammerler
  • Patent number: 7871070
    Abstract: A conveyor conveys sheets and deposits the sheets at a location to be stacked. The conveyor includes a sensor for determining the presence of a sheet before the sheet arrives at the location. A controller is coupled to the sensor and responsive to sensor inputs for controlling a movable support for projecting into a projected orientation to receive the sheets as the sheets exit the conveyor. The movable support moves to a retracted orientation to assist a stack to be withdrawn therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Padana AG
    Inventors: Arlington D. Ruff, Clifford A. Ruff, Jürgen F. Trost
  • Patent number: 7645113
    Abstract: A system for automatically forming stacks of cartons for feeding a magazine for supplying cartons to a packaging machine includes a primary support on which the stacks of cartons are formed, and a secondary support for temporarily receiving a series of the cartons thereon as a previously formed stack of cartons is removed from the primary support. The stack of cartons collected on the primary support is moved onto a transport conveyor for transport to a loader for the magazine for feeding into the packaging machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy W. Hendricks, Jeff Disrud, Frank Moncrief
  • Patent number: 7585146
    Abstract: A device for forming stacks of sheet products, in particular of paper products, may include the paper products being supplied in an input stream by a feed conveyor to a transfer section. The device may also include at least two set-down tables each including a set-down surface for receiving stacks of the supplied paper products. The set-down tables may move along a circuit-like table-circulating path and may be flexible at least in some segments to conform to shapes of curvatures located in at least some parts and subregions of the table-circulating path. As a result, it is possible for the set-down tables to be guided into the curvatures with a leading front side edge of each of the set-down tables being a leading edge in a circulating direction of the set-down tables. The stacks of stacked paper products may then be transported away from a delivery section by a removal conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Hunkeler AG
    Inventors: Josef Widmer, Roland Hofer, Benno Arnold
  • Patent number: 7470102
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for creating stacks of sheets. In some embodiments, the sheets separated are those in or issuing from a starwheel assembly. The present invention includes a first separator finger that is inserted between two adjacent sheets to separate first and second sheets. The first separator finger retains the first sheet upstream to begin a first stack upstream of the first separator finger and allows the second sheet to complete another stack downstream of the first separator finger. In some embodiments, the first separator finger is inserted between the two adjacent sheets in a closed position and, after the first separator finger is inserted, the first separator finger moves to an open position to create a gap between the first and second stacks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: C.G. Bretting Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Gendron, James R. Michler, Charles L. Schmidt, V.
  • Patent number: 7469888
    Abstract: A transporting device and method for depositing sheet material on a tray, the transporting device including at least two rollers which can be displaced with respect to each other, with a belt extending between the rollers above the tray, the belt being connected at its ends to the two rollers, whereby the belt can be rolled up onto and unrolled from at least one of said rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Oce-Technologies B.V.
    Inventor: Ernest J. J. Clevers
  • Patent number: 7354039
    Abstract: An apparatus for picking up an auxiliary pile during a renewal of a main sheet pile when feeding sheets to a printing machine. The apparatus has loadbearing elements arranged on a holder for the auxiliary pile, and a positioning device for the loadbearing elements under the auxiliary pile. The loadbearing elements are flexible with respect to positioning forces acting from outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Michael Bantlin, Wolfgang Dolz
  • Patent number: 7185886
    Abstract: A sheet delivery device for a sheet-fed press which is arranged to avoid the crushing of sheets, comprises a shutter device having a shutter bar unit that is movable between an operation position and a stand-by position. In the operation position the shutter bar unit is arranged to provisionally receive the printed sheets conveyed from the sheet conveyor. This sheet delivery device also comprises a sheet separating device having an operation position and a stand-by position and includes a belt-like blade. In the operation position the belt-like blade is arranged over an entire width of the stacked sheets and above an end portion of the stacked sheets from which the shutter bar unit enters the operation position. Thus, when in the operation position, the sheet separating device is arranged to create a separation into which the shutter bar unit is to be inserted, and to subsequently receive the printed sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenyu Tamura
  • Patent number: 7178801
    Abstract: An apparatus for accumulating and delivering folded cardboard sheets includes at least a pair of stacking bases moveable along a loop including a stacking position for stacking the cardboard sheets on the stacking bases and a delivering position for delivering the pile of cardboard sheets on the stacking bases. The apparatus receives cardboard sheets fed one by one, accumulates them in a pile consisting of a predetermined number of cardboard sheets, and delivers the pile of sheets. When one of the stacking bases moves away from the stacking position, the other is moved into the stacking position so that the stacking bases alternatively move into the stacking position. Preferably, the loop has resting and ejecting positions and when one of the stacking bases moves from the ejecting to the stacking position, that stacking base ejects the pile of sheets previously formed on the other stacking base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Isowa
    Inventors: Hidenori Kokubo, Hiromi Watanabe, Jiro Minami
  • Patent number: 7125216
    Abstract: In a device for loading a three-knife trimmer with brochures, periodicals or like bound book blocks (1), comprising a feed conveyor (4), a stacking device (16) operable in magazine mode and counted stack mode and including a magazine (17) having a first upper magazine intermediate shelf (18) and a second lower magazine intermediate shelf (25), and comprising a delivery table (28) arranged below said magazine (17) and an ejector (29) for cyclically and synchronously feeding a stack (3) of book blocks to the intake device (35) of the three-knife trimmer, it is provided that the feed conveyor (4) is formed by a conveyor belt (5) continuously driven at a first velocity (vS) and by an accelerator conveyor (6) located directly downstream thereof in the feed direction and driven at a higher velocity (vB), and that a separating device (11) for book blocks (1) supplied in an imbricated flow (2) is arranged in the transition zone from the conveyor belt (5) to the accelerator conveyor (6) for holding back a following po
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Kolbus GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Harald Grewe, Karsten Schlömp, Gerhard Jütersonke
  • Patent number: 7033129
    Abstract: A method for feeding blanks (2) to a boxing machine (AS), includes picking up, one by one, groups (20) of blanks (2) in flat configuration from a support surface and transporting, one by one, the groups (20) to a line (1) for continuously feeding the blanks (2) to the boxing machine (AS) in a predetermined forward movement direction (A). The transport step includes releasing each group (20) of blanks (2) between two adjacent prongs (13) defining a pocket (V) of a horizontal pocket conveyor (10, 11) of the feeding line (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: I.M.A. Industria Macchine Automatiche S.p.A.
    Inventor: Pietro Bigoni
  • Patent number: 7028450
    Abstract: A system for automatically forming several parallel rows of disk-like objects on a conveyor into stacks and packing those stacks into boxes is disclosed along with a method of operating the system. The system includes a stacker receiving the disk-like objects as they fall of the conveyor, a buffer receiving stacks from the stacker in groups of a first number, a transfer device for removing the stacks from the buffer in groups of a second number, and a packer for packing the stacks into boxes. The second number can be less than, greater than, or equal to the first number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: F.R. Drake Company
    Inventors: Colin R. Hart, Kenneth M. Welborn
  • Patent number: 6988721
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for stacking of sheets. A high-speed printer is provided for printing the sheets or at least one continuous web which is cut to sheets (2). The stacking device is provided to receive sheets in at least one flow (AS1 and/or AS2) thereof to said stacking device and to transfer said sheets (2) in the flow (AS1 and/or AS2) thereof to at least one first stacking table (11b) in order to form thereon at least one stack (2A and/or 2B) of sheets (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Stralfors AB
    Inventor: Leif Ingelsten
  • Patent number: 6978996
    Abstract: A machine for processing flat printing material, in particular a sheet processing rotary printing press, includes at least one processing station in the form of a printing unit, a feeder for loading the processing station with sheets of the printing material, a delivery for combining the processed sheets into piles, and an auxiliary pile carrier displaceable in an insertion direction from a standby position into an operational position and vice versa. Supporting members follow one another in the insertion direction and axially parallel swivel joints articulatingly connect the supporting members directly to one another. The supporting members have extensions projecting beyond the swivel joints thereof. One of the extensions directed counter to the insertion direction of a respective one of the supporting members engages underneath one of the extensions directed in the insertion direction of the respective supporting member after the next which trails in the insertion direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Peter Strauss, Michael Bantlin, Wolfgang Dolz
  • Patent number: 6840513
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an automatic mail tray loading device that is adapted to receive envelopes from an inserting machine or from other mail-processing systems and place them in mail trays. The device has a two-stage envelope buffer, which buffers the envelopes into a shingled array before depositing them into the mail tray. The first stage buffers the envelopes during purging of the second stage and the second stage buffers the mail during a tray change. The mail trays are held on a tray conveyor, at an inclination that ensures proper loading of the tray and reliable transfer of envelopes from the tray. The tray conveyor incrementally moves the envelope tray downward until the tray is full of envelopes. A new, empty tray is then moved into position and the filled tray is moved laterally to the tray offload station. The system comprises an envelope conveyor, a tray conveyor, a lateral tray transfer mechanism and an auxiliary buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Inventor: K. George Rabindran
  • Patent number: 6832886
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for discharging sheets from a starwheel assembly and creating stacks of a desired number of sheets without interrupting the rotation of the starwheel assembly. The present invention separates sheets such that one separated sheet completes a stack and the other separated sheet is supported by a separator to begin a new stack. The completed stack is preferably transported away from the starwheel assembly by a conveyor as the new stack supports additional sheets that are discharged from the starwheel assembly. The new stack will preferably move away from the starwheel assembly to provide clearance for the accumulation of additionally discharged sheets. The apparatus can allow for cyclical repetition of the separation of sheets, the stacking of sheets, and the transportation of stacks such that continual rotation of the starwheel assembly is not interrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: C. G. Bretting Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Michler, Jeffrey A. Gendron, Dennis P. Couturier
  • Patent number: 6769862
    Abstract: An apparatus for stacking horizontally conveyed individual flats into vertically extending stacks including a stacking housing with an upper station for receiving the flats singly and releasing them downwardly into an intermediate station wherein multiple flats are accumulated and the accumulated grouping is then released downwardly to form an overall vertically extending stack of twenty flats or more for exit conveying. A control system is further disclosed including control plates, link arms and retaining/releasing arms for controlling downward movement of the flats within the stacking housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Inventor: Jeffrey B. Kuhl
  • Patent number: 6752586
    Abstract: A master tool for a reception station on a press for shaping sheets of paper or cardboard, comprising a moving slide and a number of bars (1) adapted to form a grid for non-stop reception of blanks and a bottom separating tool comprising two boards (4, 5) adjustable on two transverse beams (9, 10) of the moving slide, the beams having top edges having the same profile, the profile of the top edge comprising a number of serrated recesses in shape matching the cross-section of the bars (1), the serrated recesses being adjusted to correspond to the transverse positions of the openings in the bottom blank-separating tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Bobst S.A.
    Inventors: Robert Baumann, Fabrice Calame
  • Patent number: 6719522
    Abstract: A mechanism and method for accumulating sheet stacks from a continuous web having sheets printed both in side-by-side relationship and with the sheets behind each other. Slitting the continuous web lengthwise between said side-by-side sheet and cutting the web transversely between the sheets behind each other sheets to separate the printed sheets. Accumulating the printed sheets into separate stacks and stacking the separate stacks one on top of the other in offset relationship to each other and moving the offset stacks into a receptacle, such as a cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Inventor: William H. Gunther
  • Patent number: 6565083
    Abstract: A delivery of a sheet-processing printing machine has a sheet-pile stacking station whereon a safety guard is provided which is suspended from a pivot pin and, at least during a regular sheet-pile forming process, provides a view of a downline top edge of the sheet pile, as viewed in the processing direction. In this regard, the safety guard is constructed so that it is swingable together and swingable apart in the manner of a hinge, via a hinge pin disposed parallel to the pivot pin; and a machine for processing flat printing materials, and a sheet-processing printing machine, respectively, equipped with the delivery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Udo Lautenklos, Martin Buschmann
  • Patent number: 6497549
    Abstract: A counter-ejector is described for stacking relatively flat sheet articles. The counter-ejector includes a main frame that is selectively movable about a pivot axis. An infeed conveyor is provided on the main frame defining a forward path of travel for sheet articles. The infeed conveyor includes a discharge end positioned adjacent a stack forming magazine where individual sheet articles from the infeed conveyor accumulate in a stack. An ejector adjacent the stack forming magazine is movable across the stack forming magazine from a stack engaging position adjacent the stack forming magazine to a shifted position at a stack compression station. A stack compressor at the stack compression station is positioned to receive a stack of sheet articles from the ejector. A compression linkage joins the stack compressor and main frame, with links arranged to adjustably open and close the stack compressor responsive to movement of the main frame about the pivot axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: J & L Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin P. Brown
  • Patent number: 6481708
    Abstract: A delivery station for a converting press for paper or cardboard sheets having a transverse roller located downstream from the delivery area of a blanking station, and a movable carriage downstream from the roller. The carriage receives a plurality of bars that form a non-stop delivery rack. The carriage is guided for motion in the longitudinal direction by a transporting device. The transporting device, the transverse roller and the carriage are mounted on a vertically movable frame suspended on opposite sides by chains ran by a power source through a transmission shaft. The vertical run of the delivery rack is adjustable between a high position and a low position, the low position being determined by the length of the lower blanking tool joggers of the blanking station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Bobst S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Claude Rebeaud
  • Patent number: 6481952
    Abstract: Apparatus for accumulating successive stacks of superimposed sheets on discrete pallets employs a conveyor which delivers a continuous imbricated stream of sheets to a stacking station where a pallet descends with an elevator and gathers a first stack. A separating finger is inserted into the accumulation of sheets at the stacking station at a level above the topmost sheet of the fully grown first stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: E.C.H. Will GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Deutschle, Norbert Rilitz
  • Publication number: 20020150461
    Abstract: Newspapers and other printed matter fed from a printing press or inserting machine are generally folded or delivered in a continuous stream with the papers oriented in an overlapped or imbricated relationship. The stream of papers are received and stacked by the stacking apparatus or stacker which must operate at high speeds. The stacker orients the papers in the stacks and ejects the bundles of papers. The present invention relates to devices intended to reduce the prospects for inadvertent interference with the stacking mechanism or to reduce the potential for injury.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Applicant: Total Mailroom Support, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Satorius, Mark Thompson, Michael McGeady
  • Patent number: 6461101
    Abstract: A machine and method is disclosed for stacking product, including but not limited to, cardboard, magazines, newspapers, newspaper supplements, flyers, press signatures, and softcover books. The stacking machine includes an infeed assembly for receiving a product stream or flow. The infeed assembly includes a belt jogger assembly for aligning and distributing product as it enters the machine. A transport assembly delivers product from the infeed assembly to a stacking assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Inventor: Mervin W. Roskam
  • Patent number: 6435090
    Abstract: A sheet receiving apparatus in a sheet-fed rotary printing press includes at least one paper receiving bar, an air cylinder, and a moving plate. The paper receiving bar is inserted in a dropping path for a sheet-like printing product to temporarily stop it after printing. The air cylinder moves the paper receiving bar between a wait position and a sheet receiving position. The moving plate supports the paper receiving bar to be movable in a widthwise direction of the printing product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Komori Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuaki Saito
  • Publication number: 20020081188
    Abstract: A counter-ejector is described for stacking relatively flat sheet articles. The counter-ejector includes a main frame that is selectively movable about a pivot axis. An infeed conveyor is provided on the main frame defining a forward path of travel for sheet articles. The infeed conveyor includes a discharge end positioned adjacent a stack forming magazine where individual sheet articles from the infeed conveyor accumulate in a stack. An ejector adjacent the stack forming magazine is movable across the stack forming magazine from a stack engaging position adjacent the stack forming magazine to a shifted position at a stack compression station. A stack compressor at the stack compression station is positioned to receive a stack of sheet articles from the ejector. A compression linkage joins the stack compressor and main frame, with links arranged to adjustably open and close the stack compressor responsive to movement of the main frame about the pivot axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2000
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventor: Kevin P. Brown
  • Patent number: 6394443
    Abstract: A drop table is used for accumulating a desired number of sheets of items in a bundle and then dropping the bundle onto a conveyor belt. The drop table has a plurality of rods acting as a floor in a collection box. When the drop table receives a signal from a sheet feeder that the number of items desired is in the bundle the rods are withdrawn from beneath the collection box and the bundle drops to a conveyor belt. The rods are then moved back into position for receiving more sheets to form another bundle and the drop table signals the sheet feeding machine to send more sheets to the collection box. The collection box may have a vibrating jogger to align the sheets into a squared bundle on one axis and a tamping foot to align the sheets into a squared bundle on a second axis. The drop table can accumulate sheets in a squared bundle quickly without jamming and release the bundle onto a conveyor below the collection box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Multifeeder Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Arild Vedoy, Mark Nordling
  • Patent number: 6394741
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for stacking at least two sheets, an apparatus comprising a vertically movable stacking platform and an intermediate support member with a width advantageously essentially equal to that of a stacking platform. The intermediate support member is adapted movable into a position above the stacking platform or above a stack of at least one sheet placed on the platform and over which intermediate support member the next sheet or sheet substack is brought and which intermediate support member is then retracted from between the overlying sheets, whereby the sheets are simultaneously aligned against a back gage. The intermediate support member is made from a flexible multilayer material having at least one layer made from a material having a substantially high tear resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Valmet Panelhandling OY
    Inventor: Teuvo Lehtimaki
  • Publication number: 20020001518
    Abstract: Newspapers and other printed matter fed from a printing press or inserting machine are generally folded or delivered in a continuous stream with the papers oriented in an overlapped or imbricated relationship. The stream of papers are received and stacked by the stacking apparatus or stacker which must operate at high speeds. The stacker orients the papers in the stacks and ejects the bundles of papers. The present invention relates to devices intended to reduce the prospects for inadvertent interference with the stacking mechanism or to reduce the potential for injury.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Publication date: January 3, 2002
    Applicant: TOTAL MAILROOM SUPPORT, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Satorius, Mark Thompson, Michael McGeady
  • Patent number: 6234473
    Abstract: A zero feed interrupt sheet stacker conveying an uninterrupted stream of sheets in which a sheet accumulator catches holds and deposits a stack of sheets upon a load receiving device. The accumulator includes a curtain which is extended into the stream of sheets at a selected point between two sheets. The curtain type apparatus provides a platform in which the portion of the platform in contact with the carried sheets does not move relative to the sheet while it is extending, during holding, or during retraction of the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Martin Family Trust
    Inventors: Robert A. Morgan, Lynn T. Beckwith, George L. Matlock
  • Patent number: 6224320
    Abstract: A device for guiding vertically movable sheet pile carriers for receiving thereon sheets of a substantially horizontally oriented, continuous stream of sheets including a pile lifter having a main pile support and an auxiliary pile support displaceable back and forth between a readiness position located outside the sheet stream, and a catching position located inside the sheet stream and, when the main pile is being changed, temporarily carrying, in the form of an auxiliary pile, some of the sheets coming from the sheet stream, includes an auxiliary pile frame embracing the displaceable auxiliary pile support and being guidable, jointly with guiding devices of the auxiliary pile support, in vertically extending guide elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Rainer Klenk