15870results about "Article feeders" patented technology

A device for dispensing an individual plastic fastener from a supply of fastener stock to couple together two or more objects. The supply of fastener stock includes a plurality of equidistantly spaced cross links which are coupled at one end to a continuous side rail. The fastener dispensing device includes a hollowed sharpened needle shaped to define a longitudinal bore and a feed mechanism for advancing the continuous side rail of the fastener stock into direct axial alignment behind the longitudinal bore of the hollowed needle. The feed mechanism includes a rotatably mounted feed shaft, a pair of feed wheels fixedly mounted on the feed shaft, each feed wheel comprising a plurality of sprockets which are sized and shaped to engage the supply of fastener stock, and first and second clutch wheels which are releasably matingly engageable with one another, the first clutch wheel being fixedly mounted on the feed shaft and the second clutch wheel being rotatably mounted on the feed shaft, each of the first and second clutch wheels including a plurality of ratchets. As a feature of the invention, the number of ratchets on each clutch wheel is at most equal to the number of sprockets on each feed wheel.

An automated banking machine (10) identifies and stores in storage areas documents such as currency bills deposited by a user. The machine selectively recovers such documents from storage areas and dispenses them. The machine includes a central transport (70) wherein documents deposited in a stack are unstacked, oriented and identified. Such documents are then routed to storage areas in canisters (92, 94, 96, 98). Documents in the storage areas are selectively picked therefrom and delivered to a user through an input/output area (50) of the machine. Each canister includes a memory (626) which holds information concerning the number and type of documents housed in the canister as well as other information concerning the hardware and software resident on the canister. The memory also includes data representative of individuals responsible for loading and transporting the canister. The machine conducts self-auditing activities to verify that the documents held in the storage areas correspond to the information stored in memory and indicate discrepancies.

An apparatus and method for advancing a receiver into registered relationship with a moving image-bearing member. A motor is provided that is responsive to motor drive pulses. A drive member engages the receiver, and a drive coupling connects the drive member and the motor. An encoder generates encoder pulses that correspond with movement of the image-bearing member. A pulse generator generates motor drive pulses in response to the encoder pulses to accelerate the receiver to a speed approximately equal to the speed of the image-bearing member speed. A timer determines an amount of delay time between detection of the receiver by an in-track sensor and the beginning of a subsequent movement of the motor. A delay mechanism delays the acceleration of the receiver to the image-bearing member speed by the amount of delay time.

The construction of the present invention is suitable for use as a document carrier and is particularly adapted for the transporting of negotiable instruments such as checks and other items that are used to transfer funds, credits or the like through automated processing equipment such as readers, scanners, copiers and the like. The assembly of the present invention includes an internal pocket that is created through the use of a pair of translucent sheets affixed about an opening created in a standard format sheet, such as a sheet having a dimension of 8½″ by 11″.

A system for monitoring and dispensing medical items includes a plurality of hook registers (10). Each of the hook registers includes sensors (48, 60, 62, 64) sensing the removal or addition of a medical item to the storage location on the hook register. Each hook register has a microprocessor (66) connected to the sensor which stores a count of the items added or removed from the location. The microprocessor also includes location identifying information specifically associated with the particular hook register. The microprocessor is periodically polled by a controller (72) which reads and stores the count and location identifying information from each of the hook registers. The controller information is periodically read by a data terminal (76) which is connected through a local area network (82) to a remote computer (84) having a processor and data store. A user of the data terminal is enabled to specify a patient for whom medical items will be used when the items are removed from the hook registers or other storage locations. In addition, the system also monitors inventories of items and levels of usage by users. The system also monitors and controls the dispense of other medical items from box registers (110) as well as controls the dispense of items from secure storage locations such as electronic lock drawers (96) and medicine dispensers (100).

A printer of the present invention includes a first and a second tray each being movable between a full-closed position and an open position. When the operator moves the first tray in the opening direction, the first tray forces the second tray located on the locus of movement of the first tray in the opening direction, uncovering a first and a second opening at the same time. When the operator moves the second tray in the closing direction, the second tray forces the first tray located on the locus of movement of the first tray in the closing direction, covering the two openings at the same time. The operator can therefore move the two trays by a single action.

An apparatus for transferring articles such as absorbent cores or disposable diaper chassis components from a rotary mechanism, such as a pad turner, to a linear mechanism, such as a conveyor, for further processing. The invention provides a device for picking an article from the outside of a toroidal surface, thence extending transversely under tension the article to be transferred so that at the point of deposition the article is held flat and at full length. Further, the invention allows for apparatus to match the velocity of both the first and second transfer points, even if these velocities are not the same. The device is of particular benefit where an article to be transferred is subject to internally biasing elastic forces.

An automated banking machine (10) identifies and stores documents such as currency bills deposited by a user. The machine then selectively recovers such documents from storage and dispenses them to other users. The machine includes a central transport (70) wherein documents deposited in a stack are unstacked, oriented and identified. Such documents are then routed to storage areas in recycling canisters (92, 94, 96, 98). When a user subsequently requests a dispense, documents stored in the storage areas are selectively picked therefrom and delivered to the user through an input/output area (50) of the machine.

Semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment comprising a selecting device for selecting semiconductor wafers destined to a processor on the basis of a remaining process time applicable to that processor in the equipment, a transporting device for transporting the selected semiconductor wafers to the processor, another selecting device for selecting a processor or a storage device constituting a transport destination to which to transport processed semiconductor wafers, and another transporting device for transporting the semiconductor wafers to the destination processor or storage device in accordance with a transport control changeover code read from the processors and storage devices of the equipment.

An automated banking machine (10) includes a deposit accepting apparatus (44) which is capable of accepting and authenticating instruments, as well as accepting envelopes deposited into the machine by a user. A transport section (46) is operative to engage and transport deposited items selectively from an inlet (48) to an outlet (50). A deposit holding module (90) includes compartments (98, 106) which are operative to hold different types of deposits. The machine operates to selectively move a compartment into communication with the outlet based on the particular type of item being deposited. The depository apparatus is further operative to acquire image and magnetic profile data from deposited instruments, to manipulate the image and profile data and to analyze and resolve characters in selected areas thereof. The data from deposited instruments is used for determining if a user is authorized to conduct certain requested transactions at the machine.

A media storage system for an automated banking machine (10) includes a rotating flipper member (90, 178, 222) which is rotationally movable to engage sheets. A moveable gripper member (138, 182, 226) is movably mounted relative to the flipper member. The flipper member further includes an arcuately extending slot (92, 180, 232). A sheet extending in the slot is held in fixed engagement with the flipper member by the gripper member. Rotation of the flipper member to a releasing position causes the sheet to be engaged with a stop surface (160, 188, 284) as the gripper member moves to release the sheet. Sheets released by the flipper member are positioned in a stack (94, 184, 234). In alternative embodiments a flipper member (178, 222) includes a picker portion (202, 278). The picker portion is selectively operated to remove sheets from the stack for delivery to a user of the machine.

An automated banking machine (10) identifies and stores documents such as currency bills deposited by a user. The machine then selectively recovers such documents from storage areas and dispenses them to other users. The machine includes a sheet thickness detector (810) used for distinguishing single sheets from double sheets which pass through the machine. The thickness detector includes a radiation source (822). Radiation from the radiation source is directed by radiation guide (824) to a generally linear elongated radiation outlet (826) which extends transversely to the sheet path. A receiver (814) includes a radiation sensitive element (830) which is also transversely elongated relative to the sheet path. Sheets passing between the emitter and the receiver cause variations in the amount of radiation reaching the receiver. The transversely elongated surface of the sheet through which the transmission of radiation is sense enables accurately distinguishing single sheets from double sheets.

A method and apparatus for transferring a substrate is provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus for transferring a substrate includes at least one end effector. A disk is rotatably coupled to the end effector. The disk is adapted to rotate the substrate relative to the end effector. The end effector may additionally include a sensor coupled thereto. The sensor is adapted to detect an indicia of orientation of the substrate supported by the end effector. In another embodiment, a method for transferring a substrate includes rotating the substrate disposed on an end effector and detecting an indicia of orientation of the substrate.

A sheet-thickness detector device has a sheet guide with a sheet-guide surface for guiding a sheet between a magnetic field sensor and a magnetic guide element. The magnetic field sensor, having an approach-guide plane disposed upstream in a sheet conveying direction for guiding the sheet to a detection surface, comes into direct contact with the sheet. By the structure mentioned above, the thickness of a sheet is detected so as to determine sheet double feeding and the like without producing sheet jamming.

A quick-release device for a pneumatic nail gun with a magazine has a base, a pusher plate, a spring and a button. The base has a through hole defined in the top of the base. The pusher plate has a first end that normally extends into the channel of the magazine and a second end. The spring abuts the second end of the pusher plate. The button is moveably mounted in the base and extends out from the through hole. The button abuts the second end of the pusher plate, such that the pusher plate can be pivoted by pressing the exposed button. The finger of the user does not extend into the device. Consequently, the operation of the quick-release device is simplified, and the finger of the user will not be injured during the process of clearing jammed nails.

An automated banking machine (10) includes a user interface (12) including an opening (20) for users to deliver and receive individual sheets and stacks of sheets to and from the machine. The machine includes a sheet handling mechanism therein including a first transport path (46) and a second transport path (42). Various devices for dispensing and receiving sheets (30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40) are positioned adjacent to the second transport path and dispense and/or receive sheets therefrom. The second transport path meets the first transport path at an intersection (60). The machine includes control circuitry (44) which controls the dispensing and movement of sheets along the sheet paths in response to inputs by customers. A sheet directing apparatus (110) is positioned adjacent to the intersection (60). The sheet directing apparatus (110) is selectively operative as a stack of sheets moves through the intersection to either add a sheet to the stack or to separate a sheet from the stack.

A vacuum wheel for securing and retaining various sizes of stretchable film is disclosed. The outer surface of the vacuum wheel includes an advantageous pattern of vacuum openings and vacuum slots, wherein the vacuum slots provide vacuum communication between at least two of the vacuum openings. A preferred embodiment provides a chevron or zig-zag shaped pattern of vacuum openings and vacuum slots configured to provide improved vacuum holding strength.

To make it possible to transfer an image to an exact position even on a sheet of a maximum size having cutoff margins around a maximum image area of the image-forming module, the invention provides a sheet transport device (5) comprising a registration/transport member (2) provided in a sheet path upstream of a target location (P) for correctly positioning a sheet (1) in a sheet transport direction and transporting it toward the target location (P), and a sheet alignment mechanism (3) provided in the sheet path upstream of the target location (P) for moving the sheet (1) in a direction perpendicular to the sheet transport direction to align the sheet (1) to a reference position predefined for each set of sheet information. The invention also provides an image-forming apparatus incorporating the sheet transport device (5).

A carrier tape feeder is provided. The carrier tape feeder includes a unit for loading a carrier tape, a picking-up unit where chips are picked up, and a driving unit. The pick-up unit includes a knife portion, a folding-guiding portion, and an inversion-guiding portion. The knife portion separates a cover tape from a base tape in a first adhesive portion. The folding-guiding portion is spaced from one lateral side of the knife portion to induce folding of the cover tape separated by the knife portion in the lengthwise direction in a state in which the cover tape is partially attached to the base tape in a second adhesive portion. The inversion-guiding portion extends in an oblique direction from the knife portion and the folding-guiding portion toward the outside of the carrier tape to induce inversion of the upper and lower surfaces of the cover tape folded in the folding-guiding portion so as to be superimposed on the base tape. The distal end of the lateral side of the folding-guiding portion opposed to the knife portion extends above the second adhesive portion.