The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 08, 2004
Filed:
Mar. 21, 2002
Peter M. Coombs, Tustin, CA (US);
Niels Hvid, Vedbaek, DK;
Gradco (Japan) Ltd., , JP;
Abstract
A set finishing apparatus and method adapted for use with an image producing machine discharging sheets of paper in sets that are arranged for finishing is disclosed which may comprise: a moveable set finishing unit having a home position and a plurality of set finishing station positions located generally along a longitudinal axis, and having at least at each finishing station position a retracted position and an operating position, with each respective finishing station retracted position and operating position displaced from each other generally orthogonally to the longitudinal axis; a drive motor having an output drive shaft; a translational drive mechanism comprising a rotating shaft mounted generally parallel to the to the longitudinal axis and operatively connected to the drive motor output drive shaft and adapted to rotate in a rotating direction in response to rotation of the drive motor output drive shaft in a rotating direction; and, the moveable set finishing station being operatively connected to the rotating shaft of the translational drive mechanism in such a way as to be moved sequentially through each of the set finishing station positions and returned to the home position without changing the rotating direction of the drive motor output drive shaft or the rotating direction of the translational drive mechanism rotating shaft. The translational drive mechanism may be adapted to move the moveable set finishing unit out of the retracted position and into the operating position by changing the rotating direction of the drive motor output shaft. The translational drive mechanism rotating shaft may further comprise: an generally cylindrical outer surface of the rotating shaft having formed therein a traveling track groove; and the moveable set finishing unit may further comprise: a traveling track groove follower attached to the moveable set finishing unit and adapted to engage the traveling track groove and move within the traveling track groove when the translational drive mechanism rotating shaft is rotated.