Bruce E Hurd

US Patent:

6817796, Nov 16, 2004

Filed:

Nov 5, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/701738

Inventors:

Bruce E. Hurd - Monroe CT

Assignee:

Pitney Bowes Inc. - Stamford CT

International Classification:

B41J 2956

US Classification:

400668, 400354, 400355, 101 47

Abstract:

A method and device for locking and unlocking a print head assembly along a shaft in an addressing machine. The print head assembly is fixedly mounted on a locking mechanism, which comprises a flange and a collet, wherein the collet has an inner circumference for slideably mounting on the shaft, and a tapered outer circumference having a first threaded section and a second threaded section. The flange has a threaded opening larger than the first threaded section but smaller than the second threaded section. When adjusting the position of the print head assembly, an operator turns the collet so that flange is engaged with the first threaded section. When locking the position of the print head assembly, the operator turns the collet so that the flange is engaged with the second threaded section, causing the collet to exert a frictional force on the shaft.

US Patent:

6945719, Sep 20, 2005

Filed:

Oct 16, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/686996

Inventors:

Bruce E Hurd - Monroe CT, US

Assignee:

Pitney Bowes Inc. - Stamford CT

International Classification:

B41J029/56

US Classification:

400355, 400674, 101 9311

Abstract:

A method and device for locking and unlocking a print head assembly along a shaft in an addressing machine. The print head assembly is fixedly mounted on a locking mechanism, which comprises a cylindrical body slideably mounted on the shaft and a cam ring rotatably mounted over the cylindrical body. The cylindrical body has a slot for seating an elongated spline. When the locking mechanism is operated in a locking position, the inner circumference of the cam ring presses the spline against the shaft, preventing the cylindrical body from moving along the shaft. The cam ring has a relief on its inner circumference such that, when the cam ring is rotated to the unlocked position, the spline is partially seated in the relief, thereby reducing the pressure exerted by the spline against the shaft. As such, the position of the print head assembly can be adjusted.

US Patent:

6978993, Dec 27, 2005

Filed:

Oct 16, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/686994

Inventors:

Bruce E Hurd - Monroe CT, US

Assignee:

Pitney Bowes Inc. - Stamford CT

International Classification:

B65H003/06

US Classification:

271 35, 271121, 271124, 271137

Abstract:

A method and device for facilitating the replacement of a worn out section of a friction roller in a friction feeder with another section. The roller is fixedly mounted on a shaft adjacent to the feeder nip. In operation, the shaft is restricted from turning by a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism comprises a locking member and a blocking surface. The shaft has an extended shaft section for slideably mounting the locking member, which has a polygonal outer circumference. When the locking member is located adjacent to the blocking surface, it is restricted from rotating. But when the locking member is slid away from the blocking surface, it can be rotated to cause the shaft to rotate, thereby moving another section of the frictional surface on the friction roller to replace the worn out section near the nip.

US Patent:

46181474, Oct 21, 1986

Filed:

Jul 2, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/751009

Inventors:

Bruce Hurd - Ridgefield CT
Robert Oda - Englewood Cliffs NJ

Assignee:

AccuSwing, Incorporated - Easton CT

International Classification:

A63B 7102

US Classification:

273 54B

Abstract:

A bowler's adjustable wrist brace is made into a glove-like configuration. The brace enables the bowler to quickly and conveniently lock his wrist at various desired angles in order to control the "hook" or sidespin of the bowling ball. Bowling alley lane conditions vary. Even varying amounts of oil applied to the same lane can result in different paths for the same ball throw. This brace enables the bowler to adjust his wrist position for different lane conditions. Additionally, the bowler may achieve a different amount of hook on the same alley for various shots by simply adjusting a lever. A calibrated wrist angle indicator enables the bowler to repeat various desirable wrist positions for his different shots.

US Patent:

54010136, Mar 28, 1995

Filed:

Sep 16, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/121492

Inventors:

Bruce E. Hurd - Monroe CT
Lawrence F. Eisner - Cheshire CT

Assignee:

Bryce Office Systems, Inc. - Oxford CT

International Classification:

B65H 352

US Classification:

271124

Abstract:

An addressing machine has separator blocks which cooperate with feed rollers to insure proper one-at-a-time feeding of media elements (e. g. envelopes) to a printer within the machine housing. The optimum feed gap between the separator blocks and rollers corresponds to the thickness of the particular envelopes being handled, and is quickly and positively adjusted using a pivoted lever having first and second locking cam surfaces spaced from each other by a release cam surface, the lever pivoted to a mounting block fixed to a front face of the housing which the separator blocks slide with respect to in guided movement. The cam surfaces act through a spring plate which has an opening frictionally receiving the mounting block, and having upwardly tapered ends and a bulge in the middle for engaging the cam surfaces.

US Patent:

51636697, Nov 17, 1992

Filed:

Apr 23, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/689330

Inventors:

Bruce E. Hurd - Oxford CT
Lawrence F. Eisner - Cheshire CT

Assignee:

Bryce Office Systems, Inc. - Oxford CT

International Classification:

B65H 352

US Classification:

271125

Abstract:

Letter quality addressing is possible at production speeds. A feeding and transport system positively feeds discrete media elements to be addressed (such as envelopes) past a number of print heads in a positive manner to maintain consistent and proper alignment of the printed text on the media elements. First and second feed rollers feed the media elements to a pair of pinch rollers, the operation of the first roller being interrupted once a media element reaches a predetermined position. A normally non-rotatable selector bar with O-rings mounted at axially spaced positions therealong are associated with the second feed roller. An adjustment mechanism is provided for not only adjusting the selector bar relative the second feed roller to accommodate media of different thickness, but also to adjust the position of the O-rings relative to the second feed roller.

US Patent:

50945548, Mar 10, 1992

Filed:

Oct 11, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/596040

Inventors:

Bruce E. Hurd - Monroe CT
Lawrence F. Eisner - Cheshire CT

Assignee:

Bryce Office Systems, Inc. - Oxford CT

International Classification:

B41J 1120

US Classification:

400 59

Abstract:

Letter quality addressing is possible at production speeds. A feeding and transport system positively feeds discrete media elements to be addressed (such as envelopes) past a number of print heads in a positive manner to maintain consistent and proper alignment of the printed text on the media elements. First and second feed rollers feed the media elements to a pair of pinch rollers, the operation of the first roller being interrupted once a media element reaches a predetermined position. A selector bar with abrasive strips is associated with the second feed roller. The pinch rollers feed the media elements onto endless transport belts, with transport wiper plates disposed on top of the belts to hold the media elements in contact with the belts. The transport wipers comprise plates mounted by levers at opposite ends in such a way that an element may easily move under a plate, but is held tighter by the plate as it moves along it. At the end of the transport belts, an exit roller holds the envelopes generally horizontal until they have almost completely cleared the belts, so that they do not smear previous envelope addresses.

US Patent:

51849003, Feb 9, 1993

Filed:

Oct 21, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/779876

Inventors:

Lawrence F. Eisner - Cheshire CT
Bruce E. Hurd - Monroe CT

Assignee:

Bryce Office Systems, Inc. - Oxford CT

International Classification:

B41J 2485

US Classification:

400 82

Abstract:

A structure for printing at least four elongated address lines allows maximum efficiency in the grouping together of print heads used for the printing. One print head is provided for each of the address lines, and the print heads are mounted so at least two of the print heads overlap each other, the overlapping print heads not being those for consecutive address lines. This means the print heads are positioned so that they are not in sequence with the numbers of the lines being printed. Transport rolls are mounted at either end of the print head with no other transport rollers or transporting structures between the print heads, and an electronic controller varies the time each of the print heads starts to print to correspond to the spacing of that print head so that all the lines may be printed with an aligned margin.