Ross A Freeman

US Patent:

6726433, Apr 27, 2004

Filed:

Jul 13, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/615931

Inventors:

Laurence S. Blake - Peabody MA
Philip A. Rombult - Bradford MA
Libor Krupica - Methuen MA
David B. Larsen - Woburn MA
James C. Folsom - Sanford ME
Ross A. Freeman - Somersworth NH
Roger A. Jacques - Rochester NH
Robert S. Ring - Rochester NH
Gerald L. Smith - Dover NH

Assignee:

Agfa Corporation - Wilmington MA

International Classification:

B65H 100

US Classification:

414411, 4143311

Abstract:

An apparatus is provided for positioning a plurality of cassettes within an automated printing plate handler. In a plate handler, a plurality of cassettes each contain a supply of printing plates for delivery to an automatic plate-recording device. The apparatus includes a separate support table for supporting each of the plurality of cassettes within the plate handler and an elevator device for moving each of the support tables along a vertical axis of the automated plate handler. The automated plate handler is configured to automatically position a selected cassette in a first position to facilitate removal of the cassette from the handler. The plate handler further includes a platform, which substantially forms an extension of the support table supporting the selected cassette in the first position. The platform provides a second position, at which the selected cassette is to be one of, loaded or unloaded. The selected cassette may be filled with a new supply of plates on the platform or the selected cassette may be removed from the platform and replaced by a another cassette.

US Patent:

7055431, Jun 6, 2006

Filed:

Mar 23, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/807085

Inventors:

Laurence S. Blake - Peabody MA, US
Philip A. Rombult - Bradford MA, US
Libor Krupica - Methuen MA, US
David B. Larsen - Woburn MA, US
James C. Folsom - Sanford ME, US
Ross A. Freeman - Somersworth NH, US
Roger A. Jacques - Rochester NH, US
Robert S. Ring - Rochester NH, US
Gerald L. Smith - Dover NH, US

Assignee:

AGFA Corporation - Wilmington MA

International Classification:

B41F 27/06

US Classification:

101477, 414411

Abstract:

An apparatus is provided for positioning a plurality of cassettes within an automated printing plate handler. In a plate handler, a plurality of cassettes each contain a supply of printing plates for delivery to an automatic plate-recording device. The apparatus includes a separate support table for supporting each of the plurality of cassettes within the plate handler and an elevator device for moving each of the support tables along a vertical axis of the automated plate handler. The automated plate handler is configured to automatically position a selected cassette in a first position to facilitate removal of the cassette from the handler. The plate handler further includes a platform, which substantially forms an extension of the support table supporting the selected cassette in the first position. The platform provides a second position, at which the selected cassette is to be one of, loaded or unloaded. The selected cassette may be filled with a new supply of plates on the platform or the selected cassette may be removed from the platform and replaced by a another cassette.

US Patent:

20020189978, Dec 19, 2002

Filed:

Jun 13, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/880537

Inventors:

Ross Freeman - Somersworth NH, US

Assignee:

Moore North America, Inc. - Grand Island NY

International Classification:

B07B001/10

US Classification:

209/307000, 209/643000

Abstract:

An apparatus for removing cut trim and dust from a paper handling machine, comprising an inlet port for carrying the cut trim and dust from the paper handling machine, a perforated conveyor located in a first chamber of the apparatus and operatively arranged to transport the cut trim from the inlet port to a waste container, and to transport the dust through the perforations to an ancillary chamber, and, means for creating a vacuum within the inlet port and the first and ancillary chambers to cause the dust to be transported from the inlet port, through the perforated conveyor in the first chamber, to the ancillary chamber. The method includes steps to separate cut trim from dust under vacuum.

US Patent:

20060245870, Nov 2, 2006

Filed:

May 2, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/415763

Inventors:

Laurence Blake - Peabody MA, US
Philip Rombult - Bradford MA, US
Libor Krupica - Methuen MA, US
David Larsen - Woburn MA, US
James Folsom - Sanford ME, US
Ross Freeman - Somersworth NH, US
Roger Jacques - Rochester NH, US
Robert Ring - Rochester NH, US
Gerald Smith - Dover NH, US

Assignee:

AGFA CORPORATION - Wilmington MA

International Classification:

B65B 69/00

US Classification:

414411000

Abstract:

An apparatus is provided for positioning a plurality of cassettes within an automated printing plate handler. In a plate handler, a plurality of cassettes each contain a supply of printing plates for delivery to an automatic plate-recording device. The apparatus includes a separate support table for supporting each of the plurality of cassettes within the plate handler and an elevator device for moving each of the support tables along a vertical axis of the automated plate handler. The automated plate handler is configured to automatically position a selected cassette in a first position to facilitate removal of the cassette from the handler. The plate handler further includes a platform, which substantially forms an extension of the support table supporting the selected cassette in the first position. The platform provides a second position, at which the selected cassette is to be one of, loaded or unloaded. The selected cassette may be filled with a new supply of plates on the platform or the selected cassette may be removed from the platform and replaced by another cassette.

US Patent:

56554524, Aug 12, 1997

Filed:

Aug 7, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/693740

Inventors:

Laurence S. Blake - Peabody MA
Philip A. Rombult - Bradford MA
Libor Krupica - Methuen MA
David B. Larsen - Woburn MA
James C. Folsom - Sanford ME
Ross A. Freeman - Somersworth NH
Roger A. Jacques - Rochester NH
Robert S. Ring - Rochester NH
Gerald L. Smith - Dover NH

Assignee:

AGFA Division, Bayer Corp. - Wilmington MA

International Classification:

B41F 2706

US Classification:

101477

Abstract:

The primary function of the optional handler is to make plates available on demand to the imaging engine. A multitude of plates are stored inside cassettes and these cassettes are loaded into the handler. There may be up to four cassettes residing in the handler. Inside a cassette there may be a protective interleaf sheet, sometimes called a slip sheet, between each plate which is removed by the handler and discarded. The handler receives commands from the engine control sequencer which provides instructions as to what cassette needs to be accessed to make a plate available to the picker mechanism so the plate may be conveyed to the imaging engine. Conversely the handler provides status information to the engine to make full interaction with the system possible.

US Patent:

57912505, Aug 11, 1998

Filed:

Jul 10, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/889255

Inventors:

Laurence S. Blake - Peabody MA
Philip A. Rombult - Bradford MA
Libor Krupica - Methuen MA
David B. Larsen - Woburn MA
James C. Folsom - Sanford ME
Ross A. Freeman - Somersworth NH
Roger A. Jacques - Rochester NH
Robert S. Ring - Rochester NH
Gerald L. Smith - Dover NH

Assignee:

Agfa Division, Bayer Corporation - Wilmington MA

International Classification:

B41F 2712
B41F 132
B41F 3316

US Classification:

101483

Abstract:

The primary function of the optional handler is to make plates available on demand to the imaging engine. A multitude of plates are stored inside cassettes and these cassettes are loaded into the handler. There may be up to four cassettes residing in the handler. Inside a cassette there may be a protective interleaf sheet, sometimes called a slip sheet, between each plate which is removed by the handler and discarded. The handler receives commands from the engine control sequencer which provides instructions as to what cassette needs to be accessed to make a plate available to the picker mechanism so the plate may be conveyed to the imaging engine. Conversely the handler provides status information to the engine to make full interaction with the system possible.

US Patent:

54092078, Apr 25, 1995

Filed:

Jul 16, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/092412

Inventors:

Ross A. Freeman - Somersworth NH

Assignee:

Moore Business Forms, Inc. - Grand Island NY

International Classification:

B65H 2944

US Classification:

271181

Abstract:

Short multi-ply business forms, or other flexible planar articles, are stacked with a vertical orientation in a horizontally elongated stack. The forms are conveyed in a first horizontal direction, then deflected by a deflecting roller and conveyor belts to move toward a generally vertical orientation, and driven vertically into contact with a depth stop, so that they have a vertical orientation and the first form in a stack is against a backstop. The backstop is moved intermittently in the horizontal first direction to accommodate further forms in the stack. A conveyor for moving the forms vertically is mounted for pivotal movement about a generally horizontal axis, which movement is sensed by a sensor which in turn, through a controller and motor, effects intermittent movement of the backstop. The depth stop may be adjusted to accommodate forms of different depths, and the position of the horizontal axis about which the second conveyor pivots may also be adjusted. The pivoting vertical conveyor applies a packing force against the forms in the stack, and its center of gravity is between its pivot axis and the stack at all times.

US Patent:

52381641, Aug 24, 1993

Filed:

Jul 29, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/921208

Inventors:

Ross A. Freeman - Somersworth NH

Assignee:

Moore Business Forms, Inc. - Grand Island NY

International Classification:

B26F 302

US Classification:

225 4

Abstract:

Continuous business forms are detached and disposed in offset stacks. Continuous forms being fed into a conventional detacher are sensed by a first optical sensor, and after detachment are conveyed by a roller conveyor away from the detacher in a first direction. A guide rail is elongated in generally the first direction and the detached forms have an edge which engages the guide rail so that all the forms in a particular group are aligned when discharged from the conveyor into a stack. The guide rail is mounted on guide rods, for movement in opposite second and third directions, both generally perpendicular to the first direction, so as to change the position of the edge of detached forms in a subsequent group of forms so that consecutive stacks are offset from each other. A second optical sensor at the discharge of the conveyor cooperates with the first sensor and a control mechanism to operate the detacher and solenoids for moving the guide rail between its different guiding positions to form offset stacks of business forms.