Joseph J Conlan

US Patent:

55538398, Sep 10, 1996

Filed:

Aug 7, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/511656

Inventors:

Lawrence S. Wolfson - West Hartford CT
Joseph Conlan - Rocky Hill CT
Philip W. Cenedella - East Douglas MA

Assignee:

Gerber Systems Corporation - South Windsor CT

International Classification:

B65H 8500

US Classification:

271 311

Abstract:

A media handling unit is a selfcontained device which is capable of being moved to existing photoplotting structures to transport media sheets from a supply cassette housed within the unit and advanced into the plotter for conducting a plotting operation. The unit also retreives the scanned media from the photoplotter returning it the unit in a light tight environment where the scanned film is deposited onto a collecting tray. The supply of film is provided in a cassette having a semi-cyldrical support surface causing the film to take on a preformed configuration which is generally coincident with the shape of the support surface on the plotter.

US Patent:

54841399, Jan 16, 1996

Filed:

Jun 1, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/071567

Inventors:

Lawrence S. Wolfson - West Hartford CT
Philip W. Cenedella - East Douglas MA
Joseph Conlan - Rocky Hill CT

Assignee:

Gerber Systems Corporation - South Windsor CT

International Classification:

B65H 8500

US Classification:

271 3

Abstract:

A media handling unit is a selfcontained device which is capable of being moved to existing photoplotting structures to transport media sheets from a supply cassette housed within the unit and advanced into the plotter for conducting a plotting operation. The unit also retreives the scanned media from the photoplotter returning it the unit in a light tight environment where the scanned film is deposited onto a collecting tray. The supply of film is provided in a cassette having a semi-cyldrical support surface causing the film to take on a preformed configuration which is generally coincident with the shape of the support surface on the plotter.

US Patent:

56903278, Nov 25, 1997

Filed:

Feb 13, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/600889

Inventors:

Alan W. Menard - Bolton CT
Larwence S. Wolfson - Bolton CT
Joseph Conlan - Rocky Hill CT

Assignee:

Gerber Systems Corporation - South Windsor CT

International Classification:

B65H 346

US Classification:

271106

Abstract:

A system for light-tight handling of a supply of media between a supply station, a workstation and a collecting station, comprises a media handling apparatus defined by a frame and a housing enclosing an internal confine. Within this confine are a supply station and a collecting station disposed at opposite ends of the frame. A positioning drive is suspended above the supply and collecting stations to move media between the supply, collecting and work stations. A lifting shoe is provided as part of the positioning drive and includes a flexible material handling sheet which assumes a first and a second given radius when respectively energized and reverse energized to engage the media supported in curved form. Also, supply and collecting cassettes are provided with a tambour coverings for respectively automatically uncovering and covering the supported media while still maintained in the light-tight confines of the housing.

US Patent:

59114150, Jun 15, 1999

Filed:

Oct 28, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/959236

Inventors:

Alan W. Menard - Bolton CT
Lawrence S. Wolfson - Bolton CT
Joseph Conlan - Rocky Hill CT

Assignee:

Gerber Systems Corporation - South Windsor CT

International Classification:

B65H 3100

US Classification:

271207

Abstract:

A system for light-tight handling of a supply of media between a supply station, a workstation and a collecting station, comprises a media handling apparatus defined by a frame and a housing enclosing an internal confine. Within this confine are a supply station and a collecting station disposed at opposite ends of the frame. A positioning drive is suspended above the supply and collecting stations to move media between the supply, collecting and work stations. A lifting shoe is provided as part of the positioning drive and includes a flexible material handling sheet which assumes a first and a second given radius when respectively energized and reverse energized to engage the media supported in curved form. Also, supply and collecting cassettes are provided with a tambour coverings for respectively automatically uncovering and covering the supported media while still maintained in the light-tight confines of the housing.

US Patent:

55583202, Sep 24, 1996

Filed:

Nov 8, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/148584

Inventors:

Alan W. Menard - Bolton CT
Larwence S. Wolfson - Bolton CT
Joseph Conlan - Rocky Hill CT

Assignee:

Gerber Systems Corporation - South Windsor CT

International Classification:

B65H 522

US Classification:

271 401

Abstract:

A system for light-tight handling of a supply of media between a supply station, a workstation and a collecting station, comprises a media handling apparatus defined by a frame and a housing enclosing an internal confine. Within this confine are a supply station and a collecting station disposed at opposite ends of the frame. A positioning drive is suspended above the supply and collecting stations to move media between the supply, collecting and work stations. A lifting shoe is provided as part of the positioning drive and includes a flexible material handling sheet which assumes a first and a second given radius when respectively energized and reverse energized to engage the media supported in curved form. Also, supply and collecting cassettes are provided with a tambour coverings for respectively automatically uncovering and covering the supported media while still maintained in the light-tight confines of the housing.

US Patent:

59381876, Aug 17, 1999

Filed:

Apr 18, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/844668

Inventors:

Joseph J. Conlan - Rocky Hill CT
James M. Diener - Niantic CT
Alan W. Menard - Bolton CT
John R. Masotta - Bethany CT
Richard S. Lech - Manchester CT
Michael T. Silva - Enfield CT
Bruce L. Davidson - East Hartford CT

Assignee:

Gerber Systems Corporation - South Windsor CT

International Classification:

B65H 522

US Classification:

271 314

Abstract:

An apparatus for feeding media to an internal drum imaging system includes a pair of parallel rails secured to a support frame that is mechanically isolated from the imaging system. The tracks are parallel to the outer circumferential edges of the internal drum. The feeding apparatus further includes a plurality of media engagement means movably coupled between the tracks. The engagement means are adapted to transport the medium to and from the internal drum along the tracks. Each engagement means includes a rail extending between the tracks and a pair of drive means pivotally connected to the ends of the rail for advancing the rail along the tracks. Each engagement means further includes a lifting means for raising and lowering the rail and a coupling means disposed to the undersurface of the rail for securing the media to the rail. The feeding apparatus further includes a controller which provides signals to the engagement means to couple the media to the rails and advance the engagement means along the tracks and accurately position the medium onto the drum, in response to an algorithm and feedback from a pair of docking sensor. The docking sensor are disposed on the leading edge of internal drum for contacting the leading edge of the medium and providing a signal to the controller representative of the position of the medium on the internal drum.