Patents Examined by Gerald W McClain
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Patent number: 7934717Abstract: A rotation-transmitting mechanism includes a first planetary gear mechanism and a locking mechanism. The first planetary gear mechanism transmits rotational driving force to the transportation unit through a first planet gear to rotate the transportation roller when the motor rotates in a first direction, and transmits rotational driving force to the transportation unit through a second planet gear to rotate the transportation roller when the motor rotates in a second direction. The locking mechanism can lock a planetary rocking member of the first planetary gear mechanism in such a condition that rotational driving force of the motor is transmitted to the transportation unit through the second planet gear. The locking mechanism terminates locking of the planetary rocking member of the first planetary gear mechanism by engaging with the sheet in the transportation path downstream of the transportation roller with respect to the direction in which the sheet is transported.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2010Date of Patent: May 3, 2011Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Kazuhisa Takeda, Masaki Shimomura, Masafumi Furuyama
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Patent number: 7931271Abstract: A document feeding device includes: a document placing tray; a document ejection tray disposed above the document placing tray; a feeding path; a separating mechanism; and ejection rollers. A nip position of the ejection rollers is arranged in a side opposite to a side where the document placing tray is arranged with reference to a vertical plane passing through a separation position of the separating mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2009Date of Patent: April 26, 2011Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takuro Kusama
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Patent number: 7931270Abstract: A method for personalizing a plurality of documents and a personalization installation which comprises a plurality of processing stations arranged one behind the other along a longitudinal axis of the personalization installation for carrying out individual personalization steps, wherein in order to carry out the personalization steps the documents or smart cards run through one processing station in a first direction running transversely to the longitudinal axis and the other processing station in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction and likewise runs transversely to the longitudinal axis, wherein all the processing stations are oriented with their run-through directions transverse to the longitudinal axis.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2007Date of Patent: April 26, 2011Assignee: Muehlbauer AGInventors: Josef Kirschbauer, Gunnar Kamp, Axel Schwarzmeier
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Patent number: 7913993Abstract: A sheet feeding device may include a sucking and conveying mechanism having a suction surface, which sucks sheets stacked on a sheet stacking table, from an upper surface of the sheets, sucks an uppermost sheet to be sucked on the suction surface, and conveys the uppermost sheet onto a sheet conveyance path; a floating air blowing mechanism which blows floating air against the sheets from a side surface of the stacked sheets; a sheet position detecting sensor which detects an upper surface height position of the sheets stacked, and detects a floating state of the sheets floated; and a controller which judges the floating state of the sheets detected in a floating state detecting period in connection with a blowing of the floating air, and controls an air volume of floating air blown from the floating air blowing mechanism based on the floating state of the sheets.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2009Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Akira Kosugi, Daisuke Ueda
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Patent number: 7909323Abstract: A skew correction device including a first guide member which supports the sheet transported from a lower side thereof in a vertical direction by the transport roller and which guides the sheet to the gate member and a second guide member which is provided on an upper position from the first guide member in a vertical direction and which guides the sheet to the gate member. Here, the second guide member includes at least one rotating member which faces a transport passage of the sheet interposed between the first guide member and the second guide member and is rotatably provided at least in the center of the second guide member in a width direction intersecting a transport direction of the sheet.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2009Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Yutao Kobayashi
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Patent number: 7909321Abstract: A linkage arrangement for handling sheets in a sheet accumulator including an accumulation gate and a locking over center mechanism. The accumulation gate pivotally mounts to a support structure of the accumulator and includes a stop surface for traversing the sheet path. The stop surface is movable between an interference position and a release position wherein the interference position inhibits the travel of sheets along the sheet path, and the release position releases the sheets for continued travel along the sheet path. The locking over center mechanism includes longitudinally aligned actuating and connecting arms. The actuating arm pivotally mounts to the support structure about a rotational axis while the connecting arm pivotally mounts to the accumulation gate at one end and pivotally mounts to the actuating arm at the other end. The locking over center mechanism inhibits motion of the accumulation gate in response to a force applied to the accumulation surface.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2005Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: Pitney Bowes Ltd.Inventors: Geoffrey A. Farmer, Keith G R Watts
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Patent number: 7909322Abstract: A skew correction device including a first guide member which supports the sheet transported by the transport roller from a lower side thereof in a vertical direction and guides the sheet to the gate member, and a second guide member which is provided on an upper position from the first guide member in a vertical direction and which guides the sheet to the gate member. Here, the first guide member includes at least one rotating member which faces a transport passage of the sheet interposed between the first guide member and the second guide member and is rotatably provided at least in the center of the second guide member in a width direction intersecting a transport direction of the sheet.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2009Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Yutao Kobayashi
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Patent number: 7905485Abstract: A paper feeding apparatus includes a fluid-supply device, a connecting pipe communicating with the fluid-supply device, and a plurality of force units connecting to the connecting pipe, each force unit having a pressing wheel on one end thereof, wherein each pressing wheel operates in coordination with a paper feeding wheel for feeding paper. The force units output equal force according to the same hydraulic pressure so that the pressing wheels provide the same component force to the corresponding paper feeding wheel so as to improve the quality of paper feeding. Furthermore, a method for using the paper feeding apparatus is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2008Date of Patent: March 15, 2011Assignee: Kinpo Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Chih-Hwa Wang, Chih-Hsing Chen
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Patent number: 7900917Abstract: In a recording medium conveyer, a driver drives a feeding member and a conveying member provided downstream from the feeding member in a recording medium conveyance direction independently. A controller stops driving the feeding member when a first time period elapses after a recording medium reaches the conveying member. When a selector judges that the thickness of the recording medium identifies the recording medium as thin paper, the controller does not drive the feeding member after the controller starts driving the conveying member, and when the selector judges that the recording medium has a thickness greater than a thickness of the recording medium that identifies the recording medium as thin paper, the controller restarts driving the feeding member no later than when the controller starts driving the conveying member.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2009Date of Patent: March 8, 2011Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Fujiwara, Mizuna Tanaka, Tomoyoshi Yamazaki, Toshikane Nishii, Kazuyoshi Kondo, Haruyuki Honda
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Patent number: 7900906Abstract: A method (200) and apparatus (100) control feed commitments based on feedable capacity. The apparatus may include a source (122) of feedable media sheets and a feeder module (120) coupled to the source of feedable media sheets, the feeder module configured to control the source of feedable media sheets. The apparatus may include a marking engine (132) coupled to the source of feedable media sheets, the marking engine configured to mark images on media sheets fed by the source of feedable media sheets. The apparatus may include a marker module (130) coupled to the marking engine, the marker module configured to control the marking engine. The apparatus may include a scheduler module (110) coupled to the feeder module and the marker module, the scheduler module configured to schedule feed commitments for the feeder module and mark commitments for the marker module.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2008Date of Patent: March 8, 2011Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Aldwin A. Roberts, Michele Donna Cleary, David L. Rasmussen, Biruk Gossaye, Lawrence Dee Dipzinski
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Patent number: 7891657Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a sheet tray, a feed roller, a separating pad, a feed motor, a conveying roller pair, and a deformation prevention member. The feed roller picks up and feeds first and second sheets from the sheet tray. The separating pad separates the first sheet from the second sheet together with the feed roller. The deformation prevention member is provided to prevent deformation of a head of the second sheet caused by the feed roller and the separating pad nipping the second sheet.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2007Date of Patent: February 22, 2011Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Akihiro Fujita
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Patent number: 7891654Abstract: A sheet feeding unit includes a side warm-air mechanism that blows air toward a side surface of a sheet stack S from a warm-air outlet. The sheet feeding unit controls the lift mechanism so as to perform a sheet separating operation every time a predetermined number of sheets P are fed during a continuous sheet feeding operation.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2009Date of Patent: February 22, 2011Assignee: Kyocera Mita CorporationInventor: Sachio Izumichi
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Patent number: 7887043Abstract: In a feeding apparatus, a control device determines whether a brake roller is rotating based on the result of detection by a rotating-state detection sensor while a medium is being transferred by a separator roller. When determining that the brake roller is not rotating, the control device sets a pickup roller to non-contact state where the pickup roller is not in contact with a medium on a feed tray while a medium is not being transferred by the separator roller.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2009Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignee: PFU LimitedInventors: Masaya Takamori, Ryoichi Yasukawa, Yusuke Kasashima
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Patent number: 7887040Abstract: A sheet deceleration apparatus includes a pair of rotatable rollers, being rotatable about first and second axes, the rollers positioned on opposite sides of the travel path. At least one of the rollers is moveable relative to the other to nip the sheet between the rollers to reduce the travel speed of the sheet. A vacuum conveyor is further provided along the travel path subsequent the pair of rollers to control delivery of the sheet to a stacking hopper. A third rotatable roller, or similar apparatus, may be included in some embodiments, for pushing the sheet of material away from the vacuum conveyor at the appropriate time.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2009Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignee: J & L Group International, LLCInventor: Curtis A. Roth
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Patent number: 7887044Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a feed tray including a bottom plate configured to hold a sheet, a feed roller configured to feed the sheet in a first direction from the feed tray to a first conveying path, and a pressing member configured to press the sheet in the feed tray against the bottom plate of the feed tray. The pressing member includes a contact portion configured to contact the sheet in the feed tray, and a first guide positioned at a downstream end of the pressing member in the first direction. The first guide extends between the downstream end and the contact portion obliquely with respect to the bottom plate, such that a distance between the bottom plate and the first guide increases along the first direction. The first guide is positioned upstream of the feed roller in the first direction.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2009Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yuta Uchino, Takashi Ohama, Naokazu Tanahashi, Wataru Sugiyama, Noriyuki Kawamata, Tsuyoshi Ito
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Patent number: 7887048Abstract: A paper feeding apparatus includes a cassette main body that stacks a paper therein, a sidewall that moves in a width direction of the cassette main body, an end wall that moves in a longitudinal direction of the cassette main body, a first movable member that is connected at one end to the sidewall and rotates around a shaft axially fixed to the cassette main body in connection with the sidewall, a second movable member that is connected at one end to the end wall and rotates around a shaft axially fixed to the cassette main body in connection with the end wall, a first detection unit that has a plurality of detection members and detects the size of the paper in the width direction, and a second detection unit that has a plurality of detection members and detects the size of the paper in the longitudinal direction.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2010Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masahiro Ohno, Yousuke Ushiyama, Tokihiko Ise, Toshihiro Matsushima, Tetsuo Shiba
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Patent number: 7883084Abstract: A sheet feeding device for feeding a sheet-form recording medium includes: a sheet accommodating portion for accommodating a sheet stack constituted by a plurality of sheets of the sheet-form recording medium; and a first warm air unit having a first blowing port for blowing warm air toward an upper face of the sheet stack accommodated in the sheet accommodating portion. The sheet feeding device preferably further includes a second warm air unit having a second blowing port for blowing warm air onto a side face of the sheet stack that is parallel to a sheet feeding direction.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2009Date of Patent: February 8, 2011Assignee: Kyocera Mita CorporationInventors: Keiji Okumura, Yoshihiro Yamaguchi, Yoshio Sugishima, Sachio Izumichi
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Patent number: 7878500Abstract: A sheet storing device includes a container including a first holding surface configured to hold a first sheet thereon, and a tray positioned at an upper side of the container. The tray includes a second holding surface configured to hold a second sheet thereon. The tray is configured to selectively move between a first position and a second position downstream from the first position in a first direction. The sheet storing device further includes a positioning unit configured to selectively position the tray in one of the first position and the second position, and a linking unit configured to link the tray to the container and to pivot about a particular pivot axis which extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and parallel to the first holding surface of the container. The linking unit pivots to selectively move the tray between the first position and the second position.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2009Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Keisuke Wakakusa
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Patent number: 7878502Abstract: A slowing device includes a flexible slowing member that extends transversely to the trajectory of sheets being fed. The member is movable between at least two limit positions, one in which its trajectory encounters that of the sheets, the other in which the slowing member is moved aside from the trajectory of the sheets. A drive device moves the slowing member between its limit positions. The drive device for the slowing member includes a pneumatic actuator which acts on a linear cam that pivots about a transverse shaft. A roller rolls along the surface of the linear cam. The roller and the slowing member are supported by a support that pivots about a transverse shaft.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2009Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: Bobst S.AInventors: Vitor A. Slemer Dos Santos, Patrice Chatry
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Patent number: 7874556Abstract: A printer for sheets of porous media supplied from a stack of such sheets. The printer has a printhead, a sheet pick-up assembly having a conduit connected to a reversible air supply, the conduit having an outlet directed towards a top sheet of the stack for directing an airstream onto the top sheet such that air penetrates the top sheet and generates an air cushion lifting the top sheet from a second sheet, the reversible air supply configured to suck air into the outlet after the top sheet has lifted from the second sheet to hold the top sheet against the outlet and a sheet feed mechanism for displacing the conduit to draw the top sheet away from the stack.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2009Date of Patent: January 25, 2011Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty LtdInventor: David William Jensen