Sheet Associating Patents (Class 270/58.01)
  • Patent number: 11921665
    Abstract: A server system with inbuilt ability to determine the correctness of connections within the server and prevent operation in the event of a misconnection includes a server motherboard, a connection cable, and a server backplane. The server backplane is electrically connected to the server motherboard through the connection cable. The connection cable comprises a first connector and a second connector, the first connector and the second connector are configured to connect to the server motherboard, the first connector and the second connector carry their own individual binary IDS, and the server motherboard is configured to determine whether the connection cable is correctly connected according to the binary IDs. The present disclosure also provides a method for same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Shenzhen Fulian Fugui Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shan-Shan Ye, Li-Wen Guo, Fan Li
  • Patent number: 11912522
    Abstract: A discharge tray for loading thereon sheets to be discharged at a predetermined discharge angle by a discharge roller pair is provided. The discharge tray includes a loading surface provided at a predetermined first inclination angle with respect to a discharge direction of a sheet by the discharge roller pair so that a top of the sheet discharged by the discharge roller pair comes into contact with the loading surface, and a guide unit provided on the loading surface at a second inclination angle with respect to the loading surface so as to partially lift up the loaded sheet from the loading surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: RISO KAGAKU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ryosuke Miyachi
  • Patent number: 11390482
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a sheet conveyance portion, a punching member, a punching member moving portion, a position detection portion, and a controller. In a case of performing a punching process on a preceding sheet and a succeeding sheet successively conveyed to a predetermined position, the controller is configured to execute preliminary movement after the punching process on the preceding sheet is finished and before an end portion position of the succeeding sheet in a sheet width direction that coincides with a first punching position of the succeeding sheet in a conveyance direction reaches the position detection portion. The first punching position is a position where the punching process is first performed on the succeeding sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takahiro Endo
  • Patent number: 11365083
    Abstract: To provide a sheet stacking apparatus and image forming system capable of improving alignment characteristics also in the case where an aligning section is not able to act on a sheet discharged onto a stacking tray, the sheet stacking apparatus and image forming system include a stacking tray stacking discharged sheets, a pair of aligning sections capable of shifting in a width direction to align the width direction crossing a direction in which the sheet to stack on the stacking tray is discharged, and a control section that controls a relative position of the aligning sections and the sheet to discharge so that one of the pair of the aligning sections regulates a shift of the sheet stacked on the stacking tray to one direction side in the width direction, when a sheet with a predetermined width in the width direction of the sheet is discharged to the stacking tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: CANON FINETECH NISCA INC.
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Iwata
  • Patent number: 11345560
    Abstract: A sheet discharging device includes: a pair of medium supporting portions that have support surfaces that support the medium, and support the transported medium by the support surfaces; a stacking portion which is provided vertically below the pair of medium supporting portions and on which the medium dropped from the pair of medium supporting portions is stacked; and a standing wall that aligns the medium by contacting a rear end of the medium in the transport direction supported by the pair of medium supporting portions, and the standing wall includes: a center contacting wall that is provided at a center in the width direction and contacts the rear end of the medium; and recess portions that are provided on both sides of the center contacting wall in the width direction and are recessed in a direction away from the support surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Kondo, Chiaki Shimada, Tsuyoshi Furumido, Atsushi Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 11117777
    Abstract: A sheet conveyor device is to be attachably and detachably mounted to an external apparatus which forms an image on a sheet. The sheet conveyor device includes a judgement section, a speed determining section, and a conveyance controller. The judgement section determines which of a plurality of model groups the external apparatus belongs to based on specification information indicating specifications of the external apparatus. The speed determining section determines a conveyance speed at which the sheet is to be conveyed based on the determined model group. The conveyance controller directs conveyance of the sheet at the determined conveyance speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Yuta Ikeda
  • Patent number: 11104539
    Abstract: A postprocessing apparatus includes a horizontal alignment plate, a binder, a tray, and a shift actuator assembly. The horizontal alignment plate is positioned to align sheets in a sheet width direction. The binder binds sheets to form bound sheet bundles. The bound sheet bundles are stacked on the tray. The shift actuator assembly shifts the bound sheet bundles in the sheet width direction. A postprocessing controller controls the shift actuator assembly to shift the bound sheet bundles such that swollen portions of the bound sheet bundles are shifted inward of the horizontal alignment plate in the sheet width direction when the processed sheets are piled on the tray to the vicinity of the horizontal alignment plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Sugizaki
  • Patent number: 11006009
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus including an operation unit that includes a touch panel. The image forming apparatus further includes a display control unit configured to cause the touch panel to display an image and a detection unit configured to detect a touch operation performed by a user on the touch panel. In response to the detection unit detecting the touch operation on the touch panel that is displaying an object on the image, the display control unit performs control to hide the object from display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Tsukada
  • Patent number: 10981199
    Abstract: A processing system and method for nationwide commingling of mail item to increase efficiency and lower mailing costs includes a pre-sort facility which creates a first set of diverted mail items and a first set of associated data while a print and mail manufacture facility generates a second set of manufactured mail items and a second set of associated data and then receives the first set of diverted mail items and first set of associated data from the pre-sort facility and then commingles the first and second sets of mail items according to a predetermined set of commingling rules applied to the first and second sets of associated data to produce commingled mail items which reduces postal costs in mailing the commingled mail item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Broadridge Output Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Delfer, John Arndt, Kevin T. Malone
  • Patent number: 10747157
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a conveyor that conveys a recording medium; an image former that performs image formation for the recording medium; a receiver that receives an instruction of adjustment start of post pressing condition by a post processing apparatus without stopping a print job during continuous output operation that performs image formation continuously for a plurality of recording mediums, performs post processing by the post processing apparatus, and outputs the plurality of recording mediums; and a hardware processor that performs interval widening control for the recording medium being conveyed on a conveyance passage so as to convey the recording medium by widening an interval with a preceding recording medium from a time when the instruction of adjustment start of the post processing condition has been received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Yong Zuo
  • Patent number: 10726318
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus can facilitate a determination whether a sheet having an image formed thereon, which is discharged by a designated processed job, is allowed to be taken out or not. The image forming apparatus determines whether or not the sheet having the image formed thereon discharged by the designated processed job is stacked on a stacking unit on which the sheet having the image formed thereon discharged by a job currently performing image forming processing, based on stack state information which can be updated in real time. When a sheet having the image formed thereon is not allowed to be taken out, the image of the portion corresponding the sheet is highlighted. Further, a waiting time is displayed on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuaki Miyahara, Ryo Fujita, Yoshitaka Oba, Toru Shinnae
  • Patent number: 10662017
    Abstract: A printing device includes, in one example, a media output system including a mezzanine level including a plurality of media support members, the mezzanine level being intermediate to a floor level and a media output level; wherein the plurality of media support members move orthogonally relative to a print media path so that a number of finishing processes may be performed on print media accumulated on the number of media support members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Bruce G Johnson, Al Olson, Steve O Rasmussen, Elliott Downing, Jonathan Cha Spafford, Michael J Wilmink
  • Patent number: 10543513
    Abstract: A processing system and method for nationwide commingling of mail items to increase efficiency and lower mailing costs includes a pre-sort facility which creates a first set of diverted mail items and a first set of associated data while a print and mail manufacture facility generates a second set of manufactured mail items and a second set of associated data and then receives the first set of diverted mail items and first set of associated data from the pre-sort facility and then commingles the first and second sets of mail items according to a predetermined set of commingling rules applied to the first and second sets of associated data to produce commingled mail items which reduces postal costs in mailing the commingled mail item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Broadridge Output Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Delfer, John Arndt, Kevin T. Malone
  • Patent number: 10477056
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: an optical unit movably provided to a device main body; a flexible flat cable connected to the optical unit and to the device main body through a curved portion; a first friction surface on which the flexible flat cable abuts on an opposing surface of the device main body opposing the optical unit; and a second friction surface having a frictional force smaller than that of the first friction surface on which the flexible flat cable abuts on the opposing surface, wherein when the optical unit is positioned at an end portion on one side in a moving direction, the flexible flat cable abuts on the first friction surface, and the flexible flat cable further abuts on the second friction surface on a side where the curved portion is formed outside of the first friction surface in the moving direction of the optical unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Seiichiro Adachi
  • Patent number: 10310435
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a sheet post-processing apparatus according to the embodiment includes a paddle member and a controller. The paddle member rotates around a rotating shaft, presses a plurality of sheets held on a processing tray against a stopper and aligns ends of the sheets in a sheet transport direction. After the ends of the sheets in the sheet transport direction are aligned, the controller further rotates the paddle member, and stops rotation of the paddle member in a state that the paddle member comes in contact with the sheets held on the processing tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Taki
  • Patent number: 10155150
    Abstract: A random number generator for a game of chance includes a plurality of rotating structures. Each of the plurality of rotating structures includes a plurality of slots uniformly spaced about a center axis thereof. The random number generator includes a set of cards that are equal in number to the total number of slots such that one card is disposed in each of the slots. The generator also includes at least one detent mechanism for identifying a single card on at least one of the plurality of rotating structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Mark Hamilton Jones and Sheryle Lynn Jones
    Inventor: Mark H. Jones
  • Patent number: 10138084
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus of embodiments includes an accommodation unit and a notification unit. The accommodation unit accommodates both of a paper bundle and a packaging member therein in a state in which at least one of the paper bundle and the packaging member used to package the paper bundle satisfies predetermined conditions. The notification unit performs a notification of guidance on the predetermined conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masahiro Ohno
  • Patent number: 10120303
    Abstract: An image forming system includes a post-processing unit capable of performing a post-processing on the sheet on which the toner image is formed. The image forming system is capable of executing a transfer cleaning operation to more toner from a transfer member to an image bearer by electrostatic force caused by cleaning bias applied by a bias applying unit in a state where the image bearer and the transfer member are rotated, to clean the transfer member, as an inter-sheet operation performed when at least one of inter-sheet areas that exist on the image bearer during a successive image forming period. The image forming system is capable of executing a rotation stop operation to stop rotation of the image bearer and the transfer member, as the inter-sheet operation when the post-processing is performed, in addition to the transfer cleaning operation, before or after the transfer cleaning operation is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Kojima, Tomoya Ohmura, Sho Sekiguchi, Taichi Urayama, Kazuya Saitoh, Takuya Moriyama, Hiroomi Tamura, Tetsuto Ueda, Naoyuki Ozaki
  • Patent number: 10048635
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes a first holding unit configured to hold one or more sheets and movable in a sheet transport direction, a drive unit configured to move the first holding unit in the sheet transport direction, a biasing member, and a conversion unit. The biasing member biases the first holding unit in a second direction opposite to the sheet transport direction, stores elastic energy when the first holding unit is moved in the sheet transport direction, and moves the first holding unit in the second direction when the stored elastic energy in the biasing member is released. The conversion unit has a shaft configured to be rotated by the elastic energy stored in the biasing member to generate electrical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takahide Kenmotsu
  • Patent number: 9988231
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus, including: a support portion configured to support a second sheet different from a first sheet among a plurality of sheets when the first sheet located undermost among the plurality of sheets conveyed by a conveyance portion is placeable on a placement portion; and a restriction unit configured to bring the second sheet into a first state in order to restrict downward movement of the second sheet at a restriction position located downstream of a support position at which the support portion supports the second sheet when the first sheet is placeable on the placement portion, and to bring the second sheet into a second state in order to remove or reduce a restriction force for restricting the downward movement of the second sheet to less than a restriction force in the first state after bringing the second sheet into the first state at the restriction position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Finetech Nisca Inc.
    Inventors: Takahiro Nakano, Daiki Komiyama, Noritoshi Aikawa
  • Patent number: 9975722
    Abstract: A sheet discharge apparatus includes a discharge unit, a supporting portion, and a regulation portion. The discharge unit is configured to discharge a sheet. The supporting portion is configured to support the discharged sheet. The regulation portion is configured to regulate a trailing edge position of the discharged sheet in a sheet discharge direction. The supporting portion includes a base surface, a first projection portion, and a second projection portion. The first projection portion projects from the base surface, is disposed downstream of the regulation portion in the sheet discharge direction, and extends in a width direction orthogonal to the sheet discharge direction. The second projection portion projects from the base surface, is disposed downstream of the first projection portion in the sheet discharge direction with a predetermined interval from the first projection portion, and is shorter than the first projection portion in the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masakatsu Yamada
  • Patent number: 9676581
    Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus includes a conveying unit, a first support member configured to support a sheet, the first support member including a first supporting surface contacting an underside of a first end portion of the sheet in a direction orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction, a second support member configured to support the sheet, the second support member including a second supporting surface contacting an underside of a second end portion of the sheet, and a stacking unit. At least one of the first support member and the second support member is capable of moving between a first position that supports the sheet and a second position that does not support the sheet, and a length of the first support member is shorter than a length of the second support member in the sheet conveying direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuichiro Okawa
  • Patent number: 9505579
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus which is capable of reducing the frequency of switching a convey route. The sheet processing apparatus is provided with a switching unit that switches between a first position at which conveyed sheet is led to a first convey path, and a second position at which conveyed sheet is led to a second convey path. A buffering process of overlaying the conveyed sheet conveyed from a buffer path and another sheet subsequently conveyed by the conveyed unit is performed. The second convey path is used by the buffering process when the conveyed sheet to be received into the buffer path is ejected to the second stacking unit, and the first convey path is used by the buffering process when the conveyed sheet to be received into the buffer path is ejected to the first overlaying unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Ishikawa, Hitoshi Kato, Yasuo Fukatsu, Taishi Tomii
  • Patent number: 9469152
    Abstract: An electronic interface for electronic communication includes a system or apparatus for the order-based processing of flat items that can be categorized into flat item types. The interface has an exclusive input of formulations that combine features of flat item types to be processed in an order and the processing steps performed in the processing system, and/or for the order-based processing of orders according to which a specific amount of specific flat items are to be processed in accordance with one or more formulations, allows sources of error to be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Böwe Systec GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Hoepner, Thomas Huber, Robert Bayer, Stefan Streil, Helmut Schuessler
  • Patent number: 9415966
    Abstract: A post-processing apparatus includes a sheet support device, a pair of side edge regulation members that engage in sheet opposite side edges on the sheet support device, and a shift device configured to shift a position of each of the side edge regulation members, and thereby causing the members to perform carry operation to shift the sheet on the sheet support device, wherein in executing the carry operation, the shift device sandwiches the sheet by the pair of side edge regulation members, and thereby makes a state in which pressure is applied to the sheet to execute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignees: CANON FINETECH INC., NISCA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki Nishi, Natsuki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9336589
    Abstract: The paper feeder comprises a first transport unit (5) to transport a sheet (S) on top of a paper stack (2) on a paper loading table (3), and a second transport unit (6) to discharge sheets transferred from the first transport unit toward a binding device. The first transport unit begins transporting the next sheet each time a sheet is discharged from the second transport unit. Image data for a specified printed portion on the first sheet in the paper stack is stored in memory (19) as reference data. A camera (14) is disposed above the paper stack and photographs a region corresponding to the specified printed portion on the topmost sheet. A control unit (18) compares the image data for the paper photographed by the camera with the reference data, and if the image data matches the reference data, the first transport unit operations are paused.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: HORIZON INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Jun Mochizuki, Masayuki Kashiba
  • Patent number: 9039003
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing sheets of different formats, the apparatus including a feeding device that feed sheets of different formats in a feeding direction one behind the other, and at a certain conveying speed, at least two collecting drums disposed downstream of the feeding device, the at least two collecting drums having cylindrical lateral surfaces that rotate about an axis of rotation, securing means for temporarily securing the fed sheets on a circumference of the at least two collecting drums, a drive device that drives the collecting drums in rotation at a circumferential speed that corresponds to the conveying speed of the feeding device, and a sensing device for sensing the sheets of different formats moving past is arranged along the conveying path and senses the leading edge of the sheets of different formats, as seen in the feeding direction, or markings applied to the sheets of different formats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: HUNKELLER AG
    Inventors: Toni Egli, Stephan Riedel
  • Patent number: 8905393
    Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus for performing post-processing on a sheet having an image formed thereon. A stapling section or a scoring section performs processing on a sheet and a sheet bundle. The upper limit value of a sheet count of sheets processable at a time by the post-processing unit is equal to N (N is an integer). A buffer path performs buffer processing for retaining a conveyed sheet, placing the retained sheet and a sheet following the retained sheet one on the other, and conveying the superimposed sheets as a sheet bundle. A CPU controls the buffer path the stapling section or the scoring section such that when the processing is being performed on the sheet or the sheet bundle, the buffer processing is performed on a following sheet, and that the processing is performed on each sheet bundle having been subjected to the buffer processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yutaka Ando, Mitsuhiko Sato, Toshiyuki Miyake, Takashi Yokoya, Hiromasa Maenishi, Akihiro Arai
  • Publication number: 20140183808
    Abstract: A method of processing sheets of different formats, including feeding the sheets of different formats in a feeding direction one behind the other, and at a certain feeding speed, to at least two collecting drums, the at least two collecting drums each having cylindrical lateral surfaces, driving each of the at least two collecting drums about a respective axis of rotation at a circumferential speed, the circumferential speed corresponding to the feeding speed of the sheets, temporarily securing at least some of the sheets on one of the at least two collecting drums to form a sheet stack, detaching the sheet stack from the at least one of the at least two collecting drums, and bringing together the sheets or the sheet stack detached from the at least one of the at least two collecting drums with sheets or a sheet stack detached from another one.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: HUNKELER AG
    Inventors: Toni EGLI, Stephan RIEDEL
  • Patent number: 8727331
    Abstract: A sheet buffer apparatus retains a sheet to be conveyed to a post-processing unit and is configured to perform post-processing for a sheet. The apparatus comprises a buffer unit configured to perform buffer processing to retain a sheet to be conveyed to the post-processing unit and overlay the sheet to be retained and a succeeding sheet, a determination unit configured to determine whether a sheet is inhibited from the buffer processing by the buffer unit, and a control unit configured, when the determination unit determines that the sheet succeeding the sheet to be retained is a sheet for which the buffer processing is inhibited, to control the buffer unit not to perform the retaining of the sheet to be retained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Miyake, Mitsuhiko Sato, Takashi Yokoya, Yutaka Ando, Hidenori Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8708326
    Abstract: Sheets of different formats, i.e. of different format lengths, are transported in a feeding direction one behind the other; and at a certain conveying speed, to at least two collecting drums, which have essentially cylindrical lateral surfaces. Each of these collecting drums is driven about an axis of rotation at a circumferential speed, which corresponds essentially to the feeding speed of the sheets. The first incoming sheet is secured temporarily on one of the collecting drums, while the following, second sheet is secured temporarily on the other collecting drum. At a suitable point in time, the two sheets secured on the collecting drums are detached from the collecting drums and brought together with the third fed sheet to form a sub-product or end product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Hunkeler AG
    Inventors: Toni Egli, Stephan Riedel
  • Publication number: 20140061991
    Abstract: In a sheet storing apparatus of the present invention, a tailing end supporting member which temporarily supports a tailing end of a dropping sheet bundle is arranged between a discharging port of a processing tray to discharge the sheet bundle and the upmost sheet on a stack tray as being movable between an operating position above a sheet placement face and a waiting position outside the stack tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicants: NISCA CORPORATION, RISO KAGAKU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhito SHIMURA, Makoto SHIMIZU, Akira SUGIYAMA
  • Patent number: 8573582
    Abstract: A sheet buffer apparatus which retains a sheet to be conveyed to a post-processing unit configured to perform post-processing for a sheet, the apparatus comprises: a buffer unit configured to perform buffer processing to retain a sheet to be conveyed to the post-processing unit and overlay the sheet to be retained and a succeeding sheet; a determination unit configured to determine whether a sheet is inhibited from the buffer processing by the buffer unit; and a control unit configured, when the determination unit determines that the sheet succeeding the sheet to be retained is a sheet for which the buffer processing is inhibited, to control the buffer unit not to perform the retaining of the sheet to be retained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Miyake, Mitsuhiko Sato, Takashi Yokoya, Yutaka Ando, Hidenori Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8540227
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for accumulating discrete paper or film objects traveling in a machine direction. A first accumulator element of the apparatus is rotatable about a first axis of rotation. A second accumulator element is disposed in confronting relationship with the first accumulator element and has a first, generally flat surface, and a first arcuate surface. Both of these surfaces are rotatable about the first axis of rotation and the first accumulator element has a first angular position that defines a first gap relative to the second accumulator element for receiving the objects there between. The first accumulator element has a second angular position that defines a second gap relative to the second accumulator element for moving the objects in the machine direction, with the second gap being smaller than the first gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Inventor: Reinhard Buri
  • Patent number: 8511665
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a processing tray configured to stack a sheet to be processed, a sheet overlap unit configured to allow a sheet fed while the sheet to be processed is stacked on the processing tray, to be overlaid and made to wait, first and second bundle conveyance rollers configured to convey the sheet to the processing tray from the sheet overlap unit, and a sheet processing apparatus control unit configured to control an overlap operation in the sheet overlap unit, wherein the sheet processing apparatus control unit determines, based on sheet information relating to the sheet fed to the sheet overlap unit, whether a sheet to be then fed is overlaid on the sheet fed to the sheet overlap unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Iwata, Yusuke Obuchi, Hideki Kushida, Rikiya Takemasa
  • Publication number: 20130193630
    Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus for performing post-processing on a sheet having an image formed thereon. A stapling section or a scoring section performs processing on a sheet and a sheet bundle. The upper limit value of a sheet count of sheets processable at a time by the post-processing unit is equal to N (N is an integer). A buffer path performs buffer processing for retaining a conveyed sheet, placing the retained sheet and a sheet following the retained sheet one on the other, and conveying the superimposed sheets as a sheet bundle. A CPU controls the buffer path the stapling section or the scoring section such that when the processing is being performed on the sheet or the sheet bundle, the buffer processing is performed on a following sheet, and that the processing is performed on each sheet bundle having been subjected to the buffer processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
  • Publication number: 20130168914
    Abstract: A method for operating a sheet handling system including the steps of: determining a location of a next collation mark on select sheets of the stack of material, selecting an operating mode based upon the proximity of the next collation mark relative to a leading or trailing edge of each of the select sheets, processing the singulated sheets in a first operating mode when the next collation mark is proximal to the leading edge of each of the select sheets, and in a second operating mode, when the next collation mark is proximal to a trailing edge of each of the select sheets. Each of the select sheets is buffered to change the spatial relationship between each of the select sheet and each completed collation of sheets along the feed path. By selectively processing the sheets based upon the location of the next collation mark, the conveyance feed path is minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony E. Yap, Mark Macleod, Thomas M. Lyga, Gerald Leitz, Andrew J. Nikolatos, Richard Stengl, Iskander Tokmouline
  • Publication number: 20130093134
    Abstract: To provide a sheet storage apparatus for enabling sheets that are carried out of an image formation apparatus or the like on the upstream side to be loaded and stored in a predetermined position with a correct posture neatly at high speed, a sheet discharge roller and a reverse roller spaced a distance are disposed in a sheet discharge outlet and a tray, a kick member is provided to be swingable in a vertical direction passing a sheet discharge path of a sheet discharged from the sheet discharge outlet, and a posture of the kick member is controlled by shift means. The shift means controls the kick member among a waiting posture retracted upward from the sheet discharge path, an engagement posture for imposing a load on the sheet to engage, and an actuation posture dropping onto the tray together with the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: NISCA CORPORATION
    Inventor: NISCA CORPORATION
  • Patent number: 8388299
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described to produce and sequence a plurality of different books. An example system includes a plurality of signature feeders to deliver signatures to stations along a conveyor to simultaneously produce and sequence a plurality of different books in a first predetermined order to co-mail, wherein each of the different books has different content. Additionally, the example system includes one or more trimmers to trim the plurality of different books. Further, the example system includes a stacker to stack the plurality of different books in a second predetermined order, wherein the second predetermined order satisfies discount postage rate guidelines. Still further, the example system includes a controller to cause the plurality of different books to be produced in a first predetermined order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company
    Inventor: Thomas Eugene Ramsey
  • Patent number: 8366093
    Abstract: A method for determining a subgroup of a group of sheets in a sheet stream starting from a group start of the group comprises determining the subgroup end of the subgroup based on a sheet state parameter. The subgroup is determined by the group start and the subgroup end and comprises a variable number of sheets. The sheet state parameter determines which sheet in the sheet stream is a group end of the group of sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Boewe Systec GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Keil, Clemens Hauser, Volker Wagenknecht, Bernd Hoepner
  • Patent number: 8306654
    Abstract: A system is provided for aligning multi-sheet collations including a conveyance system having a transport deck for supporting and conveying the multi-sheet collation along a feed path. The system includes a first pair of registration members disposed orthogonal to the feed path and defining a processing station along the feed path. The registration members further define registration surfaces which are repositionable from an active position above the transport deck to an idle position below the transport deck. A first displacement mechanism raises and lowers the registration members into and out of the active and idle positions, and oscillates at least one of the registration surfaces forward and aft in a direction parallel to the feed path when the registration member is in its active position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Robert F. Marcinik, Russell W. Holbrook, Daniel J. Williams, Edward M. Ifkovits
  • Patent number: 8292285
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus capable of maintaining alignment of sheets of a sheet bundle on a processing tray even in a job uses sheets including particular sheets. In the sheet processing apparatus (finisher), a sheet conveyed along a conveying path is retained in a buffer path. The sheet and the following sheet are stacked on a processing tray in a state superposed with a shift in a conveying direction. A finisher controller determines in advance, before a conveyed sheet reaches the buffer path, whether or not the sheet is a particular sheet having a protrusion. When the sheet retained in the buffer path and the following sheet are to be superposed one upon the other, the amount of the shift between the sheets in the conveying direction is controlled according to a result of the determination by the finisher controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Yokoya, Toshiyuki Miyake, Mitsuhiko Sato, Yutaka Ando
  • Publication number: 20120242028
    Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus includes a guide portion, a command input unit, a post-processing unit, and a guide controller. The guide portion guides a sheet bundle including the sheet carried from a carry-in portion to the processing position. The command input unit that accepts input of a manual execution command. The post-processing unit performs a predetermined post-process on the sheet bundle disposed at the processing position based on the manual execution command input through the command input unit. The guide controller is connected to the image forming apparatus in a signal-receivable manner to receive sheet size information in an image formation period of the image forming apparatus and to control driving of the guide portion to change a guide size based on the received sheet size information so as to match the guide size with sheet bundles having different sheet sizes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: KYOCERA MITA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ryuichi Ishizu
  • Publication number: 20120242027
    Abstract: Sheets of different formats, i.e. of different format lengths, are transported in a feeding direction one behind the other; and at a certain conveying speed, to at least two collecting drums, which have essentially cylindrical lateral surfaces. Each of these collecting drums is driven about an axis of rotation at a circumferential speed, which corresponds essentially to the feeding speed of the sheets. The first incoming sheet is secured temporarily on one of the collecting drums, while the following, second sheet is secured temporarily on the other collecting drum. At a suitable point in time, the two sheets secured on the collecting drums are detached from the collecting drums and brought together with the third fed sheet to form a sub-product or end product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: HUNKELER AG
    Inventors: Toni EGLI, Stephan RIEDEL
  • Patent number: 8267392
    Abstract: An inserter device for a document printer and inserter system includes a first container sensor. A belt mechanism includes a flexible delivery belt receiving a printed document from a document printer. A motor rotates the delivery belt in response to an actuation signal from the first container sensor indicating the presence of a container at a document loading position proximate the delivery belt. A support shaft is rotatably connected to a support frame. The belt mechanism is fixed to the support shaft. The support shaft is rotated to achieve a desired belt drive angle and fixed to the support frame to maintain the belt drive angle. A rigid document diverter proximate the delivery belt deflects a document discharged from the delivery belt at the belt drive angle into the container. First and second belt tensioning assemblies are individually positioned in either a belt mechanism drive box or idler box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Andersen & Associates
    Inventors: Anthony F. Morgott, Mark J. Jordan
  • Patent number: 8251360
    Abstract: A sheet handling apparatus is presented that includes a first module arranged along a sheet conveyance route from the upstream to the downstream thereof, and a second module arranged adjacent to the first module. The first module includes a first control part to transmit destination information and category information of discriminated sheets and to execute conveyance control to the sheet residing along the first conveyance route. The second module includes a second control part to execute conveyance control to the sheets residing along the second conveyance route, and to transmit information of the number of sheets in each category stacked in the first stacking device. The first control part is configured to execute a cross-check to determine whether the information of the number of sheets in each category received from the second control part matches the information of the number of sheets transmitted to the second control part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Takao Mori
  • Patent number: 8251361
    Abstract: In a sheet processing apparatus that, for example, sorts or staples sheets after image formation, when preceding finishing is not completed on a processing tray, a third sheet fed anew into awaiting tray of a sheet placing member configuring a sheet waiting unit, which temporarily puts a sheet conveyed thereto on standby, is stacked to be shifted such that leading ends of second and third sheets are located further on a conveying direction upstream side than a leading end of a first sheet. Consequently, longitudinal alignment in the processing tray after that is surely performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Taki, Yasunobu Terao, Toshiaki Oshiro, Yoshiaki Sugizaki, Mikio Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8246032
    Abstract: Provided is a sheet ejection tray to which sheets are ejected; a stacker in which, after a plurality of sheets have been stacked, these sheets are ejected to the sheet ejection tray; a sheet ejection control section capable of controlling in such a way that it is selectable whether the sheets are ejected to the sheet ejection tray after having been stacked in the stack section, or the sheets are ejected to the sheet ejection tray without using the stack section; and an input button employed by an user to perform input operations. The sheet ejection control section provides control in such a way that, when the input button has been operated to perform an input operation while the sheets are ejected to the sheet ejection tray without using the stacker, the sheets will be ejected to the sheet ejection tray after having been stacked temporarily in the stacker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Hirofumi Nakajima
  • Publication number: 20120205853
    Abstract: A post-processing device includes a processing tray on which sheets are to be stacked, a transport portion for transporting, a sheet introduced through an introduction port, a turn-aside portion for turning aside the sheet to delay arrival of the sheet at the processing tray, and a delivery mechanism for delivering the sheets stacked on the processing tray to a delivery tray on a boundary between copies. When a remaining number of sheets of one copy unstacked on the processing tray exceeds a maximum number of stacked sheets that is an amount of sheets stackable on the processing tray, the delivery mechanism delivers a sheet stack of the one copy a plurality of times so as to avoid delivery of only one sheet on a last page of the one copy, and the turn-aside portion turns aside a sheet on a first page to be stacked after delivering the sheet bundle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventor: Shigeaki NAKAMURA
  • Patent number: 8243324
    Abstract: When a user sets, from a user interface window using a bookbinding application, instructions of dividing a document into a plurality of parts and stapling each part of the document, a printer driver generates one job in which the staple attribute of a binder corresponding to each part is set to “ON” or “OFF”, and issues the job for a printer. With this operation, the user can perform staple designation to an arbitrary part of the document, and can realize a plurality of staple processes in one print job.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji Nakagiri