Sheet Arrival Sensor Patents (Class 270/58.02)
  • Patent number: 11360421
    Abstract: A sheet sorting device includes a plurality of trays, a tray shifter, a tray stop position detector, and circuitry. The plurality of trays is disposed in multiple stages in a vertical direction and configured to stack a sheet. The tray shifter is configured to move the plurality of trays separately in a tray shift direction. The tray stop position detector is configured to detect stop positions of the plurality of trays separately. The circuitry is configured to cause the tray shifter to move the plurality of trays to home positions in an initial operation, at least one tray having a home position opposite to a home position of another tray in the tray shift direction. The circuitry is configured to, while moving the plurality of trays at a same time in the initial operation, cause the tray shifter to move the trays in directions opposite to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakazu Fujita, Yasushi Tsuruoka, Takamasa Matsumoto, Hiroaki Utagawa, Ryohsuke Akaishi, Hisayoshi Sugawara
  • Patent number: 11144000
    Abstract: A paper ejection device includes: an ejection portion that ejects sheets of paper; a housing portion that houses the ejected sheets of paper in a sequentially stacked state; and a guiding portion that guides the sheets of paper, before being ejected, to the ejection portion while curving the sheets of paper. The housing portion is adjustable to plural angles including at least an angle at which the ejected sheets of paper are housed while being curved in a direction opposite to a direction in which the sheets of paper have been curved by the guiding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Fumiyuki Honda, Yukihiro Ichiki, Sota Hara, Kenichi Ishikura, Kazuhiro Tobita, Sho Ogawa
  • Patent number: 11091343
    Abstract: A medium transporting apparatus including a transport belt that transports a medium while suctioning the medium against a transport surface, a first tray on which the medium transported with the transport belt is mounted, and a transport roller configured to move between a transporting position that nips the medium with the transport belt, and a retracted position that is a position distanced away from the transport belt with respect to the transporting position, in which the transport roller is positioned at the retracted position when a single medium is transported with the transport belt and is positioned at the transporting position when a plurality of mediums in a superposed state are transported with the transport belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akinobu Nakahata, Tsuyoshi Furumido, Masaki Miyazawa, Kazuyoshi Ohashi
  • Patent number: 10947076
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus that is capable of reducing influence of a failure on execution of a print job even if a post-processing apparatus that has a sheet stacking unit breaks down. Post-processing apparatuses are connected at a downstream side of an image forming apparatus in a sheet conveyance direction and apply post-processes to the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus. A specifying unit specifies an available downstream-most apparatus from among the post-processing apparatuses. A setting unit can set a forced discharge mode in which a sheet is discharged to the downstream-most apparatus when the downstream-most apparatus is not provided with a sheet stacking unit. When the forced discharge mode is set, apparatuses at an upstream side of the downstream-most apparatus are controlled so as to discharge a sheet to the downstream-most apparatus and the downstream-most apparatus is controlled so as to discharge the sheet outside the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yutaka Ando, Toshiyuki Miyake, Riki Fukuhara
  • Patent number: 10676309
    Abstract: A cash box has a storage area for storing several notes of value and a counterpressure unit, which delimits the storage area and is movable between first and second positions. The cash box includes a sensor unit with at least one sensor element, the sensor unit emitting a sensor signal that is dependent on the position of the sensor element. The counterpressure unit has a recess for receiving at least a part of the sensor element. The sensor element and the recess are arranged such that the sensor element is only received whenever the counterpressure unit is in the first position and no note of value is present between the sensor element and the recess. The cash box has a control unit which determines on the basis of the sensor signal of the sensor unit and the position of the counterpressure unit whether the cash box is empty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Wincor Nixdorf International, GmbH
    Inventor: Elmar Berendes
  • Patent number: 10579008
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a sheet processing apparatus, containing a controller that acquires a predetermined data associated with a physical quantity of one of a driving motor or a driven member driven by the motor based on a predetermined signal, compare the predetermined data with a threshold value, and determine whether to transmit a request for increasing a discharge interval of a sheet based on the comparative result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasunobu Terao
  • Patent number: 10232648
    Abstract: A printer includes an encoder scale having a reading region that is read by an encoder that detects a motion of a transport driving roller, and an anti-static unit having an anti-static brush that is in contact with the encoder scale and a base that supports the anti-static brush, wherein the anti-static brush is in contact with a region of the encoder scale other than the reading region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toshio Miyake, Eiji Taketsugu, Masachika Nagase
  • Patent number: 10214377
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a processing tray, a conveyance roller, an extrusion member, a pinch roller and a controller. The conveyance roller is arranged at a downstream side of the processing tray in a sheet conveyance direction, and conveys the sheet. The extrusion member extrudes an end of an upstream side in the sheet conveyance direction of the sheet placed on the processing tray to the downstream side. The pinch roller moves to a rotation position at the time of conveying the sheet by the conveyance roller to sandwich the sheet with the conveyance roller. The controller controls the pinch roller and the conveyance roller to convey the sheet using the pinch roller and the conveyance roller when the sheet placed on the processing tray is conveyed to the downstream side in the sheet conveyance direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shoichi Dobashi, Yoshihisa Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 10191434
    Abstract: Provided is an image formation system including an image formation device and a post-processing device configured to convey a paper sheet on which an image has been formed at the image formation device or carry out post-processing thereon, including: a paper ejection tray on which the discharged paper sheet is placed; a jam detector configured to detect a jam of the paper sheet conveyed in a paper conveyance passage; a partition paper sheet inserter configured to insert a partition paper sheet on the paper ejection tray; and a control unit, wherein the control unit controls the partition paper sheet inserter such that, after the jam is detected and paper sheets to be removed, at least including a responsible paper sheet, are removed, the partition paper sheet is inserted on the paper ejection tray before the paper sheet remaining in the paper conveyance passage is discharged to the paper ejection tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventor: Dan Zhu
  • Patent number: 10173857
    Abstract: A sheet processing system according to an embodiment includes a tray that supports a sheet on opposite sides of the sheet orthogonal to a conveyance direction of the sheet. The tray includes a first adjustable support and second adjustable support positioned opposite the first adjustable support in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the sheet. A skew sensor detects a skew angle of the sheet conveyed to the tray. A corner sensor detects positions of each corner on a front end in the downstream direction of the sheet conveyed to the tray. A controller controls movement of the first and second adjustable supports based on the detected skew angle and the detected positions of each corner on the front end of the sheet conveyed to the tray so that the sheet is conveyed to the tray without jamming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshihisa Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 10140045
    Abstract: A management target constituting the target of processing executed by a first storage system in accordance with a request transmitted from a higher-level device is managed by first and second management identifiers. A request designating the first management identifier is received from the higher-level device, and a first management identifier designated by the request is converted into a corresponding second management identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ai Satoyama, Yoshiaki Eguchi
  • Patent number: 10138083
    Abstract: A sheet discharging apparatus includes an apparatus body, a sheet discharge member provided in the apparatus body, and a movable tray including a sheet supporting surface. A movable member in the movable tray is moved by being pressed by the sheet supported on the sheet supporting surface, and a detecting portion detects a presence of the sheet supported on the sheet supporting surface in response to a position of the movable member. The movable member includes an extension portion extending out of the movable tray toward the apparatus body, and the apparatus body is provided with an opening portion through which the extension portion extends. The opening portion is formed such that the extension portion is movable along a moving direction of the movable tray within the apparatus body, and the detecting portion detects a position of the movable member by detecting the extension portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomooku Koyama
  • Patent number: 10053313
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a lift plate, an actuator, a photosensor, and a controller. Paper is placed on the lift plate. The lift plate is driven to increase a first inclination angle in response to a decrease in a residual amount of the paper placed on the lift plate. The first inclination angle indicates an angle of inclination of the lift plate with respect to a horizontal plane. A second inclination angle indicating an angle of inclination of the actuator with respect to the horizontal plane increases in response to an increase in the first inclination angle. The actuator increases or decreases a transmitted light quantity along with an increase in the second inclination angle. The photosensor detects the transmitted light quantity. The controller calculates the residual amount of the paper on the basis of the transmitted light quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Shinji Akamatsu
  • Patent number: 10023417
    Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus includes: a sheet stack tray; a rear-end-position regulating member, against which a rear end of the sheet on the tray is butted to align a position of the sheet in a sheet conveying direction to the stack tray, the rear end of the sheet being a rear end in the conveying direction; and a roller member that comes in contact with an upper surface of the sheet conveyed to an upper side of the tray, before the sheet is stacked on a stacking surface on the tray, and conveys the sheet stacked on the stacking surface toward the rear-end-position regulating member, wherein a rotation speed before stacking is set to be smaller than a rotation speed after stacking, and the rotation speed of before stacking is greater than zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidefumi Shibata, Masanobu Kimata, Masaaki Kawasaki, Ryohei Morisaki, Norihiko Murakami, Maki Nishide
  • Patent number: 9908703
    Abstract: A robotic storage assembly includes a safe that may a plurality of items. A drawer is slidably coupled to the safe. A control is coupled to the safe and the control may be manipulated. A storage unit is positioned within the safe to contain the plurality of items. The storage unit includes a plurality of trays. A spacing unit is positioned within the safe and the spacing unit engages the plurality of trays. The spacing unit selectively spaces the trays apart from each other. A retrieval unit is positioned within the safe. The retrieval unit is selectively positioned between the trays when the trays are spaced apart. Thus, the retrieval unit retrieves the items in the storage unit. The retrieval unit is selectively aligned with the drawer to deposit the items in the drawer. Thus, the items may be removed from the safe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Inventors: Brandon Andrews, Steve Andrews
  • Patent number: 9851677
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a sheet processing apparatus includes a first tray, a second tray, a discharge member, and a guide. The guide is provided to the second tray and changes a transport angle of sheets with respect to the second tray when the sheets are sent from a transport path toward the discharge member without passing through the first tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba TEC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shoichi Dobashi
  • Patent number: 9834399
    Abstract: A sheet processing system according to an embodiment includes a tray that supports a sheet on opposite sides of the sheet orthogonal to a conveyance direction of the sheet. The tray includes a first adjustable support and second adjustable support positioned opposite the first adjustable support in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the sheet. A skew sensor detects a skew angle of the sheet conveyed to the tray. A corner sensor detects positions of each corner on a front end in the downstream direction of the sheet conveyed to the tray. A controller controls movement of the first and second adjustable supports based on the detected skew angle and the detected positions of each corner on the front end of the sheet conveyed to the tray so that the sheet is conveyed to the tray without jamming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshihisa Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 9346646
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, an image forming unit, a storage portion, a moving unit, a stack portion, and a conveyance unit, wherein if the storage portion can store the sheet, the conveyance unit conveys the sheet on which the image has been formed to the storage portion, and if the storage portion cannot store the sheet, the image forming apparatus transitions to a standby state and waits for a discharge instruction, and when the discharge instruction is received, the conveyance unit conveys the sheet on which the image has been formed to the stack portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroharu Tsuji, Masayoshi Fukatsu, Yohei Suzuki, Genki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9221642
    Abstract: A paper transport device includes a transport motor, a branch motor, and a processing unit. In order to generate a holding torque in the branch motor while the transport motor is rotating, the processing unit supplies the exciting current of a first current value to the branch motor in a first time period including the start of the rotation of the transport motor and an acceleration period of the rotation. In a second time period following the first time period and including a stable period in which a rotational speed of the transport motor is stable, the processing unit supplies the exciting current of a second current value, the absolute value of which is smaller than that of the first current value, to the branch motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Masayuki Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 9144915
    Abstract: A driving roller for conveying a sheet to a sheet punching unit, and a sheet inverting unit including a driving roll capable of being driven to rotate by the driving roller are provided between a branching point, at which a return path of a sheet conveying path is branched, and a sheet punching unit. When a subsequent sheet for which a punching process is performed next reaches the sheet inverting unit, the sheet to which the punching process has been performed by the sheet punching unit is conveyed to the return path by the driving roll while making the sheet pass by a subsequent sheet conveyed to the sheet punching unit by the driving roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Watanabe, Akito Sekigawa
  • Patent number: 8998192
    Abstract: In the invention, for a first sheet, regardless of the sheet size (width), a lateral registration detector is moved in a direction towards an edge face of the sheet from a home position to detect the edge face of the sheet. With lateral deviation in the sheet position corrected, punching is performed by a puncher. For the second and subsequent sheets, the lateral registration detector is moved in advance to near the edge face of the sheet with reference to the detected position of the sheet edge of the first sheet, and the edge face is detected at a given timing. With lateral deviation in the sheet position corrected, punching is performed by the puncher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Hiroki Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8894057
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus capable of detecting a lateral position deviation amount of a sheet with high precision and at a high speed. A sheet sensing unit includes two or more sensors, each of which sensing a side edge of the sheet, disposed in a widthwise direction of the sheet. A position deviation amount of the sheet in the widthwise direction is detected based on a moving distance of the sheet sensing unit until at least one of the sensors senses the side edge of the sheet. The position deviation amount of the sheet is determined using a sensing result of the side edge of sheet after the sheet sensing unit moves by a predetermined distance, while invalidating a sensing result of the side edge of sheet sensing unit in the widthwise direction from when a driving unit starts driving until the sheet sensing unit moves by the predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Kato, Naoki Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 8842299
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a printing function, a scanner function, and a control unit. In the printing function, a printed material acquired by recording image data included in a printing job received through a network on a recording paper is discharged. In the scanner function, the image data is acquired by reading a manuscript. The control unit judges whether the scanner function is in use for a long time (step A2) at the time of receiving the printing job (step A1). A printed material is discharged to an in-body discharge tray when it is judged that the scanner function is not in use for a long time (step A3). The printed material is discharged to a side discharge tray when it is judged that the scanner function is in use for a long time (step A5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Izumi Kadobayashi
  • Patent number: 8702094
    Abstract: According to aspects illustrated herein, a system, a printmaking device, and a method for pre-curling and registering media are provided herein. The system includes a media curler system and a deskew mechanism. The media curler system pre-curls at least one of lead edge and a trail edge of a sheet before delivery to a media hold-down transport. The deskew mechanism is coupled to the media curler system for pivoting the media curler system about a pivot axis to deskew the sheet. The pivot axis extends perpendicular to the media transport path. In operation, as the lead edge enters the pre-curling and registration system, the media curler system pre-curls the sheet towards the media hold-down transport. As the sheet is being pre-curled, the deskew mechanism pivots the media curler system about the pivot axis to correct any skew errors in the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Barry P. Mandel, Marina L. Tharayil, Donald E. Johnston
  • Patent number: 8482759
    Abstract: A CPU of a printing apparatus selects one of a plurality of setting permission information items based on sheet property information in a case in which printing processing is performed employing a specific sheet type. Subsequently, the CPU of the printing apparatus performs a setting regarding each of a plurality of printing setting items so as to obtain a setting permitted in the selected setting permission information item in a case in which printing processing is performed employing a specific sheet type. Thus, a printing apparatus capable of executing the printing settings of a plurality of printing setting items appropriately is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Utsunomiya
  • Patent number: 8172213
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a conveying motor for conveying a sheet along a conveying path, a skew detecting unit configured to detect a quantity of skew of the conveyed sheet, a hole punching section arranged downstream from the skew detecting unit, an attitude control unit configured to carry out skew correction by changing tilt angle of the hole punching section in accordance with the quantity of skew, a detecting unit configured to detect the forward edge and the rear edge of the sheet conveyed into the hole punching section, and a control unit configured to control the conveying motor to control the conveying speed of the sheet. During a period from when the detecting unit detects the forward edge of the sheet until the detecting unit detects the rear edge, the sheet is decelerated from a first conveying speed to a second conveying speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ken Iguchi, Hiroyuki Tsuchihashi, Tetsuhiro Morita
  • Patent number: 8172215
    Abstract: In a sheet stacking apparatus, a sheet stacking unit stacks sheets conveyed by a sheet conveyance device. Three sheet extraction portions allow to selectively extract the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking unit from one of three directions including the downstream side of the sheet conveyance direction and two directions perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction. A plurality of first detection sensors are provided in at least two of the three sheet extraction portions to detect an object that enters the sheet stacking unit. A second detection sensor detects the moving direction of the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking unit. A control device stops the operation of the sheet conveyance device when the first detection sensor detects the object, and disables the detection operation of the first detection sensor corresponding to the moving direction of the sheets when the second detection sensor detects the moving direction of the sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Komori Corporation
    Inventor: Shoichi Ichimura
  • Patent number: 8141862
    Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus including: an open-close door; a stapler which executes a staple processing to a bundle of sheets; a staple jam detection section which detects a staple jam; a stapler moving section which moves the stapler to an access position disposed close to the open-close door; a stacker which holds the bundle of sheets to be stapled; a sheet sensor which detects whether a sheet exist on the stacker; and a controller which controls the stapler moving section, wherein when the staple jam detection section detects a staple jam, the controller controls to operate the stapler moving section to move the stapler from a home position to the access position, and wherein, when the sheet sensor detects the sheet on the stacker, the controller prohibits to move the stapler to the access position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Tomoya Motoyoshi
  • Patent number: 8083220
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus capable of reliably superposing a sheet to be buffered and a following sheet in a manner displaced by an allowable displacement amount, thereby making it possible to suppress generation of misalignment. A sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus is temporarily held back, and a following sheet is superposed on the held-back sheet in a state displaced in a conveying direction. A length in the conveying direction of the sheet to be held back and a length in the conveying direction of a sheet bundle of the superposed sheets are measured. A displacement amount provided between the superposed sheets, computed as a difference between the measured length of the sheet and the measured length of the sheet bundle, is adjusted such that the displacement amount becomes a target displacement amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Kato, Tsuyoshi Moriyama, Yasuo Fukatsu, Naoki Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 8070155
    Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus includes first rollers that convey a sheet, a waiting tray that includes a pair of sheet supporting units movable in a direction orthogonal to a conveying direction of the sheet and on which the sheet conveyed via the first rollers is stacked, second rollers that are provided downstream the waiting tray along the conveying direction of the sheet and are suspended, when projection of a leading end of the sheet from the waiting tray reaches a predetermined projection amount according to the conveyance of the sheet, simultaneously with the first rollers disposed upstream the waiting tray, and an aligning unit that stacks the sheet and continuously-conveyed plural sheets dropped after a trailing end of the sheet is discharged onto the waiting tray by the first rollers and the second rollers and aligns a bundle of the plural sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuya Sasahara, Yoshiaki Sugizaki, Katsuhiko Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 8052134
    Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus of the present invention has, above a processing tray, a standby tray for making a sheet stand by. The sheet on the standby tray is dropped and supplied onto the processing tray, so that a sheet feeding path between the standby tray and processing tray can be shortened. In the case where there exists no sheet on the sheet discharge tray when a sheet bundle is discharged onto the sheet discharge tray, one sheet is previously discharged onto the sheet discharge tray. Thus, by discharging the sheet bundle in a state where there is the one sheet on the sheet discharge tray, the sheet vertical alignment in the case where the sheet bundle is discharged onto the sheet discharge tray can be enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasunobu Terao, Mikio Yamamoto, Yoshiaki Sugizaki, Hiroyuki Taki
  • Patent number: 8042796
    Abstract: A sheet finishing apparatus includes a moving mechanism to move a puncher for boring punch holes in a sheet between a penetrate position and standby position, a detection section which is disposed upstream of the puncher in a sheet conveyance direction and detects a leading edge of the sheet, and a control section to control a moving mechanism based on a detection timing of the detection section and according to a size of the sheet and a movement speed of the sheet, so that a front corner of the sheet does not coincide with a position of a punching blade of the puncher when the sheet passes through the puncher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba TEC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ken Iguchi
  • Patent number: 8016280
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a hole punching section arranged orthogonally to a conveying path of a sheet, a moving mechanism which moves the hole punching section along a direction orthogonal to the conveying path, a detection unit which is arranged upstream from the hole punching section and which moves by being interlocked with the hole punching section and detects a lateral edge of the sheet conveyed thereto, and a control unit which controls the moving mechanism in accordance with the result of detection by the detection unit and varies the position of the hole punching section, thus controlling the punching processing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ken Iguchi, Hiroyuki Tsuchihashi, Tetsuhiro Morita
  • Patent number: 7992853
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing documents is provided. Documents having a selected characteristic are placed into a first area, whereas documents not having the selected characteristic are placed into a second area. A sensor in the first area detects the presence of documents in the first area. The documents are conveyed to a scanner that scans the documents to obtain information regarding the documents. The processing of the documents is controlled by a processor. A document is electronically tagged as having the selected characteristic and processed accordingly in response to the detection of the document in the first area and in response to whether the document arrived at the scanner during a pre-determined time frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Opex Corporation
    Inventors: George L Hayduchok, Peter M. Chezik
  • Patent number: 7916892
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing mail is provided. Mail is placed into an input bin having a conveyor that conveys the mail towards a feeder. the feeder serially feeds the envelopes by engaging the lead envelope in the stack of mail and displacing the lead envelope transverse the stack of mail. The mail is then cut on a side edge and the top edge to cut open each envelope. A transport conveys the cut envelopes to an extractor. The extractor opens the edge-severed mail and presents the contents of the envelopes to an operator who manually extracts the contents. The operator drops the extracted contents onto a conveyor that conveys the contents to an imaging station. The contents are automatically separated and imaged to obtain image data for the contents. The contents are then sorted into a plurality of output bins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Opex Corporation
    Inventor: George L. Hayduchok
  • Patent number: 7905478
    Abstract: An inserter apparatus has a printer A and an inserter apparatus B. The printer A has a print section 13, and an insert information output section 9 for outputting insert information including an insert page showing a position of an insert paper and an interval of printing papers. The inserter apparatus B has a discharged paper carrying section 17 of printing papers from the print section 13; a counter section 19 for counting the number of sheets of the printing papers; a paper feeding section 21 for setting the insert paper therein; and a paper feeding controller 23. Based on insert information from the insert information output section 9, the paper feeding controller 23 controls the insert paper to be fed at a timing before the next paper interval is passed after a count value of the counter section 19 reaches one page before the insert page. Therefore, it is possible to realize an excellent short insert processing for the printing papers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Hidehiro Tabuchi
  • Patent number: 7900905
    Abstract: A post-processing apparatus, including a stacker which stacks sheets, including a sheet stopping member which aligns the sheet and an urging member which urges the sheet to move toward the sheet stopping member, an accumulating section which is positioned upstream of the stacker in a sheet conveyance direction, a first sheet detection section which is positioned upstream of the accumulating section, and a control section which controls the accumulating section, based on a sheet detection signal, to superimpose a secondary sheet on a primary sheet in the accumulating section, wherein a leading section of the primary sheet is positioned toward an upstream side for a first predetermined length from a leading section of the secondary sheet, and controls the urging member to rub a leading section of the primary sheet which protrudes from the secondary sheet toward the sheet stopping member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomohiro Kiriyama
  • Patent number: 7900901
    Abstract: A system for gathering printed products includes a transport device and feed devices for the printed products, which form a gathering line, wherein the transport device has receiving points for the printed products located at regular intervals on a revolving traction apparatus. A sensor, which monitors the functionality of the receiving points along the transport line to detect defects, is connected to a control unit, which determines the feed of the printed products to the receiving points of the transport device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Muller Martini Holding AG
    Inventor: Christian Abegglen
  • Patent number: 7891652
    Abstract: A compiling unit includes a collection tray and a variable-speed compiling system adapted to operate at at least two speeds to thereby receive a sheet of media at a higher speed and register the sheet of media within the collection tray at a lower speed. A control system is adapted to selectively operate the variable-speed compiling system at the at least two speeds. A printing system having a sheet media source, at least one marking engine, such a compiling unit and such a control system is included. A method of compiling sheet media is also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Barry P Mandel, Steven R Moore, Martin Krucinski
  • Publication number: 20110031675
    Abstract: Certain embodiments provide a stapling unit including a stapler, a processing tray, a stapler moving mechanism, a sensor configured to scan sheets in a sheet width direction, and a controller configured to drive the stapler. The controller measures sheet width of the sheets according to an output of the sensor. The controller calculates a center position between other two sheet edges each orthogonal to a sheet edge where the stapler drives staples into stapling positions. The controller allocates the stapling positions in the two places with reference to the center position. The controller moves the stapler moving mechanism to the stapling positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasunobu Terao
  • Patent number: 7878495
    Abstract: Timing information for use to determine the timing to discharge a sheet from an image forming apparatus is transmitted. The timing information is relayed, by being edited repeatedly, from a first sheet processing apparatus connected directly with the image forming apparatus to a second sheet processing apparatus which actually processes the sheet. The timing information is edited on each sheet processing apparatus by considering, for example, transit time of the sheet, processing time of the sheet, preparation time for the sheet to get ready to be processed, and the like. The second sheet processing apparatus transmits the timing information to the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus determines the discharge timing of the sheet based on the received timing information and discharges the sheet with the determined discharge timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shunsuke Nishimura, Manabu Yamauchi, Naoto Watanabe, Takayuki Fujii, Mitsuhiko Sato, Hidenori Sunada, Ichiro Sasaki, Akinobu Nishikata
  • Patent number: 7845626
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a first detecting unit including a first sensor and a second sensor arranged at a predetermined spacing from each other on a line orthogonal to a conveying path through which a sheet is conveyed, and a hole punching section provided downstream at a predetermined distance from the first detecting unit and arranged orthogonally to the conveying path of the sheet. The quantity of skew of the sheet is detected in accordance with a difference between time when a forward edge or a rear edge of the sheet passing through the conveying path passes the first sensor and time when the forward edge or rear edge passes the second sensor. Position information of the sheet with respect to the hole punching section is calculated in accordance with information of timing when the first sensor and the second sensor detect the passage of the sheet edge, and the conveying speed of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ken Iguchi, Hiroyuki Tsuchihashi, Tetsuhiro Morita
  • Patent number: 7828278
    Abstract: An inserter apparatus has a printer A and an inserter apparatus B. The printer A has a print section 13, and an insert information output section 9 for outputting insert information including an insert page showing a position of an insert paper and an interval of printing papers. The inserter apparatus B has a discharged paper carrying section 17 of printing papers from the print section 13; a counter section 19 for counting the number of sheets of the printing papers; a paper feeding section 21 for setting the insert paper therein; and a paper feeding controller 23. Based on insert information from the insert information output section 9, the paper feeding controller 23 controls the insert paper to be fed at a timing before the next paper interval is passed after a count value of the counter section 19 reaches one page before the insert page. Therefore, it is possible to realize an excellent short insert processing for the printing papers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Hidehiro Tabuchi
  • Patent number: 7802782
    Abstract: An image forming system which is capable of preventing paper jam from occurring in a sheet processing apparatus to thereby maintain the stability of the system. An alignment plates of an alignment unit movable in a lateral direction each sheet are brought into abutment with opposite side edges of sheets stacked on the sheet stack unit to laterally align the sheets. A lateral registration sensor unit detects a lateral position of the sheet being conveyed. When the detected lateral position of the sheet is beyond a predetermined position, the CPU of the apparatus changes the standby positions of the alignment plates such that spacing therebetween in the lateral direction the sheet is widened by a predetermined amount, and extends the conveying interval of sheets in the image forming apparatus by a predetermined time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Moriyama, Hitoshi Kato, Yasuo Fukatsu, Naoki Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 7802781
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a conveying motor for conveying a sheet along a conveying path, a skew detecting unit configured to detect a quantity of skew of the conveyed sheet, a hole punching section arranged downstream from the skew detecting unit, an attitude control unit configured to carry out skew correction by changing tilt angle of the hole punching section in accordance with the quantity of skew, a detecting unit configured to detect the forward edge and the rear edge of the sheet conveyed into the hole punching section, and a control unit configured to control the conveying motor to control the conveying speed of the sheet. During a period from when the detecting unit detects the forward edge of the sheet until the detecting unit detects the rear edge, the sheet is decelerated from a first conveying speed to a second conveying speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ken Iguchi, Hiroyuki Tsuchihashi, Tetsuhiro Morita
  • Patent number: 7758033
    Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus of the present invention has, above a processing tray, a standby tray for making a sheet stand by. The sheet on the standby tray is dropped and supplied onto the processing tray, so that a sheet feeding path between the standby tray and processing tray can be shortened. In the case where there exists no sheet on the sheet discharge tray when a sheet bundle is discharged onto the sheet discharge tray, one sheet is previously discharged onto the sheet discharge tray. Thus, by discharging the sheet bundle in a state where there is the one sheet on the sheet discharge tray, the sheet vertical alignment in the case where the sheet bundle is discharged onto the sheet discharge tray can be enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasunobu Terao, Mikio Yamamoto, Yoshiaki Sugizaki, Hiroyuki Taki
  • Publication number: 20100171256
    Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet processing apparatus that can prevent, with higher certainty, lift of the trailing end of each sheet placed in sheet stacking portion. This apparatus includes a first holding member and a second holding member that prevent lift of the trailing end of each sheet from an intermediate stacking portion. When introduced to the intermediate stacking portion, the subsequent sheet comes into contact with the first holding member, so that the first holding member moves to the retracting position. As the subsequent sheet continues to be conveyed, the subsequent sheet comes into contact with the second holding member, so that the second holding member moves from the restricting position to the retracting position. As the trailing end of the sheet is introduced, the first holding member moves from the retracting position to the restricting position, to hold down the trailing end of the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Ogata, Masayoshi Fukatsu, Junichi Sekiyama, Hiroharu Tsuji
  • Patent number: 7731169
    Abstract: Sheet finishing apparatus constructed to prevent sheet skewing during stacking conveyance, and stack-disarranging sheet slippage. A sheet-stacking tray is disposed forming a break in a discharge path below a discharge outlet. A first discharge roller unit is disposed at the discharge outlet, and a second discharge roller unit is arranged to convey, in cooperation with the first discharge roller unit, sheets downstream to the stacking tray. The second discharge roller unit is supported allowing it to rise and lower between an engage position where it catches sheet(s) on the storage tray, and a retracted position. A registering wall is provided in the stacking tray, for positionally registering the leading/trailing edge of the sheets. A gripper pressingly holds the uppermost sheet stacked on the storage tray, and a controller controls the movement of the gripper between an operational position where it engages the uppermost sheet, and a non-operational retract position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Nisca Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Saito
  • Patent number: 7673866
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus is connected between an image forming apparatus and a post-processing apparatus to receive the sheet ejected from the image forming apparatus, and to eject the sheet to the post-processing apparatus. The sheet conveying apparatus receives, from the post-processing apparatus, a sheet reception line speed information showing a line speed for the post-processing apparatus to receive the sheet, and receives, from the image forming apparatus, a sheet ejection line speed information showing a line speed for the image forming apparatus to eject the sheet. A conveyance line speed control section controls the conveyance line speed at the time of receiving the sheet from the image forming apparatus based on a sheet ejection line speed information, and controls the conveyance line speed at the time of ejecting the sheet to the post-processing apparatus based on a sheet reception line speed information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yasushi Saitsu, Tetsuo Hirata, Motoki Nakamichi, Norishige Kato, Takehiro Ogushi
  • Patent number: 7635121
    Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus, including: a sheet folder configured to fold a sheet bundle; a sheet tray configured to support the sheet bundle folded by the sheet folder; a first frame configured to support the sheet folder; a second frame configured to movably support the first frame and the sheet tray; a first sensor unit supported by the second frame, configured to change its condition depending on presence of the sheet bundle on the sheet tray; a second sensor unit supported by the first frame, configured to detect the condition of the first sensor unit; and a controller supported by the first frame, configured to control the sheet folder according to the detection of the second sensor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shoichi Dobashi, Yasunobu Terao