Plural Stackers Patents (Class 270/58.18)
  • Patent number: 11480911
    Abstract: In an example, a method includes receiving, by at least one processor, an instruction to print a user specified printing task to at least one media sheet. Print operation instructions may be determined. Such print operation instructions may comprise instructions to control a print apparatus to print the user specified printing task and instructions to control a print apparatus to carry out at least one cleaning operation, wherein the cleaning operation comprises duplex printing a print media sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: HP Indigo B.V.
    Inventors: Vitaly Portnoy, Michel Assenheimer, Yoav Nachmias
  • Patent number: 11434098
    Abstract: A sheet sorting device includes three or more trays including a predetermined tray detachable from an apparatus main body and a tray different from the predetermined tray, a discharge unit to discharge a sheet to any one of the three or more trays, a control unit, and a tray detection unit to detect that the predetermined tray is detached from the apparatus main body. The control unit sets a sheet discharge destination such that a sheet conforming to a preset condition is discharged to the predetermined tray through the discharge unit. Where the tray detection unit detects that the predetermined tray is detached from the apparatus main body, the control unit sets a sheet discharge destination that has been set to the predetermined tray to the tray different from the predetermined tray based on a state of each of the trays other than the detached predetermined tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuta Hojo, Genki Takahashi, Kazuhisa Sato
  • Patent number: 11409219
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, an acquisition unit, and a controller. The image forming unit forms images of an output material set including multiple types of output materials. The acquisition unit acquires image information of the output material set transmitted from a terminal apparatus. The terminal apparatus provides an identifier for identifying the output material set to each of the multiple types of output materials included in the output material set and transmits image information of each of the multiple types of output materials. The controller controls, in a case where the image information of the multiple types of output materials for each output material set is ready, the image forming unit to form the images of the output material set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Kazuma Hosoda, Kana Omura, Hideo Kimura, Kyoko Matsushita, Takumi Nishikata
  • Patent number: 10757274
    Abstract: A system is provided for processing documents. In particular, the system incorporates a feeder for feeding documents to a device for further processing of the documents. For instance, the system finds particular application in the field of document imaging in which a variety of documents of varying sizes and orientation are to be fed to an imaging system, such as a document scanner. The system may provide a sorting station that receives documents from a work station and sorts the documents to a plurality of sort locations. The system may export the image data for the documents to a fileserver so that a remote operator can provide instructions for the processing of the documents so that the documents can be subsequently processed according to the instructions provided by the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: OPEX Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Montgomery
  • Patent number: 10656884
    Abstract: A method and system for preventing a printed sensitive or secured print job being left unsecured after a print recovery process by determining if a printer has encountered an interruption in a printing of a print job; determining, when it is determined that a printer has encountered an interruption in a printing of a print job, an identification of a user associated with the interrupted print job; obtaining an authentication code and sending the obtained authentication code to the user identified as being associated with the interrupted print job; recovering from the interruption in the printing of the print job; placing, after recovery, the interrupted print job on hold; determining if a proper authentication code has been received from the user identified as being associated with the interrupted print job; and releasing the held print job when it is determined that a proper authentication code has been received from the user identified as being associated with the interrupted print job.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Michael W. Barrett
  • Patent number: 10611183
    Abstract: This system is provided with: a conveying device 1 that conveys paper P along a conveying path F; a sheet paper supply device 2, paper-folding device, or cutter connected to an upstream end of the conveying path; a gathering device 3 disposed midway through the conveying path; a saddle stitch device 7 connected to a downstream end of the conveying path; and a management unit 13 that collectively controls the conveying device, the sheet paper supply device, the paper-folding device, the cutter, the gathering device, and the saddle stitch device. The gathering device can switch operation between a non-operating mode, a first operating mode for operating as a primary gathering device, and a second operating mode for operating as a paper insertion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Horizon International Inc.
    Inventors: Kou Ohuchiyama, Takakazu Hori, Masayuki Kashiba, Hiroki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10554852
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to systems and methods for the delivery and maintenance of faxes where the faxes may remain at a faxing system for a minimal amount of time. The faxing system may send a queued fax to a connector responsive to a request from the connector to pull or retrieve a fax. The connector is configured to send a release notification to the faxing system after the fax is received. The faxing system is configured to delete the queued fax as soon as confirmation of the delivery of the fax can be determined or when an expiration time has elapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: OPEN TEXT SA ULC
    Inventors: Samuel N. Kamens, Hugh Beverly Appling, Charles J. Badaracco, Edward Theodore Pieluc, Jr., Jeffrey Alan Diehl
  • Patent number: 10187539
    Abstract: A printer and method for printing a secure document are disclosed. For example, the printer includes a controller for receiving an indication that a print job contains the secure document, a lock on a printer door, wherein the lock is electrically coupled to the controller, wherein the lock is engaged by the controller after receiving the indication that the print job contains the secure document and the lock is disengaged when the print job is completed successfully and a user interface in communication with the controller for receiving a security code to disengage the lock when print job is interrupted due to an error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Mark S. Amico, William N. Vogt
  • Patent number: 10093510
    Abstract: Provided is a paper sheet storage unit and an automatic teller machine with which storage space can be partitioned while maintaining operability with respect to paper currency. The paper sheet storage unit is equipped with: a partition member that partitions a storage space for paper sheets into multiple storage spaces, and has a recessed portion at a position where the paper sheets are removed; and a door that has a protruding portion for filling the recessed portion at a position corresponding to the recessed portion, and that opens/closes an opening that includes the multiple storage spaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: HITACHI-OMRON TERMINAL SOLUTIONS, CORP.
    Inventors: Junji Fujita, Masayasu Ueno
  • Patent number: 10054893
    Abstract: A recording medium ejecting device includes ejecting trays, a guiding member and a switching mechanism. The guiding member is switchable between a first posture to permit ejection of a recording medium on one ejecting tray and a second posture to restrict the ejection of the recording medium on the one ejecting tray. The switching mechanism switches the guiding member between the first posture and the second posture. The switching mechanism includes pulleys, a driving belt and a pressing member. The driving belt is wound around the pulleys. The pressing member presses the guiding member. The driving belt includes a contactable area configured to be contactable with each of the pulleys and a contact restricted area whose contact with each of the pulleys is restricted. The pressing member catches the contact restricted area from both an outer face side and an inner face side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Takashi Kotani
  • Patent number: 9708148
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes plural medium transport paths that branch at a predetermined branching position and along which a medium is transported in a curved state; a switching member disposed at the branching position and including a guide surface that allows the medium to be transported along one of the medium transport paths, the switching member switching between the medium transport paths; an output unit that outputs the medium toward a stacking portion, on which the medium is to be stacked, while corrugating the medium; and a guide portion that guides the medium from the branching position toward the output unit in a region in which the medium is corrugated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Yoshitsugu, Ryuichi Sato, Satoshi Fukada
  • Patent number: 9584698
    Abstract: A printing device for providing multiple documents of one type includes a data receiving portion for receiving an image data, a processor, and a printing module. The processor is used to process the image data to generate a first printing information and a second printing information. The printing module is used to print a first document and a second document according to the first and second printing information, respectively. The first printing information includes the image data and a first identifying information, and the second printing information includes the image data and a second identifying information different from the first identifying information. The first identifying information is composed of a first set of halftone pattern, a first set of lines or a combining information thereof. The second identifying information is composed of a second set of halftone pattern, a second set of lines or a combining information thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Avision Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Sheng
  • Patent number: 9517913
    Abstract: In a sheet or signature (printer folder sheet) accumulating a front positioning part 44 configured, when a sheet has entered a sheet accumulating part 40, to move away from a rear positioning part 46 such that a distance of the front positioning part 44 from the rear positioning part 46 is larger than a length of the sheet in a carrying-in direction of the sheet, and, after a front edge in the carrying-in direction of the sheet has contacted the front positioning part 44, to move closer to the rear positioning part 46.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokyo Kikai Seisakusho
    Inventors: Shunsuke Aizawa, Kenichi Yamagiwa
  • Patent number: 8985582
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to providing a mechanism for allowing a user to easily take out print products discharged onto a plurality of sheet discharge trays in the discharge order. A control method for controlling a sheet processing apparatus for performing control to discharge sheets onto a plurality of sheet discharge trays includes storing, in a storage unit, the discharge order in which sheets have been discharged onto equal to or more than two sheet discharge trays by executing a job, and performing, upon reception of a take-out instruction for taking out in the discharge order the sheets discharged by executing the job, processing for allowing a user to take out the sheets discharged onto the equal to or more than two sheet discharge trays, in the discharge order stored in the storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroya Igarashi
  • Patent number: 8867057
    Abstract: This invention relates to a printing system configured to output printing media having undergone print processing by a print apparatus to a plurality of destinations including a specific destination which has a structure allowing an operator to take out the printing media. In the system, output of printing media to the specific destination is restricted while the operator takes out the printing medium outputted to the specific destination, and in case that the number of printing media necessary for a job processed by the print apparatus is smaller than a predetermined number, the system is controlled not to output to the specific destination a printed material formed from printing media smaller in number than the predetermined number. This invention can achieve efficient printing by controlling not to stop the print operation of the system as much as possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akira Negishi
  • Patent number: 8814156
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a feed-in path through which a sheet is fed, a first transport path through which a sheet fed from the feed-in path is transported, and a second transport path through which a sheet fed from the feed-in path is transported. The sheet processing apparatus also includes the following elements. A first processor sequentially stacks sheets output from the first transport path and performs first processing on a bundle of stacked sheets. A second processor sequentially stacks sheets output from the second transport path and performs second processing, which is different from the first processing, on a bundle of stacked sheets. A common retention path causes a sheet fed through the feed-in path to temporarily remain on the common retention path and causes the sheet temporarily remaining on the common retention path to be output to one of the first and second transport paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobuyoshi Hattori
  • Patent number: 8585033
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Ryuichi Ishizu
  • Patent number: 8500113
    Abstract: A printed material holding device includes a printed material tray for receiving printed material, an adjustable mechanism located above the printed material tray, a binding mechanism, and a transmission mechanism attached to the binding mechanism. The transmission mechanism includes a driving device, a first gear wheel driven by the driving device, a second gear wheel driven by the first gear wheel, and a belt. The driving device meshes with the first gear wheel, and the belt encircles the first gear wheel and the second gear wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chen-Lu Fan
  • Patent number: 8369986
    Abstract: A paper sheet handling apparatus 1 includes: a casing which includes a first face and a second face opposed to the first face; a receiving unit 211 which receives paper sheets; a recognition unit 212 which performs at least one of a counting process and a recognition process with respect to the paper sheets; at least two stacking units 31-34 which stack the paper sheets after processing in the recognition unit 212; a transport unit 4 for transporting the paper sheets among the receiving unit 211, the recognition unit 212 and the stacking units 31-34; and a controller which controls each of the units, thereby having each of the paper sheets selectively stacked in the stacking units 31-34. Each of the stacking units 31-34 has at least two paper sheet removal openings 3L, 3R which are open in the first face and the second face. The paper sheets in the stacking units 31-34 are allowed to be removed through the paper sheet removal openings 3L, 3R, from the first face side and the second face side of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Glory Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Doi
  • Patent number: 8328176
    Abstract: To provide a paper-sheet-loading device that makes it easy to take out booklet or the like loaded on a tray. The paper-sheet-loading device 1 is provided with a discharge-processing portion 7 which discharges the booklet or the like through a discharge portion and a discharged paper stacker 8 having a loading stage 80 on which the booklet or the like discharged from the discharge-processing portion 7 is loaded. The loading stage 80 is provided with a tray 81 on which the booklet or the like is loaded and which can be pulled out from the front side of the device and an auxiliary loading member 80b closing the lower side of a rear side of the tray 81 when the tray 81 is pulled out. The auxiliary loading member 80b has a shape after a loading face 81a of the tray 81 and becomes exposed continuously from the lower side of the tray 81 to the rear side thereof, thereby enabling the booklet or the like to be loaded without losing its balance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: MAX Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masashi Shimamura
  • Patent number: 8332065
    Abstract: A method includes causing a stacking device having a first stacking unit and a second stacking unit to stack sheets of a small size on the first stacking unit or the second stacking unit and to stack sheets of a large size over the first stacking unit and the second stacking unit, and controlling the stacking of sheets by restricting stacking of the sheets of the large size on the sheet of the small size when the sheets of the small size are stacked on at least one of the first stacking unit and the second stacking unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Kurakata
  • Patent number: 8256759
    Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus of the invention includes a sheet guiding unit configured to have plural components including paper carrying components be attached thereto, a tray onto which a sheet of paper is discharged, and a protection cover attached to the sheet guiding unit at a portion in close proximity to the tray side. A protection cover has a cover main body, a screw attachment portion, a screw cover that covers the screw attached to the screw attachment portion, and a slit used for the tip end of the screw cover to be inserted into the cover main body to be fixed thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shouichi Dobashi
  • 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: 20120193860
    Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for aligning, feeding, trimming, slitting, rotating, cross-slitting and stacking sheets, each containing one or more discrete page images thereon that allows for greater automation of the overall process so that reduced or no manual intervention is required to generate completed book stacks or “blocks” from a stream or stack of printed sheets. Sheets are fed to a first, upstream trimming station to remove margin edges and optionally separate the sheets relative to the discrete page images. The sheets are then rotated 90 degrees and fed to a second, downstream trimming station that trims the right-angle edges and optionally separates the sheets into a final group of full-bleed pages, removing margins and gutter strips. The sheets are feed to a stacking assembly to be tacked in page order and any rejected, defective sheets or stacks are removed from the order.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: LASERMAX ROLL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Steven P. Lewalski, Hans Eliasson
  • Patent number: 8132804
    Abstract: In a sheet processing apparatus that performs processing for sheets after image formation such as sorting or stapling of the sheets, sheets conveyed into a waiting tray are temporarily stopped while being kept clamped by a driving roller and a pinch roller in the waiting tray and the clamping is once released. A waiting tray unit on a left side is shifted to a right side by a predetermined amount, whereby an end of the stacked sheets is pushed and shifted by a lateral wall on the left side. Thereafter, the sheets are clamped again by the roller pair and discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Taki, Yasunobu Terao, Toshiaki Oshiro, Yoshiaki Sugizaki, Mikio Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8109497
    Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus includes a cutting device for cutting a fore-edge portion of a center-folded bunch of sheets disposed in a position spaced from a sheet discharge outlet to eliminate the risk for inflicting a wound on the body of an operator, an end binding device for gathering sheets received from a carry-in entrance and performing binding processing in the end portion of a bunch of sheets, a saddle-stitching device for gathering sheets received from the carry-in entrance and performing binding processing in the center portion of a bunch of sheets, and a center-folding device for performing center-folding processing on the bunch of sheets subjected to the saddle-stitching processing. A cutting device is subjected to the center-folding processing. A second discharge outlet is disposed in the other side face of the apparatus frame to discharge the bunch of sheets subjected to the center-folding processing in the center-folding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignees: Canon Finetech Inc., Nisca Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Okamoto, Ken Obikane, Jun Kondo
  • Patent number: 8104757
    Abstract: A stapler is provided in a housing of a finisher. The stapler has a sheet insertion opening extending in a direction along conveyed sheets. The stapler staples the sheets inserted into the sheet insertion opening in the housing. The finisher includes a rotating mechanism that rotates, when the stapler is moved in a direction orthogonal to a conveying direction of the sheets and removed to the outside of the housing, the stapler such that the sheet insertion opening of the stapler faces a further upper side than the direction along the sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Taki, Hiroyuki Tsuchihashi
  • Patent number: 8087655
    Abstract: A saddle stitching portion which can bind the center portion in the conveying direction of a sheet bundle by a stapler and fold it by a pair of folding rollers and a pushout member, includes an end stopper which receives the downstream end of a sheet conveyed by a first conveying roller in a first receiving position on the downstream of the first conveying roller by a length not buckling the sheet on the downstream of the stapler or the downstream end of the sheet conveyed by a second conveying roller in a second receiving position on the downstream of the second conveying roller by the length on the further downstream, wherein the receiving position of the downstream end stopper is selected according to the length in the conveying direction of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenichi Hayashi, Daisaku Kamiya
  • Patent number: 8047523
    Abstract: A sheet loading apparatus has an ejecting member to eject a sheet; a loading member to load the sheet ejected by the ejecting member; and a movable member capable of moving in a state keeping contact with ejecting member side ends of the sheets loaded on the loading member. The movable member moves a distance equal to a moving distance of the loading member in the moving direction of the loading member. The sheet loading apparatus has a screen which is located between the loading member and the ejecting member and moves up and down, while waits at a position capable of avoiding interruption to the ejection of the sheet; and a first rotating member mounted to the screen in a location above the loading member and suspending the movable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba TEC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasunobu Terao, Katsuya Sasahara
  • Patent number: 7992854
    Abstract: A combined sheet inverting and buffering system and method including a sheet drive for transporting sheets into a sheet collecting area. The sheet drive is selectively operable to transport the sheets in a first and second direction along a processing path. A holding device can hold a plurality of sheets. The sheet drive and holding device cooperate to compile the plurality of sheets into a stack wherein the sheets overlie each other in a shingled manner. A take away drive is in operative communication with the sheets for individually unloading the sheets from the sheet collecting area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Barry P. Mandel, Henry T. Bober, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7874552
    Abstract: A sheet post-process apparatus according to one example of the present invention includes a movable stack tray for stacking a sheet that is elevated in a vertical direction; a movable tray position detection unit that detects a vertical position of the movable stack tray while a request command for post-processing of the sheet is not received; an upper surface sensor that senses either an upper surface of the movable stack tray or an upper surface of the sheet stacked on the movable stack tray when a first position of the movable stack tray detected by the movable tray position detection unit is lower than or equal to a predetermined first height; and a movable tray moving unit that moves the movable stack tray upward when either the upper surface of the movable stack tray or the upper surface of the sheet stacked on the movable stack tray is not sensed by the upper surface sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Chiaki Iizuka
  • Patent number: 7780158
    Abstract: Provided is a post-processing apparatus which sequentially receives sheets one by one from an image forming apparatus to execute a post-processing on the sheets, including: a first transport device which receives the sheets delivered from the image forming apparatus and transports the sheets; a sheet overlap device which stays the sheets transported by the first transport device and causes another sheet transported sequentially by the first transport device to overlap at least one stayed sheet; a second transport device which transports a plurality of sheets overlapping each other by the sheet overlap device; a plurality of stacking devices capable of stacking a plurality of sheets transported by the second transport device; and a controller which changes control of sheet overlapping caused by the sheet overlap device depending on which stacking device selected from among the plurality of stacking devices the sheets are to be transported to.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takayuki Fujii, Toshiyuki Miyake, Yasuo Fukatsu, Takako Hanada, Yusuke Obuchi, Atsuteru Oikawa
  • Patent number: 7712733
    Abstract: A bookmaking apparatus includes: a first path for horizontally conveying a sheet bundle; a second path for vertically conveying a cover sheet; a joining stage for joining the cover sheet and sheet bundle; a gripping conveyance device at an upstream side of the joining stage for gripping and conveying the sheet bundle along the first path; and a folding conveyance device arranged at a downstream side of the joining stage for folding and conveying out the cover sheet and sheet bundle. The gripping conveyance device includes opening and closing clamping members for gripping the sheet bundle and clamping control device for opening and closing the clamping members. The clamping control device operates to vary a gripping position of the sheet bundle by the clamping members when joining the sheet bundle to the cover sheet at the joining stage and when conveying the joined sheet bundle to the folding conveyance device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Nisca Corporation
    Inventors: Keiichi Nagasawa, Akihiko Tsukui, Katsumasa Takagi, Hiroshi Nakagomi
  • Patent number: 7706736
    Abstract: An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus and a post-processing apparatus that performs post-processing on sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus. The image forming system includes a feeding unit configured to store a plurality of sheets and successively feed the sheets; a stack unit configured to stack sheets processed by the post-processing apparatus; a state detection unit configured to detect a predetermined state of the stack unit; and a control unit configured to restrict the number of sheets fed from the feeding unit so that the number of sheets existing in a sheet conveyance path extending from the feeding unit to the stack unit does not exceed a predetermined number. The predetermined number is the number of sheets that the post-processing apparatus can receive from the image forming apparatus after detection of the predetermined state by the state detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoto Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7673868
    Abstract: A sheet processing system comprises a plurality of sheet processing devices, a primary sheet conveyance path, a secondary sheet conveyance path, and a controller which controls the sheet processing devices. The controller uses the primary sheet conveyance path to execute one job, and uses the secondary sheet conveyance path to execute another job in parallel with that one job.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomokazu Nakamura, Akihiro Sato, Akihiro Shimizu, Tatsuya Goto, Katsuaki Hirai, Hideki Kushida
  • Patent number: 7591455
    Abstract: In a sheet finishing apparatus of the present invention, when temporarily loading a plurality of sheets of paper on a standby tray until a processing tray finishes processing, to prevent a sheet of paper loaded first from being pressed out by a sheet of paper ejected later, a chuck for retaining the rear ends of the sheets of paper is installed on the downstream side of the standby tray, and for curled sheets of paper, a standby tray guide and an arm member for suppressing curling of the central part of the sheets of paper are installed, thus matching on the standby tray is stabilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasunobu Terao, Hajime Yamamoto, Yoshiaki Sugizaki, Tomomi Iijima, Hiroyuki Taki
  • Patent number: 7591454
    Abstract: A materials handling system includes a feeder station having a plurality of material feeders and an insertion subsystem. Each of the plurality of feeders are connected to a common material transport path. A first material transport path is connected to the common material transport path and to the insertion subsystem. A second material transport path is connected to the common material transport path and to the insertion subsystem. A third material transport path is connected to the first material transport path and to said insertion subsystem. The second material transport path may include a materials processing subsystem such as a folder subsystem. The common materials transport may include a pre-fold accumulator transport having a pre-fold accumulator gate. A first diverter may be provided to selectively divert materials being transported by the pre-fold accumulator transport to the first or to the second material transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Carl R. Chapman, James A. Fairweather, Thomas M. Lyga
  • Publication number: 20090206538
    Abstract: Provided is a post-processing apparatus which sequentially receives sheets one by one from an image forming apparatus to execute a post-processing on the sheets, including: a first transport device which receives the sheets delivered from the image forming apparatus and transports the sheets; a sheet overlap device which stays the sheets transported by the first transport device and causes another sheet transported sequentially by the first transport device to overlap at least one stayed sheet; a second transport device which transports a plurality of sheets overlapping each other by the sheet overlap device; a plurality of stacking devices capable of stacking a plurality of sheets transported by the second transport device; and a controller which changes control of sheet overlapping caused by the sheet overlap device depending on which stacking device selected from among the plurality of stacking devices the sheets are to be transported to.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takayuki FUJII, Toshiyuki MIYAKE, Yasuo FUKATSU, Takako HANADA, Yusuke OBUCHI, Atsuteru OIKAWA
  • Patent number: 7571909
    Abstract: The invention is to provide a sheet treating apparatus achieving a space saving and enabling easy identification of an output mode of sheets. The sheet treating apparatus of the invention for treating sheets after image formation is accommodated in a space formed in an image forming apparatus, and includes plural sheet stacking devices which stack treated sheets, and a lifting and lowering device which independently lifts and lowers the plural sheet stacking devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Finetech Inc.
    Inventors: Naoto Saeki, Hiroshi Suzuki, Atsushi Takada, Akihito Nagayama
  • Patent number: 7552917
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes: a buffer unit which stores plural supplied sheets with upstream edges in a conveying direction thereof aligned; a processing tray on which sheets discharged from the buffer unit are stacked; and an oscillation roller pair and a return roller which convey the sheet stacked on the processing tray to bring the sheet into abutment against a stopper for receiving the upstream edge of the sheet. The buffer unit is adapted to align the upstream edges of only sheets to be stored before a sheet to be supplied last among the sheets to be stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignees: Canon Finetech Inc., Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenichi Hayashi, Tomokazu Nakamura, Naoto Watanabe, Yusuke Obuchi, Hitoshi Kato, Shunsuke Nishimura, Tetsuya Terada, Yasutaka Iwasa, Daisuke Matsukura, Norio Motoi, Masayoshi Kubo
  • Patent number: 7543806
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus is provided with a processing tray on which sheets are to be stacked and subjected to a processing, a stack tray provided in the downstream of the processing tray with respect to the sheet conveying direction on which sheets are to be stacked, an oscillation roller pair for conveying the sheets stacked on the processing tray to the stack tray, and a trailing edge assist for conveying the sheet stacked on the processing tray toward the stack tray. The sheets stacked on the processing tray are discharged to the stack tray by the oscillation roller pair and the trailing edge assist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignees: Canon Finetech, Inc., Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomokazu Nakamura, Yoshinori Isobe, Toshimasa Suzuki, Masatoshi Yaginuma, Masahiro Yonenuma, Atsushi Takada, Norio Motoi
  • Patent number: 7540482
    Abstract: Provided is a post-processing apparatus which sequentially receives sheets one by one from an image forming apparatus to execute a post-processing on the sheets, including: a first transport device which receives the sheets delivered from the image forming apparatus and transports the sheets; a sheet overlap device which stays the sheets transported by the first transport device and causes another sheet transported sequentially by the first transport device to overlap at least one stayed sheet; a second transport device which transports a plurality of sheets overlapping each other by the sheet overlap device; a plurality of stacking devices capable of stacking a plurality of sheets transported by the second transport device; and a controller which changes control of sheet overlapping caused by the sheet overlap device depending on which stacking device selected from among the plurality of stacking devices the sheets are to be transported to.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takayuki Fujii, Toshiyuki Miyake, Yasuo Fukatsu, Takako Hanada, Yusuke Obuchi, Atsuteru Oikawa
  • Patent number: 7520499
    Abstract: A waiting tray is provided in a sheet-conveying path and holds sheets if the sheets need to be post-processed. A processing tray receives sheets conveyed from the waiting tray. It may receive sheets conveyed through the sheet-conveying path and coming not via the waiting tray, before the sheets are post-processed. A conveying mechanism is provided, which causes the sheets to fall, due to gravity, from the waiting tray onto a processing tray. A sheet-aligning mechanism aligns the sheets on the processing tray, at their transverse edges and longitudinal edges. On the processing tray, the sheets are post-processed, forming a bundle. The conveying mechanism conveys the bundle of sheets to a storage tray. An opening is provided between the waiting tray and the processing tray and located at downstream of the waiting tray and processing tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasunobu Terao, Reiji Murakami, Tokihiko Ise, Hajime Yamamoto, Hiroyuki Taki
  • Patent number: 7506865
    Abstract: A waiting tray is provided in a sheet-conveying path and holds sheets if the sheets need to be post-processed. A processing tray receives sheets conveyed from the waiting tray. It may receive sheets conveyed through the sheet-conveying path and coming not via the waiting tray, before the sheets are post-processed. A conveying mechanism is provided, which causes the sheets to fall, due to gravity, from the waiting tray onto a processing tray. A sheet-aligning mechanism aligns the sheets on the processing tray, at their transverse edges and longitudinal edges. On the processing tray, the sheets are post-processed, forming a bundle. The conveying mechanism conveys the bundle of sheets to a storage tray. The waiting trays have sidewalls, each having at least one part that is inclined outwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Toshiba TEC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasunobu Terao, Hajime Yamamoto, Yoshiaki Sugizaki, Reiji Murakami, Hiroyuki Taki
  • Patent number: 7497428
    Abstract: A sheet bundle conveyance apparatus includes a tray arranged substantially horizontally below a discharge outlet of an image forming apparatus. The tray, including a drive device for lowering the tray to a sheet configuration position, is configured to rise and lower a predetermined distance between a sheet stacking position and a sheet conveyance position below the sheet stacking position. The apparatus further includes a gripping conveyance device configured to convey a sheet bundle received from the tray to a finishing device at a substantially vertical posture and turned a predetermined angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Nisca Corporation
    Inventors: Keiichi Nagasawa, Akihiko Tsukui, Katsumasa Takagi, Hiroshi Nakagomi
  • Publication number: 20090039584
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a casing; a printing medium supply unit, which is coupled to the casing, and supplies a printing medium; an image forming unit, which forms an image on the printing medium supplied from the printing medium supply unit; and a discharge unit. The discharge unit includes: a discharging part, which discharges the printing medium fed from the image forming unit out of the casing; a feeding guide, which is provided along in a feeding path of the printing medium, and moves between a discharging position, in which the printing medium is discharged out of the casing, and a back feeding position, in which the printing medium is back fed to the image forming unit; and a pressing lever, which presses and releases the feeding guide, according to a movement of the discharging part, so that the feeding guide can move between the discharging position and the back feeding position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: SEUNG-SIK JEONG
  • Patent number: 7472901
    Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet processing apparatus comprising a sheet holding device capable of storing supplied sheets, a first sheet stacking tray on which sheets are stacked at a downstream side of the sheet holding device in a sheet conveying direction and on which the sheets are subjected to processing, a sheet discharging device for discharging the sheets stacked on the first sheet stacking tray, a second sheet stacking tray on which the sheets discharged by the sheet discharging device are stacked, and a controller for controlling the sheet discharging device and the sheet holding device if sheet jam occurs at an upstream side of the sheet holding device, in such a manner that, after the sheets on the first sheet stacking tray are discharged onto the second sheet stacking tray, the sheets stored in the sheet holding device are discharged onto the first sheet stacking tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shunsuke Nishimura, Yoshinori Isobe, Masatoshi Yaginuma, Naoto Watanabe, Masahiro Yonenuma
  • Patent number: 7472900
    Abstract: A sheet post-process apparatus of the present invention has a standby tray for stably dropping sheets of paper onto a processing tray, so that a pair of tray members for loading ejected sheets of paper is formed so as to project from the wall face of the standby tray and the loading face of sheets of paper is narrowed from the front end side of the sheets of paper toward the rear end side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasunobu Terao, Tokihiko Ise, Hajime Yamamoto, Reiji Murakami, Hiroyuki Taki
  • Publication number: 20090001650
    Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus which is capable of efficiently stacking sheets of various sizes while efficiently using space therein to thereby realize compactness thereof, and maintaining a high availability. Stacker trays for stacking sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus can be separately removed. It is detected whether any of the stacker trays is removed. When large-size sheets are stacked, a stacker control section causes the stacker trays to operate as one tray to stack the sheets in a state extending on the stacker trays, whereas when small-size sheets are stacked, the section causes one of the stacker trays to stack the sheets. Further, when one stacker tray is removed to make it impossible to stack the large-size sheets, the section causes a display section to display a guide message advising setting of the removed stacker tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoki ISHIKAWA, Tsuyoshi MORIYAMA, Yasuo FUKATSU, Hitoshi KATO
  • Publication number: 20080272533
    Abstract: A collation control mechanism is used to transfer a collation from a dual accumulator to an exit nip of a collation machine. The collation control mechanism has a middle drum and two side rollers to form an upper nip and a lower nip. The drum is caused to rotate alternately in a clockwise direction and in a counter-clockwise direction for transferring a collation from the upper bay and the lower bay, respectively, to the exit nip. A motor is used to drive the drum in both the clockwise and counter-clockwise direction. A coupling mechanism including two sets of one-way clutches is used to engage the motor to the upper and lower rollers of the exit nip so that the upper roller is caused to rotate only in the counter-clockwise direction while the lower roller is cause to rotate only in the clockwise direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: Pitney Bowes Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert F. Marcinik, Edward M. Ifkovits, Peter K. Zanger