Sensor Located At The Conveyor And Controls The Separator Patents (Class 271/10.03)
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Publication number: 20090008861Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a feeding unit that feeds a sheet; a rolling member that rolls by having contact with the sheet being fed by the feeding unit; a supporting member that moves along with a behavior of the sheet with supporting the rolling member so that the rolling member rolls in a feeding direction of the sheet at a predetermined position on the sheet; an acceleration measuring unit that measures accelerations acting on the supporting member in three directions; and a detecting unit that detects a feed error of the sheet based on the accelerations measured by the acceleration measuring unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2008Publication date: January 8, 2009Applicant: PFU LIMITEDInventors: Yuki KASAHARA, Koichi MINAMI, Nobuhisa YAMAZAKI, Masaya TAKAMORI
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Patent number: 7433091Abstract: An image forming and reading apparatus includes an image forming portion for forming an image on a fed recording sheet and an image reading portion for reading the image of a fed document. At least a portion of the feeding path of the recording sheet is common to at least a portion of the feeding path of the document, and the image reading portion can be set to a first position moved from the common feeding path and to a second position at which the image of the document that is fed through the common feeding path is read, and a reading position at which the image is read by the image reading portion is located downstream of the image forming portion in a recording sheet feeding direction.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2003Date of Patent: October 7, 2008Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hideyuki Terashima, Akio Okubo, Takashi Awai, Yoshiaki Suzuki
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Publication number: 20080237968Abstract: A sheet supplying device which supplies a sheet, including: a sheet supplying tray which stacks a bundle of sheets; a first air blowing section which blows air against a side of the bundle of sheets stacked on the sheet supplying tray; a second air blowing section which blows air from downstream of the bundle of sheets in a sheet conveyance direction, onto a leading section of the sheets; a vacuum conveyance section which vacuums an uppermost sheet of the bundle of sheets and conveys the sheets one by one; a shielding member which shields air blown from the first air blowing section; a vacuum detection sensor which detects that a sheet has been vacuumed by the vacuum conveyance section; and a control section which controls the shielding member to open so that air generated by the first air blowing section is blown to the bundle of sheets.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2008Publication date: October 2, 2008Inventor: Tomoo SUZUKI
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Patent number: 7429040Abstract: A feeding apparatus including a feeding roller for conveying a sheet, a separation roller for conveying the sheet in a reverse direction, a transmission mechanism for transmitting the rotational force to the feeding roller, a limited force reverse transmission mechanism for transmitting the rotational force to the separation roller through a torque limiter, a forced reverse transmission mechanism for directly transmitting the rotational force to the separation roller, a temperature detector and a controller, wherein the controller controls the separation roller to receive rotational force through the forced reverse transmission mechanism after the limited force reverse transmission mechanism transmits the rotational force to the separation roller, then allows the limited force reverse transmission mechanism to transmit the rotational force to the separation roller, or to rotate the feeding via the transmission mechanism and the limited force transmission mechanism to transmit the rotational force to the separType: GrantFiled: July 19, 2005Date of Patent: September 30, 2008Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Daisuke Ueda, Akira Kosugi, Shigeru Okazaki, Takanori Kanda, Kenichi Hosoi
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Patent number: 7416180Abstract: A paper sheet separation and transfer apparatus has a take-out roller which takes out stacked paper sheets onto a transfer path, a first separation unit, and a second separation unit. When the front end of a first paper sheet in the transfer direction reaches a nip of the second separation unit, the take-out roller and first feed roller are “decelerated”.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2006Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Yusuke Mitsuya, Yoshihiko Naruoka, Yukio Asari
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Publication number: 20080197558Abstract: To prevent damages to a recording paper that is being transported and a jam of the recording paper within a device caused due to shift in the timings of communications through providing a communication control device that has a main body control unit 100 connected to each paper feeding control unit 200 via common communication lines, which transmits control instructions by using a unicast mode that individually transmits control data to each of the paper feeding control units 200 from the main body control unit 100 at different timings, and transmits executing instructions for the control instructions by using a broadcast mode that transmits control data simultaneously.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2008Publication date: August 21, 2008Applicant: KYOCERA MITA CORPORATIONInventor: Jun Nishimura
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Patent number: 7413182Abstract: A system and method includes a printing system assembly and controller. The printing system assembly is configured to separate media from a printer input during a separation time and then deliver it to a printer marking engine. The controller is configured to measure the separation time. The controller is further configured to adjust a plurality of parameter settings according to the measured separation time and according to the influence each of the parameter settings has on the separation time.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2005Date of Patent: August 19, 2008Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Wade A. Powell, Scott K. Carter, Ronald Slutz
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Publication number: 20080191404Abstract: In a sheet delivery/guide apparatus, a sheet released from a convey device and falling piles on a first pile device. A first blowing device is arranged above the first pile device and blows toward the first pile device. An air controller selectively performs switching between an air supply state and an air supply stop state of the first blowing device for the sheet. A guide member is supported movably and guides the sheet that passes the first pile device while being held by the convey device. A guide member switching unit switches the guide member between a guide position to enter a sheet falling path, extending from the convey device to the first pile device, to guide the sheet, and a retreat position to retreat from the sheet falling path. A controller controls the air controller and the guide member switching unit on the basis of a convey speed of the convey device.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2008Publication date: August 14, 2008Inventor: Shoichi Ichimura
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Patent number: 7396009Abstract: Methods and devices for moving a media sheet along a media path from an input area to a toner transfer area. One method comprises initially determining that the media sheet is to be moved from the input area. After making the determination, the media path is detected to ensure it is capable of moving the media sheet. If the media path is available, the media sheet is picked and moved along the path. If the media path is not available, the media sheet remains in the input area until the path is available. When required to wait for the path, an amount of delay is determined. Once the path is available, the delayed media sheet is picked from the input area and then accelerated to compensate for the delay.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2005Date of Patent: July 8, 2008Assignee: Lexmark International Inc.Inventors: Delbert Lester Elliott, Benjamin C. DeVore, Christopher E. Rhoads
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Patent number: 7367555Abstract: A recording medium transfer apparatus includes a motor control unit for controlling the motor to rotate at higher speed when the recording medium is fed to the liquid ejection area than that when the recording medium is discharged out of the liquid ejection area, and a feed control unit for controlling a next recording medium to be fed simultaneously with discharge of the recording medium, if a position of a rear end of the recording medium when recording or printing has been finished is situated upstream of a predetermined position, which is upstream of the discharge roller as much as a distance between a feed start position of the recording medium and the liquid ejection area, whereas controlling the next recording medium to start to be fed after discharge of the recording medium has been finished, if the position of the rear end of the recording medium when recording or printing has been finished is situated downstream of the predetermined position.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2004Date of Patent: May 6, 2008Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Yasuhiko Yoshihisa, Kosaku Nobuta
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Patent number: 7357387Abstract: A sheet is firstly fed only by a sheet feed roller and then relayed to a transportation roller. When the transportation roller starts conveying the sheet, a motor coupled to the sheet feed roller is deenergized so that the sheet feed roller is not rotated by the power of motor but rotated due to frictional contact with the sheet being transported by the transportation roller. At this time, the rotation sensor senses rotations of a disk attached to the shaft of the sheet feed roller. A trailing edge of the sheet is detected when the rotation sensor no longer detects the rotations of the disk. Based on the detection of the trailing edge of the sheet, the timing at which the subsequent sheet is fed out by the sheet feed roller is determined. As such, an interval between successively fed two cut sheets can be shortened, thereby improving sheet feed efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2003Date of Patent: April 15, 2008Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tetsuo Asada
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Patent number: 7339654Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus is provided including a sheet feed tray on which sheets of a plurality of sizes are placed. A conveying unit conveys a sheet on the sheet feed tray to a predetermined processing position. A sheet position detector has a plurality of light-emitting units respectively arranged at positions corresponding to different sheet widths and one light-receiving unit capable of moving to positions corresponding to the plurality of light-emitting units. A light reception position detector which detects the position of the light-receiving unit, and a control unit which selects one of the plurality of light-emitting units can also be provided.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2005Date of Patent: March 4, 2008Assignees: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc., Nisca CorporationInventors: Tsuyoshi Mizubata, Kiyoshi Hata, Masahiko Fukushima, Kazuhide Sano, Masashi Yamashita
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Patent number: 7334787Abstract: When the sheets are taken out sheet by sheet and started to be fed, in a first predetermined section, a driving mode is set to a fixed PWM driving mode, and a DC motor is driven in response to a PWM signal of a fixed duty to perform the sheet feed operation (S110, S120). When the tip end of the fed sheet is detected by a registration sensor (S140: YES), the sheet feed operation is once stopped (S150), and the driving mode is changed to a position feedback control mode (S170). Thereafter, the sheet is fed to a registration position by a position feedback control, the sheet reaches the registration position, the sheet feed is completed (S200: YES), and the process enters the next transfer operation. The transfer operation is also performed in the position feedback control mode. When a control method is changed before/after the registration sensor in this manner, the speeding-up and noise reduction of the sheet feed operation are realized.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2003Date of Patent: February 26, 2008Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shigeki Akiyama, Masatoshi Kokubo
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Publication number: 20080018042Abstract: There is provided a sticky note supply device that separates an uppermost sticky note from a stacks of sticky note one by one so as to discharge to the outside of the device from a discharge section. The sticky note supply device includes a transport unit that separates the sticky note to discharge the sticky note to the outside of the device from the discharge section, a control unit that controls the drive of the transport unit, and a detecting unit that is provided in the discharge section so as to detect whether the sticky note is present or not. When a next sticky note starts to be transported after the sticky note is completely transported by the transport unit and the detecting unit detects the presence, the control unit prohibits the transport unit from being driven.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2007Publication date: January 24, 2008Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventor: Hideki SAKANO
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Publication number: 20080006982Abstract: A conveying device in which positional displacement of a sheet may occur due to, for example, backlash of a mechanical system is provided. In the conveying device, when the speed of an encoder is decelerated to a predetermined speed after an edge of a sheet abuts against a roller during conveyance of the sheet, an encoder position is obtained. After the roller stops due to the backlash, an encoder position is obtained again. An amount of conveyance of the sheet to a print start position is corrected on the basis of the two encoder positions that have been obtained.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2007Publication date: January 10, 2008Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroyuki Kakishima, Shinya Sonoda
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Patent number: 7296789Abstract: It is determined whether or not a jammed document is necessarily returned to a document tray when a jam of the document is caused within a carrier path and, then, the elevation operation of the document tray is controlled on the basis of its result of the determination. Since the jammed sheet of which reading has not been completed should be returned to the document tray, the document tray is moved down. Since the jammed sheet of which reading has been completed should not be returned to the document tray, the document tray is maintained at a position as it is. When the apparatus stops due to the carrying jam, a time required for processing the document is shortened.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2004Date of Patent: November 20, 2007Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shuhji Fujii, Kaoru Ishikura, Takashi Imai, Osamu Fujimoto
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Patent number: 7296794Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet sensor (7) and a leading end position sensor (9). The sheet sensor (7) detects the passage of a trailing end of a printing sheet (10) along a feeding path of the printing sheet (10) fed by a first feeding roller (2) from a sheet storing portion (1). The leading end position sensor (9) detects a protruding amount of the subsequent printing sheet (102) when the preceding printing sheet (101) is fed by the first feeding roller (2). The feeding of the subsequent printing sheet (102) is started when an adjusting time has elapsed after the sheet sensor (7) detects the passage of the preceding printing sheet (101). The adjusting time is determined according to the protruding amount of the subsequent printing sheet (102) detected by the leading end position sensor (9).Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2005Date of Patent: November 20, 2007Assignee: Oki Data CorporationInventor: Takahisa Shimazaki
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Patent number: 7275740Abstract: A system, method and article for adjusting the time interval between feeding of successive sheets of media in a printer or copier. The method comprises initiating a first pick signal for a sheet of the media and identifying a feed time for the sheet of media, and identifying an expected feed time for said media. The system compares feed times to an expected feed time and adjusts according to such comparison to substantially correct for slippage or other problems feeding diverse media.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2005Date of Patent: October 2, 2007Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Douglas Anthony Able, William Thomas Kearney, III, Thomas Paul Maddux, Kevin Dean Schoedinger
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Patent number: 7270326Abstract: A paper sheet separation and transfer apparatus has a take-out roller which takes out stacked paper sheets onto a transfer path, a first separation unit, and a second separation unit. When the front end of a first paper sheet in the transfer direction reaches a nip of the second separation unit, the take-out roller and first feed roller are “decelerated”.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2004Date of Patent: September 18, 2007Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Yusuke Mitsuya, Yoshihiko Naruoka, Yukio Asari
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Patent number: 7255338Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for processing sheet material, in particular papers of value such as bank notes, checks, etc., wherein different groups of sheet material are processed one after the other, the different groups of sheet material being separated for processing by separation means. In order to avoid mixing of sheet material, it is provided to restrain the singling of separation means and bank notes until release.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2002Date of Patent: August 14, 2007Assignee: Giesecke & Devrient GmbHInventors: Kurt Wilfer, Alexander Steinkogler
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Patent number: 7178914Abstract: A printer (1) in which a first sheet (5) to be imaged by printhead (3) is followed by a trailing media sheet. The first sheet is stopped intermittently so that the printhead can traverse the first sheet to print a partial image. The trailing media sheet is stopped behind the first sheet and is moved intermittently until it reaches or is near nip rollers (9a, 9b). Exit rollers 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d move the first sheet out of the printer. When the exit rollers and the nip roller move forward and backward together the first sheet may be exited before the nip rollers are reversed to align the second sheet. Alternatively, the first sheet may be moved backward during alignment. The intermittent movement of the sheets may be at different times and with the trailing sheet moved less times and longer amounts than the first sheet is moved.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2004Date of Patent: February 20, 2007Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Michael Anthony Marra, III, Randall David Mayo, Barry Baxter Stout
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Patent number: 7156387Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet feeding device that picks up sheets from stacked sheets and feeds the sheets one by one, a drive device that drives the sheet feeding device, first and second detecting devices that detect the fed sheet, and a control device that feeds the sheet while setting a drive amount of the drive device. The control device calculates a first drive amount of the drive device during a first interval from when the first detecting device detects the sheet to when the second detecting device detects the sheet based on information detected by the first and second detecting devices, and the control device sets a second drive amount of the drive device during a second interval from when the second detecting device detects the sheet to when the drive device is stopped based on the calculated first drive amount.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2003Date of Patent: January 2, 2007Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Makoto Hidaka, Kazuya Tsutsui, Tooru Horio
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Patent number: 7139108Abstract: A single plate flatbed scanner utilizing a single sensor to detect both opening of a lid covering the plate and the leading edge of an automatically fed document. The flatbed scanner includes a contact glass plate defining a flatbed scanning area where a document to be scanned may be manually positioned. An automatic document feeder (ADF) scan window where ADF-fed documents are scanned is defined within the flatbed scanning area. An image sensor is maintained at a fixed position in the ADF scan window while scanning ADF-fed documents. To scan a manually fed document, the image sensor moves under the flatbed scanning area so as to scan an image of the document. Since the ADF scan window and the flatbed scanning area both are defined in the same area of the contact glass plate, a document inadvertently left on the contact glass blocks the ADF scan window and prevents the scanning of an ADF fed document.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2003Date of Patent: November 21, 2006Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Eric L. Andersen, Paul K. Mui
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Patent number: 7068969Abstract: Image forming methods and apparatuses capable of performing stable and fast sheet transfer operations are provided. In a continuous feed mode, a preceding sheet and a succeeding sheet are successively fed from a sheet tray through first and second transfer rollers to an image forming position. When it is determined that a trailing edge of the preceding sheet has passed the first transfer roller, the driving of the first transfer roller is stopped for a predetermined time period. As a result, the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet are transferred with a desired sheet interval while suppressing sheet interval variations.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2004Date of Patent: June 27, 2006Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Kenji Ueda
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Patent number: 6962332Abstract: A media conveying mechanism located in a media data recorder for conveying media mainly includes a driving motor to provide driving power needed. A first clutch to control the operation of a pickup roller. A second clutch to control rotation direction of an intermediate roller, a sensor to detect the conveying process of the media and control the operation of the second clutch. By deploying the two clutches, conveying quantity of the media in a unit time period can be effectively improved.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2003Date of Patent: November 8, 2005Assignee: Lite-On Technology CorporationInventor: Yu-Jen Su
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Patent number: 6889972Abstract: A banknote dispenser is constructed to include a housing adapted to hold banknotes in a stack for dispensing, a power module, a transferring wheel set driven by the power module to spread a stack of banknotes into a stepped stack of banknotes and then to dispense banknotes individually by a respective push block being rotated with a respective wheel of the transferring wheel set, an output wheel set adapted to transfer banknotes individually from the transferring wheel set to a banknote outlet, and a sensor adapted to control the operation of the power module subject to the presence of banknotes in the housing.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2003Date of Patent: May 10, 2005Assignee: International Currency Technologies CorporationInventor: Hung-Yi Chang
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Patent number: 6811151Abstract: The invention is to provide a paper feeding apparatus and a driving method thereof for an office machine. The office machine includes a paper accommodating device and a paper processing apparatus. The paper accommodating device is for accommodating paper sheets to be processed by the paper processing apparatus. The paper feeding apparatus is for feeding the paper sheets accommodated by the paper accommodating device one by one to the paper processing apparatus. The paper feeding apparatus includes a pickup roller, a delivery roller, a pair of feeding rollers, a detection device, a transmission gear assembly, a drive motor and a controller. The detection device detects a leading edge and a trailing edge of the paper sheet delivered by the paper feeding apparatus. In particular, the paper feeding apparatus is a simple-configuration, light-weight and compact component and capable of feeding paper sheets accurately.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2002Date of Patent: November 2, 2004Assignee: Benq CorporationInventors: Yen Wei-Feng, Yang Kun-Yee
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Patent number: 6788440Abstract: In a sheet feeding device having a forwardly rotating conveying rotary member and a reversely rotating separating rotary member, and for separating and conveying sheets one by one by a sheet separating portion comprised of these two rotary members, the setting of an appropriate center distance when a sheet is separated and conveyed with the center distance between the conveying rotary member and the separating rotary member fixed is effected smoothly within a short time, and a first sheet feeding mode for effecting sheet feeding while automatically adjusting the center distance for each sheet by a center distance changing device and a controller and a second sheet feeding mode for effecting sheet feeding with the center distance fixed can be arbitrarily selected, and when the setting of the center distance during the selection of the second sheet feeding mode is to be effected, the execution of the center distance setting standard operation (adjusting operation) of detecting the center distance automaticallyType: GrantFiled: April 6, 2000Date of Patent: September 7, 2004Assignee: Canon Denshi Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Minoru Sashida
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Patent number: 6776406Abstract: A feeder/separator apparatus for separating and moving sheets from a stack of sheets is described. The feeder/separator includes an input area for positioning the stack of sheets; a first and second series of rollers for jointly feeding a sheet on the bottom of the stack into an area of the apparatus including a third and forth series of rollers and a first series of belts; a pre-separation brake adapted to act in a pivoting pattern only on the first series of belts to cause a first stage separation of the bottom sheet; a separation brake adapted to act in a linear pattern only on the fourth series of rollers to cause a second stage separation of the bottom sheet, the pre-separation and separation brakes permitting the bottom sheets to be separated from the stack; and a fifth series of rollers and a second series of belts both being adapted to feed the bottom sheets away from the feeder/separator apparatus in a sheet feed path.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2002Date of Patent: August 17, 2004Assignee: Ascom Hasler Mailing Systems, Inc.Inventors: Hans Jaeger, Stefan Etter, Thomas Gasser
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Publication number: 20040119224Abstract: In a printing apparatus the feeding of a printing medium is fed such that before a paper sensor detects a trailing edge of a preceding printing medium, a paper feeding roller begins the feeding of a succeeding printing medium, and after the paper sensor detects the trailing edge of the preceding printing medium, a leading edge of the succeeding printing medium arrives at a location of the paper sensor. Thus, the feeding of a printing paper is performed rapidly and the printing apparatus can perform recording rapidly accordingly.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2003Publication date: June 24, 2004Applicant: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Naoji Otsuka
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Patent number: 6729613Abstract: One method operates a pick motor and a separate feed motor to pick and feed a sheet for printing. Desired pick and feed motor velocities are obtained from respective first and second functions of sheet position. Sheet position for obtaining both desired motor velocities is determined by the pick system until a predetermined event. The feed-system sheet position is synchronized to the pick-system sheet position upon the happening of the event. Sheet position for obtaining both desired motor velocities is determined by the feed system after the event. Another method operates a printer pick motor and includes starting picking by driving the pick motor in a first direction, to move a sheet forward, with an input sufficient to prevent any teetering transitions between peaks and valleys of an encoder sensor output which would be falsely counted as forward motion by a single-channel encoder.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2001Date of Patent: May 4, 2004Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Michael Anthony Marra, III, Randall David Mayo, Barry Baxter Stout, Jay William Vessels
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Patent number: 6679490Abstract: A feeder roller apparatus for high speed image scanning equipment, which improves feeding of documents, and in particular short documents, sequentially fed from a stack. The feeder apparatus comprises a PIC roller and an infeed roller which are selectively, independently driven via a dual drive shaft, composed of an inner drive shaft and an outer drive shaft, driven together or selectively, independently by a main motor. An electro-mechanical clutch, when energized is used to drive the PIC roller. A sensor is provided downstream of the rollers to recognize when a document is being fed. Initially, the clutch is energized, and both rollers are driven. When the first sheet reaches the sensor, the clutch is de-energized, cutting off the drive to the PIC roller. The main motor continues driving only the infeed roller until the first sheet is fed.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2002Date of Patent: January 20, 2004Assignee: Bowe Bell + Howell Scanners, L.L.C.Inventors: Jose Pioquinto, James Russo
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Patent number: 6655677Abstract: A document feeder includes advance, separation, and transport rollers for driving checks in turn along a feedpath from an input tray containing a stack of the checks A sensor is disposed between the separation and transport rollers for detecting presence of the checks therebetween. A controller is joined to the rollers for controlling speed thereof, and is operatively joined to the sensor for measuring intercheck gaps between the separation and transport rollers. The controller actively adjusts the intercheck gaps by temporarily changing speed of the separation roller at the beginning of the feedpath near the input tray. The intercheck gaps are measured and corrected between the separation and transport rollers for precise control thereof while maximizing throughput.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2001Date of Patent: December 2, 2003Assignee: NCR CorporationInventors: Gary R. Marshall, Alexander S. Murison, George J. Hroch, Armand M. Dumas
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Patent number: 6644659Abstract: A sheet feeder apparatus and method with throughput control. By varying the speed at which sheets are fed from a supply, the sheet feeder apparatus and method assures that the throughput capacity of a downstream operation is never exceeded. Speed is varied based upon the length of the sheets being fed. Furthermore, the sheet feeder apparatus can have worn components replaced quickly and by operators of minimal skill level.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2002Date of Patent: November 11, 2003Assignee: Bell & Howell Mail and Messaging Technologies CompanyInventors: Herman G. Skadow, Stephen R. Archer, Thomas D. Para, Ramesh Pankajakshan, Richard M. Szewczyk
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Publication number: 20030179351Abstract: An image recording device which cuts an elongated photosensitive material, and disposes plural rows of photosensitive material sheets in parallel, and simultaneously conveys the photosensitive material sheets. The elongated photosensitive material pulled-out from a magazine is cut by a cutter into a plurality of sheet-shaped photographic printing papers of predetermined widths. The photographic printing papers are conveyed by first conveying roller pairs to predetermined positions on a conveying path. Due to nipping of the first conveying roller pairs being released, the photographic printing papers, which have been conveyed to conveying positions of respective rows, abut a stopper such that trailing ends of the photographic printing papers are aligned. Further, due to the plurality of photographic printing papers being nipped by second roller pairs, the plurality of photographic printing papers are conveyed toward an exposure position simultaneously in plural rows on the conveying path.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2003Publication date: September 25, 2003Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.Inventor: Naoyuki Morita
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Patent number: 6595510Abstract: A method and apparatus for feeding a currency note into a currency processing machine. This note feeder includes a transporter for transporting notes from a note stack onto a processing belt inside the currency processing machine. The note feeder also includes a mediating transporter that takes the note from the transporter and feeds the note onto the processing belt. The note feeder also includes sensors for determining when the note has left a first feeding area and entered a second feeding area and to determine whether multiple notes have entered the second feeder section. The note feed also includes and a sensor that determines when the note has entered onto the processing belt. Based on information received from the sensors, the transporter starts and stops thus providing uniform spacing between notes.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2002Date of Patent: July 22, 2003Assignee: Currency Systems InternationalInventor: Sohail Kayani
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Patent number: 6588740Abstract: An intelligent feeding and separating device for consistently separating an outermost sheet of media from a stack and feeding it to an imaging rendering apparatus, includes: a) a sheet transport mechanism; b) a feed device for feeding sheets to the sheet transport mechanism; c) a separation mechanism adjacent to the feed mechanism; d) at least one drive mechanism in operable association with the feed or separation mechanisms, and comprising a feed or separation roller reversal mechanism; e) a plurality of different types of sensor devices adjacent to the feed mechanism for measuring characteristics of the sheets being fed; and f) a microprocessor in communication with the sensor devices and the feed or separation roller direction reversal mechanism; wherein, depending upon input from the sensor devices, the microprocessor outputs to the feed or separation roller direction reversal mechanism to address feed-related problems encountered during operation.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2000Date of Patent: July 8, 2003Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Charles E. Brugger, George Simmons, Stephen A. Horstman, Randall R. Maysick, Robert M. Westcott
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Patent number: 6578839Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for removing flat mail pieces from a pile by means of a removal device with controllable removal velocity which feeds the mail pieces to conveyor belts driven at the velocity v0. Set velocity value profiles are associated with the differences between set and actual gaps. Since the curve forms are selectable, the drive ratios can be taken into account. The association of the set velocity value curves of the drive unit with the actual gaps in order to achieve the set gap at the takeover point of the conveyor belts at velocity v0 takes place in previous measurements. The nonlinearities of the transfer function of the drive unit are detected by tabular assignment of the velocity profiles on the basis of measurements.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2001Date of Patent: June 17, 2003Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Frank Gerstenberg, Hauke Luebben
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Patent number: 6575450Abstract: An improved singulation mechanism is provided for flat articles having significant variations in size, thickness and weight, which mechanism utilizes at least two vacuum chambers positioned behind a moving perforated to feed the articles and selectively controls at least one of pressure and flow for at least one of the chambers to facilitate the feeding of heavier articles, while inhibiting bleed through doubles for lighter articles. A mechanism may be provided which provides a puff of air to at least one of the chambers at the end of the operation thereof to reduce the feeding of doubles and a bent fence may be suitably positioned to both facilitate feeding of shorter articles and to facilitate proper initial alignment of the articles.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2001Date of Patent: June 10, 2003Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Wayne Blackwell, George C. Cera, Bruce Hanson
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Patent number: 6574569Abstract: A paper quality determining sensor and a faulty paper sorting device capable of detecting reaction forces of paper sheets themselves which vary according to paper quality using a plurality of rollers so as to detect the stiffness (rigidity) of paper sheets accurately without being affected by thicknesses of the paper sheets.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2001Date of Patent: June 3, 2003Assignee: Omron CorporationInventors: Nobuaki Omata, Masanobu Segawa, Atsushi Irie, Atsushi Osada
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Patent number: 6565077Abstract: A paper feed apparatus comprises primary paper feed device 3 sequentially transferring only an uppermost print sheet P on a paper feed tray, and secondary paper feed device 4 guiding a tip end of the print sheet P transferred by the primary paper feed device 3 by a pair of guide members 12 and 13, introducing the print sheet P to a portion between a pair of secondary paper feed rollers 10 and transferring the print sheet P introduced to the portion between the pair of secondary paper feed rollers 10 to a transport downstream side according to rotation of the pair of secondary paper feed rollers 10. The paper feed apparatus is provided with a guide distance adjustment device 14 for making a distance between the pair of guide members 12 and 13 variable. The guide distance adjustment device 14 rotates eccentric cams 22 by rotation of an operation member 20.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2001Date of Patent: May 20, 2003Assignee: Riso Kagaku CorporationInventor: Shunichiro Kawada
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Patent number: 6536756Abstract: The present invention provides an aligner apparatus which bottom edge aligns documents and separates documents and provides adequate gap between documents for subsequent processing. The an aligner apparatus includes first and second guide walls, forming an alley along the document feed path in which the documents are relieved of interdocument forces allowing bottom edge alignment of the documents with the document feed path. A trap assembly including first and second trap levers is lever mounted along the document feed path on a side of the guide wall and when actuated, cause opposing forces on one-another in order to grab the documents as they move along the feed path in the aligner apparatus so as to control the gap between the documents. It apparatus further provides an adequate gap between documents while reducing noise. Each trap lever has a head portion, which is fitted with a resilient pad, which is attached to the trap arm in a manner that forms a gap between the head and the pad.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2001Date of Patent: March 25, 2003Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Christopher Julius Stefan, Eric A. Belec, John J. Mercede, Jr., James A. Salomon, Steven A. Supron, Shae Lynn Wilson, Leo Wologodzew, Anthony E. Yap
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Patent number: 6533263Abstract: The present invention is made in consideration of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a sheet conveying apparatus which can monitor a sheet conveying condition even with small sheet interval, an image forming apparatus having such a sheet conveying apparatus, an image reading apparatus having such a sheet conveying apparatus, and a sheet processing apparatus having such a sheet conveying apparatus. The present invention provides a sheet conveying apparatus that has detecting means for detecting each of the sheets to be conveyed, wherein, when the sheets are conveyed continuously, conveyance of a preceding sheet and a succeeding sheet is started in a condition that the succeeding sheet cannot be detected by the detecting means, and the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet are conveyed in such a manner that a an interval which can be detected by the detecting means is created between the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet at a position of the detecting means.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2001Date of Patent: March 18, 2003Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masashige Tamura
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Patent number: 6511062Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for controlling the presentation of articles to the singulation head of a system for singulating a stack of edge-mounted articles, for example mixed mail, which mechanism senses the instantaneous pressure at which the lead article of the stack is pressed against the singulation head. A feedback control may be provided responsive to a difference between detected instantaneous pressure and a desired target pressure for controlling at least one drive member in a manner so as to reduce such difference. Where there is a pick window of instantaneous pressure at which singulation can be effectively performed, a control may also be provided to inhibit operation of the singulation head when the instantaneous pressure is outside the pick window.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2000Date of Patent: January 28, 2003Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Wayne M. Blackwell, Michael D. Senger
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Patent number: 6499734Abstract: A method of detecting a document in a system for feeding and transporting documents includes detecting an acceleration of an accelerator idler indicating when the document trailing edge exits a feeder and a separator. The system includes a feeder stage including the feeder and the separator for receiving a document therebetween and gripping the document with a first grip, and a transport stage downstream of the feeder stage. The transport stage includes an accelerator driver and the accelerator idler for receiving the document therebetween and gripping the document with a second grip that is less than the first grip. When the document is simultaneously gripped by the feeder and separator and gripped by the accelerator driver and accelerator idler, the document slips at the accelerator driver until the document trailing edge exits the feeder and separator. The acceleration of the accelerator idler is detected to indicate when the document trailing edge exits the feeder and separator.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2001Date of Patent: December 31, 2002Assignee: Unisys CorporationInventor: Michael N. Tranquilla
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Patent number: 6499733Abstract: The invention relates to a method of feeding a sheetlike material (50-54) into a printer. An externally located cover sheet (50-54) is removed from a pile of sheets and conveyed towards a section (a10-a12) of the transport path at a transport speed (V0, V1). The lower limit (v0) of the transport speed is the same as or greater than the transport speed (v0) of the sheets (50-54) in section (a1-a12). Conveyance of the sheet (52,54) is delayed until section (a10-a12) has been reached. Identical predetermined spacing (AS) thus occurs between immediately successive transported sheets (52,54).Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 1999Date of Patent: December 31, 2002Assignee: Oce Printing Systems GmbHInventors: Gerhard Oberhoffner, Stephan Pilsl
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Publication number: 20020180138Abstract: A document feeder includes advance, separation, and transport rollers for driving checks in turn along a feedpath from an input tray containing a stack of the checks A sensor is disposed between the separation and transport rollers for detecting presence of the checks therebetween. A controller is joined to the rollers for controlling speed thereof, and is operatively joined to the sensor for measuring intercheck gaps between the separation and transport rollers. The controller actively adjusts the intercheck gaps by temporarily changing speed of the separation roller at the beginning of the feedpath near the input tray. The intercheck gaps are measured and corrected between the separation and transport rollers for precise control thereof while maximizing throughput.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2001Publication date: December 5, 2002Applicant: NCR CorporationInventors: Gary R. Marshall, Alexander S. Murison, George J. Hroch, Armand M. Dumas
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Patent number: 6485011Abstract: The invention is to provide a paper feeding apparatus and a driving method thereof for an office machine. The office machine includes a paper accommodating device and a paper processing apparatus. The paper accommodating device is for accommodating paper sheets to be processed by the paper processing apparatus. The paper feeding apparatus is for feeding the paper sheets accommodated by the paper accommodating device one by one to the paper processing apparatus. The paper feeding apparatus includes a pickup roller, a delivery roller, a pair of feeding rollers, a detection device, a transmission gear assembly, a drive motor and a controller. The detection device detects a leading edge and a trailing edge of the paper sheet delivered by the paper feeding apparatus. In particular, the paper feeding apparatus is a simple-configuration, light-weight and compact component and capable of feeding paper sheets accurately.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2000Date of Patent: November 26, 2002Assignee: Benq CorporationInventors: Wei-Feng Yen, Kun-Yee Yang
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Patent number: 6474634Abstract: A pre-registration system increases the latitude of present active registration systems by decreasing the lateral offset of sheets before they reach the active registration system. This is accomplished by pivoting and translating a sheet supply elevator with stepper motors in conjunction with sensing a lateral edge of sheets in order to direct the sheets to the proper lateral position to be fed into the active registration system with a minimum of lateral offset.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2000Date of Patent: November 5, 2002Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventor: Alan G. Schlageter
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Patent number: RE38212Abstract: A sheet feeding device (2) for separating an outermost sheet (4) from a stack (6). The sheet feeding device (2) comprises a stack support means (8) positioned in a first portion (10) of a housing (12), and a feed module (14) detachably mounted to a second portion (16) of the housing (12) and adapted to be positioned in contact with the stack (6). The feed module (14) includes an urging means (18) mounted on the feed module (14) by an infeed shaft (20) and a feed means (22) mounted on the feed module (14) by a feed roller shaft (24). A separation means (26) is detachably and pivotally mounted to the second portion (16) of the housing (12) by a support means (28). The separation means (26) is positioned adjacent to the feed means (22) so as to define a nip therebetween. A drive means (32) for driving the feed module (14) is mounted to the second portion of the housing (12). A clutch means (90) attached to the drive means (32) transmits an intermittent drive force to the feed module (14).Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2001Date of Patent: August 12, 2003Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Robert M. Westcott, William J. Greene, Randall R. Maysick, Steven L. Moore