To Control Gripper-couple Moving Sheet To Alignment Patents (Class 271/228)
  • Patent number: 8157260
    Abstract: A roller module is adapted for use with an automatic document feeder, and is adapted for feeding of a document sheet therethrough. The roller module comprises a first roller, a second roller disposed adjacent to and parallel to the first roller and cooperating with the first roller to define a nip, a driven component co-rotatable with the first roller, and a driving component rotatable for abutting against and driving the driven component to rotate, thereby permitting feeding of the document sheet through the nip. During rotation of the driving component, the document sheet is brought into contact with the first and second rollers for a predetermined time period to perform skew correction before the driving component rotates the driven component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignees: Silitek Electronic (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd., Lite-On Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Chen-Tsai Tsai, Hsueh-Chou Hsu, Chia-Chun Li
  • Publication number: 20120080838
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus including: a conveying roller pair conveying a sheet by a nip portion; a shutter portion which is rotatably supported on a rotary shaft of the first conveying roller; a same radius portion, provided in the shutter portion, which is formed to have substantially the same radius as a radius of the first conveying roller; an abutment portion, provided in the shutter portion, and against which the leading edge of the sheet is abutted; and a boundary portion, provided in a boundary of the abutment portion and the same radius portion, which guides the leading edge of the sheet to the nip portion when the shutter portion is rotated by abutting the leading edge of the sheet against the boundary portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takehito Osada, Minoru Kawanishi, Kenji Watanabe, Motohiro Furusawa
  • Patent number: 8146915
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for laterally aligning a sheet in a processing machine, in particular a printing machine, carries out lateral sheet alignment on a cylinder of the printing machine, e.g. a feed cylinder. In order to achieve large correction distances in relation to a possible lateral movement capability of a gripper bar, the latter is prealigned prior to correction in such a way that, in the event of deviation from predetermined desired values, it is prealigned laterally to defined positions. A sheet-fed rotary printing machine having the apparatus, is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Holger Edinger, Jürgen Zeltner
  • Patent number: 8141870
    Abstract: A method for moving a media sheet within an imaging device includes moving a media sheet along a media path past a predetermined point PP on the media path by rotating a roller. After moving the media sheet past the point PP, a processor monitors whether a performance attribute of a component of the imaging device satisfies a predetermined criteria. After the performance attribute of the component of the imaging device satisfies the predetermined criteria, the media sheet is entered into a feed nip in a substantially deskewed alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Edward Griese, Patrick Lawrence Ransom, Bonnie Billy Lim Sy
  • Patent number: 8136811
    Abstract: An automatic document feeder includes a paper guide casing, a photo interrupter, a first sensing unit, a second sensing unit and a controller. During the paper is transported through the paper guide casing, the first sensing unit and the second sensing unit are respectively triggered by two ends of the paper. Consequently, the photo interrupter is conducted for a first duration T1 or a second duration T2. According to the first duration T1 or the second duration T2, a skew angle of the paper is calculated by the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Primax Electronics Ltd.
    Inventors: Ping-Hung Kuo, Wei-Hsun Hsu, Szu-Chieh Wu
  • Patent number: 8123218
    Abstract: A skew roller is disposed near an abutment reference member. A pre-skew roller is disposed on the upstream side of the skew roller at a position corresponding to a conveyance center line. When a sheet conveyed by a pre-registration conveyance roller reaches the skew roller, the pre-registration conveyance roller moves upward to release a nipping force applied on the sheet. At the same time, the pre-skew roller moves downward to start aligning the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Yasumoto
  • Patent number: 8113511
    Abstract: A document deskewing module comprises a set of sensors arranged to detect when a document transported in a first direction of document travel along a document transport path is deskewed, a first set of drive rollers in the form of hard drive rollers disposed along the document transport path, a first set of idler rollers moveable towards and away from the hard drive rollers, a second set of drive rollers in the form of soft drive rollers disposed along the document transport path, a second set of idler rollers moveable towards and away from the soft drive rollers, a track bottom disposed on one side of the document transport path and movable in the first direction of document travel, and a controller arranged to control operation of the first and second sets of idler rollers and the movable track bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Fredrik L. N. Kallin, Robert J. Ross
  • Patent number: 8109507
    Abstract: A movable component which can be moved between a protruding position in which the movable component protrudes from the outer chute into a curved path toward an inner chute so as to be able to contact the recording medium and a retracted position in which the degree of protrusion of the movable component from the outer chute into the curved path is smaller than the degree of protrusion in the protruding position, and the movable component is moved from the protruding position to the retracted position at a timing on or after a first timing and before a second timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayuki Okumura, Yuji Sakano, Hideki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8109508
    Abstract: A method and system improves sheet registration in a document processing device. A technique is implemented that produces accurate results with merely a small tail wag. To do so, the technique ultimately establishes or determines a variety of parameters (e.g. lateral position of a sheet, skew, registration time, nominal sheet velocity, and correction velocity). These parameters are then used to calculate a lateral velocity profile. In this regard, the calculated velocity profiles are applied to the wheels or nips, in the paper path. Thus, the wheels can be controlled and will allow for improved sheet registration in the document processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Joannes N. M. de Jong, Lloyd A. Williams
  • Publication number: 20120013067
    Abstract: An assembly including two nip assemblies spaced apart along a first axis. Each nip assembly including a driven wheel and an idler roller. The driven wheel rotatably supported about the first axis. The idler cooperating with the driven wheel to engage a sheet. The idler rotatably supported about a second axis. The second axis being selectively moveable relative to the first axis. The selective movement between a first and second orientation while the sheet is moved along the transport path. In the first orientation the second axis extends parallel to the first axis. In the second orientation the second axis extends at an oblique angle to the first axis. The selective movement pivoting about a third axis extending through a centerline common to both the driven wheel and the idler. The selective movement of one of the two nip assemblies being independent from the selective movement of the other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Marina L. Thayayil
  • Patent number: 8099037
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section which forms an image on a sheet; a conveyance section which conveys the sheet to the image forming section, having a registration roller, a plurality of loop forming rollers which cause the sheet to form a loop, provided upstream of the registration roller in a sheet conveyance direction and arranged in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction, a skew detection sensor which detects a skew of the sheet, and a conveyance roller provided upstream of the loop forming roller; and a control section which controls a driving of the conveyance section. The control section controls independently each of the plurality of loop forming rollers based on the detected result of the skew detection sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Tetsu Sekine, Satoshi Ogata, Yujiro Ishida
  • Patent number: 8091886
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device which has a reduced size and is capable of detecting the amount of lateral sheet registration deviation and correcting the deviation at high speed. The sheet conveying device includes shift roller pairs for conveying sheets, and a shift unit for shifting a conveyed sheet in a direction orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction. After the sheet has reached a position where it is to be detected by a lateral registration deviation-detecting sensor unit, a CPU causes the sensor unit and the sheet to be shifted in respective opposite directions, detect a sheet lateral edge, and thereby measure the position of the sheet lateral edge. Further, the CPU causes the sheet to be shifted based on a result of the measurement, such that the sheet lateral edge is aligned with a predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Kato, Naoki Ishikawa, Yasuo Fukatsu
  • Patent number: 8091890
    Abstract: A medium feeding device includes a feed roller pair, a transport roller, a medium guiding path section, and a controller. The feed roller pair includes a feed driving roller driven by power and a feed driven roller to be rotationally driven, and feeds a medium to be fed toward the downstream side in a feed direction. The feed driving roller and the feed driven roller are separated from each other. The transport roller pair transports the medium, which is fed by the feed roller pair, toward the downstream side in the feed direction. The transport roller pair includes a transport driving roller that is disposed on the downstream side of the feed roller pair in the feed direction and is driven by power and a transport driven roller that is rotationally driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kenji Yanagishita
  • Patent number: 8083228
    Abstract: According to aspects illustrated herein, a method, a system, and a printmaking device for performing closed loop lateral and skew control of a sheet is provided. The printmaking device includes a feed path, printing module, and sheet registration system. First, the feed path moves the sheet in a process direction past the lateral sensor. Next, the sheet is registered by measuring a lateral position of one side edge of the sheet at a fixed reference using the lateral sensor and determining a lateral position error of the sheet using the lateral position measurement. After that, a sheet angular velocity is calculated based on the lateral position error using the registration controller. Then, the lateral position error is corrected using the at least one pair of registration nips to adjust the sheet by applying the sheet angular velocity to the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Joannes N. M. deJong, Lloyd A. Williams
  • Patent number: 8074982
    Abstract: An assembly including nip assemblies spaced apart from one another along a first axis extending in the lateral direction. Each nip assembly including a driven wheel and an idler roller. The driven wheel rotatably supported about the first axis and the idler roller cooperating with the driven wheel to engage the sheet there between. The idler roller rotatably supported about a second axis. The first or second axis being selectively moveable relative to the other of the first or second axis between a first and second orientation. In the first orientation, the second axis extending parallel to the first axis, and in the second orientation the second axis extending at an oblique angle to the first axis. The selective movement of the second axis pivoting about a third axis substantially extending through a centerline common to both the driven wheel and the idler roller of each nip assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Marina L. Tharayil
  • Publication number: 20110291352
    Abstract: Accurate sheet leading edge registration system and method including a first and second nip assembly, a first sheet leading edge sensor and a controller. The first and second nip assemblies being spaced apart from one another. The first sheet leading edge sensor capable of detecting an arrival of a leading edge of a sheet at a point in the process direction. The arrival being associated with engagement of the first and second nip assemblies with the sheet. The controller capable of imparting a rotational skew velocity to the sheet using the first and second nip assemblies. A center of rotation of the skew velocity being offset laterally from a center of the sheet leading edge and being coincident with a lateral position of a virtual point, the virtual point lateral position being offset from a lateral position of the first sheet leading edge sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joannes N.M. deJong, Lloyd A. Williams
  • Patent number: 8066279
    Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus capable of detecting a sheet end portion in a short time period even if sheets are conveyed at a narrow interval and at high speed, thus making it possible to expedite the start timing of a subsequent sheet alignment operation. In accordance with results of detection by lateral registration detection sensors performed when a sheet reaches a lateral registration detection sensor unit, the sensor unit is moved in a width direction for sheet end detection. Based on a moving distance of the sensor unit from a standby position to a position where the sheet end is detected, a shift amount to be shifted the sheet in the width direction, i.e., a lateral registration error, is computed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Ishikawa, Yasuo Fukatsu, Tsuyoshi Moriyama, Hitoshi Kato
  • Patent number: 8056897
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the lateral position of a moving sheet in a sheet registration system. A side edge sensor is moved from a known location until the side edge of the moving sheet is detected. A signal is generated indicative of the position of the side edge when it is detected. The position of the side edge as indicated by the signal is used along with skew of the sheet to determine the lateral position of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Joannes N. deJong, Lloyd A. Williams
  • Publication number: 20110266742
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a first conveyance unit configured to convey a sheet, a first guide located downstream of the first conveyance unit in a conveyance direction and configured to guide a first side end of the conveyed sheet, a skew unit configured to convey the sheet in an oblique direction to come closer to the first guide, a second guide configured to contact a second side end opposite the first side end to guide the second side end, a second conveyance unit located downstream of the first guide in the conveyance direction, and a control unit configured to perform control so that, after conveying the sheet by the skew unit with the first guide contacting the first side end while the second guide is separated from the second side end, the second guide moves to a position close to the second side end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryosuke Sato, Kenji Shigeno, Koichiro Kawaguchi, Toshiki Takeuchi, Kengo Nieda
  • Patent number: 8047536
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a sheet feeding portion feeding a sheet; a conveyance passage for conveying the sheet inside the apparatus; an image forming portion forming an image on the sheet; a skewing detector disposed in the conveyance passage between the sheet feeding portion and the image forming portion, detecting arrival and departure of the sheet, and detecting skewing amount of the sheet in the conveyance passage; a display portion displaying an apparatus state; a storage portion storing data; and a control portion controlling sheet feeding and conveying, and grasping the sheet skewing amount based on the output of the skewing detector to stop printing when the skewing amount is at or above a first predetermined amount stored in the storage portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Masataka Takemura
  • Patent number: 8047537
    Abstract: An apparatus for registering a sheet. The apparatus including a sheet registration nip assembly for changing a position and/or timing of the sheet. The apparatus also including a controller communicating a first signal to the sheet registration nip assembly to change a first sheet characteristic to a target characteristic. The first signal generated to impart the target characteristic to the sheet by the time the sheet reaches a preliminary datum. The preliminary datum disposed along the transport path between the sheet registration nip assembly and a delivery datum that is disposed downstream of the sheet registration nip assembly. The controller communicating a second signal to the sheet registration nip assembly to change a second sheet characteristic to the target characteristic. The second signal communicated when at least a portion of the sheet is disposed along the transport path between the preliminary datum and the delivery datum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Company
    Inventors: Joannes N. M. deJong, Lloyd A. Williams, Marina L. Tharayil
  • Patent number: 8036588
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus including an image forming section which forms an image on a sheet and a conveyance section which conveys the sheet to the image forming section, the conveyance section includes: a registration roller, a plurality of loop forming rollers which cause the sheet to form a loop, provided upstream of the registration roller in a sheet conveyance direction and arranged in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction, a skew detection sensor which detects a skew of the sheet, and a conveyance roller provided upstream of the loop forming roller; and a control section which controls independently each of the plurality of loop forming rollers based on the detected result of the skew detection sensor. The conveyance roller is swung in the direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yujiro Ishida, Tetsu Sekine
  • Patent number: 8033544
    Abstract: According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided a printmaking device, a method, and a system for calibrating sensors. The printmaking device includes a calibration system with a media path, a registration device, and at least one edge sensor. The registration device having a pair of nips connected by a lateral carriage and a calibration member disposed traversely and affixed to the lateral carriage. The lateral carriage is configured to move laterally relative to the media path. The at least one edge sensor may be configured to determine an extent of movement of a first portion of the calibration member. The registration device calibrates the at least one edge sensor by: moving the lateral carriage a predetermined distance; determining the extent of movement of the first portion of the calibration member; and comparing the predetermined distance and the extent of movement so as to determine the calibration factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Dondiego, Lloyd A. Williams, Joannes N. M. deJong
  • Publication number: 20110241281
    Abstract: A method for moving a media sheet within an imaging device includes moving a media sheet along a media path by rotating an at least one roller. While the media sheet is moving, a first sensor is activated with the media sheet and then a second sensor is activated with the media sheet. Feedback is received by a processor indicating the number of rotations of the at least one roller. A measured distance DM from the first sensor to the second sensor is calculated. An adjusted distance DA from the second sensor to a feed nip is then calculated. After activation of the second sensor, the roller continues to move the media sheet on the media path and the roller is rotated at least the adjusted distance DA. The media sheet then enters into the feed nip in a substantially deskewed alignment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventors: Paul Edward Griese, Patrick Lawrence Ransom, Joseph Michael Istre, Eric Debusschere
  • Patent number: 8020860
    Abstract: The present application is directed to devices and methods for moving media sheets within an image forming device. One embodiment includes a registration mechanism located along the media path. The mechanism may include a series of discrete registration nips that each includes a pair of drive rolls and idler roll. The nips are spaced at intervals across the media path. Guide ribs are arranged across the media path and may be positioned between the nips. The guide ribs further guide the media sheets through the registration mechanism and along the media path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Kristi Ann Kappes, David Erwin Rennick, Niko Jay Murrell, Edward Lynn Triplett, Jason Lee Rowe
  • Patent number: 8020859
    Abstract: According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided a method, a system, and a printmaking device for calibrating sensors. The method begins by transporting a media sheet along a media path, the sheet having a lead edge, a trail edge and a measurement edge. Next, the method halts the forward motion of the sheet after the lead edge of the sheet passes a fixed reference. After that, the method moves the sheet laterally relative to the media path across the at least one edge sensor using a sheet actuator. Then, the method records an actual position of the sheet actuator and an output of at least one edge sensor. Finally, the method calculates a calibration factor based on the actual position of the sheet actuator and the output of the at least one edge sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Joannes N. M. deJong, Lloyd A. Williams
  • Patent number: 8020858
    Abstract: Accurate sheet leading edge registration system and method including a first and second nip assembly, a first sheet leading edge sensor and a controller. The first and second nip assemblies being spaced apart from one another. The first sheet leading edge sensor capable of detecting an arrival of a leading edge of a sheet at a point in the process direction. The arrival being associated with engagement of the first and second nip assemblies with the sheet. The controller capable of imparting a rotational skew velocity to the sheet using the first and second nip assemblies. A center of rotation of the skew velocity being offset laterally from a center of the sheet leading edge. The method includes providing at least the above-mentioned nip assemblies, first sheet leading edge sensor and controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Joannes N.M. deJong, Lloyd A. Williams
  • Publication number: 20110215524
    Abstract: A medium processing apparatus which corrects the tilt of a medium is provided. The medium processing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a conveyer configured to convey a medium along a conveying path, and a shutter located along the conveying path to block the conveyance of the medium. The medium processing apparatus further includes a detector configured to detect a tilt of the medium with respect to the shutter, and a shutter controller configured to control the shutter to unblock the conveyance of the medium when the detector determines that the tilt of the medium is corrected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshimasa Inoue
  • Publication number: 20110210500
    Abstract: A device includes a conveying unit conveying a sheet, a guide, disposed downstream of the conveying unit in a conveying direction, guiding one side end of the conveyed sheet while being in contact with a side end, a feeding unit obliquely conveying the sheet closer to the guide, a pressing unit pressing the conveyed sheet in a direction in which the sheet moves away from the guide, and a control unit controlling the pressing unit and the feeding unit so that the feeding unit nips the pressed sheet to form a loop in the sheet between the conveying unit and the feeding unit and then conveys the sheet while the side end of the sheet is in sliding contact with the guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryosuke Sato, Kenji Shigeno, Masato Izumi, Tetsuhiro Nitta
  • Publication number: 20110200341
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus that can detect a leading edge of a tabbed sheet after skew correction with high accuracy and without increasing a size of the apparatus. A transfer unit transfers a toner image to the sheet, the skew of which having been corrected based on a detection result of a first skew detection unit, while the toner image is controlled to be synchronized with the sheet based on the detection result of the first skew detection unit and a detection result of a second skew detection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaaki MORIYA
  • Publication number: 20110193286
    Abstract: For a device for the alignment of sheets, which comprises at least one first and one second driving roller (20) and at least one pressure roller (21), as well as at least one first and one second rotary drive (26) for rotating said first and second driving rollers (20), respectively, about an axis of rotation (28), a simple and cost-effective setup is achieved by at least one displacement drive for shifting at least the driving rollers (20) along the axis of rotation in such a manner that there is a change of distance between the driving rollers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Inventors: Christian Compera, Soenke Dehn, Ingo Neuber
  • Publication number: 20110163494
    Abstract: The device (1) comprises: a sliding plane (2) interposed between an upstream branch (RM) and a downstream branch (RV) of the line (L), destined to restingly receive articles (F) in transit between the branches (RM, RV); two drawing groups (3, 4), flanked and activated independently, each of which is constituted by a lower roller (13, 14) and an upper roller (23, 24) rotating in an opposite direction, which rollers are destined to adheringly engage with upper and lower surfaces of the flat articles (F); command organs (10) for activating the first and second drawing groups (3, 4), first in a same direction in phase relation with an entry of a flat article (F) arriving from the upstream branch (RM) and then in opposite directions in order to horizontally rotate the flat article (F) by a predetermined angle, and once more in a same direction in order to determine exit of the rotated flat article (F) towards the downstream branch (RV) of the transport line (L), in a parallel direction to the entry direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: C.M.C. S.P.A.
    Inventor: Francesco Ponti
  • Publication number: 20110156345
    Abstract: According to aspects illustrated herein, a method, a system, and a printmaking device for performing closed loop lateral and skew control of a sheet is provided. The printmaking device includes a feed path, printing module, and sheet registration system. First, the feed path moves the sheet in a process direction past the lateral sensor. Next, the sheet is registered by measuring a lateral position of one side edge of the sheet at a fixed reference using the lateral sensor and determining a lateral position error of the sheet using the lateral position measurement. After that, a sheet angular velocity is calculated based on the lateral position error using the registration controller. Then, the lateral position error is corrected using the at least one pair of registration nips to adjust the sheet by applying the sheet angular velocity to the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joannes N. M. deJong, Lloyd A. Williams
  • Publication number: 20110148033
    Abstract: Accurate sheet registration is achieved by measuring the arrival of a leading edge and/or a trailing edge of the sheet using a first sensor. Also, measuring a first position of the sheet using a second sensor on a lateral edge of the sheet. Then performing a first adjustment moving the sheet laterally using the first position measurement. The first adjustment actuated prior to the sheet reaching a third sensor for measuring a second position of the sheet. The third sensor disposed downstream in the process direction of the second sensor and a sheet feeding nip. Then measuring a second position of the sheet using the third sensor on the lateral edge and performing a second adjustment of the sheet with regard to at least one of sheet skew, sheet velocity and sheet lateral position using at least one of the arrival, first position and second position measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lloyd A. Williams, Joannes N.M. deJong
  • Patent number: 7959150
    Abstract: A method and system feeds a sheet through a media path in a process direction. When the sheet is within a sheet registration carriage of the media path, the method and system align the sheet to a predetermined lateral position within the media path. The aligning process comprises unevenly activating nips within the sheet registration carriage and moving the sheet registration carriage in a lateral direction perpendicular to the process direction. If the lateral movement distance exceeds a predetermined distance, the method and system move the sheet registration carriage toward the starting position after the nips have released the sheet, but before the sheet has passed by the nips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Martin Krucinski, Saurabh Prabhat, Joannes N. M. deJong, Lloyd A. Williams
  • Publication number: 20110133396
    Abstract: According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided a printmaking device, a method, and a system for calibrating sensors. The printmaking device includes a calibration system with a media path, a registration device, and at least one edge sensor. The registration device having a pair of nips connected by a lateral carriage and a calibration member disposed traversely and affixed to the lateral carriage. The lateral carriage is configured to move laterally relative to the media path. The at least one edge sensor may be configured to determine an extent of movement of a first portion of the calibration member. The registration device calibrates the at least one edge sensor by: moving the lateral carriage a predetermined distance; determining the extent of movement of the first portion of the calibration member; and comparing the predetermined distance and the extent of movement so as to determine the calibration factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew Dondiego, Lloyd A. Williams, Joannes N. M. deJong
  • Publication number: 20110121506
    Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a sheet carrying unit and an attraction separation and conveyance device. The sheet carrying unit is configured to carry thereon a sheet stack. The attraction separation and conveyance device is configured to electrostatically attract the uppermost sheet of the sheet stack and separate and convey the uppermost sheet from the sheet stack, and is placed between the upstream end and the central position in a sheet conveying direction of the sheet stack located at a sheet carrying position and having a minimum sheet size compatible with the sheet feeding device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventors: Yoshikuni ISHIKAWA, Yu WAKABAYASHI, Toshiaki TAKAHASHI, Manabu NONAKA
  • Publication number: 20110115154
    Abstract: In a recording medium conveyer, a driver drives a feeding member and a conveying member provided downstream from the feeding member in a recording medium conveyance direction independently. A controller stops driving the feeding member when a first time period elapses after a recording medium reaches the conveying member. When a selector judges that the thickness of the recording medium identifies the recording medium as thin paper, the controller does not drive the feeding member after the controller starts driving the conveying member, and when the selector judges that the recording medium has a thickness greater than a thickness of the recording medium that identifies the recording medium as thin paper, the controller restarts driving the feeding member no later than when the controller starts driving the conveying member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fujiwara, Mizuna Tanaka, Tomoyoshi Yamazaki, Toshikane Nishii, Kazuyoshi Kondo, Haruyuki Honda
  • Patent number: 7942409
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes a first conveyance unit to convey a sheet, a second conveyance unit to convey the sheet received from the first conveyance unit, a sheet detection unit to detect an edge position of the sheet in a lateral direction intersecting a sheet conveyance direction of the second conveyance unit, a sheet shifting unit to shift the sheet conveyed by the second conveyance unit in the lateral direction, a computing unit to compute a difference between the detected edge position of the sheet and a reference position, a position correction unit to control a shifting amount of the sheet by the sheet shifting unit based on the difference computed by the position correction unit to correct a sheet position in the lateral direction, and a conveyance interval control unit to shorten a sheet conveyance interval of the first conveyance unit if the computed difference is equal to or less than a predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Ishikawa, Hitoshi Kato, Yasuo Fukatsu
  • Patent number: 7938399
    Abstract: A curved conveying guiding portion which guides a sheet toward a skew correcting unit is provided on a sheet conveying direction upstream of the skew correcting unit which corrects a skew of the sheet by rotating the sheet while conveying it. By narrowing an interval in the vertical direction in a center portion in the lateral direction of the conveying guiding portion, when a sheet S is rotated and corrected by the skew correcting unit, a load which the sheet to be corrected receives from the conveying guiding portion is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Daisuke Kawaguchi
  • Publication number: 20110095472
    Abstract: A sheet processing system capable of performing lateral shift correction of a sheet in an upstream sheet processing apparatus based on an amount of lateral shift to be caused by conveying thereof into a downstream sheet processing apparatus. A side edge sensor of a stacker detects a lateral shift amount of a sheet conveyed into the stacker. A stacker controller corrects lateral shift of the sheet by a shift unit. A side edge sensor of a finisher disposed downstream of the stacker detects a lateral shift amount of a sheet conveyed into the finisher. The finisher sends the detected lateral shift amount to the stacker. The stacker receives the lateral shift amount from the finisher, and the stacker controller corrects lateral shift of subsequent sheets based on both the lateral shift amount detected in the stacker and the lateral shift amount sent from the finisher.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoki Ishikawa, Hitoshi Kato, Yasuo Fukatsu
  • Publication number: 20110094401
    Abstract: In an apparatus for correcting a position of a sheet which is transported in the grip of grippers on a feed drum of a sheet processing machine, in particular a sheetfed rotary printing press, provision is made for a gripper device of the drum to be mounted in independently rotatable arranged supports and for it to be possible for each support to be driven by a step-up gear mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: HEIDELBERGER DRUCKMASCHINEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Markus Möhringer, Burkhard Wolf
  • Publication number: 20110089623
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus which is capable of improving the productivity of sheet processing as much as possible. An image forming apparatus forms an image on a sheet. A finisher is connected downstream of the image forming apparatus and performs post processing on the sheet. The finisher moves at least one of the sheet and a punching unit to adjust a position for punching holes in the sheet. The finisher determines whether or not a post-processing apparatus connected upstream of the finisher is provided with a correction mechanism for correcting a position of a sheet in a direction orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction. When the post-processing apparatus is provided with the correction mechanism, the finisher causes the image forming apparatus to be set such that a sheet conveying interval becomes shorter than when the post-processing apparatus is not provided with the correction mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hitoshi Kato, Naoki Ishikawa, Yasuo Fukatsu
  • Publication number: 20110089628
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a blocking member having a blocking surface with which a leading end of a sheet that is being conveyed comes into contact for obliquity correction. The blocking member is rotated by being pushed by the sheet against an urging force of a positioning unit that positions the blocking member to be in the standby position. The blocking member is rotatable to be in a sheet-passage-allowing orientation in which the sheet is allowed to pass. When a trailing end of the sheet that is being conveyed has passed the blocking member, the blocking member that is in the sheet-passage-allowing orientation rotates in a same direction as a sheet conveyance direction and is positioned to be in a standby position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Watanabe, Minoru Kawanishi, Motohiro Furusawa, Hiroki Yamaguchi, Shigeo Murayama
  • Publication number: 20110084443
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a sheet conveying device includes: a first roller configured to correct a tilt of a sheet to be conveyed; a first detecting unit located further on an upstream side in a conveying direction of the sheet than the first roller and configured to detect information concerning double-feed of the sheet; a second roller configured to convey the sheet to the first roller; a driving unit configured to drive the second roller; and a controller configured to control the driving unit to thereby temporarily stop the conveyance of the sheet in order to perform the detection by the first detecting unit in a state in which an end of the sheet on a downstream side in the conveying direction of the sheet is located further on the upstream side in the conveying direction of the sheet than a nip position of the first roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Seiji Iino
  • Publication number: 20110084438
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described that facilitate correcting for paper process direction arrival errors during a print job in a marker module of a print engine. Paper sheet arrival time is determined at a first registration point in a print engine or marker module thereof, and an average arrival time is compared to an expected arrival time to determine whether the pages are arriving on time, early, or late. The arrival time error is used to generate or look up a correction factor, which is added to an expected arrival time at a second registration point in the marker module or print engine to generate an updated expected arrival time. Print engine control parameters (e.g., sheet feeder timing, toner application, paper path speed, etc.) are adjusted according to the updated expected arrival time at the second registration point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ana Perez Tooker, Ronald W. Bogert, David M. Kerxhalli
  • Publication number: 20110084441
    Abstract: A method and system have a media path having moving devices that move a media sheet in a processing direction. At least two elongated sensors within the media path are positioned diagonally relative to the processing direction. The media sheet has two lateral sides, a leading edge, and a trailing edge. A registration controller is operatively connected to the media path and to the elongated sensors. Each of the elongated sensors simultaneously identifies: a location of one of the lateral sides of the media sheet, such that a combination of the elongated sensors simultaneously outputs at least two lateral measures of locations of the lateral sides of the media sheet; and at least one measure leading edge or at least one measure of the trailing edge of the media sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joannes N.M. deJong, Lloyd A. Williams
  • Publication number: 20110081181
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus that can reliably correct for skew of a sheet being conveyed. The amount of skew of the sheet is detected, and the amount of toner used for an image formed on a first surface of the sheet is determined. When the sheet with the image formed on the first surface thereof is conveyed so as to form an image on a second surface of the sheet, a skew correction roller unit is controlled so as to correct for the skew of the sheet based on the detected amount of skew and the determined amount of toner used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshi SAITO
  • Publication number: 20110074085
    Abstract: A paper sheet obverse and reverse side arranging device according to the present invention, includes: a reversible conveying section which includes a rotor reversibly conveying paper sheets in two directions opposite to each other, and two inlet and outlet sections provided in front of the two directions, respectively; a sorting section which is provided in an upstream conveying path upstream from the reversible conveying section, and which sorts paper sheets to either one of the two inlet and outlet sections; two guiding sections which are provided in the two inlet and outlet sections, respectively, and which guide paper sheets conveyed from the reversible conveying section; two guide conveying sections which convey paper sheets guided from the reversible conveying section by the two guiding sections towards a downstream conveying path provided downstream; and a control section which controls the reversible conveying section and the sorting section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventor: Yasuhiro ONODERA
  • Patent number: RE42269
    Abstract: A double side scanner module which consists of a U-shaped inversion device and two image information reading devices is provided for reading images on the two sides of an original in a single pass. The U-shaped inversion device has two ends for providing a paper feeding path and a paper output path respectively. The two ends are at the same side for the convenience of operation. At both of the two ends, there is a glass window. Beneath each of the glass windows, there is an image information reading device. When an original is fed into the paper feeding end and conveyed through the first glass window, the first image information reading device starts to read the image on the first side of the original. When the original is conveyed through the U-shaped inversion device, the scanned side will be inverted to the other side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Transpacific Optics LLC
    Inventor: Will Kao