Plural Sensors Patents (Class 271/259)
  • Patent number: 8636282
    Abstract: A sheet feed apparatus which includes a sheet feed tray in which a plurality of sheets is loaded in piles; a sheet feed roller which is provided at a forward position of the sheet feed tray in a sheet feed direction, and sends the loaded sheets inside thereof; and a lift detection sensor which detects, by using a movable lever, a lift of a sheet bundle which occurs when the sheet bundle, of which a rear or a side in a sheet feed direction is bound, is sent by the sheet feed roller therein, the lift detection sensor being provided at a side position of the sheet bundle in a width direction and at a backward position with respect to the center of the sheet bundle in the sheet feed direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiaki Oshiro, Ken Iguchi, Isao Yahata, Kikuo Mizutani, Hiroyuki Taki, Chiaki Iizuka, Hidetoshi Yokochi, Yoshiaki Sugizaki, Takahiro Kawaguchi, Hiroyuki Tsuchihashi, Hiroyuki Hazu, Yoichi Yamaguchi, Hiroyuki Sugiyama, Yuichi Saito, Jun Ishii
  • Patent number: 8616549
    Abstract: A computer readable storage medium stores a feeding and conveyance control program. The feeding and conveyance control program causes a computer to perform executing sequence control of a feeding sequence module with respect to a feeding mechanism that feeds the recording medium. The sequence control includes two kinds of sequence control executed in accordance with an identifier indicating whether the vertical conveyance mechanism exists. Sequence control of a vertical conveyance sequence module is executed with respect to a vertical conveyance mechanism that relays conveyance of the recording medium. Sequence control of a resist conveyance sequence module is executed with respect to a resist conveyance mechanism that conveys the recording medium to the transfer position at a predetermined timing. Overall management of the above-described modules is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kohei Hayashi, Yoshihiko Yoshizaki
  • Patent number: 8613437
    Abstract: A sheet identification device includes plural detecting units, an estimating unit, and an output unit. The plural detecting units are provided along a transport path along which a sheet is transported by a transport unit, and detect passing of the sheet. The estimating unit estimates a length in a transport direction of the sheet as a detection target on the basis of individual detection results generated by the plural detecting units. The output unit outputs, if the length estimated by the estimating unit on the basis of at least one of the detection results is not a predetermined length, a signal indicating that a sheet having a length in the transport direction different from the predetermined length is being transported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Watanabe, Kiminobu Tsutada, Hiroyuki Tamai, Hiroaki Magaribuchi
  • Patent number: 8585052
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet storage unit, a sheet feeding unit, a conveyance path for conveying a sheet to the image forming unit, a plurality of sheet detection sensors disposed along the conveyance path, a determination unit for determining whether predetermined time elapses from a detection of a front end of the sheet until a detection of a rear end of the sheet and a discharge unit. When the determination unit determines that the predetermined time has elapsed based on the detection by the sheet detection sensor disposed in the furthest upstream position among the plurality of sheet detection sensors, the sheet is discharged from the discharge unit, and when the determination unit determines that the predetermined time has elapsed based on the detection by the sheet detection sensors other than that disposed in the furthest upstream position, the sheet is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumihiko Hirata, Yuji Yamanaka, Taro Ikeda, Kazuhiro Kosuga
  • Patent number: 8573593
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a unit that detects the position of a sheet in a sheet transport path when jamming is detected, a forced moving processing unit that, when jamming is detected and rotational driving of sheet transport rollers is stopped, based on the position of the sheet in the sheet transport path, performs forced moving processing in which the sheet is transported so as to forcibly move the sheet to a sheet removal position, and a forced moving processing determination unit that determines whether the forced moving processing is to be performed by the forced moving processing unit in accordance with the position of the sheet that was detected by the sheet position detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshinori Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 8528900
    Abstract: A sheet loading and handling apparatus that suppress anomalies in sheet supply operation and feed sheets in a stable manner is disclosed. The sheet loading unit includes a supply mechanism that moves a plurality of stacked sheets in a direction toward a feeding position located at an end of the loading unit, a feeding mechanism that individually feeds sheets to the feeding position, and a control unit controlling a plurality of sensors, which detect whether there is a sheet at the feeding position. The supply mechanism operates based on detection information of the sensors. The control unit monitors a relationship between signal information of the optical sensor and that of another sensor, and if a signal relationship that is not normal as compared to that of normal feeding occurs, the unit retracts the signal information of the optical sensor and uses only the signal information of the other sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Toshiba Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuo Watanabe, Kazuya Saimei, Takashi Hirayama
  • Patent number: 8523177
    Abstract: When continuous-conveying control is executed in a conveying apparatus which can handle various sizes of sheet, a conveying apparatus which can efficiently detect a conveying error by a required minimum conveyed amount or conveying time according to a sheet size is provided. For that purpose, a maximum conveyed amount from start of sheet feeding of the subsequent page to determination to be a sheet-feeding error is set based on a detection result of a rear end portion on a previous page by a PE sensor. The maximum conveyed amount when the rear end portion of the previous page is detected is set smaller than the maximum conveyed amount when not detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigeto Sakai
  • Patent number: 8515329
    Abstract: A sheet is placed on a sheet feed unit. A main-scanning sensor detects first detection information for identifying a sheet size in a main-scanning direction and a sub-scanning sensor detects second detection information for identifying a sheet size in a sub-scanning direction. A sheet sensor detects presence of the sheet on the sheet feed unit. It is monitored whether the sheet sensor has detected a sheet and a timer starts counting a first elapsed time from a time point at which the sheet sensor detects a sheet. A size identifying unit identifies, when the first elapsed time exceeds a first predetermined set time, a sheet size based on the first and the second detection information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Kiichirou Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8498025
    Abstract: An image reader reads an image on a document while transporting it along a transport path. The image reader includes an image-reading unit, a document guide member and a size detector. The image-reading unit reads the image in a predetermined line width and generates image data based on the image. The document guide member is disposed along the document path and has a first mark thereon. The first mark extends in a main scanning direction of the image-reading unit and has a width greater than or equal to the predetermined line width. The size detector detects the size of the document based on image data read by the image-reading unit at a size detection position where the document overlaps with the first mark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Ryuji Fukasawa
  • Patent number: 8490968
    Abstract: When a trailing edge detection sensor is affected by toner, dust, etc. adhered on an optical path thereof or when the sensor fails, malfunction of the apparatus is prevented from happening by measuring the size of a record material only with a unit for detecting a leading edge. The image forming apparatus has a unit for leading edge detection adapted to detect the leading edge of the record material and a unit for trailing edge detection adapted to detect the trailing edge of the record material, and is configured to, when the unit for trailing edge detection falls in detection capability or fails, form an image and measure the size of the record material only with the unit for leading edge detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Kokubo
  • Patent number: 8439182
    Abstract: A system for controlling friction forces acting on a mailpiece in a mailpiece insertion module. The system includes, a backstop assembly for arresting the motion of the envelope when disposed in a first positon and permitting conveyance along the feed path when disposed in a second position, an actuator operative to position the backstop assembly into the first and second positions and consuming energy to maintain the backstop assembly in the first position, a sensor for acquirinq data indicative of the magnitude of energy consumed by the actuator; a means for developing a pressure differential across the envelope to urge the envelope into frictional engagement with a plurality of drive belts and for developing friction forces along a mating interface, and a system controller, for varying the magnitude of the pressure differential and the friction forces developed along the mating interface of the envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Boris Rozenfeld, John W. Sussmeier, Arthur H. DePol
  • Patent number: 8403448
    Abstract: A medium transport device includes a sensor unit, a timing data collection unit, and a sampling resolution changing unit. The sensor unit is provided in a transport path of a print recording medium to detect a transport timing of the print recording medium. A timing data collection unit receives an output from the sensor unit and samples the output at a sampling interval as timing data. A sampling resolution changing unit changes the sampling interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kaoru Yasukawa, Koji Adachi, Norikazu Yamada, Koki Uwatoko, Tetsuichi Satonaga, Shigehiro Furukawa
  • Patent number: 8313098
    Abstract: A paper transport device is configured to independently drive a paper ejecting roller when predetermined abnormal events occur. When paper-jamming occurs and if no paper is present downstream of a jammed paper or a preceding paper that is present most downstream is located upstream of a predetermined position, the paper ejecting roller is stopped to prevent ejection of papers outside of the paper transport device. When paper-jamming occurs and if a preceding paper that is present most downstream is located downstream of the predetermined position, the paper ejecting roller is independently driven to complete ejection of the preceding paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Hitoshi Hattori, Masahiro Tamura, Nobuyoshi Suzuki, Shuuya Nagasako, Naohiro Kikkawa, Kazuhiro Kobayashi, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Makoto Hidaka, Junichi Tokita, Akira Kunieda, Hiroshi Maeda, Tomoichi Nomura, Ichiro Ichihashi
  • Patent number: 8285191
    Abstract: A sheet size detecting apparatus having a first arm moved by a moving sheet contacting therewith, a second arm moved by the moving sheet contacting therewith, the second arm being disposed at a location differing from that of the first arm in a direction orthogonal to the movement direction of the sheet, and a sensor, wherein the output level of the sensor when only one of the first arm and the second arm has been moved is the same as the output level thereof when neither of the first arm and the second arm is moved, and the output level of the sensor when both of the first arm and the second arm have been moved differs from the output level thereof when neither of the first arm and the second arm is not moved. Thereby, the cost can be suppressed and yet, the wrong detection of the sheet size can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinsuke Kobayashi, Jun Agata
  • Patent number: 8281919
    Abstract: A system for controlling friction forces acting on a mailpiece in a mailpiece insertion module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Boris Rozenfeld, John W. Sussmeier, Arthur H. DePol
  • Patent number: 8266965
    Abstract: A method and a device for the contactless detection of laminated, flat objects, particularly sheet-like recording media. There is a galvanic separation and mechanical decoupling between the transmitter and receiver to improve detection. These measures can be further improved with correction characteristic methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Pepperl + Fuchs GmbH
    Inventor: Dierk Schoen
  • Patent number: 8186674
    Abstract: If a jam detecting portion detects a sheet jam, a rear end position of the jammed sheet is computed based on information, when a rear end of the jammed sheet is located within an area A1 and a length Ls of the jammed sheet in a conveying direction of the sheet is equal to or shorter than a distance L between the area A1 and an area A2, driving operations of a pre-registration roller and a registration roller are controlled so that the jammed sheet is conveyed to a downstream until a rear end of the sheet passes through a downstream end of the area A1. When Ls is longer than L, the pre-registration roller and the registration roller are controlled so that the jammed sheet is conveyed toward the upstream until the rear end of the sheet passes through an upstream end of the area A1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keiko Fujita
  • Publication number: 20120119436
    Abstract: A sheet conveyance device includes a loading section, a first conveyance member a separation section, a first sheet length detector to detect whether the sheet is longer than a predetermined length slightly longer than a specific sheet size in the sheet conveyance direction, a trailing-edge detector disposed downstream from the separation section, a leading-edge detector disposed downstream from the trailing-edge detector a distance smaller than the specific sheet size and from the first conveyance member a distance longer than the specific sheet size, and a controller. When the sheet is equal to or greater than the predetermined length, the controller starts sheet feeding when the trailing-edge detector detects the trailing edge of the sheet, and when the sheet is smaller than that, the controller starts sheet feeding when either the leading-edge detector detects the leading edge of the sheet or the trailing-edge detector detects the trailing edge thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kenichiro Morita, Hideki Tobinaga, Shinya Kitaoka, Mamoru Kambayashi, Michitaka Suzuki, Atsushi Kanaya, Norio Kimura, Yoshito Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8152159
    Abstract: A sheet feeding device has: a sheet accommodating portion that accommodates a sheet stack of a plurality of sheets; a sheet carrying plate that is provided within the sheet accommodating portion and stacks the sheet stack thereon; a pickup roller that contacts an upper face of the sheet stack and dispatches a sheet on an uppermost layer of the sheet stack, an elevator mechanism that displaces the sheet carrying plate between a sheet feeding position in which the upper face of the sheet stack contacts the pickup roller, and a separating position in which the upper face of the sheet stack separates from the pickup roller by a predetermined distance; and a controller that controls an operation of the elevator mechanism such that the sheet carrying plate is lowered to the separating position after a sheet feeding operation for feeding a sheet at the sheet feeding position is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Keiji Okumura
  • Patent number: 8141871
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit; a conveyance unit; a motor; a stop order unit that orders stoppage of the motor; a detection unit, which detects a rotated number of the motor or a conveyance distance during a post-order period, and the post-order period being a period from when the stop order unit ordered stoppage of the motor until when the motor stops; a storage unit; a sensor, which detects passage of the recording medium; a timing determination unit, which determines a pre-order period as a appropriate order timing, wherein the pre-order period is calculated from dividing a difference between a first distance and a second distance by a conveyance speed, wherein the first distance is the conveyance distance stored in the storage, and the second distance is a distance between a position where the sensor detects passage of the recording medium and the target stoppage position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 8145077
    Abstract: A paper conveying path extends from a paper feeding tray to an image forming unit, a branch conveying path extends from a branching point in the paper conveying path to a paper container, a first paper sensor and a second paper sensor are arranged in the paper conveying path upstream of the branching point, and a switch nail is arranged at the branching point to switch paths between the paper conveying path and the branch conveying path. The switch nail is controlled so that a jammed paper is conveyed to the paper container via the branch conveying path upon detecting paper jamming in the paper conveying path and the first sensor detects the jammed paper while the second sensor does not detect the jammed paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeto Miyauchi
  • Patent number: 8136812
    Abstract: Affords sheet stacking device that, in stacking sheets onto a loading tray, enables stacking of the sheets always in the correct posture regardless of the nature of the sheets' surface material. The sheet stacking device includes a tray unit located downstream of a sheet discharging port, a sheet-end regulating member provided on the tray unit, a conveying unit for transporting sheets carried out onto the tray unit though the sheet discharging port, toward the sheet-end regulating member, and a conveyance controller for controlling the conveying unit. In conveying toward the sheet-end regulating member a sheet having been carried onto the tray unit, the conveyance controller varies the running time during which the conveying unit applies conveyance force to the sheet, in accordance with the material nature of the sheet surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Nisca Corporation
    Inventor: Masashi Yamashita
  • Patent number: 8091888
    Abstract: In an apparatus for handling sheets, first and second sheet transfer members are movable to transfer one of the sheets between the first and second sheet transfer members, the first and second sheet transfer members have respective transfer surfaces contactable with the one of the sheets so that the one of the sheets is driven to be transferred by at least one of the first and second sheet transfer members, and an information reader is arranged between the first and second sheet transfer members in such a manner that an information is readable from the one of the sheets even when the one of the sheets is transferred by one of the first and second sheet transfer members and is prevented from being transferred by both of the first and second sheet transfer members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi-Omron Terminal Solutions Corp.
    Inventor: Junichi Tamamoto
  • Patent number: 8095062
    Abstract: The present application is directed to sensors and methods of use to determine a width of a media sheet moving along a media path. In one embodiment, the sensor includes a shaft that extends at least partially across the media path. First and second paddles may extend outward from the shaft and into the media path. The paddles may be axially spaced apart along a length of the shaft, and the first paddle may be positioned upstream along the media path from the second paddle. A flag may extend outward from the shaft. A detector may be positioned in proximity to the shaft. In use, the shaft may rotate during contact between the media sheets and the paddles to move the flag. The detector may be able to differentiate between a first amount of rotation due to contact with a wide media sheet and a second amount of rotation with a narrow media sheet to determine a width of the media sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Paul Maddux, Clark Edwin Jarnagin, Daniel P. Cahill
  • Patent number: 8052144
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus connectable to a first feed tray and a second feed tray includes an image forming unit, a feed path, and a detecting unit provided on the feed path to sense recording medium jam. An identifying unit identifies a feed path and a feed tray where recording medium jam has occurred as a jammed path and a jamming feed tray. A first determining unit determines whether the image forming apparatus is connected to the second feed tray. A second determining unit determines whether the second feed tray can feed a recording medium to the image forming unit. A feeding unit feeds a recording medium from the second feed tray to the image forming unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaru Kaneko, Masami Miyajima, Hiroshi Aizawa, Kohtaroh Yonenaga, Hiroaki Umezawa, Kiichirou Shimizu, Natsuko Kawase, Ryu Hasegawa, Takashi Enami
  • Patent number: 8047539
    Abstract: If a jam detecting portion detects a sheet jam, a rear end position of the jammed sheet is computed based on information, when a rear end of the jammed sheet is located within an area A1 and a length Ls of the jammed sheet in a conveying direction of the sheet is equal to or shorter than a distance L between the area A1 and an area A2, driving operations of a pre-registration roller and a registration roller are controlled so that the jammed sheet is conveyed to a downstream until a rear end of the sheet passes through a downstream end of the area A1. When Ls is longer than L, the pre-registration roller and the registration roller are controlled so that the jammed sheet is conveyed toward the upstream until the rear end of the sheet passes through an upstream end of the area A1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keiko Fujita
  • Patent number: 8025290
    Abstract: An image forming device including a pair of fixing rollers, a sheet guide unit displaceable to one of first and second positions, a position detector detecting a position of the sheet guide unit, first and second sheet sensors respectively detecting the sheet at a first fixed position upstream of the fixing rollers and at a second fixed position downstream of the fixing rollers, and a control unit including a determination unit and a determination part. The determination unit includes a retrieving part that retrieves first and second threshold time periods when the position detector detects the first and second positions, respectively. The determination part determines whether a first or second time period starting from detecting by the first sheet sensor and ending when detecting by the second sheet sensor are within the first and second threshold time periods, respectively, when the position detector detects the first and second positions, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahito Kajita
  • Patent number: 8011655
    Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes first and second sheet sensors provided in order from upstream to downstream sides in feeding direction on a paper feed path, sheet conveyor roller sets arranged along the path, and a roller controller individually controlling groups of rollers on the upstream and downstream sides of the first sheet sensor, in response to a change in values of output signals from first and second sheet sensors. The roller controller includes an overlapped feeding determining device outputting a determination signal assuming a first value when overlapped feeding occurs and a second value otherwise, in response to the change in values of the output signals from the sensors, an overlapped feeding eliminating device eliminating overlapped feeding by controlling the roller controller upon receiving the determination signal of the first value, and a conveyor roller stopping device stopping the sheet conveyor rollers if the overlapped feeding eliminating process should fail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masatsugu Ohishi, Masaharu Kimura, Norichika Katsura, Masaya Asakawa, Yasuaki Fukada
  • Publication number: 20110210503
    Abstract: A paper sheet or bill processing apparatus capable of reliably detecting a paper sheet or bill present in a traveling route. The paper sheet or bill processing apparatus includes: a motor for a paper sheet or bill conveyance mechanism which can be driven to convey a paper sheet or bill along a traveling route; a discharge sensor which detects whether or not the paper sheet or bill is present in the traveling route; and control means which carries out a redetection process to detect whether or not the paper sheet or bill is present in the traveling route again by the discharge sensor after the motor is driven if the paper sheet or bill is not detected by the discharge detection sensor in a detection process in a condition that driving of the conveyance mechanism is stopped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takao Nireki
  • Patent number: 7959151
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus conveying a recording medium through a sheet conveying path may include a recording medium conveying device, and includes an edge position detector to detect a position of a side edge of a recording medium along a width direction perpendicular to a sheet travel direction of the recording medium in the sheet conveying path, and an edge position recognizer to recognize, based on detection results obtained by the edge position detector, the position of the side edge at multiple detection positions of the recording medium in the sheet travel direction of the recording medium. The multiple detection positions includes a detection position located within a dog ear region in the vicinity of either a leading edge or a trailing edge of the recording medium in the sheet travel direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Noriaki Fukube
  • Patent number: 7900913
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes: a first sensor that is provided in a conveying path for a sheet and detects a first passage time of the sheet; a second sensor that is provided in a position different from a position of the first sensor in both a conveying direction of the sheet and a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction, and detects a second passage time of the sheet; a skew determining unit that calculates a skew amount of the sheet from a difference between the first passage time detected by the first sensor and the second passage time detected by the second sensor and determines occurrence of skew of the sheet on the basis of the skew amount; and a cause estimating unit that estimates, when the skew determining unit determines that the skew occurs, a cause of the occurrence of the skew.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyo Katou, Yoshikatsu Kamisuwa
  • Patent number: 7891663
    Abstract: In an apparatus which detects overlapped conveyance of a printing sheet using ultrasonic wave attenuation, when a printing sheet with an IC tag is conveyed, the position of the IC tag on the printing sheet is acquired. By reference to the acquired IC tag position, overlapped conveyance detection is performed at a position which is not under the influence of the IC tag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Tsuruoka
  • Patent number: 7887043
    Abstract: In a feeding apparatus, a control device determines whether a brake roller is rotating based on the result of detection by a rotating-state detection sensor while a medium is being transferred by a separator roller. When determining that the brake roller is not rotating, the control device sets a pickup roller to non-contact state where the pickup roller is not in contact with a medium on a feed tray while a medium is not being transferred by the separator roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventors: Masaya Takamori, Ryoichi Yasukawa, Yusuke Kasashima
  • Patent number: 7883088
    Abstract: Apparatus for singling sheet material, in particular bank notes, which is inputted into an input area of the apparatus as a stack and is transported up to a singler, which transfers individual pieces of sheet material of the stack of sheet material to a sheet transport system, which transports the singled sheet material in a transport direction, a sensor disposed in transport direction upstream of the singler, which substantially extends over the width of the input area, generating signals which specify whether and in which area of the width of the input area the sheet material is present, and a control device evaluating the signals of the sensor during a transport of the stack of sheet material to the singler and comparing occurring fluctuations and changes of the signals of the sensor regarding the presence or absence of sheet material with predetermined threshold values for fluctuations and changes of the signals of the sensor, in order to derive a statement from the occurring fluctuations and changes of t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Giesecke & Devrient GmbH
    Inventors: Dominik Nützel, Franz Reuter, Xavier Thum
  • Patent number: 7883087
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a judging unit for judging as to whether paper jamming occurs in the medium feeding unit at a time that the paper jamming occurs in the medium conveyance route and a controller for controlling the medium positioned on an upstream side of the medium feeding unit to be conveyed into the medium feeding unit when judging that no paper jamming occurs in the medium feeding unit, to allow the feeding unit detaching from the apparatus body without tearing or breaking the jammed paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Isao Kitano
  • Patent number: 7866663
    Abstract: A method for sensing a paper skew adapted for a device having a paper feeding mechanism is provided. The device has a feed sensor which is fixed at a start position of paper feeding; and, a position sensor which moves in a direction perpendicular to a direction of paper feeding and passes through a first and a second positions. The first position is the intersection of a moving path of the position sensor and a line. The feed sensor is on the line, and the line is parallel to the direction of paper feeding. The method includes the device having a first distance; moving the position sensor to the second position; feeding a work paper into the device; obtaining a second distance which is a moving distance of the work paper fed; and determining whether the work paper is skewed or not according to the difference between the first and the second distances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Kinpo Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Tsung-Fu Kao
  • Patent number: 7866664
    Abstract: A method for sensing a paper skew adapted for a device having a paper feeding mechanism is provided. The device has a feed sensor which is fixed at a start position of paper feeding; and, a position sensor which moves in a direction perpendicular to a direction of paper feeding and passes through a first and a second positions. The first position is the intersection of a moving path of the position sensor and a line. The feed sensor is on the line, and the line is parallel to the direction of paper feeding. The method includes the device having a first distance; moving the position sensor to the second position; feeding a work paper into the device; obtaining a second distance which is a moving distance of the work paper fed; and determining whether the work paper is skewed or not according to the difference between the first and the second distances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Kinpo Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Tsung-Fu Kao
  • Patent number: 7845637
    Abstract: Provided is a double feed detecting device, including: a first detecting unit which is disposed in a conveyance path of a sheet member, and detects overlapping of the sheet members which pass along the conveyance path; a second detecting unit having a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit which are opposed each other and disposed across the conveyance path, and detecting light which is irradiated from the light emitting unit and transmitted through the sheet member by the light receiving unit, and outputting a signal corresponding to a received light quantity; and a discriminating unit which discriminates the double feed when the first detecting unit detects the overlapping of the sheet members and an output signal of the second detecting unit is equal to or lower than a set double feed determination threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Denshi Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomoya Shimazaki
  • Patent number: 7809290
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image processing apparatus which can promptly detect whether or not a jam has been removed in the case of occurrence of the jam such as a paper jam. A paper feeding apparatus 1b includes a paper feed tray 11, a pickup roller 61, a paper roller 63, a sorting roller 64, feeding rollers 66a, resist rollers 67, a paper ejection roller 73, a passage detection sensor 69, an overlapped feeding detection sensor 68 and a second detection apparatus 71. An image processing apparatus 100 includes a position detection portion 41 for detecting a location of a jam which occurs during feeding of recording paper, a determination portion 42 for determining a jam state based on a detection result of the position detection sensor 69, an examination portion 43 for examining whether the jam has been resolved and a resuming portion 44 for resuming the processing when an examination of the jam location by the examination portion 43 is finished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akira Tamagaki
  • Patent number: 7802783
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a feeding roller configured to rotate responsive to drive force received from a motor to convey a recording medium via a manual feed input, and a clutch device configured to be switched between first and second modes in which the motor drive force is transmitted to the feeding roller and prevented from being transmitted to the feeding roller, respectively. The apparatus includes a sensor disposed between the manual feed input and the feeding roller for detecting the recording medium, and a control unit configured to maintain the clutch device in the first mode while controlling the motor to drive the feeding roller to feed the recording medium while the sensor detects that the recording medium is fed through the manual feed input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryoichi Matsushima
  • Patent number: 7793929
    Abstract: A magazine pressure control is provided with pressure control wheels that are designed to regulate pressure on carton blanks being fed to a folder/gluer in a carton forming operation. These wheels are disposed around the periphery of the carton blank to urge the edges of the cartons forward and to straighten misaligned cartons. A separately controlled motor operates each half of the magazine pressure control. Each motor is controlled by a pressure sensor assembly and regulates the progression of the carton blanks through the magazine pressure control to equalize the pressure around the periphery of the carton blanks as they are presented to the pick face of the folder/gluer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy W. Hendricks, Jeff Disrud, Frank Moncrief
  • Publication number: 20100187746
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet storage unit, a sheet feeding unit, a conveyance path for conveying a sheet to the image forming unit, a plurality of sheet detection sensors disposed along the conveyance path, a determination unit for determining whether predetermined time elapses from a detection of a front end of the sheet until a detection of a rear end of the sheet and a discharge unit. When the determination unit determines that the predetermined time has elapsed based on the detection by the sheet detection sensor disposed in the furthest upstream position among the plurality of sheet detection sensors, the sheet is discharged from the discharge unit, and when the determination unit determines that the predetermined time has elapsed based on the detection by the sheet detection sensors other than that disposed in the furthest upstream position, the sheet is stopped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Fumihiko Hirata, Yuji Yamanaka, Taro Ikeda, Kazuhiro Kosuga
  • Patent number: 7742736
    Abstract: A sheet size detecting apparatus having a first arm moved by a moving sheet contacting therewith, a second arm moved by the moving sheet contacting therewith, the second arm being disposed at a location differing from that of the first arm in a direction orthogonal to the movement direction of the sheet, and a sensor, wherein the output level of the sensor when only one of the first arm and the second arm has been moved is the same as the output level thereof when neither of the first arm and the second arm is moved, and the output level of the sensor when both of the first arm and the second arm have been moved differs from the output level thereof when neither of the first arm and the second arm is not moved. Thereby, the cost can be suppressed and yet, the wrong detection of the sheet size can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinsuke Kobayashi, Jun Agata
  • Patent number: 7703766
    Abstract: A method for sensing a paper skew adapted for a device having a paper feeding mechanism is provided. The device has a feed sensor which is fixed at a start position of paper feeding; and, a position sensor which moves in a direction perpendicular to a direction of paper feeding and passes through a first and a second positions. The first position is the intersection of a moving path of the position sensor and a line. The feed sensor is on the line, and the line is parallel to the direction of paper feeding. The method includes the device having a first distance; moving the position sensor to the second position; feeding a work paper into the device; obtaining a second distance which is a moving distance of the work paper fed; and determining whether the work paper is skewed or not according to the difference between the first and the second distances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Kinpo Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Tsung-Fu Kao
  • Publication number: 20100096799
    Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a feeding unit capable of feeding a sheet-like medium, plural speed detecting units capable of respectively detecting a speed of the medium fed by the feeding unit, at plural positions along a width direction of the medium orthogonal to a feeding direction of the medium, and a bound-medium detecting unit capable of detecting the medium having a part thereof bound with another one of the medium, based on the speed detected respectively by the speed detecting units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: PFU LIMITED
    Inventors: Hiroshi SHIRAIWA, Minoru Masuda, Ryoichi Yasukawa, Masaya Takamori
  • Patent number: 7690649
    Abstract: A method of synchronizing the feeding and printing of sheets of media, i.e., paper, envelopes, post cards, etc. even though shingled feeds have occurred in the system. The foregoing is accomplished by utilizing two sensors and counters to monitor two sheets of paper to allow two software tasks to stay in synchronization and release the appropriate print data to the printer even when a sheet of paper was not detected in the feeder appears at the print head. The feeder sensor has a counter for its Lead Edge as does the Start of Print Sensor that is in the system's transport paper path. The feeder sensor counter and the start of print counter are incremented and decremented as the paper approaches the sensor and leaves the sensor. If the lead edge counter of the feeder sensor goes negative, then the feeder has shingled and the data for that sheet of paper must be printed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Brad L. Davies, Keith M. Smith, Wesley A. Kirschner, Elaine B. Cristiani, Gary S. Jacobson
  • Patent number: 7673874
    Abstract: A paper-money receipt/payment machine comprises a conveyance path, on which paper sheet can be conveyed in dual directions, and a paper-money discrimination unit provided midway the conveyance path to discriminate the paper sheet. The machine further comprises a temporary holding unit for storage of rejected paper sheet to be rejected, and an exclusive storage box, separately provided from the temporary holding unit, for storage of jammed paper sheet. The exclusive storage box is arranged at one end or both ends of the conveyance path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi-Omron Terminal Solutions, Corp.
    Inventors: Kentaro Arai, Atsuko Uozumi, Takeshi Kanagawa
  • Patent number: 7654520
    Abstract: A sheet-handling apparatus with a detecting device includes a casing, a plurality of entrance rollers located in the casing, an image collector arranged at one side of the casing, a plurality of middle reflectors and side reflectors. A paper path is formed between the entrance rollers, the paper path includes a middle path and two side paths arranged in the sides of the middle path. The image collector includes an illuminant and an image sensor. The middle reflectors are fixed in the casing and at the other side of the paper path and face to the middle path. The side reflectors are arranged at the side of the middle reflectors. The invention can monitor a paper when it is stuck in the paper path, and the manufacture cost of the invention is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Foxlink Image Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yueh-Shing Lee
  • Patent number: 7635123
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a bypass sheet supplier configured to supply a recording medium and an image forming mechanism configured to form an image on the recording medium sent from the bypass sheet supplier according to image data. The bypass sheet supplier includes a bypass tray, a lateral side fence, and a sensor unit. The bypass tray is configured to load the recording medium. The lateral side fence is configured to regulate the recording medium in a main scanning direction. The sensor unit is configured to detect whether a lateral edge of the recording medium extending in a sub-scanning direction contacts the lateral side fence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Watanabe, Manabu Nonaka
  • Patent number: 7627281
    Abstract: A sheet tray (1) includes at least one sheet detecting sensor (10) for detecting a sheet set on a sheet setting surface (2). The sheet detecting sensor (10) includes (i) a movable detecting section having a projecting section which projects from the sheet setting surface (2), and (ii) a detecting section for detecting rotation of the movable detecting section, and the projecting section have a ball-like shape. This makes it possible to provide (i) a sheet tray which is able to prevent breakage of sheet and breakage of the projecting section even when setting the sheet on the sheet setting surface from any direction and any angle; (ii) a sheet transporting apparatus including the sheet tray; and (iii) an image forming apparatus including the sheet tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Tanaka, Yoshiyuki Nishizato, Kenji Nakanishi, Tomohiko Okada, Akira Kohno