Responsive To Sheet Sensor Patents (Class 271/265.01)
  • Patent number: 9108813
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section that forms an image, a transport path section along which a recording material that is yet to undergo or has undergone image formation performed by the image forming section is transported, a transport unit that is provided in the transport path section and transports the recording material while nipping the recording material, an operated portion that is operated by a user and activates the transport unit such that the recording material is removed from the transport unit, and a notification unit that notifies a completion of the operation of the operated portion on the basis of a position of the recording material that is removed from the transport unit by the user's operation of the operated portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasunobu Goto, Makio Uehara, Hiromitsu Tomioka, Hiroyuki Momiyama
  • Patent number: 9056501
    Abstract: A control method that conveys a recording medium fed from a first conveyance unit a specific number of paper feed steps after the leading end is detected by a first detection unit, and stops conveyance after conveying the leading end of the recording medium passed the second conveyance unit, second detection unit, and print unit to an initial printing position has a reference distance acquisition step that gets a reference number of conveyance steps equal to the distance between the second detection unit and the initial printing position in the specific number of conveyance steps; an actual step count measurement step that measures an actual number of steps the recording medium is conveyed during actual conveyance from detection of the leading end by the second detection unit until conveyance stops; and an evaluation step that determines if paper feed error occurred when conveying the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Ichimi Masuda, Masayuki Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 9039010
    Abstract: There are provided a paper conveying apparatus, a jam detection method and a computer-readable, non-transitory medium that can suppress erroneous detection of an occurrence of a jam by sound due to the sound generated along with conveyance of a paper. The paper conveying apparatus includes a first sound signal generator for generating a first sound signal corresponding to a sound generated by a paper during conveyance, at least a part of the first sound signal generator is provided at one end of a conveyance path of the paper, a second sound signal generator for generating a second sound signal corresponding to the sound, at least a part of the second sound signal generator is provided at the other end of the conveyance path, and a sound jam detector for determining whether a jam has occurred based on a difference of the first sound signal and the second sound signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventors: Takayuki Umi, Masanobu Hongo
  • Publication number: 20150137445
    Abstract: The invention relates to a novel device and a novel method for transporting printable substrates in a precise manner, suitable for various types, sizes and thicknesses of substrate. The invention is also suitable for printing machines that do not come into contact with the substrate, such as ink-jet printing machines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventor: Edmond Abergel
  • Publication number: 20150130129
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a body, a paper feed cassette, a rotary operating member, an engaging portion, engaged portions, and a size detection switch. The rotational operating member is rotatable. The engaging portion engages the rotary operating member with the paper feed cassette. Any one of the engaged portions is engaged by the engaging portion. The size detection switch is used to detect the size of a recording medium stored in the paper feed cassette. The rotational operating member includes a pressure portion that activates the size detection switch. The rotational force in the first direction necessary for causing the engagement to be released is greater than the rotational force in the second direction necessary for causing the engagement to be released.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Yuki UOHASHI
  • Publication number: 20150115525
    Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a moving unit configured to move a conveyance unit nipping the sheet in the width direction such that in a case where the position of the end of the sheet in the width direction detected by the detection unit is separated from a reference position by an amount which is greater than a first predetermined amount and less than or equal to a second predetermined amount, the moving unit to move the conveyance unit by a third predetermined amount which is less than or equal to the first predetermined amount, and to perform control, in a case where the position of the end of the sheet in the width direction detected by the detection unit is separated from the reference position by an amount which is greater than the second predetermined amount, to perform abnormality processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventor: Kohei Deno
  • Publication number: 20150115527
    Abstract: Provided is a sheet conveying apparatus which can improve rippling of a sheet. The sheet conveying apparatus which conveys the sheet includes an electromagnetic hysteresis brake 131 which is configured to apply a tension force in a conveying direction of the sheet and a controller 500C which performs control on the electromagnetic hysteresis brake 131 to vary a load. The controller 500C performs control on the load of the electromagnetic hysteresis brake 131 according to information relating to the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Koji Takematsu, Kazuhisa Okuda, Kenjiro Sugaya
  • Publication number: 20150102554
    Abstract: A braking device 1 for braking advancing of the rear portion of a flat sheet when the sheet is advanced and is displaced by being pulled by its front portion: a surface over which the sheet is advanced, a suction hole 10 in the surface which communicates with an exhaust orifice 30 via an air circulation channel 20, a principal compressed air injection device 40 which, by a Venturi effect, indirectly generates a braking suction air flow through the suction hole 10, a secondary compressed air injection device 50 which, by a Venturi effect, indirectly generates a cleaning suction air flow through the suction hole 10.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventor: Jean-Claude Ansermot
  • Publication number: 20150102555
    Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a conveyance roller pair, an urging portion, a releasing portion, and a moving portion. The conveyance roller pair includes a first roller and a second roller, and conveys a sheet. The urging portion applies a pinching force to the conveyance roller pair. The releasing portion releases the pinching force of the conveyance roller pair against an urging force of the urging portion. The moving portion moves the conveyance roller pair, the urging portion, and the releasing portion in a width direction intersecting with a sheet conveyance direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventor: Kouhei Deno
  • Patent number: 8998202
    Abstract: Provided is a technology capable of identifying presence/absence of buckling at an occurrence of a jam and determining more appropriately whether or not to perform automatic sheet discharge. A sound collecting device provided on a conveying path of an image forming apparatus is used to collect sound generated from a sheet at the occurrence of the jam. Generated spectrum data is obtained by analyzing characteristics of the collected sound. The generated spectrum data is compared with reference spectrum data, to thereby identify the presence/absence of the buckling and discriminate the conveyance propriety of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Teruhito Kai
  • Publication number: 20150091238
    Abstract: A sheet transport apparatus includes: a first motor and a second motor; a first roller configured to: rotate upon receiving motive power from the first motor; and transport a sheet in a predetermined transport direction; a second roller which is provided on a downstream side of the first roller in the transport direction and which is configured to: rotate upon receiving motive power from the second motor while nipping the sheet transported by the first roller at a nip position; and transport the sheet further downstream in the transport direction; and a controller. The controller includes a motor control unit configured to perform a first process for rotating the first roller and a second process for rotating the second roller; and a first reaction-force estimating observer configured to calculate a first estimated value which is an estimated value of a reaction force acting on the first motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuichi HATAKEYAMA
  • Patent number: 8991820
    Abstract: There are provided a paper conveying apparatus, a jam detection method and a computer-readable, non-transitory medium that can suppress erroneous detection of a jam. The paper conveying apparatus includes a sound signal generator, provided with a sound detector near a conveyance path of a paper, for generating a sound signal, and a sound jam detector for determining whether a jam has occurred based on a variation of a component of the sound signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventors: Masanobu Hongo, Tetsuo Funada, Nobuhisa Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8991824
    Abstract: Provided is a sheet conveying apparatus which conveys a sheet, includes: a sheet conveying path which diverges into a first conveying path and a second conveying path at a diverging point; a guide member which is movable between a first position where the guide member guides the sheet to the first conveying path and a second position where the guide member guides the sheet to the second conveying path; a driving portion which is configured to move the guide member to the second position from the first position; and a holding portion which, in a case that the guide member is driven by the driving portion to move to the second position from the first position, provides a load to the driving by the driving portion and holds the guide member at a third position between the first position and the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masato Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20150084276
    Abstract: A sheet size setting device gives information for identifying a sheet size. The sheet size setting device includes a first rotary member, an engaging portion, a biasing member, a second rotary member, and an assisting mechanism. The first rotary member has a cylindrical shape, and is rotatable around and slidably movable along a first axis. The second rotary member is supported rotatably around a second axis parallel to the first axis. The first rotary member includes a plurality of detected portions, a plurality of engaged portions, and a first gear portion. The engaging portion is operable to engage with one of the plurality of engaged portions to thereby restrict the rotation of the first rotary member. The assisting mechanism applies a moving force to the first rotary member in the axial direction with the rotation of the second rotary member so that the engaged portion disengages from the engaging portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventor: Akinori Matsuno
  • Publication number: 20150084273
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus including: a cover that is provided in an apparatus main body in an openable and closable manner to open a sheet conveying path through which the sheet is conveyed, by rotating in an open direction from a closed position; a guide member that is movably provided in the cover and forms the sheet conveying path; and a moving portion that is provided with a contact portion coming into contact with the sheet conveyed through the sheet conveying path, and is movably provided in the guide member; wherein the guide member moves with respect to the cover by rotating the cover in the open direction from the closed position, and thereby the moving portion moves by its own weight in a direction in which the contact portion of the moving portion is retracted from the sheet conveying path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Shimoi
  • Patent number: 8985579
    Abstract: A paper feeding device includes a lower housing, an upper housing, a pickup assembly, a separation assembly, a relay assembly, a paper friction mechanism, an elastic element, a paper speed detector, a first paper feeding assembly, a second paper feeding assembly, a transmission assembly, a motor and a control unit. The control unit controls the paper speed detector to detect paper feeding speeds and the paper speed detector sends signals to the control unit for determining paper feeding conditions. The control unit controls the motor to rotate, and the motor drives the pickup assembly, the relay assembly and the first paper feeding assembly to rotate by virtue of the transmission assembly, and the first paper feeding assembly drives the second paper feeding assembly to rotate, the control unit is capable of adjusting rotating speeds of the motor, so that the paper feeding speeds are stabilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Foxlink Image Technology Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Chun Chia Juan, Te You Chu
  • Publication number: 20150076763
    Abstract: A paper conveying device includes: a registration roller pair provided along a paper conveying path; a pick-up roller, a paper feed roller and a separation roller for feeding sheets of paper to the paper conveying path; and a controller controlling conveyance of sheets of paper such that when a preceding sheet is stopped at the registration roller pair, a following, succeeding sheet is temporarily stopped at a prescribed position G downstream of a conveying roller in the paper conveying direction, and the succeeding sheet is re-conveyed toward the registration roller pair at a prescribed timing. The controller changes the timing to start re-conveyance of the succeeding sheet in accordance with paper length of the conveyed sheet of paper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Norichika Katsura, Kohji Aoki, Yoshiyuki Kobayashi, Haruhisa Furumoto
  • Patent number: 8973730
    Abstract: A paper sheet processing apparatus includes: an insertion slot through which a paper sheet is inserted; a sensor which detects insertion of the paper sheet; a traveling route through which the paper sheet is conveyed; a light emitting part which irradiates the traveling route with light; a light receiving part which receives light from the traveling route; a black calibration part which sets a reference value for the lowest brightness in a state that the emission of the light emitting part is ineffective; and an authenticity judgment processing part which judges an authenticity. The black calibration part can set the reference value before the authenticity judgment processing part judges the authenticity after the sensor detects the insertion of the paper sheet at every time when the paper sheet is inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventor: Takao Nireki
  • Patent number: 8970927
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: a reading unit; a feeding unit; a carriage; a motor-side transmission gear for transmitting power from a motor; a carriage-side transmission gear for transmitting the power to the carriage; a feeding unit-side transmission gear for transmitting the power to the feeding unit; a switching gear switched between a meshing state with the carriage-side transmission gear at a carriage-side position and a meshing state with the feeding unit-side transmission gear at a feeding unit-side position; and a control device for performing: a first switching process for meshing the switching gear with the feeding unit-side transmission gear; a second switching process for meshing the switching gear with the carriage-side transmission gear; and an initialization process of the reading unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroko Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20150054217
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet supply tray having a plate for supporting a sheet to be supplied to an image forming unit, a first sheet positioning member configured to move relative to the plate and position the sheet, a moving member including a first detection portion and configured to move in a sheet supply direction in response to movement of the first sheet positioning member, a coupling member coupling the first sheet positioning member and the moving member and configured to move the moving member in response to the movement of the first sheet positioning member in the sheet supply direction, and a restriction mechanism configured to restrict movement of the coupling member according to an amount of the movement of the first sheet positioning member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Atsuo Hirose
  • Patent number: 8955834
    Abstract: Generally, in accordance with one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a stacking section, a sensor, a printing unit, a display and a controller. The stacking section is configured to stack a sheet. The sensor is configured to detect the size of the sheet set on the stacking section. The printing unit is configured to form an image on the sheet. The display is configured to display the image. The controller is configured not to display a sheet size except the sheet size detected based on an output signal from the sensor on a setting screen for the sheet size of an image forming object in a detectable status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryuta Imaizumi
  • Patent number: 8958120
    Abstract: A print control apparatus includes an obtaining unit and a specification unit. The obtaining unit obtains positional information for specifying positions of ends of a print medium detected by a sensor when the print medium is conveyed along a conveyance path such that a print medium center is aligned with a conveyance path center. The specification unit specifies, when positions of both ends of the print medium are specified by the obtained positional information, a width of the print medium in accordance with the specified positions of both ends, and specifies, when the position of only one end of the print medium is specified by the positional information, a width corresponding to a length twice as long as a distance between the specified position of the one end of the print medium and a position corresponding to the conveyance path center as the width of the print medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Atsushi Kitahara
  • Patent number: 8955841
    Abstract: An actual sheet interval from a preceding sheet to a succeeding sheet is detected by a top sensor. A registration roller is accelerated or decelerated such that the sheet interval from the preceding sheet to the succeeding sheet is an ideal value by the time that the leading edge of the succeeding sheet reaches a transfer nip part. Note that a time period during which acceleration or deceleration is applied and a sub-scan synchronization signal output timing are determined from the actual sheet interval. Note that a recording sheet P does not stop at the registration roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroto Endo
  • Patent number: 8955840
    Abstract: A paper sheet conveying apparatus includes a paper sheet conveyance path, a conveyance sound detection portion, an abnormality correspondence information storage portion, and an abnormality specifying portion. The conveyance sound detection portion detects conveyance sound of a paper sheet on the paper sheet conveyance path. The abnormality correspondence information storage portion has stored therein abnormality correspondence information indicating correspondence relationships between contents of a plurality of types of sheet conveyance abnormalities that can occur on the paper sheet conveyance path, and contents of the conveyance sounds detected by the conveyance sound detection portion when the respective sheet conveyance abnormalities occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Kozo Shimazu
  • Publication number: 20150042038
    Abstract: The invention provides a sheet detecting apparatus having a small mechanical loss amount by simplifying a configuration and saving a space. A sheet detecting apparatus which detects a sheet conveyed while being nipped by a pair of fixing rollers includes: an abutting portion which is supported so as to be rotatable about a rotation shaft and against which the sheet abuts; and a photo sensor which detects the rotation of the abutting portion, wherein the rotation shaft is disposed at a predetermined inclination angle so that the rotation shaft is not parallel to a sheet surface of the sheet against which the abutting portion abuts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventor: Sachiyori Shiina
  • Patent number: 8948681
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit forming an image on a recording sheet; a transport unit transporting the recording sheet; a support surface supporting the recording sheet; a rotating member having an outer peripheral surface pressed against the support surface and rotationally following the recording sheet when the recording sheet passes through between the support surface and the outer peripheral surface; an ascertaining unit ascertaining a length of the recording sheet on the basis of an amount of rotation of the rotating member; and a restricting unit restricting a movement of the rotating member that moves toward the support surface after the recording sheet passes through between the support surface and the outer peripheral surface, the restricting unit preventing the outer peripheral surface, which comes into contact with the recording sheet, and the support surface from coming into contact with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Furuya, Yoshinari Iwaki, Minoru Ohshima
  • Patent number: 8939444
    Abstract: The printing apparatus of the present invention includes a delay mechanism that can transmit, with a delay, the rotational force of a discharge roller to a discharge tray. When the reverse rotation of the discharging roller has been begun, the delay mechanism accumulates the length of the delay, or, when the forward rotation of the discharge roller is performed for a longer period than the accumulated length of the delay, opens the discharge tray. When the feeding of a sheet is not performed during a sheet feeding operation accompanied by the reverse rotation of the discharging roller, the discharging roller is rotated forward to cancel out the length of the delay accumulated in the delay mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yohei Omori
  • Patent number: 8934152
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a recording processing unit that crosses a supporting stage; and a Y axis movement unit that causes the recording processing unit to move. The Y axis movement unit includes a guide rail of a reference side and a guide rail of a following side that support the recording processing unit to be free sliding; a first rail attachment base, which is fixed to the supporting stage, and to which the guide rail of the reference side is attached; and a second rail attachment base, which is fixed to the supporting stage, and to which the guide rail of the following side is attached. The first rail attachment base includes an attachment reference portion, and the load that the first rail attachment base receives from the recording processing unit is greater than that received by the second rail attachment base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Ryoichi Onishi
  • Publication number: 20150008640
    Abstract: A sheet thickness detector incorporated in a sheet conveyor and/or an image forming apparatus includes multiple first rollers aligned in a direction perpendicular to a sheet conveying direction, multiple second rollers facing the respective first rollers, a first roller shaft supporting two first rollers, at least one second roller shaft supporting rollers other than the two first rollers, at least one third roller shaft to support at least three second rollers, a first roller shaft holder supporting the first roller shaft to move from the at least one third roller shaft in a contact/separation direction, a biasing member biasing the first roller shaft toward at least one third roller shaft, and a displacement amount detector detecting an amount of displacement of the first roller shaft. A thickness of a sheet between the first and second rollers is detected based on a detection result by the displacement amount detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Mamoru KAMBAYASHI
  • Patent number: 8925911
    Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes: a feeding mechanism having a first roller and a second roller provided downstream in a sheet feeding path from the first roller and feeding a sheet by rotations of the first and second rollers; a control section executing a butting control by controlling the first and second rollers to feed the sheet from the first roller so as to butt against the second roller at an intake position, and executing an intake feeding control by controlling the second roller to feed the sheet downstream in the feeding path from the intake position; an obtaining section obtaining information indicating a rotation amount of the second roller in a period after the butting control to the start of the intake feeding control; and a target setting section setting a target rotation amount of the second roller that should be achieved in the intake feeding control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Nozaki
  • Patent number: 8925920
    Abstract: There are provided a paper conveying apparatus, a jam detection method and a computer-readable, non-transitory medium that suppress erroneous detection of occurrence of a jam by a sound due to a sound generated from the apparatus. The paper conveying apparatus includes a sound signal generator, provided with a sound detector near a conveyance path of paper, for generating a sound signal, a sound jam detector for determining whether a jam has occurred based on the sound signal output during a paper conveying operation, a control module for performing abnormal processing when the sound jam detector determines that the jam has occurred, and an abnormal sound detector for determining whether an abnormal sound has been generated based on the sound signal output before a paper conveying operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventors: Takayuki Umi, Masanobu Hongo
  • Patent number: 8915493
    Abstract: The invention proposes a method and an installation for monitoring and/or controlling at least one handling apparatus for handling a multiplicity of preferably sheet-like products, in particular printed products, each product being assigned a reference (4). The installation comprises a transporting apparatus for transporting the multiplicity of products at a distance apart from one another along a transporting direction to at least one handling apparatus, or past the same, at least one detecting apparatus (1, 1?) at least for picking up references of the products and for communicating messages belonging to the references, and at least one processing unit (3) for processing the messages. In at least one delay device (5), a number of messages relating to references (4) from a plurality of products are combined to form a message group (6) and are communicated to the processing unit (3) via a communications medium (2) once a delay period (9) has elapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventor: Roland Keller
  • Patent number: 8910938
    Abstract: A medium carrying device includes a first pair of rollers that forms a nip part and carries a medium, the nip part being defined as an area where the rollers contact each other applying a pressure to other, a guide part that guides the medium to the first pair of rollers, and a medium detection member that includes a tip end part and a pivoting fulcrum and that is pivoted around the pivoting fulcrum by the medium as the medium moves along the guide part. In a case of being viewed from a roller axial direction of the first pair of rollers, the tip end part passes the nip part when the medium detection member pivots around the pivoting fulcrum as a center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Takahiro Sunohara
  • Patent number: 8910937
    Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet medium detection device, which comprises a light guide bar (2) provided on one side of a medium conveying passage (4) and provided with a plurality of reflection surfaces (21) arranged with Intervals along a length direction of the light guide bar, wherein each of the reflection surfaces (21) reflects the light within the light guide bar (2) to the other side of the medium conveying passage (4); a plurality of light receivers (31), each of which, being opposite to a reflection surface (21) of the light guide bar, is provided on the other side of the medium conveying passage (4); and a point light source (1) provided at least on one end of the light guide bar along the length direction of the light guide bar, wherein each of the reflection surfaces (21) is provided obliquely to form an obtuse angle relative to the light guide bar (2) on the side where the point light source (1) locates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Shandong New Beiyang Information Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Lei Zheng, Tianxin Jiang, Min Yang, Yang Liu
  • Patent number: 8894058
    Abstract: A sheet feeder including a sheet container on which sheets are placed, a transfer roller to transfer the sheets to an image forming unit via a transfer path; a friction pad to transfer the sheets together with the transfer roller; and a movable portion provided on the transfer path to alter a direction of the transfer path based on the sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Seki
  • Publication number: 20140339763
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a sheet detecting mechanism configured to detect a sheet. The sheet detecting mechanism includes an actuator, a link member, and a detecting part. The actuator swings by being pushed by the sheet. The link member swings in conjunction with the swing of the actuator. The detecting part detects the swing of the link member. When a shift of a position of the actuator with respect to the detecting part is caused, the actuator slides with respect to the link member to absorb the shift.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Tomohiro WATATANI, Hironori TAKAHASHI
  • Patent number: 8888089
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes: a conveyer configured to convey a sheet; a first introducing part into which a sheet is introduced toward the conveyer; a second introducing part into which a sheet is introduced toward the conveyer, wherein the second introducing part is different from the first introducing part; a cover configured to be displaced between an open state, in which the second introducing part is opened, and a closed state, in which the second introducing part is covered, in a state where the first introducing part is opened; a cover sensor that detects the open-and-closed state of the cover; and a controller, wherein when the cover sensor detects the closed state of the cover, the controller performs a driving process of driving the conveyer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshiki Motoyama
  • Patent number: 8892023
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus acquires an amount of deflection of the transporting sheet from a reference position thereof and calculates a required shift amount of the sheet. It determines whether or not the sheet is shifted frontward. If so, the image forming apparatus acquires a second specified shift value which is determined based on an urging force and the required shift amount using a second correction equation. Alternatively, if the sheet is shifted backward, the image forming apparatus acquires a first specified shift value which is determined based on the urging force and the required shift amount using a first correction equation. The image forming apparatus performs a registration roller shift correction based on the acquired first or second specified shift value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yusuke Kawanago, Takahiro Okubo, Masahiro Matsuo, Yoshiteru Kawakami, Haruki Motegi, Osamu Yoshimura, Kunihiro Kawachi, Ken Nonaka
  • Patent number: 8864122
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes: a sheet supplier configured to supply a recording medium; a first conveyor configured to convey the recording medium supplied from the sheet supplier in a conveying direction; a recording portion configured to record an image on the recording medium conveyed by the first conveyor; and a controller configured to detect an orientation of the recording medium with respect to the conveying direction while the recording medium is conveyed and change a conveying speed of the recording medium conveyed by the first conveyor depending on the detected orientation of the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akihiro Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8861050
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a reading unit, a feeding unit, a carriage holding the reading unit, a motor, a motor-side transmission gear, a feeding unit-side transmission gear, a carriage-side transmission gear, a switching gear which switches between a meshing state of meshing with the feeding unit-side transmission gear at a feeding unit-side position and a meshing state of meshing with the carriage-side transmission gear at a carriage-side position, a restraint member which applies a restraint force for restraining the switching of the switching gear, and a motor control unit which when switching the switching gear between the carriage-side position and the feeding unit-side position, executes a large torque control of controlling the motor to generate a switching torque which is larger than a moving reading torque to be generated by the motor at a time of document reading when executing a moving reading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinya Sahara
  • Patent number: 8857815
    Abstract: There is provided a paper feeding device including: a microphone which detects sound occurred on a paper conveying path; a pre-processing unit which performs pre-processing on a signal of the sound detected by the microphone; and a jam detection unit which detects a jam of paper based on the sound signal on which the pre-processing is performed, a reference value about intensity of the sound, and a reference value about a duration time of the sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventors: Masanobu Hongo, Tetsuo Funada, Nobuhisa Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8851469
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus irradiates a conveyed sheet with light from a light source to receive reflected light by a line sensor and detects a side edge position of the sheet based on an output of a reading pixel of the line sensor. The reading pixel within a predetermined range facing the sheet in the line sensor is determined to be used for light quantity adjustment of the light source based on a size in a width direction orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction, and the light quantity of the light source is adjusted based on the output of the determined reading pixel. A threshold value for detecting the side edge position of the sheet is determined based on outputs of reading pixels within the region facing the sheet and outputs of the reading pixels within the region not facing the sheet in the line sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noriaki Adachi
  • Patent number: 8851472
    Abstract: A paper sheet handling machine according to the present invention includes: an imaging unit configured to take an image of a paper sheet and generate a paper sheet image; an identification unit configured to identify a character of each digit position included in a serial number, from a serial number region of the paper sheet image; an output unit configured to output the image of a part corresponding to the serial number region of the paper sheet image, when there is a digit position whose character therein cannot be identified by the identification unit; a display unit configured to display each character identified by the identification unit as well as the image outputted from the output unit; and an input unit configured to accept input of each character corresponding to the digit position whose character therein cannot be identified by the identification unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Glory Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Yamamoto, Atsushi Nagase, Toshihiko Suzuki, Kenji Nahata
  • Publication number: 20140291914
    Abstract: A printer includes a lower tray and an upper tray disposed above the lower tray. An optical sensor which detects the presence or absence of a sheet is disposed above the upper tray. The optical sensor is disposed in a roller support member which supports a feeding roller and serves as a swingable swing member. A distance between the optical sensor and the sheet is adjusted by swing of the roller support member according to the number of sheets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya TAMURA, Narihiro OKI, Tatsuya SHIRANE
  • Patent number: 8849178
    Abstract: A sheet detecting apparatus including: a sheet detecting member having a plurality of abutment surfaces in a peripheral direction thereof, the sheet detecting member being rotated by a conveyed sheet abutting against one of the plurality of abutment surfaces; a detection portion which operates in association with the sheet detecting member; a sensor which generates a signal based on a position of the detection portion; and an urging portion which generates an urging force for positioning the one of the plurality of abutment surfaces of the sheet detecting member in a waiting position in which the leading edge of a sheet conveyed by a conveying portion abuts against the one of the plurality of abutment surfaces, and thereafter the urging portion switching the urging force to an urging force for positioning, in the waiting position, another one of the plurality of abutment surfaces against which a succeeding sheet abuts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Yoshimura, Kenji Watanabe, Minoru Kawanishi, Motohiro Furusawa, Yohei Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8840101
    Abstract: A printing apparatus according to one aspect of this invention includes a sheet holding unit configured to hold an envelope, and a detection unit configured to detect an opening width between guides for guiding an envelope held by the sheet holding unit. The printing apparatus further includes an identifying unit configured to identify a flap size of the envelope based on the opening width detected by the detection unit and a size set for the envelope held by the sheet holding unit, and a printing unit configured to print an image on the envelope by shifting image data based on the flap size identified by the identifying unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masayuki Yamada
  • Patent number: 8840107
    Abstract: A paper conveyance apparatus including a conveyance roller module including a pair of a sheet feeding roller and a separation roller opposite to each other across a paper conveyance path, a sound receiving aperture positioned on the same side as one side of the paper conveyance path, the one side including any one of the conveyance roller module, a sound shield positioned on a straight line between a nip portion of the conveyance roller module and the sound receiving aperture, a sound signal generator for generating a sound signal in response to a sound detected through the sound receiving aperture, and a sound jam detector for determining whether a jam has occurred based on the sound signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventors: Takayuki Umi, Masanobu Hongo
  • Publication number: 20140265111
    Abstract: Provided is a conveyance device that includes: a conveyance unit configured to convey a conveyance object; a motor configured to drive the conveyance unit; a sensor configured to detect a position of the conveyance object; an instruction unit configured to generate an instruction signal for conveying the conveyance object to a target position; and a control unit configured to control the motor by performing a speed feedback control and control the motor so as to cancel a delay between a time when the position of the conveyance object is detected and a time when the speed feedback control is reflected on the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Natsuko ISHIZUKA, Tatsuya WATAHIKI
  • Patent number: 8833753
    Abstract: A sheet detection device includes a moving member and a support member. The moving member includes an interference part capable of interfering with a sheet that passes through a sheet transport path. The support member slidably supports the moving member. When a sheet passes through the sheet transport path in a forward direction, the sheet interferes with the interference part of the moving member in a protruding posture, and the moving member turns in a first direction along the forward direction in a state of maintaining the protruding posture. When a sheet once stopped on the sheet transport path is pulled out in a reverse direction with a predetermined pull-out force, the moving member turns in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction, and changes the posture from the protruding posture to a retreating posture against a biasing force of a first bias member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Kuniaki Araishi
  • Patent number: 8833761
    Abstract: A method for monitoring transport of bank notes in a transport system, using sensors arranged along the transport system for sensing transported bank notes, and a control device for monitoring and controlling the transport system using signals from the sensors, from which the control device derives a presence or absence of a bank note at the location of the respective sensor. The signals from all sensors are stored in a memory, and the signals from all sensors are assigned an explicit time statement or clock statement. All transported bank notes are assigned an explicit object code by the control device, and the object code is linked to the explicit time statement or clock statement. Stored signals from the sensors derive the occurrence and type of errors during the transport of the bank notes, and the signals are linked to the bank notes denoted by the object codes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Giesecke & Devrient GmbH
    Inventors: Eduard Dukart, Gerhard Sporer, Rudolf Christl