Between Superposed Conveyor Couple Patents (Class 271/272)
  • Patent number: 11878889
    Abstract: An end effector connectable to a robot arm for peeling off release paper includes a housing including a guide groove having a start position S, an intermediate position M, and an end position E and a rotary unit including a needle and a first support movable along the guide groove. Assume that a line segment connecting the start position S and the intermediate position M is defined as a line segment SM, a line segment connecting intermediate the position M and the end position E is defined as a line segment ME, an angle formed between the line segment SM and a horizontal direction when the end effector is placed on a floor surface is defined as ?1, and an angle formed between the line segment SM and the line segment ME is defined as ?2, ?1<?2<?1+180° is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Kikuchi, Hideyuki Kouno, Yuzuka Isobe, Yoshinari Matsuyama
  • Patent number: 11878887
    Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes an apparatus body including an opening portion, a storage configured to store a sheet, a pickup roller configured to pick up and feed the sheet, a separation conveyance unit including a separation nip, and a guide member including a guiding surface configured to guide the sheet such that the sheet passes under an upper edge of the opening portion while the storage is being drawn out of the apparatus body. A downstream end of the guiding surface in a sheet feeding direction is positioned downstream of the separation nip in the sheet feeding direction. An upstream end of the guiding surface in the sheet feeding direction is positioned upstream in the sheet feeding direction of a leading-edge position of the sheet stored in the storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Nakagawa, Hajime Sekiguchi
  • Patent number: 11724389
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, the invention provides an end effector for use with a programmable motion device. The end effector includes a pair of mutually opposing surfaces, at least one of the pair of mutually opposing surfaces being movable with respect to an end effector support structure for supporting the at least one of the pair of mutually opposing surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Berkshire Grey Operating Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Wagner, Kevin Ahearn, John Richard Amend, Jr., Benjamin Cohen, Michael Dawson-Haggerty, William Hartman Fort, Christopher Geyer, Jennifer Eileen King, Thomas Koletschka, Michael Cap Koval, Kyle Maroney, Matthew T. Mason, William Chu-Hyon McMahan, Gene Temple Price, Joseph Romano, Daniel Smith, Siddhartha Srinivasa, Prasanna Velagapudi, Thomas Allen
  • Patent number: 11724527
    Abstract: A toothed roller includes: a wheel having teeth on a peripheral surface; and holders that hold n wheels, which satisfy condition 1 and condition 2 described below, such that the n wheels are stacked in an axial direction, n being a natural number of 2 or more. Condition 1 is Pr=Pt/n, where Pr is a tooth pitch of the toothed roller and Pt is a tooth pitch of the wheel. Condition 2 is such that a minimum value of sums of angles each formed by a reference tooth and another reference tooth adjacent thereto in a circumferential direction of one to n wheels is greater than 180 degrees, where one of the teeth is a reference tooth, one of the n wheels is a reference wheel, and wheels having reference teeth near to the reference tooth of the reference wheel are second to nth wheels sequentially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yosaku Tamura
  • Patent number: 11554927
    Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a switching member to execute a pivot operation and a conveyance portion to convey a sheet at a first conveyance speed where a driving motor rotates at a first rotational speed, and to convey the sheet at a second conveyance speed which is greater than zero and slower than the first conveyance speed where the driving motor rotates at a second rotational speed which is greater than zero and slower than the first rotational speed. Where a control portion conveys a first sheet at the first conveyance speed, the switching member executes the pivot operation at the second operating speed before the first sheet arrives at the switching member and the conveyance portion, and rotates the driving motor at the first rotational speed after the pivot operation has been executed and before the first sheet arrives at the conveyance portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Taro Ishifune
  • Patent number: 11331936
    Abstract: To provide a spindle supporting a roll body on which a sheet-shaped medium is wound and rotationally driving the roll body. The spindle includes a shaft member to be inserted into the roll body, a gear fixed on a tip side of the shaft member in an axial direction, a spacer member contacting both of the shaft member and the gear, and a coupling member coupling the shaft member to the gear. In the axial direction of the shaft member, a contact area of the spacer member and the gear is larger than a contact area of the shaft member and the spacer member. The gear is coupled to the coupling member in the axial direction and the shaft member is coupled to the coupling member in an intersecting direction intersecting the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shun Ito
  • Patent number: 10942483
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes, a main body of the image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a sheet, and provided with a stacking portion on which a sheet with an image formed thereon is stacked, a sheet conveyance device detachably attached to the stacking portion of the main body of the image forming apparatus, and provided with a conveyance path for conveying a sheet, a guide portion disposed in the sheet conveyance device, and configured to guide the conveyed sheet, a vertically extending wall portion disposed in the main body of the image forming apparatus, facing the stacking portion, and a restriction portion protruded from the wall portion, and configured to restrict a movement of the guide portion in a direction for opening the conveyance path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koichi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10696073
    Abstract: A printer includes: a conveyor; a printing device; a roller; a moving mechanism configured to move a moving member; and a cutter that performs a cutting operation. A controller executes: a printing processing for performing a printing operation while conveying the printing medium with the moving member being located at a second position; a cutting processing for performing the cutting operation after the printing operation is stopped; a moving processing for controlling the moving mechanism such that movement of the moving member to a first position is completed before the cutting operation; and a roller driving processing for, after the movement of the moving member to the first position is completed and before the cutting operation, rotating the roller in a direction for conveying the printing medium downstream in a conveying direction and stops the roller from rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiromitsu Mizutani
  • Patent number: 10632691
    Abstract: An installation for shaping an axisymmetric fiber preform presenting a profile that varies in radial section, includes a storage mandrel for storing a fiber texture in the form of a wound strip, one or more follower rollers, and an axisymmetric mold, the storage mandrel, each follower roller, and the mold presenting across their axial widths radii that vary defining outside surfaces having respective profiles in relief, at least one follower roller including a plurality of roller segments, each extending over a fraction of the axial width of the follower roller, each roller segment including a platen defining a portion of the outside surface of the follower roller; and an actuator system suitable for moving the platen of the roller segment in a direction that is radial relative to the axis of the follower roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Hubert Jean Marie Fabre, Jérémy Hellot
  • Patent number: 10543674
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for treating substrates which device is modular and versatile in use. The device for treating substrates comprises a feeder and one or more first sub-structure modules which each comprise a pressure cylinder with devices for fixing a lift and a sheet-conveying device and one or more second sub-structure modules which respectively have a transport cylinder with openings formed on the cover surface thereof, and having devices for fixing a lift and a sheet conveying device. All of the first or second sub-structure modules have the same intersection point for connecting the sub-structure modules on one of the inlet and the exit side and they all can be equipped with an attachment module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer AG
    Inventors: Gunar Bormann, Johannes Naumann, Eberhard Fuchs
  • Patent number: 10486360
    Abstract: Machine for stretching films, comprising two tracks each having a first rail (1) on which clips (3) move and close together at a point for adjusting their pitch and a second rail (2) on which articulated carriages (5) move, in a chain driven by a toothed drive wheel (6), with two consecutive clips (3) respectively, characterised by a wheel (8) for indexing the point for adjusting the pitch of the clips (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: BRÜCKNER MASCHINENBAU GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Gilbert Trivero
  • Patent number: 10464348
    Abstract: In one example a bend sensor is disclosed. The bend sensor extends into a media tray. The bend sensor has a tip where a deflection amount of the tip indicates a media parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Arthur H. Barnes
  • Patent number: 10298792
    Abstract: An image forming device, which is included in an image forming apparatus, includes an image reader, a sheet conveyance passage, a transparent body, an opposing body, and multiple curved opposing portions. The image reader is configured to read an image formed on a target object. The sheet conveyance passage is a passage through which the target object is conveyed. The transparent body is disposed between the sheet conveyance passage and the image reader. The opposing body is disposed facing the transparent body on a side opposite the image reader. The multiple curved opposing portions have respective outwardly curving reference planes. The multiple curved opposing portions are sequentially switched and located at a predetermined image reading position at which the multiple curved opposing portions face the transparent body with a gap through which the target object passes the predetermined image reading position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Nakayama, Hideyo Makino, Tomoaki Suga, Yuusuke Kumagawa
  • Patent number: 10277758
    Abstract: An image reading device includes a housing, a carriage, and a lock mechanism. The housing includes an exterior member and a document sheet placement surface. The carriage is configured to move in the housing along a predetermined specific direction. The lock mechanism is configured to lock the carriage to a lock position. The lock mechanism includes a supported portion and a locking portion. The supported portion is supported by the housing and provided between the exterior member and the carriage disposed at the lock position. The locking portion moves between a first position and a second position in response to a magnetic force of a magnet disposed at a specific position on the exterior member so as to, at the first position, engage the supported portion with the carriage disposed at the lock position, and at the second position, release engagement between the supported portion and the carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Shunsuke Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 10233043
    Abstract: There is provided an image recording apparatus including a transporting path, a recording section, a first and second rollers pinching the recording medium therebetween, a supporting member which rotatably supports the second roller, a holding member which is movable along a transporting direction of the recording medium, a bias applying member which applies a bias on the holding member, in an opposite direction opposite to the transporting direction and a load member which generates a load in the opposite direction, with respect to the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noriyuki Kawamata, Yuji Koga, Wataru Sugiyama, Kenji Samoto
  • Patent number: 10112791
    Abstract: A sheet-conveying device contains a first linear sheet-conveying path on which the sheet is conveyed, a curved sheet-conveying path connecting the first linear sheet-conveying path and a second linear sheet-conveying path connecting the curved sheet-conveying path. A curved conveying guide is provided at only an outside of a curved sheet-conveying route. Conveying guide rollers are provided at an upstream side of the curved conveying guide. The conveying guide rollers contain a driving roller which is arranged at outside of the curved sheet-conveying path and a driven roller which is arranged at inside of the curved sheet-conveying path. The driven roller has a diameter more than that of the driving roller. The driven roller also has hardness less than that of the driving roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Masashi Kougami
  • Patent number: 10108127
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an openable/closable cover body in a main body. The cover body has a first cover member, a second cover member, an engagement member, an elastic body, and a support member. The support member rotatably supports the engagement member. The support member collides with the engagement member which is energized by the elastic body and is rotated when the cover body becomes in a closed state, to stop rotation of the engagement member. The support member is fitted on the first cover member separately from the second cover member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masao Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 10054902
    Abstract: A toner case includes a case main body, a rotator, a transmitter and a turner. The rotator is stored in the case main body and rotates around a rotation axis. The transmitter transmits rotation to the rotator. A part of the transmitter is exposed to an outside of the case main body. The turner is provided at an outside of the case main body in a rotation axis direction. The turner is turnable between a first posture and a second posture. At least a part of the turner is moved to an outside in the rotation axis direction as the turner turns from the first posture to the second posture. The transmitter moves from a first position to a second position which is arranged at an outside of the first position in the rotation axis direction as the turner turns from the first posture to the second posture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kitagawa, Teruyuki Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 9712713
    Abstract: A duplex peripheral comprises: a passage; a feeding mechanism transporting a medium into the passage; two scanning modules disposed on two sides of the passage and acquiring front and reverse side images of the medium, respectively; a transporting mechanism transporting the medium through the passage and past the scanning modules; a control module, electrically connected to the scanning modules, the feeding mechanism and the transporting mechanism, and digitizing the front side image and the reverse side image; and an output unit electrically connected to the control module, and receiving and outputting the front and reverse side images. A width of the medium that can be accommodated within the passage and the feeding mechanism is greater than or equal to a short side of an A4 size sheet. The transporting mechanism defines a transportable gap smaller than or equal to a short side of an A7 size sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Avision Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Sheng
  • Patent number: 9695004
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a winding conveying unit for an electrode plate of a rechargeable battery for an electric vehicle which can manufacture electric rolls by conveying and winding an electrode from the electric rolls without breakage when the electrode rolls are manufactured by using electrode rolls in which an electrode is configured in a direction to fill the electrode rolls in a box at a high integration in a manufacturing process of a rechargeable battery for an electric vehicle that is configured by stacking electrode rolls in a sealed (cylindrical or angular) box. The present invention provides a winding conveying unit for an electrode plate of a rechargeable battery for an electric vehicle, which can prevent a breakage when an electrode is conveyed, by providing a guide roller at a moving position of the electrode on an external surface of a conveying roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: KOEM CO., LTD
    Inventor: Kye-seol Lee
  • Patent number: 9676571
    Abstract: This disclosure provides a coupling device configured to couple a shaft and a rotating member supported on the shaft so as to be rotatable and demountable from the shaft including a contacting portion provided on a rotating member, and a restricting member provided on the shaft so as to be rotatable and configured to restrict a movement of the rotating member in the axial direction by coming into contact with the contacting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hajime Sekiguchi, Tomohito Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 9630790
    Abstract: This disclosure provides a coupling device configured to couple a shaft and a rotating member supported on the shaft so as to be rotatable and demountable from the shaft including a contacting portion provided on a rotating member, and a restricting member provided on the shaft so as to be rotatable and configured to restrict a movement of the rotating member in the axial direction by coming into contact with the contacting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hajime Sekiguchi, Tomohito Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 9483005
    Abstract: A medium carrying device includes an apparatus body, medium guide unit that is detachable with respect to the apparatus body, a carrying roller that is disposed in the apparatus body, and is configured to rotate to carry a print medium passing through the medium guide unit, and a driven roller that is disposed in the medium guide unit at a position corresponding to the carrying roller in a contacting manner so that the driven roller rotates in accordance with a rotation of the carrying roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9459574
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner image forming unit that forms a toner image on a recording medium, a fixing unit that heats and fixes the toner image onto the recording medium, an ejection unit that ejects the recording medium through a curved transport path, a transport unit for two-sided printing that flips over the recording medium and transports the recording medium to the toner image forming unit, and a switching unit that switches, when an subsequent operation is specified to be performed on the recording medium, an ejection path through which the recording medium is to be ejected to an ejection path that passes the transport unit for two-sided printing and changes a temperature of the fixing unit to a temperature lower than a temperature at which the toner image is fixed to the recording medium or causes the fixing unit to stop heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Sunohara, Yasutaka Naito
  • Patent number: 9352916
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a first rotating member, a second rotating member, and a biasing unit that biases the second rotating member toward the first rotating member. The first and second rotating members pinch a sheet therebetween and convey the sheet in a sheet conveying direction. The second rotating member includes a small-diameter portion that faces a conveying portion of the first rotating member, and a large-diameter portion at a position axially displaced from the conveying portion. The second rotating member can change its orientation to an orientation where a rotating shaft of the second rotating member is tilted relative to a rotating shaft of the first rotating member as viewed in the sheet conveying direction, thereby moving a position of an end portion of the second rotating member on a side of the large-diameter portion away from the rotating shaft of the first rotating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Toshikane Nishii, Haruyuki Honda, Masanori Namba, Mitsutaka Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9321603
    Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus of an embodiment including a first roller, a second roller, a plurality of biasing members, a control section, and a driving section. The second roller is provided to face the first roller. The plurality of biasing members bias the second roller toward the first roller at different strengths respectively. The control section selects one biasing member of the plurality of biasing members. The driving section selectively drives the biasing member that is selected by the control section and makes the biasing member bias the second roller toward the first roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Junichi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9302882
    Abstract: A folder superstructure includes a former, a first top of former roll located upstream of the former and having a compressible outer layer and a second top of former roll forming a nip with the first top of former roll. A method for operating a printing press is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Goss International Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald Roger Douillard, Douglas Joseph Dawley, Daniel Matthew Perdue, Brian Robert Elkinson
  • Patent number: 9227804
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes: a recording section that performs recording on a recording medium; a driving roller disposed in a transportation path; a plurality of driven rollers driven to rotate by abutting against the driving roller, and biased to the driving roller; and a frame defining positions of the driven rollers. A biasing member that biases driven rollers applies a biasing force including a first direction component that is in the transportation direction to the frame in a state of being mounted thereon. At least a part of the driven rollers are disposed by being deviated in the position thereof in a second direction opposite to the first direction in a state where the biasing member is not mounted thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kensuke Tamai, Hidefumi Minemura
  • Patent number: 9132977
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes a sheet conveying unit including a drive roller and a driven roller; a downstream detection unit and an upstream detection unit; a conveying amount measuring unit that measures a conveying amount of the sheet; and a conveying distance calculation unit that calculates a conveying distance of the sheet, wherein a distance between the downstream detection unit and the upstream detection unit or a perimeter of one of the drive roller and the driven roller is set such that an expected conveying distance calculated based on a set sheet length of an expected value of the sheet becomes a substantially integer multiple of a perimeter of the one of the drive roller and the driven roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Naoto Ueda, Makoto Nakura, Shingo Takai, Koichi Kudo, Satoshi Ueda, Akira Kobashi
  • Patent number: 9022386
    Abstract: A medium conveying apparatus includes a conveying status detecting unit configured to determine a conveyance status of a medium based on a driving torque of a driving unit, wherein the conveying unit is configured to convey the medium at a reference speed, the reference speed being faster than the upstream conveying unit at least when the medium is conveyed from the upstream conveying unit, and the reference speed being slower than the downstream conveying unit at least when the medium is conveyed to the downstream conveying unit, and wherein the conveyance status of the medium is detected by the comparison of a prescribed reference torque to the driving torque of the driving unit at least when the medium is conveyed between the upstream conveying unit and the conveying unit or when the medium is conveyed between the conveying unit and the downstream conveying unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi Kasamai, Yusuke Ishizaki, Takahisa Koike
  • Patent number: 9016689
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a housing provided with first and second side surfaces facing each other, and third and fourth side surfaces substantially orthogonal to the first and second side surfaces and facing each other. An entrance port is formed in the first side surface, an exit port is formed in the second side surface, and a sheet conveying path is formed in the housing. The housing includes first and second guide members constituting the sheet conveying path. The first and second guide members are connected to be pivotally movable relative to each other on the side of the third side surface. A gap portion is formed between the first and second guide members in a region from the connection portion on the side of the third side surface to the first side surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Shuji Osaki, Hironori Daigo, Hiroaki Takai
  • Patent number: 9019574
    Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a first tray, a second tray disposed above the first tray, a feeding portion configured to feed a sheet in a feed direction, and a first wall portion disposed at one end of the second tray in a width direction and fixed relative to the first tray. The first tray has a first end on a side far from the feeding portion. The second tray has, on the side far from the feeding portion, a second end, which is closer to the feeding portion than the first end of the first tray. The first end of the first tray is located above the second end of the second tray. An upper end of the first wall portion is higher than the second tray, and extends from a side closer to the second end of the second tray toward the first end of the first tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiko Ohta
  • Publication number: 20150108715
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes a conveying member conveying and rotating a sheet, a moving member configured to be movable between a first guiding position and a second guiding position, a first abutting portion configured to stop the moving member at the first guiding position, a second abutting portion configured to stop the moving member at the second guiding position, and a planetary gear mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventor: Koichi Yamada
  • Publication number: 20150108709
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus comprising: a conveying rotating member which is rotatably driven by a driving portion conveys a sheet; a cylindrical follower rotating member which is disposed to face the conveying rotating member; a support member which passes through a hollow portion of the follower rotating member and supports the cylindrical follower; a pressure portion which pressurizes the support member to the conveying rotating member so that the follower rotating member comes into contact with the conveying rotating member; and a bearing portion which is disposed between an outer peripheral surface of the support member and an inner peripheral surface of the follower rotating member and is disposed on an inner side in an axial direction of the support member from an end portion of the conveying rotating member, and rotatably supports the follower rotating member with respect to the support member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Takashi Fujita, So Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 9010756
    Abstract: A sheet feeder is provided that includes a driving roller, a driven roller configured to rotate in accordance with rotation of the driving roller and feed a sheet while pinching the sheet with the driving roller, an elastic shaft inserted through the driven roller and configured to rotatably support the driven roller, the elastic shaft including a protrusion formed on at least one end of the elastic shaft in an axial direction of the elastic shaft, the protrusion protruding outward in a radial direction of the driven roller, and two recess-shaped bearings configured to support two end portions of the elastic shaft in the axial direction, respectively, at least one of the bearings including a contact surface configured to contact the protrusion when the elastic shaft is supported by the bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takayuki Akimatsu
  • Patent number: 9004487
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a conveying unit configured to convey a sheet by a first rotating body and a second rotating body that is provided so as to be movable in a contacting/separating direction with respect to the first rotating body; a rotation amount measuring unit configured to measure a rotation amount of the second rotating body, the rotation amount measuring unit being provided so as to be movable in the contacting/separating direction along with the second rotating body; and a conveying distance calculating unit configured to calculate a conveying distance of the sheet based on a measurement result obtained by the rotation amount measuring unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masanori Takayasu
  • Patent number: 8998206
    Abstract: A medium transport direction switching mechanism may be provided of a simple configuration which is capable of switching the transport direction of a transported information recording medium. One end may be a biasing member for biasing a pinch roller toward a transport roller engages a support shaft which supports the pinch roller, whereas the other end of the biasing member engages a retaining member which retains the support shaft. In the medium transport direction switching mechanism, rotational behavior of the pinch roller centering upon a rotational center of the transport roller is possible between a first facing position and a second facing position, wherein the pinch roller moves to the first facing position when the transport roller rotates positively, and moves to the second facing position when the transport roller rotates negatively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Nidec Sankyo Corporation
    Inventor: Chisato Hiyama
  • Publication number: 20150084277
    Abstract: A sheet feed device of an image forming apparatus includes an inside cover and a lock mechanism for locking the inside cover to a housing. The lock mechanism includes a locking member and a locked member. When the inside cover is operated in a closing direction toward a closing position, the locking member abuts the locked member. At this time, a driven roller is in no contact with a conveying roller until a projection of the locking member climbs over an apex of the locked member. After the inside cover is further operated toward the closing position and the projection climbs over the apex, the driven roller contacts the conveying roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventor: Kei Maruyama
  • 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: 20150061219
    Abstract: One aspect of the present invention provides an image forming apparatus that can prevent degradation of sheet feeding performance at low cost. A drive transmission portion 200B is provided between a driving motor 227 that drives a conveying roller 250 provided in an apparatus body and a body-side lifting portion 200C that drives a lifter mechanism 200A of a sheet feeding cassette 201 mounted on the apparatus body. When the sheet feeding cassette 201 is mounted on the apparatus body, the drive transmission portion 200B selectively transmits drive of the driving motor 227 to the lifter mechanism 200A through the body-side lifting portion 200C to lift a stacking plate 206 by a predetermined amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Atsushi Murakami, Daisuke Aoki
  • Publication number: 20150061220
    Abstract: The sheet transport mechanism of the present disclosure is provided with drive roller, driven roller, and roller pressing mechanism. The roller pressing mechanism presses the driven roller into contact against the drive roller. The driven roller includes a central driven roller, a first rotating shaft for supporting the central driven roller, at least one pair of outside driven rollers, and second rotating shafts supporting the outside driven rollers. The roller pressing mechanism includes a central pressing mechanism, and an outside pressing mechanism. The central pressing mechanism presses the central driven roller against the drive roller. The outside pressing mechanism presses the outside driven rollers against the drive roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Shinji YOSHINAGA
  • Patent number: 8967619
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus has a separation section configured to supply a sheet one by one, at least three driving rollers arranged downstream of the separation section in a sheet conveying direction and configured to convey the sheet, at least three driven rollers configured to be urged by the driving rollers and driven to rotate by rotation of the driving rollers, respectively, and an image reader unit configured to read an image of the sheet conveyed in the conveying direction. Sheet conveying forces by one of at least three driven rollers and one of at least three driving rollers arranged at the central portions in the sheet width direction is greater than sheet conveying forces by others of the at least three driven rollers and others of the at least three driving rollers arranged at both side portions in the sheet width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Muneaki Takahata, Tianjin Xie
  • Patent number: 8967618
    Abstract: A sheet transport device includes a transport roller which transports a sheet, a cover which covers the transport roller, a pinch roller attached to the cover via a shaft facing the transport roller, and a regulation member projecting from a facing surface, facing the transport roller, of the cover and configured to regulate a movement of the shaft in an extending direction of the shaft. The regulation member includes a surface which extends along the extending direction of the shaft, a first end portion fixed to the cover, and a second end portion which faces an end face of the shaft, and is located closer to the end face of the shaft than the first end portion in the extending direction of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Arisa Sakakibara
  • Publication number: 20150054219
    Abstract: Provided is a transporting device including a first contact member having a first contact portion that contacts a medium transported, a second contact member having a second contact portion that contacts the medium transported, on the downstream side of the first contact portion in a transporting direction, the first contact portion and the second contact portion each having a tangential plane, and the tangential planes coinciding with each other, a transporting unit that transports the medium so that a first surface of the medium coincides with the tangential plane in a section of the first contact portion to the second contact portion, and a processing unit that is arranged between the first contact portion and the second contact portion, and performs processing on the first surface of the medium that is passing through a processing region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seigo MAKIDA, Takao FURUYA, Kiyoshi HOSOI, Katsumi SAKAMAKI, Masaki HACHISUGA
  • Patent number: 8910941
    Abstract: A roller nip assembly has a drive axle (with driver rollers) and a drive unit connected to a first end of the drive axle. The drive unit rotates the drive axle. In addition, a slotted mount is connected to a second end of the drive axle (opposite the first end). Additionally, an idler frame (with idler rollers) is positioned adjacent the drive axle. Further, a bias member is connected to the drive axle. The bias member moves the drive axle in the slotted mount to bias the drive rollers toward the idler rollers. The idler frame also includes a pivot structure. The bias member causes the drive axle to pivot. The pivot structure pivots the idler frame to compensate for the pivoting motion of the drive axle and to maintain pressure between the idler rollers and the drive rollers as the drive axle pivots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Jos Wim Jacobs
  • Patent number: 8910939
    Abstract: A disclosed sheet carrying device includes a first carrying unit that includes a first rotary body, a first driving unit outputting a driving force at a first peripheral speed, a one-way clutch transmitting the driving force only in a sheet carrying direction, and a second rotary body driven by the first rotary body via the sheet; and a second carrying unit including a third rotary body rotating at a second peripheral speed being the first peripheral speed or more, a fourth rotary body carrying the sheet with the third rotary body, a second driving unit outputting a driving force for driving the fourth rotary body at a third peripheral speed being the second peripheral speed or more, and a torque limiter having a slip torque smaller than a sheet carrying torque and cutting off the driving force while the sheet is interposed between the third and fourth rotary bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Nakura, Naoto Ueda, Koichi Kudo, Shingo Takai
  • Patent number: 8905402
    Abstract: A cylindrical shaft is provided of which a pair of ends are formed in a cylindrical shape by a press work so as to form a joining portion therebetween. Here, the joining portion includes: a central linear section which is provided on a center portion in an axis direction of the cylindrical shaft and is formed in a linear shape to be parallel to the axis direction of the cylindrical shaft; and a folded section which includes a plurality of intersections which are provided on both ends of the center portion and are disposed so as to be extended in a direction perpendicular to the axis direction of the cylindrical shaft, and a connection linear section which connects ends of a pair of the adjacent intersections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Saito, Katsunori Ono, Kenji Ozawa
  • Patent number: 8903289
    Abstract: A belt moving unit includes an endless belt member and plural support rolls supporting the belt member movably and rotating, wherein the support rolls include one or more follower rolls rotating to follow the movement of the belt member and at least one of the follower rolls is used as an inertial roll to which inertia is applied, wherein the inertial roll includes a rotation shaft, a rotational inertial member rotating with the rotation shaft and applying inertia, and a roll body disposed along a peripheral surface of the rotation shaft and including plural roll-divided members, and wherein the plural roll-divided members include a fixed divided member fixed to the rotation shaft and rotating along with the rotation shaft to follow the movement of the belt member and a rotating divided member rotating independently of the rotation of the rotation shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yimei Yu, Junji Hanatani, Takehiro Oishi
  • Patent number: 8899582
    Abstract: A cylindrical shaft is provided of which a pair of ends are formed in a cylindrical shape by a press work so as to form a joining portion therebetween. Here, the joining portion includes: a central linear section which is provided on a center portion in an axis direction of the cylindrical shaft and is formed in a linear shape to be parallel to the axis direction of the cylindrical shaft; and a folded section which includes a plurality of intersections which are provided on both ends of the center portion and are disposed so as to be extended in a direction perpendicular to the axis direction of the cylindrical shaft, and a connection linear section which connects ends of a pair of the adjacent intersections. In addition, the connection linear section is constituted by a first linear section which connects ends on one side of the pair of the intersections and a second linear section which connects ends on the other side of the pair of the intersections and formed shorter than the first linear section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Saito, Katsunori Ono, Kenji Ozawa
  • 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