With Selective Actuation Of Means For Inverting Duplex Sheets Patents (Class 271/291)
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Patent number: 8307971Abstract: An apparatus includes a document track, a processing device, and a selector gate after the processing device. The document track includes a second, return path extending from a location at the selector gate to a location before the processing device. A bi-directional drive mechanism receives the document as the document passes through the selector gate in the forward direction. A gate actuator selectively moves the selector gate. Upon the bi-directional drive mechanism reversing direction after receiving the document to drive the document in the reverse direction, when the selector gate is in the first position, the selector gate diverts the document into the return path and re-introduces the document to the processing device with the document now in a reverse orientation. When the selector gate is in the second position, the selector gate allows the document traveling in the reverse direction to be re-introduced, in reverse, to the processing device.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2008Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: Burroughs Payment Systems, Inc.Inventors: J. Michael Spall, Johan P. Bakker
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Patent number: 8259362Abstract: An image forming system includes a first data compressing device, a data decompressing device, and an image forming device. The first data compressing device stores image data of a top line to be formed on a recording medium first and image data of a designated line other than the top line in a memory area with a data format capable of forming the original image data by itself, while generating difference data which indicates a difference between image data of a non-designated line other than the top and the designated lines and the image data of a line adjacent to the non-designated line, and stores the difference data in the memory area. The data decompressing device sequentially decompresses the image data of each line, based on the image data and the difference data. The image forming device forms an image on the recording medium, based on the decompressed image data.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2007Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Toshiki Narukawa
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Patent number: 8254826Abstract: An image recording device includes: a tray having a placing surface; a feed unit comprising a rotating member configured to move in a first direction away from the placing surface of the tray and move in a second direction toward the placing surface of the tray; a frictional member disposed on the placing surface; a recording unit; a conveying unit configured to return the sheet, on one side of which the image has been recorded by the recording unit, to the placing surface; and a moving mechanism configured to move the rotating member in the first direction and in the second direction. The moving mechanism is configured to move the rotating member in the first direction before a leading end of the sheet returned by the conveying unit reaches the frictional member in a state where no sheet is placed on the tray.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2008Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yuta Uchino, Takashi Ohama, Naokazu Tanahashi, Wataru Sugiyama, Noriyuki Kawamata
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Patent number: 8233837Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided and includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording sheet at an image forming position; a regulating roller that conveys the recording sheet; a supply path from the regulating roller to the image forming position; an inversion path that is configured to merge with a position on the supply path between the regulating roller and the image forming position and bends and inverts the sheet; a return path that is configured on an opposite side of the regulating roller from the supply path to return the recording sheet to the supply path; and a control unit which rotates the regulating roller in a return rotational direction to convey the inverted recording sheet into the return path, and in a feed rotational direction to convey the recording sheet to the image forming position.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2008Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shougo Sato
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Patent number: 8231126Abstract: A medium-directing device includes: first-third roll members, the third roll member contacting the first and second roll members in first and second regions, respectively; and a directing member having first and second directing surfaces and being rotatable between first and second positions such that the directing member, when located at the first position, directs a medium conveyed along a first conveyance path toward the first region via the first directing surface and directs a medium conveyed from the second region toward a second conveyance path via the second directing surface, the directing member including a region of the second directing surface on a side closer to the second region relative to a bent portion, in which, when the directing member is at the first position, a distance between the second directing surface and a tangential line between the second and third roll members increases toward the second region.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2010Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.Inventor: Akio Shimonaga
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Patent number: 8210515Abstract: A document transport apparatus for transporting a document sheet to a predetermined position that includes a first switchback portion for switching back each of the document sheets of which the front side is read in the document reading portion to transport to the document reading portion and a second switchback portion for switching back each of the document sheets of which both sides are read in the document reading portion to discharge to the sheet discharge tray. The first switchback member provided in the first switchback portion transports two document sheets in mutually different directions and the first switchback member has a first switchback path and a first switchback roller pair each for guiding overlapping two document sheets in the mutually different directions or the same direction. The second switchback member provided in the second switchback portion transports two document sheets in mutually different directions.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2010Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: Nisca CorporationInventors: Seiji Nishizawa, Yoichi Sakai, Masaki Omori, Junya Nakajima
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Patent number: 8141692Abstract: An apparatus for capturing images from checks and other financial and payment-related documents includes a base unit including an input slot for receiving a document to be processed. A transport stage located within the base unit receives the document from the input slot. The transport stage includes a document track, a processing device located along the document track, and a one-way gate located along the document track after the processing device. The document track includes a second, return path extending from a location at the one-way gate to a location before the processing device. A bi-directional drive mechanism receives the document as the document passes through the one-way gate in the forward direction. The bi-directional drive mechanism then reverses direction to drive the document in the reverse direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2008Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Assignee: Burroughs Payment Systems, Inc.Inventors: J. Michael Spall, Johan P. Bakker
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Patent number: 8126388Abstract: Method for printing pages within a booklet to improve the appearance of images on opposing pages includes sequencing images such that opposing pages are printed with the same print engine and/or fused the same number of times. Booklets include opposing pages having images fused the same number of times and/or printed with the same print engine as the image on the opposing page.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2009Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Robert M. Lofthus, Thomas M. Baretsky, Dusan Lysy
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Patent number: 8121510Abstract: For a sheet circulating transfer route that includes a sheet transfer portion of a printing mechanism provided with a transfer belt for transfer of a sheet as positioned thereto, a transfer section provided with drive rollers for transfer of a sheet as image-formed by an image former of the printing mechanism, and a sheet invert portion operable for inversion of the sheet as image-formed, there is a drive controller adapted, in conformity to a condition that a sheet to be positioned in the printing mechanism is equal in length to or longer than a path distance from the image former to the drive rollers, to set a transfer speed of the sheet as image-formed by the drive rollers up as an identical speed to a transfer speed of the sheet as positioned by the transfer belt, and in non-conformity to the condition, to set it up as a greater speed than the transfer speed by the transfer belt.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2009Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignee: Riso Kagaku CorporationInventor: Atsushi Roppongi
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Patent number: 8107874Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of guiding a printing medium in a smooth manner by minimizing resistance to the printing medium feed and preventing a developer from adhering and accumulating on a printing medium guide device. The image forming apparatus includes a printing medium guide device to guide a printing medium in a print path to a discharge path or guide the printing medium in the discharge path to a reverse path, and the printing medium guide device includes rollers to rotate by contacting the printing medium.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2008Date of Patent: January 31, 2012Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Kwon Ho Yoon
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Patent number: 7984908Abstract: A document feeding device for handling and reverting double-sided document sheets to an original sequence is provided, including a housing unit and a switching unit. The housing unit includes a delivery passage, a flipping passage, a bypass area, a return passage and upper and lower turning passages. The switching unit, pivotally disposed in the bypass area, includes a first switching member, a second switching member connecting to a side of the first switching member, and a guiding passage between the first switching member and the second switching member. The switching unit switches between a first position and a second position. By the switching of the switching unit, the double-sided document is flipped, scanned and reverted to an original sequence.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2010Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: Asia Optical Co., Inc.Inventors: Hsun-Hao Chan, Kung-Hsin Teng, Hsien-Chi Lin
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Patent number: 7984909Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first guide portion disposed to be movable for opening a transportation path of a medium; a second guide portion disposed to be movable for opening the transportation path and arranged adjacent to the first guide portion; a first transportation member for transporting the medium to the transportation path; and a second transportation member for discharging the medium from the transportation path to outside the image forming apparatus. Further, when the first guide portion and the second guide portion close the transportation path, the second guide portion is arranged to guide a rear edge of the medium.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2008Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: Oki Data CorporationInventor: Takahiro Sunohara
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Patent number: 7942416Abstract: A technique in an image forming apparatus in which the front and back sides of a sheet are reversed by using a reversal conveyance path is provided for causing the sheet to wait such that the sheet is not damaged when a unit for conveying the sheet to the reversal conveyance path is pulled out for the purpose of clearing a jam or the like. A roller for conveying the sheet is controlled such that the sheet to be turned back and directed into the reversal conveyance path is caused to wait until the sheet can be conveyed into the reversal conveyance path. As a standby position of the sheet while the sheet is caused to wait, a position is set such that an upstream end portion in the second conveying direction of the sheet to be directed into the reversal conveyance path does not extend for a predetermined length or longer into another conveyance unit adjacent to the intermediate conveyance unit upstream from the intermediate conveyance unit in the second conveying direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2009Date of Patent: May 17, 2011Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masataka Muratani, Kazumasa Yasui, Masaya Arakawa
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Patent number: 7926801Abstract: A sheet-feeding apparatus having simple structure and capable of single-face/double-face scanning/printing sheets at high sheet-feeding efficiency. The sheet-feeding apparatus includes a sheet-feeding path in which sheets can pass through a scanning module and/or a printing module. The sheet-feeding path includes a first passage, a second passage communicating with the first passage and a subsidiary passage formed between the first and second passages. The sheets are selectively fed into and delivered through the first passage, the second passage or the subsidiary passage to be single-face/double-face scanned/printed.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2009Date of Patent: April 19, 2011Assignee: Kinpo Electronics, Inc.Inventor: Yen-Chun Lin
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Patent number: 7918449Abstract: A double-sided image forming device includes: a paper feeding section (3); a printing section (4); a first conveyance route (6) for conveying a fed paper sheet (2) to a paper discharge section (8) via the printing section (4); and a second conveyance route (7) for receiving, on its conveyance surface, the paper sheet (2), a first side (21) of which has been printed, from the first conveyance route (6), and for conveying the paper sheet (2) while reversing it, thereby conveying the paper sheet (2) to the upstream side of the printing section (4) in the conveyance direction of the first conveyance route (6), wherein the second conveyance route (7) has a reverse conveyance route (9) for receiving, on its conveyance surface, a second side (22) of the paper sheet (2), and for conveying the paper sheet (2) while reversing it, and wherein the reverse conveyance route (9) is formed by a combination of a plurality of reverse mechanisms each including: a first conveyance section (91) for linearly conveying the paper shType: GrantFiled: April 18, 2007Date of Patent: April 5, 2011Assignee: Duplo Seiko CorporationInventors: Yoshihide Sugiyama, Kazuya Yamamoto
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Patent number: 7896343Abstract: Feeding systems for documents or other sheet materials include: (a) an inlet; (b) an outlet; (c) a feed path extending between the inlet and outlet; and (d) a feed system that moves materials along the feed path. The systems further may include: (e) a bidirectional feed path extending from the feed path; (f) a supply system that moves materials to the feed path; (g) a bidirectional drive system that moves materials along the bidirectional feed path; and/or (h) a bidirectional feed path access control system. Drive systems may be provided for driving the feed system and at least one of the supply system, the bidirectional drive system, and/or the access control system such that operation of the feed system is independent of operation of the other systems and/or such that a single motor may be used to drive any or all of the systems.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2006Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshitaka Iwago, Ryoichi Matsushima, Yoichi Horaguchi
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Patent number: 7887054Abstract: A sheet transport direction switching device includes: a rotary guide member having a single guide passage for passing a sheet to be transported, and a support shaft extending in a direction orthogonal to a transport direction of the sheet; and a posture changing mechanism for changing the posture of the rotary guide member. The rotary guide member is operable to change the posture thereof by pivotal movement about an axis of the support shaft so that an exit of the guide passage faces one of at least two discharge destinations. The posture changing mechanism has a stepping motor for pivotally moving the rotary guide member about the axis of the support shaft.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2009Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignee: Kyocera Mita CorporationInventors: Hironori Daigo, Chisato Hatakeyama, Hiroshi Inui
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Patent number: 7885596Abstract: A document feeder includes a document feed unit that feeds a document along a document feed path extending from a document loading section to a document output section via a scanning position. The document feed unit includes a first feed roller pair nipping and feeding a document opposed to the scanning position at a position downstream in a feed direction from the scanning position, and a second feed roller pair nipping and feeding the document fed by the first feed roller pair at a document feed speed higher than that of the first feed roller pair at a position downstream in the feed direction from the first feed roller pair.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2006Date of Patent: February 8, 2011Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshitaka Iwago, Ryoichi Matsushima, Yoichi Horaguchi
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Patent number: 7869755Abstract: An automatic document feeder, for transferring a document through a scanning position three times, includes: a first transfer mechanism to reverse a given document via a reversing path, and transfer the same to a scanning position; a second transfer mechanism to transfer the given document from the scanning position to one of a switchback path and a document discharging part; a switchback mechanism to transfer the given document to a lay-by on the switchback path, and then transfer the given document towards the reversing path via a re-entry path; and a control unit to control the mechanisms so that a second original document passes through the scanning position a first time before a first original document passes through the scanning position a third time, and to pause travel of the second original document at the lay-by as the first original document is passed through the scanning position a third time.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2007Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Motoya Sano, Hideki Tobinaga, Takashi Fujii, Yasuo Kosuga, Shinya Kitaoka, Tatsuaki Nagano, Norio Kimura
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Patent number: 7793927Abstract: A sheet-feeding apparatus having simple structure and capable of single-face/double-face scanning/printing sheets at high sheet-feeding efficiency. The sheet-feeding apparatus includes a sheet-feeding path in which sheets can pass through a scanning module and/or a printing module. The sheet-feeding path includes a first passage, a second passage communicating with the first passage and a subsidiary passage formed between the first and second passages. The sheets are selectively fed into and delivered through the first passage, the second passage or the subsidiary passage to be single-face/double-face scanned/printed.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2008Date of Patent: September 14, 2010Assignee: Kinpo Electronics, Inc.Inventor: Yen-Chun Lin
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Patent number: 7789388Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus according to the invention includes a first conveying path; a sheet reverse conveying portion; a second conveying path; a third conveying path; and a movable guide portion configured to guide the conveyed sheet. The guide portion is moved to a position where the sheet can pass when the sheet is guided from the first conveying path to the second conveying path, and the guide portion is moved to a position where the guide portion guides the sheet to the third conveying path while blocking between the first and second conveying paths such that the sheet can not intrude from the second conveying path into the first conveying path when the sheet conveyed by the sheet reverse conveying portion is conveyed in the second direction.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2007Date of Patent: September 7, 2010Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hideyuki Matsubara, Fumiki Inui, Kazuhide Kudo
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Patent number: 7748711Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first sheet conveying passage that conveys a sheet through an image forming section. A sheet-discharging roller is on an outlet side of the first sheet conveying passage and can rotate in opposite directions. A second sheet conveying passage has an inlet connected to the first sheet conveying passage downstream from the image forming section and an outlet connected to the first sheet conveying passage upstream from the image forming section. A controller controls double-sided printing by causing the sheet-discharging roller to rotate forward to advance the sheet outside the sheet-discharging roller, and then to rotate in reverse to execute a switchback for transporting the sheet to the inlet side of the second sheet conveying passage and then to return the sheet to the upstream of the image forming section. An assisting mechanism adjusts a posture of the sheet to assist the switchback.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2008Date of Patent: July 6, 2010Assignee: Kyocera Mita CorporationInventor: Tetsuro Kawashima
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Patent number: 7722180Abstract: A liquid droplet discharge apparatus includes a conveyor belt that retains and conveys a recording medium, a liquid droplet discharge head that discharges liquid droplets onto the recording medium retained on the conveyor belt, a discharge belt that moves to a recording medium feeding position of the conveyor belt, receives the recording medium, and retains and conveys the recording medium to a discharge port; and an inversion belt that moves to the recording medium feeding position, receives and retains the recording medium, and feeds the recording medium to an inversion path. By disposing the inversion belt, the conveyance direction of the recording medium can be switched without contacting the recording surface of the recording medium, and even when two-sided printing is to be conducted at a high speed, the inversion belt does not become soiled by the liquid droplets adhering to the recording surface of the recording medium.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2006Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.Inventor: Masao Mashima
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Patent number: 7693479Abstract: A duplex image forming apparatus including a main body, a recording medium receiving unit disposed on one side of the main body to receive at least first and second recording media, a recording medium supplying unit to feed the first recording medium to a recording medium supplying path, an image forming unit to form an image on a first side of the fed first recording medium, an exiting and reversing unit to discharge the first recording medium formed with the image on the first side from the main body through a direct exiting path in an exiting mode, or to reverse a feeding direction of the first recording medium in a reversing mode, and a duplex feeding unit to resupply the image forming unit with the first recording medium, a rear end of the first recording medium and a front end of the second recording medium being overlapped, to feed the overlapped first and second recording media along the duplex feeding path, and to separate the first recording medium and the second recording medium on the duplex feediType: GrantFiled: July 17, 2006Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Seok-heon Chae
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Patent number: 7676191Abstract: A first and second printing engine are disposed with an intermediate transport belt in U-shaped arrangement. The method employs printing sheets serially on one side in the first engine inverting the sheet and transporting the sheets through about 180° change in direction without rotation. The commonality of the leading edge is thus maintained before and after inverting. The sheet is then fed to the second engine for duplex printing on the second side of the sheet. The second engine may have a media sheet input rotation for simplex printing serially with the duplex printing.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2007Date of Patent: March 9, 2010Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventor: Michael R. Furst
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Publication number: 20100052238Abstract: A sheet-feeding apparatus having simple structure and capable of single-face/double-face scanning/printing sheets at high sheet-feeding efficiency. The sheet-feeding apparatus includes a sheet-feeding path in which sheets can pass through a scanning module and/or a printing module. The sheet-feeding path includes a first passage, a second passage communicating with the first passage and a subsidiary passage formed between the first and second passages. The sheets are selectively fed into and delivered through the first passage, the second passage or the subsidiary passage to be single-face/double-face scanned/printed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2009Publication date: March 4, 2010Inventor: Yen-Chun LIN
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Patent number: 7668499Abstract: An image reading and/or reproducing apparatus, including a single sided document feeding tray and a double sided document feed tray to each supply a stack of documents to the apparatus; a document feeding unit to feed a document from a top of the stack of documents in the single sided document feeding tray, and to feed a document from a bottom of the stack of documents in the double sided document feeding tray; and an image scan unit to scan an image of the document fed from the document feeding unit. The apparatus further includes a reverse unit to position the double-sided document, fed by the document feeding unit, upstream of the image scan unit as the image scan unit completes a scanning of the image on a first side of the document such that the image scan unit may scan the image on a second side of the document. According to the above structure, reducing a time required to scan an image is possible.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2005Date of Patent: February 23, 2010Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Won-taek Kim
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Patent number: 7611145Abstract: An automatic document feeder, which is capable of feeding a document for double-sided reading, includes a document feed path connecting an input tray and an output tray, a bidirectional feed path connected to a connection position of the document feed path, a bypass diverged from a branch position of the document feed path and connected to the connection position, a guide flap that changes a position thereof between a first guide position and a second guide position, and a guide flap that changes a position thereof between a third guide position and a fourth guide position.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2006Date of Patent: November 3, 2009Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshitaka Iwago, Yoichi Horaguchi, Ryoichi Matsushima
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Patent number: 7607658Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a sheet conveyance path, a first conveyance mechanism located upstream in the sheet conveyance path, and a first drive mechanism configured to drive the first conveyance mechanism. The apparatus further includes a second conveyance mechanism located downstream in the sheet conveyance path, a second drive mechanism configured to drive the second conveyance mechanism, a first intermediate conveyance mechanism located between the first and second conveyance mechanisms in the sheet conveyance path, and a first drive transmission mechanism configured to intermittently transmit drive force from the first drive mechanism to the first intermediate conveyance mechanism. The sheet conveyance apparatus can be provided in an image forming apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2006Date of Patent: October 27, 2009Assignee: Ricoh Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hiroshi Fujiwara
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Patent number: 7591603Abstract: Method for printing pages within a booklet to improve the appearance of images on opposing pages includes sequencing images such that opposing pages are printed with the same print engine and/or fused the same number of times. Booklets include opposing pages having images fused the same number of times and/or printed with the same print engine as the image on the opposing page.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2007Date of Patent: September 22, 2009Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Robert M. Lofthus, Thomas M. Baretsky, Dusan Lysy
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Patent number: 7566053Abstract: A printing system is provided comprising a marking engine and an inverter. The inverter includes an entrance path having a first reversing inverter drive nip system and a second reversing drive nip system. The printing system further includes a marking path and a duplex path whereby a plurality of media sheets move through the entrance path, the marking path and the duplex path in a first order sequence. The plurality of media sheets return to the entrance path wherein the plurality of media sheets are inverted and moved again through the marking path in a second order sequence.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2005Date of Patent: July 28, 2009Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Barry Paul Mandel, Michael F. Leo, Injae Choi
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Patent number: 7564600Abstract: The image reading apparatus of this invention moves the discharge guide to lead documents after passing the contact glass to the discharge tray in order to cope with different functions to improve image reading accuracy demanded for the image reading and to increase stacking capacity of the discharge tray easily. The image reading accuracy is improved when the width of documents to contact the contact glass surface is made wide by making the tilt angle of the discharge guide small to get the documents parallel to the contact glass surface. The stacking capacity of the discharge tray increases when the tilt angle of the discharge guide is made large.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2004Date of Patent: July 21, 2009Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Naoki Shoji
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Patent number: 7516958Abstract: An auto document feeder includes a housing unit, spatially interconnected first and second paths, an inverting path in spatial communication with the first path, a bypass path spatially inter communicating the second path and the inverting path, a feeding roller unit for feeding documents onto the first path, first and second transfer roller units disposed respectively on the first and second paths, an ejecting roller unit aligned with the second path and the inverting path, and two switching gates disposed pivotally on the housing unit for guiding movement of the documents. The bypass path and the switching gates are internal to the ejecting roller unit so as to reduce document transportation travel.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2006Date of Patent: April 14, 2009Assignee: Asia Optical Co., Inc.Inventor: Hao Tu
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Patent number: 7481427Abstract: An automatic document feeder of the present invention is provided with a turning/discharging path in a reversing path in order to read images on both sides of documents in lengths less than the main size and discharge in a discharging tray. Further, an aligning wall is provided to bump ends of documents discharged from the turning/discharging path against it. Thus, the documents of which both sides are read are discharged in the sequentially collated state at a high-speed and the aligned state.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2005Date of Patent: January 27, 2009Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Akihito Tokutsu
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Patent number: 7416185Abstract: A printing system and method is provided incorporating inverter assemblies for not only selectively inverting media during transport through the system but also to register the media and provide a velocity buffer transport. The selective inverter assemblies include the capability to optionally deskew the media and provide lateral registration corrections. The inverter assembly nip rollers are sufficiently spaced from process drive nip rollers to decouple a document in the inverter assembly from the highway paths. The method comprises combining the inverting function selectively with registering, velocity buffering, and sequencing functions.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2005Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventor: Robert A. Clark
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Patent number: 7410163Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes: a first path through which a sheet passes; a switchback member that switches back the sheet passing through the first path and conveys the sheet; a second path through which the sheet switched back and conveyed by the switchback member passes; a guide member that can swing; and a limit member that limits the swing of the guide member. The guide member guides the sheet passing through the first path on one side of the guide member and guides the sheet passing through the second path on the other side of the guide member. A preceding sheet passing through the second path and a following sheet passing through the first path are conveyed in such a way that they pass each other and when the guide member is swung to the second path side, the swing of the guide member is limited by the limit member, whereby a predetermined path interval is secured in the second path.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2005Date of Patent: August 12, 2008Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yuji Yamanaka
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Patent number: 7400855Abstract: Embodiments of device and methods for winding media are illustrated and described.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2005Date of Patent: July 15, 2008Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Kevin Bokelman, Glenn W. Gaarder, William Wistar Rhoads
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Patent number: 7398048Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a first driven roller that forms a first nip portion with a driving roller; a second driven roller that forms a second nip portion with the driving roller at a downstream side of the first nip portion; a first transfer passage into which the sheet passed through the first nip portion and sent from the second nip portion is transferred by a forward rotation of the driving roller; a second transfer passage into which the sheet passed through the first nip portion is transferred by the forward rotation of the driving roller without passing through the second nip portion; and a third transfer passage into which the sheet is transferred by a reverse rotation of the driving roller after a rear end of the sheet has passed through the first nip portion by the forward rotation of the driving roller.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2006Date of Patent: July 8, 2008Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yoshiya Tomatsu
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Patent number: 7379678Abstract: An image forming apparatus that is capable of normally performing second side printing on a transfer material, even if the transfer material put on standby after completion of first side printing is pulled out by a user. A transfer material having image formed on its first side is fed until it is partly exposed to the outside of a printer, and is then fed to a refeeding path in the printer and further fed to a standby position prior to image formation on the second side of the transfer material. When it is detected that the transfer material caused to stop at the standby position is pulled out by a user, a warning to stop pulling out the transfer material is given to the user.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2006Date of Patent: May 27, 2008Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Eiichi Motoyama, Yoshihito Osari, Kuniyasu Kimura, Hiroaki Tomiyasu, Takahiko Yamaoka, Yuichi Yamamoto
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Publication number: 20070222144Abstract: Positioning in the width direction of a sheet is performed by a skew correcting unit which is provided on a re-conveying path for reversing the sheet and conveying it again to an image forming unit and which has a reference surface that is come into contact with a side edge of the sheet and a plurality of diagonal feed units which obliquely convey the sheet so as to be come into contact with the reference surface. The pressures in nip portions of the other diagonal feed units excluding one of the plural diagonal feed units are reduced or cancelled by a reducing/cancelling unit according to a length in the sheet conveying direction of the sheet which is conveyed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2007Publication date: September 27, 2007Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Fumiki Inui, Kazunari Nishimoto
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Patent number: 7192026Abstract: This invention relates to a duplexer, comprising; a media input nip, an auxiliary roller nip located downstream of the media input nip such that the auxiliary roller nip comprises an auxiliary drive roller that exhibits slippage so that the auxiliary roller nip maintains constant contact with a sheet of media to be duplexed, a backstop located downstream from the auxiliary roller nip, and a media output nip located adjacent to the auxiliary roller nip.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2003Date of Patent: March 20, 2007Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventor: Craig Hopper
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Patent number: 7168701Abstract: A paper-transporting apparatus is used for transporting recording paper. A paper-transporting device is movable between a loading position where the paper-transporting unit has been completely attached into a chassis and an unloading position where the paper-transporting unit has been completely drawn out of the chassis. A guide member that supports the paper-transporting device and guides the paper-transporting device between the loading position and the unloading position. The paper-transporting device has a cover and a frame that cooperate with each other to form a paper path in which a recording paper is advanced. When the paper-transporting device is at the loading position, a positioning device holds the cover at a certain position with respect to the frame. When the paper-transporting device is at the unloading position, the positioning device does not hold the cover at the certain position with respect to the frame.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2001Date of Patent: January 30, 2007Assignee: Oki Data CorporationInventors: Norihisa Isaka, Yasuyuki Kato
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Patent number: 7145164Abstract: A media routing control device and method for qualifying media for use with a sheet-fed device includes a sensor configured to detect a characteristic of a media sheet. The device further includes a usable sheet media path and an unusable sheet media path. A sheet-inverting duplexing path inverts the media sheet when necessary and a controller controls the routing of the media sheet along one of the media paths according to the detected characteristic.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2003Date of Patent: December 5, 2006Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: D. Travis Lay, Curtis Reese, Willard W. Bradburn
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Patent number: 7092111Abstract: An information processing apparatus for forming print data to be print-processed by a printer is constructed by: designation receiving means for receiving designation of a duplex printing, discriminating means for discriminating the number of pages in the case where data to be printed has been arranged on a recording paper, and command adding means for receiving the designation of the duplex printing by the designation receiving means and, in the case where it is determined by the discriminating means that the number of pages of the recording paper on which the data to be printed has been arranged is equal to an odd number, adding a command to urge a forced paper ejection in the printer lest a blank page of the last page is logically counted in the printer. A print data forming method and a print control program for realizing such an apparatus and a memory medium which stores such a program are provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2001Date of Patent: August 15, 2006Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Satoshi Nishikawa, Koji Nakagiri, Yasuo Mori
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Patent number: 7044464Abstract: An apparatus for reversing a sheet, such as a banknote, from a front face to a rear face. In the reversing apparatus a first end of a common path communicates with an exit of a first conveyance path, a second end of common path communicates with an exit of a second conveyance path, and the first end of common path communicates with a merging path. Since the merging path is immediately after the common path, no delay is caused in the timing of feeding a banknote into the next processing step, improving reversing process performance. A first reversing roller rotates based on the on or off condition of a first electromagnetic clutch and a second reversing roller rotates based on on or off condition of a second electromagnetic clutch. A banknote can be quickly and surely conveyed in the common path.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2003Date of Patent: May 16, 2006Assignee: Glory Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tatsuya Kamata, Eiki Marui, Yukihira Takahashi, Masahiko Yamasaki, Osami Katsumata, Osamu Ito
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Patent number: 7021620Abstract: An image forming method for stacking sheets in an apparatus that operates in a first mode or a second mode and includes discharging bins in which image-formed sheets are stacked. Sheets are discharged face-up in the first mode and face-down in the second mode. The method has the step of selecting the fisrt or second mode and then making different an amount of sheets stacked in the discharging bin depending on the selected mode.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2004Date of Patent: April 4, 2006Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Nobuyoshi Kakigi
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Patent number: 6947088Abstract: To implement a solid-state image pickup element in which the peripheral circuit is downsized, there is provided a solid-state image pickup element including a plurality of pixel blocks each having a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, a plurality of transfer switches each having one terminal connected to a corresponding photoelectric conversion element, a signal input portion commonly connected to the other terminal of each of the plurality of transfer switches, and an amplifier connected to the signal input portion, and a scanning circuit for outputting a scanning clock for each pixel block.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2001Date of Patent: September 20, 2005Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tetsunobu Kochi
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Patent number: 6814353Abstract: An automatic document feeder comprising a reversing device and a discharge device is disclosed. The reversing device and the discharge device are disposed such that the distance in the horizontal direction from an original document reading position in the automatic document feeder to the discharge device is longer than the distance in the horizontal direction from the original document reading position to the reversing device. This configuration allows the use of original documents whose length in the transport direction is short, and also shortens the transport path in the automatic document feeder as well as the amount of time needed to read an original document. Furthermore, this configuration increases the visibility of original documents discharged to the discharge tray by the discharge device because the discharge device is disposed relatively far away from the original document reading position.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2003Date of Patent: November 9, 2004Assignee: Kyocera Mita CorporationInventors: Masayuki Kakuta, Hiroyuki Harada, Takuya Eto
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Patent number: 6808171Abstract: A substrate inverter, comprising: an inversion channel having an input path having an input nip and output path having an output nip; input drive means for driving a substrate into the inversion channel means in an initial incoming direction so that a leading edge and trailing edge of the substrate pass by the input nip until the trailing edge of substrate reaches a first position in the inversion channel; output drive means for driving the substrate out of the inversion channel in an output direction generally opposite the initial incoming direction; the output drive means includes a nip for engaging the leading edge of the substrate when the substrate is in the first position; a Controller, responsive to the output drive means, for adjusting speed of the output drive means so that substrate is driven a first speed until the trailing edge of substrate reaches a second position in the inversion channel, and second speed when the trailing edge passes the second position or stop.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2002Date of Patent: October 26, 2004Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Daniel L. Carter, Joseph S. Vetromile, David M. Attridge
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Patent number: 6786484Abstract: Stacks of flexible sheets, such as printed slotted and scored corrugated paperboard box blanks, are inverted during travel along a sheet stacker. A plurality of sheet inverter fingers, each with a friction enhancing surface on a free end, are interdigitated between the belts of the sheet stacker. These fingers engage the leading ends of the stacks and invert the stacks during continued forward travel of the stacks.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2002Date of Patent: September 7, 2004Assignee: Sebring Container Corp.Inventor: Richard W. Smith