Reverse Direction Of Sheet Movement Patents (Class 271/902)
  • Patent number: 11831826
    Abstract: A scanner includes the following. A paper support guides an original document to a supplying port. An inverting unit inverts a front and a back of the original document fed through the supplying port. A reading unit reads the original document before being inverted. A discharging unit discharges the original document after being inverted. A portion of the original document is placed on a placement plate. A pressing unit presses the original document toward the placement plate at least at a downstream end portion in a discharging direction of the original document on the placement plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yohei Miyagi
  • Patent number: 11827482
    Abstract: A medium conveying apparatus includes a pair of conveyance rollers including a first roller and a second roller facing the first roller on an upward side of the first roller, to convey a medium between the first roller and the second roller, and a pair of guides including a lower guide located on an upstream side of the pair of conveyance rollers in a medium conveying direction and an upper guide facing the lower guide, to guide the medium to the pair of conveyance rollers. The upper guide is movably located upwardly according to a conveyance of the medium and the lower guide is movably located downwardly according to the conveyance of the medium so that a space between the pair of guides is changed according to the medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: PFU LIMITED
    Inventors: Kiichiro Shimosaka, Hirotoshi Kakuda
  • Patent number: 11760595
    Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a sheet feeding roller, a following roller, a rotational speed detection part, and a control part. The rotational speed detection part is configured to detect a rotational speed of the following roller. The control part is configured to accelerate a rotation of the sheet feeding roller and to adjust a sheet interval. The control part obtains a rotational rate of the following roller to the sheet feeding roller based on the rotational speed of the following roller, obtains an actual linear velocity of the sheet based on the rotational rate of the following roller and a theoretical linear velocity of the sheet after accelerating the rotation of the sheet feeding roller, and then adjusts the sheet interval based on the actual linear velocity of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Yuichiro Tanaka, Hiroaki Takai
  • Patent number: 11719312
    Abstract: A driving force transmitting apparatus includes first and second planetary gear units and switching and urging members. The first planetary gear unit includes a first mesh gear and a first locked gear provided with first locked portions. The second planetary gear unit includes a second locked gear provided with second locked portions, and a second mesh gear meshing with the first mesh gear. The switching member includes first and second locking portions and can move to (i) a first stop position at which the first locking portion stop the first locked gear, and, urged by the urging member, (ii) a second stop position at which the second locking portion stops the second locked gear. An interval between the second locked portions in a rotational direction of the second locked gear is larger than an interval between the first locked portions in a rotational direction of the first locked gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Kai, Masaaki Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 11521453
    Abstract: A value note box (10) has a first storage compartment (44) for storing notes of value as well as at least a second storage compartment (46) for storing notes of value. Further, the value note box comprises a switch unit (48) for selectively feeding notes of value into the first storage compartment (44) or into the second storage compartment (46). A switch unit (48) comprises a switch element (50), a portion (52) of which delimits one side of the first storage compartment (44).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Wincor Nixdorf International GmbH
    Inventor: Elmar Berendes
  • Patent number: 11484162
    Abstract: A separation unit is provided for separating a web material having a web width along preformed lines of weakness. The separation unit includes at least a first shaft extending along a first longitudinal axis and at least a second shaft extending along a second longitudinal axis in parallel with the first shaft. The separation unit also includes at least one first protrusion element extending perpendicularly from the first shaft and being arranged to be rotatable about the first longitudinal axis, and at least one second protrusion element extending perpendicularly from the second shaft and being arranged to be rotatable about the second longitudinal axis. The separation unit further includes at least one contact element being arranged in biased abutment against at least one of the first and second protrusion elements in a direction perpendicular to the first or second longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: ESSITY HYGIENE AND HEALTH AKTIEBOLAG
    Inventor: Björn Larsson
  • Patent number: 11420840
    Abstract: A method for franking packages individually supplied from a stack on a conveyor line to a franking machine, such as envelopes, mailing bags, sleeves, cards, labels, printed products, or the like, which are removed at the lower side of the stack for separation and which are supplied on the upstream conveyor line to a printing mechanism of the franking machine and which, after printing of the packages, are discharged from the franking machine. The packages are supplied on the conveyor portion via a switch to the franking machine and after printing are supplied counter to the supply direction from the printing mechanism of the franking machine via the transposed switch of a depositing device which is provided therebelow for printed packages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: FRAMA AG
    Inventor: Thomas Peter Haug
  • Patent number: 10087043
    Abstract: A method includes guiding the media n a forward simplex direction by a simplex media path of a media transport assembly of the printing apparatus to position a respective side of the media across from a toner applicator to receive toner thereon and a fuser to fuse the toner thereon. The method also includes guiding the media in a forward duplex direction to the simplex media path by the duplex media path of the media transport assembly so that another side of the media is positioned towards the toner applicator to receive the toner thereon. The method also includes selectively moving the media in a reverse duplex direction opposite from the forward duplex direction to direct the media along the duplex media path to an output area outside of the media transport assembly by the control module in response to a media flushing event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Daniel S. Ellis
  • Patent number: 9022383
    Abstract: A paper sheet stacking and recycling device (5) and a paper sheet processing apparatus having same. The device comprises: a paper sheet conveying and stacking mechanism (51), located in front of a paper sheet discharging port and used for conveying the discharged paper sheets to a preset position one by one and stacking; a paper sheet discharging mechanism, located at the front end of the paper sheet conveying and stacking mechanism and used for discharging the stacked paper sheets in stack; and a paper sheet recycling mechanism (52), located at the front end of a paper sheet storage container (23) and used for recycling the stacked paper sheets in stack. A paper sheet processing apparatus having the foregoing device is capable of avoiding secondary separation of single paper sheets and more deflection after the paper sheets pass through a device for tilt correction and the like, so as to reduce the occurrence probability of faults such as blocking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: GRG Banking Equipment Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shaohai Huang, Dongbo Liu
  • Patent number: 8870182
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus, including: a sheet conveying path; a reconveying path, which is branched from the sheet conveying path; a sheet conveying portion which conveys a sheet, which is conveyed through the sheet conveying path, selectively between in a forward direction and in a reverse direction toward the reconveying path; and a control portion which controls the sheet conveying portion to temporarily convey, in the middle that the sheet conveying portion conveys a preceding sheet in the reverse direction toward the reconveying path, the preceding sheet in the forward direction together with a succeeding sheet, and thereafter convey the preceding sheet in the reverse direction toward the reconvening path and the succeeding sheet in the forward direction respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Ogata, Akira Kuroda, Yuichi Obara
  • Patent number: 8870183
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of rotary members, a conveyance belt, an image forming device, and a switchback device. The conveyance belt is looped around the plurality of rotary members so as to circulate to intermittently feed a sheet in a sheet transport direction. The image forming device is disposed opposing the conveyance belt to form an image on the sheet fed by the conveyance belt. The switchback device is disposed downstream from the image forming device in the sheet transport direction to feed the sheet having passed the image forming device to a position downstream from the conveyance belt in the sheet transport direction and switch back the sheet. When the sheet is fed by the conveyance belt and the switchback device, a drive start timing of the switchback device is delayed from a drive start timing of the conveyance belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kuniyori Takano
  • Patent number: 8833760
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a motor for driving a first rotary body and a second rotary body that rotates according to an image processing operation; a switching unit that switches a connection/disconnection of the motor and the second rotary body; and a control unit that performs: a constant-speed rotation process of rotating the motor at a first speed in the connection state; a disconnecting process of performing switching to the disconnection state during the constant-speed rotation process; a decelerating process of decelerating the motor to a second speed after the disconnecting process; and a connecting process of performing, before completion of the decelerating process, switching to the connection state when the rotating speed of the second rotary body at a timing when the decelerating process is performed is slower than that at a timing when the switching to the disconnection state is performed in the disconnecting process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Suzuki, Tetsuya Okano
  • Patent number: 8783682
    Abstract: There is provided an image recording apparatus including: a main body with first and second transporting paths, a transporting roller pair, a recording portion, a reversal roller pair, a re-transporting roller pair, a transporting motor, first and second transmission mechanisms, and a controller. The second transmission mechanism has: a sun gear, an arm, a pendulum gear, and a gear row. The second transmission mechanism is configured to change a posture between a first posture and a second posture. The controller is configured to determine a position of the sheet, determine a size of the sheet, switch the rotation of the transporting motor under certain conditions, and increase the rotation amount of the transporting motor more for the case that the size of the sheet is determined to be not less than a transport distance than for the case that it is determined to be less than the transport distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shota Iijima
  • Patent number: 8720885
    Abstract: A form conveyance device can reverse a form without pulling another form already stored in a storage unit into the conveyance path. A form conveyance device conveys a form on edge in forward and reverse directions and feeds the form into the storage unit. Such device includes a cylindrical support shaft, and a paper feed roller that is axially supported on the support shaft and can rotate in forward and reverse directions. Also included is an in-feed roller that is axially supported on the support shaft, can rotate only in the forward direction, and on the outside surface has in-feed tabs extending in the axial direction. A power transfer unit of the device is disposed between the paper feed roller and in-feed roller, and transfers drive power from the paper feed roller to the in-feed roller only when the paper feed roller rotates in the forward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shogo Mizuyama
  • Patent number: 8720888
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided that includes a turn-around mechanism, and a re-feeding unit that includes a first feeding unit having a guide curved to bulge in such a direction as to be farther from an image forming unit, the guide defining an outer side of a curved first feeding route for feeding a sheet received from the turn-around mechanism, and a second feeding unit defining a second feeding route for feeding the sheet fed via the first feeding route, the guide including a first section on a first side thereof in the width direction of the sheet, and a second section around a second side opposite to the first side thereof in the width direction, the second section being curved to bulge more than the first section in such a direction as to be farther from the image forming unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takehiro Masuda, Makoto Hattori
  • Patent number: 8695972
    Abstract: A reversing apparatus within a media path comprises an input nip moving sheets of media in a first direction, and a reversing nip positioned to receive the sheets of media from the input nip. The reversing nip stops the sheets and moves the sheets in a second direction opposite the first direction. Also included is an output nip positioned to receive the sheets of media from the reversing nip, and an actuator connected to the reversing nip. The actuator moves the reversing nip relative to a position of the input nip and the output nip, based on a characteristic of the sheets of media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Injae Choi, Joannes N. deJong, Steven R. Moore
  • Patent number: 8646776
    Abstract: A reversely-rotatable roller conveys a sheet having an image formed on its one side at a sheet conveying velocity faster than that of a conveying roller by normal rotation and then, the reversely-rotatable roller conveys the sheet to a re-conveying path by reverse rotation. The sheet conveying velocity of the reversely-rotatable roller when the reversely-rotatable roller reversely rotates is made slower than the sheet conveying velocity when the reversely-rotatable roller normally rotates so that the sheet conveying velocity of the re-conveying roller is substantially equal to or slower than the sheet conveying velocity of the conveying roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jun Agata, Kenji Matsuzaka, Kouichi Yamada, Masatoshi Takiguchi, Ryukichi Inoue, Masahiko Suzumi, Jun Asami, Sho Taguchi
  • Patent number: 8646770
    Abstract: A card substrate rotator comprises a substrate support, a rotator mechanism and a lift mechanism. The substrate support is configured to receive a card substrate and comprises a feed roller. The rotator mechanism is configured to rotate the substrate support about an axis. The lift mechanism is configured to move the substrate support and the axis in a vertical plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: HID Global Corporation
    Inventors: James R. Meier, John P. Skoglund, Anthony L. Lokken
  • Patent number: 8613443
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body. The main body includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a medium, and a media conveyance mechanism configured to convey the medium to the image forming unit. A media conveyance unit is attached to the main body and is configured to convey the medium to the media conveyance mechanism. A media retreat path is defined by opposed surfaces of the media conveyance unit and the main body which are opposed to each other. The media retreat path is configured to receive at least a part of the medium being retreated. The media retreat path inclines in a way that a height level of the media retreat path gradually becomes lower from its entrance side to its back-end side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Keigo Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8556256
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a conveyance device to convey a sheet, an image forming device disposed opposing the conveyance device, a switchback device downstream from the conveyance device to switch hack the sheet after image formation a first face of the sheet on an opposing surface of the conveyance device, a refeeding device to refeed the sheet switched back, a reverse path to guide the sheet to a non-opposing, surface of the conveyance device, reverse the sheet, and guide the sheet to the opposing surface again, a single driving source to drive the conveyance device and the switchback device, a driving assembly to transmit driving force of the driving source to the conveyance device, a clutch assembly disposed at a position other than the driving assembly to switch rotation of the switchback device between forward rotation and reverse rotation, and an activation device to activate the clutch assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoichi Ito
  • Patent number: 8528898
    Abstract: To convey a following sheet toward a discharge tray together with a preceding sheet made to wait in a buffer path, while a switch member provided at a branch portion of the path is maintained at a lower position, the following sheet conveyed from an upstream side of the branch portion toward the discharge tray is guided by a second guide face of the switch member at the lower position, made to meet the waiting sheet on a downstream side of the switch member, and conveyed toward the discharge tray in a sheet bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideki Kushida
  • Patent number: 8523175
    Abstract: A sheet transport apparatus includes a sheet transport portion that transports a sheet in a first transport direction and a second transport direction, a bending member that bends without breaking the sheet by corrugating the sheet in an orthogonal direction, and a restriction member that restricts, in a perpendicular direction, a corrugation in the sheet bent by the bending member. The restriction member is provided on an upstream side in the first transport direction of the bending member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Kobayashi, Masaharu Kimura, Kohji Aoki
  • Patent number: 8469359
    Abstract: A media actuated, media diverter mounted on a media guide positioned between the output of a simplex path and the entrance of a duplex path in an imaging device. The media diverter comprises a plate having a media guiding surface and a media contact surface along portions of the edge of the plate. The plate is received within a slot through the guide member such that in a first position the media contact surface extends into the duplex path and when in a second position the media guiding surface extends into the simplex path with the plate biasable in the first position. A media sheet fed into the duplex path contacts the media contact surface actuating the media diverter to move the plate to the second position directing a following media sheet in the simplex path to an exit of the imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventor: Glen Alan Reidhaar
  • Patent number: 8448936
    Abstract: An automatic document feeder includes a sheet input tray, a transfer channel, a sheet pick-up module, a retard roller, a thickness detecting module and a controlling unit. When the sheet pick-up module is driven, the documents placed on the sheet input tray are fed into the transfer channel. The thickness detecting module is used for detecting a thickness of the documents. The controlling unit is used for judging whether a multiple-feeding event occurs. In a case that the multiple-feeding event occurs, the sheet pick-up module is reversely rotated such that the documents are returned to the sheet input tray. When the sheet pick-up module is reversely rotated, the retard roller provides a lower frictional force, so that the documents are allowed to be returned to the sheet input tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Primax Electronics, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yung-Tai Pan, Chien-Kuo Kuan, Yi-Liang Chen, Ping-Hung Kuo
  • Patent number: 8439357
    Abstract: A paper transport device includes a transport section that transports paper on a first transport path, and reverses a transport direction to transport the paper onto a second transport path, and a detecting section that detects that the paper has arrived at the reversal position, wherein the detecting section includes a first member that is arranged on the first transport path, and changes posture thereof among a first posture, a second posture, and a third posture, a second member that changes posture thereof between a fourth posture and a fifth posture, a detector that detects whether the second member is in the fourth posture or in the fifth posture, and a joint member that couples the first member and the second member together, allows the second member to be in the fourth posture, rotates the second member to the fifth posture, and keeps the second member in the fourth posture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiichirou Arikawa, Masami Ishida, Shigeru Watanabe, Yoshiro Konishi
  • Patent number: 8430401
    Abstract: A paper deskew device for an automatic document feeder includes a transport roller assembly, a deskew roller assembly, and a power transmission mechanism. The transport roller assembly includes a first gear. The deskew roller assembly includes a second gear. Before a front edge of a paper is contacted with the deskew roller assembly, the first gear links the power transmission mechanism and the second gear, so that the transport roller assembly and the deskew roller assembly are respectively rotated in a first direction and a second direction. Once the front edge of the paper is contacted with the deskew roller assembly, the deskew roller assembly is continuously rotated in a second direction for a second direction for correcting the skew phenomenon of the paper. Afterwards, the second gear and the deskew roller assembly are driven by the first gear to be rotated in the first direction to transport the paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Primax Electronics, Ltd.
    Inventor: Ping-Hung Kuo
  • Patent number: 8391730
    Abstract: When jam occurs in one of a tandem conveyance path and bypass conveyance path, a sheet is automatically discharged from the conveyance path where no jam has occurred. A sheet retained at the upstream side with respect to a first fixing device in a sheet conveying direction is automatically discharged to the outside of an image forming apparatus by using the conveyance path where no jam has occurred. After the automatic discharging of the sheet is completed, a user is prompted to remove the jammed sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Oki Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 8376347
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a sheet feeding cassette, a printing unit, and a sheet ejection tray. A first conveyance unit feeds the recording sheet from a front side of the sheet feeding cassette and inverts and conveys it to the printing unit. A path of a switchback conveyance unit extends from the printing unit to let the recording sheet switch back after the printing in an opposite direction to that the recording sheet is conveyed to the printing unit. A front and back side inversion conveyance unit conveys the printing sheet to the sheet ejection tray with a printed surface of the printing sheet facing down. Both of the sheet feeding position on the conveyance unit and the front and back side inversion conveyance unit are arranged on the front side in the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryoh Idehara
  • Patent number: 8353511
    Abstract: A paper discharge device includes a waiting path, one side of which is connected to an input port and another side of which is connected to a discharge port. A collection path has one side connected to the waiting path through a merged portion and another side connected to a collection chamber. Conveyance mechanisms disposed along the waiting path convey a paper which was conveyed through the input port to the discharge port in a forward direction, and convey, after lapse of a given period of time after conveyance of the paper to the discharge port, the paper in a reverse direction through the merged portion to feed into the collection path. The waiting path has a downward curvature between the merged portion and the discharge port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Shuji Tozaki
  • Patent number: 8336878
    Abstract: A paper discharge device includes a waiting path having one side connected to an input port and another side connected to a discharge port, and a collection path having one side connected to the waiting path through a merged portion and another side connected to a collection chamber. Conveyance mechanisms convey a paper which was conveyed through the input port to the discharge port in a forward direction, and convey, after lapse of a given period of time after the conveyance of the paper, the paper in a reverse direction through the merged portion to feed into the collection path. An input mechanism provided in the collection path conveys the paper fed from the waiting path through the collection path into the collection chamber while sandwiching the paper between rollers to form folds across a total length of the paper along the paper conveying direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Shuji Tozaki, Takumi Seino
  • Patent number: 8333377
    Abstract: A paper ejector unit includes a paper path having a first path, a second path provided in a lower position than the first path, and a guide provided between the first and second paths and including an inclined face to restrict an upward deflection of the paper in transporting the paper forward to the exit slot. An opening is formed downward at a forward back end of the second, and a reversible transportation roller assembly is in the middle of the second path, configured to be rotated forward to transport the paper forward to the exit slot, to stop rotating to stop transporting the paper, and to be reversely rotated to withdraw the paper having been transported to the exit slot. A third path branches downward from the second path and is provided near a forward upstream side of the reversible transportation roller assembly in order to recover the paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignees: Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd., Citizen Systems Japan Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takuro Kohyama
  • Patent number: 8333374
    Abstract: A paper-feeding mechanism for a printing apparatus includes a delay engaging member and an unidirectional engaging member. The delay engaging member has a first gear and a first coupling member installed on the first gear. The first coupling member rotates relative to the first gear. The unidirectional engaging member has a third gear installed on the first coupling member. When a sheet of paper is pulled out along a first direction, the first gear rotates along a second direction that is opposite to the first direction. The first coupling member rotates along the second direction together with the first gear. The first gear stops rotating. The third gear and the first coupling member rotate along the second direction until the paper(s) caught in the printing apparatus are pulled out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Liang-Ching Su
  • Patent number: 8313100
    Abstract: A paper sheet or bill processing apparatus capable of reliably detecting a paper sheet or bill present in a traveling route. The paper sheet or bill processing apparatus includes: a motor for a paper sheet or bill conveyance mechanism which can be driven to convey a paper sheet or bill along a traveling route; a discharge sensor which detects whether or not the paper sheet or bill is present in the traveling route; and control means which carries out a redetection process to detect whether or not the paper sheet or bill is present in the traveling route again by the discharge sensor after the motor is driven if the paper sheet or bill is not detected by the discharge detection sensor in a detection process in a condition that driving of the conveyance mechanism is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventor: Takao Nireki
  • Patent number: 8297865
    Abstract: A media transport comprises: a media entrance for receiving a length of media (such as a receipt); an arcuate media store for storing the length of media in a coiled configuration; a media exit (such as a receipt aperture) through which the length of media can be presented (for example, to a customer); and a drive mechanism. The drive mechanism is operable in a first direction to drive the length of media from the entrance into the arcuate media store. The drive mechanism is also operable in a second direction to drive the length of media from the entrance through the media exit for presentation to a customer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventor: Colman McGarry
  • Patent number: 8218158
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a feeding portion that feeds an original or a recording medium, a reading portion that reads an original, and a recording portion that performs recording on a recording medium. The original or recording medium fed from the feeding portion can be selectively conveyed to the reading portion or the recording portion, thereby allowing for compactness of the apparatus as well as cost reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Kawazoe, Haruo Uchida, Nozomu Nishiberi, Yoshiaki Watanabe, Yasuyuki Asai, Mitsuru Kondo
  • Patent number: 8219020
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a sheet support is described. Using one or more configurations, the number of parts for the sheet support may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Ito
  • Patent number: 8186674
    Abstract: If a jam detecting portion detects a sheet jam, a rear end position of the jammed sheet is computed based on information, when a rear end of the jammed sheet is located within an area A1 and a length Ls of the jammed sheet in a conveying direction of the sheet is equal to or shorter than a distance L between the area A1 and an area A2, driving operations of a pre-registration roller and a registration roller are controlled so that the jammed sheet is conveyed to a downstream until a rear end of the sheet passes through a downstream end of the area A1. When Ls is longer than L, the pre-registration roller and the registration roller are controlled so that the jammed sheet is conveyed toward the upstream until the rear end of the sheet passes through an upstream end of the area A1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keiko Fujita
  • Patent number: 8177225
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akihito Tokutsu
  • Patent number: 8172225
    Abstract: A feeding device has a conveying roller that rotates in a forward direction and a reverse direction, to selectively convey a sheet in a conveying direction and a reverse conveying direction. A particular guide member is positioned on an upstream side, guides the conveyed sheet toward the conveying roller, and has a stopper that contacts an end portion of the sheet, thereby stopping movement of the sheet in the reverse conveying direction. A control unit causes the conveying roller to rotate the conveying roller in the forward direction, such that the sheet is conveyed to a predetermined position, then to rotate the conveying roller in the reverse direction, wherein the end portion of the sheet contacts the stopper while the conveying roller rotates in the reverse direction, and then to again rotate the conveying roller in the forward direction, such that the sheet is conveyed toward the conveying roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naokazu Tanahashi
  • Patent number: 8162309
    Abstract: A first convey roller conveys a sheet in a sheet conveying direction such that a leading edge of the sheet passes through a nip of a second convey roller disposed downstream from the first convey roller. The second convey roller rotates in a reverse direction by a first rotation amount corresponding to a first linear distance to convey the sheet in a direction opposite to the sheet conveying direction, such that the leading edge of the sheet is released from the nip of the second convey roller. In response to the rotation of the second convey roller in the reverse direction, the first convey roller rotates by a second rotation amount corresponding to a second linear distance in the reverse direction to convey the sheet in the direction opposite to the sheet conveying direction, such that the leading edge of the sheet contacts the nip of the second convey roller when the first convey roller has rotated by the second rotation amount and the second convey roller has rotated by the first rotation amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noriyuki Kawamata, Takashi Ohama, Wataru Sugiyama, Yuta Uchino, Tsuyoshi Ito
  • Patent number: 8152161
    Abstract: A printing device includes a first transporting mechanism driven by a first motor, a printing unit, a second transporting mechanism configured to transport the printing medium transported by first transporting mechanism and is performed image printing on a first surface thereof by the printing unit, to the first transporting mechanism. The first transporting mechanism includes first transporting rollers disposed at a position upstream of the printing unit, and further includes second transporting rollers disposed at a position downstream of the printing unit and configured to rotate in both directions. The second transporting mechanism includes third transporting rollers driven by a second motor and configured to transport the printing medium switched back by the second transporting rollers toward the first transporting rollers. A transporting force of the second transporting rollers is smaller than a transporting force of the third transporting rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Samoto, Yuji Koga
  • Patent number: 8123215
    Abstract: In a sheet aligning apparatus, a sheet is conveyed from a conveying-in path into a sheet storing section through an open end portion and the leading end of the sheet comes in with a stop member. Thereafter, when a shifting section shifts the stop member from an initial position to a first position, the sheet is shifted inversely together with the stop member and the back end of the sheet proceeds as the inversed leading end from the open end portion to a conveying-out path so that a succeeding sheet is allowed to be conveyed from the conveying-in path into the open end portion. When the sheet is shifted inversely, a shift regulating section regulates the shift of the sheet in such a way that the back end of the sheet is prevented from proceeding more than a predetermined distance due to the inertia of the shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Takanori Kanda
  • Patent number: 8087665
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes a first conveying path through which a sheet is conveyed; a reversal conveyance driving unit which drives to reversely convey the sheet conveyed through the first conveying path; a second conveying path which branches off with the first conveying path and through which the sheet reversely conveyed by the reversal conveyance driving unit is conveyed; and a movable unit which causes a branch position between the first conveying path and the second conveying path to move on a downstream side in a conveying direction of the sheet which is conveyed through the first conveying path, after a trailing end of the sheet which is conveyed through the first conveying path passes the movable unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ko Hirai
  • Patent number: 8066278
    Abstract: In the state that a preceding sheet awaits at an awaiting position, a pair of conveying rollers are separated from each other, and the front end of a subsequent sheet sent out from a main conveying path passes the gap between the pair of conveying rollers. Based on a configuration that the distance from the trailing end of the subsequent sheet in the conveying direction to the pair of conveying rollers becomes equal to that from the front end of the preceding sheet to the pair of conveying rollers, the preceding sheet and subsequent sheet are sandwiched by the pair of conveying rollers so as to be conveyed in a first direction, thereby making the sheets into a state that the sheets are put on each other. Thereafter, the sheets are conveyed in a second direction by the pair of conveying rollers, so as to be discharged into discharging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Sanada, Kiyoshi Morino, Tsutomu Fujiwara, Toshiharu Sekino
  • Patent number: 8047534
    Abstract: A sheet accommodating device including: a tray configured to accommodate a sheet; and a pressing member configured to press the sheet accommodated in the tray, wherein the pressing member includes a guide portion configured to guide, where the sheet accommodated in the tray is transferred, the transferred sheet toward a downstream side in a sheet transferring direction in which the sheet is transferred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Wataru Sugiyama, Takashi Ohama, Naokazu Tanahashi, Noriyuki Kawamata, Yuta Uchino
  • Patent number: 8047544
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a holding section connected to a downstream end of a main transfer path for consecutively transferring paper sheets and formed of a curved transfer path, which consecutively transfers the paper sheets led out from the main transfer path in a curved state and holds them in an overlaid state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshiharu Sekino
  • Patent number: 8047539
    Abstract: If a jam detecting portion detects a sheet jam, a rear end position of the jammed sheet is computed based on information, when a rear end of the jammed sheet is located within an area A1 and a length Ls of the jammed sheet in a conveying direction of the sheet is equal to or shorter than a distance L between the area A1 and an area A2, driving operations of a pre-registration roller and a registration roller are controlled so that the jammed sheet is conveyed to a downstream until a rear end of the sheet passes through a downstream end of the area A1. When Ls is longer than L, the pre-registration roller and the registration roller are controlled so that the jammed sheet is conveyed toward the upstream until the rear end of the sheet passes through an upstream end of the area A1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keiko Fujita
  • Patent number: 8002276
    Abstract: A sheet conveyance device includes: a first conveyance member configured to convey a sheet in a first direction; a second conveyance member configured to convey the sheet in a second direction; a guide disposed between the first conveyance member and the second conveyance member, the guide having a curved face configured to guide the sheet conveyed from the first conveyance member to the second conveyance member; and an adjustment member disposed at an inner position of the curvature of the curved face of the guide, the adjustment member being configured to swing to contact with a curved inner face of the sheet guided by the guide in accordance with a contact force applied by the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Misato Ishikawa, Yasuo Shima, Masaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7980556
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet; a discharging roller pair that discharges the sheet, on which the image is formed, onto a stacking portion with a rotation in a first direction, and conveys the sheet to a re-conveying path for conveying the sheet to the image forming unit again with a rotation in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and a skew feed correction member that is provided in the re-conveying path, and contacts against a leading edge of the sheet conveyed by the rotation in the second direction to correct skew feed of the sheet. The sheet conveying force when contacting the leading edge of the sheet against the skew feed correction member is smaller than sheet conveying force of the discharging roller pair when discharging the sheet onto the stacking portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tatsubumi Mizuno
  • Patent number: 7950655
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling reception of various kinds of paper media includes a reception unit to allow the various kinds of paper media to be received, a pick-up unit to pick up the paper media from the reception unit one sheet by one sheet, a transport unit to transport the picked up paper media, a separation control sensing unit mounted on the transport unit to sense whether the paper media is passing through a predetermined transport path, a skew sensing unit mounted on the transport unit to sense skew of the paper media, and a control unit to operate the pick-up unit when the separation control sensing unit senses the paper media passing, and to suspend a forward operation of the transport unit and operate the transport unit backwards when the skew sensing unit senses the skew of the paper media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Nautilus Hyosung Inc.
    Inventors: Chang Ho Park, Jin Yong Hwang