Physical Handling Patents (Class 347/104)
  • Patent number: 9039163
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, in a medium conveyance apparatus which securely supports and conveys a medium, by providing a function for applying a back tension to the medium, in a guide section which forms a guide for supporting the medium in a medium conveyance unit, it is possible to apply a back tension to the medium of which at least a portion is securely supported by the medium conveyance unit, thereby restricting the occurrence of creasing and floating when the medium is securely supported by the medium conveyance unit and maintaining the flatness of the medium which is securely supported by the medium conveyance unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuaki Yoneyama, Hiroshi Uemura
  • Patent number: 9039124
    Abstract: A printer includes a pair of input rollers, a pair of output rollers, a print head and a control section. The control section is configured to transport a print medium by rotating the input rollers and the output rollers after printing on a target region and before printing on a next target region. The control section is configured to determine, before carrying out transporting, whether a combination of the input rollers and the output rollers which pinch the print medium would change in a case where the print medium were transported from a current position to a next target position, and, in a case where there would be a change, the control section being configured to transport the print medium from the current position to the target position in a retracted state where the print head is moved to an outside of a range where the print medium passes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takafumi Ogimura, Atsushi Sumii
  • Patent number: 9039164
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head which ejects liquid toward a recording medium; a rib which projects in a direction toward the liquid ejecting head, and includes a support portion for supporting the recording medium; a detection target portion which is provided at a position lower than the support portion; a lower side portion located at a position lower than the detection target portion; a light emitting unit which irradiates the detection target portion with light rays; a light receiving unit which receives reflected light rays resulting from reflection of the light rays with which the detection target portion is irradiated, convers the received reflected light rays into photocurrent, and outputs the photocurrent as an output voltage; and a sensitivity setting unit which causes the light emitting unit to irradiate the detection target portion with light rays and sets the sensitivity of the light receiving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Osamu Hanamura
  • Patent number: 9039165
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes: a transporting roller which includes a cylindrical shaft having one joint from one end portion to the other end portion of the shaft and transports a recording medium by being driven to rotate; a driven roller which holds and transports the recording medium with the transporting roller; and a recording section which performs recording on the recording medium, in which the joint includes a plurality of protrusion sections which protrude in a direction intersecting with an axial direction of the transporting roller, in which the plurality of protrusion sections are disposed in positions which do not come into contact with both end portions of the recording medium in the axial direction of the cylindrical shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Otsuka, Sho Aruga
  • Publication number: 20150138291
    Abstract: By providing a rotating body which supports three-dimensional recording media on a support surface in a direction which intersects with a gravity direction and which has a rotating shaft in the direction which intersects with the support surface, and a recording head which carries out recording onto recording media by discharging ink in a direction which intersects with the rotating shaft, recording is carried out with high quality with respect to the recording media while firmly supporting the three-dimensional recording media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventor: Junhua ZHANG
  • Publication number: 20150138294
    Abstract: The present invention provides a medium-holding device capable of setting a suction pressure for each of various areas within a suction-holding surface, a medium-conveying device, and an inkjet recording device. In an embodiment of the invention, a cover is attached to a main body formed into a drum shape such that a surface of the cover functions as the suction-holding surface for a paper sheet. The cover has a plurality of suction apertures formed thereon from which suction apertures the paper sheet on the suction-holding surface is sucked. The suction apertures are arranged at a certain pitch. A specific suction aperture of them has a narrowing member attached thereto. The suction aperture having the narrowing member attached thereto has the suction pressure lowered. Therefore, by adjusting an arrangement of the specific suction aperture having the narrowing member attached thereto, the suction pressure can be partially controlled within the suction-holding surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Takao OZAKI
  • Publication number: 20150138292
    Abstract: A printing system includes a media transport system configured to transport a web of print media through a printing zone in a transport direction proceeding from an up-web location to a down-web location. A plurality of printheads each at least partially span the print zone along a transverse direction which is generally orthogonal to the transport direction. A media alignment detection system is positioned down-web from the media print zone generates a signal indicative of the alignment of the web of print media along the transverse direction. A transverse adjustment mechanism positioned up-web from the media print zone, the transverse adjustment mechanism is configured to enable the adjustment of the transverse position of the web of print media based upon the signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventor: Brian Keith Jones
  • Publication number: 20150138293
    Abstract: Provided are recording sections which record onto recording media which are supported on pallets, a first transport section which transports the recording media by moving the pallets in a first region which does not include recording positions according to the recording sections, and second transport section which transports the recording media with higher precision than the first transport section in a second region which includes the recording positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventor: Kunihiko MATSUHASHI
  • Patent number: 9035981
    Abstract: Device to reproduce images or graphical patterns in general on large surfaces, comprising at least a printing system (14) mobile in at least one direction with respect to a support frame (12)>> an optical viewing system (100) associated with the support frame (12) and able to recognize the position of the portion of image already executed, and to recognize possible reference signs affixed in the step when said portion of image was executed, in order to allow the correct positioning of the device so as to execute the adjacent portion of image that has to be executed next.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Inventors: Alessandro Dal Col, Carlo Tavian, Giacomo Battiston
  • Patent number: 9033488
    Abstract: An easy load media holder for label printers is configured to adapt to varying media widths and varying label printer types. The easy load media holder can comprise an inner spindle and at least two spindle walls, wherein the spindle walls can be positioned in varying positions along the inner spindle to securely center media of varying widths on the inner spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: COBRA SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew Raymond Erickson, Douglas J. Sproal
  • Patent number: 9033489
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a control unit that applies a tension to a recording medium in a first region between a rotational shaft and a driving roller using a torque applied to the rotational shaft and the driving roller, and applies a tension to the recording medium in a second region where a support member supports the recording medium using a torque applied to the driving roller and a holding unit. The control unit selectively executes an image forming mode where the head is caused to execute image forming by applying a tension to the recording medium in the second region while applying a tension to the recording medium in the first region, and a medium detaching mode where the tension in the first region is released when the recording medium is stopped, while applying a tension for detaching a medium to the recording medium in the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masashi Oba
  • Publication number: 20150130882
    Abstract: To suppress cleaning fluid from remaining on a conveyor belt and dirtying of a medium to be recorded by the cleaning fluid when applying the cleaning fluid to clean the conveyor belt. This is equipped with a conveyor belt 2 configured to support a medium to be recorded P on a support surface S and conveying it, and wiper blades 13 and 16 abuttable with the conveyor belt 2. The wiper blades 13 and 16 are more hydrophilic than the support surface S. With this configuration, it is possible to suppress the cleaning fluid from remaining on the conveyor belt and dirtying the medium to be recorded with the cleaning fluid when applying the cleaning fluid to clean the conveyor belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventor: Hirotaka ISHIZUKA
  • Patent number: 9028035
    Abstract: A printing control apparatus configured to execute printing using continuous sheets stored in a plurality of storage portions includes a determination unit configured to determine a continuous sheet usable by each print job in a print queue, and a decision unit configured to decide a use order of the continuous sheets stored in the plurality of storage portions based on a result of determination by the determination unit, wherein the decision unit decides the use order so that a continuous sheet with a smaller remaining amount is used preferentially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Seiya Fujinaga
  • Patent number: 9030715
    Abstract: A sheet conveyance device is capable of detecting a sheet length in a conveyance direction correctly, and of detecting a length of a non-standard size sheet correctly. A detection unit detects front and rear ends of a sheet conveyed with a conveyance unit. A measurement unit measures sheet length in a conveyance direction based on a detection result of the detection unit. An acquisition unit acquires a reference length of the sheet. A computation unit computes a correction value that is used to correct a length measured by the measurement unit based on length measured and the reference length acquired in a correction mode. A storage unit stores the correction value computed. A determination unit determines sheet length corrected based on the correction value and the length measured at the time of conveyance of a sheet in a mode other than correction mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hidenori Sunada
  • Patent number: 9028034
    Abstract: A printer has a mechanism to counter change in the tension of the recording medium to convey the recording medium with more precision. Such printer has a media conveyance mechanism that conveys a recording medium; a printhead that prints on the medium; a media supply mechanism that supplies the medium to the media conveyance mechanism; a movable member that can move to compensate and thus counter internal tension changes in the recording medium resulting from operation of the media conveyance and supply mechanisms; a detector that detects the movement or position of the movable member; and a control unit that controls the media supply operation based on output from the detector so that the movable member is urged back to or maintained in a home position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Norio Horaguchi
  • Publication number: 20150124034
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a removal portion that removes attached materials attached to a printing surface by coming in contact with the printing surface of a printing medium; a pressing portion that presses the printing surface with which the removal portion is in contact; and a liquid ejecting portion that performs printing by ejecting a liquid with respect to the printing surface pressed by the pressing portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Tomoki SHINODA, Kazuyuki FUJIOKA, Keiji MATSUMOTO
  • Publication number: 20150124036
    Abstract: There is provided an ink-jet recording apparatus including: a transporting roller; a driven roller provided opposite the transporting roller to sandwich the recording medium between the driven roller and the transporting roller, while moving in an approaching-departing direction based on a thickness of the recording medium; a first biasing member biasing the driven roller to the transporting roller; a platen; a recording portion configured to jet ink droplets from nozzles; and a cooperative portion moving along with the movement of the driven roller in the approaching-departing direction to move the platen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventor: Noriyuki Kawamata
  • Publication number: 20150124035
    Abstract: A movable rod member is provided that changes the shape of a medium receiver of a medium storage portion by changing the location of the movable rod member. The location of the movable rod member is changed in accordance with the condition of a medium, so as to change a method of storing the medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Onuki
  • Publication number: 20150124029
    Abstract: Image formation device having: an image formation drum (50) for rotationally conveying a recording medium while holding the recording medium; a supply means (22) for supplying the recording medium (P) to the drum; a recording head (71) for forming an image on the recording medium on the drum; and a conveyance mechanism (80) for receiving the recording medium from the drum at a reception position (m2) on the downstream side in a conveyance direction from the recording head and distributing the recording medium to a paper discharge path or an inversion path. The conveyance mechanism returns the recording medium to the drum at a return position (m9) on the downstream side in the conveyance direction from the reception position (m2) after the front and back surfaces thereof are inverted, and a drum heating means (94) for heating the surface drum is provided between the reception position and the return position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicants: KONICA MINOLTA, INC., KOMORI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toyoaki Sugaya, Mitsuru Obata, Hiroyuki Suda, Satoshi Murakami
  • Publication number: 20150124016
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling webs of print media. One embodiment is an apparatus that includes a steering frame for a continuous-forms printing system. The steering frame includes a first roller oriented to tension a web of continuous-forms print media as the web proceeds through the steering frame, and a second roller oriented to tension the web as the web proceeds through the steering frame. The steering frame also includes a first actuator configured to adjust a lateral position of the web by pivoting the first and second roller about a first axis, and a second actuator configured to adjust a direction of the web in-plane with a surface of the web by pivoting the second roller about a second axis that is coplanar with the first axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY LTD
    Inventors: Carl Bildstein, Stuart Boland, Scott Johnson, Casey Walker
  • Publication number: 20150124033
    Abstract: In one example, a media guide for use with a print bar includes a plate suspended over the print bar to guide a leading edge of print media away from printheads on the print bar during printing when the print bar is installed in a printer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Kevin Lo, Wesley R Schalk, Paul Coffin
  • Patent number: 9022551
    Abstract: A transportation device includes a transportation unit that transports a transportation target material, a supporting surface that supports the transported transportation target material, a first suction hole that opens in the supporting surface in order to suck the transportation target material which is supported by the supporting surface, a light transmission portion that is exposed in the supporting surface and through which light is permitted to pass, a detector that has a light irradiator capable of irradiating the transportation target material which is supported by the supporting surface with light through the light transmission portion and detects a transportation amount of the transportation target material based on reflected light of the light with which the light irradiator has irradiated the transportation target material, and a second suction hole that opens in the supporting surface at least one of the positions adjacent to the light transmission portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Abe, Mitsutaka Ide, Tomoya Murotani
  • Patent number: 9022549
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes: a transporting unit that transports a printing medium; a printing unit that performs a printing process on the printing medium, which is transported forward from an upstream side to a downstream side by the transporting unit, at a print position in a transport path; a cutting unit that cuts the printing medium at a cutting position on the downstream side of the print position so as to divide a part of the printing medium, on which the printing process is performed, from a non-printed part thereof on the upstream side of the part; and a removing unit that removes cutting dust. The printing unit performs the printing process on the non-printed part thereof from which the cutting dust is removed through the removing unit by transporting the printing medium backward to the print position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Keishi Sawada
  • Patent number: 9022552
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus, comprising: a liquid ejecting unit which ejects a liquid onto a medium that is transported in a transport direction; a suction mechanism for sucking the medium; a medium supporting portion in which two or more suction pores for applying a suction force of the suction mechanism to the medium are provided so as to be lined up in a width direction; and a supporting member which is configured separately from the medium supporting portion, which includes rib forming portions which form ribs that can support the medium, and which is disposed on the medium supporting portion such that the rib forming portions extend in the transport direction between two of the suction pores which are lined up in the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Ishikawa, Kenichi Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 9022512
    Abstract: A method for adjusting the processing position of at least one processing device not clamping a product web to be processed within the context of longitudinal register control in a processing machine includes arranging the at least one processing device in a web section which is delimited by two clamping points. The method further includes applying an actuating variable for adjusting the processing position to the at least one processing device within the context of feedforward control, and calculating the actuating variable for adjusting the processing position on the basis of a register deviation expected from a control action of a tensile force control device for controlling the tensile force in the web section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Schnabel, Stephan Schultze, Mario Goeb
  • Patent number: 9022556
    Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus includes a placement table on which recesses in which swelling portions of a printing target material fall are formed and the printing target material is placed, and an ink jet head that discharges ink onto a surface of the printing target material of a printing side placed on the placement table so as to execute desired printing. The swelling portions such as seams fall in the recesses on the printing target material so that the swelling portions and the ink jet head can be avoided from rubbing with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yuki Moriya, Kenji Yanagishita
  • Patent number: 9022550
    Abstract: An ink jet printer includes a liquid ejection head that forms an image on a roll paper which is transported from upstream to downstream of a transportation path, and a cutter unit that cuts the roll paper on which the image is formed by the liquid ejection head straight in the direction transverse to the transportation direction of the roll paper, wherein the cutter unit is configured to be capable of changing the cutting direction of the roll paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yutaka Nagashima
  • Patent number: 9022507
    Abstract: A transport device that includes a PF motor (that drives a PF roller which transports roll paper) and an intermediate motor (that drives an intermediate roller disposed on the upstream side of the PF roller), sets a slack removal force when transporting the roll paper so that the force applied to the paper in a direction opposite to the transport direction of the roll paper is larger as paper width of the roll paper is narrower, sets a slack removal torque as a torque to be outputted from the intermediate motor in accordance with the set slack removal force, and controls the driving of the intermediate motor to output the set slack removal torque. This makes it possible to cause the tension of the roll paper to be uniform regardless of the paper width so as to transport the roll paper precisely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Takeshi Shiode
  • Patent number: 9022554
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus, including: a liquid ejecting section that ejects a liquid at a medium; a transport mechanism that is disposed downstream of the liquid ejecting section in a transport direction of the medium and transports the medium, the transport mechanism having a driving roller that makes driving rotation, and a pair of driven rollers that are pressed against the driving roller via the medium and make driven rotation, the driven rollers being disposed with a space in a direction to cross the transport direction; and an inter-axis adjustment mechanism that is capable of adjusting an inter-axis distance between a rotation axis of the driving roller and a rotation axis of each roller of the driven rollers separately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shigeki Kato
  • Patent number: 9022555
    Abstract: There is provided an ink-jet recording apparatus including: a first transporting portion provided in a first transport path; a support member configured to support the sheet; a recording portion; a plurality of contact portions configured to come into contact with the sheet; a plurality of support ribs; a second transporting portion provided in a second transport path connected with the first transport path; and a third transporting portion configured to sandwich and transport the sheet in the first transporting direction or toward the second transport path. On the upstream side to the second transporting portion in the second transporting direction, a projecting portion is formed with the upper guide member to project toward the lower guide member below a virtual line linking a nip position of the sheet due to the third transporting portion with another nip position of the sheet due to the second transporting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Ito, Noriyuki Kawamata, Takashi Omura
  • Patent number: 9022511
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a transport unit which transports a medium with a joint portion along a transport path, a head unit which performs recording of a printing image on both the joint portion and a non-joint portion by ejecting ink onto the medium, a heating unit which dries liquid forming the printing image by heating a portion of the medium located at a heating region on the transport path, a detection unit which detects the joint portion, and a controller which controls transporting of the medium by the transport unit so that a heating time of the joint portion in the heating region becomes longer than a heating time of the non-joint portion in the heating region on the basis of a detection signal from the detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Seigo Mizutani
  • Patent number: 9022553
    Abstract: A printer has a paper feed roller and a pressure roller on the upstream side of a platen in the paper feed direction. These rollers nip the continuous paper at a nipping position. When the pressure roller bends down due to pressure from the paper feed roller, the pressure roller moves on a curved path centered on a pivot point of a paper pressing lever. The nipping position of the continuous paper therefore follows the downward movement of the paper feed roller and moves to the side away from the platen along the outside surface of the paper feed roller. The slope ? of the tangent to the nipping position therefore changes, the leading end of the continuous paper conveyed to the platen side rises, and slack in the continuous paper is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiko Yamada
  • Publication number: 20150116434
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus may include a corrugate mechanism configured to form a sheet into a corrugated shape. The inkjet recording apparatus may be configured to receive sheets of various sizes and shapes. Accordingly, in some examples, the inkjet recording apparatus may include differently configured portions to handle sheets of different sizes or shapes. According to one arrangement, the inkjet recording apparatus may be configured to receive passage of sheets of a first size through multiple ones of the differently configured portions while receiving passage of sheets of a second size though limited ones of the differently configured portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Ito, Wataru Sugiyama, Yuji Koga, Takashi Omura, Kenji Samoto
  • Publication number: 20150116397
    Abstract: A mechanism enables inkjets in a printhead to be operated to eject ink in an effort to replace ink exposed to ambient conditions with ink from within the printhead. The mechanism includes a controller configured to operate an intermediate imaging member to rotate to align a plurality of apertures with inkjets on a printhead. The inkjets are operated to eject ink through the plurality of apertures and ink from within the printhead replaces the ejected ink without impacting the formation of subsequent ink images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Folkins, David Mantell
  • Patent number: 9016851
    Abstract: A first guide includes a guiding face to support a recording medium on an upstream of a head in a conveyance direction, a recess formed on the upstream of the head in the conveyance direction, and a protrusion to protrude from the guiding face through the recess. The protrusion includes a first slope upwardly inclined from an upstream end of the protrusion toward the downstream. Atop of the protrusion is positioned on the same level as or an upper level than an upstream end of a supporter, when the supporter is at an opposing position and the protrusion protrudes from the guiding face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenji Murakami
  • Publication number: 20150109394
    Abstract: There is provided an ink-jet recording apparatus including: a platen, a contact portion disposed between a pair of first ribs of the plurality of first ribs with respect to a scanning direction. A lower end of the contact portion is located lower than each upper end of the pair of first ribs. The platen includes a second rib disposed between one first rib of the pair of first ribs and the contact portion with respect to the scanning direction, and an upper end of the second rib is located lower than the upper end of the one first rib of the pair of first ribs and higher than the lower end of the contact portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2015
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Ito, Yuji Koga
  • Publication number: 20150109393
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus including: a first convey path; a support member which supports a first recording medium, a second recording medium, and a tray; a second convey path connected to the first convey path; a first guide member partly defining the second convey path; and a posture change mechanism which changes the support member and the first guide member between (a) a first posture in which the first convey path has a height allowing the first recording medium to pass therethrough, and the second convey path has a height allowing the first recording medium to pass therethrough and (b) a second posture in which the first convey path has a height larger than the first height and allowing the second recording medium or the tray to pass therethrough, and the second convey path has a height smaller than the second height.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Iwane SANO, Yasuhira OTA, Shota IIJIMA, Naokazu TANAHASHI, Shingo ITO
  • Publication number: 20150109392
    Abstract: A medium transport device includes a medium transport pathway that inverts a medium that is supplied from a processing unit and is capable of transporting the medium to the processing unit again, a plurality of supply units that supply media, and a plurality of convergence units at which the plurality of supply units and the medium transport route converge. A transport roller is provided in each convergence unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventor: Takeshi AOKI
  • Patent number: 9010925
    Abstract: A system and method prints on a continuous web of imaging material in a printing machine. One or more inkjet printheads deposit ink on the continuous web of imaging material which is supported by rollers along a transport path. An air film device is disposed between rollers to stabilize flatness the transported web during printing. Undesirable dynamic movement of the web toward or away from the printheads resulting from fluttering, troughing or catenary sag of the web is reduced to minimize drop placement error in both cross-track and process directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Roger G. Leighton, Michael F. Leo
  • Patent number: 9010923
    Abstract: Disclosed are a sheet conveying device and an ink jet recording apparatus capable of conveying a sheet in close contact with a drum without wrinkles. In a sheet conveying mechanism which presses a pressing roller against the front surface of a sheet being conveyed by a conveying drum to bring the sheet into close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the conveying drum, a back tension application device is provided at a position immediately before the sheet enters between the conveying drum and the pressing roller. The back tension application device sucks the front surface of the sheet to apply back tension to the sheet. Therefore, it is possible to prevent slackness of the sheet which enters between the pressing roller and the conveying drum and to prevent the occurrence of wrinkles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Inoue, Takehiko Nakayama
  • Patent number: 9010926
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a recording unit which performs recording on a recording medium; and a movable body which includes a support portion that supports the recording medium and which moves along a guide shaft, in which the movable body includes a bearing which is supported by the guide shaft and is movable in an opposite direction from gravity in relation to the guide shaft, and a load center which receives the moving force for the movement and is positioned on a straight line along a movement direction, where the straight line intersects a straight line in a gravity direction which passes through a center of gravity of the movable body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yuki Moriya, Kenji Yanagishita
  • Patent number: 9010924
    Abstract: A system and method for adjusting a transport path length of a continuous web of recording media in a printing system printing duplex images. The method includes detecting alignment marks, for instance top of form (TOF) marks, on the continuous web of print media and adjusting the path length to provide substantially accurate registration of first and second images on opposite sides of the web for duplex imaging. The system to adjust path length includes idler rollers movable with respect to turnbar rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Roger G. Leighton, Michael F. Leo, Vincent M. Williams, Howard A. Mizes
  • Patent number: 9010901
    Abstract: A system and method for reducing or eliminating the amount of cockle appearing in a continuous web of print media web during periods of non-printing in an inkjet printer. The inkjet printer includes a print module ejecting ink in a printzone on the web at the location of a backer roller configured to support the web. A first and a second retractor engage the web on either side of the backer roller to apply a tension to the web supported at the backer roller. The web is retracted or pushed away from a face of the print module to substantially prevent web cockle from developing and coming into contact with the print module face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Jason Matthew LeFevre, Douglas K. Herrmann, Derek Albert Bryl
  • Publication number: 20150103127
    Abstract: Airborne ink mist is prevented from sticking to the detector part of a paper detector disposed on a carriage without using a configuration for capturing the ink mist. A printer has a conveyance path that conveys paper past the print position of a printhead; a carriage that carries the printhead; and a carriage moving mechanism that moves the carriage bidirectionally on the transverse axis of the printer. A paper detector and a shutter that opens and closes the detection part of the paper detector are disposed on the carriage. When the carriage moves to one end of the range of carriage movement, a shutter operating member disposed on a second side frame facing the carriage contacts the shutter and moves the shutter from its open position or closed position to the other position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichi Aruga, Hiroshi Yabe
  • Publication number: 20150103125
    Abstract: A system for enabling the sequential loading of a plurality of products to be printed on a printing machine. The system comprises a printer machine frame supported conveyor belt with a gantry supported printer head arranged transversely thereover. The system includes a loading system for enabling a plurality of parts to be printed, to be aligned in a print orientation at the loading end of the conveyor belt, wherein the loading system comprises a pair of spaced-apart, vertically displaceable lift members arranged across from one another at the loading and of the conveyor belt, and a product-receiving template adjustably supported between the vertically displaceable lift members at the loading end of the conveyor belt so as to enable temporary support and alignment of products on the conveyor belt to be printed, prior to their being printed by the printer head beneath the gantry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventor: Benjamin S. Adner
  • Publication number: 20150103126
    Abstract: A medium loading device includes a support unit having shaft members mounted on both end portions of a roll paper and flange member and a loading portion where the roll paper with the support unit is loaded. The loading portion includes a rotary driving portion as a driving source to rotate the roll paper, a rotation shaft to transmit torque of the rotary driving portion to the roll paper via the shaft member, and an operation portion that moves the rotation shaft between a transmission position to transmit the torque to the roll paper and a non-transmission position not to transmit the torque to the roll paper. In an axial direction of the roll paper when the roll paper is loaded into the loading portion, the operation portion is disposed between the position where the shaft member is located when the roll paper is loaded and the rotary driving portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Shoji Akatsu, Akira Mashima, Tomoya Murotani, Yoshitaka Shimada
  • Patent number: 9004671
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a conveyor to convey a recording medium in a conveyance direction; first and second applicators to respectively apply first and second liquids to the recording medium, the second applicator being disposed downstream of the first applicator. One of the first and second liquids causes coagulation or precipitation of a component of the other liquid. The conveyor comprises a first pair of rollers; a second pair of rollers; and at least one third pair of rollers. The second applicator is disposed between the first and second pair of rollers. The first pair of rollers and the at least one third pair of rollers constitute a plurality of upstream-side pairs of rollers disposed upstream of the second pair of rollers, and a distance between adjacent two of the upstream-side pairs of rollers is larger than a distance between the first and second pair of rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuji Sakano
  • Patent number: 9004672
    Abstract: A recording device includes a conveying part, a recording part, a suction part and a control part. The conveying part is configured and arranged to convey a medium. The recording part is configured and arranged to record on the medium. The suction part is configured and arranged to suction the medium on a flat surface. The control part is configured to perform a suction action by a suction part to eliminate wrinkles that form in the medium after a conveying action by the conveying part and before a recording action by the recording part, and to vary a period of the suction action by the suction part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiro Toya
  • Patent number: 8998370
    Abstract: A process of configuring a web-fed printer is disclosed. Parameters for a web of printable media used in the web-fed printer and for print density are received. The parameters are applied to determine tension of the printable media and speed of the printable media through a print engine of the web-fed printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Anthony D. Studer, Karsten N. Wilson, Ross E. Friesen
  • Patent number: 8998403
    Abstract: When tacking print media to a print media transport belt in a printer, a tack module having a pair of nips is employed to control charge migration in across the print media in order to tolerate lead edge curl while ensuring uniform printing. An upstream nip is formed by a first bias transfer roll and a first backup roll, and a downstream nip is formed by a second bias transfer roll and a second backup roll. The respective backup rolls are offset slightly upstream of the respective bias transfer rolls. Charge of opposite polarities is applied to the first backup roll and the second bias transfer roll to facilitate taking of the print media to the print media transport belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Gerald M. Fletcher, Joannes N. M. de Jong, Peter J. Knausdorf