Malfunction Detection Responsive Patents (Class 399/18)
  • Patent number: 11770487
    Abstract: A reading device includes an illuminator, an imaging device, a memory, and a detector. The illuminator illuminates an object to be read with light in an invisible wavelength range. The imaging device captures an image of the light reflected from the object to be read, within the invisible wavelength range. The memory holds a reference value of the object to be read. The detector detects a state of the object to be read, based on a difference between a level of a reading value of an invisible image captured within the invisible wavelength range and a level of the reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuki Ishikura, Masamoto Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 11345558
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device includable in an image forming apparatus that uses a method of conveying a conveyance target medium and a method of forming an image, includes a position detector, a position adjuster, and circuitry. The position detector is configured to detect a position of a conveyance target medium. Based on a detection of the position of the conveyance target medium by the position detector, the position adjuster moves in at least one of a width direction of the conveyance target medium and a rotation direction of the conveyance target medium within a plane of conveyance of the conveyance target medium and repeatedly adjusts the position of the conveyance target medium while conveying the conveyance target medium. The circuitry changes a conveying speed of the conveyance target medium, according to a change of the position of the conveyance target medium after adjusted by the position adjuster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Egawa, Yuichiro Maeyama, Motoharu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11307057
    Abstract: In a robot including a motor and an encoder for detecting the rotational position of the motor, the controller outputs a speed command indicating the rotational position of the motor and sends commanded-position information indicating the rotational position of the motor according to the speed command to a safety unit for detecting a fault in the encoder. When the controller is holding modified point-of-origin information of the motor and the safety unit is holding the original point-of-origin information, the controller sends commanded-position information generated based on the original point-of-origin information to the safety unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Kinugasa
  • Patent number: 11194278
    Abstract: After outputting a first start signal for causing an image forming unit to start formation of an image for a first side of an i-th sheet, a controller causes a feeding member to start feeding of the i-th sheet, and determines whether or not the i-th sheet has already been detected by a detector. In a case where the i-th sheet has been detected before a predetermined time has elapsed, the controller outputs a second start signal for causing the image forming unit to start formation of an image for second side of an (i?1)th sheet. In a case where the i-th sheet has not been detected before the predetermined time has elapsed, the controller outputs the second start signal after the i-th sheet is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noriaki Matsui
  • Patent number: 11188012
    Abstract: With stoppage of recording material feeding including a first belt and a second belt (YES in S1), a controller causes cooling operation for the recording material by a cooling fan and a belt fan to continue without stop (S4). By continuing the cooling operation of a recording material cooling device, even if the recording material stagnates in the recording material cooling device in a state of being nipped by the first belt and the second belt, the temperature of the recording material can be lowered. Then, the toner on the recording material is cooled, the toner on the recording material is unlikely to adhere to the first belt or to the second belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazunari Hatazaki, Hironobu Konno
  • Patent number: 11148892
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a position detector configured to detect a position of a side end portion of a conveyance target medium, a position adjuster configured to move in at least one of a width direction of the conveyance target medium and a rotation direction of the conveyance target medium within a plane of sheet conveyance, while conveying the conveyance target medium, and adjust a position of the conveyance target medium, according to the position of the side end portion of the conveyance target medium detected by the position detector, a transfer rotary body disposed downstream from the position adjuster in a sheet conveying direction and having a receiver mounted on the rotary body to receive the conveyance target medium, and circuitry configured to change a rotation speed of the transfer rotary body according to the position of the conveyance target medium after adjusted by the position adjuster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Egawa, Yuichiro Maeyama, Motoharu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11003122
    Abstract: A printer including a transport path; a transport mechanism that is disposed in the transport path and transports the medium in a transporting direction caused when printing is executed by a recording section; a discharge-side transport path that forms a part of a downstream side in the transporting direction from the recording section in the transport path and is movable to a position close to the transport mechanism and a position separated from the transport mechanism; and a control section that controls the recording section and the transport mechanism. In a state where a transport failure of the medium occurs in the transport path, in a case where a predetermined condition is satisfied, the control section executes an additional transport process of discharging the medium to the discharge-side transport path by transporting the medium in the transporting direction by a predetermined amount by the transport mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichi Segawa, Tetsuji Takeishi, Shota Hiramatsu, Masanori Nakata
  • Patent number: 10990054
    Abstract: An energization controlling portion selectively controls energization of a plurality of heat generating elements so that electric power to be supplied to the heat generating elements to heat a non-image heating region, through which an image formed on a recording material does not pass, among a plurality of heating regions of an image heating portion, is smaller than electric power to be supplied to the heat generating elements to heat an image heating region, through which the image passes, among the plurality of heating regions. When an abnormality detecting portion detects an abnormality in an image forming apparatus, the energization controlling portion increases the electric power to be supplied to the heat generating elements to heat the non-image heating region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Atsunobu Mori
  • Patent number: 10983467
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus detects an attribute of paper for each sheet of paper. A post-process apparatus performs a post-process for each group of paper including a designated number of sheets of paper. A controller of the image forming apparatus determines for each sheet of paper, whether or not a designated post-process is prohibited based on prohibition rule data which defines permission and prohibition of the post-process in accordance with the attribute of paper for each type of post-process and the detected attribute of paper. When the controller determines that the designated post-process is prohibited, the controller determines whether or not a sheet of paper which resulted in determination as prohibition is a sheet of paper intermediate between the first sheet of paper and the last sheet of paper in the group of paper, and has an image forming system perform a process in accordance with a result of determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Hideki Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 10956094
    Abstract: The disclosure discloses methods and systems for assisting users via interactive voice-based job-related instructions. The method includes receiving a job having one or more attributes. A call from a mobile device of the user is received and a connection is established between the mobile device and a multi-function device. It is then checked whether the mobile device is a registered mobile device. Based on the check, an interactive voice response unit is automatically activated over the established the call. Then, one or more voice-based instructions are sent to change at least one attribute related to the job. Based on the voice-based instructions, an input key submitted through the mobile device is received to change the at least one attribute. The at least one attribute is changed at the multi-function device in real-time. Finally, the job is printed in accordance with the at least one changed attribute and remaining attributes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Sathish Kumar Annamalai Thangaraj, Brindha Brammanayagam, Purushothaman Jayakumar
  • Patent number: 10795750
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a novel architecture for debugging devices. This architecture includes numerous devices that without user intervention automatically detect and report bug events to a set of servers that aggregate and process the bug events. When a device detects a potential bug event, the device in some embodiments generates a description of the potential bug event, and sends the generated description to the server set through a network. In addition to generating such a description, the device in some embodiments directs one or more of its modules to gather and store a collection of one or more data sets that are relevant to the potential bug event, in case the event has to be further analyzed by the server set. In the discussion below, the generated bug-event description is referred to as the event signature, while the gathered collection of data sets for an event is referred to as the event's data archive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Henri S. Berger, Eisuke Arai, Amit K. Vyas, David S. Choi, Franco Travostino, Abhinav Pathak, Daniel Lertpratchya, Albert Liu, Anand Ramadurai, Olivier Mardinian, Vividh Siddha
  • Patent number: 10684907
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media can be operable to facilitate automated repair analysis for client devices within a subscriber premise. A diagnostics controller may detect an error condition at a network element within a subscriber premise. When an error condition is detected, the diagnostics controller may retrieve identification information, an error code, and/or query parameters associated with the network element. The diagnostics controller may generate a query for repair analysis that includes the identification information, error code, and/or query parameters, and the diagnostics controller may output the query to an upstream server. In response, the diagnostics controller may receive a repair analysis that includes information associated with remedying the error condition. The diagnostics controller may generate and output for presentation a user interface that includes the information associated with remedying the error condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC
    Inventors: Christopher S. DelSordo, Albert F. Elcock, Charles Hardt
  • Patent number: 10488800
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming system which optimizes subsequent processes for crossing paper when a causing apparatus has stopped in the state in which paper is spanning the causing apparatus and a downstream apparatus. The image forming system conveys the paper from a first apparatus (the causing apparatus) to a second apparatus (the downstream apparatus) connected to the first apparatus. The image forming system 1 includes a conveying unit and a hardware processor. The conveying unit conveys the paper. The hardware processor determines, in a case where the paper is normally conveyed by the conveying unit across the first apparatus and the second apparatus, whether processes of the first apparatus has been completed for crossing paper which is the paper spanning the first apparatus and the second apparatus, when the first apparatus stops due to an abnormality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Satoru Shirasaka
  • Patent number: 10466639
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of preventing a job from being forcibly terminated when it is unnecessary to remove a removable unit, and thereby reducing downtime. The image forming apparatus is provided with a drawer unit as a movable unit, which can be drawn out from the apparatus, and a lock unit that can be switched between a locking state in which the drawer unit is inhibited from being drawn out and an unlocking state in which the drawer unit is allowed to be drawn out. When a jam occurs at a position outside a predetermined range in which it is necessary to draw out the drawer unit to perform jam processing, the job interrupted due to the jam is resumed after completion of jam processing without forcibly terminating the job even when the unlocking state of the lock unit is not detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takashi Kanno
  • Patent number: 10274888
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a light exposure device, a developing device, a fixing unit disposed opposite to the light exposure device relative to the developing device, a sheet supply tray disposed below the developing device, an ejection tray disposed above the developing device and having a sheet receiving surface inclined downward, relative to a horizontal direction, toward the charger, and a sheet conveying path through which a sheet is conveyed from the sheet supply tray to the ejection tray. A lowest end portion of the sheet receiving surface is disposed below an upper end of the charger in the vertical direction. The charger is disposed opposite to the developing device relative to the lowest end portion of the sheet receiving surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Borther Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Masahito Saeki
  • Patent number: 10156844
    Abstract: A server-based system provides remote configuration of client electromechanical equipment and comparative analysis of sound data obtained therefrom. The server obtains equipment identification data from an endpoint device, and determines a confidence level of a suggested equipment configuration relative to various types of equipment having associated sound data files stored in a database. For sufficient matches (confidence levels exceeding a predetermined threshold value), the server associates the equipment with a selected one of the types of equipment, and conveys at least predetermined sound inspection positions to the endpoint device. A sound detection device is applied respective to the inspection points, wherein analog sound signals are collected from the equipment and converted into digital sound data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Discovery Sound Technology, LLC
    Inventors: John Jenkins, Jonathan Allan Harper
  • Patent number: 10137710
    Abstract: A printer which transports a sheet of paper from a paper tray inserted in the printer to perform printing includes: an insertion/removal sensing unit configured to sense insertion and removal of the paper tray; a transport failure sensing unit configured to sense a transport failure of the sheet of paper; and a print control unit configured to, if, when a transport failure is sensed by the transport failure sensing unit, the print control unit determines that transport of the sheet of paper is transport performed directly after the insertion/removal sensing unit sensed insertion of the paper tray, issue a notification for prompting a user to perform an operation relating to the paper tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yuta Ichimiya, Ryuji Moriyama
  • Patent number: 10061251
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a controller, a transmitter, a receiver, and an input receiving device. Upon the controller detecting a replacement unit that needs to be replaced, the transmitter transmits, to an external device, unit information indicating the replacement unit. The receiver receives, from the external device via a network, replacement procedure information of the replacement unit detected by the controller and identification information of a worker who is to replace the replacement unit. Upon the input receiving device receiving input of identification information that matches the identification information of the worker received by the receiver, the controller shifts an operation state of the image forming apparatus from a normal power supply mode to a unit replacement mode in which power is supplied only to predetermined components of the image forming apparatus other than the replacement unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Nakachi
  • Patent number: 9973133
    Abstract: A motor control device includes a detecting unit configured to detect rotation of a motor to be controlled and output a rotation detection value related to the rotation; a drive control unit configured to perform drive control to rotate the motor at a control target value increasing with time based on the rotation detection value; and an abnormality detection unit configured to perform an abnormality detection process for detecting an abnormality in the drive control based on the rotation detection value and a predetermined threshold. The drive control unit performs control to stop rotation of the motor when the abnormality is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kiguchi, Takeo Seki, Natsuko Ishizuka, Takuya Murata
  • Patent number: 9971667
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for local collection of sound data from industrial equipment and comparative analysis of the data. A sound detection device includes transducers resiliently mounted to continuously collect sound signals perpendicular to the electromechanical device. A shrouding material situated between the transducers and the electromechanical device dampens physical vibration to the transducers to peak amplitude of ?0.3 microvolts, and returns the transducers to a zero-degree angle of reference from a mounting position of the sound detection device by means of elastic retention. Digital sound data is transmitted to a remote server, which analyzes the data wherein comparative models of baseline data are associated with an operative status of the electromechanical device. Variations between the collected data and the baseline data may be associated with failure or substandard operation of the electromechanical device, wherein alerts are accordingly generated to notify a respective client user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Discovery Sound Technology, LLC
    Inventors: John Jenkins, Howard Samson, Mike Stumpf
  • Patent number: 9944489
    Abstract: A recording medium processing apparatus includes a housing that accommodates a processing unit, which is capable of processing a recording medium, and that has an internal space a part of which is open; an internal stacker that is disposed in the internal space and that allows the recording medium to be stacked thereon; a light source that is disposed in a part of the internal stacker and that emits a light beam toward a predetermined position on the internal stacker, the light beam notifying a user of a state in which the recording medium is or is not stacked on the internal stacker; and a reflection member that is disposed in a part of the internal stacker and that reflects the light beam from the light source laterally outward from the internal stacker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiichiro Arikawa, Shiro Suzuki, Toshihiko Matsuo, Tsutomu Shiihara, Hiromitsu Tomioka, Mitsuyuki Ishida, Takahiro Ikeda, Seiji Honda
  • Patent number: 9769349
    Abstract: In a control method for a processing apparatus connected to an image reading apparatus, in a case where the processing apparatus receives a cancellation instruction while the image reading apparatus performs a reading step, the processing apparatus causes the image reading apparatus to terminate the reading step and deletes image data of a page being read, and in a case where the processing apparatus receives a cancellation instruction after the image reading apparatus has performed the reading step, the processing apparatus performs controlling processing for deleting image data that has been acquired in the last reading step and has yet to be stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yusuke Hattori
  • Patent number: 9678466
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit configured to form an image on a paper sheet; a conveying unit configured to convey the paper sheet to the image forming unit at a first conveyance speed and convey the paper sheet in the image forming unit at a second conveyance speed; a trouble detecting unit configured to detect a trouble; and a control unit configured to control the conveyance of the paper sheet in the conveying unit and the image formation on the paper sheet in the image forming unit, wherein, when the trouble detecting unit detects a trouble from the paper sheet being conveyed, and the control unit controls the conveying unit to perform a purging process to discharge a troubled paper sheet to the outside of the apparatus, the control unit controls a conveyance speed to be equal to the second conveyance speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Dan Zhu, Takuya Imai
  • Patent number: 9645519
    Abstract: A developer according to an embodiment includes a toner having a color erasable by heating and a carrier. The carrier includes a core portion and a coating portion covering at least 50% of the core portion. The coating portion includes an additive agent which suppresses an increase in electrification due to friction between the toner and the carrier. The additive agent has a white color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Sunao Takenaka, Masahiro Ikuta
  • Patent number: 9465342
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image formation section, a display section, an abnormal image information reception section, a cause specification section, and an operation control section. The abnormal image information reception section causes display of the image data at an operation section and also receives, from a user, specification of a position and a kind of an abnormal image appearing on recording paper on which an image has been formed by the image formation section. The cause specification section specifies a cause of the appearance of the abnormal image based on the position and the kind of the abnormal image received by the abnormal image information reception section. The operation control section controls a cleaning section cleaning each driving section of the image formation section to make the cleaning section perform a predefined cleaning operation in correspondence with the cause specified by the cause specification section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Mariko Fukami
  • Patent number: 9442682
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus accepts a request from a computer over a network, processes an image processing job in response to the request, generates identification information corresponding to the image processing job, transmits to the computer a response on which the identification is set, and controls the image processing job when the receiving unit has accepted a second request on which the identification information is set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takashi Osuki
  • Patent number: 9323202
    Abstract: A printing apparatus notifies a user of a message that jamming may be attributed to a protective member yet to be removed, without providing any sensor for detecting the protective member. A method for controlling a printing apparatus that conveys a sheet includes detecting sheet jamming, determining a number of discharged sheets, and notifying the user to remove the protective member present on a conveyance path if the sheet jamming is detected and the number of discharged sheets is determined to be less than a predetermined number, and notifying the user of the sheet jamming if the sheet jamming is detected and the number of discharged sheets is determined to be equal to or greater than the predetermined number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoto Akimoto
  • Patent number: 9298154
    Abstract: According to embodiments, provided is an image processing apparatus that includes an erasing unit, an operation panel, and a control unit. The erasing unit erases an image formed on a conveyed recording medium. The operation panel receives the setting of the number of the recording mediums from which the image is removed. The control unit continues the image erasing process until a value obtained by counting the number of the recording mediums conveyed to the erasing unit by including the number of the recording mediums causing a conveyance error reaches the setting number when resuming the image erasing process after stopping the image erasing process in the event of the conveyance error of the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeharu Shokai
  • Patent number: 9291980
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus (100) includes a discharge section (210), a paper receiving tray (93), a first detecting section (211), a lever (220), a second detecting section (230) and a decision section (240). The first detecting section (211) is disposed in the discharge section (210), and detects a paper jam. The second detecting section (230) detects a swinging state of the lever (220) from a first position at which the lever (220) is not in the process of receiving an action of the paper sheet to a second position. The decision section (240) judges an occurrence factor in a paper jam to be a user-induced factor when the second detecting section (230) detects a state in which the lever is at the first position in a state where the first detecting section (211) detects the paper jam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Norichika Katsura, Kohji Aoki, Masaharu Kimura, Yasuaki Fukada
  • Patent number: 9235182
    Abstract: A fixing device capable of easily detecting a wrap jam of a recording sheet without increasing costs. A fixing roller fixes a toner image on a recording medium under heating control. A central thermistor and an end thermistor detect first and second temperatures of the fixing roller in respective sheet-passing and non-sheet-passing areas. A first temperature difference-detecting circuit compares a temperature difference between the first and second detected temperatures and a first threshold and outputs a first comparison result. A second temperature difference-detecting circuit compares the temperature difference and a second threshold larger than the first threshold and outputs a second comparison result. A switching circuit selects one of the first or second comparison results according to a switching signal from a CPU, and the CPU controls heating of the fixing roller based on the selected comparison result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenji Fukushi
  • Patent number: 9165224
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus may include a scanner configured to read a document, a feeder configured to feed a sheet, a printer configured to print an image on the sheet, a processor, and memory storing instructions. The instructions, when executed by the processor, may cause the image forming apparatus to control the scanner to read the document to generate read data, determine whether the read data provides an image while the scanner is reading the document, and control the feeder to start feeding the sheet to the printer in response to determining that the read data provides the image. Determining whether the read data provides the image may include determining whether a substantially blank sheet would be printed based on the read data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kosuke Mori
  • Patent number: 9129462
    Abstract: A method for monitoring transportation of bills ensures reliable control of the transportation processes. Each bill (BN) is routed through a light barrier that has a light-sensitive sensor (S) to detect at least one edge of the bill (BN). To suppress detection of windows (W) and to detect the rear edge (HK) of the bill (BN), the signal (S0) produced by the sensor (S) is debounced. The debounce time (dT) is set based on the length of the bill (BN), to a first period (dT1) that corresponds to the expected length of the bill (BN). The debounce time (dT) is set to the first period (dT1) as soon as the signal (S0) produced by the sensor (S) indicates the first appearance of an edge, particularly the front edge (VK), of the bill (BN). The debounce time can be set to a second shorter, period (dT2) after the first period (dT1) has elapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: WINCOR NIXDORF INTERNATIONAL GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Kraemer, Stefan Moock
  • Patent number: 9116478
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for avoiding fuser jams in an image production device may include determining an entrance velocity of media entering a fuser nip during a print job, the fuser nip being the area of a fuser formed by a fuser roll meeting a pressure roll, determining an exit velocity of media exiting the fuser nip, determining a difference between the entrance velocity and the exit velocity, determining if the difference between the entrance velocity and the exit velocity exceeds a predetermined threshold, wherein if the difference between the entrance velocity and the exit velocity exceeds a predetermined threshold, retracting the pressure roll away from the fuser roll for a predetermined time period, determining if the predetermined time period has expired, wherein if the predetermined time period has expired, reposition the pressure roll to meet the fuser roll to reform the fuser nip, and resuming printing the print job.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Erwin Ruiz, Eliud Robles Flores
  • Patent number: 9036174
    Abstract: A method and system collects diagnostic data for use in diagnosing existing and potential image quality issues related to a printer. Document cover sheets and/or electronic versions of the cover sheets are routinely collected, even when there has been no reported image quality issue, to preserve a historical record of the output of the printer over an extended time period. The historical record of the images on the routinely collected cover sheets and/or electronic versions of the cover sheets include data useful in diagnosing existing and potential image quality issues related to substantive pages of the documents processed by the printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: John Hanley, Robert R. Price, David Garcia
  • Patent number: 9031423
    Abstract: A printing system includes: a printing unit that performs printing on a sheet; a conveyance mechanism that has a printing path for guiding a sheet to a printing position of the printing unit and a reverse path for reversing the sheet passing through the printing position and guiding the sheet again to the printing position; a control unit that performs double-side printing processing depending on a plurality of methods in which maximum numbers of the sheets existing in the conveyance mechanism at the same time are different from each other; and a determination unit that determines a probability of sheet jamming occurring in the conveyance mechanism. When the determination unit determines that the jamming occurrence probability is high, the control unit selects the method in which the maximum sheet number is small, and performs the double-side printing processing in accordance with the selected method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akihiro Yamada
  • Patent number: 9008523
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of distinguishing whether paper material retained in a sheet conveying path is an original or a recording material. An image forming apparatus includes an image reading unit that reads an original, a photosensitive drum that forms an image on a recording sheet, and a main motor and a double-sided-printing drive motor which convey the original and the recording sheet. Paper sheet sensors detect an occurrence of a jam of the original or the recording sheet. When a paper jam is detected, a CPU controls a display section to display a plurality of sheets retained in a conveying path, in a manner distinguishing between the original and the recording material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toru Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20150098715
    Abstract: An image forming system includes a feed section, a transport section, a toner-image forming section, a fixing section, a problem detecting section, and an additional feed section. The feed section feeds a sheet. The transport section transports the sheet fed from the feed section. The toner-image forming section forms a toner image onto the sheet transported by the transport section. The fixing section fixes the toner image formed by the toner-image forming section onto the sheet. The problem detecting section detects a problem in a sheet transport operation. The additional feed section feeds an additional sheet from the feed section toward the fixing section if the number of sheets stopped by the transport section in accordance with detection of the problem by the problem detecting section and subsequently transported toward the fixing section after the sheet transport operation is resumed is smaller than a predetermined number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomonari SAKURAI
  • Publication number: 20150093124
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising a conveyance path of recording material comprises a door, when opened, the inside of the apparatus is exposed, and an interlock circuit which detects opening/closing state of the door. The detection unit of the door is arranged on the conveyance path. At the arranged position, the image forming apparatus comprises a registration sensor for detecting presence and absence of the recording material and delivery sensor. The CPU controls pressure to the recording material S passing the fixing nip portion formed by a pair of rollers arranged on the conveyance path. Also, the CPU decides whether the recording material exists at the fixing nip portion based on the respective detection result from the registration sensor and the delivery sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventor: Kazunori Miyake
  • Patent number: 8983311
    Abstract: An image forming system includes an image forming unit configured to output image data onto a recording medium; a first conveying unit configured to convey the medium; a reading unit configured to read an image from the medium; a defect determining unit configured to determine whether the read image has a defect; a device connection determining unit configured to determine whether a discharge device is directly connected to an image inspection device at the downstream side or is connected to the image inspection device via another device at the downstream side; a second conveying unit configured to convey the medium to the discharge device on a longer conveying path, when the discharge device is directly connected to the image inspection device; a defective discharge tray to which the medium having a defective image is discharged; and a normal discharge tray to which the medium having a non-defective image is discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Masakazu Nemoto, Kenichi Kamoshida, Kazutoshi Obara, Noritaka Masuda
  • Patent number: 8971731
    Abstract: A recording material conveying device includes a stripping claw being in contact with one rotary body of a first pair of rotary bodies, and a supporting member supporting a recording material curved when a jam occurs. The supporting member includes a supporting section located more away from the stripping claw than an imaginary straight line (C) passing a nip portion of the first pair of rotary bodies and a surface on a conveying path's side of the stripping claw, and the supporting section supports the recording material curved when the jam occurs. The recording material conveying device further includes a conveyance guide that is disposed on the downstream side from the supporting member and is displaced toward a pressed direction by a pressing force acting when the curved recording material comes into contact with the conveyance guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Susumu Murakami
  • Patent number: 8960671
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a conveying path, a brushed motor, a motor drive unit, a conveying unit, a sensor, and a processor. The motor drive unit is configured to rotate and halt the brushed motor. The conveying unit is configured to convey a sheet along the conveying path by driving force of the motor. The sensor is configured to detect the sheet. The processor is configured to function as a halting unit configured to control the motor drive unit to halt the brushed motor in different methods depending on detection result of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tasuku Sugimoto
  • Publication number: 20150050034
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus which uses a printing control technique for, even when a third-party finisher whose performance is unknown is connected to the image forming apparatus, realizing a sheet-feeding judgment with consideration given to the performance of the finisher and preventing degradation of working efficiency. When an error notification is received from a post-processing apparatus, a type of a sheet discharged to the post-processing apparatus is identified. The identified type is managed as a type of a prohibited sheet prohibited from being discharged to the post-processing apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventor: Takeshi KANEDA
  • Patent number: 8953187
    Abstract: Systems and methods consistent with some embodiments presented provide methods for print resource management. In some embodiments of methods for print resource management print data comprising PDL data may be parsed to identify reusable resources in the print data. The reusable resources may be converted to a common internal format and stored. In some embodiments, reusable resources may be rendered to obtain a rendered version of the reusable resource, which may be stored. In some embodiments, the stored rendered version or a rendered form of the stored formatted version of the reusable resource may be used in a bitmap image for a page whenever the reusable resource is referenced during the creation of the bitmap image for the page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Laboratory U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventors: Darrell Eugene Bellert, Eduard G. Bauboeck
  • Patent number: 8937741
    Abstract: A multi-function printer main body has a copy function. A remote terminal conducts various kinds of copy settings or instructions to start copy. An execution button is provided in the multi-function printer main body. When the execution button is operated in normal time, copy is executed with the default settings. When copy is executed by inputting copy settings on the remote terminal side, copy can be executed again with the copy settings used for the last time by operating the execution button until a predetermined period of time passes. Therefore, in a case of executing copy with the default settings or repeatedly executing copy with the same settings as the settings used for the last time, a user's work burden can be reduced because it is sufficient for the user to operate the execution button 38.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuhisa Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8908215
    Abstract: When implementing a purge processing for collecting a retention paper sheet remaining within an image forming system so as to eject the collected retention paper sheet to a plurality of paper sheet ejecting trays of a paper sheet ejecting section, based on paper sheet information regarding a paper sheet feeding tray from which each of the retention paper sheets is fed, a control section controls the paper sheet ejecting section so as to eject the retention paper sheets onto the plurality of paper sheet ejecting trays, in such a manner that a first retention paper sheet fed from a specific paper-sheet feeding tray is ejected separately from a second retention paper sheet fed from a paper sheet feeding tray other than the specific paper-sheet feeding tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventor: Norishige Kato
  • Patent number: 8855506
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device. The fixing device includes a rotatable endless fixing member, a nip forming member arranged inside the fixing member, a pressing member in contact with the nip forming member via the fixing member, and a heating source configured to heat the fixing member. When an abnormality occurs in at least one of the fixing device and other devices included in the image forming apparatus, a rotation of the fixing member is stopped prior to stopping a rotation driving of a discharging unit and, after stopping, the fixing member is controlled to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Takamasa Hase, Masahiko Satoh, Shinichi Namekata, Kenji Ishii, Takeshi Uchitani, Tadashi Ogawa, Teppei Kawata, Arinobu Yoshiura, Kazuya Saito, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Kensuke Yamaji, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Hiromasa Takagi, Naoki Iwaya, Takuya Seshita, Takahiro Imada, Hajime Gotoh, Akira Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8827267
    Abstract: There are provided a paper conveying apparatus, a jam detection method and a computer-readable, non-transitory medium that can improve the user friendliness in the recovery processing when determining that a jam has occurred during conveyance of a paper. The paper conveying apparatus includes a sound signal generator for generating a sound signal, a sound jam detector for determining whether a jam has occurred based on the sound signal, a control module for stopping conveyance of a paper when the sound jam detector determines that the jam has occurred, a paper state detector for detecting a state of the paper, and a recovery processing module for automatically performing a recovery processing which resumes conveyance of the paper in accordance with a content of the detection of the paper state detector after stopping the conveyance of the paper by the control module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventors: Masanobu Hongo, Takayuki Umi
  • Patent number: 8801308
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a media path within a body of the printing apparatus. The media path moves sheets of media through the body of the printing apparatus. A marking engine is also within the body of the printing apparatus. The media path supplies the printing media to the marking engine. A processor is within the body of the printing apparatus. The processor is operatively connected to the marking engine, and the processor controls actions of the marking engine. Sensors are within the body of the printing apparatus. The sensors are operatively connected to the processor, and the sensors are positioned along the media path. The sensors detect locations and conditions of the sheets of media as the sheets of media travel along the media path. The sensors have a first clip shape. Further, clip connectors are located within the body of the printing apparatus. The clip connectors are connected to the sensors. Additionally, light structures are connected to the clip connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: David R. Cole, Richard G. Hubbard, David K. Halden, Kenneth G. Dixon, Anthony J. Peters
  • Patent number: 8804165
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a job management method thereof are provided. The job management method includes detecting an occurrence of an error during a processing of a job, and upon detecting the occurrence of the error, providing information about one or more jobs related with the error from among a list of jobs. As a result, it is possible to manage the jobs related with an error and more convenient job management is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun-sub Kil, Sun-young Park
  • Publication number: 20140212153
    Abstract: According to the exemplary embodiments, there is provided an image forming apparatus that has an image forming mode and an image erasing mode. The image forming apparatus has a display unit configured to perform an error display at the time of conveyance failure of a recording medium in the image forming mode and at the time of conveyance failure of the recording medium in the image erasing mode. In the image forming apparatus, the display unit changes the content of the error display at the time of conveyance failure of the recording medium in the image forming mode and at the time of conveyance failure of the recording medium in the image erasing mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicants: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Norio Tanaka