Automatic Document Feeder Patents (Class 399/367)
  • Patent number: 8456719
    Abstract: Disclosed are an automatic document feeder capable of moving a pickup device between a standby position and a pickup position and carrying out a document pickup operation by using a single driving source, an image reading device having the same and an image forming apparatus having the same. The automatic document feeder includes a pickup device, a lifting device and a pickup driving device. The pickup device includes a pickup roller to pick up a document sheet. The lifting device moves the pickup device between a standby position and a pickup position. The pickup driving device includes a pickup motor to rotate in a first direction and a second direction. The pickup motor drives the pickup roller by rotating in the first direction, and drives the lifting device by rotating in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jin Min Chung
  • Patent number: 8451513
    Abstract: A method and apparatus align an adjuster with an edge of media supported by a tray. The adjuster is operably coupled to a gauge that moves in response to movement of the adjuster. A sensor senses the gauge to detect a dimension of the media while the media is supported by the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Howard G. Wong, Bruce A. Axten, Steven H. Walker
  • Patent number: 8437047
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus which reads an original to generate monochrome image data, comprises a determination unit configured to determine which of a first instruction to read the original using RGB sensors or a second instruction to read the original using a BW sensor is input; a reading unit configured to read the original using the RGB sensors when the determination unit determined that the first instruction is input, and read the original using the BW sensor when the determination unit determined that the second instruction is input; and a generation unit configured to generate monochrome image data by reading the original by the reading unit using the respective sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaaki Muraishi
  • Publication number: 20130089365
    Abstract: Automatic document feeder includes a transport path member having a transport path surface configuring a transport path in a device body, a latching member that is mounted on a rotating shaft provided in the other end side, is urged in a first rotation direction latched to a latched portion, and holds the transport path member in closed transport path, and an operating member that is rotated up to an operating position by own weight thereof or urging force in a second rotation direction when the device body moves to an exposed position of the transport path member, and is mounted with allowance so that the latching member is rotated in the second rotation direction according to a further rotating operation in the second rotation direction from the operating position and the latching member is detached from the latched portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akira YAMAZAKI, Hyundeok HA, Senggyu CHO
  • Patent number: 8400685
    Abstract: An image reading device and an image forming apparatus having the same. The image reading device includes an scanning glass, a white bar arranged opposite the scanning glass, and a drive roller provided at the white bar, the drive roller being rotated upon receiving power to allow a document to pass between the scanning glass and the white bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: SAMSUNG Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jin Min Chung
  • Patent number: 8395827
    Abstract: A scanner includes a platen assembly, a sheet feeder and a scanning module. The platen assembly and the sheet feeder are combined together to form a non-linear paper path. The paper path has a scan region. The sheet feeder includes a feeding mechanism, a transporting mechanism and a discharging mechanism. The feeding mechanism feeds a document into the paper path. The transporting mechanism transports the document from the feeding mechanism to the scan region. The document is transported past the scan region in a direction substantially parallel to a scan plane in the scan region. The discharging mechanism transports the document out of the paper path from the scan region. The scanning module movably disposed in the platen assembly acquires an image of the document transported past the scan region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Avision Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Sheng, Chi-Yao Chen
  • Publication number: 20130058692
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a conveyance unit configured to convey a sheet; a printing unit configured to drive a developing device accommodating developer therein, supply the developer from the developing device to a photosensitive member having an electrostatic latent image formed thereon to thus form a developer image, and transfer the developer image onto the sheet, in accordance with the conveyance of the sheet by the conveyance unit; a first acquisition unit configured to acquire a remaining life span of the developing device based on a driving amount of the developing device; and an adjusting unit configured to adjust a distance between the sheets being conveyed by the conveyance unit based on the remaining life span of the developing device acquired by the first acquisition unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Fei CHENG
  • Patent number: 8384970
    Abstract: A document setting position on a document set tray 101 where a small-sized document is set is determined by positionally matching a near-side reference position (a position of or set in the vicinity of a user-side end of a document placement surface of the document set tray 101) and a user-side edge of the document. An output tray 114 has a window 115 made from a transparent material so as to allow a user to see a document setting position on the document set tray 101 where the user sets a small-sized document. This makes it possible to adjust a position on the document set tray 101 where a document is placed, in use of an image reading apparatus 100 in which the document set tray 101 for placing thereon a document to be read is provided below the output tray 114 for placing a read document thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 8373911
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus is provided. The image reading apparatus includes a main unit and a conveyer unit swingably coupled to the main unit via a hinge. The conveyer unit includes a lower cover with an opening, which extends orthogonally to a swing axis of the conveyer unit, and an attachable member. The attachable member includes a main part and an auxiliary part and is fixed to the lower cover by the main part and to a rotatable fixing section of the hinge by the auxiliary part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoyuki Iwata, Takeshi Takami
  • Patent number: 8363288
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a scanning device including an image sensing module, a first carrier, a second carrier and a holder. The image sensing module includes an image sensor for reading the image of an original document. The first carrier is for carrying the original document in a dynamic scanning mode. The second carrier is for carrying the original document in a static scanning mode. The holder, used for fixing the first carrier and the second carrier, includes a transitional portion disposed between the first carrier and the second carrier. There are a first distance between the image sensor and the bottom surface of the first carrier and a second distance between the image sensor and the bottom surface of the second carrier, wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance. The dual-mode design facilitates the assembly of carriers and avoids the dust entering the scanning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: QISDA (Suzhou) Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Liu-Zhi Yang, Zhi-Hai Zhang
  • Patent number: 8358448
    Abstract: A scanning device includes a transparent platen, a scanning module, a document transporting mechanism and a flexible pressing member. The scanning module is located in a scan zone and acquires through the transparent platen an image of a document. The document transporting mechanism transports the document along a passageway and across the scan zone. The flexible pressing member is disposed in the passageway, upstream of the scan zone or within the scan zone and located apart from the transparent platen by a gap. The flexible pressing member is deformed in a direction away from the transparent platen due to a force applied by the document transported across the scan zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Avision Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Sheng
  • Patent number: 8348269
    Abstract: An image scanning device includes a scanning specifying unit, at least two document detecting units, a supply timing adjusting unit, and a document supplying unit. The scanning specifying unit specifies one of at least two scanning methods each having a different transportation interval between documents. The document detecting units are at least two in number and arranged to detect a document at different positions on a transportation route. The supply timing adjusting unit is arranged to measure a transportation distance of the document after detection by the document detecting units and to generate a supply signal. The document supplying unit is arranged to supply a document from a paper feed tray based on the supply signal. The supply timing adjusting unit is arranged to generate the supply signal based on a result of detection by the document detecting unit that corresponds to the specified scanning method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Murata Machinery, Ltd.
    Inventor: Osamu Oshima
  • Patent number: 8346152
    Abstract: There is provided an automatic document feeder, comprising: a document tray; an output tray; a movable ejection flap configured to be movable between a first position where the document for which the image reading is finished is sunk into a position between the output tray and a bottom of a stacked document already staked on the output tray and a second position where the document is ejected on the output tray without being sunk into the position; a setting unit configured to set the movable flap to one of the first position and the second position; a change unit configured to change a position of the movable flap to the second position in response to a fact that a predetermined condition is satisfied in a state where the position of the movable flap has been set to the first position through the setting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryoichi Matsushima
  • Patent number: 8335024
    Abstract: An image scanning method of an image scanning device, the method including: feeding multiply fed documents in a first path and scanning, by a scanning unit of the image scanning device, a first document of the multiply fed documents; outputting the first document through an exit unit; reversely driving the exit unit after the first document is output to reversely feed a second document of the multiply fed documents in a second path, and scanning the second document; and forming images of the first document and the second document, wherein the second path is used to reversely feed the second document to an upstream side of the scanning unit, in view of a feeding direction of the multiply fed documents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hee-sang Kwon, Jae-In Lee
  • Publication number: 20120308285
    Abstract: An auto-document feeder includes plural conveying sections which have different paths to reach an image scanning section configured to scan an image on a document from a paper feeding section and which guide the document to the image scanning section, a scanning conveying section configured to alternately nip the documents one by one fed by the plural conveying sections and feed the documents in a direction of a paper discharge section through the image scanning section, a gate section which directs the documents to one of the plural conveying sections, and a detecting section configured to detect if a document is fed by the paper feeding section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicants: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Naoki Shoji, Shinji Miwa, Shoichi Taniguchi, Osamu Kitazawa, Akihito Tokutsu, Seiji Iino, Mitsunori Ishii, Takeshi Kojima, Takeshi Ito
  • Patent number: 8326204
    Abstract: An automatic document feeder and a scanner having the same are provided. The automatic document feeder can include a transport unit configured to transport a document to a scanning unit, an apparatus main body configured to hold the transport unit, a cover configured to be rotatably disposed on the apparatus main body, and a sensing unit disposed on a document transportation path to sense whether the cover is open or closed, the position of the document, or both. The automatic document feeder and the scanner having the same are configured to allow a jammed document to be ejected without having the document be damaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jung-Yun Won
  • Patent number: 8317195
    Abstract: A document imaging system includes a document transport system that transports an original document through an imaging zone in optical communication with an image recording device. A document guide directs the original document, including a leading edge at a first angle, toward the imaging zone, while a document biasing device urges a trailing edge of the original document at a second angle toward the imaging zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Richard Thomas Calhoun Bridges
  • Patent number: 8310733
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus that, in a case where the light amount of light illuminated from an image reading lamp has decreased, maintains the quality of a read image without decreasing productivity, and a method for controlling that image reading apparatus, are provided. To accomplish this, this image reading apparatus is provided with RGB line sensors that read a color image, and a monochrome line sensor that reads a monochrome image and has a faster horizontal transfer speed than the RGB line sensors. Further, this image reading apparatus reads a monochrome image using the RGB line sensors even in a monochrome mode in a case where the light amount of the lamp for illuminating an original decreases and so an output level for reading an image with good quality cannot be obtained from the monochrome line sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuo Sekiguchi, Shigemichi Hamano, Kenji Morita, Akiko Kanno, Satoshi Seki
  • Patent number: 8305659
    Abstract: A sheet-fed double-sided document scanner is disclosed and includes a first image-capturing assembly, a second image-capturing assembly, a sheet-transporting mechanism, a power receiving interface, and a control circuit. The scanner switches scanning modes according to a power input. The sheet-transporting mechanism transports a document past the first image-capturing assembly and the second image-capturing assembly. The power receiving interface receives power. When a power level of the received power is less than a default threshold level, the control circuit controls the scanner to scan a first side and a second side of the document in a first mode. When the power level of the received power reaches the default threshold level, the control circuit controls the scanner to scan the first side and the second side of the document in a second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Avision Inc.
    Inventor: Yen-Cheng Chen
  • Patent number: 8302952
    Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a first feeding member that feeds a sheet along a predetermined feeding path, and a second feeding member that further feeds the sheet along the feeding path. The second feeding member is provided on a downstream side of the first feeding member along the feeding path. A sheet guide for guiding the sheet is provided between the first and second feeding members along the feeding path. The sheet feeding apparatus further includes a sheet holding member that holds the sheet against the sheet guide, and a biasing assisting member that applies a biasing force to the sheet holding member by means of the sheet which is fed between the first and second feeding members. The biasing force assists the sheet holding member to hold the sheet against the sheet guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Hiromi Kano
  • Publication number: 20120269563
    Abstract: In a transporting device that transports a sheet of paper which is transporting on a first direction, a control unit has a detection-unit-cleaning mode in which when roller members move to a second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction, to perform a correction of the positional deflection of the sheet of paper, the control unit controls the roller members to move the sheet of paper to an outside position from an image forming position and a position of the side end of the sheet of paper when the sheet of paper passes through the detection unit, and then to move the sheet of paper to the image forming position, based on the image forming position and the position of a side end of the sheet of paper, which is detected by a detection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Makoto UI
  • Patent number: 8295757
    Abstract: A document feeder includes a feed tray, a catch tray, a carrying path extending from the feed tray to the catch tray via a scanning position, a reversal path diverging from a point on the carrying path downstream relative to the scanning position and connecting to a point on the carrying path upstream relative to the scanning position, a switchback mechanism conveying a sheet back to front from the reversal path toward the scanning point, an ejection mode switching mechanism having a flap provided upstream relative to the catch tray movably relative to an ejection roller, the ejection mode switching mechanism switching an ejection mode by moving the flap between a first mode to eject the sheets on already-ejected sheets and a second mode to insert the sheets under already-ejected sheets. The flap forms part of the reversal path in the first mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryoichi Matsushima
  • Patent number: 8285172
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit an original reading unit and a guide mechanism. The image forming unit includes a sheet supply unit; a transportation roller for transporting a medium from the sheet supply unit; an image drum unit for forming a toner image on a photosensitive drum; a transfer belt unit for transferring the toner image on the photosensitive drum to the medium; a fixing device for fixing the toner image to the medium; and a stacker for placing the medium. The original reading unit includes an original stage for placing an original; a scanner unit disposed below the original stage; and a transportation unit for transporting the original to the original stage and a sheet discharge unit. The guide mechanism includes a pair of guide walls integrally formed at upper edges of the image forming unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Hideki Enomoto
  • Patent number: 8280271
    Abstract: A printing system includes an optical sensor that reads a plurality of order sheets at least selecting images to be printed and printing sheet types, a printing specifying unit that specifies the images and printing sheet types selected by the order sheets on the basis of an output from the optical sensor, a reader that reads image data of the images selected by the order sheets from a recording medium, and a printer that prints the read image data on types of printing paper which correspond to the printing sheet types selected by the order sheets, wherein after the optical sensor reads the order sheets, the printer performs batch printing based on the images and printing sheet types selected by all the order sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hideyuki Narusawa
  • Patent number: 8270041
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a reading unit configured to read an open document. The open document includes a first page including a first image and a second page including a second image. The apparatus also includes a storing unit configured to store the first page read by the reading unit as first page image data including the first image, and to store the second page read by the reading unit as second page image data including the second image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shingo Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 8265540
    Abstract: A document pressing apparatus is provided with a document pressing cover including a first lateral part and a second lateral part facing the first lateral part and openable and closable with respect to a housing fitted with a contact glass, a supporting member for supporting the document pressing cover rotatably with respect to the housing at the side of the first lateral part, a plate member connected with the document pressing cover for pressing a document against the contact glass, a first resilient member arranged at the side of the first lateral part between the plate member and the document pressing cover for exerting a pressing force to the document, and a second resilient member provided at the side of the second lateral part between the plate member and the document pressing cover for exerting a pressing force smaller than that of the first resilient member to the document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Harada
  • Patent number: 8264753
    Abstract: Disclosed are an automatic document feeder capable of moving a pickup device between a standby position and a pickup position and carrying out a document pickup operation by using a single driving source, an image reading device having the same and an image forming apparatus having the same. The automatic document feeder includes a pickup device, a lifting device and a pickup driving device. The pickup device includes a pickup roller to pick up a document sheet. The lifting device moves the pickup device between a standby position and a pickup position. The pickup driving device includes a pickup motor to rotate in a first direction and a second direction. The pickup motor drives the pickup roller by rotating in the first direction, and drives the lifting device by rotating in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: SAMSUNG Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jin Min Chung
  • Patent number: 8253986
    Abstract: An image scanner includes a transparent plate, a scanning device, a driving device, a positioning member, a light absorbing portion and a white reference portion. The transparent plate has an original placing surface. The scanning device irradiates an original with light by means of a light source and scans reflected light from the original. The driving device reciprocates the scanning device along the transparent plate. The positioning member positions the original placed on the original placing surface of the transparent plate. The light absorbing portion, which is disposed on the original placing surface side of the positioning member and at substantially a central portion of the positioning member in moving directions of the scanning device, absorbs ambient light entering to the original placing surface side of the positioning member through the transparent plate. The white reference portion is provided to the original placing surface side of the positioning member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Ikeno, Yoichi Susaki
  • Patent number: 8251363
    Abstract: An image reader is provided, which includes an intermediate feed roller that is disposed downstream relative to a separation roller on a feeding path and configured to rotate in contact with a document sheet separated and fed by the separation roller and feed the document sheet to a downstream side on the feeding path so as to restrain a variation of a tensile force applied to the document sheet, which variation may be caused when the document sheet is fed and away from the separation roller, and only a single U-turn roller that is disposed downstream relative to the intermediate feed roller on the feeding path, and configured to rotate in contact with the document sheet fed by the intermediate feed roller and feed the document sheet to a reading unit in a U-turn manner on a U-turn path curved along an outer circumferential surface of the U-turn roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Shingai
  • Patent number: 8253988
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus is configured to stop a scanning unit and a feeding unit when reading is interrupted, move a reading position of the scanning unit from a home position in a sub-scanning direction and stop it, read an original for a predetermined area including an acceleration distance while the reading position of the scanning unit is moved in a direction opposite to the sub-scanning direction, move the reading position of the scanning unit in the sub-scanning direction and return the scanning unit to the home position after the reading is finished, and activate the feeding unit to start reading the original when the reading is restarted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Inukai
  • Patent number: 8246037
    Abstract: An automatic document feeder includes a feeder casing, a pressing structure, a guiding notch, plural first guiding ribs and plural second guiding ribs. The pressing structure is disposed on a bottom part of the feeder casing. The guiding notch is formed in the pressing structure. The first guiding ribs are arranged downstream of the guiding notch. The second guiding ribs are arranged beside the first guiding ribs. The height of the first guiding rib is smaller than the height of the second guiding rib. The lower first guiding ribs are used for guiding a thicker paper. The higher second guiding ribs are used for guiding a thinner paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Primax Electronics Ltd.
    Inventors: Wen-An Huang, Chao-Min Yang, Wei-Hsun Hsu
  • Patent number: 8238783
    Abstract: A multi-function printer includes an image forming unit and a scanner unit. The image forming unit includes a body casing, a developing unit having a developing roller extending in a lateral direction, a developer cartridge provided on one side of the axis of the developing roller and detachably attached to the body casing, a discharge tray, a side cover, a support unit for supporting the developer cartridge such that the developer cartridge is detachably attached to a front side of the body casing, a sheet feeding tray detachably attachable to the front side of the body casing, and a discharge unit provided on the front side of the body casing and discharging sheet on which an image is formed to the rear side of the body casing. The scanner unit is provided above the image forming unit having a predetermined space opened on the one side therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryuya Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8237998
    Abstract: A system for processing documents having fastening devices includes a document transport system and a fastening device detecting station connected to the transport system that is adapted to detect a fastening device securing together pages of a document. The fastening device removing station is adapted to remove a fastening device securing together pages of a document. A scanning station is adapted to scan the pages of a document. A page flipping station is adapted to flip and position pages of a document to be scanned. A systems controller controls the transport system and the stations based on information provided by the fastening device detecting station for a document to be scanned, to cause such document to be processed by the fastening device removing before scanning of the document or by the page flipping station during scanning of the document to be scanned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Boris Rozenfeld, Douglas B. Quine, Richard W. Heiden, Arthur H. DePoi
  • Patent number: 8224227
    Abstract: A document feeding device comprises a document input tray, a document output tray, a feeding mechanism provided for a feeding path connecting the document input tray and the document output tray via a scanning position to feed each document from the document input tray to the scanning position and to the document output tray, a turnover mechanism provided for a turnover path connected to the feeding path to return the document after passing through the scanning position to the upstream side of the scanning position while interchanging the front end and rear end of the document, and an ejection mechanism configured so that its document ejection mode can be switched between a first ejection mode for successively ejecting each document while stacking it on documents already ejected to the document output tray and a second ejection mode for successively ejecting each document while sliding it under the already ejected documents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Shingai
  • Patent number: 8219018
    Abstract: An image generating program, a storage medium, an image processing method, and an image processing device are provided capable of carrying out very detailed image control while preventing wastage of resources. This is configured such that a area of a movement path present in a viewing frustum is calculated, then a determination is made based on the area as to whether or not moving objects are to be generated, and when it is determined that moving objects are to be generated, information of the moving objects to be generated is stored in storage means such that positions of moving objects present in the viewing frustum are renewed based on the information of the plurality of moving objects stored in the storage means and images of the plurality of moving objects are generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega
    Inventor: Fumiaki Hara
  • Patent number: 8208164
    Abstract: An image scanner might capture an image corresponding to scan region 263 which might be somewhat larger than original 262. Image processing circuitry might then enlarge an image corresponding to scan region 263 (arrow 279), converting it into enlarged image 271. Within enlarged image 271, the image of original 262 might have been enlarged so as to become image 273, which might be somewhat larger than printing paper 274. This enlarged original image 273 which would be present within enlarged image 271 might then be printed by a printer. Four-sided borderless copying is possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Junya Yada, Takashi Kato
  • Publication number: 20120155941
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an automatic document feeder (ADF) that transports a document is provided. The ADF unit includes a subtray that is openable and closable. When transporting a document, the subtray is opened and a document to be transported is fed into a space below a guide member. At this time, surfaces of the subtray and a main tray are used as a feed tray. The document that has been transported is discharged onto a guide member and is further transported onto the surface of the second tray. At this time, the surface of the second tray and the surface of the guide member are used as a discharge tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisuke KOZAKI, Takeru MORINAGA
  • Patent number: 8204431
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, when a first sheet discharger discharges a sheet bearing an image in a first direction from a proximal end to a distal end of the image forming apparatus, a post-processing device performs post-processing including at least one of stapling, punching, stamping, and sorting of the sheet discharged from the first sheet discharger. After a second sheet discharger discharges the processed sheet in a second direction opposite to the first direction in which the first sheet discharger discharges the sheet bearing the image, a sheet stacker stacks the sheet discharged from the second sheet discharger. A sheet conveyance path is provided between the first sheet discharger and the second sheet discharger. An opening is provided between the sheet stacker and an image reader so that the sheet discharged from the second sheet discharger can be retrieved from the sheet stacker in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takamasa Shiraki, Takayuki Andoh, Kohji Hatayama, Yoshihide Ohta, Masato Ogawa, Tetsuya Fujioka, Takuji Takahashi, Yasunobu Youda, Kazushige Kawamura
  • Patent number: 8203763
    Abstract: An image scanning apparatus according to the invention includes: a scanning unit configured to scan each of plural images from plural originals that are inputted; a rotation designating unit configured to designate rotation of the plural images that are scanned, so that an orientation of the plural images that are scanned coincides with a desired image orientation; a first image rotating unit configured to rotate the image that is scanned, in accordance with the designated rotation of the image; an orientation determining unit configured to determine whether the image orientation rotated by the first image rotating unit coincides with the desired image orientation or not; and a second image rotating unit configured to, for an image determined as not coinciding by the orientation determining unit, further rotate the orientation of the image so that the orientation coincides with the desired image orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shunichi Megawa, Masaaki Yasunaga
  • Patent number: 8203723
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is supplied which enables print medium to be simply taken out even if an interval between a print processing section and an image reading section is not sufficiently secured. In the image forming apparatus, an image reading section is furnished on the upside of a print processing section; an ejection opening is furnished between the image reading section and the print processing section for ejecting a medium that has been printed; a loading part is furnished between the image reading section and the print processing section and is used for loading the ejected medium. The loading part includes a body part, a movement member that is movable from the body part, and a guide section that guides the movement member to move from the body part along upward slant direction with respect to a horizontal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Keigo Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8200139
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for efficiently scanning a duplex document in which a scan unit sequentially scans both sides of a sheet of a duplex document by moving the sheet across a reader, and a reverse output unit to output the sheet after turning over the sheet. Therefore, since the sheet of a document can be fed and scanned while the second side of the previous sheet of the document is scanned, scanning time can be reduced. Particularly, the reduction in scanning time is very useful when multiple sheets of a duplex document need to be scanned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-cheol Park, Yong-kon Jo
  • Patent number: 8177225
    Abstract: An automatic document feeder of the present invention is provided with a turning/discharging path in a reversing path in order to read images on both sides of documents in lengths less than the main size and discharge in a discharging tray. Further, an aligning wall is provided to bump ends of documents discharged from the turning/discharging path against it. Thus, the documents of which both sides are read are discharged in the sequentially collated state at a high-speed and the aligned state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akihito Tokutsu
  • Patent number: 8179559
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for forming images on recording media of different sizes are provided. The image forming procedure may include reading setting information which includes the size of a substitute recording medium for each user from a memory and, when the size of the recording medium specified by the print instruction is not available, executing a print instruction by automatically changing the size of a recording medium to be used to the size of the substitute recording medium based on the setting information. Additional computer-readable storage media storing image forming procedures are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Nozomi Sawada
  • Patent number: 8179540
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided that holds counter information obtained by integrating a consumption of a consumable that depends on usage of service provided by the image forming apparatus. A log corresponding to the usage of the service is set in job log information with a synchronization flag set off. The log in the job log information, for which the synchronization flag is set off, is set on. The counter information and the job log information are output after the synchronization flag for the log having the synchronization flag set off has been set on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junichi Hiruma, Nobuyuki Tonegawa
  • Publication number: 20120114405
    Abstract: An intra discharge type image forming apparatus that uses an ADU to form an image onto both sides of a sheet and discharges the sheet on which an image has been formed to the vicinity of the center of the apparatus has: a sheet type information acquisition section 101 that acquires information concerning a bending rigidity of a sheet to be subjected to double-sided printing in the image forming apparatus as sheet type information; and a feed controller 102 that controls a sheet feed speed in a switchback feed section for sheet switchback feed and ADU based on the sheet type information acquired by the sheet type information acquisition section such that the higher the bending rigidity of a sheet, the lower the sheet feed speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicants: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Kazumasa Yasui
  • Patent number: 8154770
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus that includes an image reading part to read an image of an original, an image recording part to record the image read by the image reading part on a sheet, a sheet discharge part to discharge the sheet recorded by the image recording part from front to rear of a main body of the image forming apparatus, a sheet stack part to stack the sheet discharged by the sheet discharge part between the image reading part and the image recording part, first and second supporters provided outside the sheet stack part along a discharge direction of the sheet to form a space between the sheet stack part and the image reading part, and a lock mechanism to lock the image reading part. The image reading part slides relative to the first and second supporters in the discharge direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takamasa Shiraki, Takayuki Andoh, Takuji Takahashi, Yoshihide Ohta, Kohji Hatayama, Takashi Yokota
  • Patent number: 8134757
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a document loading tray that loads a document; a document transport path that transports the document; an image reading unit that is disposed in the document transport path and reads an image of the document; a document output tray into which the document that has been transported on the document transport path is ejected; a recording medium loading tray into which a recording medium is loaded; a recording medium transport path on which the recording medium is transported; an image recording unit that is disposed in the recording medium transport path and records an image on the recording medium; and a recording medium output tray into which the recording medium that has been transported on the recording medium transport path is output. The recording medium loading tray is disposed between the document loading tray and the document output tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoru Torimaru, Atsuyuki Kitamura
  • Patent number: 8098411
    Abstract: There is disclosed an image reading apparatus which comprises a document feeder, a reading unit, and a guide device. The document feeder includes a feeder roller and feeds a document sheet with an image thereon, along an outer circumferential surface of the feeder roller. The reading unit has a reading surface opposed to the outer circumferential surface of the feeder roller, and reads, at a reading position, the image on the document sheet being fed. The guide device has a guide surface, and is disposed to be opposed to the reading surface of the reading unit, so as to guide the document sheet along the guide surface to the reading position. The outer circumferential surface of the feeder roller, and at least an opposed portion of the guide surface at which the guide surface is opposed to the reading surface, have a substantially same color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshitaka Iwago, Takashi Ohama, Satoru Nakakita
  • Patent number: 8098399
    Abstract: A method of controlling a feed rate of a printer, and a printer employing same, wherein the printer includes a feeder motor driving a feeder mechanism and a transport motor driving a transport mechanism. The method includes receiving image data for a first item of print media in a print job, processing the image data to create printable image data, and determining an image preparation time that is a time difference between the time when the printable image data is completed and the time when the start of the image data is first received. The method then further includes determining a current feeder speed based on at least the image preparation time. Following that that determination, the method includes: (i) turning the transport motor on, and (ii) setting a speed of the feeder motor equal to the current feeder speed and thereafter turning the feeder motor on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Keith M. Smith, Gary S. Jacobson, Brad L. Davies, Elaine B. Cristiani
  • Patent number: 8086163
    Abstract: One embodiment of a sheet transport apparatus is provided with a sheet transport path for transporting a sheet in a predetermined transport direction, a reflective type optical sensor in which light irradiated from a light-emitting portion to a transported sheet is reflected and reflected light from the sheet is received by a light-receiving portion to detect a presence/absence of the sheet, an irradiated light adjustment portion that adjusts a light amount of the light-emitting portion, a non-image region locating portion that detects an image state on a sheet to locate a non-image region of the sheet, and a control portion that adjusts the light amount of the light-emitting portion by controlling the irradiated light adjustment portion based on a measured value on the non-image region located by the non-image region locating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Fuminori Miyoshi