Having Means Facilitating Interchange Of Parts Patents (Class 400/692)
  • Patent number: 11833842
    Abstract: A holding stand including: a housing having a mounting surface on which a printing device is capable of being detachably mounted and a bottom surface, the mounting surface being an inclined surface where a distance between an upstream end portion of the mounting surface and the bottom surface is greater than a distance between a downstream end portion of the mounting surface and the bottom surface; a fixed engaging member provided at the upstream end portion; a movable engaging member provided at a substantially middle portion of the mounting surface; a guide part provided on the mounting surface and configured to allow the printing device to slide thereon to guide the printing device; and an operation part capable of switching the movable engaging member from an engaging position in which the movable engaging member engages with a second engaging portion to a disengaging position in which engagement is disengaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Furuyama, Yushi Kato, Sho Asai, Takehiko Inaba
  • Patent number: 10960694
    Abstract: A user's fingertip is prevented from entering a housing while a cover is closed. A printing apparatus includes: a housing containing a printing unit therein; a cover openably attached to the housing, the cover forming a discharging opening, through which a sheet is discharged from the housing, while the cover is closed; and a protective wall portion provided inside the cover for preventing a user's fingertip inserted through the discharging opening from proceeding toward the printing unit while the cover is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoki Zaizen
  • Patent number: 10935918
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a driving source that drives a feeding portion for feeding a medium, a printing portion that performs printing on the medium, a substrate that includes a signal supplying portion for supplying a signal to the driving source and a power supplying portion for supplying power to the driving source, a shielding portion that covers the substrate, and a pair of side plates that is provided at an interval in a width direction to be connected to the shielding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Takayuki Iijima
  • Patent number: 9387694
    Abstract: A printer includes an apparatus main body including a recording head, and a duplexing unit configured to be removable with respect to the apparatus main body and forming a reverse transport path in which a sheet fed from the recording head side is reversed. The sheet width (for example, width of A4 short side) able to be transported to a region opposing the recording head through the reverse transport path is smaller than the width (for example, width of A4 long side) of the manual supply path, and in a case where the sheet on which recording is performed warps in the width direction, the extent of the warping is restricted to a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya Tamura, Narihiro Oki, Tatsuya Shirane
  • Patent number: 9351420
    Abstract: A system for manufacturing an industrial automation drive includes a carrier frame configured to hold one or more semiconductor devices for use in the industrial automation drive. The carrier frame includes a set of fasteners disposed around an internal wall of the carrier frame such that each fastener of the set of fasteners includes an angled edge and a horizontal edge. Each fastener of the set of fasteners is configured to toollessly couple a power circuit board having the semiconductor devices to the carrier frame by bending from a first position when the power circuit board is pushed against the angled edge and returning to the first position when the power circuit board is pushed past the horizontal edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Doyle F. Busse, Kevin G. Stachowiak, Kevin L. Baumann, Raymond G. Sladky, Gary R. Krenke, John C. Boetcher, Brian R. Krueger, Robert M. Michalski, Paul J. Grosskreuz, Joseph William Budill, Brian C. Frank, Martha A. Maxwell
  • Patent number: 9287724
    Abstract: Provided herein are devices, methods and other means, including those related to printers, as well as computer readable media for storing code to execute instructions for a device, and other systems for providing and supporting mobile printing and other types of devices. The circuit boards of a device can each be dedicated to different types of functionality and be installed into the device without the use of fasteners. In some embodiments, the printer's housing can include a base portion and a defining portion, where the defining portion largely defines the printer's shape, size and aesthetics and the base portion defines the printer's minimum size. Also provided herein is a removable belt clip that may be affixed to a portable printer and/or other device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: ZIH CORP.
    Inventors: Matthew D. Corvese, Roy P. Lyman, Gregory J. Klein, Patrick J. Hegarty, Michael L. Lamontagne, Ray J. LeBlanc, David F. Beck
  • Patent number: 9145010
    Abstract: Printers and printer systems for printing images on paper in different configurations and for dispensing printed paper in different directions are disclosed herein. According to an aspect, a printer includes a body defining openings. A printing unit is positioned within the body and can receive an instruction for printing an image. In a first print mode, the printing unit can print the image on the paper in a first configuration and dispense the paper in a first direction through one of the openings of the body. In the second print mode, the printing unit can print the image on the paper in a second configuration and dispense the paper in a second direction through another of the openings of the body. A sensing component can determine whether the printer is in the first print mode or the second print mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Holdings Corporation
    Inventors: Jeff D. Thomas, Brad M. Johnson, Richard H. Harris, Hye Suk Makley, Stacy Arrington, Kimberly Wood, Sharon Freedman, Alecia Ellison
  • Patent number: 9031422
    Abstract: A conveying apparatus or an image forming apparatus includes: a housing including an opening and closing member that can be opened and closed; a conveying path that conveys an object to be conveyed, at least a part of the conveying path being provided adjacent to an inner side of the opening and closing member; a first detector that detects whether the object is present in a predetermined region and outputs a detection signal corresponding to a result of the detection; and an interlocking mechanism that causes, when the opening and closing member is opened, the first detector to change at least one of a position and a structure of the first detector in mechanically association with movement of opening of the opening and closing member, and to output a detection signal which is the same as a detection signal output when the object is present in the predetermined region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naohisa Fujita
  • Patent number: 9011030
    Abstract: A platen support mechanism of a printer moves a platen unit of the printer. When moving the platen unit from a closed position to an open position, the platen support mechanism of the printer first moves the platen unit along a straight first path, and then moves the platen unit along a curved second path. A posture of the platen unit is held constant during this time by a six joint linkage mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsugo Ishida
  • Patent number: 8979407
    Abstract: A platen assembly for a printer comprised of a platen roller assembly and a housing assembly that is structured to rotatably support the platen roller assembly. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a platen roller assembly comprising a platen roller defining first and second ends; a locking pin extending from at least one of the first and second ends of the platen roller; a housing assembly adapted to rotatably support the platen roller; and a drive assembly structured to rotatably engage the locking pin extending from one end of the platen roller. In this regard, the present invention provides a platen roller assembly that is simple, easily alignable, and readily replaceable by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: ZIH Corp.
    Inventors: James K. Butzen, Jake Myre, Mark Urban
  • Patent number: 8965266
    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: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Yamazaki, Hyundeok Ha, Senggyu Cho
  • Patent number: 8934810
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus is provided with: a replaceable image forming structure body including elements for image formation; a recording medium transporting structure body including elements for transporting a recording medium to the image forming structure body; an output recording medium transporting structure body transporting, to an output port, a recording medium outputted from the image forming structure body; and a connection structure body electrically connected to structure bodies. They each form at least a part of the appearance of the image forming apparatus. The latter three bodies are adjacent to each other, and attachable in a state where the image forming structure body is not attached, the image forming structure body is in contact with at least three surfaces included in surfaces of the other bodies adjacent to each other, and the image forming structure body is attachable in a state where the other bodies have been attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Ishino, Hidekazu Amamoto
  • Patent number: 8911169
    Abstract: A platen roller assembly for a printer includes a platen roller, a retaining clip, a plurality of bearings, and a pulley assembly. The platen roller defines a longitudinal axis. The retaining clip mounts to a support body of the printer and is positioned to retain the platen roller relative to the support body. The plurality of bearings is operably coupled to the platen roller. Each of the bearings permits rotational movement of the platen roller about the longitudinal axis thereof. The pulley assembly is mounted to the support body and is operably associated with one or more of the bearings. The pulley assembly includes a pulley and a belt. The belt is operably coupled to the pulley such that the platen roller rotates in response to rotational movement of the belt. The platen roller may be selectively coupled and uncoupled to/from the support body independent of the pulley assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Datamax-O'Neil Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Colquitt, Chris Christiansen
  • Patent number: 8845218
    Abstract: A credential production device includes a unitary frame formed of plastic, a first processing component and a second processing component. The unitary frame includes a rear wall, a pair of side walls extending from opposing sides of the rear wall, a top wall extending from a top side of the rear wall and coupled to the side walls, a bottom wall extending from a bottom side of the rear wall and coupled to the side walls, a first device registration member and a second device registration member. The rear wall, the side walls, the top wall and the bottom wall define an interior cavity and an opening to the interior cavity. The first processing component includes a first frame registration member that is configured to cooperate with the first device registration member to place the first processing component in a known position relative to the unitary frame and the second device registration member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Assa Abloy AB
    Inventors: Ted M. Hoffman, James R. Cedar
  • Patent number: 8838007
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an openable cover capable of opening and closing an opening, an image forming portion for forming a toner image on a sheet, and a cam member provided in the image forming portion for moving a contact member toward and away from an opposing member. A controller controls the image forming portion and rotation of the cam member. The controller stops an operation of the image forming portion when a detecting unit detects opening of the openable cover, and then controls rotation of the cam member at least one full turn when the detecting unit detects closing of the openable cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yu Shuhama, Yuichiro Osawa, Masao Amano, Kiyoharu Yoshioka, Nobukazu Adachi
  • 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: 8790029
    Abstract: A cutting apparatus includes a fixed blade module including a fixed blade, a movable blade module including a movable blade that moves when the movable blade module is driven, and a drive module configured to drive the movable blade module. The fixed blade and the movable blade are configured to cut a recording medium. The fixed blade module, the movable blade module, and the drive module are detachably connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited
    Inventors: Masahiro Tsuchiya, Yukihiro Mori
  • Patent number: 8727649
    Abstract: The roll paper loading mechanism of a roll paper printer has a left side panel rendered in unison with a roll paper holder. The roll paper holder pivots to the front of the printer in conjunction with the operation opening an access cover. When the access cover is opened completely, the left side panel protrudes through an opening formed in the printer case to the front of the printer. A right side panel disposed to hold the roll paper between it and the left side panel is stationary inside the printer case. A roll paper guide tab that projects to the front of the printer and extends away from the left side panel is formed on the front end of the right side panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuhiro Inoue
  • Patent number: 8662773
    Abstract: In order to cope with a change in design between a printer having a hip down design specification (first specification) and another printer having a hip up design specification (second specification), each of a lower frame and an upper frame has a structure common to both of the specifications. The lower frame and the upper frame are coupled to each other by a hinge structure removably attached to the lower frame and the upper frame. The hinge structure is selected from a first hinge structure and a second hinge structure. By changing the hinge structure from the first hinge structure to the second hinge structure and vice versa, the height of a hinge center can easily be changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: NEC Infrontia Corporation
    Inventor: Yukio Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 8634757
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus 1 is provided with a double-side transport unit 80 capable of clearing a paper jam. The double-side transport unit 80 is provided with a reverse transport passage 75 provided with a reverse roller 57 for switching back paper P having an image formed on one side thereof, a return transport passage 76 for transporting the paper P turned upside down through the reverse transport passage 75 to an image forming portion 10, and a reverse introduction passage 74a extending from a downstream side, with respect to a branch transport passage 74, of the second transport roller 56 that is disposed close to the reverse transport passage 75, to the reverse transport passage 75. The double-side transport unit 80 can be taken out of or put in an apparatus main body 1a in a direction perpendicular to a paper transport direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Masaru Takagi
  • Patent number: 8608394
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes: a plural image-holding members, each image-holding member holding an image and being rotatable around a rotation shaft; a frame member that at least partially defines a space for accommodating the plural image-holding members therein; a cover provided to the frame member to open and close the space with respect to an outside, an inner side of the cover being formed with rotation shaft insertion holes each for receiving an end portion of the rotation shaft of a corresponding one of the image-holding members accommodated in the space; a supporting shaft that supports the cover such that the cover is pivotable with respect to the frame member, the supporting shaft being inserted into a supporting shaft insertion hole provided to the frame member or to the cover, the supporting shaft insertion hole being elongated in a direction having a vertical component when the cover closes the space; and a positioning mechanism that positions the cover with respect to the frame member whe
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Ando, Toshiyuki Matsui, Satoshi Honobe, Tsuneo Fukuzawa, Tomonori Sato, Fumiaki Maekawa, Toshihiro Maruta
  • Patent number: 8457543
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit to form an image on a sheet of recording media, an image reading unit to read image data of an original document, disposed above the image forming unit, a sheet discharge space defined by the image reading unit and the image forming unit and disposed therebetween, a discharge port formed in a first inner side wall of a main body of the image forming apparatus, through which the sheet is discharged into the sheet discharge space, a positioning member to position and detachably mount a positioning member to position and detachably mount an auxiliary unit adjacent to the discharge port in the sheet discharge space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Shuuya Nagasako, Junichi Iida, Shinya Kitaoka
  • Patent number: 8449210
    Abstract: A drawer mechanism includes a plate-shaped frame, a first roller and a second roller disposed in a rotatable manner on a surface of the frame at a specific interval, and a rail movable between a first state where the rail is mounted on the surface of the frame and a second state where the rail is pulled out from the frame in a predetermined pull-out direction. Each roller includes a guide peripheral surface formed in an outer peripheral portion in a radial direction and a lower surface opposing the surface of the frame at a specific interval. The rail includes a first pinched portion and a second pinched portion extending linearly in the pull-out direction and pinched between the surface of the frame and one of the lower surfaces and the guide peripheral surfaces of the first roller and the second roller, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Youhei Noguchi
  • Patent number: 8425131
    Abstract: A roll paper holding apparatus includes a pull-out unit which can be pulled out and housed through an opening formed in a printing apparatus main body, a paper holding section which is provided in the pull-out unit and rotatably holds a roll paper in which a paper is wound into a roll shape, a contact body which is provided in the pull-out unit, and is openable and closable to the paper holding section according to a pull-out operation and a housing operation of the pull-out unit with respect to the printing apparatus main body, and an urging section which is provided in the pull-out unit, and urges the contact body opened to the paper holding section in a direction of contacting with a frame forming the opening of the printing apparatus main body when the pull-out unit is pulled out from the printing apparatus main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Norifumi Shishido
  • Patent number: 8401459
    Abstract: An image-forming device includes: an image-forming unit; a sheet discharge unit; a sheet support unit; and a reading unit. The image-forming unit forms images on a recording sheet. The sheet discharge unit discharges, in a sheet discharging direction, a recording sheet formed with an image by the image-forming unit. The sheet support unit is disposed above the image-forming unit, and supports sheet discharged from the sheet discharge unit. The reading unit is disposed above the sheet support unit, with an underside surface of the reading unit opposing a top surface of the sheet support unit. The sheet discharge unit is configured to discharge the sheet diagonally upwardly so that sheet discharged by the sheet discharge unit contacts the underside surface of the reading unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiteru Hattori, Sakae Ito
  • Patent number: 8385808
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing media trays in an image production device is disclosed that may include determining if a media tray door is open, and if so, starting a timer, determining if a misfeed indication has been set, and if so, determining if the timer has reached a first predetermined value, and if it has not, determining if the media tray door has been closed, and if so, returning the image production device to a pre-media tray opening state. Otherwise, if it is determined that a misfeed indication has been set, determining if the timer has reached a second predetermined value, and if it has not, determining if the media tray door has been closed, and if so, returning the image production device to the pre-media tray opening state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Richard Bridges
  • Patent number: 8366335
    Abstract: A platen roller assembly for a printer includes a platen roller, a retaining clip, a plurality of bearings, and a pulley assembly. The platen roller defines a longitudinal axis. The retaining clip mounts to a support body of the printer and is positioned to retain the platen roller relative to the support body. The plurality of bearings are operably coupled to the platen roller. Each of the bearings permit rotational movement of the platen roller about the longitudinal axis thereof. The pulley assembly is mounted to the support body and is operably associated with one or more of the bearings. The pulley assembly includes a pulley and a belt. The belt is operably coupled to the pulley such that the platen roller rotates in response to rotational movement of the belt. The platen roller may be selectively coupled and uncoupled to/from the support body independent of the pulley assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Datamax-O'Neil Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Colquitt, Chris Christensen
  • Patent number: 8272798
    Abstract: In a printer which prints on a roll paper transported toward a discharge port and cuts the roll paper, an exchangeable lower cover is attached to the printer. The exchangeable lower cover defines a lower edge of the discharge port. A change of height of the discharge port is allowed by exchanging the exchangeable lower cover for another one. Hereby, it is possible to change specifications between one for holding a printed slip and the other for allowing the printed slip to fall freely. In the former specification, a brush provided at a periphery of an upper edge of the discharge port is in contact with a lower cover. On the other hand, in the latter specification, the brush is in distant from another lower cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: NEC Infrontia Corporation
    Inventor: Yukio Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 8237955
    Abstract: This invention makes it possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of causing an information processing apparatus to install a driver desired by a user by selecting an appropriate PDL and presenting device information to the information processing apparatus, and increasing the convenience for the user, a control method for the apparatus, and a program. To accomplish this, image forming unit-specific log information associated with a plurality of image forming units of the image forming apparatus is stored in a storage device. On the basis of the log information, a priority image forming unit is decided from the plurality of image forming units. Identification information containing an identifier of the decided image forming unit is transmitted in response to an information request transmitted from the information processing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Mori
  • Patent number: 8218301
    Abstract: A keyboard includes a casing, a retaining frame, and a keyboard module. The casing is made from a metallic sheet and has upper and lower parts. The lower part is bent from front and rear ends of the upper part so as to define a gap between the upper and lower parts and two opposite side openings. The casing is formed with a central hole extending through the upper part and in spatial communication with the gap and the side openings. The retaining frame is received detachably in the gap of the casing, has a loop-shaped frame body disposed around the central hole of the casing, and is insertable through one of the side openings of the casing into the gap of the casing. The keyboard module is received in the central hole of the casing and engages the frame body of the retaining frame in a tongue-and-groove engaging manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Sunrex Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Chien-Chung Lee
  • Patent number: 8208846
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with an apparatus main body, an image forming assembly arranged in the apparatus main body, a sheet tray on which a sheet is to be placed, a conveyance unit detachably insertable into the apparatus main body, provided between the sheet tray and the image forming assembly and adapted to convey the sheet on the sheet tray toward the image forming assembly, an openable and closable cover member provided on a wall of the apparatus main body facing a downstream end of the conveyance unit in a sheet conveying direction, a vertical conveyance path defined at an inner side of the cover member by closing the cover member for further conveying the sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit upward, and a locking mechanism for preventing the conveyance unit from being pulled out from the apparatus main body with the cover member closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsutoshi Takemoto, Kotaro Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 8073378
    Abstract: In a color marking assembly, a series or plurality of ROS-imaging station units are aligned above an endless image transfer belt. Since there are a plurality of units, image alignment between the several station units is important. To accomplish this, skewing of each of the stations is necessary. The present invention involves a fixed ROS unit and a movable or skewable imaging station. This imaging station is movable on at least three spheres, one sphere below the imaging station and on its inboard side, the other spheres are located on a track below the imaging station and on its outboard side. This arrangement reduces vibration of these stations while at the same time providing an easily skewable xerographic imaging station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: James P. Calamita, Mark A. Atwood
  • Patent number: 8045913
    Abstract: An optional tray fastening device of an image forming apparatus, for providing a fastening connection between an optional receiving tray moving in and out with respect to a main body of the image forming apparatus and the main body when mounting the optional tray to a lower part of the main body, includes a fastening depression formed at a lower part of the main body; a connection boss that protrudes from an upper part of the optional tray to be inserted in the fastening depression; and a key member that restrains escape of the connection boss from the fastening depression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung-sik Jeong, Woo-seog Kim
  • Patent number: 8027156
    Abstract: A keyboard includes a keyboard unit and casing. The keyboard unit is rectangular and includes a first and second surface, the first surface including at least one key disposed thereon, the second surface including a protrusion portion that protrudes therefrom. The protrusion portion includes an engagement hole open toward a first direction that corresponds to a longitudinal direction of the rectangle. The casing includes a third surface on which the keyboard unit is mounted, the third surface including an insertion or through hole into which the protrusion portion is insertable, the casing including an engagement protrusion provided at a position opposed to the engagement hole of the protrusion portion that is inserted into the through hole, the engagement protrusion being engaged with the engagement hole of the inserted protrusion portion when the keyboard unit is moved in the first direction. A method of assembling the keyboard is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Norio Kobayashi, Hideki Hanamura, Masanori Akiyama
  • Patent number: 8010036
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an apparatus main body that performs image forming processing to a recording sheet; a sheet receiving member provided on a top surface of the apparatus main body and provided with a sheet receiving surface; a sheet discharge port through which a recording sheet bearing thereon a formed image is discharged toward the sheet receiving surface; and a swinging mechanism that allows the sheet receiving member to swing. The swinging mechanism allows the sheet receiving member to swing for the sheet receiving surface to change a posture between a first state where the sheet receiving surface sinks on the sheet discharge port side and a second state where the sheet receiving surface on the sheet discharge port side is closer to horizontal than in the first state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Fuchimoto
  • Patent number: 7993065
    Abstract: A printer is disclosed having a media unit which can move relative to a printing unit. Until now, difficulties in aligning the media unit in the printer always resulted in a poor printing quality. To rectify this, the disclosed printer provides that the printing unit is designed so that it can move inside the housing, and elements are provided for aligning the printing unit with the media unit so that the printing unit and the media unit can be aligned with one another when the media unit is pushed in the direction of insertion. A resilient element enables the printing unit to be advantageously tensioned, in a manner that equalizes tolerances, against the support of the media unit in an operating position. This enables an advantageous equalization of work tolerances and positional tolerances, and the position of the print head relative to the medium to be printed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Riester, Herbert Kirner, Axel Huegle
  • Patent number: 7963649
    Abstract: A computer monitor is provided which has a flat panel display for displaying images and an inkjet printhead disposed adjacent a lower portion of the computer monitor. The monitor is configured such that print media to be printed is fed manually into a feed path that directs the print media from a region adjacent the upper edge of the flat panel display, past the printhead for printing, then out of the monitor adjacent a lower edge of the flat panel display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7912418
    Abstract: An image-forming device includes: an image-forming unit; a sheet discharge unit; a sheet support unit; and a reading unit. The image-forming unit forms images on a recording sheet. The sheet discharge unit discharges, in a sheet discharging direction, a recording sheet formed with an image by the image-forming unit. The sheet support unit is disposed above the image-forming unit, and supports sheet discharged from the sheet discharge unit. The reading unit is disposed above the sheet support unit, with an underside surface of the reading unit opposing a top surface of the sheet support unit. The sheet discharge unit is configured to discharge the sheet diagonally upwardly so that sheet discharged by the sheet discharge unit contacts the underside surface of the reading unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiteru Hattori, Sakae Ito
  • Patent number: 7894763
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes at least one paper supply portion including a roll paper accommodating portion adapted to accommodate a paper roll constituted by winding long paper around a shaft, a roll paper holding portion on which the paper roll is temporarily put, a paper feeding portion adapted to deliver paper from the paper roll accommodated on the roll paper accommodating portion, a horizontal rotating-shaft adapted to support the paper supply portion in a body of the image forming apparatus, the paper supply portion drawn outwardly from the body of the image forming apparatus by being rotated when change of the paper roll is performed, wherein the change of the paper roll can be performed by rotating the paper supply portion to thereby draw out the paper supply portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiji Itoh, Masanori Nagashima, Yoshihiro Saitoh, Hiroaki Mogi, Toshiyuki Kitamura, Toshikatsu Takahashi, Takeshi Tsuge
  • Patent number: 7881653
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus including: a body; a supply tray attached to the body for putting a recording sheet thereon; a recording mechanism provided in a middle of a feed path defined in the body for recording an image on the recording sheet; a feeding mechanism which has an arm pivotably supported at one of opposite ends thereof and a feeding roller rotatably provided in the other of the opposite ends of the arm, and which is configured such that the recording sheet is fed toward the recording mechanism by rotating of the feeding roller held in contact with the recording sheet; a discharge opening provided in the body for discharging the recording sheet therethrough; a cover supported by the body to be pivotable between an open position and a closed position; and a cover-arm interlock mechanism which permits the arm to pivot such that the feeding roller contacts the recording sheet when the cover is positioned at the open position, and which positions the arm such that the feeding roller is away from the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masatoshi Izuchi
  • Patent number: 7878725
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed. The image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a first unit to be attached inside the apparatus main body, a rotatable part attached to the apparatus main body and rotatable between an open position for opening the apparatus main body and a closed position for closing the apparatus main body, and a second unit removably attached to the rotatable part. When the rotatable part is rotated from the closed position to the open position, the first unit is allowed to be attached to or removed from the apparatus main body by being moved horizontally. By removing the second unit from the rotatable part, the first unit is attached to or removed from the apparatus main body without coming into contact with the second unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhide Ohkubo, Hiroshi Fujiwara, Shigeo Nanno, Ippei Kimura, Yoshihide Ohta, Tomoyoshi Yamazaki, Masafumi Takahira, Haruyuki Honda
  • Patent number: 7881652
    Abstract: A modular duplexing housing for an all-in-one device which may be added at a final stage of assembly in order to convert a simplex printing unit into a duplex printing and duplex ADF scanning unit. The modular duplexing unit includes a duplexing feedpath which may be positioned for feeding communication with a simplex printing feedpath in the all-in-one device. The modular duplexing unit may also comprise a secondary input tray in feeding communication with the simplex printing unit and duplexing ADF scanning unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Edwards, Brian K. Owens, Gregory P. Washnock
  • Publication number: 20110013963
    Abstract: A door opening or closing detecting device and an image forming apparatus including a shaft member which is provided to a housing slidably along one end of a door, and urged to be brought into pressure contact with a pressing member through a pressure contact member, the shaft member being slid by the pressing member which moves with opening/closing of the door. The opening/closing of the door is detected by a detecting portion according to sliding of the shaft member, and a power supply is interrupted by a switch portion. The door opening or closing detecting apparatus and the image forming apparatus are capable of reliably detecting the opening/closing of the door and appropriately interrupting the power supply while achieving space saving and reduction in size of the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takeshi Yasumoto
  • Patent number: 7811018
    Abstract: A door opening or closing detecting device and an image forming apparatus including a shaft member which is provided to a housing slidably along one end of a door, and urged to be brought into pressure contact with a pressing member through a pressure contact member, the shaft member being slid by the pressing member which moves with the opening/closing of the door. The opening/closing of the door is detected by a detecting portion according to sliding of the shaft member, and a power supply is interrupted by a switch portion. The door opening or closing detecting apparatus and the image forming apparatus are capable of reliably detecting the opening/closing of the door and appropriately interrupting the power supply while achieving space saving and reduction in size of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Yasumoto
  • Patent number: 7804680
    Abstract: A portable information handling system keyboard cable integrates keyboard and point stick conductors in a common membrane to communicate user inputs from a keyboard and point stick to processing components. The cable terminates at a motherboard end with a ZIF connector to connect with processing components at the motherboard and terminates at keyboard end with a connector for keyboard and point stick conductors. In one embodiment, the keyboard and point stick conductors terminate in a common connector having conductive pads arranged in a V shape to connect with conductors extending from a keyboard membrane. In alternative embodiments, the point stick conductors extend out from the common membrane to align with point stick conductors extending from a keyboard assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Kevin Mundt, Ron Langerhans, James R. Utz
  • Patent number: 7785025
    Abstract: A point of sale printer includes a housing, a cover, a first biasing member communicating with the housing and the cover, a thermal print head including a cover detent feature, the cover detent feature secures the cover to the housing, a platen and a platen drive roller which co-rotate with each other attached to the cover, a drive motor including a drive roller attached to the housing, a link member rotatably attached to the drive motor, the link member configured to rotate about a rotational axis of the drive motor and an idler roller rotatably connected to a second end of the link member, the idler roller configured to contact the platen drive roller and the drive roller, wherein a rotational direction of the drive motor corresponds to a rotational direction of the link member and also corresponds to an elevation of the idler roller which releases the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Richard H. Harris
  • Patent number: 7778016
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, an electronic apparatus comprises a housing including a keyboard mount portion. A keyboard is mounted on the keyboard mount portion. The keyboard has a plurality of fixing pieces. The fixing pieces are protruded at the rear of the keyboard mount portion, and are removably fixed to the housing. A receptacle on which a module is removably mounted is provided in the housing. The receptacle is located between the fixing pieces at the rear of the keyboard mount portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Minaguchi, Hidemi Itakura, Takayuki Arisaka
  • Patent number: 7774795
    Abstract: A printer receives image information from a host computer and performs printing based on the image information. When an optional unit is newly attached to the printer, the printer changes the device ID which is selected from an ID ROM in accordance with the optional unit. Then output from an interface circuit is changed so that the host computer detects the change of the output from the interface circuit. The host computer makes a device-ID request to the printer to obtain the device ID corresponding to the optional device. Then the host computer determines whether or not a printer driver which is currently operative corresponds to the printer with the newly-attached optional device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshio Sakurai
  • Patent number: 7758183
    Abstract: An automatic image processing apparatus includes a sheet feeding device and an image processing device. The sheet feeding device supports a plurality of sheets and feeds the sheets one by one. The image processing device receives the sheets coming from the sheet feeding device one by one, and feeds and processes the sheets one by one. The sheet feeding device is removably connected to the image processing device, and receives mechanical power from the image processing device and thus feeds the sheets one by one. The sheet feeding device for the automatic image processing apparatus is also disclosed. The mechanical power for feeding the sheets is disconnected from the sheet feeding device when the sheet feeding device is removed from the image processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Avision Inc.
    Inventor: Ching-Jung Tu
  • Patent number: 7672120
    Abstract: A keyboard is to be designed as a standardized keyboard having a certain length, width and thickness. The keyboard may be used interchangeably among different mobile computer systems. A keyboard cable associated with the keyboard may be designed such that it can accommodate an interface connector at any location relative to a bottom end of the keyboard. One or more control devices may also be used in conjunction with the keyboard. The control device may be designed with standardized dimensions, electrical interface, interface connector and cable length to enable it to accompany the keyboard among the different mobile computer systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Ed H. Kohlman, Hong W. Wong, Daryl J. Nelson, Wah Yiu Kwong, George H. Daskalakis