Patents Assigned to PFU Limited
  • Patent number: 12129149
    Abstract: A medium conveying apparatus includes a cover that is supported by a main body so as to be arranged in an opening position or a closing position, an arm that protrudes into a conveying path formed between the cover and the main body and is retracted from the conveying path, a lock mechanism that fixes the cover to the main body with the cover arranged in the closing position, and a mechanism that retracts the arm from the conveying path when the lock mechanism shifts from a first state in which the lock mechanism releases the cover from the main body to a second state in which the lock mechanism fixes the cover to the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventor: Shogo Yoshita
  • Patent number: 12129141
    Abstract: A medium ejection apparatus includes an ejection tray having a first stacking surface, and an extension tray rotatably attached to an end part of the ejection tray at a downstream side in a medium ejection direction, and having a second stacking surface. An end part of the ejection tray at the downstream side is provided with a first abutting part and a second abutting part. An end part of the extension tray at the ejection tray side is provided with a first abutted part and a second abutted part. The second stacking surface is located forming a first angle with respect to the first stacking surface by the first abutted part abutting against the first abutting part. The second stacking surface is located forming a second angle, different from the first angle, with respect to the first stacking surface by the second abutted part abutting against the first abutting part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: PFU LIMITED
    Inventor: Yuki Takato
  • Patent number: 12113944
    Abstract: A medium conveying apparatus includes a conveying roller to convey a medium, a first unit, a second unit located to face the first unit, an imaging sensor provided in the first unit, to image the medium conveyed by the conveying roller, a reference member including a facing surface, and provided in the second unit in such a way that the facing surface is rotatable between a facing position at which the facing surface faces the imaging sensor, and a non-facing position at which the facing surface deviates from the facing position, a guide portion to slidably guide the second unit in a direction perpendicular to a medium conveying surface so that the second unit moves in the direction perpendicular to the medium conveying surface, and a support portion to rotatably support the reference member. The support portion is located inside the guide portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: PFU LIMITED
    Inventor: Hirotoshi Kakuda
  • Patent number: 12084305
    Abstract: A medium conveying apparatus includes a conveying roller to convey a medium, an end detection sensor for detecting a position of an end of the medium conveyed by the conveying roller, an overlap detection sensor for detecting an overlap of the medium conveyed by the conveying roller in a detection area, and a processor to determine whether an overlap detection is valid or invalid based on a positional relationship between the position of the end of the medium detected by the end detection sensor and the detection area, and execute an abnormality processing for multi-feed based on a detection result by the overlap detection sensor when it is determined that the overlap detection is valid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: PFU LIMITED
    Inventor: Masaaki Sakai
  • Patent number: 12081711
    Abstract: A medium conveying apparatus includes a conveying roller to convey a medium, an imaging device to generate an input image acquired by imaging the conveyed medium, and a processor to extract edge pixels from the input image, detect a degree of roundness at a corner of the medium in the input image based on the edge pixels, determine whether the conveyed medium is an ID card based on the degree of roundness, and control the conveying roller based on a result of the determination or outputs the result of the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: PFU LIMITED
    Inventor: Masaaki Sakai
  • Patent number: 12077406
    Abstract: A medium conveying apparatus includes a conveying roller to convey a medium, a width detection sensor for detecting a width of the medium conveyed by the conveying roller in a direction perpendicular to a conveying direction, an overlap detection sensor for detecting an overlap of the medium conveyed by the conveying roller, and a processor to determine whether to execute an abnormality processing for a multi-feed, based on the width of the medium acquired based on a detection result by the width detection sensor and a detection result by the overlap detection sensor. The processor acquires an overlap detection width being a width in which the medium is estimated to overlap in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, based on the detection result by the overlap detection sensor. The processor executes the abnormality processing when the width of the medium and the overlap detection width are equal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: PFU LIMITED
    Inventor: Masaaki Sakai
  • Patent number: 12024395
    Abstract: Provided are an image processing apparatus, a control method, and a control program to accurately determine whether or not a deflection of a fed medium has occurred, and to suitably control a feeding of the medium. A medium conveying apparatus includes a feed module to feed a medium, a motion detection module to detect a first change amount in a feeding direction of the medium placed on a medium tray and a second change amount in a direction perpendicular to a placing surface of the medium tray during feeding of the medium, a determination module to determine that a deflection of the medium has occurred when the first change amount is less than a first threshold value and the second change amount is equal to or more than a second threshold value, and a control module to stop feeding the medium according to the determination result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: PFU LIMITED
    Inventor: Masaaki Sakai
  • Patent number: 12024394
    Abstract: A medium conveying apparatus includes a conveying roller to convey a medium, a width detection sensor for detecting a width of the medium conveyed by the conveying roller in a direction perpendicular to a conveying direction, an overlap detection sensor for detecting an overlap of the medium conveyed by the conveying roller, and a processor to determine whether to execute an abnormality processing for a multi-feed, based on the width of the medium acquired based on a detection result by the width detection sensor and a detection result by the overlap detection sensor. The processor acquires an overlap detection width being a width in which the medium is estimated to overlap in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, based on the detection result by the overlap detection sensor. The processor executes the abnormality processing when the width of the medium and the overlap detection width are equal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: PFU LIMITED
    Inventor: Masaaki Sakai
  • Patent number: 12017882
    Abstract: A medium conveying apparatus includes a torque limiter provided on a rotation axis of the separation roller, a unit including a first gear, a second gear provided on the rotation axis, and a third gear provided between the first gear and the second gear. The separation roller is pressed toward a feed roller side by a force generated by the torque limiter. The first gear rotates in a direction for generating a force for separating the separation roller from the feed roller. The third gear is a two-stage gear. The number of teeth of a gear on the second gear side of the third gear is more than the number of teeth of a gear on the first gear side of the third gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: PFU LIMITED
    Inventor: Takayuki Umi
  • Patent number: 12006177
    Abstract: A medium conveying apparatus includes medium conveying apparatus includes a housing including a locking portion, a first supporting portion and a second supporting portion, a feed roller, a separation roller located to face the feed roller, and a guide mechanism including a locked portion locked with the locking portion, a first shaft portion supported by the first supporting portion, a second shaft portion supported by the second supporting portion, and a conveyance guide portion to regulate a medium fed between the feed roller and the separation roller. The guide mechanism is swingably supported by the housing about the first shaft portion in a state where the locked portion is locked with the locking portion. The guide mechanism is swingably supported by the housing about the second shaft portion in a state where a locking of the locking portion and the locked portion is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: PFU LIMITED
    Inventor: Shinya Orita
  • Patent number: 12003679
    Abstract: A medium conveying apparatus includes a conveyance roller to convey a medium, a DC motor to drive the conveyance roller, a processor to rotate the DC motor, an encoder to output a first pulse signal whose cycle varies according to a rotation speed of the DC motor, and an imaging device to acquire an image acquired by imaging a conveyed medium in response to a pulse of a second pulse signal whose cycle is constant. The processor detects a number of pulses of the second pulse signal included in a predetermined cycle of the first pulse signal, and discards images acquired by the imaging device in the same number of pulses as difference between the detected number of pulses and a reference number, in a next cycle of the predetermined cycle of the first pulse signal, when the detected number of pulses exceeds the reference number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: PFU LIMITED
    Inventor: Yuta Arai
  • Patent number: 11971852
    Abstract: A file management device comprising a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory and the processor configured to: a common feature extracting unit that extracts a feature common to a plurality of data files to which a same tag is provided from the data files; a tagging rule storage DB that stores a feature extracted by the common feature extracting unit and the tag provided to the data files in association with each other as a tagging rule; and a tag providing unit that provides a tag to a newly input data file based on the tagging rule stored in the tagging rule storage DB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: PFU LIMITED
    Inventors: Reiko Genno, Katsuhito Shimazaki
  • Patent number: 11960967
    Abstract: An information processing system, which determines a partial area used in an erectness determination which determines whether a determination target image is erect based on a determination feature in the partial area in an image having a predetermined format and a position of the partial area in a state in which the image having the predetermined format is erect, includes processor to receive input of a plurality of learning images having the predetermined format, extract area common to the plurality of learning images in an erect state as a candidate for the partial area, determine common area reliability indicative of a degree to which the candidate for the partial area is suitable as the partial area used in the erectness determination, and determine the partial area used in the erectness determination from the candidate for the partial area, based on the common area reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: PFU LIMITED
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Hattori, Yutaka Harano, Tomoaki Wada, Ken Yanai
  • Patent number: 11960530
    Abstract: A file management device comprising a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory and the processor configured to stores a feature included in a data file and a tag provided to the data file in association with each other as a provision rule, adds a tag to a newly input data file based on the stored provision rule, and displays the stored provision rule. The processor is further configured to displays the provision rule in an editable state by using a character string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: PFU LIMITED
    Inventors: Reiko Genno, Katsuhito Shimazaki
  • Patent number: 11952238
    Abstract: Provided are a multi-feed detection apparatus, a control method, and a control program to suitably determine whether or not the multi-feed detection apparatus returns a fed medium to a direction of a medium tray when multi-feed has occurred. A multi-feed detection apparatus includes an ultrasonic sensor to generate an ultrasonic signal, a multi-feed determination module to determine that feeding of the medium is normal when a signal value of the ultrasonic signal is equal to or more than a first threshold value, and determine that a multi-feed of the medium has occurred when the signal value of the ultrasonic signal is less than the first threshold value, and a control module to control the feed module to return the fed medium to a direction of the medium tray when the signal value of the ultrasonic signal is less than a second threshold value smaller than the first threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: PFU LIMITED
    Inventors: Kiichiro Shimosaka, Masaaki Sakai
  • Patent number: 11934767
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a processor to image an object in accordance with an imaging setting made in advance to acquire a captured image, execute editing of the captured image according to a user instruction, and specify an imaging setting item that allows a captured image to be obtained for which at least a part of the executed editing is unnecessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: PFU LIMITED
    Inventors: Eisuke Tomono, Hiroaki Kawanobe, Tomohisa Maeda
  • Patent number: 11930137
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an imaging device to image a medium, a communication device provided so as to communicate with a plurality of information processing apparatuses, and a processor to acquire a use state of the image reading apparatus, set an information processing apparatus capable of executing imaging control of the imaging device, and control the imaging device according to an instruction signal from the set information processing apparatus. The processor determines whether to set a second information processing apparatus as the information processing apparatus capable of executing the imaging control, based on the use state, when receiving a request signal of the imaging control from the second information processing apparatus in a state where a first information processing apparatus is set as the information processing apparatus capable of executing the imaging control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: PFU LIMITED
    Inventor: Koji Hirohashi
  • Patent number: 11897724
    Abstract: A medium conveying apparatus includes a first conveying path, a second conveying path that is connected to the first conveying path, a third conveying path that is connected to the first conveying path and the second conveying path, and a skew corrector that blocks a first space between the first conveying path and the second conveying path when a medium conveyed along the first conveying path is skewed, and retreats from the first space when the medium is not skewed, wherein the skew corrector retreats from a second space between the second conveying path and the third conveying path when blocking the first space, and blocks the third space between the first conveying path and the third conveying path when retreating from the first space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: PFU LIMITED
    Inventor: Shogo Yoshita
  • Patent number: 11891266
    Abstract: A medium conveying apparatus includes a conveying roller to convey a rectangular medium, and a processor to generate an input image acquired by imaging the conveyed medium, detect an overlap of the conveyed medium, detect an object area from the input image, determine whether an outer shape of the object area is rectangular, determine whether a multi-feed of the medium has occurred based on whether the overlap of the medium has been detected and whether the outer shape of the object area is rectangular, and execute an abnormality processing when it is determined that the multi-feed of the medium has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: PFU LIMITED
    Inventor: Masaaki Sakai
  • Patent number: D1045871
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventors: Yuka Awazu, Satoshi Kuroda, Norifumi Tonami, Yujiro Hoshino