Patents Assigned to PFU Limited
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Patent number: 12623880Abstract: A medium conveying apparatus includes an apparatus body in which a conveying path is formed, a media tray supported by the apparatus body, an ejection tray supported by the apparatus body, a conveyor to convey a medium placed on the media tray along the conveying path and place the medium on the ejection tray, a first mechanism including a gear, and a second mechanism including a gear. The first mechanism swings the ejection tray from a deployed position where the ejection tray is deployed to a stored position where the ejection tray is stored in the apparatus body, and stops swinging of the ejection tray at a midway position between the deployed position and the stored position. The second mechanism retracts the ejection tray when the swinging of the ejection tray is stopped.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2024Date of Patent: May 12, 2026Assignee: PFU LIMITEDInventors: Norifumi Tonami, Sota Matsuura
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Patent number: 12626537Abstract: In an authentication apparatus, a camera captures an image including a face image that is an image of a face of an imaging target person, a touch screen displays the face image, a display control unit causes the touch screen to display a guide frame for guiding the imaging target person to an imaging position of the face based on a display position of the face image in the touch screen, and a personal authentication unit performs personal authentication using the face image when the face image is located within the guide frame.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2023Date of Patent: May 12, 2026Assignee: PFU LIMITEDInventors: Kengo Shioda, Satoshi Usho, Mitsuhiro Katsuizumi, Yuka Awazu
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Patent number: 12612275Abstract: A medium conveyance apparatus includes a drive signal output circuit to output a drive signal at a predetermined timing, a first sound wave emitter to output a sound wave based on the drive signal outputted at the predetermined timing, a first sound wave receiver to output a first sound wave signal corresponding to the received sound wave, a second sound wave emitter to output a sound wave based on the drive signal outputted at the predetermined timing, a second sound wave receiver to output a second sound wave signal corresponding to the received sound wave, a processor to determine a state of the medium based on the first sound wave signal and the second sound wave signal, and an output circuit to output the first sound wave signal and the second sound wave signal to the processor at timings different from each other.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2023Date of Patent: April 28, 2026Assignee: PFU LIMITEDInventor: Masaaki Sakai
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Patent number: 12600587Abstract: A medium feed apparatus includes a stacking tray, a pick roller located at an upstream side from a feed roller and separation roller in the medium conveyance direction, a first sensor located at an upstream side from the pick roller in the medium conveyance direction, a second sensor located at a downstream side from the feed roller and the separation roller in the medium conveyance direction, and a processor to rotate the pick roller and the feed roller in a medium feed direction to feed a plurality of sheets of the medium stacked on the stacking. The processor stops the pick roller when the second sensor detects a front end of a preceding sheet of the medium and rotates the pick roller again to advance a succeeding sheet of the medium when the first sensor detects a back end of the preceding sheet of the medium.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2023Date of Patent: April 14, 2026Assignee: PFU LIMITEDInventors: Tomoyuki Niwata, Shota Otsuka
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Patent number: 12600592Abstract: A medium ejection apparatus includes a housing, an ejection roller, and an ejection tray attached to the housing to be able to rotate and having a first surface and a second surface, formed at a back side of the first surface, to stack the medium ejected by the ejection roller. The first surface and the second surface are formed by a single member. The first surface is formed with a first recessed part extending in a medium ejection direction and a first beam part extending in the medium ejection direction and sticking out from the first recessed part. The second surface is formed with a second recessed part extending in the medium ejection direction due to the first beam part and is formed with a second beam part extending in the medium ejection direction and sticking out from the second recessed part due to the first recessed part.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2023Date of Patent: April 14, 2026Assignee: PFU LIMITEDInventors: Hiroshi Shiraiwa, Yuki Takato
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Patent number: 12595144Abstract: A media feeding apparatus includes a feed roller, a separation roller, a torque limiter, a unit, a pressing portion, and a reaction-force generator. The feed roller feeds a medium. The separation roller faces the feed roller and is located on a rotation shaft to which power is not transmitted. The torque limiter is located on the rotation shaft. The separation roller is driven by the feed roller when a torque greater than a predetermined torque is applied to the torque limiter. The unit supports the rotation shaft. The pressing portion applies a pressing force to the unit to swing the unit in a direction in which the separation roller is pressed against the feed roller. The reaction-force generator generates a reaction force to swing the unit in a direction in which the separation roller moves away from the feed roller as the separation roller rotates.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2024Date of Patent: April 7, 2026Assignee: PFU LIMITEDInventors: Kazuhito Seki, Tomoyuki Niwata
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Patent number: 12598262Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 30, 2024Date of Patent: April 7, 2026Assignee: PFU LIMITEDInventor: Yuta Arai
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Patent number: 12589959Abstract: Provided is a medium conveying apparatus which is prevented from being used with a roller cover open. A medium conveying apparatus includes a housing, a loading tray provided to be attachable and detachable relative to the housing and be movable between a fixed position where the loading tray is fixed to the housing to place a medium and an inclined position inclined relative to the fixed position for mounting the loading tray to the housing, a roller to separate the medium, and a cover provided to be openable and closable relative to the housing and be swingable between a closed position where the cover covers the roller and forms part of a guide surface of a medium and an open position for attaching and detaching the roller.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2021Date of Patent: March 31, 2026Assignee: PFU LIMITEDInventors: Kiichiro Shimosaka, Syuichi Morikawa
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Patent number: 12585348Abstract: An input device includes a first touchpad, a second touchpad, and circuitry. The circuitry outputs a first code assigned to a single operation on the first touchpad when the single operation is performed on the first touchpad, and a second code assigned to a combined operation when the combined operation is performed. The combined operation is a combination of operations on both the first touchpad and the second touchpad. When the single operation is performed on the second touchpad while the circuitry is outputting the first code, the circuitry continues to output the first code without outputting the second code, or when the operation on the second touchpad ends and the operation on the first touchpad continues while the circuitry is outputting the second code, the circuitry continues to output the second code without outputting the first code.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2024Date of Patent: March 24, 2026Assignee: PFU LIMITEDInventors: Yuya Ooki, Tadashi Niwano
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Patent number: 12565395Abstract: A media conveying apparatus includes a media table on which media are to be placed, a conveyor, an ejector, an ejection table, and circuitry. The conveyor conveys the media placed on the media table. The ejector ejects the media conveyed by the conveyor. The ejection table is movable and disposed above the media table to stack the media ejected by the ejector. The circuitry controls the ejection table to be lowered based on an amount of media stacked on the ejection table while the media on the media table are sequentially conveyed. The circuitry controls the ejection table to be raised in response to completion of conveyance of all the media on the media table.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2024Date of Patent: March 3, 2026Assignee: PFU LIMITEDInventor: Yuki Takato
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Patent number: 12552626Abstract: A media conveying apparatus includes a feed roller, a first conveyance roller, a second conveyance roller, a motor, and a sensor. The circuitry determines whether a trailing end of each medium of media has passed the second conveyance roller and executes alignment of a leading end of the each medium at a position of the first conveyance roller. The circuitry stops the first conveyance roller or rotates the first conveyance roller in a reverse direction and controls the feed roller to align a leading end of a first medium among the media in a case where the circuitry determines that a trailing end of a second medium among the media preceding the first medium has passed the second conveyance roller when the sensor detects the leading end of the first medium.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2024Date of Patent: February 17, 2026Assignee: PFU LIMITEDInventors: Syuichi Morikawa, Kiichiro Shimosaka
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Patent number: 12545533Abstract: A medium conveying apparatus includes a first optical sensor located on an upper part of the housing and in a central part of the housing in a direction perpendicular to a medium conveying direction, a second optical sensor located on an upper part of the housing and on a side of the first optical sensor in the direction perpendicular to the medium conveying direction, and a processor to detect a folding of a medium based on the first signal or the second signal, and stop feeding of the medium by the feed roller in accordance with a detection result of the folding of the medium. The first light emitter emits first light toward a downstream side of the medium in the medium conveying direction, and the second light emitter emits second light toward an upstream side of the medium in the medium conveying direction.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2023Date of Patent: February 10, 2026Assignee: PFU LIMITEDInventors: Kiichiro Shimosaka, Masato Shimura
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Patent number: 12540048Abstract: A medium conveying apparatus includes a pick roller, a first lift sensor located on one side of the pick roller, a second lift sensor located on another side of the pick roller, a first detection sensor located on a same side as the first lift sensor, a second detection sensor located on a same side as the second lift sensor, and a processor to determine whether the medium is a predetermined medium, based on a detection result of a lift of the medium by the first or second lift sensor and to execute abnormality control when the medium is determined to be the predetermined medium, wherein the processor makes it difficult for the medium to be determined as a predetermined medium when it is detected that the first detection sensor side of the medium precedes the second detection sensor side.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2023Date of Patent: February 3, 2026Assignee: PFU LIMITEDInventor: Takumi Ito
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Patent number: 12534315Abstract: A medium conveyance apparatus includes a housing having a frame, a placing table provided on the housing to be openable and closeable and configured to place a medium when the placing table is in an opened state, a to-be-engaged portion provided on the frame, an engagement part provided on at least one side of the placing table to face the to-be-engaged portion when the placing table is in a closed state, a to-be-contacted portion provided on the frame, and a contact portion provided on the placing table. In the medium conveyance apparatus, when the placing table is in the closed state, the engagement part engages with the to-be-engaged portion and maintains the closed state of the placing table. In the medium conveyance apparatus, when the placing table is in the closed state, the contact portion contacts the to-be-contacted portion and restricts movement of the placing table and thereby restricting separation of the engagement part from the to-be-engaged portion.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2024Date of Patent: January 27, 2026Assignee: PFU LIMITEDInventor: Hideyuki Okumura
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Patent number: 12537904Abstract: An information processing system includes circuitry to determine a recommended setting by performing a comparison analysis using one or a plurality of first images and one or a plurality of second images. The recommended setting is a setting different from a setting used in obtaining the one or the plurality of second images by the second image reading apparatus or the second image processor. The recommended setting is a setting causing one or a plurality of third images to be closer to the one or the plurality of first images than the one or the plurality of second images. The one or the plurality of third images are obtained from the single-sheet original document or the multiple-sheet original document by the second image reading apparatus and by the second image processor to which the recommended setting is applied.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2024Date of Patent: January 27, 2026Assignee: PFU LIMITEDInventors: Katsuhiro Hattori, Akira Takano, Kunihiko Oumi
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Patent number: 12528656Abstract: A medium conveying apparatus includes feed roller pairs spaced and located in a direction perpendicular to a medium conveying direction, to separate and feed a medium, and conveying roller pairs located on a downstream side of the feed roller pairs in the medium conveying direction, and spaced and located in the direction perpendicular to the medium conveying direction. For each of the conveying roller pairs, a diameter of an outer end in the direction perpendicular to the medium conveying direction of at least one conveying roller is larger than a diameter of an inner end in the direction perpendicular to the medium conveying direction of said conveying roller, and a total D of differences between the diameter of the outer end and the diameter of the inner end of each conveying roller is 0.06 mm or more and 1.00 mm or less.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2020Date of Patent: January 20, 2026Assignee: PFU LIMITEDInventors: Kiichiro Shimosaka, Hideyuki Okumura
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Patent number: 12503326Abstract: A medium conveying apparatus includes a pair of conveyance rollers including a first roller and a second roller facing the first roller on an upward side of the first roller, to convey a medium between the first roller and the second roller, and a pair of guides including a lower guide located on an upstream side of the pair of conveyance rollers in a medium conveying direction and an upper guide facing the lower guide, to guide the medium to the pair of conveyance rollers. The upper guide is movably located upwardly according to a conveyance of the medium and the lower guide is movably located downwardly according to the conveyance of the medium so that a space between the pair of guides is changed according to the medium.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2023Date of Patent: December 23, 2025Assignee: PFU LIMITEDInventors: Kiichiro Shimosaka, Hirotoshi Kakuda
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Patent number: 12448241Abstract: A medium conveying apparatus includes a pick roller feeding a medium, a separation roller located on a downstream side of the pick roller, a conveyance roller located on a downstream side of the separation roller, a medium sensor being located on a downstream side of the separation roller and detecting the medium, a lift sensor detecting a lift of the medium on an upstream side of the conveyance roller, a passing sensor being located on an upstream side of the separation roller and detecting passing of the medium, and a processor to determine that the medium is a predetermined medium when a lift of the medium and passing of the medium are detected in a predetermined period after the medium is detected, and execute abnormality control when the medium is determined to be the predetermined medium.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2023Date of Patent: October 21, 2025Assignee: PFU LIMITEDInventor: Takumi Ito
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Patent number: 12441566Abstract: A medium conveyance apparatus includes a first sensor located at a center part in a direction perpendicular to a medium conveyance direction; a second sensor located at a downstream side from the first sensor in the medium conveyance direction and at the center part in the direction perpendicular to the medium conveyance direction, a third sensor located at a downstream side from the second sensor in the medium conveyance direction and at the one side in the direction perpendicular to the medium conveyance direction, and a processor to determine whether a tilt angle of the medium being conveyed has changed based on a time from when the first sensor detects the medium to when the second sensor detects the medium when the first sensor detects the medium first, the third sensor detects the medium second, and the second sensor detects the medium third.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2023Date of Patent: October 14, 2025Assignee: PFU LIMITEDInventors: Kiichiro Shimosaka, Syuichi Morikawa
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Patent number: D1100908Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2024Date of Patent: November 4, 2025Assignee: PFU LIMITEDInventors: Satoshi Kuroda, Motoshi Shibuya, Koichi Nakamura, Kengo Matsuda, Ryo Hayashi