Patents Examined by Cheukfan Lee
  • Patent number: 11330124
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus incudes a guiding shaft extending in an axial direction; a reading portion supported by the shaft so as to be movable in the axial direction; a casing accommodating the reading portion, the casing including a first supporting portion supporting an end portion of the shaft and a second supporting portion supporting the other end portion of the shaft; and an elastically deformable bonding portion bonding the casing and the shaft with each other, the bonding portion being provided between the first supporting portion and the second supporting portion in the axial direction and between the casing and the shaft in a diametrical direction perpendicular to the axial direction. The shaft is supported by the first supporting portion, the second supporting portion and the bonding portion, without contact to the casing except for the first supporting portion and the second supporting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akira Urita
  • Patent number: 11330126
    Abstract: An image reading device includes a tray having a document, first and second rollers, a reading unit to read a document image of the conveyed document at a reading position, and a controller to selectively execute first and second controls. In the first control, the controller changes a drive speed of the first and second rollers from a first to a second speed faster than the first speed after the document reaches the first roller and before the document passes through the reading position, and changes the first and second rollers drive speed from the second to the first speed after the document reaches the second roller and before the image is completely read. In the second control, the controller maintains the first and second rollers drive speed in a section from a position where the document reaches the first roller to a position where the image reading completes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Hino
  • Patent number: 11330125
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a scanner unit, an image forming unit, a frame, a first adjustment mechanism, and a second adjustment mechanism. The scanner unit has an image reading section. The image forming unit forms an image read by the scanner unit on a sheet. The frame includes a first support section and a second support section. The first support section supports the image forming unit. The second support section is positioned below the scanner unit. The first adjustment mechanism steplessly adjusts a distance in an up-down direction between the scanner unit and the second support section. The second adjustment mechanism gradually adjusts the distance in the up-down direction between the scanner unit and the second support section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koichi Ando
  • Patent number: 11290607
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a reading processing unit that acquires image data including an image of a document placed on a document placement unit. A first detection processing unit detects a first line image whose width or density exceeds a predetermined first threshold value from the image data. A second detection processing unit detects a rectangular area that is defined by the first line image, included in the image data, and satisfies a predetermined detection condition. A third detection processing unit detects a second line image whose width or density exceeds a second threshold value smaller than the first threshold value from the rectangular area. A fourth detection processing unit detects, as document areas of the respective documents, the rectangular area not divided by the second line image and divided areas included in the rectangular area divided by the second line image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Yabuuchi
  • Patent number: 11290611
    Abstract: A document reading apparatus includes a document supporting portion, a conveyance portion, a driving motor, an image reading unit, and a control portion. The control portion is configured to execute a high speed mode in which the conveyance speed is set to a first conveyance speed and a low speed mode in which the conveyance speed is set to a second conveyance speed slower than the first conveyance speed. When the control portion executes the low speed mode, if the document has a first thickness, the control portion is configured to execute a first low speed mode where a first drive speed is set to the driving motor. If the document has a second thickness thicker than the first thickness, the control portion is configured to execute a second low speed mode where a second drive speed faster than the first drive speed is set to the driving motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaki Omori, Seiji Nishizawa
  • Patent number: 11283951
    Abstract: A lateral slide member includes first locked portions and a second locked portion and is configured to be displaced between a first lock position and a first release position. A vertical slide member includes a second locking portion that restricts the lateral slide member from being displaced from the first lock position to the first release position, the vertical slide member configured to be displaced between a second lock position and a second release position. A swing member includes a contacted portion and a third locking portion. A cover projection portion includes a third locked portion that is locked to the third locking portion and thereby restricts a document sheet cover from moving upward. When a document sheet reading unit is closed, a main body projection portion pushes up the contacted portion to hold the swing member at a third release position, allowing the contacted portion to extend diagonally upward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Nobuhiro Fukuma
  • Patent number: 11258911
    Abstract: An image processing device includes a processor configured to: obtain image information obtained by reading a sheet that is folded with an intention that a folding line is formed at a position apart from a sheet center position in a specific direction by a predetermined distance, using an image reading device in a state in which a short folded piece of the sheet faces a sensor surface; obtain positions of two edges that are opposite to each other across a folding back of the sheet in the image information; and detect a deviation amount of the folding line based on the positions of the two edges and the predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Kenji Sawai, Shogo Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11252295
    Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a stacking tray, a feeding portion, a first restricting member which includes a first restricting surface and a first supporting portion, a second restricting member which includes a second restricting surface and a second supporting portion, and an interrelating portion. In a state in which the first restricting surface and the second restricting surface are brought closest to each other, a part of the first restricting portion is positioned on a second restricting surface side with respect to a center line of the stacking tray, and a part of the second restricting portion is positioned on a first restricting surface side with respect to the center line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takuya Kawasumi
  • Patent number: 11240396
    Abstract: An image data transfer control device includes a first interface, a first and a second memory, a processor, and a second interface. The first interface acquires image data transferred in predetermined units. The first memory stores inclination correction data corresponding to the inclination of a print head, and correction position data indicating a correction position included in at least one divided image line among the predetermined number of divided image lines including each divided image line group. The second memory stores correction target image data at the correction position. The processor selects each divided image line group based on the inclination correction data, and specifies first and second correction target image data. The second interface outputs the second divided image line group including the first correction target image data instead of the second correction target image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masami Ohshima
  • Patent number: 11233917
    Abstract: A lighting device includes a rod-shaped light guide, a light guide holder, and an opening optically communicating with the hole. The opening is formed in a first flat surface opposite to a surface into which an end surface of the light guide is inserted. The device also includes a housing, a light source base plate, and a base plate protection layer being formed on a region of the light source base plate other than at least a region on which a light source element is formed. At least one of the light source base plate and the second flat surface of the base plate protection layer is pressed against the housing or the first flat surface at a position at which light emitted by the light source element enters the end surface of the light guide exposed from the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toru Aramaki, Hideki Matsui, Hiroshi Koike
  • Patent number: 11233914
    Abstract: In an image reading apparatus, a controller detects a plurality of detection points along a first edge, sets one of the detection points arranged along the first edge which is closest to a center of a sheet placement area in a second axial direction, and determines a reference read position in the second axial direction, based on the selected detection point. Furthermore, the controller detects a plurality of detection points along a second edge, sets one of the detection points arranged along the second edge which is closest to a center of the sheet placement area in a first axial direction, and determines a reference read position in the first axial direction, based on the selected detection point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shintaro Miyamoto, Yoshiyuki Okazawa, Kensuke Tamai
  • Patent number: 11218610
    Abstract: A reading apparatus includes a transport unit that transports a document along a transport path, a multi feed detection unit that detects multi feed for a transport document that is the document being transported by the transport unit, a reading unit that reads the transported document, and a controller that controls the transport unit, wherein the controller acquires a multi feed length that is a length of a range in which multi feed occurs in the transported document according to a detection result of multi feed by the multi feed detection unit, causes the transport unit to stop transport of a document following the transport document by when the multi feed length is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value for the multi feed length, and causes the transport unit to perform transport of the following document when the multi feed length is less than the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Wataru Beppu
  • Patent number: 11199732
    Abstract: An optical device includes a lens body including plural lenses of which optical axes are arranged alongside each other, and a light shielding body that is disposed with respect to the lens body and shields a part of light passing through the plural lenses, in which the light shielding body has a base that is provided, at a position shifted from the optical axes of the plural lenses, along an arrangement direction in which the plural lenses are arranged, and plural projecting portions that are positioned between the plural lenses and project from the base in an intersection direction intersecting the arrangement direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventor: Masaki Hachisuga
  • Patent number: 11196891
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a main body part and an openable part. On an upper surface of the main body part, a first reading surface, a second reading surface and a first guide part arranged between the two reading surfaces are provided. When a direction parallel to a direction in which an original passes over the second reading surface is defined as a first direction, and a direction parallel to the second reading surface and orthogonal to the first direction is defined as a second direction, on the upper surface, a positioning convex part having a curved surface curved downward when viewed in the second direction is provided on an extended line of the first guide part. On a lower surface of the openable part, a positioning concave part having two inclined surfaces respectively contacting the curved surface when viewed in the second direction is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Oyama, Yoshihiro Okamoto
  • Patent number: 11196889
    Abstract: A reading apparatus includes: a light-shielding member having a thickness T in which plural through-holes having a diameter D through which light reflected from a document passes are formed at an interval P; an optical member that includes a surface separated from and facing the light-shielding member and including lenses formed at positions facing the through-holes, in which a light-shielding film is formed on at least the surface other than a lens surface of the lens, and a distance L from the light-shielding member in an optical axis direction of the lens satisfies 0<L?T (P/D?1); and a substrate that includes an element that receives light passing through the optical member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Sawada
  • Patent number: 11190656
    Abstract: An image scanning unit optically scans an image of a predetermined scanning area that includes a platen glass on which a document is put. A document cover is capable of rotation and covers the platen glass. A first movable member moves in a direction substantially perpendicular to the platen glass in accordance with opening and closing of the document cover. A second movable member moves in a direction substantially parallel to the platen glass in accordance with movement of the first movable member when the first movable member contacts. A cover status detecting unit obtains the image from the image scanning unit and detects a status of the document cover on the basis of an image of the second movable member in the scanning area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Inventor: Akizo Otani
  • Patent number: 11184501
    Abstract: The reading device of the present disclosure includes a housing, a first irradiation part, an imaging device, and a first diffusion part. The housing has an opening in an upper portion with a transparent reading window member. The first irradiation part emits an infrared light. The imaging device is disposed on a bottom portion such that an optical axis is directed to a reading window member. The first diffusion part is disposed on a left side wall connecting the upper and bottom portions. The first diffusion part diffuses the infrared light. The first diffusion part is made up of a light-transmitting first diffusion plate and a light-transmitting second diffusion plate. The first diffusion plate is disposed on the bottom surface side and inclined toward the upper portion. The second diffusion plate is disposed on the upper surface side and inclined toward the bottom portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomoko Iiyama
  • Patent number: 11172086
    Abstract: A drawer mechanism includes a housing, a drawer, and a connector. The housing has at least one open side. The drawer is incorporated in the housing and insertable into and drawable from the open side of the housing. The connector connects the housing and a rear side of the drawer in a drawing direction of the drawer. The connector includes a first pivoting member, a second pivoting member, and a biasing member. The biasing member is disposed at a contact portion between the first pivoting member and the second pivoting member and configured to bias the first pivoting member and the second pivoting member in directions in which the first pivoting member and the second pivoting member are closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Endo
  • Patent number: 11146702
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes: an apparatus main body having a recording unit that performs recording onto a recording medium; and a document reading mechanism unit having a reading unit that reads a document and a document transport unit that transports a document to the reading unit, the document reading mechanism unit being provided in an upper part of the apparatus main body, wherein the apparatus main body includes: a feed roller that feeds the recording medium toward the front of the apparatus; and a frame having a frame surface intersecting the horizontal direction, the frame being located between the feed roller and the recording unit in an apparatus depth direction, and a part of the document reading mechanism unit overlaps the feed roller in the apparatus depth direction, and overlaps the frame in the vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shintaro Miyamoto, Keisuke Sasaki, Koichi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 11146703
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus in which tilt is suppressed when inserting a flexible flat cable into a connector mounted on a circuit board on which an image sensor is also mounted. The flexible flat cable transmits an image signal output from the image sensor to a controller, and is inserted into the connector for electrically connecting the image sensor with the controller. The circuit board is fixed by adhesive to a carriage. The connector is mounted at an end portion of the circuit board in a first direction which is a main scanning direction. A thickness direction of the circuit board is a second direction, and a third direction is orthogonal to the first and second directions. The flexible flat cable is inserted into the connector along the third direction, and the adhesive is filled between a surface at the end portion of the circuit board and an opposing wall portion of the carriage, wherein the surface extends in the first and second directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomofumi Sakuma