Patents Examined by Howard J Sanders
  • Patent number: 12043509
    Abstract: A method for evaluating stacking or sorting integrity at an output device of a high-speed apparatus that processes media includes: acquiring an audio data substantially in real-time from the output device of the high-speed apparatus while the high-speed apparatus is in operation, by use of an audio sensor located at the output device; transforming by a processor, the audio data to into a stacking or sorting integrity value; and if the stacking or sorting integrity value exceeds a predetermined threshold, stopping by the processor a document transport of the high-speed apparatus. An apparatus for evaluating stacking or sorting integrity at an output device, and a system for evaluating stacking or sorting integrity at an output device of a high-speed apparatus are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Imaging Business Machines LLC
    Inventors: Robert L. Babanats, Peter Rudak, Anthony Pericolo, Daniel Phinney, Jack Mottley, Hsin J. Yeh, Veerendra Balchand, Jimmy Jieming Zhang
  • Patent number: 12037217
    Abstract: A paper sheet stacking device includes: a conveyance mechanism that conveys paper sheets; a stacking mechanism including a stacking space in which the paper sheets, which are conveyed by the conveyance mechanism, are stacked, a first space regulating member that moves in a thickness direction of the paper sheets in the stacking space, a support member that extends in the moving direction of the first space regulating member and supports one side of the paper sheets in the stacking space, and a second space regulating member that is provided to face the support member and moves in a direction toward and away from the support member; and a controller that controls the stacking mechanism. The controller controls a position of the second space regulating member in accordance with an outer dimension of the paper sheets that are conveyed into the stacking space by the conveyance mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: FUJITSU FRONTECH LIMITED
    Inventors: Takashi Wada, Yuji Tanaka, Katsuo Takahashi
  • Patent number: 12030738
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a housing; a feed tray insertable into and removable from the housing and accommodating a sheet-shaped medium; a feed roller feeding the sheet-shaped medium; an image forming device; and a movement mechanism. The feed tray includes: a first accommodation portion accommodating a roll body, a first sheet-shaped medium being rolled in a roll shape as the roll body; and a second accommodation portion accommodating a second sheet-shaped medium which is shorter than the first sheet-shaped medium. The movement mechanism moves to a first position where the feed roller contacts the first sheet-shaped medium unrolled from the roll body accommodated in the first accommodation portion and a second position where the feed roller contacts the second sheet-shaped medium accommodated in the second accommodation portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuya Tatematsu, Masatomo Yamaguchi, Satoshi Miyase, Kengo Noda, Gakuro Kanazawa, Nao Morimoto
  • Patent number: 12024385
    Abstract: A medium feeder includes: a path blocking member configured to rotate to switch between a blocking state that blocks a feed path for a medium fed out from a tray at a position of the guide member, and an open state that opens the feed path; and a switching unit that performs switching of the path blocking member, wherein the switching unit includes a rack configured to be displaced in a feeding direction in which a medium is fed from the tray to thereby perform switching of the path blocking member, and a pinion gear that drives the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toshio Miyake, Haruki Miyasaka
  • 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: 12017879
    Abstract: A paper blocking device includes a pick roller, a cover plate, a paper blocking component, a driving mechanism, a gear mechanism and a motor. The cover plate has a pick roller window penetrated the cover plate. The pick roller is positioned in the pick roller window. The paper blocking component is coupled to the cover plate. The driving mechanism has a driving shaft and a cam being connected to the driving shaft. The cam is connected to the paper blocking component. The gear mechanism is connected to the driving shaft. The motor is connected to the gear mechanism. As described above, the paper blocking device can block papers and align the leading edges of papers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Foxlink Image Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei Fong Lin, Yuan Yi Lin, Sheng Kai Lin
  • 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: 12006182
    Abstract: A medium feeding device includes a medium placing portion, a feeding roller that feeds paper, a medium movement detecting portion that is positioned on a placing region of the paper of the medium placing portion in a medium feeding direction and is capable of detecting movement of the paper being fed in a width direction intersecting the medium feeding direction, and a controller that stops feeding of the paper in a case in which a physical quantity relating to movement of paper in the width direction exceeds a predetermined threshold based on a detected result by the medium movement detecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Shiota, Kazutoshi Nishida, Kiyotaka Nakamura
  • Patent number: 12002318
    Abstract: A device for transporting notes of value comprises a first idler pulley mounted in the device and at least a second idler pulley mounted in the device, as well as an endless belt running around the idler pulleys, and a freely rotatable guide roller mounted in the device and having at least one connecting area for reception in a receiving opening of the device. The axis of rotation of the guide roller has in a first receiving position of the connecting area in the receiving opening a first orthogonal distance to a plane in which the axes of rotation of the idler pulleys run. The axis of rotation of the guide roller has in a second receiving position of the connecting area in the receiving opening a second orthogonal distance to the plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: WINCOR NIXDORF INTERNATIONAL GMBH
    Inventor: Alexander Uhl
  • Patent number: 11999582
    Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a stacking portion, a sheet detecting portion including a movable member, a first sheet feeding roller, a second sheet feeding roller, and a sheet separating member. When the first feeding roller is in a sheet feeding position, with respect to a widthwise direction of the sheet perpendicular to a sheet feeding direction, a contact position where the movable member contacts the sheet is in a region in which the first sheet feeding roller contacts the sheet, as viewed in the sheet feeding direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuya Yamaguchi, Takeshi Hino
  • Patent number: 11993476
    Abstract: At the point in time when it is determined that the number of sheets constituting one sheet bundle exceeds the maximum number of sheets that can be crimp-bound, a sheet bundle that has already been shifted to a crimp-binding position is discharged to a crimp-binding discharge position without being subjected to crimp-binding. Thereafter, succeeding sheets are shifted as a bundle to the crimp-binding position and discharged to the crimp-binding discharge position without being subjected to crimp-binding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: CANON FINETECH NISCA INC.
    Inventors: Toshiki Osada, Natsuki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11975937
    Abstract: A feeding unit includes: a retard roller; a holder section; a protruding section; an accommodating section; a pressing section; a first restricting section; and a second restricting section. The holder section rotatably holds the retard roller. The protruding section serves as a rocking fulcrum of the holder section. The accommodating section accommodates the holder section. The pressing section presses the holder section. The first restricting section restricts movement of the holder section in a retreating direction. The second restricting section restricts movement of the holder section in a direction opposite to the retreating direction. The pressing section is arranged so as to deviate in a Y direction with respect to a virtual line passing through a middle point of the protruding section and a middle point of the first restricting section. The holder section comes into contact with the first restricting section and the second restricting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Kondo, Junko Ao
  • Patent number: 11975938
    Abstract: A sheet transport device includes a transport unit, a load section, and a sheet accommodation section. The transport unit has a transport path along which a sheet read at a read position is transported to an output unit. The sheet output by the output unit is loaded onto the load section. The sheet accommodation section is disposed downstream in an output direction of the sheet from an inner wall surface extending upward adjacent to the load section and has a recess capable of accommodating a sheet of a predetermined minimum size. A retrieval space through which the sheet accommodated in the sheet accommodation section is retrievable is provided by exposing the transport path in a direction opposite to a loading direction of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Yosuke Takahashi, Masato Serikawa, Takakiyo Toba, Yuta Abe, Isamu Adachi
  • Patent number: 11964835
    Abstract: A medium feeding device includes a storage unit that stores media in a form of a sheet, a delivery unit that is disposed downstream in a medium delivery direction relative to the media stored in the storage unit and that delivers the media individually, a transfer unit that is disposed above the storage unit and that adheres by suction to each of the media stored in the storage unit and transfers the media to the delivery unit, and a fluffing unit that is disposed beside the media stored in the storage unit in a direction intersecting the medium delivery direction. The fluffing unit fluffs an upper-side region of the media in a state of being separated, by blowing air toward a side of the media during a feeding job of the media and during a post-feeding period that is a predetermined period after completion of the feeding job.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Yuichi Araki, Masahito Niwa
  • Patent number: 11964473
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes an image formation unit, a tray on which a medium is placed, a movement unit, and a control unit. The image formation unit includes a first head forming a first image and a second head forming a second image. The movement unit is provided so as to be capable of moving the tray to a first position at which the medium is placed and a second position serving as a reference position. The control unit switches between a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode, a starting position is moved to an image forming region, and the tray is not moved to the second position, and a movement direction is changed to form the first image and the second image. In the second mode, after the first image is formed, the tray is moved to the second position, and then the movement direction is changed to form the second image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yohei Nunokawa
  • Patent number: 11964840
    Abstract: A feeding apparatus for feeding a sheet-shaped medium includes: a stacking plate on which sheet-shaped media are stacked; a suction transport belt that is disposed above the stacking plate and causes a topmost one of the stacked sheet-shaped media to be sucked onto a belt lower surface and then rotates to carry out the topmost sheet-shaped medium to a destination; and a surrounding member that is provided in a hanging-down manner at least at left and right positions in a carrying-out direction around the suction transport belt so as to be movable up and down, surrounds a space below the belt lower surface, and is moved upward by contact with the sheet-shaped medium that is being sucked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventor: Shoichi Maeda
  • Patent number: 11964836
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus may include a main body and a cassette to enter or exit the main body along a first direction to be mounted in or released from the main body, respectively. The cassette may include a supporter extendable in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction to protrude from an exterior of the main body. The main body may include a lever which is movable in the first direction between a supporting position at which the lever supports the main body and a release position at which to allow the cassette to enter or exit the main body along the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Hoil Lee
  • Patent number: 11952233
    Abstract: A perforation device includes a shaft, a perforation motor, at least a first perforation portion, at least a second perforation portion, at least a first cam for reciprocating a first perforation blade in the first perforation portion, at least a second cam for reciprocating a second perforation blade in the second perforation portion, a rotation speed detecting portion, a home position detecting portion, and a controller. In second perforation processing in which the shaft is rotated one turn to perform first perforation with the first perforation portion and second perforation with the second perforation portion in sequence, the controller senses, with the rotation speed detecting portion, the rotation speed of the shaft after the first perforation blade penetrates the sheet in the first perforation and, based on the rotation speed detecting, the controller determines the timing of starting braking control in the second perforation and performs braking control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Rina Okada, Masahiko Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 11952229
    Abstract: A control device executes: either a first conveyance change control or a second conveyance change control; and a retraction control when an operation device receives an interruption operation during execution of a specified number stack control. In the first conveyance change control, a sheet conveyance device of a target unit is changed to a relay conveyance state, and the sheet conveyance device of another coupled unit that is present downstream of the target unit in a main conveyance direction is changed to a stack conveyance state. In the second conveyance change control, the sheet conveyance device of another coupled unit that is present upstream in the main conveyance direction is changed to the stack conveyance state. In the retraction control, a lift mechanism of the target unit is caused to execute a mount operation by which a stack tray is moved down to a mount position on a carriage portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Takeshi Matsuo
  • Patent number: 11945212
    Abstract: A printer includes a print station; a media transport mechanism arranged for conveying print media on a transport path past the print station, the transport mechanism having a support surface for supporting the media; and a vacuum device arranged for attracting the media against the support surface on a section of the transport path downstream of the print station. The vacuum device is divided, in the direction along the transport path, into at least two segments in which the media are attractable with different non-zero suction pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: CANON PRODUCTION PRINTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Marcel J. H. M. Haenen, Ludovicus M. Heijnders