Patents Examined by Howard J Sanders
  • Sheet supplying apparatus, image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 11136208
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide method for receiving sheets for a sheet supplying apparatus. The method includes converting an up and down motion of a tray to a rotational motion of a rotary member by a movement conversion mechanism, converting the rotational motion of the rotary member around a rotational axis to a linear motion of a cylindrical member parallel to the rotational axis by the rotary member and a cam and slider mechanism, and elastically pressing an end portion of the cylindrical member of the cam and slider mechanism in the rotational axis direction to lift the tray by a compression spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Wataru Ikeda
  • Medium transporting device, image reading apparatus, and recording apparatus
    Patent number: 11130645
    Abstract: A medium transporting device includes a driving roller that transports a medium and that is driven to rotate, a driven roller that nips the medium between the driving roller and the driven roller and rotates in accordance with the rotation of the driving roller, a rotary shaft of the driven roller, a first pressing member that presses the rotary shaft in a direction in which the driven roller comes into contact with the driving roller, a second pressing member that presses the rotary shaft in a direction in which the driven roller comes into contact with the driving roller, and a spacer member that is integrally provided with a first spacer interposed between the rotary shaft and the first pressing member and a second spacer interposed between the rotary shaft and the second pressing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Anami, Naoki Sakamoto
  • Medium transport device and recording apparatus
    Patent number: 11123998
    Abstract: A medium transport device includes a first transport route for discharging a medium processed by a processing unit to an outer side of a housing in which the processing unit is provided, and a second transport route for discharging a medium processed by the processing unit to the outer side of the housing. The housing has an openable/closeable or detachable cover, and at least one of the first transport route and a route forming member constituting the first transport route and at least one of the second transport route and a route forming member constituting the second transport route to be exposed by opening or detaching of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Otsuka, Kazuhisa Takeda
  • Banknote stacking and separating apparatus and banknote processing device
    Patent number: 11113920
    Abstract: A banknote stacking and separating apparatus includes a frame, and a guide plate and a pressing plate that are disposed on the frame. The frame is provided with an entrance-and-exit for a banknote. One end of the guide plate adjacent to the entrance-and-exit is pivotally connected to the frame, and the guide plate is operative to rotate around an axis of a pivoting shaft and is configured to guide a moving direction of the banknote when the banknote is being collected. The pressing plate is configured to support the collected banknotes and press the banknotes towards the guide plate while the banknotes are being separated. One end of the guide plate far away from the entrance-and-exit is provided with a force-releasing surface configured to support the guide plate when the pressing plate presses the banknotes towards the guide plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Shandong New Beiyang Information Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ping Qu, Zhenxing Zhao, Bingqing Liu, Chuntao Wang
  • Sheet conveyor and image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 11111093
    Abstract: A sheet conveyor includes a separation roller, a retard roller forming a nip with the separation roller, and a load application device configured to apply a load to the retard roller. The load application device includes a motor, a first drive train, a second torque limiter isolated from the first drive train, and a controller. The first drive train includes a plurality of gears for transmitting a driving force from the motor to the retard roller, a first torque limiter, and a clutch disposed between the motor and the first torque limiter. The second torque limiter is configured to communicate with the retard roller. The controller is configured to, during conveyance of a sheet, control the clutch to allow transmission of the driving force from the motor for a predetermined time period and to interrupt transmission of the driving force from the motor after expiration of the predetermined time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Ichikawa
  • Recording material processing apparatus including alignment unit for aligning recording materials and image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 11112743
    Abstract: A recording material processing apparatus includes: a first stacking unit configured to stack a recording material; a second stacking unit provided on a downstream side of the first stacking unit in a conveyance direction of the recording material; an alignment unit configured to align the recording material stacked in the first stacking unit before the recording material is discharged to the second stacking unit; and a control unit configured to perform control of discharging the recording material to the second stacking unit by switching between first control not to align the recording material by the alignment unit and second control to align the recording material by the alignment unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Genki Takahashi, Kazuhisa Sato, Seiji Yokoyama
  • Sheet supporting apparatus and image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 11097917
    Abstract: A sheet supporting apparatus includes first and second units. The first unit includes a first housing, first and second lock portions, a first shaft configured to be supported rotatably with respect to the first housing and to turnably support the first lock portion, and a second shaft configured to be supported rotatably with respect to the first housing and to turnably support the second lock portion. The second unit includes a second housing and first and second engagement portions provided in the second housing and configured to engage respectively with the first and second lock portions. The first and second shafts are disposed such that extension lines of rotational axes of the first and second shafts cross with each other in a plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasuaki Matsumoto
  • Loading apparatus and printer
    Patent number: 11091345
    Abstract: A loading apparatus including a support surface facing forward and inclined vertically downward from a paper exit of a printer body and configured to come into contact with a first surface of a printed material, the first surface forming a vertically downward surface in the paper exit, a braking member provided near the paper exit and configured to come into contact with the first surface and to hold a part, whixh contacts therewith, of the printed material, and a stopper configured to come into contact with a downstream leading end of the printed material at a paper ejection direction in which the printed material is ejected. The stopper is configured to be located at a first position and a second position on the support surface, in which a distance between the second position and the paper exit is greater than a distance between the first position and the paper exit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Keishi Sawada
  • Apparatus for aligning notes of value
    Patent number: 11084677
    Abstract: An apparatus for aligning at least one note of value along a transport path has at least one transport element and at least one first drive unit for driving the transport element. The driven transport element moves the note of value along the transport path in a transport direction. The transport element includes an endless drive belt, which is deflected over at least two rotatably mounted deflecting elements and a second drive unit for displacing one of the deflecting elements along its axis of rotation. By displacing the deflecting element, the note of value contacting the belt is moved obliquely to the transport direction. A further apparatus includes at least one vane wheel by which the note of value is movable transversely to the transport direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Wincor Nixdorf International GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Langhuber, Thomas Kemmerling, Michael Schild, Ludger Hoischen, Paul Freitag
  • Belt driving device with steering roller
    Patent number: 11072506
    Abstract: An imaging system comprises a pair of belt rollers to drive an endless belt along a belt path, the pair of belt rollers comprising a first roller and a second roller. A steering roller is located between the first roller and the second roller. The steering roller is tiltable to engage the endless belt. A wheel is located at an end of the first roller in abutment with an edge of the endless belt, to move along a rotation axis of the first roller, in an outward direction, when the endless belt shifts toward the wheel. A link mechanism transfers a movement of the wheel in the outward direction, to a tilting of the steering roller, in order to urge the endless belt to shift away from the wheel toward the belt path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Koji Miyake, Satoru Hori, Yuji Aoshima, Kensuke Nakajima
  • Media stops
    Patent number: 11072509
    Abstract: An example apparatus includes a media receiving portion having a leading edge receiving region and a trailing edge receiving region for receiving media traveling onto the media receiving portion in a direction from the trailing edge receiving portion the leading edge receiving portion. The example apparatus further includes a leading edge stop coupled to the media receiving portion at the leading edge receiving portion. The leading edge stop is resiliently coupled to the media receiving portion to bias against movement of the leading edge stop from a resting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Kevin Lo, Daniel Fredrickson, Tim Roels, Brett Thomas Buchholtz, Steven Brown, Hunter Dane Cantrell
  • Arrangement with a receipt printer arranged in a housing
    Patent number: 11065896
    Abstract: An arrangement includes a receipt printer for printing a receipt arranged in a housing. The housing includes a pivoting lid which in an open state allows access to the receipt printer and in a closed state prevents access to the receipt printer. The lid has an opening through which a receipt printed by the receipt printer can be output in the closed state. The arrangement has a receipt output unit which in the closed state is arranged in the opening of the lid opposite to the receipt printer, at least a first receipt guiding unit and at least a first elastically deformable element for spring-mounting at least one component of the first receipt guiding unit. The receipt printer has a second receipt guiding unit. The first receipt guiding unit is engaged with the second receipt guiding unit when the lid is moved from the open state into the closed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Wincor Nixdorf International GmbH
    Inventor: Sascha Groepper
  • Sheet storing apparatus and sheet storing method
    Patent number: 11059689
    Abstract: A sheet storing apparatus includes: a compression section that performs first compression and second compression by applying a pressing force to sheets stored in a bag; and a control section that controls the pressing force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: GLORY LTD.
    Inventors: Yoichi Takemura, Tomohiro Yokoo
  • Image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 11061353
    Abstract: An upstream roller pair and a downstream roller pair are disposed on a first conveyance path and configured to perform a reverse conveyance operation on a sheet. The upstream roller pair includes a first roller and a second roller abutting with each other. The downstream roller pair is configured to nip and convey a sheet by a third roller and a fourth roller in a state that areas in a width direction where a plurality of first rotary members contact a first surface of a sheet do not overlap with areas in the width direction where a plurality of second rotary members contact a second surface of a sheet opposite to the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takayuki Mizuta, Kenichirou Isobe, Tomooku Koyama
  • Machine tool
    Patent number: 11027417
    Abstract: A machine tool includes a workpiece spindle that retains a workpiece or a tool, a spindle motor that rotates the workpiece spindle, an in-machine robot that is provided inside the machine tool and that is an articulated robot having one or more joints, and a plurality of gears that connect or disconnect a root joint which is placed, among the one or more joints, closest to a base end, and the spindle motor to or from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: OKUMA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shoichi Morimura
  • Suction roller structure for an interleaving machine
    Patent number: 11027933
    Abstract: Suction roller structure for the pneumatic transport of sheets inside an interfolding unit, comprising a suction source, an external roller (3) rotating with respect to the cylinder (1) and provided with longitudinal rows of bores (4) angularly spaced and selectively communicating with said internal cavity (2) during the angular rotation of the roller (3), a distribution of pneumatic valves (5) that are normally closed, inserted between said internal cavity (2) and at least one bore (4), cam means (6) operatively associated with the rotation of the roller (3) and arranged to open one or more of said valves (5) at one or more angular positions taken by the roller (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: UNITED CONVERTING S.R.L.
    Inventors: Giuseppe Lupi, Angelo Torri, Gianluca Giometti
  • Printing apparatus with jam release mechanism
    Patent number: 11001469
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes: a conveyor including a first pair of conveyance rollers and a second pair of conveyance rollers each configured to nip and convey a sheet; a first jam releaser configured to separate rollers of the first pair of conveyance rollers from each other; a second jam releaser configured to separate rollers of the second pair of conveyance rollers from each other; and a controller configured to control the conveyor. In stopping sheet conveyance by the conveyor upon occurrence of a failure, the controller controls the conveyor to prevent a sheet from being nipped only by the first pair of conveyance rollers prior to separation of the rollers of the first pair of conveyance rollers from each other by the first jam releaser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: RISO KAGAKU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Nakamura
  • Sheet stacking device and imaging forming apparatus provided with same
    Patent number: 10968059
    Abstract: A sheet stacking device includes a sheet accommodating unit, a pair of wall portions and a loading plate. The sheet accommodating unit has an open upper surface part and accommodates sheets therein. The sheets have a pair of first side edges extending in a first direction and a pair of second side edges perpendicular to the first direction. The pair of wall portions stands to face the first side edges of the sheets. The loading plate is arranged in the sheet accommodating unit. Each of the pair of wall portions includes a first observation port for exposing one end of the first side edges of the sheets in the first direction and an one area of the inner part outer than the one end in the first direction to outside of the sheet accommodating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Yamaguchi
  • Sheet conveying apparatus
    Patent number: 10961068
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes: a plurality of driving parts each connected to one end of corresponding one of a respective plurality of rotating shafts; a first torque adjuster connected to another end of each of the plurality of rotating shafts, the first torque adjuster applying first torque to the plurality of driving parts; a second torque adjuster that applies, to the driving parts, second torque for adjusting the first torque to be applied to the driving parts by the first torque adjuster; and a hardware processor that controls the second torque to be applied to the driving parts in the second torque adjuster in accordance with a number of revolutions of the driving part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Miyajima, Takanobu Shiki, Tadayuki Ueda, Hiroshi Oyama, Remi Ishikawa
  • Device for separating sheet material
    Patent number: 10947071
    Abstract: A device for separating sheet material has an actuator and a sheet material holder coupled thereto. The actuator is designed for moving the sheet material holder. The sheet material holder is designed for receiving an individual sheet material piece from a sheet material stack in which the sheet material pieces are arranged in a layered manner one above another along a vertical direction. The actuator is designed to set the sheet material holder into an oscillating rotational movement about a rotation axis that lies substantially parallel to the vertical direction, in order to receive the individual sheet material piece from the sheet material stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Wincor Nixdorfinternational GmbH
    Inventors: Mathias Lochbichler, Christopher Lankeit, Martin Landwehr, Ludger Hoischen