Patents Examined by Jennifer Bahls
  • Patent number: 11442390
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes conveyance passage forming bodies to define a sheet conveyance passage, a nip forming body to form a conveying nip region in the sheet conveyance passage, and a flexible plate body having a support portion to be attached to another body and having a downstream-side end portion as a free end in a sheet conveying direction. The support portion of the flexible plate body is located on an upstream side in the sheet conveying direction with respect to the conveying nip region. The free end being located on a downstream side in the sheet conveying direction with respect to the conveying nip region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yuuki Shiga, Hideto Higaki, Jumpei Aoyama, Hirofumi Horita, Junpei Kamichi
  • Patent number: 11435688
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an upper transport part and a lower transport part that are disposed vertically side by side in an apparatus body and transport a recording material, a relay section that is disposed at an upper part of the apparatus body and further transports the recording material transported from the lower transport part and that places the recording material transported from the upper transport part on an upper surface of the relay section, a post-processing section that is disposed on a side surface of the apparatus body, receives the recording material via the relay section, and performs post-processing, and a control unit that performs a control such that the recording material is transported from the upper transport part to the upper surface of the relay section in a case where the recording material is a long sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Takumi Uegane, Jun Noguchi, Eri Fukui
  • Patent number: 11434099
    Abstract: A media processing apparatus includes a media transporter, a stacking portion on which media are stacked, a binding processing portion that binds an upstream end portion of a media bundle, a pair of ejection rollers that eject the media bundle, and a displacement mechanism that displaces a first roller of the pair of ejection rollers to a nipping position at which the media bundle is nipped and a separated position at which the first roller is separated from the media bundle, in which, when the media bundle, the upstream end portion of which is closed, is to be ejected from the stacking portion, the first roller is disposed in the nipping position and ejection of the media bundle is started, the first roller is displaced to the separated position during ejection of the media bundle, and, thereafter, the first roller is disposed again at the nipping position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Furumido, Masaki Miyazawa, Masayoshi Miyakawa, Hiroki Chino
  • Patent number: 11427422
    Abstract: A measurement apparatus including: a conveyance unit configured to convey a sheet in a conveyance direction; a measurement portion configured to measure an image formed on the sheet; a first movement unit configured to move the measurement portion in a predetermined direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction; a second movement unit configured to move the measurement portion to a first position and a second position farther apart from the sheet than the first position; and a first abutment member, a second abutment member, a third abutment member, and a fourth abutment member, which abut against the sheet when the measurement portion is located at the first position. When the measurement portion is moved from the second position to the first position, the third abutment member and the fourth abutment member are brought into abutment against the sheet earlier than the first abutment member and the second abutment member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Naoto Tokuma
  • Patent number: 11429048
    Abstract: A transmission unit transmits driving force to be supplied from a motor to a roller pair. A switching unit acts on the transmission unit to switch a rotation direction of the roller pair by the driving force between a normal rotation and a reverse rotation. A control unit controls a rotation speed of the motor to convey the sheet at a second conveyance speed in a part of a first time period. The second conveyance speed is lower than a first conveyance speed. The first conveyance speed is a conveyance speed when the sheet is conveyed in the image forming unit. In the first time period the sheet having the image formed on the first surface is conveyed in a first direction. In a second time period the sheet is conveyed in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Marehiko Hirajima, Shimpei Ishikawa, Keisuke Fujita, Junichi Sekiyama
  • Patent number: 11428612
    Abstract: A measurement device is configured to set an observation surface on a surface of a structure as a measurement surface to measure a change of the measurement surface as a measurement surface change vector. An estimator is configured to generate an estimation model based on a shape model obtained by modeling a shape of the structure. The estimator is configured to acquire a coefficient vector by solving a norm minimization problem by setting, as parameters, a measurement surface change vector and a part of the estimation model. The coefficient vector forms a sparse solution. The estimator is configured to estimate a change of a crack occurrence surface by determining a candidate surface, which is inside the structure and assumed to have a crack, as the crack occurrence surface, based on the coefficient vector and another part of the estimation model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignees: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION, MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC RESEARCH LABORATORIES, INC.
    Inventors: Norihiko Hana, Masao Akiyoshi, Dehong Liu
  • Patent number: 11415924
    Abstract: A sorting device includes a base portion, a tray portion, and a tray driving portion. The tray driving portion includes a motor, a supporting shaft, an input member, an output member, a link mechanism, and an urging member. The input member includes a first boss portion movably supported on the supporting shaft, and is reciprocatable up and down along the supporting shaft. The output member has a second boss portion coupled with the first boss portion via a ratchet mechanism. The link mechanism converts a rotary motion of the output member to a linear motion of the tray portion. The ratchet mechanism operates such that, when a predetermined or heavier load is applied to the output member via the tray portion, the input member is pushed down against the urging force of the urging member and engagement between the first and second ratchet teeth is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Tomoyasu Yamada
  • Patent number: 11413857
    Abstract: A bearing assembly (26) is described. It is suitable for supporting a printing cylinder or an anilox roll in a printing machine and comprises at least one roller bearing (28, 30) being configured for receiving a shaft (12b, 14b, 16b) associated with the printing cylinder or the anilox roll. Additionally, it has a first support part (32) carrying the roller bearing (28, 30) and a second support part (34) being a carrier element of the printing machine or being configured for being mounted to a carrier element of the printing machine. Furthermore, a fluid chamber (36) is provided acting between the roller bearing (28, 30) and the second support part (34). Moreover, a printing machine is presented wherein a shaft (12b, 14b, 16b) associated with a printing cylinder or an anilox roll thereof is supported by such a bearing assembly (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: BOBST BIELEFELD GMBH
    Inventors: Jorg Fortmann, Alexander Sudermann
  • Patent number: 11401123
    Abstract: A print device includes: a first opening via which a print medium is to be inserted or ejected; a second opening via which the print medium is to be ejected; a transport roller that transports the print medium; a housing that contains a transport route; a first sensor that detects presence of the print medium; and a second sensor that detects the presence of the print medium on an upstream side of the first sensor; and a processor. When a command designates the print medium to be ejected to the outside via the second opening and a length of the print medium determined from the detection states of the first and the second sensors is shorter than or equal to a predetermined length, the processor ejects the print medium to the outside via the first opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Kinoshita, Azusa Kitahara
  • Patent number: 11404223
    Abstract: A method for diagnosing the state of wear of an electrical switching unit including an electrical unit monitoring phase. The monitoring phase uses learning data loaded previously and representative of the type of electrical unit, and initialization data corresponding to the unit to be monitored and stored in an initialization phase. The monitoring phase includes the measurement and the acquisition of a measurement curve on opening the electrical unit, the determination of the value of local descriptors of the measurement curve as a function of values of the measurement curve, of initialization data and of learning data, the determination of the positioning of local descriptor values, the determination of an overall state class as a function of the positioning values. The device and the electrical unit implement the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
    Inventors: Mael Eugene Alain Remy, Jose Desforges, Francois Jean Maurice Rolard
  • Patent number: 11390067
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a printing unit with an automated sleeve change process. A sleeve can be prepared for the next printing job while the current job is running, thereby reducing the changeover time. Also, the printing unit can handle printing sleeves of very different sizes without any special additional adjustments to be made. The printing unit translates the printing roller and the inking roller on a horizontal line to engage and dis-engage the printing roller. The invention is convenient for large printing sleeves because the sleeve can be slipped over a shaft that remains in the unit. The setup results in a very rigid system, which guarantees an excellent printing quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: BOBST FIRENZE S.R.L.
    Inventors: Francesco Biancalani, Federico D'Annunzio, Ludovico Frati, Giacomo Maccalli, Mauro Maccalli
  • Patent number: 11391638
    Abstract: The present invention provides a more accurate device and method for measuring automobile horsepower, specifically the internal combustion engine, ICE horsepower at the crankshaft, or the electric motor(s') horsepower, or the combined ICE and electric motor(s') horsepower. It applies to automobiles that do not incorporate, or can disengage, regenerative braking, RGB. The proposed device and method measures horsepower in real road test conditions, through the utilization of an accelerometer that performs measurements of the automobile velocity, acceleration and deceleration, whereas the method provided may be also applied to chassis dynamometers, resulting into a more accurate horsepower measurement by such dynamometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Inventor: Dionysios Mylonas
  • Patent number: 11385138
    Abstract: The claimed method and system develops a useful lifetime profile for a component of a process control device, such as a valve, and uses that lifetime profile to determine a projected remaining lifetime for the device component in operation. The lifetime profile is developed from using real world operational data of similar process control devices, used under substantially the same operating conditions as to be experienced during operation. Profiles may be developed for numerous device components, from which a projected lifetime profile for the entire process control device is developed. Based on the projected remaining lifetime, notification warnings may be sent to remote computers and maintenance scheduling may be automatically achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventors: Ted Dennis Grabau, Shawn W. Anderson
  • Patent number: 11383507
    Abstract: There is described a printing press (100***; 100****) adapted to carry out printing on a sheet-like or web-like substrate (S), in particular for the production of security documents such as banknotes, comprising a printing unit (2*; 2**; 2***; 2****) designed to print a first side (I) and/or a second side (II) of the substrate (S). The printing press (100***; 100****) further comprises an in-line casting device (80; 80*; 80**; 80***) adapted to apply a layer of material acting as an optical medium on a portion of a first side (I, II) of the substrate (S) and to replicate and form a micro-optical structure (L) in the layer of material acting as optical medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignees: KBA-NOTASYS SA, DE LA RUE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
    Inventors: Robert Stierman, Ana Dimitrijevic, Martin Palme, Thomas Kersten, Aurélie Berthon, John Godfrey, Robert Whiteman, Lawrence Commander
  • Patent number: 11383949
    Abstract: Provided are a loading portion configured to load a medium discharged from a discharging portion, and a plurality of pressing portions provided downstream of the discharging portion in a discharging direction of the medium, and configured to press the medium loaded on the loading portion. The loading portion includes a first loading portion including a downward sloped surface sloping downward in the discharging direction, and also includes a second loading portion including an upward sloped surface sloping upward in the discharging direction. The downward sloped surface and the upward sloped surface form a discharging path through which the medium is discharged. The plurality of pressing portions includes a first pressing portion configured to press the medium loaded on the first loading portion, and also includes a second pressing portion configured to press the medium loaded on the second loading portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shun Ito, Yosuke Nakano, Keiichi Yato, Haruna Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11370238
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes: an apparatus main body that includes a recording unit; a medium-receiving tray that is configured to be switched between a first state and a second state; and a motor, in which the medium-receiving tray includes a first tray, a second tray that is configured to be displaced with respect to the first tray and that is positioned further than the first tray from the apparatus main body when the medium-receiving tray is in the second state, a pinion gear engaged with a first rack formed in the first tray in a displacement direction of the second tray and with a second rack formed in the second tray in the displacement direction, and a displacement section that supports the pinion gear and that is displaced in the displacement direction in response to receiving power from the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Morio Iwata, Satoshi Yoshino
  • Patent number: 11370634
    Abstract: In order to enable a sheet to be properly guided to a nip portion in performing folding processing, a sheet processing apparatus for performing folding processing on a sheet is provided with a rotating body pair which nips the sheet by a nip portion to rotate, and thereby draws the sheet to perform folding processing, a folding blade that pushes the sheet to the nip portion of the rotating body pair, and a blade guide member including a guide portion for pushing the sheet to the nip portion when the folding blade pushes the sheet to the nip portion, where the folding blade and blade guide member are relatively shifted so that a distance from a push front edge portion to the guide portion when the folding blade pushes the sheet to the nip portion is longer than a distance from the front edge portion to the guide portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: CANON FINETECH NISCA INC.
    Inventor: Takuya Katayama
  • Patent number: 11373455
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for predicting electromechanical actuator health and remaining life include a method storing a reliability model coupled to a controlled actuator system comprising a motive force system coupled to a driven mechanical system. The motive force system is associated with motive force parameters. The driven mechanical system is associated with driven mechanical parameters. The reliability model represents a probability of failure of the controlled actuator system over time based on motive force parameters and driven mechanical parameters. Operational parameters of the controlled actuator system, received over time from a sensor system coupled to the controlled actuator system, include one of the motive force parameters or driven mechanical parameters. The operational parameters represent a degradation of the controlled actuator system over time. The reliability model is updated to represent a revised probability of failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventor: Miles W. Brim
  • Patent number: 11370943
    Abstract: An adhesive tape with a backing layer is longitudinally folded upon itself, creating an approximately 180-degree angle at each of two ends of the tape, and a first longitudinal section of multiple layers of the adhesive tape and a second longitudinal section of multiple layers of the adhesive tape such that the first section is positioned above and parallel to the second section. The folding does not crease the tape at either end of the tape. The first longitudinal section and second longitudinal section are maintained in contact or close proximity via a piece of tape, clip, rubber band, or other means, such that the adhesive tape is maintained in a flat profile. The adhesive tape in its flat profile can then be easily inserted into a United States first class letter-sized mailing envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Inventor: Peter Gold
  • Patent number: 11370229
    Abstract: An automatic transaction machine (ATM) prints on both sides of a document having a first side and a second side. A printer rotates about a printer axis allowing the printer to move between a first positon and a second position. A transport moves a document adjacent the printer in the first position. While in the first position the printer is configured to print on a first side of the document as the document passes the printer on the transport. A document spool with a spool axis receives the document from the transport and at least partially rotates the document so the first side of the document is facing toward the spool axis. The printer rotates about the printer axis to the second position to print on the second side of the document that is facing outward away from the spool axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael J. Harty, Aaron C. Graham, Sathish M. Irudayam