Patents Examined by Jennifer E Simmons
  • Patent number: 10414616
    Abstract: A post-processing apparatus includes a tray receiving an ejected recording medium, a moving mechanism vertically moving the tray, a driving source driving the moving mechanism, a member pressing, from vertically above, a recording medium ejected to the tray, a rotational-driving mechanism driving the member so that the member rotates in a first direction away from an apparatus body when the tray is moved upward by the moving mechanism and that the member rotates in a second direction toward the apparatus body when the tray is moved downward by the moving mechanism, a rotation-angle limiting unit limiting a rotation angle of the member when the member is driven to rotate in the first direction and to rotate in the second direction, and a rotational-force limiting mechanism idling when a rotational force not lower than a predetermined force is applied to the rotational-driving mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jeman Shin, Soonyoung Kwon, Kyungyeul Ryu
  • Patent number: 10414619
    Abstract: A printing apparatus has a first binding unit for performing a binding process at any one of plural positions and a second binding unit for performing a binding process at a single position and prints images based on image data on sheets. If the binding process is performed using the first binding unit, the printing apparatus prints images on sheets according to the input order of the image data. If the binding process is performed using the second binding unit, the printing apparatus prints images on sheets according to the input order of the image data, or prints the images according to an order reversed from the input order of the image data, based on the orientation of the images of the image data, the single position and the orientation of the sheets used for printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshiro Tachibana
  • Patent number: 10411682
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring the cleanliness of molten metal. Direct current is passed through molten metal advancing through a passage. A voltage signal is analyzed for the presence of solid generally non-metallic inclusions in the metal. A method includes sampling digital data of the voltage signal to generate data samples; updating a delayed running average of the data samples to establish a baseline for identifying sudden changes in amplitude of the data samples; determining a threshold by adding a prescribed value to the baseline; identifying a possible inclusion when a significant number of data samples exceeds the threshold; storing a maximum count as the data samples using peak detection until a prescribed number of the data samples fall below the threshold; and comparing a parameter of the possible inclusion with a lookup table to categorize the possible inclusion as either (i) an actual inclusion or (ii) noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Novelis Inc.
    Inventors: Leslie Calvin Hildenbrandt, Gary Thornton
  • Patent number: 10399812
    Abstract: Disclosed is a sheet processing apparatus which includes: a supporting portion in which a sheet which has been conveyed is stacked; a pushing member configured to push the sheet with an abutting portion of the pushing member in order to fold the sheet supported on the supporting portion; and a setting portion configured to set a pushing position at which the pushing member pushes the sheet with a score to a position at which the sheet is to be folded at the score, wherein a center of the abutting portion does not coincides with a center of the score of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuki Uchida
  • Patent number: 10371143
    Abstract: A system for determining health of a component is provided. The system includes an operational parameter module associated with the component and in communication with a controller. The controller is configured to receive an operating parameter signal from the operational parameter module. The controller is configured to monitor a change of the operating parameter over a predetermined time period. The controller is configured to compare the monitored operating parameter with a first predetermined threshold. The controller is configured to determine a rate of change of the monitored operating parameter over the predetermined time period. The controller is also configured to compare the determined rate of change with a second predetermined threshold. The controller is further configured to determine the health of the component based, at least in part, on the comparisons with the first and second predetermined thresholds respectively and one or more additional parameters associated with the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew W. Billing, Brian G. Wheeler, Michael J. Campagna, Dereck G. Heffron
  • Patent number: 10370216
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit to form an image on a sheet, an intermediate processing tray where sheets conveyed through a first conveyance path are stacked as a sheet bundle, a sensor disposed at a second conveyance path to detect a conveyed sheet bundle, and a stacking tray in which sheets discharged through a discharging path diverging from the first conveyance path are stacked. In response to a sensor detected paper jam, a control unit determines the intermediate processing tray as the discharging destination for a sheet among the remaining sheets, and determines the stacking tray as the discharging destination for a sheet among the remaining sheets. After the paper jam is cleared, the control unit causes execution of bookbinding and cutting for a sheet bundle including the remaining sheets stacked in the intermediate processing tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yutaka Ando, Akinobu Nishikata, Takashi Yokoya, Akihiro Arai
  • Patent number: 10375763
    Abstract: A processing system includes a thermo viewer 51 which measures a temperature distribution over a top surface of a semiconductor wafer; a temperature measuring device 14 which measures, for each of divided areas of the semiconductor wafer, a temperature of a portion in the divided area; a median value calculating unit 202 which calculates, for each divided area, a median value of a temperature distribution of the divided area, based on the temperature distribution measured by the thermo viewer 51; an offset calculating unit 204 which calculates, for each divided area, a difference between the median value and the temperature of the portion as an offset; and a temperature control unit 205 which controls, for each divided area, the temperature of the divided area such that the median value becomes equal to a set temperature, based on the offset and the temperature measured by the temperature measuring device 14.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Daisuke Hayashi, Masato Takayama
  • Patent number: 10363757
    Abstract: A sheet processing device for pressing a fold line formed in a sheet, the sheet processing device comprises a pressing portion configured to press a sheet while rotating about a rotation axis. The pressing portion includes a pressing unit having a projecting shape, disposed over a predetermined range in a direction of the rotation axis to have a position in a rotation direction about the rotation axis changed according to the direction of the rotation axis, and an impact absorbing member provided at a part of the pressing unit of the pressing portion, abutting on the sheet at first in the rotation direction of the pressing portion, the impact absorbing member configured to reduce impact upon abutting on the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Akikazu Iwata, Hiroshi Nishino, Yu Yamaya, Ryohei Morisaki, Norihiko Murakami, Maki Nishide
  • Patent number: 10364121
    Abstract: A sheet cutting apparatus includes a cutting unit configured to cut a sheet, a blowing unit configured to send air toward the cutting unit, a container unit configured to contain scraps generated when the sheet is cut, a scrap path configured to allow the scraps travelling toward the container unit from the cutting unit to pass through, wherein the scrap path is formed of a member provided with openings for allowing the air sent by the blowing unit to pass through.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shigeo Doi
  • Patent number: 10357844
    Abstract: A method of monitoring in real time pressure resistance welding of a cladding tube and an end plug. The method includes: a first step of detecting welding information including voltage, current, and welding force in a process of pressure resistance welding of a cladding tube and an end plug; a second step of comparing static factors obtained by calculating effective values for the welding information with predetermined reference values, respectively; a third step of calculating dynamic factors for the welding information including the gradient of instantaneous welding force, when the reference values are satisfied in the second step; and a fourth step of determining whether there is defect or not in welding quality by comparing the dynamic factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignees: KEPCO NUCLEAR FUEL CO., LTD., MONITECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tae Hyung Na, Dong Soo Hwang, Mi Hye Ko, Kyung Woo Choi
  • Patent number: 10359356
    Abstract: A tool abnormality detection system corrects a monitoring range for a load on a tool in an Mth cycle by using load data of at least one of 1st to (M?1)th cycles (where M is an integer of 2 or more), wherein processing work on a single workpiece corresponds to a single cycle, and the load data is data about the load on the tool in the cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI MACHINE MFG. CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinya Kumazaki, Kazuya Furukawa
  • Patent number: 10358314
    Abstract: A postpress system (1) and method for producing and processing product units (P), in particular printed end products (P) with printed product collections comprising a plurality of products, selected from the group of wrapping products, and a plurality of part products and/or inserts, to make route adapted stacks or packs, at least some of the printed end products (P) being product units which have been customized for specific addressees are proposed. By using feed devices (3) which each comprise a supply conveyor (31), a preparation circuit (32) with a plurality of transport units (321) and an output conveyor (33), printed products (D) are fed in a controlled fashion to the holding units (21) with reliability. A sorting device (6) with at least one directing group with at least one gate (62), a transit section (612) and at least one supply section is used to correct faults, or deviations in the product sequence from the production sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: FERAG AG
    Inventor: Alex Keller
  • Patent number: 10358313
    Abstract: A sheet processing device includes a binding mechanism that has two pivot members opposed to each other to pivot on a pivot and binds sheets with a pressure by clamping the sheets between the two pivot members, a transmission member that transmits a force to pivot the two pivot members, and an intermediate member that transmits, to the binding mechanism, the force from the transmission member as the pressure with which the two pivot members clamp the sheets. When the intermediate member is in contact with the transmission member to transmit the force from the transmission member to the binding mechanism, the transmission member is held between the intermediate member and a shaft member provided at the pivot of the binding mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yutaka Nobe, Satoshi Kurihara
  • Patent number: 10352751
    Abstract: A control apparatus for detecting a variation of a fluid level in a tank is disclosed. The control apparatus includes an Electronic Control Unit connected to the fluid level sensor. The ECU is configured to monitor a signal value representative of a fluid level in the tank; filter the fluid level signal value using a first filter to obtain a first filtered signal and using a second filter to obtain a second filtered signal, the first filter having a time constant (?1) lower than a time constant (?2) of the second filter; calculate an integral value of a difference between the first filtered signal and the second filtered signal; and generate a signal representative of the detection of an increase in the fluid level in the tank when the integral value is greater than a predefined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Igor Zanetti, Giovanni David
  • Patent number: 10343395
    Abstract: A device for printing hollow bodies includes a rubber blanket cylinder. A supply device, which guides the hollow bodies to the rubber blanket cylinder, is provided. The supply device comprises a mandrel which is rotated by a drive. One of the hollow bodies to be printed is arranged coaxially on the mandrel. An axial spacing between the mandrel and the rubber blanket cylinder can be changed as a result of an adjusting movement of the supply device. The adjusting movement of the supply device is a linear adjusting movement. The supply device is configured as a linear system which radially supplies the hollow bodies to the rubber blanket cylinder individually and one after the other. The supply device has multiple different positions, each of which places the respective hollow body to be printed, along the adjustment path of the supply device. The positions are arranged at different respective radial distances with respect to the rubber blanket cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer AG
    Inventors: Ewald Röthlein, Thomas Schneider
  • Patent number: 10322903
    Abstract: A printing control apparatus configured to control a binding unit configured to perform a binding processing for binding sheets without using a staple includes a control unit that controls the biding unit to divide sheets subjected to printing into sheet groups in units of a number of sheets bindable by the binding unit, and to apply the binding processing to each of sheet groups or controls another binding unit to bind the sheets subjected to printing using a staple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: So Yokomizo
  • Patent number: 10324409
    Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus for folding a sheet is provided with a hold member that holds a transported sheet in a substantially cylindrical shape, a shift member that presses the outer circumferential surface of the sheet of the substantially cylindrical shape held by the hold member to make a substantially flat shape, and a discharge section that further presses the sheet made the substantially flat shape by the shift member, while discharging in a direction crossing a transport direction. By this means, it is possible to provide a relatively compact sheet folding apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: CANON FINETECH NISCA INC.
    Inventor: Misao Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10317303
    Abstract: A unitary tension and torque calibration apparatus consists of a unitary device which has a hollow rotary torque transducer for calibrating the torque of a rotating torque tightening tool. At the same time the torque of the tool is being calibrated, a reaction arm attached to the transducer reacts against rotation to induce stress on the metal component being calibrated. The axial forces generated within the metal component by rotation, opposed by the reaction arm, results in tension which is calibrated by a piston driven load cell secured directly to the transducer. Display devices attached to the transducer and load cell simultaneously and contemporaneously show the calibrated results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Inventor: Steven Spirer
  • Patent number: 10310435
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a sheet post-processing apparatus according to the embodiment includes a paddle member and a controller. The paddle member rotates around a rotating shaft, presses a plurality of sheets held on a processing tray against a stopper and aligns ends of the sheets in a sheet transport direction. After the ends of the sheets in the sheet transport direction are aligned, the controller further rotates the paddle member, and stops rotation of the paddle member in a state that the paddle member comes in contact with the sheets held on the processing tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Taki
  • Patent number: 10300716
    Abstract: An apparatus and a printing method for lottery or betting terminals are disclosed, wherein a printed document is separated from a continuous strip of paper and then moved sideways to a document stacking zone according to a direction that is transverse to the document, which, by passing above two lateral protrusions, undergoes the folding of two lateral edges that, after passing over the protrusions, return to a normal position owing to the elasticity of the paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Custom S.P.A.
    Inventor: Alberto Campanini