Patents Examined by Jeremy R. Severson
  • Patent number: 12145819
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, a transport route, a purge transport route, an image forming transport route, a transport roller, and a blowing machine. The image forming device forms an image on a sheet. The transport route extends to a predetermined position. The purge transport route extends to a downstream side in a sheet transport direction, from the predetermined position. The image forming transport route is branched from the purge transport route at the predetermined position, and extends toward the image forming device. The transport roller transports the sheet along the transport route, and along one of the purge transport route and the image forming transport route. The blowing machine delivers the sheet to one of the purge transport route and the image forming transport route, by blowing air to the sheet being transported along the transport route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Shinya Matsui
  • Patent number: 12148260
    Abstract: A bill storage unit of an automated teller machine according to an embodiment includes: a lower cassette and an upper cassette which have bills stored therein and are vertically stacked; an external control board disposed outside the lower cassette and the upper cassette to perform power supply and communication signal transmission to the lower cassette and the upper cassette; first and second internal control boards electrically connected to the external control board and disposed inside the lower cassette and the upper cassette to perform power supply and communication signal transmission to each of components inside the lower cassette and components inside the upper cassette; a plurality of connectors interconnected to electrically connect the external control board and the first and second internal control boards; and a position alignment means configured to, when the upper cassette is being stacked on the lower cassette, guide the plurality of connectors to be interconnected at correct positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: HYOSUNG TNS INC.
    Inventors: Tae Gang Kim, Ji Youn Cho, Gun Hyuk Lim, Chang Ho Lee, Sang Hyun Lee
  • Patent number: 12139359
    Abstract: A dump gate system having a pair of belts configured for rotation in opposite directions and spaced apart to define a gap between the belts. Fins extend outward from the belts. The fins may support an item in the gap when the belts are in a loading position. Each belt may have a tapered section extending from the top of the belt to a lower section of the belt. Each belt may taper toward the other belt in the tapered section to gradually reduce the width of a gap between the belts from the top of each belt to the lower section. The lower sections of the belts may be generally parallel to each other. A drive system may be configured to rotate the belts to move the fins from an initial loading position to a final loading position while items are fed into the gap for support by the fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2024
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: HALLMARK CARDS, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Huston Perry Hund, Douglas V. Henderson, Glen Orrin Coats
  • Patent number: 12136309
    Abstract: A deposit machine having a cassette with improved usability. The deposit machine includes a body and a header housing integrally fixed to one side of the body and having an infrared ray (IR) sensor and a magnetoresistance (MR) sensor mounted thereon. The IR and MR sensors detect whether banknotes are counterfeit banknotes and whether the banknotes are accommodated. A header cover openably and closably fixed to the header housing by a hinge to allow top of the header housing to be open. The cassette mounted inside the body accommodates banknotes supplied from the header housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: HANMEGA CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tae Sung Um
  • Patent number: 12134538
    Abstract: The sheet discharge device includes: a sheet discharge part; a sheet discharge tray having a tray upper surface and a rear wall portion; a fullness detection sensor for detecting that a height of a stack surface of folded sheets; and a first sheet presser member and a second sheet presser member for pressing a rear end side and a fore end side in a discharge direction, of the folded sheet. In a first pressing position in which the first sheet presser member extends from above the detection sensor to below the detection region, and is brought into contact with the folded sheet of a minimum size stacked on the tray upper surface. When a stack number of the folded sheets has exceeded a specified number, the first sheet presser member is retracted upward from the first pressing position by the rise of the stack surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Tadahisa Kishimoto
  • Patent number: 12129141
    Abstract: A medium ejection apparatus includes an ejection tray having a first stacking surface, and an extension tray rotatably attached to an end part of the ejection tray at a downstream side in a medium ejection direction, and having a second stacking surface. An end part of the ejection tray at the downstream side is provided with a first abutting part and a second abutting part. An end part of the extension tray at the ejection tray side is provided with a first abutted part and a second abutted part. The second stacking surface is located forming a first angle with respect to the first stacking surface by the first abutted part abutting against the first abutting part. The second stacking surface is located forming a second angle, different from the first angle, with respect to the first stacking surface by the second abutted part abutting against the first abutting part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: PFU LIMITED
    Inventor: Yuki Takato
  • Patent number: 12122627
    Abstract: A sheet sorting apparatus comprising a first tray, a second tray, a conveyance unit, a tray detection unit, a stacking amount detection unit, and a control unit configured to control the conveyance unit to not convey the sheet to the second tray, in a case where the stacking amount detection unit detects that the amount of sheets reaches the predetermined amount, wherein the control unit is configured to permit the conveyance unit to convey the sheet to the second tray, in a case where the tray detection unit detects that the first tray is detached from the apparatus main body in a state where the stacking amount detection unit detects that the amount of sheets reaches the predetermined amount and conveyance of the sheet to the second tray by the conveyance unit is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Genki Takahashi, Kazuhisa Sato
  • Patent number: 12120278
    Abstract: A multi-function apparatus employs an in-body sheet discharge type configuration. The image forming device includes a front door and a multi-purpose tray. The front door is movable between a closed position set along a side surface at one side of a case of the image forming device and an opened position opened at the one side with respect to the side surface. The front door has an opening formed therein. The multi-purpose tray is provided to be selectively located at a non-use state at which the multi-purpose tray closes the opening and an in-use position at which the multi-purpose tray opens the opening. When the front door is located at the closed position and the multi-purpose tray is located at the non-use position, an upper end surface of the multi-purpose tray is exposed upward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mariko Uchida, Yusuke Ikegami
  • Patent number: 12110204
    Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus includes an apparatus body, a body frame, a sheet conveyance passage, an elevating tray, and an elevating unit. The elevating unit has a pair of rails. The body frame has a plurality of vertical frame members extending in the vertical direction and horizontal frame members that extends in a horizontal direction and is joined to the plurality of vertical frame members. The pair of rails are formed integrally with, among the plurality of vertical frame members, a pair of vertical frame members provided corresponding to a second side surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Tashiro
  • Patent number: 12110203
    Abstract: Provided is a sheet storage apparatus including: an apparatus body; a sheet storage section; a top cover; a sheet feeding section; a restricting cursor; a blowing device; a sheet holding-down member; and a moving mechanism. The sheet storage section includes a sheet supply port, and a sheet stacking portion. The top cover is pivotable to an opening position and to a closing position. The blowing device includes a fan and a vent. The sheet holding-down member includes a restricting piece. The moving mechanism is coupled to the sheet holding-down member, moves the sheet holding-down member to a restricting position by coming into contact with the top cover under a state in which the top cover has come to the closing position, and moves the sheet holding-down member to a retracted position by separating from the top cover when the top cover is moved to the opening position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Satoshi Ando
  • Patent number: 12103803
    Abstract: A cassette comprises a storage portion configured to include a loading surface on which a sheet is loaded, a sheet guide configured to pivot with respect to a pivot central axis that is parallel to the loading surface, a pivot support shaft extending on two sides of the sheet guide along the pivot central axis, in the sheet guide, and a bearing portion configured to pivotably support the pivot support shaft, an insertion portion formed at a portion of the pivot support shaft, an insertion groove formed from the loading surface toward the bearing portion, and a flexible pressing portion disposed outside the insertion groove, and configured to press a leading end portion of the pivot support shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuji Kurata, Yosuke Kitagawa, Hideaki Nagahara, Yasushi Ishida, Toshiya Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 12092988
    Abstract: A sheet supporting apparatus includes a first casing, a sheet support to be drawn out in a first direction with respect to the first casing and to support a sheet, a first lock pivotably supported around a first pivot shaft by the first casing between a first lock position and a first non-lock position, and a second lock pivotably supported around a second pivot shaft by the first casing between a second lock position and a second non-lock position. A third lock is pivotably supported around a third pivot shaft by the first casing between a third lock position and a third non-lock position. The first casing includes a first support, a second support, a third support, and a fourth support each disposed on a top face of the first casing and configured to each support the second casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kunihiro Niwa, Yasuhiko Fuse
  • Patent number: 12090680
    Abstract: A sheet processing machine includes a processing device including a processing blade; a drive shaft related to an operation of the processing blade; a shaft drive motor; a rotational position detection unit that detects a rotational position of the drive shaft; a width direction drive motor that moves the processing device; and a control unit, in which the control unit controls the shaft drive motor so that the drive shaft is at a predetermined rotational position based on the rotational position of the drive shaft detected by the rotational position detection unit, and controls the width direction drive motor so that the processing device moves to a predetermined processing position while the drive shaft maintains the predetermined rotational position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Inventors: Masahiko Mori, Takaaki Maeda
  • Patent number: 12094254
    Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods are disclosed herein to transfer a printed election sheet from a printer to a scanner, which is separate and distinct from the printer, without human intervention. More specifically, the present disclosure provides a retrofit automatic document feeder (ADF), which may be “retrofit” or adaptively coupled between a printer and a scanner for automatically transferring a printed election sheet output from the printer to the scanner, where it is scanned to generate a scanned image of the printed election sheet. Unlike conventional ADFs incorporated within printers, scanners and multi-function printers, the retrofit ADF disclosed herein is coupled to receive a printed election sheet output from an output port of the printer, advance the printed election sheet away from the output port of printer and automatically transfer the printed election sheet to an input port of the scanner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Hart InterCivic, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Canter, Viktor Partyshev
  • Patent number: 12077403
    Abstract: A rotating device includes a shaft member, a counterpart member, a bearing, and a retaining member. The counterpart member includes a shaft insertion portion into which the shaft member is inserted. The bearing is disposed in the shaft insertion portion and interposed between the counterpart member and the shaft member. The bearing causes the counterpart member and the shaft member to be rotatable relative to each other. The retaining member is disposed on an end portion of the shaft member on one side in an axial direction of the shaft member. The counterpart member includes an opposing portion closer to the end portion of the shaft member on the one side in the axial direction than the bearing. The opposing portion faces the retaining member in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Takagi
  • Patent number: 12078221
    Abstract: An example flywheel energy storage device includes a fiber-resin composite shell having an elliptical ovoid shape. The example device also includes an axially oriented internal compressive support between the axial walls of the shell. The example device also includes an inner boss plate and an outer boss plate on each side of the shell. The example device also includes a plurality of radially oriented, fiber-resin composite helical wraps forming the shell and coupling the shell to the inner and outer boss plates for co-rotation and torque transfer. The example device also includes boss plate attachments on internal boss plate supports to mount the shell for co-rotation and torque transfer via resin bonding, friction, and compression between the inner and outer boss plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: KineticCore Solutions LLC
    Inventor: James B. Clegern
  • Patent number: 12053975
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a first roller that nips and conveys, in a conveyance direction, a printing medium, a second roller that nips and conveys the printing medium at a downstream side of the first roller in the conveyance direction, a print unit that prints an image on the printing medium conveyed by the second roller, and a control unit that, until printing by the print unit reaches a vicinity of a trailing end of a print length, sets a nip pressure of the first roller to a first pressure, and when printing by the print unit reaches the vicinity of the trailing end of the print length, sets the nip pressure of the first roller to a second pressure that is higher than the first pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noboru Hada, Masato Eiyama
  • Patent number: 12054352
    Abstract: A sheet conveyance device includes a rotary shaft, a conveyance roller, a driving source, and a gear. The gear rotates integrally with the rotary shaft and transmits a driving force from the driving source to the conveyance roller. The gear includes a tooth portion engaging with another gear, a wall surface forming a hole into which the rotary shaft is inserted, a deformable portion, and a pressing part. The deformable portion has a cantilever shape at least partially provided in an area provided with the tooth portion in a gear rotation axis direction. The pressing part protrudes from the wall surface toward the rotation center of the gear, and is elastically deformed by being pressed by the rotary shaft. The pressing part presses the rotary shaft toward the wall surface on a side opposite to the deformable portion in a state where the gear is attached to the rotary shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuki Uchida, Yuki Akamatsu
  • Patent number: 12043511
    Abstract: A sheet feeding mechanism includes a feeding path, at least one card feeding roller mounted to the feeding path, at least one paper feeding roller coaxial with the at least one card feeding roller, at least one card idle roller contacting with the at least one card feeding roller, at least one paper idle roller contacting with the at least one paper feeding roller, at least one elastic unit connected to the feeding path, and a stroke limiting unit. The at least one elastic unit is fastened to the feeding path. The at least one elastic unit has a stretching stroke. The stroke limiting unit controllably shortens the stretching stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Foxlink Image Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chih Yuan Yang
  • Patent number: 12043510
    Abstract: A belt feeding device includes an endless belt, stretching rollers including a tension roller, a bearing member supporting the tension roller, a beating support member supporting the bearing member, an urging member urging the tension roller, a supporting member supporting the bearing supporting member, and a locking member. The locking member is movable between a first position where an engagement between the locking member and one of the bearing support member and the bearing member is released and the bearing member is permitted to move so as to apply the tension to the belt, and a second position where the locking member locks the bearing member by engaging with the bearing support member and the bearing member and the bearing member is restricted to move. The bearing member, the bearing support member, the urging member, and the locking member constitute a unit to be integrally dismountable from the supporting in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takao Nakajima