Patents Examined by Leslie Nicholson, III
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Patent number: 12208979Abstract: A feeding device includes a receptacle, a conveyor, an elastic member, and a load adjuster. The receptacle is vertically movable and holds a stack of sheets. The conveyor feeds an uppermost sheet of the stack of sheets on the receptacle in a feeding direction in which a sheet of the stack of sheets is fed. The elastic member biases the receptacle to press the uppermost sheet of the stack of sheets on the receptacle against the conveyor. At least when a height of the stack of sheets on the receptacle is equal to or greater than a given value, the load adjuster applies a reduced magnitude of load downward to the stack of sheets on the receptacle in response to a decrease in the height of the stack of sheets.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2022Date of Patent: January 28, 2025Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Mizuna Tanaka
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Patent number: 12208982Abstract: A feeding unit includes a retard roller, a first holder, a second holder, an accommodating portion, a pressing portion, a second pressing portion, a release lever, and a second restricting portion. The accommodating portion accommodates the second holder. The second pressing portion presses the second holder in a +Z direction. The release lever restricts the movement of the second holder in the +Z direction. The second holder is provided with a plurality of restricted portions in a Y direction and a +A direction, respectively. The second restricting portion restricts the movement of the second holder in a ?Z direction. The second restricting portion has a restricting surface. The restricting surface is provided in the accommodating portion and is configured to come into contact with the plurality of restricted portions.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2023Date of Patent: January 28, 2025Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Katsuyuki Kondo, Junko Ao
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Patent number: 12208983Abstract: A stacking device for generating decks (10) of sheet elements (12) comprises a transport device with an upper side onto which sheet elements (12) are arranged on separate sheet sections (50). Each sheet section (50) is adapted to transport at least one sheet element (12). The upper side has a height offset between adjacent sheet sections (50). A displacement element shifts sheet elements (12) of one sheet section (50) onto an adjacent sheet section (50) in order to produce the deck (10) of sheet elements (12).Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2020Date of Patent: January 28, 2025Assignee: BOBST MEX SAInventor: Pierre Robadey
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Patent number: 12202693Abstract: A paper sorting device includes: a stacking conveyor that receives continuously fed cut sheets to stack the cut sheets by sorting unit and that continuously conveys stacked cut sheets downstream on a unit-by-unit basis; and a stacker section arranged downstream of the stacking conveyor, capable of continuously stacking the stacked cut sheets conveyed from the stacking conveyor, at different positions on a placement surface.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2022Date of Patent: January 21, 2025Assignee: DUPLO SEIKO CORPORATIONInventor: Haruka Takemoto
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Patent number: 12202691Abstract: A sheet discharging apparatus includes a stacking portion, a first conveyance portion, a detection portion, a second conveyance portion, a third conveyance portion, and a control portion. The control portion is configured to execute a discharge operation by causing the sheet discharging apparatus to reverse a conveyance direction of a first sheet conveyed from the first conveyance portion to the second conveyance portion and deliver the first sheet to the third conveyance portion by using the second conveyance portion, convey the first sheet toward the second conveyance portion by the third conveyance portion, and discharge the first sheet and the second sheet to the stacking portion by using the second conveyance portion in a state where the first sheet and the second sheet are superimposed on each other.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2021Date of Patent: January 21, 2025Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Nobutoshi Sugai, Takuro Mita
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Patent number: 12202703Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a print portion that prints an image on a sheet passing by a print position, and an inserter that inserts an insert sheet between sheets conveyed one after another. In a print job involving an insert process, the print portion conveys, while securing an insert interval between a preceding sheet, which is a sheet immediately preceding the insert sheet, and a succeeding sheet, which is a sheet immediately following the insert sheet, the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet one after another. The print portion automatically changes the insert interval according to the length of the insert sheet in the conveyance direction.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2022Date of Patent: January 21, 2025Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventor: Yuki Fukasawa
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Patent number: 12202695Abstract: A post process device 200 configured to perform a post process on a medium received from a recording device 10, includes a post process section 60 configured to perform the post process, an installation section 112 disposed below the post process section 60 in the gravity direction, a first leg section 106 that is fixed to the installation section 112 and that extends from the installation section 112 toward the post process section 60, a second leg section 108 that is fixed to the installation section 112 at a position different from the first leg section 106 and that extends from the installation section 112 toward the post process section 60, a control section 201 configured to control an operation of the post process device 200, and a control section support 202 configured to support the control section 201 and configured to connect the first leg section 106 and the second leg section 108.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2023Date of Patent: January 21, 2025Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Hiroshi Shiobara
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Patent number: 12195291Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sheet conveying device includes a tray, a pickup roller, a movement mechanism, a holder, a biasing unit, and a detecting mechanism. The movement mechanism moves the tray between a raised position and a lowered position. The raised position is a position where sheets come into contact with the pickup roller. The holder holds the pickup roller so that the pickup roller is displaceable when pushed up by the sheets. The biasing unit applies a biasing force to the holder pushing down the pickup roller. The detecting mechanism detects when the sheets push up the pickup roller. The detecting mechanism includes a detection unit and a sensor. The detection unit is switchable between a reference position and a detection position according to displacement of the holder accompanying the movement of the tray. The sensor detects when the detection unit reaches the detection position.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2022Date of Patent: January 14, 2025Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kenji Takashima, Eizo Kurita, Toshiaki Oshiro
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Patent number: 12195295Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a stacking portion on which sheets targeted for sheet processing are stacked. In the apparatus, a control unit generates, in a buffer section provided in a conveyance path for conveying sheets to the stacking portion, a sheet bundle in which positions of sheets conveyed on the conveyance path are shifted in sequence to an upstream side in a conveyance direction and overlapped. An alignment unit performs alignment processing in the conveyance direction on the sheet bundle stacked on the stacking portion. A processing unit performs sheet processing on the sheet bundle on which the alignment processing has been performed. The control unit controls shift amounts of the positions of the sheets when the sheets are overlapped in the buffer section in sequence, according to sizes of the sheets conveyed on the conveyance path.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2023Date of Patent: January 14, 2025Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Taro Ishifune
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Patent number: 12180029Abstract: A platen conveyance device includes a first conveyance path, a platen supporter, a second conveyance path, and a positioner. The first conveyance path is configured to convey a platen to a pretreatment device. The platen supporter is configured to support the platen conveyed by the first conveyance path. The second conveyance path is provided with the platen supporter. The second conveyance path is configured to convey the platen supporter to a printer. The positioner is configured to position the platen supported by the platen supporter at a prescribed printing position in a first direction in a horizontal direction.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2022Date of Patent: December 31, 2024Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tetsuro Kobayashi, Shuichi Tamaki, Yutaka Takagiwa
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Patent number: 12180022Abstract: A first feed device adjusts an intermittent feed amount thereof based on output of a first sensor such that a design position of a first panel is aligned with a first fixing position during every pause phase of an intermittent feed cycle. A second feed device adjusts tension of a second panel and an intermittent feed amount of a feed unit based on output of at least one second sensor such that a design position of the second panel is aligned with a second fixing position during every pause phase of an intermittent feed cycle. A third feed device adjusts an intermittent feed amount thereof based on output of a third sensor such that the design position of the first panel is aligned with the second fixing position during every pause phase of an intermittent feed cycle.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2020Date of Patent: December 31, 2024Assignee: Totani CorporationInventors: Yuji Ohnishi, Toshiki Nagasawa
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Patent number: 12172861Abstract: A medium processing apparatus includes a liquid applier, a crimper, a stapler, and circuitry. The liquid applier applies liquid to a liquid application position of a medium. The crimper presses and deforms at least a part to which the liquid is applied by the liquid applier, to bind a plurality of media including the medium to which the liquid is applied. The stapler performs stapling with a staple on a medium bundle in which the plurality of media is bound by the crimper. The circuitry controls operations of the crimper, the liquid applier, and the stapler, and selectively switches between first binding performed by the liquid applier and the crimper and second binding performed by only the stapler, in accordance with information on the medium or a binding position at which the medium bundle is bound by the crimper.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2023Date of Patent: December 24, 2024Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Kohta Abe, Kei Sasaki, Kazuki Seto, Kazuki Mishina, Naoki Kobayashi
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Patent number: 12172862Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a stacking unit including a plate, a feeding unit including a roller, a holder including a detected member, a drive unit and a controller. The detected member is positioned in a first position where the detected member is not detected by a detector in a case that the feeding unit is new, and is moved from the first position to a second position where the detected member is projected so as to be detected by the detector when the new feeding unit is mounted on the holder and the roller is driven. The controller controls the drive unit to perform up-and-down operation of the plate so that the plate is set to a feedable state of the sheet in a case that the feeding unit is mounted, and determines whether or not the feeding unit is new based on a detection result of the detector.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2022Date of Patent: December 24, 2024Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masato Suzuki, Kenichirou Isobe, Eiji Wakiyama, Takashi Yano, Hidehiro Ushiozu
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Patent number: 12172857Abstract: A medium transport apparatus includes a first and a second transport path, a third transport path formed the first transport path and the second transport path merging at a merging point, a door that is displaceable between a closed state in which the door forms at least a portion of the first transport path and an opened state in which at least a portion of the first transport path is opened, and a switching section that is arranged at the merging point and that is, while the door is in the closed state, displaceable between a first state in which the second transport path is opened and a second state in which the first transport path is opened, wherein when the door is in the opened state, the switching section is displaced to a third state in which at least a portion of the second transport path is opened.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2022Date of Patent: December 24, 2024Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Masashi Ogawa, Ryoichi Morisawa
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Patent number: 12168346Abstract: A feed tray configured to accommodate a roll, in which a sheet-shaped medium is rolled in a roll shape, the feed tray includes: a support portion configured to contact an outer peripheral surface of a lower portion of the roll at two support positions with a lower end of the roll being interposed therebetween and to rotatably support the roll; and a path having an inlet disposed between the two support positions and configured to guide the sheet-shaped medium unrolled from the roll. The two support positions are shifted from each other in an upper-lower direction.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2022Date of Patent: December 17, 2024Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yuya Tatematsu, Satoshi Miyase, Hideaki Yoshimune
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Patent number: 12168587Abstract: A folding apparatus for a continuous web for production of absorbent hygiene articles and intended to be folded into a āVā or āUā shape in first and second longitudinal portions along a folding line parallel to a feeding line. A folding section includes a contact unit extending along the feeding line and defining the folding line. First and second guides are positioned on opposite sides of the contact unit and respectively have first and second sliding surfaces. The first and second sliding surfaces extend in a helical fashion along the feeding line, each having a respective infeed section, where the web is not folded, and a respective outfeed section, positioned downstream of the respective infeed section according to a web feeding direction, where the web is folded in two and has the first portion and the second portion set at an angle to each other.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2019Date of Patent: December 17, 2024Assignee: GDM S.P.A.Inventors: Aldo Fusar Poli, Marco Rosani, Matteo Piantoni
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Patent number: 12162712Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a folding unit, a fold reinforcing unit, and a control unit. The folding unit folds a sheet and forms a fold line thereon. The fold reinforcing unit includes a fold reinforcing roller. The fold reinforcing roller sandwiches the fold line on the sheet formed by the folding unit and moves in a fold-line direction in which the fold line extends. The control unit moves the fold reinforcing roller from a first position close to a first end of the fold line on a first side in the fold-line direction to a second position close to a second end of the fold line on a second side opposite to the first side. The control unit can execute, at this time, a division movement mode including a reversal return operation. The reversal return operation is an operation of reversing a movement direction of the fold reinforcing roller to the first side at a middle portion of the fold line and then returning the movement direction of the fold reinforcing roller to the second side.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2023Date of Patent: December 10, 2024Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Mikio Yamamoto
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Patent number: 12162710Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a stacking portion on which a print medium printed by a printing unit configured to perform printing is stacked, a discharge unit configured to discharge the print medium printed by the printing unit to the stacking portion, a passage forming portion arranged facing the stacking portion and configured to form a discharge passage of the print medium together with the stacking portion, and an outlet port located at a downstream end of the stacking portion and a downstream end of the passage forming portion in a conveying direction of the print medium. The passage forming portion includes an opening/closing portion which is displaceable between a closed position for forming the discharge passage and an open position for opening access to the stacking portion.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2023Date of Patent: December 10, 2024Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tsutomu Obata, Yoshiaki Suzuki, Kenji Shimamura, Ryoya Shinjo, Ryosuke Araki
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Patent number: 12162714Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a separator to separate an uppermost layer from a bundle of sheets stacked on a sheet stacker, a conveyor to convey a sheet of the uppermost layer one by one along a sheet conveyance path, and a first air blowing port and a second air blowing port disposed along the sheet conveyance path, to blow air upstream in a sheet conveyance direction. The second air blowing port is disposed downstream from the first air blowing port.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2022Date of Patent: December 10, 2024Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Toshihiro Okutsu, Junya Suzuki
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Patent number: 12157300Abstract: A printing apparatus, having a conveyer configured to convey a recording medium along a first conveying direction, an image recorder to record an image on the recording medium supported by a supporting portion, a liquid storage arranged on an outside of the supporting portion in a direction intersecting with the first conveying direction, a cutter assembly to cut the recording medium, and a controller, is provided. The controller is configured to move the cutter assembly to an outside of the supporting portion in a scanning direction, which intersects with the first conveying direction, to cut the recording medium; and control the cutter assembly to stand by at a standby position located on a side of the supporting portion opposite to the side, on which the liquid storage is arranged, on the other outside of the supporting portion in the scanning direction.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2022Date of Patent: December 3, 2024Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Takuya Tsuji