Patents Examined by Patrick Cicchino
  • Patent number: 10968061
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet container accommodating a recording medium therein, a sheet separating feeder including a sheet feeding body and a sheet separating body, an image forming part, and a bend applier. The sheet feeding body feeds the recording medium along with a surface movement thereof while the recording medium contacting the surface thereof. The sheet separating body forms a sheet separation nip region with the sheet feeding body and sandwiches the recording medium in the sheet separation nip region. The sheet separating feeder separates and feeds the recording medium contacting the sheet feeding body. The image forming part forms an image on the recording medium. The bend applier having a leading end of an elastic material contacts and bends the recording medium before the sheet separation nip region and generates a wrinkle extending on the recording medium in a sheet conveying direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Jumpei Aoyama, Manabu Nonaka, Hajime Nishida, Hideki Tobinaga, Junpei Kamichi, Satoshi Kuno, Shun Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10961067
    Abstract: A medium feeding apparatus includes a feeding roller, a separation roller which nips a medium between the separation roller and the feeding roller to separate the medium and to which a driving torque is applied by a driving source in a second rotation direction that is opposite to a first rotation direction in which the medium is fed to a downstream side, and a torque limiter that causes the separation roller to idle in the first rotation direction when a rotational torque applied to the separation roller in the first rotation direction exceeds a limit torque that is a predetermined upper torque limit, in which separation setting including a pressing load of the separation roller, a rotational speed of the separation roller, and the limit torque is changeable according to condition of feeding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Ryoichi Shuto, Tsuyoshi Yamanaka, Kazuya Yoshikaie, Shinsuke Kogi
  • Patent number: 10948066
    Abstract: A sliding module having a sliding sleeve and at least one cam segment having at least one cam. The sliding sleeve has a positioning section for positioning the cam segment fixedly against rotation and displacement. The positioning section includes a surface structure on the outer circumferential face of the sliding sleeve for producing a press-fit connection between the cam segment and the sliding sleeve. A stop region is provided configured to limit an axial movement of the cam segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA TECCENTER AG, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventor: Volker Junge
  • Patent number: 10906765
    Abstract: A sheet stacking device includes a stacker, a detector, a blower, and a moving device. A sheet is stacked on the stacker. The detector detects a stacking amount of the sheet on the stacker. The blower blows air to the sheet stacked on the stacker. The moving device moves the blower with respect to the stacker based on the stacking amount of the sheet detected by the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Ruki Midorikawa
  • Patent number: 10870462
    Abstract: A bicycle handlebar cushioning system includes a mount that is contoured such that the mount is complementary in shape to a set of bicycle handlebars. The mount has a perimeter wall having a first end and a second end and is elongated from the first end to the second end. The perimeter wall has an elongated break therein extending between and through the first and second ends. The break receives the handlebars and the mount is resiliently bendable such that the mount snaps onto and frictionally engages the bicycle handlebars. The perimeter wall has an outer surface with an elongated trough therein. At least one cushioning member is provided and includes an insert that is removably positioned in the trough. The insert comprises a resiliently compressible material. A securing member releasably secures a bottom side of the insert to a bottom wall of the trough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Inventor: Robert K. Gulotta
  • Patent number: 10865064
    Abstract: A sheet stacker includes a sheet ejector, a sheet stack portion, and air blowers. The sheet ejector ejects a sheet. The sheet stack portion stacks the sheet ejected by the sheet ejector. The air blowers blow air from blow ports toward the sheet ejected from the sheet ejector. Each of the air blowers includes an air generator, an air guide, a first blow portion, a second blow portion, and a switcher. The air generator generates the air. The air guide guides the air to each of the blow ports. The first blow portion blows the air toward the sheet. The second blow portion blows the air in a direction different from a direction in which the first blow portion blows the air. The switcher performs switching so that the air guide guides the air to one of the first blow portion and the second blow portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki Kawasaki, Takahiro Itou, Hiroshi Hirako
  • Patent number: 10865060
    Abstract: To enable placement of a regulating member which regulates a position of an end of a paper sheet at a desired position, and stable sheet feeding. A fixing member for standard size is guided to engage with a fixing hole for standard size and, in a state where the fixing member for standard size positions a trailing end regulator, a fixing member for non-standard size does not engage with a rack gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Fuse, Shoichi Zensai, Takehito Osada
  • Patent number: 10865061
    Abstract: A driving force transmission mechanism includes a first transmission member and a second transmission member that are arranged on an identical rotational center axis. The first transmission member includes one or more transmission claws engaged with the second transmission member. The transmission claw includes, at a position away from the rotational center axis, a fixing portion with respect to the first transmission member, and extends in a direction crossing a direction directed from the fixing portion to the rotational center axis. The second transmission member includes one or more stoppers engaged with a tip end of the transmission claw and one or more holding portions engaged with a side of the transmission claw, which faces the rotational center axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaki Amemiya, Norio Tomita
  • Patent number: 10836420
    Abstract: A steering wheel sheath includes a carbon fiber-comprising composite element and a leather element. The composite element forms a notch and a receiving space axially. Two ends of the composite element extend to form two connection portions bending by a predetermined angle. Inner walls of openings at two ends of the leather element form two engaging portions corresponding in position to the two connection portions of the composite element. An adhesive is applied to outer walls of the two connection portions of the composite element or inner walls of the two engaging portions of the leather element; hence, the composite element and the leather element are connected, coupled and fixed together. The customized manufacturing process allows the steering wheel sheath to be mounted by users and enhances overall feel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Inventor: Po-Jen Lai
  • Patent number: 10837537
    Abstract: In a transmission including: a transmission shaft driven by an electric motor; and a case that supports the electric motor and the transmission shaft, the transmission includes an adapter that is interposed between the case and the electric motor to which the electric motor is attached. The adapter is in contact with one end of the transmission shaft in an axial direction of the transmission shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hajime Yoshimura, Atsushi Yamada, Takuya Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 10829325
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes a guide unit to guide a sheet conveyed by a sheet conveyance portion. The guide unit includes a first movable guide, a second movable guide, and a linking mechanism having an intermediate member through which the first and second movable guides are linked movably with respect to each other. A conveyance regulating portion is supported by the intermediate member and guides the sheet passing through a first conveyance path toward the sheet conveyance portion and guides the sheet that is switched back by the sheet conveyance portion toward a second conveyance path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takayuki Mizuta, Takehito Osada, Ken-ichiro Isobe
  • Patent number: 10829324
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sheet conveying device includes a conveying roller, a motor, a resist roller, a sensor, and a motor control unit. The conveying roller conveys a sheet. The motor rotates the conveying roller. The resist roller corrects an inclination of the sheet conveyed by the conveying roller. The sensor is positioned upstream of the resist roller and detects the sheet. The motor control unit determines that the sheet abuts on the resist roller after the sheet is detected by the sensor and rotates the motor by a predetermined number of rotations after it is determined that the sheet abuts on the resist roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Seiji Iino
  • Patent number: 10831229
    Abstract: A push-button equipment includes a pressel; a mounting collar for being installed on a base, such as a button panel, the mounting collar including a seat for receiving the pressel; the pressel including a pressing face for receiving a press of a user and being insertable in the seat of the mounting collar in a forward direction orthogonal to the pressing face. The pressel is movable in the seat into a locked position by rotating it in the seat around a rotational axis extending in said direction orthogonal to the pressing face. In said locked position the collar blocks the pressel from moving in backwards direction orthogonal to the pressing face out from the seat. A pressel for the push-button equipment and a push-button arrangement of an elevator are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Klaus Mäkelä, Mika Hautamäki
  • Patent number: 10823264
    Abstract: An actuator comprises a ball nut and a lock housing arranged radially outwardly of the ball nut and overlapping a proximal end of the ball nut when the ball nut is in a stowed position. The lock housing comprises a sleeve in which is located an aperture, and a locking element is retained within the aperture and can move in a radial direction through the aperture. When the ball nut is in the stowed position, the locking element engages with a locking projection on the ball nut, to retain the ball nut in the stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: GOODRICH ACTUATION SYSTEMS LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew Hawksworth, Antony Morgan
  • Patent number: 10823274
    Abstract: A case component of a transaxle includes: a bearing unit having a through-hole through with a shaft member is to be inserted; a matching surface unit having a matching surface on which another member is to be overlapped; bolt hole portions formed on the matching surface unit; bent wall portions, each having a V-shaped or U-shaped cross-section cut in a direction orthogonal to a straight line connecting a shaft center of the bearing unit and a shaft center of the bolt hole portions, each having a valley portion positioned on the straight line, and connecting the bearing unit and the respective bolt hole portions; and V-shaped portions, connected with the respective bent wall portions, provided on an outer circumference of the respective bolt hole portions, and protruding toward the bearing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Abe, Hiroaki Kimura, Hiroto Hashimoto, Takayuki Teramoto, Eita Hamada, Fumiaki Shigematsu
  • Patent number: 10815088
    Abstract: A medium processing apparatus includes: an ultrasonic oscillator; an ultrasonic sensor arranged at a position that opposes the ultrasonic oscillator interposing a transport path of a medium; an amplification circuit configured to amplify an output signal of the ultrasonic sensor; an integration circuit configured to integrate an output signal of the amplification circuit; a discharge circuit configured to perform discharge of an electric charge of a power storage circuit included in the integration circuit; and a determination circuit configured to determine whether or not multi-feed of the medium occurs on the basis of an output signal of the integration circuit, in which the discharge circuit stops, after performing discharge over a first period or more, the discharge, and after a second period has passed, the determination circuit performs a first (an initial) determination whether or not the multi-feed of the medium occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shinya Okazaki
  • Patent number: 10815085
    Abstract: A device for printing flat packages fed individually to a printing unit of a franking machine, pass the printing unit on one side and are guided on a side edge in the conveying direction, including a conveying apparatus which grips the packages at a front end and, by a guide plate forms a conveying plane of a conveying gap with an opposite conveying unit of the conveying apparatus. In the conveying direction, the conveying unit has two endless drawing devices next to each other which circulate a common axle on deflecting rollers, and the upper run of which, and the lower run of which are guided on running rollers mounted freely rotatably in pairs so as to lie opposite one another at pivotable ends of double lever arms assigned to the upper and the lower run, and supported on the inner side of the runs by spring force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: FRAMA AG
    Inventor: Thomas Peter Haug
  • Patent number: 10816132
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a resilient member aided counterbalancing and stabilizing device and method for resilient member aided counterbalancing and stabilizing loads in the direction of gravity. The device preferably includes a quick release mechanism in each design and a counterbalance assembly which in preferred embodiments is used to aid in the precise positioning of a stabilizer which in turn supports a load (e.g., a medical device). The quick release assembly in each stabilizer design preferably includes a central housing containing at least one ball joint(s) which is preferably connected to the counterbalancing linkage that supports the load. To unlock the mechanism, the user preferably squeezes a trigger mechanism which directly loosens the locks responsible for holding the load in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Inventor: Aaron Fenster
  • Patent number: 10807817
    Abstract: A sheet storage cassette includes a cassette base and inner rails. The cassette base has side plates facing each other parallel to insertion/withdrawal directions of the sheet storage cassette. The inner rails each have positioning bosses that protrude from each of different positions on the inner rails in a longitudinal direction thereof and a hook portion that protrudes in an L-shape in cross section toward the cassette base and is formed between the positioning bosses. On the side plates of the cassette base, there are provided mounting holes that receive the positioning bosses fitted thereinto at the time of mounting the cassette base to the inner rails, positioning surfaces that comes into contact with two locations on each of the inner rails in a longitudinal direction thereof, and fitted portions that are fitted together with the hook portion in a direction orthogonal to the insertion/withdrawal directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Takehiro Sato
  • Patent number: 10794457
    Abstract: An assist device for lifting and facilitating the coupling of an implement's driveline to a power take-off on a vehicle is disclosed. The assist device is configured with a handle enabling a user to rotate the device from a storage position to an upright position where the device engages the driveline and hits it into a position suitable for coupling the driveline to the power take-off. The assist device is equipped with a roller to allow the driveline to slide along its longitudinal axis to facilitate coupling. The assist device may be equipped with one or more springs to further accept at least some of the weight of the driveline and enable easier maneuvering of the driveline during the coupling process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Blount, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark McLane