Patents Examined by Prasad Gokhale
  • Patent number: 8181957
    Abstract: To provide a sheet conveying technique that can realize highly accurate skew correction with an inexpensive and simple apparatus configuration. A sheet conveying apparatus includes: first and second rollers that are arranged in positions different from each other in a direction orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction and can be driven to rotate independently from each other; a first skew detecting unit that is arranged on an upstream side or a downstream side of the first and second rollers in the sheet conveying direction and detects skew of a sheet at first skew detection accuracy; and a second skew detecting unit that is arranged further on the downstream side than the first skew detecting unit in the sheet conveying direction and detects skew of the sheet at second skew detection accuracy higher than the first skew detection accuracy. A skew amount of the sheet is determined on the basis of detection results of the respective first and second skew detecting units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hirofumi Kondo
  • Patent number: 8185284
    Abstract: ECU executes in-neutral control in a case where a first clutch is brought into a half-engagement state on the basis of execution of neutral control. During the in-neutral control, ECU detects engine speed and input-shaft rotating speed, and detects differential rotation before an oil pressure change. Subsequently, in a case where the differential rotation before an oil pressure change detected by ECU has exceeded a first differential rotation threshold value, the operating oil pressure for a hydraulic servo is reduced by the first oil pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakatsu Iwase, Hiroshi Tsutsui, Shingo Kodama, Yongsong Kang, Tatsurou Kameyama
  • Patent number: 8177229
    Abstract: A sheet transport roller system and methods for reducing sheet skew using a sheet transport roller system are disclosed. A sheet transport roller system for use in a document processing device may include a plurality of idler rollers, a plurality of drive rollers and a load distribution mechanism. Each drive roller may correspond to a corresponding idler roller. The load distribution mechanism may be configured to support the plurality of idler rollers and to equalize normal forces applied by each idler roller towards the corresponding drive roller. The load distribution mechanism may include a center loading spring in contact with the document processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Adam Douglas Ledgerwood, Timothy Gordon Shelhart
  • Patent number: 8172227
    Abstract: A sheet detecting device includes a rotation unit having an abutment surface, a positioning unit configured to position the rotation unit in a standby position where the leading edge of the conveyed sheet abuts the abutment surface, and a detecting unit configured to detect the conveyed sheet on the basis of the rotation of the rotation unit pressed by the conveyed sheet, wherein the rotation unit rotates to a sheet passage posture where the sheet is allowed to pass after being pressed by the leading edge of the conveyed sheet and, when the trailing edge of the conveyed sheet passes the rotation unit, the rotation unit is rotated from the sheet passage posture in the same direction as a sheet conveying direction and is positioned in the standby position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Motohiro Furusawa, Kenji Watanabe, Minoru Kawanishi
  • Patent number: 8167302
    Abstract: A sheet of paper is reliably held by suction at the front and rear of a turn guide on the transport path of the sheet according to paper transport conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignees: Duplo Seiko Corporation, Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Kawaguchi, Kazuya Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8152156
    Abstract: A rotation-body controlling apparatus including: a first motor configured to rotate a first rotation body; a second motor configured to rotate a second rotation body; a first rotation amount detecting portion configured to detect a rotation amount of the first rotation body rotated in synchronization with the first motor; a second rotation amount detecting portion configured to detect a rotation amount of a second rotation shaft rotated in synchronization with the second rotation body; a transmitting mechanism configured such that a rotation of the first rotation body is transmittable to the second rotation shaft; and an origin-position detecting portion configured to detect an origin position of a rotation phase of the first rotation body on the basis of a phase of the first rotation body at a time when the second rotation amount detecting portion has detected a rotation of the second rotation shaft, where the rotation of the first rotation body operated by the first motor is transmitted to the second rotati
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kohei Terada
  • Patent number: 8150587
    Abstract: An ECU is configured to disengage a clutch by driving a motor upon detection of starting of a shift operation, and to engage the clutch upon detection of completion of the shift change. The shift operation starting detection is detected upon determination that an operational force given to a shift pedal is equal to or more than a predetermined operational force, and the shift change completion detection is detected upon determination that a rotational angle of a shift drum from a shift gear position before a shift gear operation becomes equal to or more than a first predetermined angle. The shift operation starting detection is also detected upon determination that the rotational angle of the shift drum from a shift gear position before a shift gear operation is a second predetermined angle or more which is smaller than the first predetermined angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ahihiko Tomoda, Kanau Iwashita, Yoshihisa Ieda, Koshi Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 8146911
    Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a sheet feed tray, a chute having first and second guides, first and second rollers arranged on the first guide, first and second contact members protruded from the second guide and urged to contact the first and second rollers, respectively, and a sheet sensor arranged between the first roller and the second roller. A controller controls a motor to rotate the first and second rollers in a first direction in which the sheet is fed from the second roller to the first roller when the controller receives a signal from the sensor, and controls the motor to stop the rotation of the first and second rollers when the signal from the sensor is terminated, and then rotate the first and second rollers in a second direction in which the sheet is fed from the first roller to the second roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Daisuke Kozaki
  • Patent number: 8141870
    Abstract: A method for moving a media sheet within an imaging device includes moving a media sheet along a media path past a predetermined point PP on the media path by rotating a roller. After moving the media sheet past the point PP, a processor monitors whether a performance attribute of a component of the imaging device satisfies a predetermined criteria. After the performance attribute of the component of the imaging device satisfies the predetermined criteria, the media sheet is entered into a feed nip in a substantially deskewed alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Edward Griese, Patrick Lawrence Ransom, Bonnie Billy Lim Sy
  • Patent number: 8123214
    Abstract: A printing medium supplying apparatus for an image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, and a printing medium aligning unit which is disposed on the apparatus main body to move between an aligning position at which the printing medium aligning unit aligns a printing medium and a distanced position at which the printing medium aligning unit is distanced from the aligning position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: SAMSUNG Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-soo Lee, Jae-yong Kim
  • Patent number: 8118303
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus has a first pair of rollers which nip and convey a sheet; a second pair of rollers provided on a downstream side of the first pair of rollers in a conveying direction of the sheet, which nip and convey a sheet; and a position detecting sensor which detects a position of a sheet in a width direction which is perpendicular to the conveying direction. When the first pair of rollers and the second pair of rollers nip and convey the sheet, the first pair of rollers and the second pair of rollers are simultaneously moved according to a position detected by the position detecting sensor in the same direction of the width direction which is perpendicular to the conveying direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Obuchi, Kenichi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8113515
    Abstract: In a paper sheet transporting device, in an air duct portion of a suction duct, a suction confluence opening that collects air that is sucked and allows the air to pass through is disposed in a position included in a region where suction openings whose suction force is relatively the highest of plural suction openings exist and which position is away from the inner surface side of the suction surface portion, with the air duct portion being formed in a shape where the opening cross-sectional area of an air duct becomes relatively narrower away from the suction confluence opening in the rotating axial direction of a transport belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Komiyama, Kazutoshi Sugitani, Kiyotoshi Kaneyama, Katsunori Kikuchihara
  • Patent number: 8113500
    Abstract: A duplex automatic document feeder includes first, second, third, and fourth paths, an ejecting path, a scanning module, first and second reversing roller units, a feeding tray, and an ejecting tray. A document is moved from the feeding tray to the scanning module for scanning of a first side surface thereof. Subsequently, the document is moved along a second-side scanning path defined by the first reversing roller unit, the third path, a portion of the first path, the fourth path, and the first reversing roller unit to allow for scanning of a second side surface thereof. After the first and second side surfaces are scanned, the document is moved along a document-inverting path defined by the second reversing roller unit, a portion of the fourth path, the ejecting path, a portion of the second path, the first reversing roller unit, and the ejecting tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Lite-On Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Chen-Tsai Tsai, Keng-Wei Shih, Hsuan-Yang Lin
  • Patent number: 8113506
    Abstract: A sheet supply apparatus is provided with a print medium storage device for storing a print medium. The print medium storage device includes a guide member for guiding the print medium thus stored; an engaging portion for engaging the guide member at a specific position; an engaged portion for engaging the engaging portion; an operation portion disposed to be movable for separating the engaging portion from the engaged portion; and an abutting portion for abutting against the operation portion to move the operation portion when the print medium storage device is situated at a first position, and for separating from the operation portion when the print medium storage device is situated at a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Shinya Kaseda
  • Patent number: 8109505
    Abstract: A printer includes a main body and a paper holding device. The main body is capable of printing and outputting paper. The paper holding device is secured to the main body, and includes a paper tray, a plurality of sliding members, a connecting mechanism, and a driving mechanism. The paper tray is configured for receiving the outputted paper. The sliding members are slidably located on the paper tray. The connecting mechanism is attached to the paper tray and connected to the sliding members. The driving mechanism is attached to the paper tray and capable of driving the connecting mechanism to slide the plurality of sliding members to shape a space to fit the size of outputted paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Kun Shih, Chun-Hsien Lin, Chen-Lu Fan
  • Patent number: 8109507
    Abstract: A movable component which can be moved between a protruding position in which the movable component protrudes from the outer chute into a curved path toward an inner chute so as to be able to contact the recording medium and a retracted position in which the degree of protrusion of the movable component from the outer chute into the curved path is smaller than the degree of protrusion in the protruding position, and the movable component is moved from the protruding position to the retracted position at a timing on or after a first timing and before a second timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayuki Okumura, Yuji Sakano, Hideki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8096546
    Abstract: A paper sheet pickup device includes a pickup belt configured to run along one of accumulated paper sheets, which is positioned at the most downstream side with respect to a direction of accumulation, and a negative pressure chamber provided inside the pickup belt. The negative pressure chamber is connected to a pump, and a valve unit is interposed therebetween. Further, an air inlet tube is connected to the negative pressure chamber for supplying air therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yukio Asari, Yusuke Mitsuya, Yoshihiko Naruoka, Toru Todoriki
  • Patent number: 8083229
    Abstract: In a mailpiece feed device comprising a mailpiece-receiving deck through which motor-driven conveyor members pass and on which a stack of mailpieces stands, and a monitoring and control circuit for actuating said motor-driven members at a determined drive speed in order to enable said mailpieces to be extracted one-by-one downstream, there is provided a method of controlling said motor-driven conveyor members wherein the drive speed of said motor-driven conveyor members varies as a function of the weight of said stack of mailpieces standing on said mailpiece-receiving deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Neopost Technologies
    Inventors: Fabien Chatte, Romain Pillard
  • Patent number: 8079590
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus of an embodiment of the invention includes a pair of conveyance rollers to nip and convey a sheet on which a formed image is recorded, a turning amount detection section which is disposed downstream of the pair of conveyance rollers and includes a bearing section coming in contact with the sheet, a thickness detection section to detect a thickness of the sheet based on a turning amount detected by the turning amount detection section, a pair of register rollers which is disposed downstream of the bearing section and aligns the sheet, and an image recording and fixing section to record and fix the image on the sheet passing through the pair of register rollers. A distance from a center point of a contact portion of the pair of conveyance rollers to a point where the bearing section contacts with the sheet is zero or more and about 3 mm or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Reiji Murakami, Naofumi Soga
  • Patent number: 8066279
    Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus capable of detecting a sheet end portion in a short time period even if sheets are conveyed at a narrow interval and at high speed, thus making it possible to expedite the start timing of a subsequent sheet alignment operation. In accordance with results of detection by lateral registration detection sensors performed when a sheet reaches a lateral registration detection sensor unit, the sensor unit is moved in a width direction for sheet end detection. Based on a moving distance of the sensor unit from a standby position to a position where the sheet end is detected, a shift amount to be shifted the sheet in the width direction, i.e., a lateral registration error, is computed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Ishikawa, Yasuo Fukatsu, Tsuyoshi Moriyama, Hitoshi Kato