Patents Examined by Quang X Nguyen
  • Patent number: 8948681
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit forming an image on a recording sheet; a transport unit transporting the recording sheet; a support surface supporting the recording sheet; a rotating member having an outer peripheral surface pressed against the support surface and rotationally following the recording sheet when the recording sheet passes through between the support surface and the outer peripheral surface; an ascertaining unit ascertaining a length of the recording sheet on the basis of an amount of rotation of the rotating member; and a restricting unit restricting a movement of the rotating member that moves toward the support surface after the recording sheet passes through between the support surface and the outer peripheral surface, the restricting unit preventing the outer peripheral surface, which comes into contact with the recording sheet, and the support surface from coming into contact with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Furuya, Yoshinari Iwaki, Minoru Ohshima
  • Patent number: 8893619
    Abstract: A method for printing on a curved surface and a printed curved surface body using the method. The method includes the steps of: applying printing ink having a viscosity of 5-500 PaS, preferably 5-250 PaS, to a protrusion portion of a relief printing master plate 3 which is a flat plate with the protrusion portion 0.1-50 ?m high, preferably 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Shuhou Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kouji Muraoka
  • Patent number: 8800438
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for labeling containers, especially specimen containers for medical specimens. The apparatus comprises a printing device; a supply and removal device for supplying and removing at least one container to and from the printing device. The printing device is designed such that it can be moved into at least one first position and into a second position. In the first position, the container is automatically supplied to and removed from the printing device with the aid of the supply and removal device. The container can be manually supplied and removed from the printing device when it is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Pernutec GmbH
    Inventor: Paul Beck
  • Patent number: 8801308
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a media path within a body of the printing apparatus. The media path moves sheets of media through the body of the printing apparatus. A marking engine is also within the body of the printing apparatus. The media path supplies the printing media to the marking engine. A processor is within the body of the printing apparatus. The processor is operatively connected to the marking engine, and the processor controls actions of the marking engine. Sensors are within the body of the printing apparatus. The sensors are operatively connected to the processor, and the sensors are positioned along the media path. The sensors detect locations and conditions of the sheets of media as the sheets of media travel along the media path. The sensors have a first clip shape. Further, clip connectors are located within the body of the printing apparatus. The clip connectors are connected to the sensors. Additionally, light structures are connected to the clip connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: David R. Cole, Richard G. Hubbard, David K. Halden, Kenneth G. Dixon, Anthony J. Peters
  • Patent number: 8792794
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing unit with a nip, two rollers, a guide member, a detection unit and an urging unit. The detection unit is disposed substantially parallel to the guide member opposite to the guide member across a recording medium conveyed between the nip and the two rollers. The detection unit detects jamming of the recording medium on the basis of a pressure greater than a predetermined value applied by the recording medium between the nip and the two rollers. The distance between the guide member and the detection unit is greater than the distance between the guide member and the recording medium passing between the nip and the two rollers while being urged by the urging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jinjyu Okuno
  • Patent number: 8757909
    Abstract: A conveying unit conveys a continuous sheet, with a first end of the continuous sheet as the leading end. After an image forming unit forms page images on a first side of the continuous sheet, a cutting unit cuts off the continuous sheet. Then, for image formation on a second side opposite the first side, a duplex conveying unit conveys the continuous sheet to the conveying unit, with a second end of the continuous sheet as the leading end. The second end is opposite the first end and has been formed by cutting off the continuous sheet. In image formation only on the first side, the continuous sheet is cut off at a first position behind the last page image formed on the first side. In image formation on both the first and second sides, the continuous sheet is cut off at a second position behind the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji Yasuzaki
  • Patent number: 8739698
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for printing on the surface of soft gelatin capsules during filling. In particular, the invention relates to an apparatus and method for printing a pre-determined figure or symbol on the surface of a soft gelatin capsule while a product is being encapsulated, including means for transporting the gelatin ribbon, inking means and means for shaping the soft capsule, including an injection, molding and die-cutting station and additional printing means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Procaps S.A.
    Inventors: Carlos Salazar, Juan Pablo Manotas, Luis Guillermo Velasquez
  • Patent number: 8641305
    Abstract: A print control apparatus having a decision unit, a print control unit, and a determination unit. The decision unit decides a print order for duplex printing on a continuous sheet. The print control unit causes the print unit to execute a continuous print of first face images on a first face and second face images on a second face after completion of the print on the first face in accordance with the decided print order. In a case where the determination unit determines that an interruption factor occurs before the completion of the print on the first face, the print control unit performs switches to a print on the second face and to cause the print unit to execute a print of any second face image that is predetermined to be arranged on the second face relative to any first face image already printed on the first face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji Yasuzaki
  • Patent number: 8613253
    Abstract: A printing apparatus including: a web conveyance unit that conveys a web; a printing unit that prints an image on the web; a web discharging unit that discharges the web on which the image is formed with the printing unit, the web discharging unit being placed downstream of the printing unit; and a web withdrawal unit that withdraws the web into the printing apparatus, the web withdrawal unit including a web withdrawal roller and at least one pressing roller. When the printing apparatus is in a print waiting state, the printing apparatus drives the web withdrawal roller intermittently, while a pressing force from the at least one of the pressing roller is maintained, so as to convey the web intermittently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuuji Ohmura
  • Patent number: 8611807
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus can form a high-quality image without a toner image being rubbed with and transferred onto a sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Murao
  • Patent number: 8594555
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein are directed to registering media in a duplex printing system. A first side of a sheet of media is registered in a first pass in response to detection of a first end of the sheet. A registration marker is deposited on the sheet proximate to a second end of the sheet in the first pass. The registration marker can include a marking material that is in the non-visible light range. A second side of the sheet is registered in a second pass in response to detection of the registration marker deposited on the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Douglas K. Herrmann
  • Patent number: 8439582
    Abstract: A print apparatus is supplied that feeds continuous paper with suppressing its swelling caused by perforations or crease. In the print apparatus, a platen is furnished opposite to a printing section; a medium support member is furnished capable of changing an interval from the platen and supports a record medium toward the platen; and a medium support auxiliary member is furnished on the opposite side to the platen in the medium support member, and when the medium support member is made to separate from the platen, the medium support auxiliary member is made to protrude from the medium support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Osamu Sato
  • Patent number: 8430586
    Abstract: A disabled state in which sheets cannot be discharged at a discharge unit while printing is detected. Upon detecting the disabled state, printing is continued at a printing unit, and a sheet printed upon is evacuated to a storage unit without cutting into a plurality of cut sheets at a cutter unit. After the disabled state is resolved, the sheet which has been evacuated to the storage unit is sent to the cutter unit so as to be cut into the cut sheets, and discharged at the discharge unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Taichi Watanabe