Revolvable Means Engaging Carrier Belt Face Automatically Skews To Correct Belt Training Deviation Patents (Class 198/806)
  • Patent number: 11947286
    Abstract: A correction mechanism incorporated in a belt conveyance device includes a pair of inclined bearings and a pair of main body guides, and corrects meandering of an endless belt. The pair of inclined bearings include a pair of inclined portions, and support a shaft portion of a roller that stretches the belt. The pair of main body guides contact the pair of inclined portions, and, when the belt meanders, cause one end part side of the roller in the axial direction thereof to move in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction thereof. The pair of inclined portions and the pair of main body guides are disposed inward of opposite end parts of the roller in the axial direction thereof, as seen from a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Taisei Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 11934115
    Abstract: A transport device includes: a belt member that runs in a loop to transport an object to be transported, the belt member having an outer circumferential surface and an inner circumferential surface; a rotary member that is pressed against one of the outer and inner circumferential surfaces of the belt member and that is movable in a predetermined moving direction; and a pressing member that presses the rotary member toward the one of the outer and inner circumferential surfaces of the belt member and that moves in the moving direction while maintaining the angle thereof with respect to the moving direction when the rotary member moves in the moving direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Kazuya Fukunaga, Junji Hanatani, Kiichiro Iijima
  • Patent number: 11662681
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a belt to be transported; an image forming body that forms an image on the belt or a recording medium that is transported by the belt; a moving mechanism that moves the belt in a movement direction extending in a thickness direction of the belt; a rotational member including a rotation shaft extending in the movement direction and a contact portion that is rotatable around the rotation shaft and that is in contact with a side surface of the belt regardless of a position of the belt in the movement direction; an acquirer that acquires a physical amount that changes due to rotation of the contact portion around the rotation shaft when the belt moves in a width direction; and a detector that detects a movement amount of the belt in the width direction based on the physical amount acquired by the acquirer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Ko Umenai, Satoshi Ezawa
  • Patent number: 11454905
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image carrying members, an intermediate transfer belt, a plurality of rollers, and a correcting mechanism. The intermediate transfer belt is endless and, to it, toner images formed on the image carrying members respectively are transferred by being sequentially superposed on each other. The correction mechanism includes a slanted bearing, which rotatably supports a tension roller, and a main body guide roller, which makes contact with the slanted bearing when it moves as a result of the intermediate transfer belt meandering and which moves the slanted bearing along with one end of the tension roller in the axial direction in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction to correct meandering of the intermediate transfer belt with respect to the tension roller. The main body guide roller is a rotary member which rotates while in contact with the slanted bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Takashi Kainuma
  • Patent number: 11431566
    Abstract: Some embodiments of a system comprise a plurality of sensor arrays, wherein each sensor array of the plurality of sensors arrays includes multiple sensors, includes a wireless transceiver, includes one or more processors, and is configured to generate sensed data, according to sensor settings, while moving along a path; while moving along the path, transmit data to, and receive data from, other sensor arrays of the plurality of sensor arrays that are also moving along the path; and, while moving along the path, change one or more of the sensor settings based on the received data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Solutions America, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey David Kane
  • Patent number: 11279566
    Abstract: Method of adjusting and tracking an conveyor belt arranged around at least two rotatable drums, the belt having a direction of travel along its length and orthogonally an axis of the at least two drums, whereby the adjustment of the belt is made by displacing at least one of the drums sideways seen in the direction of travel of the belt and thus the belt so that the belt directly gets into a desired position. A conveyor belt tracking arrangement, the drums are arranged with their axles in a frame and at least one drum is arranged with its axle in a pivot frame and the pivot frame is in turn adjustably arranged in the frame, and movable by means of a drum moving force, which in turn makes the whole drum, with the belt, to move with the pivot frame around a pivot point provided in an orthogonal plane along the centre of the belt seen in the direction of the belt at a distance from the drum, so that the belt is directly moved to a desired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: IPCO SWEDEN AB
    Inventors: Patrik Hertel, Thomas Engvall
  • Patent number: 11126114
    Abstract: A belt running device includes a plurality of rollers, a belt, a guide, a regulating member, and an abutting member. The belt is wound around the plurality of rollers and configured to rotate. The guide is provided at an end of an inner peripheral surface of the belt. The regulating member is provided at an end of at least one roller of the plurality of rollers in the axial direction of the at least one roller and configured to contact the guide and regulate a movement of the belt in the axial direction of the at least one roller. The abutting member is configured to contact an outer peripheral surface of the belt to press the belt inward in a vicinity of a contact start point at which the guide and the regulating member start to contact when the belt runs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Nakamoto, Seiichi Kogure, Daisuke Hamada, Takuya Akiyama, Yuuki Aoki, Yutaka Goto
  • Patent number: 11097914
    Abstract: There is provided a medium conveying device which includes a conveyance belt passed around a first roller and a second roller and configured to support and convey a medium on a supporting surface, and in which a controlling unit is able to execute first control to determine whether a first skewing direction and a second skewing direction are the same, the first skewing direction indicating whether, when the first roller and the second roller are caused to rotate in the first rotational direction, the conveyance belt moves toward one side or the other side in a width direction intersecting a moving direction of the conveyance belt, and the second skewing direction indicating whether, when the first roller and the second roller are caused to rotate in the second rotational direction, the conveyance belt moves toward the one side or the other side in the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tsutomu Sasaki, Takahiro Yamashita
  • Patent number: 11039575
    Abstract: A belt guide for a baler having a bale forming chamber with at least one belt to form a bale of crop material includes a guide. The guide includes a guide protrusion that extends inwardly toward the bale forming chamber proximate an edge of the at least one belt. The belt guide is coupled to the baler external to the bale forming chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Steven R. Pilcher, Henry D. Anstey
  • Patent number: 11032974
    Abstract: A round baler is provided. The baler includes a bale forming chamber having a belt to form a bale of crop material. The baler also includes a wrap feed system. The baler includes a belt guide coupled to the baler so as to be external to the bale forming chamber. The belt guide includes an inwardly facing surface substantially parallel to the belt. The belt guide includes a protrusion extending inwardly towards the bale forming chamber. The protrusion is positioned adjacent a side of the belt. The belt guide is configured to sandwich wrap material between the belt and the belt guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Steven R. Pilcher, Henry D. Anstey
  • Patent number: 10990040
    Abstract: A transfer device includes a transfer unit and an adjustment unit. The transfer unit includes a transfer belt and a transfer roller. The transfer belt is wound around a rotating winding roller to circulate. An image is to be formed on the transfer belt. The transfer roller is disposed on an opposite side of the winding roller across the transfer belt. The transfer roller is configured to transfer the image on the transfer belt to a recording medium. The adjustment unit is configured to change an axial direction of the transfer roller to adjust parallelism between an axis of the transfer roller and an axis of the winding roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Hagiwara, Kentaro Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 10954074
    Abstract: The various embodiments of the present invention disclose an apparatus, modular tracking unit and a method for conveyor belt alignment. The apparatus provides alignment sustenance and wide-angle coverage. The apparatus includes a plurality of modular tracking units, a linking mechanism including a connecting rope passing through a link of each of the modular tracking units and a pair of guide rollers. The invention triggers the pair of guided rollers on misalignment of the conveyor belt from original path. The guided roller activates the linking mechanism to move the modular tracking units in tandem for re-aligning the conveyor belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Inventors: Manoj Joseph Kallarackal, Harikrishnan R Nair, Moses D, Manimaran E
  • Patent number: 10908536
    Abstract: A transfer device having a structure for preventing the meandering of a transfer belt, an image forming apparatus including a structure for preventing the meandering of a transfer belt, and a method for preventing meandering of the transfer belt. The image forming apparatus including a main body. The main body including an image forming member and a transfer device which transfers an image formed through the image forming member to a printing medium. The transfer device includes a frame, a driving roller, a backup roller being rotatably supported to the frame, a transfer belt to travel between the driving roller and the backup roller; and meandering prevention members located at both end portions of the backup roller to independently rotate. The meandering prevention members being driven by contact with the transfer belt to control tension of the transfer belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Jin-ho Lee, Ho-Gun You, Jun-Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 10815066
    Abstract: A system for correcting transverse misalignment of a conveyor belt relative to a supporting pulley, includes a frame is pivotally attached to a stationary member. A guide surface engages the frame to guide pivoting of the frame about the pivot point simultaneously about a vertical axis and a longitudinally aligned axis. Idler rollers rotatably mounted on the frame define a rolling contact surface for the conveyor belt, which is concavely-shaped in a transversely-extending vertical plane. The pivoting of the frame causes the surface to impart a combined transverse pushing effect, torsional steering effect, and torsional tiling effect on the conveyor belt. An actuator applies a force to pivot the frame about the axis. A computer determines an amount of the misalignment based on a signal from a sensor, and automatically controls the actuator to pivot the frame, depending on the determined amount of the misalignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: SYNCRUDE CANADA LTD.
    Inventors: Michael Carniato, Dan Wolfe, Mark Polak, Yuxiang (Isaac) Wu, Soon Won Moon
  • Patent number: 10578997
    Abstract: A belt rotating device includes: a meandering correction roller that is rotatably supported within a support frame and is one of a plurality of rollers that stretch an endless belt; a supporting portion that is provided at the support frame and supports a rotating shaft of the meandering correction roller so as to be able to incline the rotating shaft of the meandering correction roller in a one direction; a collar member that is provided on the rotating shaft of the meandering correction roller, contacts the side end of the endless belt in which meandering has occurred, and moves in an axial direction; and an inclination guide portion that is supported by the support frame and has an inclined surface downward and inclined with respect to the shaft of the meandering correction roller, in a position in which the contact portion of the collar member contacts the inclination guide portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shohtaro Okamoto
  • Patent number: 10556746
    Abstract: A pulley assembly for an automative machine and methods for adjusting the pulley assembly are disclosed. The pulley assembly may include a monolithic body, an actuation assembly, and a pulley. The monolithic body may define a recess extending from a first end surface toward a second end surface thereof. The recess may at least partially separate an upper portion of the monolithic body from a lower portion of the monolithic body. The actuation assembly may be operably coupled with the monolithic body and configured to apply a biasing force to the upper portion of the monolithic body to actuate the upper portion of the monolithic body towards or away from the lower portion of the monolithic body. The pulley may be rotatably coupled with the upper portion of the monolithic body such that the pulley moves when the upper portion of the monolithic body is actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
    Inventors: Hans Arlt, Christopher R. Simpson
  • Patent number: 10386761
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fixing device including a flexible cylindrical rotary member and an inner-surface opposing portion that opposes an inner surface of the rotary member at an end portion of the rotary member in a generatrix direction. The inner-surface opposing portion moves upstream in a recording material conveying direction in accordance with lateral shift of the rotary member in the generatrix direction. This restricts the lateral shift of the rotary member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideki Ohta, Terutaka Endo, Seiji Obata, Jiro Moriya, Takayuki Mizuta
  • Patent number: 10280007
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for an automatically pivoting return side idler trainer for returning a drifting conveyor belt back to a central position during operation. The trainer includes a non-collinear shaft having ends fixed to the conveyor structure while a non-collinear tube is pivotally mounted to the shaft. A tapered roller element is rotatably mounted to the tube on each side of the pivotal mounting. The shaft and tube include an offset angle that is determined by the taper angle of the tapered roller elements such that when the trainer is installed, the profile of the roller elements form a level surface along the trainer, parallel to the belt return side, regardless if the belt has a straight or cupped profile. A second embodiment uses a non-collinear shaft to which the tapered roller elements are rotatably mounted and whereby the shaft itself is pivotally mounted to an external conveyor structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: ASGCO Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: George T. Mott, Andrew M. Collier
  • Patent number: 10264728
    Abstract: A harvester head may include a frame, a roller configured to support a draper belt and at least one tracking correction arm. The roller has a rotational axis and is pivotably supported by the frame about at least one pivot axis nonparallel to the rotational axis. The at least one tracking correction arm is coupled to the roller and may include a first belt bump stop and a second belt bump stop. The first and second belt bump stops contact portions of the draper belt such that mistracking of the draper belt relative to the roller pivots the roller about the pivot axis until the draper belt is automatically moved back into a tracking relationship with the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Alex A. Brimeyer
  • Patent number: 10233025
    Abstract: An idler wheel support for a conveyor belt comprises a gear rack adjustment mechanism or for use in adjusting the position of one end portion an idler wheel supporting frame. The gear rack is provided at said one end portion of the frame, such as on a foot, or on a base to which the foot is slidably coupled. A tool comprising a gear is selectively positioned for pivoting on the foot or base that does not have the gear rack with the gear engaged with the gear rack. When so engaged, pivoting the gear shifts said one end portion of the frame and adjusts the angle of the frame relative to the longitudinal conveyor frame axis and adjusts the longitudinal tracking of the conveyor belt. The gear can be mounted on a lever and positioned for pivotal engagement with the gear rack to enable adjustment of the belt tracking while the belt is moving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Transco Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Greg Mattila
  • Patent number: 10160601
    Abstract: A belt transporting device includes a belt; first and second adjustment members provided at two respective ends of a tension roller in a belt width direction orthogonal to a direction of rotation of the belt, the first and second adjustment members each being movable by receiving a force from the belt; and a link member that interlocks the movement of the first adjustment member and the movement of the second adjustment member. If the belt is laterally shifted in the belt width direction, one of the first and second adjustment members moves by receiving a force from the belt while the other is moved by the link member such that the tension roller is tilted with respect to a driving roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeo Kawanami, Yoshihiro Ito, Kenji Watanabe, Daigo Yamauchi, Fumiya Sawashima, Osamu Sasaoka, Yoichiro Iizuka, Hiromi Fujinaka, Takugo Kasaishi
  • Patent number: 10031463
    Abstract: A belt control device includes a holder to movably support a rotation shaft of at least one of the plurality of rotators around which a belt is looped, a contact part to contact an end of the belt as the belt moves in a belt width direction, a stationary frame part disposed facing the holder, a shaft moving device to move the rotation shaft as the belt moves, and at least one projection disposed on one of the stationary frame part and the holder. The projection is to contact the other of the stationary frame part and the holder. The projection includes a long projection having a contact portion extending in a shaft moving direction in which the rotation shaft moves, and the contact portion is contactable with the other of the stationary frame part and the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Hozumi, Naomi Sugimoto, Hisashi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 9988905
    Abstract: A solid-filling coal mining feeding and conveying monitoring system, suitable for monitoring of a vertical feeding and conveying system in underground mine solid-filling mining. The monitoring system mainly consists of an industrial control computer, a PLC control box, an operating platform, a liquid crystal display, a color four-picture divider, two video optical receivers and loudspeakers, four cameras, uphole electronic belt scales, downhole electronic belt scales, a radar level meter, a coal level sensor, a vibration sensor, and various matching junction boxes and cables, the components being installed in positions such as a material field, a control room, upper and lower openings of a storage silo, and a gangue transportation lane. The system implements four main functions of a solid-filling material transportation and feeding process, the four main functions being status monitoring, a full silo alarm, centralized control, and recording and querying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: CHINA UNIVERSITY OF MINING AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Jixiong Zhang, Nan Zhou, Wei Yin, Meng Li
  • Patent number: 9869951
    Abstract: A belt rotating device includes: a meandering correction roller that is rotatably supported within a support frame and is one of a plurality of rollers that stretch an endless belt; a supporting portion that is provided at the support frame and supports a rotating shaft of the meandering correction roller so as to be able to incline the rotating shaft of the meandering correction roller in a one direction; a collar member that is provided on the rotating shaft of the meandering correction roller, contacts the side end of the endless belt in which meandering has occurred, and moves in an axial direction; and an inclination guide portion that is supported by the support frame and has an inclined surface downward and inclined with respect to the shaft of the meandering correction roller, in a position in which the contact portion of the collar member contacts the inclination guide portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shohtaro Okamoto
  • Patent number: 9798282
    Abstract: An inclined flange roller is located outward of an end portion of a tension roller in the belt width direction. The inclined flange roller includes a flange surface capable of being in contact with the edge portion of a belt in a region in which the belt is wound around the tension roller and a roller surface capable of being in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the belt between the flange surface and an end portion of the tension roller in the belt width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Iwakoshi, Atsushi Ogata, Daisuke Kaneko
  • Patent number: 9771221
    Abstract: A belt transporting device includes a belt; first and second adjustment members provided at two respective ends of a tension roller in a belt width direction orthogonal to a direction of rotation of the belt, the first and second adjustment members each being movable by receiving a force from the belt; and a link member that interlocks the movement of the first adjustment member and the movement of the second adjustment member. If the belt is laterally shifted in the belt width direction, one of the first and second adjustment members moves by receiving a force from the belt while the other is moved by the link member such that the tension roller is tilted with respect to a driving roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeo Kawanami, Yoshihiro Ito, Kenji Watanabe, Daigo Yamauchi, Fumiya Sawashima, Osamu Sasaoka, Yoichiro Iizuka, Hiromi Fujinaka, Takugo Kasaishi
  • Patent number: 9733600
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt looped over a first roller and a second roller and rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and a pressure rotator to press against the first roller via the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the fixing belt and the pressure rotator. A separation aid, disposed downstream from the fixing nip in the direction of rotation of the fixing belt, contacts an inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt to decrease a radius of curvature of the fixing belt. A polishing roller, disposed downstream from the separation aid and upstream from the second roller in the direction of rotation of the fixing belt, contacts an outer circumferential surface of the fixing belt. An opposed roller, disposed opposite the polishing roller via the fixing belt, forms a polishing nip between the polishing roller and the fixing belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Nozawa, Masami Okamoto, Yuuki Kikushima, Keisuke Kubota, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Kaori Hemmi
  • Patent number: 9581946
    Abstract: A fixing device having: a fixing member extending in a first predetermined direction; a heating roller extending in the first predetermined direction; a fixing belt stretched between the fixing member and the heating roller and being annular when viewed in a plan view in the first predetermined direction; a heating section heating the heating roller and being provided in the heating roller; a first support section supporting the heating roller in such a manner that the heating roller is movable with respect to the fixing member along a predetermined plane perpendicular to the first predetermined direction; a pressure section exerting a force upon the heating roller in such a direction that the heating roller moves away from the fixing member; and a second support section supporting the heating section in such a manner that the heating section is movable together with the heating roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Toru Hayase, Koji Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9564942
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided in one example embodiment and includes a motor, a first endless belt encircling a first pair of spaced apart shafts, a second endless belt encircling a second pair of spaced apart shafts, a drive element connecting the motor to one shaft each of the first pair of shafts and the second pair of shafts, and a continuous strip of film having a first end and a second end attached to the first endless belt and the second endless belt respectively. The motor activates the drive element to rotate one shaft each of the first pair of shafts and the second pair of shafts causing the belts to rotate, unwinding the film from the first endless belt and winding it on the second endless belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: SKIVA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Mandeep Kumar, Pratham Shah
  • Patent number: 9561912
    Abstract: A belt tracking system for controlling the lateral position of a movable belt entrained about a plurality of generally parallel rollers for moving in a trans-axial direction perpendicular to an axial direction in which the rollers extend parallel to each other includes a roller shaft, a slidable member, and a rotation restrictor. The roller shaft extends outward in the axial direction from an axial end of a specific one of the plurality of generally parallel rollers. The slidable member is slidably disposed around the roller shaft to move along the roller shaft as the belt moves laterally outward in the axial direction. The rotation restrictor is disposed adjacent to the slidable member to restrict rotation of the slidable member around the roller shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Hozumi, Naomi Sugimoto, Yuuji Sawai, Kazuchika Saeki
  • Patent number: 9551961
    Abstract: A fixing device having: a fixing member extending in a first predetermined direction; a heating roller extending in the first predetermined direction; a fixing belt stretched between the fixing member and the heating roller and being annular when viewed in a plan view in the first predetermined direction; a heating section heating the heating roller and being provided in the heating roller; a first support section supporting the heating roller in such a manner that the heating roller is movable with respect to the fixing member along a predetermined plane perpendicular to the first predetermined direction; a pressure section exerting a force upon the heating roller in such a direction that the heating roller moves away from the fixing member; and a second support section supporting the heating section in such a manner that the heating section is movable together with the heating roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Toru Hayase, Koji Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9541881
    Abstract: A recording medium conveying device includes an endless belt to convey a recording medium, a plurality of support rollers around which the belt is wound, to rotate the belt, and a cleaner in contact with the belt to clean the belt. One of the plurality of support rollers is a separation support roller, mounted on a tiltable rotary shaft, to separate the recording medium from the belt using a curvature of the separation support roller. The separation support roller includes a contact member to contact an edge of the belt when the belt laterally moves toward one side of the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Hozumi, Naomi Sugimoto, Kazuchika Saeki
  • Patent number: 9535374
    Abstract: An ITM module for an imaging device, including a frame; a tension roll disposed in the frame; an ITM belt rotatably coupled to the frame and formed as an endless loop around rolls of the ITM module, including the tension roll; and an adjustment mechanism coupled to an end portion of the frame and to the tension roll, the adjustment mechanism setting an amount of skew of the tension roll relative to the frame. The amount of skew is in a direction that is substantially orthogonal to a process direction of the ITM belt. The adjustment mechanism includes a cam member rotatably coupled to the frame and having a cam surface coupled a first end portion of the tension roll such that rotating the first cam member sets an amount of elevation of the first end portion of the tension roll relative to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Kerry Leland Embry, Bartley Charles Gould, II, James Philip Harden, Gina Marie Johns, William Claiborne Ryle
  • Patent number: 9499361
    Abstract: A belt conveyor unit includes a plurality of rollers around which a belt is entrained, including a first roller, a second roller disposed opposite the first roller via the belt, and a third roller other than the first roller and the second roller, and a belt alignment device including a shaft moving device to tilt a rotary shaft of the third roller upon receiving a moving force of the belt moving in a width direction of the belt in an axial direction of the rotary shaft to adjust displacement of the belt. The shaft moving device includes an axial-direction displacement member including a slanted surface that moves to a first side in the width direction of the belt along the rotary shaft upon receiving the moving force of the belt, and a fixation member to contact the slanted surface from the first side in the width direction of the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Iwaya, Masaharu Furuya, Yoshiki Hozumi, Yasufumi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9465347
    Abstract: A transport device includes a driving roller that drives an endless belt so that the belt rotates, a transfer roller that presses the belt from an inner side of the belt toward an image carrier, which carries a toner image, and transfers the toner image onto the belt, a first stretching roller that stretches the belt, a second stretching roller that stretches the belt, wherein the second stretching roller is disposed at a position between the driving roller and the first stretching roller, and wherein the second stretching roller is disposed on a side on which the transfer roller is in contact with the belt, and an adjusting mechanism that adjusts a direction of a rotary shaft of the second stretching roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuyoshi Hagiwara
  • Patent number: 9400456
    Abstract: An inclined flange roller is located outward of an end portion of a tension roller in the belt width direction. The inclined flange roller includes a flange surface capable of being in contact with the edge portion of a belt in a region in which the belt is wound around the tension roller and a roller surface capable of being in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the belt between the flange surface and an end portion of the tension roller in the belt width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Iwakoshi, Atsushi Ogata, Daisuke Kaneko
  • Patent number: 9393813
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing and a belt assembly. The belt assembly includes a plurality of rollers, a belt, a belt first support, and a belt second support. The belt assembly is detachably attachable relative to the housing. The plurality of rollers includes a rotary shaft. The belt is entrained around the plurality of rollers and rotated in a certain direction. The belt first support supports the rotary shaft of the plurality of rollers at a first end in a width direction thereof and is movable in a direction of twist and fixedly supported by the housing. The belt second support is fixedly supported by the housing and supports the rotary shaft of the plurality of rollers at a second end opposite the first end in the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Sengoku
  • Patent number: 9381758
    Abstract: A carrier device includes a medium accommodating section configured to accommodate a roll medium, a carrying section configured to carry a medium in a secondary scanning direction, a re-rolling section configured to re-roll the medium having been carried, a dancer roller configured to apply a predetermined tension on the medium being carried from the carrying section toward the re-rolling section, a first bar-shaped member disposed between the medium accommodating section and the carrying section configured to press the medium so as to alter the carrying path of the medium; and a second bar-shaped member disposed between the carrying section and the re-rolling section configured to press the medium so as to alter the carrying path of the medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: ROLAND DG CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ippei Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9376257
    Abstract: A belt tracking system for controlling the lateral position of a movable belt entrained about a plurality of generally parallel rollers for moving in a trans-axial direction perpendicular to an axial direction in which the rollers extend parallel to each other includes a roller shaft, a slidable member, and a rotation restrictor. The roller shaft extends outward in the axial direction from an axial end of a specific one of the plurality of generally parallel rollers. The slidable member is slidably disposed around the roller shaft to move along the roller shaft as the belt moves laterally outward in the axial direction. The rotation restrictor is disposed adjacent to the slidable member to restrict rotation of the slidable member around the roller shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Hozumi, Naomi Sugimoto, Yuuji Sawai, Kazuchika Saeki
  • Patent number: 9365052
    Abstract: Apparatuses include, among other components, a conveyor belt and at least one roller supporting the conveyor belt, etc. The belt moves in a processing direction as the roller rotates. The exterior surface of the roller has roller outer sections and a center crowned portion between the roller outer sections. The belt has belt outer sections and a belt center section between the belt outer sections. The belt outer sections contact the roller outer sections, and the belt center section contacts the center crowned portion of the roller. The belt outer sections have a lower flexibility, and the belt center section has a relatively higher flexibility. The flexibility difference between the higher flexibility and the lower flexibility biases the belt outer sections toward the center crowned portion of the roller and maintains the belt center section so that the belt center section is self-aligned with the center crowned portion of the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron Michael Moore, Timothy Gordon Shelhart
  • Patent number: 9329559
    Abstract: An image formation device is provided with an endless belt wound around a driving roller and a driven roller, a driving helical gear integrally provided at an axial end of the driving roller and rotating integrally with the driving roller. The driving helical gear applies a rotational force and an axial force to the driving roller. A plurality of guiding ribs are provided to an inner surface of the endless belt, while a regulating portion is provided at least one of the driving roller and the driven roller. The regulating portion has a regulation surface. When the endless belt moves obliquely in a direction in which the driving helical gear applies the axial force to the driving roller, side surfaces of the guiding ribs contact the regulating surface and prevent the oblique movement of the endless belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya Okano, Kentaro Murayama
  • Patent number: 9284123
    Abstract: The invention relates to a transport device (1) for carrying products with a displaceable carrying surface, comprising: a conveyor belt (3), a frame (2) provided with a belt guide (5-10) for holding the conveyor belt (3) displaceably, and a drive (4) for displacing the conveyor belt (3), wherein the belt guide (5-10) of the frame (2) is adjustable. The invention also relates to a method for allowing a conveyor belt (3) to connect to other devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: MAREL TOWNSEND FURTHER PROCESSING B.V.
    Inventors: Sigebertus Johannes Jacobus Jozef Meggelaars, Leon Marie Francois Spierts, Wilhelmus Josephus Gerardus Maria Jilesen, Bart Henricus Jozef Verberk, Dirk Meskendahl
  • Patent number: 9260248
    Abstract: A belt positioning system for positioning a movable belt entrained about a plurality of generally parallel rollers for moving in a trans-axial direction perpendicular to an axial direction in which the rollers extend parallel to each other includes a flange. The flange is operatively connected to an axial end of a specific one of the plurality of generally parallel rollers to define a contact surface therealong which extends generally perpendicular to the axial direction to contact an adjoining edge of the belt. The contact surface of the flange is spaced apart from the axial end of the roller in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Asaoka, Kazuchika Saeki, Yuuji Sawai, Yoshiki Hozumi
  • Patent number: 9238552
    Abstract: A belt tracking system for adjusting misalignment of a movable belt in an axial direction of a plurality of rollers about which the movable belt is entrained includes a slope member and a stationary shaft guide. The slope member is disposed at both ends of at least one of the plurality of rollers in the axial direction, to tilt the roller as the belt moves in the axial direction. The stationary shaft guide contacts the slope member. A distance between a contact point of the slope member that contacts the stationary shaft guide and an end portion of the slope member in the axial direction is longer than a maximum traveling distance that the slope member travels in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Hozumi, Naomi Sugimoto, Yuuji Sawai, Kazuchika Saeki
  • Patent number: 9145263
    Abstract: A conveyor belt tracking system in which rollers which support the belt are mounted to a support frame which is pivotally movable about an axis which is centrally positioned relative to the belt and which is inclined to the direction of belt movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: BRELKO PATENTS (PTY) LTD
    Inventor: Peter Ellis
  • Patent number: 9145258
    Abstract: A belt positioning system for positioning a movable belt entrained about a plurality of generally parallel rollers for moving in a trans-axial direction perpendicular to an axial direction in which the rollers extend parallel to each other includes a flange. The flange is operatively connected to an axial end of a specific one of the plurality of generally parallel rollers to define a contact surface therealong which extends generally perpendicular to the axial direction to contact an adjoining edge of the belt. The contact surface of the flange is spaced apart from the axial end of the roller in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Asaoka, Kazuchika Saeki, Yuuji Sawai, Yoshiki Hozumi
  • Patent number: 9114643
    Abstract: A belt feeding device for an image forming apparatus includes a movable endless belt, and a steering unit configured to be tilted for moving the endless belt in a widthwise direction crossing with a moving direction of the endless belt. The steering unit includes a rotatable roller configured to stretch the endless belt and to be rotatable with a movement of the endless belt, a shaft configured to rotatably support the rotatable roller, and a pair of supporting members configured to support the shaft at end portions with respect to the widthwise direction. The supporting members having sliding surfaces respectively for applying frictional forces by sliding relative to an inner surface of the endless belt. In addition, a frame is configured to tiltably support the steering unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takeshi Yasumoto
  • Patent number: 9033134
    Abstract: A belt tracking system for adjusting displacement of a movable belt in an axial direction of a plurality of rollers about which the movable belt is entrained includes a slope member and a roller shaft support. The slope member is disposed at least at one end of at least one of the plurality of rollers in the axial direction, to tilt the roller due to movement of the belt. The roller shaft support rotates about a predetermined shaft and includes a shaft recovery member to recover a tilt of the slope member. The shaft recovery member is disposed within a shortest circumference of a closed curve among closed curves within which the slope member and the roller shaft support are disposed in a state in which the roller shaft support is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Hozumi, Naomi Sugimoto, Kazuchika Saeki
  • Patent number: 9027744
    Abstract: A center loading assembly for a conveyor belt having a carriage support attached to a belt conveyor main frame and having a carriage within the carriage support. The carriage has a center member with side members extending at an angle therefrom, each having an upward extension. The upward extensions have side rollers and conveyor belt covering skirts and keep the conveyor belt centered between the conveyor belt covering skirts. The carriage support has vertical bearings to support the carriage and side bearings to hold the carriage on the vertical bearings. The carriage and conveyor belt covering skirts follow a trough angle of the conveyor belt as the conveyor belt shifts. Material deposited onto the conveyor belt is deflected to the center portion of the conveyor belt by the conveyor belt covering skirts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Inventor: James E. Balcar
  • Patent number: 8951167
    Abstract: An anti-drift mechanism for a treadmill having a chassis, a support frame, and endless belt is mounted between a bottom side of the support frame and a lower half part of the endless belt includes a guide member and a pressing axial member sleeved onto the guide member. The guide member is mounted to the chassis of the treadmill and movable longitudinally with respect to the endless belt in such a way that the pressing axial member can be driven by the guide member to oppress the endless belt so as to increase the pressure applied to the endless belt for the purpose of adjusting the drifting belt back to its normal operational position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Joong Chenn Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: James Chen