Separator And Conveyor Patents (Class 271/10.01)
  • Patent number: 11803149
    Abstract: A sheet detecting device includes a lever provided with a rotational shaft, a spring and a stopper. The lever is positioned in a stand-by position in a state of being in non-contacting with a sheet, and rotates about the rotational shaft from the stand-by position in a first rotational direction by being contacted with the sheet fed. The spring urges so as to rotate the lever in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction. The stopper restricts rotation of the lever beyond the stand-by position in the second rotational direction by being contacted with the lever after contacting of the sheet with the lever. A direction of a first force acting on the rotational shaft by the spring in a case in which the lever is positioned in the stand-by position is the substantially same direction as a direction of a second force which the lever receives from the stopper when the lever is in contact with the stopper by rotating in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroto Koga
  • Patent number: 11511956
    Abstract: A sheet conveyer having a sheet tray, a tray-driving mechanism, a conveyance guide, a feed roller, a separator, a conveyer, a conveyer-driving mechanism, a controller, and a sheet sensor to detect sheets on the sheet tray, is provided. The conveyer-driving mechanism includes a transmission-active portion and a transmission-passive portion. A conveying velocity to convey the sheets by the conveyer is higher than a conveying velocity to convey the sheets by the feed roller and the separator. The transmission-active portion and the transmission-passive portion are rotatable about a transmission axis. The transmission-passive portion rotates passively by being pushed by the transmission-active portion. After the sheet sensor detects absence of the sheets, and before the transmission-passive portion starts rotating passively, the controller conducts a specific action to move the sheet tray downward by controlling the tray-driving mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Okamoto, Tomoyuki Mizuno
  • Patent number: 11302154
    Abstract: An automated teller machine includes a frame on which a first belt part and a second belt part for conveying a medium are provided, and an unloading unit slidably coupled to the frame and provided with a third belt part for unloading the medium conveyed from the second belt part. The second belt part and the third belt part are configured to form a continuous medium movement path above the first belt part. A separation space is formed between the second belt part and the third belt part in a state in which the unloading unit is slid forward. The first belt part is exposed to an outside of the automated teller machine through the separation space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: HYOSUNG TNS INC.
    Inventors: Seung Tae Paik, Sung Ho Park, Seung Soo Lee
  • Patent number: 11254532
    Abstract: A medium transport apparatus includes: a medium mounting section configured to mount a medium; a feed roller configured to feed the medium from the medium mounting section; a separation roller configured to nip and separate the medium from the feed roller; a plurality of sensors disposed at positions facing a surface of the medium and configured to detect movement of the medium; and a control unit configured to stop feeding of the medium based on detection values received from the sensors, wherein the plurality of sensors are disposed upstream of a nipping position by the feed roller and the separation roller with a gap in a width direction being a direction intersecting a medium feed direction and detect movement of the medium in the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Arimori
  • Patent number: 10831120
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes first and second image bearing members; first and second charging members; first and second developing members; a transfer member configured to sequentially transfer toner images from the first and second image bearing members to a transfer-receiving member; and a control portion configured to, at a timing determined based on information relating to the toner image formed on the first image bearing member, perform a cleaning operation of decreasing toner that adheres to the second charging member at a time of non-image formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takayuki Tanaka, Shinji Katagiri, Eiji Akasaka
  • Patent number: 10696505
    Abstract: A document conveyance device includes a feed roller, a separation roller, a first motor for generating a first drive force for driving the separation roller, a planet gear, a drive gear, a second motor for generating a second drive force, and a position switching mechanism for switching a position of the planet gear from a first position in which the planet gear is separated from the drive gear and does not transmit the first drive force to the separation roller to a second position in which the planet gear engages with the drive gear and transmits the first drive force to the separation roller, based on the second drive force. The position switching mechanism includes a support member for supporting the planet gear, and a transfer mechanism for moving the support member so that the planet gear engages with the drive gear, based on the second drive force. The further movement of the planet gear is prevented after the planet gear engaged with the drive gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: PFU LIMITED
    Inventors: Hirotoshi Kakuda, Shigeru Yonemura
  • Patent number: 10616427
    Abstract: A medium feeding device includes a feed roller that feeds a medium from a medium placement unit on which the medium is placed a separation roller that nips the medium between the feed roller and the separation roller to separate the medium, a motor that applies a rotational torque to the separation roller, and a control unit that controls the motor. The rotational torque is transmitted to the separation roller from the motor not via a torque limiter and the separation roller separates the medium with the rotational torque applied to the separation roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kosuke Nomoto
  • Patent number: 10599084
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit configured to form an image on a continuous transfer medium on the basis of image data of a job; and a controller configured to manage the job and control the image forming unit, wherein the controller has a function of adjusting an image print position on the continuous transfer medium when a job medium width size specified in the job is different from a fed medium width size used in printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventor: Ken Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 10589948
    Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a disengagement mechanism to disengage a rotary feeding member and a separation member to be apart from each other, a pressing portion to press an upper face of a sheet supported on a sheet supporting portion, and a detector to detect displacement of the sheet pressed by the pressing portion. A controller executes one mode among a plurality of modes to feed the sheet supported on the sheet supporting portion based on a detection result of the detector. In a first feed mode, a leading edge of the sheet passes a position of a separation portion with the rotary feeding member and the separation member disengaged by the disengagement mechanism. In a second feed mode, the leading edge of the sheet passes the separation portion with the rotary feeding member and the separation member engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuma Inui
  • Patent number: 10527131
    Abstract: A selectable drive printing device includes a drive selector system to select between driving a print drive system and driving a scan drive system based at least partially on a position of a selector swing arm of the drive selector system. The selectable drive printing device includes a shifter to selectively shift the drive selector system between a scanning system drive position of the selector swing arm and a printing system drive position of the selector swing arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Eric Berner Strom, John J Cantrell, Robert Lawrence Winburne
  • Patent number: 10486929
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting the presence of metallic objects in media to be conveyed in a medium transport system are disclosed. One or more induction sensors are included in the medium transport system to detect the presence of metal in the transported media, with detection signals sent from the sensors to a system processing unit. An ultrasonic detector is employed in some embodiments to output another detection signal. One or more microphones may also be included, for detecting the sound created as the medium is being transported. The system processing unit analyzes various detection signals and analyzes computed sound values from the microphones, to determine the presence and location of metal in the media. A position jam detector may assist in determining jams of the media along the medium transport path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: KODAK ALARIS, INC.
    Inventors: Bruce Link, John Fagan, Thomas Middleton, Daniel Phinney
  • Patent number: 10447875
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a first feeding roller, a feeding motor configured to drive the first feeding roller, a second feeding roller, a conveyance roller, a conveyance motor configured to drive the conveyance roller, a printing unit configured to print the printing sheet, a detection sensor configured to detect the leading edge of the printing sheet, and a control unit configured to, when the printing unit performs a printing operation on a preceding sheet, drive the feeding motor in synchronization with the conveyance motor before the detection sensor detects the leading edge of a succeeding sheet, and continuously drive the feeding motor so that the conveying speed of the succeeding sheet by the feeding motor becomes higher than that of the preceding sheet after the detection sensor detects the leading edge of the succeeding sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Suzuki, Tetsuya Saito, Noriyuki Sugiyama, Yasuyuki Asai, Motoyuki Taguchi, Tomofumi Nishida, Syunichi Kunihiro
  • Patent number: 10447884
    Abstract: A medium feeder includes a feed roller that feeds a medium loaded on a medium loading section; a transport roller disposed downstream relative to the feed roller; a first driving source that drives at least the feed roller; a second driving source that drives at least the transport roller; and a housing that houses the feed roller, the transport roller, the first driving source, and the second driving source, wherein the housing includes a lower unit that constitutes a lower part of the housing, and an upper unit openable relative to the lower unit, and the first driving source and the second driving source are disposed on both sides relative to a center part of the lower unit in a width direction perpendicular to a medium transportation direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Noriyuki Koyanagi, Tokujiro Okuno, Kazuhiko Arimori
  • Patent number: 10414605
    Abstract: In one example, a torque control system for a sheet media pick mechanism to move a top sheet of media from a stack of media sheets into a nip between a pick roller and a separator roller. The torque control system includes a sensor to sense a number of consecutive pick failures and a controller operatively connected to the sensor to reduce a torque applied to the separator roller during a pick attempt after each pick failure in an amount corresponding to the number of consecutive pick failures sensed by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Ethan Lee, Devin Uehling, Peter J Boucher
  • Patent number: 10392211
    Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a conveyance roller to convey a sheet, and a drive transmission mechanism to transmit a driving force from a driving source to the conveyance roller. The drive transmission mechanism includes a shaft, a first rotary member supported on the shaft, a second rotary member supported on the shaft and connected to the conveyance roller, and a coupling member engaged with the first rotary member and rotated integrally with the first rotary member. The coupling member is movable along the shaft between a coupling position, at which the coupling member engages with the second rotary member such that it rotates integrally with the first rotary member, and a release position, at which the coupling member is separated from the second rotary member such that a relative rotation of the second rotary member with respect to the first rotary member is permitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Norikazu Hishinuma
  • Patent number: 10364111
    Abstract: A paper warping detection device includes an input tray, a processor, a first emitting element, a first receiving element and a first analog-to-digital converter. A first critical value is stored in the processor. The first emitting element is electrically connected with the processor. The first receiving element is disposed to the other side of the input tray. The first receiving element and the first emitting element face each other. When the first emitting element is switched on, the first emitting element emits first ultrasonic wave signals towards the first receiving element. The first analog-to-digital converter is electrically connected with the first receiving element and the processor for converting the first ultrasonic wave signals into first digital signals and outputting the first digital signals to the processor. The processor reads the first digital signals and compares the first digital signals with the first critical value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Foxlink Image Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming Da Wu, Shih Sen Huang, Chang Yuan Wu
  • Patent number: 10252553
    Abstract: A printer including: a housing; a rotating member that is rotatably fixed to the housing; a fixing part that is formed on the housing, and rotatably supports a rotary shaft of the rotating member; wherein one of the fixing part and the rotating member includes a projection formed around the rotary shaft and capable of contacting the other of the fixing part and the rotating member, the other of the fixing part and the rotating member includes a recess that is formed around the rotary shaft and does not contact the projection, a flat part that is formed around the rotary shaft and allows the rotation of the rotating member while contacting the projection, and a regulating part that is formed around the rotary shaft, contacts the projection and regulates the rotation of the rotating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: FUJITSU COMPONENT LIMITED
    Inventor: Yoshinari Takabatake
  • Patent number: 10214373
    Abstract: A sheet feeding device comprising: a stacking member on which a sheet is stacked; a first conveying portion that conveys a sheet stacked on the stacking member; a second conveying portion that separates and conveys a sheet conveyed by the first conveying portion; a stopper member that stops a sheet whose front end is abutted against the stopper member at an upstream of the second conveying portion in a sheet conveying direction, wherein the stopper member can be at a first position where the sheet can be stopped and a second position where the sheet can pass the stopper member, and wherein the stopper member can move from the first position toward the second position such that a sheet conveyed by the first conveying portion reaches the second conveying portion while maintaining a state where the front end of the sheet is abutted to the stopper member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Junichi Sata
  • Patent number: 10202249
    Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a stacking unit, a feeding unit, a rotating member, a separation unit, a holding unit, a swinging member, and a guiding unit. The stacking unit stacks sheets. The feeding unit feeds stacked sheets. The rotating member conveys sheets, and is on a feeding unit downstream side. The separation unit separates fed sheets one by one, and contacts the rotating member. The holding unit holds the feeding unit and rotating member, and is rotatable about a rotating member rotation shaft. The swinging members swingably disposed on the holding unit and the guiding unit on a swinging member lower side guides the sheets with contact. A first contact portion of the swinging member and the guiding unit is on a second contact portion upstream side, that is a rotating member/separation unit contact portion. A swinging member swinging shaft is on the first contact portion upstream side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akiyuki Mitamura
  • Patent number: 10099879
    Abstract: A paper feeding device includes a first transmission module mounted in a transaction device, a pickup shaft, at least one pickup roller and at least one separation roller. The pickup shaft is rotatably and pivotally connected to the transaction device. The pickup shaft is connected with the first transmission module, and the first transmission module is capable of driving the pickup shaft to rotate towards a clockwise direction or an anticlockwise direction. The at least one pickup roller is fastened around the pickup shaft. The at least one separation roller is rotatably and pivotally connected to the transaction device. An outer surface of the at least one separation roller oppositely abuts against an outer surface of the at least one pickup roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Foxlink Image Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei Xiang Tsai, Min Hsiung Lin
  • Patent number: 10091372
    Abstract: A medium feeding device includes a lower portion unit in which a feeding roller is provided, and an upper portion unit in which a separating roller is provided and which is connected to the lower portion unit so as to be openable and closable. The lower portion unit has a cover member which covers a holding portion of the feeding roller while exposing a portion of the feeding roller to the transport path, and the cover member is configured to be removable in a direction including a component directed toward an upstream side in the transport direction by being attachable to and detachable from the lower portion unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Takayuki Shiota
  • Patent number: 10029868
    Abstract: A sheet feed device includes a stacking tray on which sheets P are stacked, and feed rollers convey the sheets P from the stacking tray. The sheet feed device also includes a pressing lever configured to press back, when there is a sheet picked up from the stacking tray and is in a state of being nipped between feed rollers, a leading end of the sheet P toward the stacking tray, and a roller separating mechanism configured to separate the sheet feed rollers performing the nipping from each other, when the pressing member performs the operation of pressing back the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kouji Mori
  • Patent number: 9962951
    Abstract: Techniques are described for printing on front and back surfaces of security document substrates in a manner that conserves use of print ribbon, thereby extending the life of the print ribbon. In general, the printer controller knows the content, as well as locations and colors, of what has been printed on the front or first surface of the security document substrate. The printer control also knows the content, as well as locations and colors, of what is to be printed on the back or second surface of the security document substrate. When the back surface of the substrate is to be printed, the printer controller determines, for a particular color, whether any of the printing on the back surface would overlap with the printing on the front surface. For locations where there would be no overlap, the printer can reuse the section of print ribbon that was used to print on the front surface to print on the back surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: ENTRUST DATACARD CORPORATION
    Inventor: Patrick C. Cronin
  • Patent number: 9944483
    Abstract: A controller is configured to drive a conveying roller to allow a sheet to abut on a registration roller and stop, and to drive the registration roller to convey the sheet abutting on the registration roller to the printing unit at a set sheet interval. The controller is configured to control a conveying speed of the conveying roller based on a time from a first timing to a second timing, the first timing at which a preceding sheet conveyed from the registration roller to the printing unit exits the conveying roller, the second timing at which a following sheet reaches the conveying roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: RISO KAGAKU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideaki Inoue, Masashi Hara
  • Patent number: 9919884
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a conveyor for conveying a sheet along a predetermined conveyance path and a feeder unit for supporting the sheet to be fed to the conveyor. The conveyor includes a first guide part for guiding the sheet toward a downstream side in the conveying direction in a direction inclined at a downward gradient, a second guide part for guiding the sheet from the first guide part toward a further downstream side in a direction inclined at an upward gradient, a suction roller arranged at the first guide part for conveying the sheet supported by the feeder unit toward the downstream side, and a first conveyance roller arranged at the second guide part and for conveying the sheet conveyed by the suction roller toward the downstream side one at a time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kotaro Kurokawa, Hideaki Utagawa
  • Patent number: 9914604
    Abstract: A sheet feeder device includes: a sheet feed tray configured to store a sheet stack formed with a plurality of paper sheets; an elastic member capable of expanding and contracting; a contact mechanism configured to bring the elastic member into contact with an edge of the sheet stack; an expansion mechanism configured to expand the elastic member in a direction of stacking of the paper sheets; and a control unit configured to cause the expansion mechanism to expand the elastic member while the elastic member is kept in contact with the edge of the sheet stack by the contact mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Takashi Fujiwara, Jun Onishi, Masahito Takano
  • Patent number: 9902581
    Abstract: To enable a user, when removing a sheet of paper from a transport mechanism, to easily remove the sheet of paper from the transport mechanism even with structure in which a transport roller is provided at a position inaccessible to a user. A paper-sheet transport device, including: a drive part which drives a transport mechanism transporting a sheet of paper; a cover; a shaft that rotatable in a predetermined direction by drive generated by the drive part, the shaft including a transport roller fixed thereto for transporting the sheet of paper; a lever which is arranged at, at least, a drive part side end out of both ends of the shaft and which, through a part of the cover, receives force due to an opening/closing operation of the cover; and a ratchet via which the lever and the shaft are engaged or disengaged, and which changes from the engaged state to the disengaged state in response to the lever receiving the force due to the opening/closing operation of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: NEC PLATFORMS, LTD
    Inventor: Yasukazu Nagura
  • Patent number: 9860403
    Abstract: When a sheet fed by a feed rotating member passes through a detection area of a leading edge detecting portion, the feed rotating member is moved to a retract position based on the detection. When the fed sheet does not pass through the detection area, the feed rotating member is moved to the retract position after a predetermined time elapses since the sheet starts to be fed by the feed rotating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Matsumoto, Toshifumi Itabashi
  • Patent number: 9800748
    Abstract: An automatic document feeder that is included in an image reader of an image forming apparatus includes a sheet conveying roller, a document feeder cover, a projection piece, a motor, a driving side gear, and a driving force transmission device including an idler gear, a driving force release gear, a slide body, a first elastic body to bias the idler gear and the driving force release gear to be separated, a second elastic body to bias the driving force release gear and the slide body to be separated, and a drive shaft. The driving force transmission device meshes the driving and driven side meshing portions together with a biasing force applied by the second elastic body when the document feeder cover is closed, and releases the driving and driven side meshing portions with a biasing force applied by the first elastic body when the document feeder cover is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Horikawa, Yasunobu Youda, Yohei Osanai, Tatsuaki Nagano, Satoshi Narai, Takuji Kawai, Daisuke Imaki, Takayuki Andoh, Susumu Miyazaki, Yuki Fujii, Koichi Ono, Takeshi Shikama, Hiroaki Ikeda, Shingo Shiramura, Hideo Tanaka, Tetsuo Inui
  • Patent number: 9764916
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a conveying unit configured to convey sheets along a predetermined conveyance path, and a cover member disposed at a position covering the conveying unit and constituting one of exterior surfaces of the sheet conveying device. The cover member includes a first base portion constituting one of the exterior surfaces, a second base portion facing the first base portion across a space, and a plurality of linking portions provided between the first base portion and the second base portion and linking to both the first base portion and the second base portion. The first base portion, the second base portion, and the plurality of linking portions are integrally formed of a resin material into one piece. The second base portion includes a plurality of ribs protruding from a surface of the second base portion opposite to the first base portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takayuki Akimatsu
  • Patent number: 9656820
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus as a sheet conveying apparatus comprises a paper feeding roller, an upstream side sensor, and an ultrasonic wave sensor. The paper feeding roller provides a plurality of sheets placed on a document tray in series to a conveying path. The upstream side sensor detects presence or absence of a sheet being conveyed along the conveying path, at a location of a downstream side of the paper feeding roller along the conveying path. The ultrasonic wave sensor detects presence or absence of occurrence of multiple feed, based on intensity of ultrasonic waves received at a location of a downstream side of the upstream side sensor along the conveying path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Yoshimura, Akinori Kimata, Takashi Watanabe, Toshikazu Higashi
  • Patent number: 9636931
    Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises a maintenance unit configured to execute a maintenance operation between a completion of printing on a preceding sheet serving as the printing sheet fed from a stacking unit first and a start of printing on a succeeding sheet serving as the printing sheet fed from the stacking unit next, and a determination unit configured to determine whether to execute the maintenance operation, wherein the determination unit determines, based on a feeding method of the succeeding sheet, whether to execute the maintenance operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Sahara, Tetsuya Edamura, Atsushi Takahashi, Tomofumi Nishida, Toshiyuki Kuroda
  • Patent number: 9567127
    Abstract: A medium transporting apparatus is used for transporting a label web including a carrier web and labels adhered thereto. A platen roller transports the label web in a transport path. A pressure roller is disposed downstream of the separating member with respect to the transport path, and causes the carrier web to be kinked. The pressure roller urges the carrier web against the platen roller. A support member is mounted on a cover and rotatably supports the pressure roller. The cover is pivoted between an open position and a closed. Immediately after the cover has moved to the closed position, the pressure roller contacts the platen roller and then slides by a predetermined amount on the circumferential surface of the platen roller in a direction away from the separating member. Thus, the carrier web sandwiched between the pressure and platen rollers becomes taut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Daichi Sato
  • Patent number: 9546059
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus, including: a base body having a conveyor surface; a separating roller configured to rotate about a first rotation axis parallel to a width direction of the conveyor surface and to convey a sheet downstream in a conveyance direction orthogonal to the width direction; a separating piece opposed to the separating roller and configured to cooperate with the separating roller to separate sheets being conveyed one by one; an attachment member removably attached to the base body at a position at which the attachment member is opposed to the separating roller, so as to form a part of the conveyor surface; a holder holding the separating piece and supported by the attachment member so as to be movable toward and away from the separating roller; and a first urging member provided between the attachment member and the holder for urging the separating piece toward the separating roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiko Ohta
  • Patent number: 9535392
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a casing, a cover configured to pivot between a covering position and an exposing position, a shaft portion provided to one of the casing and the cover, a bearing portion provided to the other one, and a retaining mechanism configured to retain the cover at the exposing position. The cover includes a contactable portion configured to, when the cover pivots between the covering position and the exposing position, contact the retaining mechanism. The retaining mechanism includes a retaining member configured to restrict the cover from pivoting from the exposing position to the covering position, and an urging member urging the retaining member toward the contactable portion. The casing includes a frame, the frame including a guide section configured to guide a sheet. The frame of the casing includes one of the shaft portion and the bearing portion and supports the retaining mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koyo Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9359158
    Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes: a sheet stacking member; an air blowing unit configured to blow air onto the sheet bundle placed on the sheet stacking member to suspend multiple sheets of the sheet bundle; a lifting/lowering unit configured to lift/lower the sheet stacking member; an optical reflection sensor configured to detect a suspended sheet suspended by the air blowing unit; and a control unit configured to control the lifting/lowering unit based on an output value of the optical reflection sensor. The optical reflection sensor is configured to be capable of detecting an area corresponding to multiple sheets in a sheet suspension zone extending between a non-suspended sheet bundle and a conveying member configured to convey an uppermost sheet of the multiple suspended sheets. The non-suspended sheet bundle is made up of sheets not suspended during a period when air is blown by the air blowing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Yasunori Hino, Chikara Akata, Tomoki Tamate, Hideaki Takahashi, Munehisa Fuda, Toshihiro Okutsu, Takashi Fukumoto, Yasuo Niikura, Masaki Ishizaki, Kiyotake Nakamura, Hidetoshi Kojima, Hisayoshi Sugawara, Kazunori Konno, Tatsuya Sugawara, Kohjiroh Haga, Masato Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 9359159
    Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a stacking portion, a feed portion, a moving amount detecting portion provided downstream of the feed portion and configured to detect a moving amount of the sheet, and a control portion. The control portion is configured to change a timing for starting a sheet feed operation by the feed portion in feeding a n+1th sheet by the feed portion based on a detection result of the moving amount detecting portion detected when a nth sheet has been fed by the feed portion in feeding the sheets consecutively by the feed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinya Noda, Takashi Yano
  • Patent number: 9352915
    Abstract: A method of scanning documents and moving such documents along a path such that during scanning a method of improving the documents velocity and the documents image quality is disclosed. The method includes providing a plurality of documents in an input tray and transporting each document along the path from the input tray at a transport velocity past the scanner to obtain scanned image data. By monitoring and controlling the velocity profile of the transport system, the scanning system may provide higher image quality, reduce slippage, misfeeds and jams, and provide alerts to an operator in the even slippage, misfeeds, or jams do occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Kodak Alaris Inc.
    Inventors: Randall Maysick, Stephen M. Reinke, Robert Westcott
  • Patent number: 9340046
    Abstract: A drive device includes: connection gears connected to driving objects; a movable gear movable between the connection gears; a drive source for rotating the movable gear; and at least one estimator each provided for a corresponding one of at least one of the connection gears and configured to: estimate a reaction-force estimate value, as an estimate value of a reaction force acting in a power transmission system from the drive source to the driving object, based on control input, control output, and a model of the power transmission system; and output the reaction-force estimate value. The model is configured such that the reaction-force estimate value falls within a set range in a state in which the movable gear is meshed with the connection gear. A controller detects mesh and/or separation between the movable gear and the at least one connection gear based on the reaction-force estimate value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Eisuke Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9248986
    Abstract: A sheet feeding device comprising a tray, a sheet feeder, first and second guide members, a separator, and an inclined guide portion. The first guide member disposed downstream of the tray and includes a first inclined surface that contacts and guides the sheets. The separator separates the sheets from other lower sheets. The second guide member is disposed downstream of the first guide member and includes a second inclined surface that contacts the sheets. The second inclined surface is inclined more steeply than the first inclined surface relative to a supporting surface of the tray. A first inclined guide portion extends from an upper end portion of the first guide member and includes a third inclined surface that contacts the sheets. The third inclined surface is inclined more steeply than the first inclined surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hirotaka Aoki
  • Publication number: 20150093215
    Abstract: Imaging apparatus and methods for bindery systems are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a platform and a separator coupled to the platform. The separator to receive a signature assembly, the separator includes an end to engage the signature assembly to separate a first page from the signature assembly, a first guide to direct the first page toward the platform and a second guide to direct a second page of the signature assembly toward a side of the platform. The apparatus includes a printer positioned above the platform. The printer is to image the first page when the first page is disposed on the platform. The apparatus includes a pump fluidly coupled through the platform to draw the first page toward the platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Ty Daniel Wyble, Todd Tracy Rose
  • Patent number: 8991813
    Abstract: A sheet transport device includes a sheet supporting surface which receives a plurality of sheets set thereon, a separation roller which separates the sheets set on the sheet supporting surface sheet by sheet to transport a separated sheet in a predetermined transport direction, and a first detection unit which is disposed to the supporting surface and detects whether a sheet is set on the sheet supporting surface. The separation roller and the first detection unit are disposed to be separated at least in a sheet width direction orthogonal to the predetermined transport direction, and a distance between the first detection unit and an end edge of the separation roller at a side of the first detection unit is longer than a short side of a non-allowable sheet which is smaller than a minimum sheet size within an allowable transport range set in the sheet transport device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 8965568
    Abstract: A feed station has a pre-separation region, a separation region and a transport region in succession along a transport path. A first sensor is at the start of the separation region and a second sensor is at the start of the transport region. A control unit processes signals from the sensors and encoders to determine the position of the flat item, and is connected with a separation motor to drive the separation device, so that a flat item is separated from a stack with a predetermined separation velocity. If unacceptably small gaps exist between the flat items, the separation process is stopped when the leading edge of a subsequent flat item reaches the second sensor and is continued when the preceding separated flat item achieves a predetermined clearance from the leading edge of the aforementioned flat item due to its transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Francotyp-Postalia GmbH
    Inventor: Frank Geserich
  • Patent number: 8953230
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus is provided with a registration roller configured such that a downstream end in a sheet feeding direction of a sheet abut to correct a skew of the sheet, and a pulling roller that conveys the sheet to the registration roller. The pulling roller is disposed such that a center of an arrangement in a direction orthogonal to the sheet feeding direction of the pulling roller is located on a side of the first restricting plate from a widthwise center of the sheet conveying path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Seiichiro Adachi
  • Patent number: 8931776
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a main body having a sheet feed path and an opening. A sheet placing part defined in the main body. The sheet inserted through the opening is placed on the sheet placing part. A supply roller arranged to face the placing part and feeds the sheet placed on the sheet placing part in a sheet feed direction toward the sheet feed path, a frame arranged to face the sheet placing part and configured to support the supply roller, the frame having a protruded part protruded on an opening side with respect to the supply roller. An image forming unit is provided inside the main body. An inclined surface is formed on a side of the protruded part facing the sheet placing part, and the protruded part has an inclined surface facing the sheet placing part and inclined such that a distance between the inclined surface and the sheet placing part becomes gradually smaller toward the supply roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Junki Ueyama
  • Patent number: 8934148
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus comprises a reading unit including a movable sensor, a first reading mechanism which moves the reading unit to read an original placed on a platen, a second reading mechanism which conveys the original relative to the reading unit to read the original, a common driving source which drives the first reading mechanism and the second reading mechanism, a transfer unit which transfers a driving force from the driving source to the first reading mechanism and the second reading mechanism, and a switching unit which switches rotation used to drive the second reading mechanism to one of forward rotation and reverse rotation with respect to rotation of the driving source in one direction, the switching unit operating as the reading unit moves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kaneto Tokuyama, Kazuyuki Morinaga
  • Patent number: 8908233
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a cover configured to be movable between a first position, in which the top of the main body is covered, and a second position, in which the top of the main body is exposed; a supporting member configured to vertically move with respect to the main body so that the rotation center of the cover is moved between an ascent position and a descent position; a cam configured to rotate together with the cover such that a cam surface abuts on the main body, thereby vertically moving the supporting member, wherein the cam has a shape to displace the rotation center to the descent position when then the cover rotates to the first position and to displace the rotation center to the ascent position when the cover rotates to the second position so that interference of the cover is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Ohama, Yoshinori Osakabe
  • Patent number: 8848263
    Abstract: Disclosed is an image reading apparatus comprising: a movable unit having a transparent member; a guide portion arranged to face the transparent member to guide a conveyed sheet; a reader portion configured to read an image on a sheet guided by the guide portion past the transparent member; abutting portions that are provided on the guide portion and abut on the movable unit; an actuating portion configured to move the movable unit in a direction along the surface of the transparent member; and an engaging portion provided on the movable unit and engaged with the guide member such that the movable unit and the abutting portion are separated from each other as the movable unit is moved by the actuating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masafumi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8840103
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes: a separation sheet feeding mechanism having a paper feeding belt and a separation roller; and an adjustment mechanism that changes contact state of the paper feeding belt to the separation roller by changing relative position of the paper feeding belt and the separation roller, and changes and adjusts separation performance of the separation roller for the subsequent sheet, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a cam follower member changing the relative position of the feeding belt and the separation roller, the cam member includes a first cam face and a second cam face which are formed at each rotation radius position in accordance with the rotation angle position, and are spaced apart in the rotation radius direction, and the cam follower member has a contact unit guided by the first cam face and the second cam face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Takashi Fukumoto, Mamoru Kambayashi, Michitaka Suzuki, Atsushi Fujita, Masataka Fukuchi, Ryuji Yoshida, Hideki Tobinaga, Norio Kimura, Kenichiro Morita, Koki Sakano, Takuya Sano, Takuya Morinaga, Takashi Nakano
  • Publication number: 20140272142
    Abstract: Imaging apparatus and methods for bindery systems. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a platform having a plurality of openings to provide suction through a surface of the platform and a first track that moves across the surface of the platform. The first track has a plurality of apertures to fluidly couple the suction to an upper surface of the first track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company
    Inventors: Ty Daniel Wyble, Todd Tracy Rose