Rotary Separator Patents (Class 271/10.09)
  • Publication number: 20090289409
    Abstract: A device for separating of individual, flat objects from the underside of a stack of this kind of objects (2) includes a roll bed conveyor consisting of a plurality of circulating rollers (9) and supporting the stack from beneath, wherein the rollers (9) are respectively rotatable around their longitudinal axis (10) and are moved along an orbit (11). Hereby the rollers (9) are coupled by a coupling (8) to at least one roller wheel (7) and, by means of this coupling, the longitudinal axes (10) of the rollers (9) are respectively pivotable in relation to the roller wheel (7). The rollers (9) are pivoted in a releasing region (13) of the orbit (11), through which an opening of the roll bed conveyor is created. Thus, the flat objects (2) can individually be conveyed from beneath the stack and transported away through the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: FERAG AG
    Inventor: Roberto Fenile
  • Publication number: 20090256304
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes sheet bundle boundary detecting unit which detects a boundary of sheet bundles added to a sheet storage case, and control unit which controls a feeding condition of sheet feeding unit based on a detection result of the sheet bundle boundary detecting unit. With this, overlapping-feeding and miss-feeding at the boundary between the sheet bundles are reliably prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takuma Koizumi, Daijiro Kato, Kiyoshi Oyama
  • Publication number: 20090243184
    Abstract: A sheet feed device has a tray with holding surface for holding sheets, a feed unit for feeding sheets from the tray, and a separation plate. The separation plate has an inclined surface and two or more separation portions that separate a sheet from the sheets held in the tray. At least one of the separation portions projects a first distance from the inclined surface. The separation plate also has a projection positioned on the inclined surface that projects a second distance from the inclined surface. The second distance is greater than the first distance. A first of the separation portions is positioned upstream of the particular projection in the sheet feed direction, and a second of the separation portions positioned downstream of the particular projection in the sheet feed direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuo Asada, Yukio Shiohara
  • Publication number: 20090243190
    Abstract: A sheet feeding device is provided. The sheet feeding device includes a sheet holder to hold a sheet in a position to be fed, a feed roller to pick up the sheet, a first lifter to move a closer portion of the sheet holder by one of a front end and a rear end thereof, a second lifter to move a further portion of the sheet holder by one of a front end and a rear end thereof, and a coordinating system to move the first lifter and the second lifter in cooperation with each other to move the overall sheet holder in a direction to be closer to the feed roller, wherein an amount of the sheet holder to be moved by the first lifter is greater according to a constant rate with respect to an amount of the sheet holder to be moved by the second lifter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tsugio OKAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20090243191
    Abstract: As a guide member provided on a conveyance path through which a sheet is conveyed toward a separation device, a guide member having a sloping guide surface is used, and the aforesaid guide member is arranged so that an uppermost stream point of the sloping guide surface may be positioned at the upstream side of a separation point of the aforesaid separation device and a lowermost stream point of the aforesaid guide surface may be positioned at the downstream side of the aforesaid separation point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Tomoo Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20090243189
    Abstract: A document feeder includes a sheet tray loaded with sheets stacked thereon in a predetermined direction, a pickup unit pulling in sheets on the sheet tray and feed the sheets, a separation unit that separates a sheet from the sheets fed through the pickup unit and feeds the separated sheet, so as to convey the sheets sequentially on a sheet-by-sheet basis, and a guide unit that forms a carrying path extending from the sheet tray to the separation unit. The guide unit has an entrance portion provided at a side of the sheet tray relative to the separation unit, as an entrance of the sheets on the sheet tray into the carrying path. The carrying path has a longer length in the predetermined direction at a downstream side in a sheet carrying direction relative to the entrance portion than a length in the predetermined direction of the entrance portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryoichi MATSUSHIMA
  • Publication number: 20090243192
    Abstract: A sheet feeding device to feed a sheet in a sheet stack into a sheet feeding path is provided. the sheet feeding device includes a feed roller configured to contact the sheet stack and feed the sheet in a feeding direction, a guide member, having a guide surface, which is configured to contact a side of the sheet fed by the feeding roller, to guide the sheet being fed along a guiding direction, and a shifting unit to shift the feed roller in a direction toward the guide surface before the feed roller is rotated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tsugio OKAMOTO
  • Patent number: 7594647
    Abstract: Embodiments of a pick mechanism for use in an image forming device. In one embodiment, a first mechanism individually moves each of the media sheets from a stack in the input area thereby gradually decreasing a height of the stack. The first mechanism applies a first force profile to the stack while individually moving each of the plurality of media sheets. As the media sheets are moved, the height of the stack gradually decreases from a first height to a second height. As the stack decreases below the second height, a second force profile is applied to the stack. The second force profile is different from the first profile. The first and second force profiles prevent slip as the media sheets are fed from the input area, and also prevent double sheet feeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin C. DeVore, Darin M. Gettelfinger, Paul Douglas Horrall
  • Publication number: 20090236793
    Abstract: A sheet feeder for feeding printed sheets to a conveying device, with a gripper drum that has at least one gripper for removing the printed sheets one at a time from a stack; a pocket is permanently mounted essentially in the peripheral area of the gripper drum wherein the printed sheets are aligned against a stop with the fold forward and set down on the conveying device with reversal of direction; and with a decelerating device for slowing the speed of the printed sheets downstream towards the stop. The decelerating device has at least one secondary stop, which rotates in the same direction as the gripper drum, has a slower speed than the gripper drum for slowing down the printed sheets, and on which the printed sheets are slowed down upstream of the stop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventor: Peter Merkli
  • Patent number: 7584954
    Abstract: A sheet feeder device includes a sheet accommodating section for accommodating a stack of sheets. There is a sheet pick-up section which can operate to feed each of the sheets toward a sheet feed path when abutting against the stack. A sheet separating section is also provided and it has a feed roller and a reverse roller which are located downstream of the sheet pick-up section and abut against each other. The reverse roller is supported on a rotation support shaft in a manner to allow the reverse roller to be fitted around and removed from the rotation support. The rotation support has opposite ends supported by a device body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Nagao
  • Publication number: 20090218752
    Abstract: In an apparatus, a pile of sheets is mounted on a support base, and is brought into contact with a guide. A high-frequency vibration is applied to the sheets from a vibrating part which is pressed to the pile. A sheet on the uppermost surface of the pile is transferred by a feed roller. The guide has a guide end defining a guide entrance between the guide end and the feed roller, through which the sheets is passed. The guide end is arranged substantially in a virtual plane including a contact position at which the vibrating part is in contact with the uppermost surface of the pile, and substantially parallel with the sheets. A separation section for separating sheets from each other is arranged behind the entrance, and an air blow-off section for blowing air into the side of the pile is provided in the vicinity of the entrance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Yuko Kobayashi, Kiminori Toya, Hideki Nukada, Masaki Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20090189333
    Abstract: A mailpiece selector device for separating mailpieces one-by-one from a stack of mailpieces and for transporting them downstream, said mailpiece selector device comprising a first guide followed by a second guide, both of which guides co-operate with a plurality of opposite selector rollers to select said mailpieces one-by-one and to transport them downstream, said first guide being able to pivot about a first pivot axis in opposition to first resilient return means, and said second guide being able to pivot about a second pivot axis in opposition to second resilient return means, said second pivot axis being offset upstream relative to said first pivot axis, and said first and second guides having drive means for making it possible, above a predetermined mailpiece thickness range, for said second guide to pivot automatically when said first guide pivots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: NEOPOST TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: Francis CORET, Yannick CLARIS, Christophe PEYNET
  • Publication number: 20090184458
    Abstract: An equipment (43) for storing in an orderly way banknotes (52) and/or papers and the like, for instance banknotes (52) for an automatic machine (39), provided for the formation of a stack (53). The equipment (43) comprises two spiral elements (81; 82) defining coils with respective axes (83; 84) directed in the sense of the stacking and terminal sections (86) adjacent to a stacking surface (77) at an end of the stack. The spiral elements (81; 82) are rotatable around the axes (83; 84) and are arranged for laterally receiving between the coils a leading portion of the entering banknote (52), moving the banknote (52), through the coils and in consequence of the rotation, on the stacking surface (77), and disengaging the banknote from the coils adjacent to the terminal section (86).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventors: Dario Bisone, Mauro Martinotti, Paolo Donnis, Mirko Billet
  • Publication number: 20090152791
    Abstract: A first guide member includes a concave-shaped guide surface. A recording medium such as a sheet fed by register rollers takes a curved position while being fed in a sheet feeding direction such that the leading edge of the sheet slides on the guide surface. A space is defined between the sheet and the guide surface due to the stiffness of the sheet. Thus, the sheet smoothly curves. When a speed of conveying the sheet by the register rollers is faster than a speed of conveying the sheet by a conveying belt, slack in the sheet is allowed in the space defined between the sheet and the guide surface. Therefore, the sheet can be stably conveyed without applying excessive load to the sheet or a sheet conveying device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshi Igarashi
  • Patent number: 7540485
    Abstract: A paper feeding apparatus including a paper pickup roller assembly, a paper conveying roller assembly, a one-way driving assembly, and a reverse driving assembly is provided. The one-way driving and the reverse driving assembly are connected to a driving device, such as a motor, wherein the one-way driving assembly is engaged with the paper pickup roller assembly only in one direction to drive the paper pickup roller assembly forward as the driving device rotates forward and stop driving the paper pickup roller assembly as the driving device rotates backward, and the reverse driving assembly is provided for driving the paper conveying roller assembly to constantly rotate forward for conveying the paper sheet to move forward no matter whether the driving device rotates forward or backward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Lite-On Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Yu-Jen Su, Liang-Qing Su
  • Patent number: 7533878
    Abstract: Printer (1) has a pivotally mounted autocompensating system (19) mounted at an intermediate position in paper guide (17). That system (19) is driven by a motor (40)through a slip drive (70, 72, 74). The motor also drives paper feed system (15). When the motor turns in a direction to feed by system (15), the intermediate system is moved away from the paper guide. When a sheet reaches a position to be fed by the intermediate system, the motor is reversed, and the intermediate system pivots against the paper for moving it further through the paper guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Dale Cook, William Scott Klein
  • Patent number: 7513501
    Abstract: Paper feeding device (33) for ink jet photographic printers, comprising a paper feeding motor (83) for preparing and feeding sheets to be printed (26) for printing. The feeding device (33) is characterized in that it comprises a changeover mechanism (149) disposed downstream of the paper feeding motor (83) and suitable for activation in response to predetermined operating conditions of the printer for moving a sheet (26) at high speed in the preparation stage and at high resolution in association with printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Telecom Italia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Claudio Vernetti, Riccardo Nicolari, Fabio Dondi, Mauro Mondino, Mario Manzone
  • Publication number: 20090057984
    Abstract: A sheet carrying device includes: a pickup roller sending out a sheet on a sheet mounting tray into a carrying path one sheet at a time; a sheet carrying device rotating the pickup roller; a control section controlling a roller first driving motor; and a carrying delay detecting section detecting delay in sheet carrying carried out by the pickup roller. The control section controls the roller first driving motor, in a case where the delay in the sheet carrying is detected by the carrying delay detecting section, so that (i) the pickup roller once stops and then restarts rotating and (ii) a start-up acceleration of the pickup roller, which start-up acceleration is an acceleration from the restart of rotation to arrival at a predetermined speed, becomes lower than a first start-up acceleration from start of rotation of the pickup roller to arrival at the predetermined speed in a case where there is no delay in the sheet carrying.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventor: Kazutaka MATSUMOTO
  • Patent number: 7484723
    Abstract: A separation roller set comprises a shaft, a separation roller, a separation pad, an aligning roller, and an idle roller is provided in the present invention. The separation roller is fixed on the shaft with the separation pad leaning thereon. The separation roller is utilized to carry a sheet of paper moving through a gap between the separation roller and the separation pad. The aligning roller is located on the shaft with an idle roller leaning thereon. The leading edge of the sheet of paper leaving the gap is stopped and aligned by the aligning roller and the idle roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Qisda Corporation
    Inventors: Ping-Hung Kuo, Jung-Mao Tiao
  • Publication number: 20090020942
    Abstract: A document ejecting mechanism includes an output roller, a roller shaft, an idle roller, an idle shaft and an adjusting device. The roller shaft inserts through the output roller, which rotates the idle roller. The idle shaft inserts through the idle roller. The adjusting device adjusts a distance between the output roller and the idle roller. A document feeder using the document ejecting mechanism is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Inventors: Szu Hui Lien, Thomas Sheng
  • Publication number: 20090014943
    Abstract: A mechanism enables efficiently reducing the size of a check feeding device for separating and feeding checks one at a time. The check separating and feeding mechanism 13 uses a single drive motor 85 to drive the feed roller 71, pressure member 72, and separation roller 81. When the drive motor 85 turns in a second direction, torque is transferred through a second one-way clutch mechanism 88f to both rollers 71 and 81, and the check 4 separating and feeding operation begins. When the drive motor 85 turns in this direction, the first one-way clutch mechanism 88e disengages the drive motor 85 from the drive power transfer path to the pressure member 72, and a tension spring 99 pulls the pressure member 72 in the direction pressing the checks 4 to the feed roller 71. When the drive motor 85 turns in an opposite first direction, the torque of the drive motor 85 returns the pressure member 72 to the standby position, drive power is not transferred to the rollers 71 and 81, and the rollers do not turn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20080315497
    Abstract: The invention provides, as an aspect thereof, a feeding apparatus that includes: a target-medium feeding roller that feeds a target medium; a target-media placement unit on which target media are placed, the target-media placement unit being able to move toward and away from the target-medium feeding roller; a first urging unit that urges the target-media placement unit toward the target-medium feeding roller; a target-media-placement-unit retraction movement unit that moves the target-media placement unit away from the target-medium feeding roller; a movement unit that is provided at a downstream position as viewed from the target-media placement unit in a target-medium-feed direction and is able to move toward and away from the target-medium feeding roller; and a second urging unit that urges the movement unit toward the target-medium feeding roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Satoshi KOBAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20080290585
    Abstract: A sheet-feed device, including: a sheet accommodating portion for accommodating sheets; a sheet-feed roller which feeds one of the sheets located uppermost among the accommodated sheets; an inclined sheet-separation plate; separation pawls arranged on the sheet-separation plate for cooperating with the roller to separate the one of the sheets from the other sheets; a sheet guide member supported on the sheet-separation plate so as to pivot about an axis and including: a first contact portion located on a sheet feeding route and configured to contact the separated sheet; and a second contact portion located on one side of the axis remote from the first contact portion and configured to protrude from the sheet-separation plate so as to contact the separated sheet owing to a pivotal movement of the guide member by a contact of the separated sheet with the first contact portion, whereby the separated sheet is moved away from the separation pawls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tetsuo Asada
  • Patent number: 7429039
    Abstract: A hinge device is configured that when a cover is opened, a support-section-side pivot shaft is guided upward by a fixed-section-side guide groove; and a fixed-section-side pivot shaft is guided while being restricted in downward movement by a support-section-side guide groove which tilts in accordance with a pivot operation of the cover. As a result, occurrence of interference between a frontward edge of the cover and an upper face of a document ejection tray can be prevented without causing the frontward edge to move lower than its position in a face-down state. In addition, chattering of the cover during the opening/closing operations can also be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiteru Hattori, Atsuo Hirose
  • Publication number: 20080197559
    Abstract: A media processing device can convey checks at a constant speed passed an information reading position without slipping and without increasing the relay capacity of the transportation roller. The check processing device 1 has two transportation rollers 31 and 32 between the scanning position 52A of the contact image scanner 52 and the separation roller 17 and retard roller 18 that produce a transportation load or transportation load variation. The upstream-side transportation roller 31 turns faster than the downstream transportation roller 32 so that the checks 4 are fed with slack between these transportation rollers 31 and 32. Because of this slack in the part 402 of the check 4 between the transportation rollers 31 and 32, the transportation load from the separation mechanism does not act on the downstream transportation roller 32.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Furihata, Toshiyuki Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20080150218
    Abstract: In accordance with the present disclosure, there is provided a printing system. The printing system comprises a sheet feeding apparatus for feeding cut sheets in timed relationship into a sheet processor having a pitch. The sheet feeding apparatus includes a fixed take away roller, a first transport roller, and a second transport roller. The take away roller removes individual sheets from a feeder. A fixed length sheetpath exists between the take away roller, the first transport roller, and the second transport roller. The take away roller and/or optionally the first transport roller have a variable speed capability to vary the velocity thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Robert A. Clark, Kenneth P. Moore, Bruce A. Thompson
  • Patent number: 7387297
    Abstract: A printing system sheet feeder apparatus and method is provided. The printing system feeder includes a front nudger roll positioned near the leading edge of the top sheet of a sheet stack and the front nudger roll is capable of advancing the top sheet. In addition, the printing system sheet feeder includes a separation nip aligned with the front nudger roll, the front nudger roll being capable of receiving the top sheet advanced by the front nudger roll and advancing the top sheet in a direction away from the front nudger. A rear nudger roll is positioned near the trailing edge of the top sheet and is capable of advancing the sheet directly below the top sheet while the top sheet is being advanced by the front nudger roll and/or separation nip, thereby increasing the overall sheet feeding rate to the printing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Steven R. Moore
  • Patent number: 7380782
    Abstract: An automatic document feeder (ADF) having a replaceable friction roller assembly. The ADF includes a housing having a back plate which may be raised and a base pivotalby connected to the back plate, a supporting element disposed on the housing and having a shaft hole, a first engaging structure disposed on the housing, and a friction roller assembly. The friction roller assembly includes a rotating shaft, a friction roller and a first sleeve. The friction roller is fixed to the rotating shaft. The first sleeve is rotatably mounted on the rotating shaft. The first sleeve has a second engaging structure which is engaged with the first engaging structure in order to rotatably and firmly mount the rotating shaft to the housing. The friction roller assembly may be replaced when the second engaging structure and the first engaging structure are disengaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Avision Inc.
    Inventor: Szu Hui Lien
  • Publication number: 20080111294
    Abstract: A sheet transporting device including: a sheet feeding section that feeds sheets to a transporting path; a pair of upstream transporting rollers and a pair of downstream transporting rollers arranged with a predetermined space; a double feed detecting section that detects a length of a double feed portion; a determining section that determines whether the length of the double feed portion is shorter than the predetermined space or not; and a transport control section that controls the drives of the upstream transporting rollers and the downstream transporting rollers, wherein the transport control section controls speeds of the upstream transporting rollers and the downstream transporting rollers so as to separate the delaying sheet from the preceding sheet of the overlapped sheets, in a case where the determining section determines that the length of the double feed portion is shorter than the predetermined space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Inventors: Manabu Itoh, Satoshi Murakami, Kazumasa Tonami
  • Patent number: 7357386
    Abstract: A paper feed apparatus of the present invention includes a pick mechanism for successively taking out, by use of a pick roller 1, a plurality of sheets of paper stacked on a chute from the bottom side thereof, leading ends of the sheets being aligned by means of a stopper block 2 in a state in which the sheets are stacked on the chute. Moreover, the apparatus includes a roller guide 11 and an abutment guide 12. When the roller guide 11 is raised to a paper setting position in a direction away from the pick roller 1, the roller guide 11 raises the leading ends of the sheets stacked on the chute to thereby prevent contact between the sheets and the pick roller 1. The abutment guide 12 aligns the leading ends of the sheets when the roller guide 11 is raised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Shikan, Masaaki Yamashita, Takumi Nakayama, Satoshi Ishida
  • Publication number: 20080073833
    Abstract: A sheet conveying system in which when a sheet is passed from a sheet conveying apparatus to another, each including a sheet conveyance controller, the receiving apparatus can smoothly control acceleration, deceleration, or stop of conveyance of the sheet. A first sheet conveying device includes a first conveying roller pair to nip and convey a sheet, a releasing mechanism to release nipping of the sheet by the first conveying roller pair, and a first controller to control the first conveying roller pair and the releasing mechanism. A second sheet conveying device includes a second conveying roller pair to nip and convey the sheet conveyed by the first sheet conveying device, a second controller to control the second conveying roller pair, and a detecting device to detect position of a sheet. In response to the detection by the detecting device, the second controller causes the releasing mechanism to release the nipping of the sheet by the first conveying roller pair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toru Ono, Kiyoshi Okamoto, Noriaki Matsui
  • Patent number: 7261289
    Abstract: An automatic document feeder for an image forming apparatus comprising a separation roller for separately carrying a plurality of paper sheets picked by a pickup roller, a feeding roller for carrying the paper sheets, a discharge roller for discharging the scanned paper sheets, and a transmission unit for transmitting a driving force from a driving motor. The transmission unit comprises an internal roller installed on the same axis as the feeding roller, the internal roller having an internal gear, a swing arm rotatably attached to a bracket, the bracket being inserted into the internal roller, and a swing gear rotatably installed on one side of the swing arm, the swing gear being engaged with the internal gear for rotating the internal roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung-Jae Lee, Sang-Jin Bae
  • Patent number: 7258335
    Abstract: Drag from media sensor (80) of a printer is eliminated by it being pivoted through a slip connection off of pivoted media feed system (19) to briefly contact papers. The pivoted media feed is then moved in reverse a limited amount at which a rotatably biased member (94) moves ledge (94a) of the member to face abutment surface (92a) of the media sensor. Media feed system 19 is then moved back to drive media while the media sensor is blocked from movement and the slip connection simply slips. After the media is fed, the media feed system is moved away a longer amount while the media sensor is blocked against for the same movement by an abutment (110) in the printer. The media feed system after the longer movement moves a lever (94f) of the biased member and rotates the ledge to free the media sensor to again move to the media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Matthew Johnson, Michael William Lawrence, Bryan Christopher Scharf
  • Patent number: 7210677
    Abstract: A paper feeder includes a sheet supply unit that feeds sheets placed on a sheet placing part, a separating roller the separates the sheets fed by the sheet supply unit one sheet at a time and supplies each sheet to a sheet transportation path, a transportation roller that transports the sheets provided downstream of the separating roller and a link mechanism connected to the transportation roller via a transmitting unit. When the transportation roller rotates in a sheet transporting direction, the link mechanism swings so that a shutter opens the sheet transportation path and maintains an opened state. When the transportation roller rotates in a direction opposite to the sheet transporting direction, the link mechanism swings so that the shutter closes the sheet transportation path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Murata Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Fukumura, Toshihiro Kawamura, Hirokazu Inoue
  • Patent number: 6945524
    Abstract: A card singularization gate for use in an identification card printer includes a roller support, a guide roller, and a card stop. The roller support is positioned between a card feeder and the card transport mechanism. The guide roller is supported by the roller support for rotation about an axis that is substantially parallel to a card feed plane and transverse to a card path. The guide roller includes a card engaging side adjacent the card feed plane where non-abrasive contact of a first surface of the lead card is made during the card feed operation. The card stop is positioned adjacent a side of the guide roller that is opposite the card engaging side. During card feed operations, the lead card is allowed passage to the card transport mechanism along the card engaging side of the guide roller while cards that are stacked upon the lead card are blocked by the card stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Fargo Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Meier, Martin A. Pribula, Stacy W. Lukaskawcez
  • Patent number: 6834850
    Abstract: To suppress vibration and percussive noises generally created by a separation pad and pressure spring in a sheet feeding apparatus, a sheet feeding tray stacks and maintains sheets, a sheet feeding roller launches sheets stacked on the sheet feeding tray, and a separation pad separates sheets from each other. In particular, when feeding a last sheet of one job, the sheet feeding roller stops rotating while pinching an uppermost sheet of a next job in cooperation with the separation pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yutaka Fukuchi
  • Patent number: 6830244
    Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus is formed of a sheet supply device for feeding sheets drawn out from a sheet supply tray, a separating device for separating the sheets drawn out from the sheet supply tray, a transport device for transporting the sheets downstream, a transport path formed between the sheet supply device and the transport device and having first and second transport paths, and follower rotating bodies. The first transport path guides sheets fed from the sheets supply device in a substantially tangential direction of the nipping point, and the second transport path guides sheets from the first transport path toward the transport device after bending from the substantially tangential direction to the separating device. The follow rotating bodies are protrudingly arranged from the separating device in the transport path, between a curved portion extending from the first transport path to the second transport path and the nipping point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Nisca Corporation
    Inventor: Ryuta Komatsu
  • Patent number: 6811151
    Abstract: The invention is to provide a paper feeding apparatus and a driving method thereof for an office machine. The office machine includes a paper accommodating device and a paper processing apparatus. The paper accommodating device is for accommodating paper sheets to be processed by the paper processing apparatus. The paper feeding apparatus is for feeding the paper sheets accommodated by the paper accommodating device one by one to the paper processing apparatus. The paper feeding apparatus includes a pickup roller, a delivery roller, a pair of feeding rollers, a detection device, a transmission gear assembly, a drive motor and a controller. The detection device detects a leading edge and a trailing edge of the paper sheet delivered by the paper feeding apparatus. In particular, the paper feeding apparatus is a simple-configuration, light-weight and compact component and capable of feeding paper sheets accurately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Benq Corporation
    Inventors: Yen Wei-Feng, Yang Kun-Yee
  • Patent number: 6805341
    Abstract: A paper feeder of the present invention includes a paper tray for supporting paper and pickup rollers in total width more than 40% of the maximum paper width supportable by a paper tray for taking out a paper at the top position in a specified direction. This paper feeder is used for paper feeding of image forming apparatuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kimiaki Furukawa
  • Patent number: 6798899
    Abstract: A document feeding apparatus for use with a document processing device. The document feeding apparatus comprises an input receptacle adapted to receive a stack of documents and at least one feeding wheel adapted to strip documents, one at a time, from the stack of documents. The feeding wheel includes a moveable insert having a high friction surface adapted to engage and to advance each of the documents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: Douglas U. Mennie, Heinz W. Schreiter, Matthew L. Anderson
  • Publication number: 20040108647
    Abstract: A banknote dispensing device including a storage section for storing one or more banknotes, a discharging unit driven by a first motor for discharging banknotes one-by-one at a first speed, and a transporting unit driven by a second motor for receiving the discharged banknotes from the discharging unit and transporting the discharged banknotes at a second speed where the second speed is faster than the first speed, the one-way clutch permitting the discharged banknote to be continuously drawn at the second speed without damaging the discharged banknote. The banknote dispensing device includes one or more sensors connected to a control unit, the control unit determining whether the transported banknote is transported properly and turning off the motors in an error condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventor: Joji Iida
  • Publication number: 20040108646
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a motor including a motor shaft to which a pinion gear is attached, and a feed roller including a shaft. The feed roller is positioned upstream from the print zone in relation to the sheet feed direction. A primary gear train includes a first gear in mesh with the pinion gear and a second gear rigidly mounted to the shaft of the feed roller. A spring coupling has a first end connected to the second gear of the primary gear train. A secondary gear train includes a third gear in mesh with the pinion gear and a fourth gear rotatably mounted to the shaft of the feed roller for free rotation with respect to the shaft, the second end of the spring coupling being connected to the fourth gear of the secondary gear train.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Larry W. Acton, William M. Connors
  • Publication number: 20040108648
    Abstract: A compact banknote dispensing device including a storage section for storing one or more banknotes, a discharging unit driven by a first motor for discharging banknotes one-by-one at a first speed, and a transporting unit driven by a second motor for receiving the discharged banknotes from the discharging unit and transporting the discharged banknotes at a second speed where the second speed is faster than the first speed, the one-way clutch permitting the discharged banknote to be continuously drawn at the second speed without damaging the discharged banknote. The compact banknote dispensing device includes a length sensor disposed about a U-shaped guiding unit and connected to a control unit. The control unit determines whether the transported banknote is acceptable for dispensing and is transported properly. The compact banknote dispensing device turns off the motors in an error condition and sounds an audible alarm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventor: Joji Iida
  • Patent number: 6655679
    Abstract: Apparatus for advancing media through a hardcopy device includes a cylindrical guide wheel having a first radius mounted on a shaft having an axis transverse to a media feed path axis. A guide surface is spaced apart from the guide wheel and defines a media feed path between the guide wheel and the guide surface. A drive wheel having an extended portion that is concentric with the guide wheel, and which has a greater radius than the first radius is fixed to the shaft. A pinch roller communicates with the media feed path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Peter Boucher, Vance M. Stephens
  • Patent number: 6641132
    Abstract: A sheet feeding device of the present invention includes a feeding mechanism including a belt and a reverse roller, and circular collars or similar spacing members adjoining the belt for spacing the reverse roller and belt. When a single sheet is conveyed from a nip between the belt and the reverse roller to a preselected position downstream of the nip in the direction of sheet feed, the spacing member spaces the belt and reverse roller with the drive of only the belt or the drive of both of the belt and reverse roller being interrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Noriaki Sekine
  • Patent number: 6623000
    Abstract: A feeding and conveying system for feeding and conveying sheet material for printing, collating, or binding the sheet material, among other processes. The feeding and conveying system includes at least one feeder having a magazine containing a plurality of articles of sheet material, for example, signatures, a rotatable disk for separating the sheet material from the magazine, and a feed drum for transferring the sheet material from the magazine to a conveyor. The rotatable disk, having at least one separating blade, is reciprocally rotated to separate the sheet material from the magazine. The separation of the sheet material from the magazine may be aided by applying a source of vacuum to the sheet material, for example, by means of suckers. The feed drum may include one or more grasping devices for grasping and retaining the sheet material, for example, one or more grippers. The rotation of the separator disk may be controlled by a programmable controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Prim Hall Enterprises Inc.
    Inventor: David F. Hall
  • Publication number: 20030173731
    Abstract: A feeder roller apparatus for high speed image scanning equipment, which improves feeding of documents, and in particular short documents, sequentially fed from a stack. The feeder apparatus comprises a PIC roller and an infeed roller which are selectively, independently driven via a dual drive shaft, composed of an inner drive shaft and an outer drive shaft, driven together or selectively, independently by a main motor. An electro-mechanical clutch, when energized is used to drive the PIC roller. A sensor is provided downstream of the rollers to recognize when a document is being fed. Initially, the clutch is energized, and both rollers are driven. When the first sheet reaches the sensor, the clutch is de-energized, cutting off the drive to the PIC roller. The main motor continues driving only the infeed roller until the first sheet is fed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventors: Jose Pioquinto, James Russo
  • Patent number: 6619650
    Abstract: A device is used to insert and/or deposit printed products into a conveying channel. The printed products are conveyed in the conveying channel with of carriers of a conveying element. An acceleration apparatus pre-accelerates the printed products in conveying direction. The acceleration apparatus conveys the printed products essentially in a straight line and at an angle to the conveying direction of the conveying channel. The printed products are preferably inserted with the aid of conveying belts and at an angle into the conveying channel. As a result of the slanted feed, the divisions of the conveying element can be optimized and the capacity increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Grapha-Holding AG
    Inventors: Christoph Gysin, Heinz Boss
  • Patent number: 6612562
    Abstract: A media feed system with a self-contained propulsion system is provided. A singulator is used to feed a single media piece and a sensor determined when to disengage propulsion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Pitney Dowes Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Sloan, Jr., Paul R. Sette, Linda L. Gale
  • Patent number: 6607191
    Abstract: A paper-separating plate is adapted for a paper-separating mechanism having a paper-separating roller. The paper-separating plate placed around a side of the paper-separating roller comprises a main body and a cushion. The main body has a surface and a plurality of grooves and the grooves are positioned on the surface. The cushion is positioned on the surface of the main body and covers the grooves. The cushion positioned over the partial grooves is elastically pressed onto the paper-separating roller. The grooves, neighboring one another or each other, linearly extend in a direction substantially parallel with the axis of the paper-separating roller. Besides, the cushion is made of flexible material and the main body is made of rigid material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: UMAX Data Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Yin-Chun Huang, Ji-Mei Tsuei