By Restrainer Having Rearwardly Moving Surface Patents (Class 271/122)
  • Patent number: 11472198
    Abstract: In an example, a dryer system may include a dryer, a plurality of passive rollers, and a tension engine to maintain tension on web media based on dryer pressure. In another example, a dryer system includes a plurality of passive rollers in a drying zone and a moveable platen having a surface defining apertures corresponding to the plurality of rows of passive rollers such that the surface of the platen moves relative to an axis of the roifers. In another example, a platen device includes a roller, a moveable platen having a surface defining an aperture through which the roller fits, and a cover that moves in conjunction with movement of the platen to cover the aperture when the surface of the platen is adjusted to a height above the axis of the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Marcel Llorach To, Benito Ruiz Arnega, Eduardo Martin Orue
  • Patent number: 11453210
    Abstract: Provided is an automatic laminating machine, including a supporting plate assembly, a case, a limiting assembly, a film separation assembly, and an input roller assembly. A lower end of the supporting plate assembly extends into and is rotatably connected inside the case. The limiting assembly and the input roller assembly are rotatably connected inside the case. The film separation assembly is arranged inside the case, and located below the input roller assembly. One end of the limiting assembly is rotatably connected to the supporting plate assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Inventors: Guofeng Pan, Zhengzhong Gao
  • Patent number: 11126127
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a sheet pickup body, a first sheet conveyor, and a second sheet conveyor, which are disposed in this order along a sheet conveyance direction, and circuitry. The first sheet conveyor includes a first sheet feed roller, a second sheet feed roller, and a first motor. The second sheet conveyor includes a conveyance roller and a second motor. The circuitry is configured to determine a sheet conveyance state of a sheet based on at least one of torque of the first motor of the first sheet conveyor and torque of the second motor of the second sheet conveyor. The first sheet conveyor is configured to interpose the sheet between the first sheet feed roller and the second sheet feed roller and convey the sheet to the second sheet conveyor as the first sheet feed roller rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideyuki Takayama
  • Patent number: 11117761
    Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet stacker to stack at least one sheet; a sheet feed roller disposed at one side of the sheet stacker and to feed a sheet fed from the sheet stacker; a multi-feed prevention roller disposed to face the sheet feed roller and to prevent multi-feed of the sheet fed from the sheet stacker; a magnetic torque limiter disposed coaxially with the multi-feed prevention roller; a hall sensor disposed at one side of the magnetic torque limiter and to detect rotation of the magnetic torque limiter; and a controller configured to rotate the sheet feed roller in a state in which the sheet feed roller and the multi-feed prevention roller are in contact with each other without a sheet and to identify a lifetime of the multi-feed prevention roller by using a signal output from the hall sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Eiji Aoki, Jin Soo Lee
  • Patent number: 10793380
    Abstract: A feeding apparatus includes a rotary member unit having a feeding rotary member to feed a recording material and a separating rotary member which forms a nip portion with the feeding rotary member, an output unit, and a control unit. Where a single recording material is fed to the nip portion, the separating rotary member is rotated in a predetermined direction by the single recording material and, where recording materials are overlapped with one another and fed to the nip portion, the separating rotary member rotation is stopped or rotated in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction to separate the overlapped recording materials. The output unit outputs a state signal in accordance with a separating rotary member rotation state. The control unit obtains a rotation speed of the separating rotary member from the state signal output and determines that the rotary member unit is replaced with a new product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuya Hirano
  • Patent number: 10723575
    Abstract: A separation roller for a sheet feeding apparatus includes an outer circumferential portion formed from an elastic material, a core portion to which the outer circumferential portion is attached; and a flange portion including a plurality of projecting portions each projecting to an outside in a radial direction with respect to the core portion. At least one of the plurality of projecting portions includes a first surface provided on a side portion thereof on an upstream side in a first direction in which the separation roller rotates in such a manner as to follow the rotary feeding member rotating to feed the sheet. The first surface extends more upstream in the first direction at a position further on an outside in a radial direction with respect to a rotation axis of the separation roller as viewed in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinao Chiba, Wataru Murata
  • Patent number: 10717615
    Abstract: A paper pickup mechanism includes a mechanical frame, a pickup roller module, a feeding roller module, a driving device, a separation roller module and an energy storage element. The mechanical frame has a platform. The pickup roller module is pivoted to and connected to the mechanical frame. The feeding roller module is pivoted to and connected to the mechanical frame. The driving device is mounted to the mechanical frame. The separation roller module is pivoted to and connected to the mechanical frame. The energy storage element is mounted between the mechanical frame and the separation roller module. When the separation roller module rotates together with the feeding roller module in a forward direction, the energy storage element accumulates energies. When more than one piece of paper is fed into the paper pickup mechanism, the energy storage element releases the energies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Foxlink Image Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ching Jui Chen, Kuan Cheng Huang, Yung Kai Chen
  • Patent number: 10710827
    Abstract: An embodiment includes an apparatus in an ATM to transport a document. The apparatus includes a feed wheel, a stripping tire, a clutch outer-hub and a clutch inner-hub. The feed wheel may be rotated by a first-rotational driver to move the document in a forward direction while the stripping tire is rotated by movable contact with the feed wheel. The clutch inner-hub prevents the stripping tire from rotating in a direction to cause the document to move in a reverse direction when the first-rotational driver rotates the feed wheel. Alternatively, the stripping tire is rotated by a second-rotational driver to move the document in the reverse direction when the feed wheel is not rotated by a first-rotational driver while the clutch outer-hub prevents the stripping tire from rotating in a direction to cause the document to move in the forward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated
    Inventor: William Daniel Beskitt
  • Patent number: 10676300
    Abstract: The sheet feeding apparatus includes an encoder configured to output a signal according to the rotation state of a retard roller, a feed motor configured to drive a pick-up roller, and a control unit configured to control the feed motor, make the pick-up roller feed a first sheet, and change the timing at which the pick-up roller is made to feed a second sheet following the first sheet, based on a signal output from the encoder after the trailing edge of the first sheet passes a separation nip portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keita Nakajima
  • Patent number: 10662010
    Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a sheet stacking unit to stack a plurality of sheets, a feeding unit to feed sheets stacked on the sheet stacking unit, a separation unit, and a moving unit provided with at least a first moving member and a second moving member. The separation unit contacts the sheets fed by the feeding unit and separates a sheet from the sheets. The moving unit contacts the first and the second moving members to move a sheet contacting the first and the second moving members to an upstream side in a feeding direction. A leading edge of the sheet is positioned between the separation unit and the feeding unit. When pressed by the sheet, the first and the second moving members are configured to thrust-move independently of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Murakami, Tomoya Tateishi
  • Patent number: 10469704
    Abstract: A controlled device, a control device, a control system using the same and a control method using the same are provided. The controlled device is configured for receiving a trigger event, and outputting a trigger signal in response to the trigger event. The control device is configured for receiving the trigger signal from the controlled device, and loading an application program corresponding to the trigger event in response to the trigger signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: AVISION INC.
    Inventor: Chun-Chieh Liao
  • Patent number: 10343860
    Abstract: Embodiments provide methods, apparatuses, and systems for compressing media in a media stack. In various embodiments, a paddle moves between various positions. During the move, the paddle is configured to compress the media stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert Lawrence Winburne, Kieran B Kelly, Keith Jariabka, Juan D Ramos
  • Patent number: 10329106
    Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a stacking portion, a first roller, a second roller, a third roller rotatable to provide peripheral movement in a predetermined direction and to provide peripheral movement in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction, a detecting unit, a driving unit for executing a feeding operation by the first roller, and a control unit for providing an instruction to the driving unit so as to continue or stop the feeding operation. The predetermined rotational frequency is larger than 0 and is smaller than a rotational frequency of the third roller in a period in which the third roller is rotated in the predetermined direction in a state in which a single recording material is fed to the nip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Kawarago, Fumiaki Mizuno, Yuta Hojo, Takao Nada
  • Patent number: 10259671
    Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a first rotary member, a separation member that cooperates with the first rotary member in holding the sheet between the separation member and the first rotary member to define a separation nip, a conveyance unit disposed downstream of the separation nip in a conveyance direction of the sheet, a driving unit, and a control unit. The first rotary member feeds a sheet. The conveyance unit conveys the sheet. The driving unit drives the first rotary member. The control unit controls the driving unit to stop driving the first rotary member when a leading edge of the sheet reaches the conveyance unit, and controls the driving unit to restart driving the first rotary member when a trailing edge portion of the sheet comes out of the separation nip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji Kawamura
  • Patent number: 10202250
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet container accommodating a recording medium therein, a sheet separating feeder including a sheet feeding body and a sheet separating body, an image forming part, and a bend applier. The sheet feeding body feeds the recording medium along with a surface movement thereof while the recording medium contacting the surface thereof. The sheet separating body forms a sheet separation nip region with the sheet feeding body and sandwiches the recording medium in the sheet separation nip region. The sheet separating feeder separates and feeds the recording medium contacting the sheet feeding body. The image forming part forms an image on the recording medium. The bend applier having a leading end of an elastic material contacts and bends the recording medium before the sheet separation nip region and generates a wrinkle extending on the recording medium in a sheet conveying direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Jumpei Aoyama, Manabu Nonaka, Hajime Nishida, Hideki Tobinaga, Junpei Kamichi, Satoshi Kuno, Shun Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10118413
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a medium container to store a medium, feeding rollers to be switched between a feeding state in which the feeding rollers are in contact with the medium and a separated state in which the feeding rollers are separated from the medium, a reversing path for reversing the medium that has been fed from the medium container, a recorder to perform recording on the medium that has been reversed by the reversing path, a back-feed path for introducing the medium that has been fed in the reverse direction from the recording region in which recording has been performed by the recorder toward the reversing path, and a nip roller configured to nip the medium within the back-feed path. At least a portion of the feeding rollers that are in the separated state overlaps the nip roller in the direction of the height of the recording apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Shirane, Tetsuya Tamura, Toshio Miyake
  • Patent number: 10099874
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes: a supporter having a support surface configured to support sheets; a supplier having a conveying surface exposed from the support surface and moved to supply one or more sheets; a separator including a separating roller and a retard roller located downstream of the supplier; and an inclined surface disposed upstream of the nip position and pivotable about a pivot axis. The inclined surface has a first end portion and a second end portion, and the second end portion is located downstream of the first end portion. The inclined surface is inclined such that the second end portion is nearer to the support surface than the first end portion. The first end portion is located upstream of a downstream end portion of the conveying surface. The second end portion is spaced apart from the conveying surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuichiro Kuriki
  • Patent number: 10059126
    Abstract: A printer includes a platen roller configured to feed recording paper by nipping the recording paper with a thermal head; a frame which includes a shaft support portion configured to support the platen roller so that the platen roller is rotatable about an axis direction thereof; a drive source arranged on an inner side of the frame in the axial direction with respect to the shaft support portion; a planetary gear mechanism which is arranged on the inner side of the frame in the axial direction with respect to the shaft support portion and is configured to reduce power of the drive source; and a power transmission mechanism which is arranged on an outer side of the frame in the axial direction with respect to the shaft support portion and is configured to transmit power of the planetary gear mechanism to the platen roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventor: Norihisa Ando
  • Patent number: 9910389
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a pressing unit configured to press an image forming surface of a sheet with a first pressure, an image carrier configured to hold a toner image, a transfer unit disposed downstream with respect to the pressing unit in a sheet conveying direction and configured to transfer the toner image on the image carrier to the sheet by pressing the sheet against the image carrier with a second pressure that is less than the first pressure, and a density sensor to detect density of toner held on the image carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba TEC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masato Ogasawara
  • Patent number: 9840384
    Abstract: A sheet separation mechanism comprises a separation roller set and a reverse roller set rotating in the same rotation direction. The reverse roller set presses sheets onto the separation roller set to stop one or multiple ones of the sheets close to the reverse roller set from passing through a nip between the separation and reverse roller sets, and allow the sheet directly contacting the separation roller set to pass through the nip. The reverse roller set comprises a shaft, and two reverse rollers and an annular member all mounted on the shaft, which rotates the reverse rollers. The annular member, disposed between the two reverse rollers, is rotatable relatively to the shaft and movable relatively to the shaft in a radial direction of the shaft. The annular member and the reverse rollers commonly press the sheets. A sheet-fed scanning apparatus using the sheet separation mechanism is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Avision Inc.
    Inventors: Shao-Lan Sheng, Chi-Yao Chen, Chin-Chu Chiu
  • Patent number: 9776815
    Abstract: A feeding device includes a roller configured to feed an uppermost sheet of a plurality of sheets stacked in a stacking unit, and an inclined separator located downstream of the roller in a feed direction and configured to separate one sheet from another sheet. The inclined separator includes a first separator and a second separator that are arranged along the feed direction. Resistance imparted to each sheet by the first separator is greater than resistance imparted to each sheet by the second separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Motoyuki Taguchi, Kenji Soya
  • Patent number: 9695000
    Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a holder member and a stopper member. The holder member is configured to house a separating member and to be attached to or detached from a conveying guide by being slid in a vertical direction. The stopper member is configured to be attached to or detached from the conveying guide by being slid in a vertical direction outside of the holder member. The stopper member has an engaged part. The holder member has an engaging part with which the engaged part is to be engaged. The holder member is attached to the conveying guide by being slid from the above side. The stopper member is attached to the conveying guide by being slid from the above side while engaging the engaged part with the engaging part. The stopper member prevents the holder member from being moved with respect to the conveying guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Keisuke Mizuguchi
  • Patent number: 9676570
    Abstract: A system includes a sheet holder configured to hold a sheet of blanks, the sheet of blanks including a first blank and a second blank attached to the first blank. A conveyor mechanism is configured to transport the sheet of blanks from the sheet holder to a separator mechanism. The separator mechanism is configured to apply a pulling force to the first blank. A resistance component is configured to apply a resistance force to the second blank to resist the pulling force. The pulling force and the resistance force are configured to separate the first blank from the second blank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: LBP Manufacturing LLC
    Inventors: James A. Hubbard, Jr., Stephen Alan Smith, Vicky Elizabeth Dittman, Frank A. Degliomini, Samuel Angel Valdes, Glen Powalish, Mitchell T. Cooper
  • Patent number: 9625866
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a sheet container detachably attachable to the apparatus body and accommodating recording media therein, an image forming part to form an image on each of the recording media, a sheet separating part to separate the recording media one by one, feed the recording medium toward the image forming part, and include a sheet feeding body and a sheet separating body to rotate in contact with the sheet feeding body and form a sheet separation nip region with the sheet feeding body, a sheet containing unit to contain the recording media therein, and a sheet separating body storing unit disposed at one end of the sheet containing unit to store the sheet separating body therein. The sheet container being pulled out from the apparatus body by moving from the sheet containing unit to the sheet separating body storing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Jumpei Aoyama, Hajime Nishida, Hideki Tobinaga, Junpei Kamichi, Satoshi Kuno, Shun Kobayashi, Manabu Nonaka
  • Patent number: 9540194
    Abstract: A sheet-type medium separating apparatus applicable in a self-service financial device for reliable sheet-by-sheet separation of an entire stack of banknotes. The apparatus includes a pickup roller component; a reversal roller component; and a separation roller component, where the reversal roller component includes a reversal roller, the reversal roller is fitted onto a reversal roller shaft via a one-way bearing, the reversal roller is provided with an inner sleeve cylinder fixed with the one-way bearing and a reversal roller sleeve sleeved onto the inner sleeve cylinder and capable of moving axially and flexibly. The separating apparatus allows for automatic adjustment of the meshing clearance between the reversal roller and the separation roller on the basis of the thickness of sheet-type media to be separated, thus effectively solving the problem of the sheet-type media being jammed or torn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: GRG Banking Equipment Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiaohua Deng, Zhe Li, Huan Xu
  • Patent number: 9422124
    Abstract: The inventive sheet conveying roller has a double-layer structure including a tubular outer layer and an inner layer inserted directly in the tubular outer layer without the intervention of an adhesive agent. The sheet conveying roller includes a roller body of a double-layer structure including a tubular outer layer (6) of a urethane thermoplastic elastomer and an inner layer (7) of a rubber such as IIR inserted directly in the tubular outer layer (6) without the intervention of an adhesive agent. The outer layer (6) has a Type-A Durometer hardness of not less than 40 and not greater than 65, and the inner layer (7) has a Type-A Durometer hardness of greater than 10 and not greater than 25.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Tamura, Akihiro Mine, Masahiro Yoshizato
  • Patent number: 9206003
    Abstract: A media processing device executes a retard preparation operation that moves a separation roller and a paper return lever at a desired time even when the moving mechanism that moves a separation roller and a paper return lever together, and the conveyance mechanism that conveys the medium, share a common drive source. A printer has a moving mechanism that executes a retard preparation operation that moves the paper return lever and separation roller in conjunction with each other. Drive power from the conveyance motor is transferred to the moving mechanism. The printer also has a trigger lever that can move between an interference position physically interfering with the moving mechanism and preventing the retard preparation operation from starting, and an actuator that moves the trigger lever from the interference position to a non-interference position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Fukazawa, Ryuji Moriyama, Yuta Ichimiya, Chikako Akahane
  • Patent number: 9126436
    Abstract: A printing machine includes: a paper feed unit configured to feed a sheet of paper; a suction transfer unit configured to transfer the sheet of paper fed by the paper feed unit in a transfer direction, with the sheet of paper being attached by suction onto a transfer surface; a transfer and paper discharge unit configured to receive the sheet of paper from the suction transfer unit to transfer and discharge the sheet of paper; and a controller configured to control a suction force of the suction transfer unit in accordance with a paper type. When the controller changes the suction force of the suction transfer unit between successive sheets of paper, the controller is configured prior to a discharge of a precedent sheet of paper to change the suction force of the suction transfer unit and drive the paper feed unit to feed a subsequent sheet of paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: RISO KAGAKU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasue Nagumo, Taiki Ichishita
  • Patent number: 9039162
    Abstract: This invention relates to a media multi-feed rejection apparatus, comprising: a plurality of feed rollers; a feed roller driving means operatively connected to one of the plurality of feed rollers; a clutch means operatively connected to the other of the plurality of feed rollers; and a single channel encoder means operatively connected to the clutch means to measure a rotation of the other of the plurality of feed rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Gary L. Miller, Ed Tucker, Jon Johnson
  • Patent number: 8979088
    Abstract: A sheet feeding portion is provided with a pair of separation rollers that include a feed roller which conveys the sent sheet and a retard roller which applies a rotation force to return the sheet in a direction opposite to a sheet feeding direction through a torque limiter in a state of being pressed against the feed roller. The sheet feeding portion further includes a rotation transmitting mechanism that transmits a rotation of the retard roller, at the time of sending the sheet to the sheet feeding direction, to the pickup roller and a changing mechanism that switches a retard pressure, which allows the retard roller to be pressed against the feed roller, according to a reaction force that is transmitted to the retard roller from the pickup roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshifumi Itabashi
  • Patent number: 8899575
    Abstract: There is disclosed a sheet feeding device which feeds a plurality of stacked sheet-like recording media one by one from a tray containing the recording media, including a sheet feeding roller which comes in contact with the uppermost layer of the recording media contained in the tray, and rotates to feed the recording medium; an inclined member including an inclined surface which is positioned on a downstream side in a feeding direction of the recording media, and inclined at an obtuse angle to the feeding direction of the recording media, and on which the fed recording media abuts; and a separating member having an uneven surface, to separate the one fed recording medium, wherein the separating member is configured to be movable between a position projecting to the inclined member and a position retreated from the projecting position, while maintaining the same inclining angle as that of the inclined member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keisei Hakamata
  • Patent number: 8876103
    Abstract: There are provided a paper conveying apparatus which can drive paper set guides, paper feed rollers, retard rollers, and conveyor rollers by a single motor. The paper conveying apparatus includes a paper set guide for setting paper, a paper feed roller for feeding paper set at the paper set guide, a retard roller arranged facing the paper feed roller, a conveyor roller for further conveying paper fed by the paper feed roller, a motor for generating a drive force for driving the paper set guide, and a transmission mechanism, arranged straddling a transport path of the paper, for transmitting the drive force to the paper feed roller and the retard roller, wherein the conveyor roller is driven by the transmission mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventors: Yusuke Kasashima, Shigeru Yonemura, Norihiro Yamasaku
  • Patent number: 8844923
    Abstract: The present invention is for separating upper and lower sheets. The sheet feeder includes a feed roller that conveys the sheet fed by a pickup roller in a sheet feeding direction and a retard roller rotated in a sheet feeding direction at a rotational velocity faster than that of the feed roller by interposing a torque limiter. Meanwhile, the retard roller is rotated at a velocity equal to that of the feed roller when a single sheet is nipped in the roller nip portion. The sheet feeder further includes a controller that performs control such that, when double sheet feeding occurs by the pickup roller, the sheet of the retard roller side projects ahead of the sheet of the feed roller side in the sheet feeding direction by virtue of the torque limiter, and then, the retard roller is rotated in a direction opposite to the sheet feeding direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sho Ota, Hajime Sekiguchi
  • Patent number: 8807555
    Abstract: An automatic document feeder includes an upper cover, a pick-up arm, a restriction element, and a document stopper. The pick-up arm is movable between a first position and a second position. A rotating shaft of the restriction element is pivotally coupled to the pick-up arm. A rotating shaft of the document stopper is pivotally coupled to the upper cover. Moreover, the rotating shaft of the restriction element and the rotating shaft of the document stopper are not in parallel with each other. When the pick-up arm is located at the first position, a swinging action of the document stopper is limited by the restriction element. When the pick-up arm is located at the second position, the swinging action of the document stopper is no longer limited by the restriction element, so that the document stopper can be freely swung.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Primax Electronics Ltd.
    Inventor: Shang-Hsien Tsai
  • Patent number: 8777220
    Abstract: In general, in a sheet feeding device of embodiments, a shaft connects through an one-way clutch structure to a conveying roller, rotates in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction, transmits the torque to the conveying roller to cause the conveying roller to rotate in the first direction if the shaft rotates in the first direction. The shaft does not transmit the torque to the conveying roller if the shaft rotates in the second direction. The shaft limits the rotation of the conveying roller in the second direction while the shaft is in a rotation-stop state. A controller has a second mode in which the shaft is rotated in a second direction to allow rotation of the conveying roller in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiaki Oshiro, Yoichi Yamaguchi, Isao Yahata, Takahiro Kawaguchi, Yoshiaki Sugizaki, Kikuo Mizutani, Hiroyuki Taki, Hiroyuki Tsuchihashi, Chiaki Iizuka, Hidetoshi Yokochi, Ken Iguchi, Hiroyuki Hazu, Hiroyuki Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 8770575
    Abstract: A sheet supply device includes a first separation unit for applying a transportation load to a medium supplied from a stored state with a sheet supply member to separate the medium, and a second separation unit disposed on a downstream side of the first separation unit for separating the medium passing through the first separation unit. The first separation unit is disposed outside an extension area of the second separation unit in a medium transportation direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Yuasa
  • Patent number: 8760678
    Abstract: An image displaying apparatus includes a control unit and a display unit. The image displaying apparatus is connected to an image reading apparatus that includes a multifeed detecting mechanism. The control unit includes a display control unit that displays (i) an image of a medium which is read by the image reading apparatus and in which multifeed is detected by the multifeed detecting mechanism and (ii) a multifeed detected portion detected by the multifeed detecting mechanism on the display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventors: Kazuaki Umi, Tadashi Niwano, Shinji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8727339
    Abstract: When a retard roller is rotating in a sheet feeding direction, the rotation is transmitted to a pickup roller and the pickup roller rotates in a direction for conveying the sheet. When the retard roller is rotating in a direction opposite to the sheet feeding direction or is stationary, the pickup roller does not feed the sheet. Therefore, in a successive feeding operation, the sheet to be fed next is always conveyed such that the leading end thereof reaches a nip position between a feed roller and the retard roller. Therefore, the intervals between the sheets are uniform in the successive feeding operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Matsushima, Yasuhiro Uchida, Shunsuke Okazaki, Minoru Kawanishi, Kenji Watanabe, Motohiro Furusawa
  • Patent number: 8678372
    Abstract: A medium feeding device 1 includes a separating power generating device 7 which causes a brake roller 4 to generate a rotational load in a direction counter to a conveying direction. The device 7 includes a torque limiter 17 which generates a load of a predetermined upper limit torque T1, a torque limiter 18 which is arranged in series with the torque limiter 17 on a power transmission path to the brake roller 4 and generates a load of an upper limit torque T2 smaller than the torque T1, and an electromagnetic clutch 22 which switches between connection and disconnection between the power transmission path and a bypass route which bypasses the torque limiter 18. The device 7 can change the rotational load of the brake roller 4 to the torque T1 or the torque T2 by the switching of the electromagnetic clutch 22.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventor: Ryoichi Yasukawa
  • Publication number: 20140054847
    Abstract: There are provided a sheet feeding apparatus which, with a simple configuration, can suppress generation of noise during feeding of a sheet without having an affect on sheet separating performance, and an image forming apparatus which includes this sheet feeding apparatus. The sheet feeding apparatus includes: a feeding roller which feeds a sheet S; a separation roller which is pressed against the feeding roller and rotates in a reverse direction to a direction of feeding by the feeding roller to separate sheets, fed by the sheet feeding apparatus, one by one; a feeding rotational shaft which transmits rotational driving force to the feeding roller; and a roller dumper which is provided between the feeding roller and the feeding rotational shaft, and transmits the rotational driving force from the feeding rotational shaft to the feeding roller, while absorbing vibrations of the feeding roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshige Inoue
  • Patent number: 8636278
    Abstract: The feeding device includes a storage unit, a feeding roller which rotates while contacting the uppermost sheet stored in the storage unit to move the uppermost sheet forward, a separation plate disposed forward in the movement direction of the uppermost sheet and provided with an inclined surface inclined with respect to the movement direction, and a separation auxiliary member is disposed along the inclined surface of the separation plate and operated by a force received when the uppermost sheet comes in contact. The separation auxiliary member includes a rotation shaft parallel with the inclined surface, and a first resistance part rotating about the rotation shaft as the center from an initial position projecting from the inclined surface to an embedded position embedded in the inclined surface as a friction coefficient of the first resistance part is higher than that of the inclined surface and the received force is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuki Emoto, Yasuyuki Asai
  • Patent number: 8622381
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a supply tray and a supply unit. The supply unit includes a supporting shaft, an arm configured to pivot around the supporting shaft, and, a first roller and a second roller which are provided in the arm. The first and second rollers are pressedly contacted with a sheet placed on the supply tray. The supply tray is provided with a contact portion. The contact portion includes a first contact portion facing to the first roller and second rollers, and a second contact portion disposed in an upstream side of the first contact portion in the supply direction. A friction coefficient of the second contact portion is smaller than that of the first contact portion. When the first and second rollers rotatingly moves on the sheet, a friction force is applied by the second contact portion to the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirotaka Aoki, Tetsuo Asada
  • Patent number: 8511674
    Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet feeding apparatus and an image forming apparatus enabling to prevent generating a dent at a retard roller. When a sheet feeding operation is started, a driving motor normally rotates, and a swing arm is moved to a first position to cause a retard roller to press to a feed roller by a C input gear and a C gear. Also, when the sheet feeding operation is finished, the driving motor reversely rotates, and the swing arm is moved to a second position to cause the retard roller to separate from the feed roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroto Koga
  • Patent number: 8500116
    Abstract: A drop in performance can be easily resolved when the retard roller becomes worn. A hopper disposed to a main unit stores sheets in a stack. A conveyance path conveys sheets from the hopper. A feed roller is disposed facing the conveyance path. A retard unit has a retard roller is disposed opposite the feed roller with the conveyance path therebetween, and a torque limiter connected coaxially to the retard roller. An urging means urges the retard unit so that the retard roller presses against the feed roller. The retard unit is removably installed to the main unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Nakayama
  • Patent number: 8448936
    Abstract: An automatic document feeder includes a sheet input tray, a transfer channel, a sheet pick-up module, a retard roller, a thickness detecting module and a controlling unit. When the sheet pick-up module is driven, the documents placed on the sheet input tray are fed into the transfer channel. The thickness detecting module is used for detecting a thickness of the documents. The controlling unit is used for judging whether a multiple-feeding event occurs. In a case that the multiple-feeding event occurs, the sheet pick-up module is reversely rotated such that the documents are returned to the sheet input tray. When the sheet pick-up module is reversely rotated, the retard roller provides a lower frictional force, so that the documents are allowed to be returned to the sheet input tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Primax Electronics, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yung-Tai Pan, Chien-Kuo Kuan, Yi-Liang Chen, Ping-Hung Kuo
  • Patent number: 8434757
    Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a loading surface, a supply roller configured to feed recording sheets loaded on the loading surface, an overload prevention member disposed upstream from the supply roller in a sheet feed direction, and a movable member disposed downstream from the overload prevention member in the sheet feed direction. The overload prevention member includes a restriction surface configured to be moved between a first position and a second position. The movable member is configured to be moved from a third position to a fourth position by being pushed by leading ends of the recording sheets. The movable member and the overload prevention member are configured to interlock each other such that, when the movable member is in the third position, the restriction surface is in the first position, and when the movable member is in the fourth position, the restriction surface is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Atsushi Miwa
  • Patent number: 8430393
    Abstract: When a retard roller is rotating in a sheet feeding direction, the rotation is transmitted to a pickup roller and the pickup roller rotates in a direction for conveying the sheet. When the retard roller is rotating in a direction opposite to the sheet feeding direction or is stationary, the pickup roller does not feed the sheet. Therefore, in a successive feeding operation, the sheet to be fed next is always conveyed such that the leading end thereof reaches a nip position between a feed roller and the retard roller. Therefore, the intervals between the sheets are uniform in the successive feeding operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Matsushima, Yasuhiro Uchida, Shunsuke Okazaki, Minoru Kawanishi, Kenji Watanabe, Motohiro Furusawa
  • Patent number: 8371573
    Abstract: A feeding device includes a tray for stacking sheet-like conveyance-target media, a first pressing unit, and a second pressing unit. The first and second pressing units face and apply a first and second pressing force, respectively, on a circumferential surface of a pick roller so that a first contact area and a second contact area overlap each other. The first pressing unit includes a first pressing unit separation roller, and the first contact area is defined wherein the first pressing unit and the pick roller make contact with each other. The second contact area is defined wherein the second pressing unit and the pick roller make contact with each other such that the first contact area and the second contact appear to partly overlap each other when viewed from an axial direction of the pick roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventors: Shuichi Morikawa, Masao Takayama, Hideyuki Okumura
  • Publication number: 20120313315
    Abstract: A feeding device includes a carrying roller to carry a top sheet of sheets in a conveying direction, a reverse roller to transfer subsequent sheets beneath the top sheet in a direction opposite to the conveying direction while being moved in the conveying direction with the top sheet, and an end fence to restrict rear end positions of the subsequent sheets. The end fence includes an upper contacting member to come into contact with an upper surface of the top sheet, and a restricting member extending from the upper contacting member along a rear end surface of the sheets to stop rear ends of the sheets in its entire width direction, the upper contacting member and the restricting member being arranged such that a width dimension of the end fence is changeable in the width direction, and the end fence being arranged above the top sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Fukumoto, Hideaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8328183
    Abstract: A printer comprising a media stopper element held in position by a rotatable shaft. The shaft comprises a lever which can be moved in order to rotate the shaft and move the media stopper element out of the way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Wayne E. Stiehler, Sivanandam T. Sathiyamoorthy