By Restrainer Having Rearwardly Moving Surface Patents (Class 271/122)
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Patent number: 8328190Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus capable of obtaining a sufficient conveying force for pulling back double-fed overlapping sheets to a stacking tray side. A sheet feeding member feeds sheets incoming from a stacking tray which stacks the sheets into a conveying pass. A separating member separates the sheets fed to the conveying pass by the sheet feeding member one by one. A double feed detection sensor generates an output for detecting double feed of sheets fed to the conveying pass. A rotatable member contacts the fed sheet. A driving unit rotationally drives at least the rotatable member in a rotational direction for reverse feeding of sheets. A control unit controls the driving unit when the double feed of sheets is detected based on the output of the double feed detection sensor, such that the rotatable member is rotationally driven in the rotational direction for reverse feeding of sheets.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2011Date of Patent: December 11, 2012Assignee: Canon Denshi Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiroshi Komuro
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Patent number: 8322707Abstract: A system for feeding and separating media in an image forming device according to one embodiment includes a pick mechanism having at least one rotatable pick roller for feeding a topmost media sheet from a stack of media sheets in a media storage location in a media process direction from an initial pick position into a media feed path. The system further includes at least one rotatable separator roller positioned opposite and spaced away from the at least one pick roller downstream from the initial pick position. The separator roller forms an open nip with the at least one pick roller. The at least one separator roller is rotatable counter to the media process direction for separating the topmost media sheet from an adjacent media sheet and returning the adjacent media sheet to a separation point upstream from the at least one separator roller.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2010Date of Patent: December 4, 2012Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Brian Allen Blair, Dustin Daniel Fichter, Derek Masami Inouye, Jeffrey Lawrence Tonges, Edward Lynn Triplett
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Patent number: 8235376Abstract: A removable input tray assembly for an image forming device according to one embodiment includes a media tray having a bottom surface and a wall extending upward from the bottom surface. The bottom surface defines a media storage location for storing a stack of media sheets. The assembly further includes a housing having an opening therein to receive the media tray. An inclined media dam is formed in the wall and has a media contact surface for directing media advanced from the media storage location. A channel is provided in the wall and extends the height of the wall for directing media passing therethrough. A roller nip is formed in the channel within the media tray by a pair of rollers for advancing media through the channel.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2010Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Brian Allen Blair, Stacey Vaughan Mitchell, Daniel Lee Thomas, Edward Lynn Triplett
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Patent number: 8215633Abstract: A method of feeding media in an inkjet printer including moving a media stopper element for selectively allowing a sheet of media to advance along a media advance path in a media advance direction. A shaft is connected to the media stopper element for moving the media stopper element by rotating the shaft. The media stopper element can be moved via biasing to a first position for preventing the sheet of media from advancing and to a second position for allowing the sheet of media to advance along the media advance path.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2010Date of Patent: July 10, 2012Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Wayne E. Stiehler, Sivanandam T. Sathiyamoorthy
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Patent number: 8210522Abstract: A method for positioning and feeding media into a media feed path according to one embodiment includes moving a first media sheet from the top of a stack of media sheets in a media storage location in a media process direction from an initial pick position into a media feed path leaving a second media sheet at the top of the stack of media sheets. In the media storage location, the second media sheet is moved opposite the media process direction away from an entrance to the media feed path until a leading edge of the second media sheet reaches a known predetermined position in the media storage location. After the leading edge of the second media sheet reaches the known predetermined position, the second media sheet is moved in the media process direction from the stack of media sheets into the media feed path.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2010Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Brian Allen Blair, Dustin Daniel Fichter, Derek Masami Inouye, Terry Lee Parker, Jeffrey Lawrence Tonges, Edward Lynn Triplett
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Patent number: 8159685Abstract: In one embodiment of an image processing apparatus, when multi-feeding during transport of originals is detected, except for the multi-fed originals, which are all of the originals simultaneously multi-fed by the multi-feeding, the images written on only the other remaining originals are recorded on recording paper; and a shifted discharge position in the discharge tray of only pre-multi-feeding original recording paper is different from a standard discharge position of other recorded recording paper, the pre-multi-feeding original recording paper being recording paper on which is recorded the image written on the original transported immediately before the original initially transported among the multi-fed originals.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2007Date of Patent: April 17, 2012Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Manabu Itoh
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Patent number: 8128083Abstract: An automated banking machine (10) includes a sheet picking mechanism (210). The sheet picking mechanism includes a rotatable picking member (212). With each rotation an end sheet (266) can be picked from a stack (264) of sheets. The picking member (212) has an outer surface section that includes a high friction portion (256) axially adjacent to a low friction portion (258). The low friction portion comprises an arcuate projecting portion that reduces risk of damage to a leading edge area of the end sheet due to opposed picking and stripping forces.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2007Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: Diebold Self-Service Systems division of Diebold, IncorporatedInventors: H. Thomas Graef, Kenneth C. Kontor, Michael Harty, Brian Jones
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Patent number: 8118299Abstract: A manual sheet feeder including a pickup roller; a pickup arm; a sheet stopper; a rotation regulation member; a solenoid including a movable core having a straight line motion; a solenoid link rotatively coupled to the movable core; and a first spring to bias the pickup arm in a direction in which the pickup arm is rotated downward. At start of sheet feeding operation, the pickup arm is rotated by the first spring in a direction in which the pickup roller is moved downward in conjunction with rotation of the solenoid link caused by the straight line motion of the movable core in one direction, and the rotation regulation member is rotated in conjunction with the rotation of the solenoid link caused by the straight line motion of the movable core in the one direction to release regulation of rotation of the sheet stopper.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2009Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Masashi Sato
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Patent number: 8091888Abstract: In an apparatus for handling sheets, first and second sheet transfer members are movable to transfer one of the sheets between the first and second sheet transfer members, the first and second sheet transfer members have respective transfer surfaces contactable with the one of the sheets so that the one of the sheets is driven to be transferred by at least one of the first and second sheet transfer members, and an information reader is arranged between the first and second sheet transfer members in such a manner that an information is readable from the one of the sheets even when the one of the sheets is transferred by one of the first and second sheet transfer members and is prevented from being transferred by both of the first and second sheet transfer members.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2004Date of Patent: January 10, 2012Assignee: Hitachi-Omron Terminal Solutions Corp.Inventor: Junichi Tamamoto
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Patent number: 8025286Abstract: An improved document feeder flag assembly is disclosed. The improved document feeder flag assembly allows single handed, on the fly loading of a document sorter. A method for loading a document sorting machine with a single hand, while the method of operating the machine is also disclosed. The document feeder flag assembly includes a baseplate and a pivot post attached to the baseplate. Further, the assembly includes a flag arm having a first side and a second side, the first side of the flag arm is attached to the pivot post. There is also a feeder flag having a first side and a second side, the first side of the feeder flag being attached to a second side of the flag arm. The document feeder flag assembly also includes a resistance device attached between the feeder flag and the flag arm.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2009Date of Patent: September 27, 2011Assignee: Burroughs Payment Systems, Inc.Inventor: David B. Tratar
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Patent number: 8020850Abstract: A removable input tray assembly for an image forming device according to one embodiment includes a media tray having a bottom surface defining a media storage location, a wall extending upward from the bottom surface and a housing having an opening therein to receive the tray. An inclined media dam having a media contact surface is formed in the wall. A channel extends the height of the wall and has a front wall, a rear wall, a bottom opening and a top opening. A separator roller is rotatably mounted below the media contact surface and has a first portion of its surface radially extending through a corresponding aperture in the media dam and a second portion radially extending through a corresponding aperture in the rear wall of the channel. A roller nip is formed in the channel within the media tray by the separator roller and an opposing backup roller.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2010Date of Patent: September 20, 2011Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Brian Allen Blair, Stacey Vaughan Mitchell, Edward Lynn Triplett
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Patent number: 8002268Abstract: A sheet material feeding apparatus includes a sheet stacking portion for stacking recording sheets; a feeding roller for feeding the recording sheets from the sheet stacking portion; separating means for separating the recording sheet fed out by the feeding roller; a holder for holding the separating means, the holder being rotatably supported on a main assembly of the apparatus; first urging means for urging the holder toward the feeding roller; a preliminary regulating member, rotatably supported on the holder, for regulating a gap relative to the feeding roller; second urging means for urging the preliminary regulating member toward the feeding roller; a first regulating member, supported by the holder, for regulating rotation of the preliminary regulating member relative to the holder; and a second regulating member, provided in the main assembly of apparatus, for regulating rotation of the preliminary regulating member relative to the main assembly of the apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2009Date of Patent: August 23, 2011Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shinya Sonoda, Yasutsugu Saijo, Yoshinori Watanabe
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Patent number: 7934719Abstract: An improved document feeder flag assembly is disclosed. The improved document feeder flag assembly allows single handed, on the fly loading of a document sorter. A method for loading a document sorting machine with a single hand, while the method of operating the machine is also disclosed. The document feeder flag assembly includes a baseplate and a pivot post attached to the baseplate. Further, the assembly includes a flag arm having a first side and a second side, the first side of the flag arm is attached to the pivot post. There is also a feeder flag having a first side and a second side, the first side of the feeder flag being attached to a second side of the flag arm. The document feeder flag assembly also includes a resistance device attached between the feeder flag and the flag arm.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2007Date of Patent: May 3, 2011Assignee: Burroughs Payment Systems, Inc.Inventor: David B. Tratar
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Patent number: 7918446Abstract: There is provided a feeding device including a pickup roller for picking up a placed medium to be transported and transporting the medium at a downstream side in a transport direction, a guide pathway for guiding the medium transported by the pickup roller, a transport driving roller that is driven by a power of a driving source and that transports the transported medium at the further downstream side in the transport direction, a retard roller that is moved to be brought into contact with and separated from the transport driving roller and that is rotated with a predetermined load.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2009Date of Patent: April 5, 2011Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Kenji Yanagishita
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Patent number: 7909320Abstract: A feeding apparatus including a feeding roller for conveying a sheet, a separation roller for conveying the sheet in a reverse direction, a transmission mechanism for transmitting the rotational force to the feeding roller, a limited force reverse transmission mechanism for transmitting the rotational force to the separation roller through a torque limiter, a forced reverse transmission mechanism for directly transmitting the rotational force to the separation roller, a temperature detector and a controller, wherein the controller controls the separation roller to receive rotational force through the forced reverse transmission mechanism after the limited force reverse transmission mechanism transmits the rotational force to the separation roller, then allows the limited force reverse transmission mechanism to transmit the rotational force to the separation roller, or to rotate the feeding via the transmission mechanism and the limited force transmission mechanism to transmit the rotational force to the separType: GrantFiled: August 18, 2008Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Daisuke Ueda, Akira Kosugi, Shigeru Okazaki, Takanori Kanda, Kenichi Hosoi
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Patent number: 7905484Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus capable of obtaining a sufficient conveying force for pulling back double-fed overlapping sheets to a stacking tray side. A sheet feeding member feeds sheets incoming from a stacking tray which stacks the sheets into a conveying pass. A separating member separates the sheets fed to the conveying pass by the sheet feeding member one by one. A double feed detection sensor generates an output for detecting double feed of sheets fed to the conveying pass. A rotatable member contacts the fed sheet. A driving unit rotationally drives at least the rotatable member in a rotational direction for reverse feeding of sheets. A control unit controls the driving unit when the double feed of sheets is detected based on the output of the double feed detection sensor, such that the rotatable member is rotationally driven in the rotational direction for reverse feeding of sheets.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2008Date of Patent: March 15, 2011Assignee: Canon Denshi Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiroshi Komuro
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Patent number: 7900909Abstract: Sheets fed out of a cassette supporting the sheets by a pickup roller are separated and fed by a sheet separation feeding unit having a feed roller and a separating roller which is rotatable in a direction opposite to a sheet feeding direction. A charge eliminating mechanism for eliminating charges of the separating roller is arranged on the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction in a separation nip portion between the feed roller and the separating roller.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2009Date of Patent: March 8, 2011Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroshi Hiura, Takeshi Suga, Toshifumi Itabashi, Hajime Sekiguchi
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Patent number: 7896342Abstract: A sheet supply apparatus has a sheet storing part that stores sheets, a sheet transport part that feeds the sheets from the sheet storing part and transports the sheets, a sheet separating part that separates the sheets fed from the sheet storing part, a sheet thickness measuring part that measures a thickness of the sheets separated by the sheet separating part, a sheet separating strength varying part that causes the sheet separating part to apply one or more of a plurality of sheet separating strengths to separate the sheets, and a control part that controls the sheet separating strength varying part to cause the sheet separating part to apply, from among the plurality of sheet separating strengths, one or more sheet separating strengths, other than a weakest sheet separating strength, during a time period which begins upon a start of feed of the sheets.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2006Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazuyuki Tsukamoto, Shin Takeuchi, Minoru Ohshima
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Patent number: 7841593Abstract: The sheet transport apparatus comprise a sheet supply tray, a separation roll, a support body and a separation roll accommodation portion. The sheet supply tray has a plurality of sheets. The separation roll separates out the sheets one by one by applying a transport resistance to the sheets transported from the sheet supply tray. The support body rotatably supports the separation roll. The separation roll accommodation portion is formed in a transport path along which the sheets are transported, and it accommodates the separation roll and the support body such that they may be detached from a transport surface side of the transport path.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2008Date of Patent: November 30, 2010Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takakiyo Toba, Hiroatsu Kazama, Takuya Ito, Nobutoshi Hamasaki, Kouta Tanaka
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Patent number: 7832723Abstract: There is provided a sheet feeding apparatus including a first feeding member that feeds at least one of the sheets from a discharge tray; a second feeding member that feeds the sheet fed by the first feeding member; a separating member, wherein a nip portion is formed between the separating member and the second feeding member, and when two sheets are entered the nip portion, the separating member separates one of the entered sheets from the other; an adjusting unit that changes a force of the separating member; a detecting unit that detects at least one of a distance by which the other of the entered sheets is transported beyond the nip portion and an advancing speed of the other of the entered sheets at the nip portion; and a controller that controls the adjusting unit based on a detection value of the detecting unit.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2008Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazuyuki Tsukamoto, Shin Takeuchi, Katsumi Sakamaki
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Patent number: 7810802Abstract: The sheet conveying roller includes a shaft member and a sliding portion arranged in the circumferential direction of the shaft member. The sliding portion is adapted to make sliding contact with the shaft member. The sheet conveying roller also includes an elastic member configured to fasten the sliding portion to the shaft member and makes contact with a conveyed sheet at an outer circumference thereof. The elastic member generates a frictional resistance between the shaft member and the sliding portion by a clamping force of the elastic member.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2007Date of Patent: October 12, 2010Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Fumimitsu Kishimoto, Tomoo Akaba, Shimpei Kogawa
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Patent number: 7751931Abstract: A design support apparatus that can easily verify the conveyance design for a flexible medium based on input design information. A transit time is calculated when a flexible medium passes a characteristic point on a conveying path based a conveying conditions that are set.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2007Date of Patent: July 6, 2010Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takashi Kano
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Patent number: 7748699Abstract: A feed device includes a feed roller and a return lever member. The feed roller picks up a first recording medium from recording media stacked on a stacking unit and feeds the first recording medium downstream via a feed path. The return lever member pushes back upstream a second recording medium that has unnecessarily entered the feed path in feeding the first recording medium downstream. The stacking unit includes an end support portion that supports a leading end of the recording media from below. The return lever member includes a lever unit capable of being protruded into and retracted from the feed path. The lever unit pushes back the second recording medium upstream when protruding into the feed path. The lever unit includes a return operative portion that pushes back the second recording medium upstream and a raising portion that raises the second recording medium above the end support portion.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2007Date of Patent: July 6, 2010Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Hiroki Nakashima
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Patent number: 7731178Abstract: A feeding device includes: a hopper, adapted to support a medium; a feeder, operable to feed the medium in a first direction; a separator, operable to nip the medium with the feeder at a nip point; and a guide, having a guide surface which guides the medium in the first direction and is provided with a recessed portion at a downstream side of the nip point in the first direction.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2006Date of Patent: June 8, 2010Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Toshio Miyake, Atsuhiko Takeuchi, Yuji Miyamoto
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Patent number: 7731177Abstract: A sheet supplying device for an imaging apparatus is provided with a sheet tray configured to mount a plurality of sheets in a stacked state. The sheet tray is inclined such that leading ends of the plurality of sheets are lower than trailing ends thereof. Further provided is a feed roller that faces an uppermost sheet of the plurality of sheets mounted on the sheet tray to be press-contacted thereto. The feed roller is driven to rotate to feed the uppermost sheet. Further provided is a sheet guide mechanism having at least one guiding section provided in front of the feed roller. The guiding section is inclined such that the leading ends of the plurality of sheets are moved toward the feed roller by their own weight. The guiding section is configured such that the degree of inclination of the guiding section varies depending on the amount of the plurality of sheets.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2005Date of Patent: June 8, 2010Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Akihiro Ikeda
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Patent number: 7726645Abstract: A store for storing value sheets such as banknotes in a stack and for dispensing the value notes from the stack. When more than a single value sheet is dispensed from the stack, the store returns all but one of the value sheets to the stack while moving the stack to reduce friction between the returning value sheet and the topmost value sheet of the stack. Means for securing the stack are also provided: a support for the stack is anchored and/or extra pressure is applied to the stack. The store includes means for indicating when the stack contains more than a predetermined number of value sheets and means for preventing securing of the store when the predetermined number of value sheets is exceeded. A value sheet store with part of a sidewall integrally formed with the lid. A value sheet store which includes a lid attached to a housing by a hinge located on an edge of the housing. Apparatus and a method for determining the height of a stack of value sheets.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2006Date of Patent: June 1, 2010Assignee: MEI, Inc.Inventors: Andre Gerlier, Roberto Polidoro, Guillermo Garcia, Christian Voser
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Patent number: 7717416Abstract: A paper sheet separation and transfer apparatus has a take-out roller which takes out stacked paper sheets onto a transfer path, a first separation unit, and a second separation unit. When the front end of a first paper sheet in the transfer direction reaches a nip of the second separation unit, the take-out roller and first feed roller are “decelerated”.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2007Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Yusuke Mitsuya, Yoshihiko Naruoka, Yukio Asari
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Patent number: 7708267Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes stacker for stacking a sheet material; a feed roller for separating the sheet material stacked on the stacker; a rotatable separation roller rotatable by being driven by the feed roller; and a torque limiter for controlling rotation of the separation roller; wherein a second or subsequent sheet material staying in a nip between the feed roller and the separation roller is separated from the separation roller by a rotational direction of the feed roller being changed from a forward rotational direction to a backward direction and by a rotational direction of the separation roller being changed to a backward direction by the feed roller during a first sheet material which is in contact to the feed roller being nipped by the nip; and a first sheet material is fed toward downstream of the nip by the rotational direction of the feed roller being changed from the backward direction to the forward direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2008Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kenji Shigeno
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Patent number: 7673870Abstract: A feeding roller is configured to be driven to rotate both in a forward direction for conveying the recording medium to an image forming position along a conveying path and in a reverse direction opposite to the forward direction. A conveying roller is configured to driven to rotate both in a forward direction for allowing passage of the recording medium conveyed by the feeding roller and in a reverse direction for preventing the passage of the recording medium. A transmitting unit is capable of transmitting a rotational driving force to the feeding roller and the conveying roller, in such a manner that either one of the feeding roller and the conveying roller rotates in the forward direction and that the other one of the feeding roller and the conveying roller rotates in the reverse direction. The feeding roller has a predetermined play in a rotational direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2006Date of Patent: March 9, 2010Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yuji Koga, Daisuke Kozaki
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Patent number: 7665724Abstract: Various embodiments and methods relating to a kicker are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2007Date of Patent: February 23, 2010Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Jeffrey G. Bingham, David F. D. Buck
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Patent number: 7665725Abstract: A registration gate is mounted in a sheet feeding mechanism for rotation about an axis at about right angles to the direction of sheet feed into a feeder mechanism. The gate includes a plurality of fingers extending upwardly through slots in the tray. A motorized sequencing cam moves followers to rotate the gate to an open position to retract the fingers below the tray, to raise and lower a nudger in and to move a lever for locking and unlocking the gate into the closed position with the fingers upright for registering the leading edge of the sheets during user loading of the tray. The cam may be detented or locked by a pawl engaging a notch in the cam.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2007Date of Patent: February 23, 2010Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Richard Thomas Calhoun Bridges, Roy Norman Gladwin
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Patent number: 7641188Abstract: Sheets fed out of a cassette supporting the sheets by a pickup roller are separated and fed by a sheet separation feeding unit having a feed roller and a separating roller which is rotatable in a direction opposite to a sheet feeding direction. A charge eliminating mechanism for eliminating charges of the separating roller is arranged on the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction in a separation nip portion between the feed roller and the separating roller.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2008Date of Patent: January 5, 2010Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroshi Hiura, Takeshi Suga, Toshifumi Itabashi, Hajime Sekiguchi
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Patent number: 7641187Abstract: Automatic sheet feeding apparatus/recording apparatus include a feed roller 11 for feeding sheets out of a stack holding unit, a separation roller 12, in contact with the feed roller 11, for separating the sheets one by one; a return lever 13 for pushing back sheets to the stack holding unit and aligning them; and flanges 14 integrally turning with the feed roller; wherein the feed roller 11 and the return lever 13 do not overlap with each other but the flanges 14 and the return lever 13 do overlap in a side view during one turn of the feed roller 11. With the configuration, the apparatus can utilize the sheet conveying face of the feed roller longer and more effectively, and to eliminate the rush-in phenomenon, namely letting the tips of sheets enter deep into the feeding apparatus inadvertently at the time of setting the sheets into the sheet stack holding unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2005Date of Patent: January 5, 2010Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shinya Sonoda
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Patent number: 7628393Abstract: A sheet takeout device includes a takeout belt brought into contact with a sheet set in a takeout position to generate negative pressure to adsorb the sheet, and traveled in a direction of an arrow T, and a separation roller which separates second and following sheets associatively taken out with the sheet. Triggered by detection of its leading end at a second sensor, an opposite-direction separation force is applied to the sheet to be conveyed via the separation roller.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2007Date of Patent: December 8, 2009Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Yusuke Mitsuya, Tetsuo Watanabe, Naruaki Hiramitsu
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Patent number: 7621523Abstract: A feeding apparatus including a feeding roller for conveying a sheet, a separation roller for conveying the sheet in a reverse direction, a transmission mechanism for transmitting the rotational force to the feeding roller, a limited force reverse transmission mechanism for transmitting the rotational force to the separation roller through a torque limiter, a forced reverse transmission mechanism for directly transmitting the rotational force to the separation roller, a temperature detector and a controller, wherein the controller controls the separation roller to receive rotational force through the forced reverse transmission mechanism after the limited force reverse transmission mechanism transmits the rotational force to the separation roller, then allows the limited force reverse transmission mechanism to transmit the rotational force to the separation roller, or to rotate the feeding via the transmission mechanism and the limited force transmission mechanism to transmit the rotational force to the separType: GrantFiled: August 18, 2008Date of Patent: November 24, 2009Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Daisuke Ueda, Akira Kosugi, Shigeru Okazaki, Takanori Kanda, Kenichi Hosoi
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Patent number: 7611140Abstract: An automated banking machine (10) includes a cash dispenser (220). A machine user interface (15) includes a card reader (16), receipt printer opening (30), and cash dispensing opening (38). A cash acceptor mechanism (80) includes a chute (82) which enables a user to input a stack of currency notes (84) into the machine through a deposit opening (40). Notes are separated from an inputted stack via a note picker device (158, 352) and a note stripper device (64, 162, 354). Upon sensing multiple notes have been picked, picker device movement is reversed to function with the stripper device in returning notes toward the stack. The stripper device is driven to move a note engaged therewith at a faster rate or for a longer time period relative to a note engaged with the picker device to reorient returning notes to facilitate a subsequent note separation attempt.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2006Date of Patent: November 3, 2009Assignee: Diebold Self-Service Systems division of Diebold, IncorporatedInventors: H. Thomas Graef, Zachary Utz, Daniel P. Schoeffler, Shawn Griggy, Natarajan Ramachandran
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Patent number: 7611141Abstract: An item transport system includes a first transport element rotating around a plurality of first transport rollers in a first direction, a second transport element in opposing relation to the first transport element, the second transport element rotating around a plurality of second transport rollers in a second direction opposite to the first direction, a guide plate proximate to the first transport element for engaging the items during processing by an item processing element, and an item registration device configured to maintain the items in registration with the guide plate. The item registration device includes a plurality of independently articulating pivot assemblies biased to engage the second transport element with the first transport element and a plate associated with each pivot assembly. Each plate is fixedly constrained with respect to the pivot assembly at one end and slidably constrained with respect to the pivot assembly at another end.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2008Date of Patent: November 3, 2009Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Daniel J. Williams, Luciano P. Dos Santos, Russell W. Holbrook
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Patent number: 7588245Abstract: A retard feeder adapted to separate and advance media sheets comprising a media sheet advancing device including a drive roll and a retard roll. The drive roll and the retard roll include a feed nip therebetween for driving the media sheets at a velocity. A first drive system is provided to selectively drive the drive roll and the at least one nudger roll in a forward direction. A second drive system drives the retard roll through a slip clutch having a torque wherein the slip clutch torque allows the retard roll to rotate at substantially the same velocity as the drive roll when only one sheet is in the feed nip. The retard feeder further includes a motion sensor for detecting a signal when the retard roll stops rotating at the velocity of the drive roll corresponding to when more than one sheet is in the feed nip. The second drive system can selectively vary the velocity of the retard roll in response to the signal from the retard roll motion sensor.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2005Date of Patent: September 15, 2009Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Barry P. Mandel, Robert Alan Clark
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Patent number: 7584954Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 15, 2004Date of Patent: September 8, 2009Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiroyuki Nagao
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Patent number: 7559546Abstract: A sheet material feeding apparatus includes a sheet stacking portion for stacking recording sheets; a feeding roller for feeding the recording sheets from the sheet stacking portion; separating means for separating the recording sheet fed out by the feeding roller; a holder for holding the separating means, the holder being rotatably supported on a main assembly of the apparatus; first urging means for urging the holder toward the feeding roller; a preliminary regulating member, rotatably supported on the holder, for regulating a gap relative to the feeding roller; second urging means for urging the preliminary regulating member toward the feeding roller; a first regulating member, supported by the holder, for regulating rotation of the preliminary regulating member relative to the holder; and a second regulating member, provided in the main assembly of apparatus, for regulating rotation of the preliminary regulating member relative to the main assembly of the apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2008Date of Patent: July 14, 2009Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shinya Sonoda, Yasutsugu Saijo, Yoshinori Watanabe
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Patent number: 7556259Abstract: An automated banking machine (10) includes a cash dispenser (220). A machine user interface (15) includes a card reader (16), receipt printer opening (30), and cash dispensing opening (38). A cash acceptor mechanism (80) includes a chute (82) which enables a user to input a stack of currency notes (84) into the machine through a deposit opening (40). Notes are separated from an inputted stack via a note picker device (158, 352) and a note stripper device (64, 162, 354). Upon sensing multiple notes have been picked, picker device movement is reversed to function with the stripper device in returning notes toward the stack. The stripper device is driven to move a note engaged therewith at a faster rate or for a longer time period relative to a note engaged with the picker device to reorient returning notes to facilitate a subsequent note separation attempt.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2007Date of Patent: July 7, 2009Assignee: Diebold Self-Service Systems division of Diebold, IncorporatedInventors: H. Thomas Graef, Zachary Utz, Daniel P. Schoeffler, Shawn Griggy, Natarajan Ramachandran
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Publication number: 20090152801Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes stacker for stacking a sheet material; a feed roller for separating the sheet material stacked on the stacker; a rotatable separation roller rotatable by being driven by the feed roller; and a torque limiter for controlling rotation of the separation roller; wherein a second or subsequent sheet material staying in a nip between the feed roller and the separation roller is separated from the separation roller by a rotational direction of the feed roller being changed from a forward rotational direction to a backward direction and by a rotational direction of the separation roller being changed to a backward direction by the feed roller during a first sheet material which is in contact to the feed roller being nipped by the nip; and a first sheet material is fed toward downstream of the nip by the rotational direction of the feed roller being changed from the backward direction to the forward direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2008Publication date: June 18, 2009Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Kenji Shigeno
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Patent number: 7530562Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a transport unit that transports a recording sheet from a storage unit, a separation unit, when stacked plural recording sheets are transported by the transport unit, separates a first recording sheet from the other recording sheets, and a push-back unit that can pivot from a separation action point to an end point of the storage unit and that pushes back ends of the other recording sheets to the storage unit during transport of the first recording sheet by applying to the other recording sheets a larger force in the direction opposite to the transport direction than a force applied to the other recording sheets in the transport direction, at a same time by applying to the first recording sheet a smaller force in the direction opposite to the transport direction than a force applied to the first recording sheet in the transport direction.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2006Date of Patent: May 12, 2009Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.Inventors: Minoru Ohshima, Kazuyuki Tsukamoto, Shin Takeuchi
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Patent number: 7484725Abstract: There is disclosed an image recording apparatus including: a housing; a medium supply cassette open upward which accommodates a stack of recording media each in the form of a sheet, and is inserted into and removed from the housing substantially horizontally in a cassette movement direction, the cassette including: a substantially horizontal bottom plate; and a slant separator plate extending obliquely upward from an edge of the bottom plate; a medium pickup device including a medium pickup roller which gives a feeding force in a first direction to a topmost one of the stack, and cooperates with the separator plate to separate the topmost recording medium from the rest of the recording media to feed in the separated recording medium; a U-shaped guide changing a feeding direction of the recording medium as fed in by the pickup device, from the first direction to a second direction opposite to the first direction; an image recording portion recording an image on the recording medium having been passed through tType: GrantFiled: February 21, 2006Date of Patent: February 3, 2009Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kiyoshi Ueda, Ryohei Suzuki
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Patent number: 7484724Abstract: A recording-medium returning mechanism includes: a feed roller, provided to a feed-roller shaft that can be rotated, for coming into contact with a recording medium and feeding it; a hopper including a holder for holding a plurality of recording media stacked, the hopper being located at a position allowing the recording media on the holder to come into contact with the feed roller while being pressed against the feed roller and a position moving the recording media on the holder away from the feed roller; a separator for separating an uppermost recording medium on the holder from another recording medium simultaneously fed with the uppermost recording medium; and a return lever for returning the other recording medium to the holder.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2004Date of Patent: February 3, 2009Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Tsuyoshi Yamanaka, Yuji Miyamoto, Miwa Shimizu
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Patent number: 7458573Abstract: The present invention discloses a media pick-up device of a media dispenser including a plurality of conveying rollers rotated by a driving force of a driving means, for conveying media, first separating rollers arranged with predetermined overlaps to the conveying rollers, for separating the media one by one, and second separating rollers arranged to face the conveying rollers with predetermined gaps, for generating a frictional force to the media. The media pick-up device of the media dispenser can accurately separate the media one by one regardless of variations of stiffness of the media.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2003Date of Patent: December 2, 2008Assignee: LG N-SYS Inc.Inventor: Eung Min Park
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Patent number: 7455286Abstract: Various embodiments of a sheet separation system are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2005Date of Patent: November 25, 2008Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: David K. Klaffenbach, Gary L. Miller, Jeffrey S. Mathena, Christopher M. Lesniak
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Patent number: 7429040Abstract: A feeding apparatus including a feeding roller for conveying a sheet, a separation roller for conveying the sheet in a reverse direction, a transmission mechanism for transmitting the rotational force to the feeding roller, a limited force reverse transmission mechanism for transmitting the rotational force to the separation roller through a torque limiter, a forced reverse transmission mechanism for directly transmitting the rotational force to the separation roller, a temperature detector and a controller, wherein the controller controls the separation roller to receive rotational force through the forced reverse transmission mechanism after the limited force reverse transmission mechanism transmits the rotational force to the separation roller, then allows the limited force reverse transmission mechanism to transmit the rotational force to the separation roller, or to rotate the feeding via the transmission mechanism and the limited force transmission mechanism to transmit the rotational force to the separType: GrantFiled: July 19, 2005Date of Patent: September 30, 2008Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Daisuke Ueda, Akira Kosugi, Shigeru Okazaki, Takanori Kanda, Kenichi Hosoi
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Patent number: 7427061Abstract: A semi-active retard feeder employs a hysteresis clutch to provide the resisting torque to a retard roll. A low cost Hall Effect sensor is added to the clutch assembly to provide a feedback signal during the feeding cycle in order to detect the onset of degraded feeding performance. This signal can be used to instruct a user to order and replace the retard roll.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2006Date of Patent: September 23, 2008Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Raymond Matthew Ruthenberg, Joseph Andre Michel Loiselle
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Patent number: 7427060Abstract: The sheet paper conveying device comprises: paper supply rollers at least part of which rotate to convey the sheet paper in a prescribed direction; separation rollers that rotate in the direction reverse to the sheet paper conveying direction or rotates jointly with the paper supply roller; auxiliary rollers that clamp the sheet paper jointly with the paper supply rollers and freely rotate; a first pressurizing member to press the separation rollers against the paper supply roller side; and a second pressurizing member to press the auxiliary roller against the paper supply roller side.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2005Date of Patent: September 23, 2008Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yoshiharu Taniyama