With Means To Replenish Pack Or Retract Advancer Platform Patents (Class 271/157)
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Patent number: 8550452Abstract: A sheet feeder has a sheet accommodating portion, a lift plate, an actuating plate, and an actuating plate driving member. The lift plate is supported on the bottom face of the sheet accommodating portion such that an end part of the lift plate is rotatable. The actuating plate raises and lowers the lift plate by moving between a first position where it lies flat along the bottom face of the sheet accommodating portion and a second position where it is raised a predetermined angle from the bottom face of the sheet accommodating portion. The actuating plate driving member has the actuating plate fixed thereto. The engagement portion is provided on the reverse face of the lift plate, and engages with the actuating plate when this is in the first position and disengages from the actuating plate as the actuating plate rotates from the first position to the second position.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2012Date of Patent: October 8, 2013Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.Inventor: Nobuhiro Nishioka
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Patent number: 8540236Abstract: A remaining amount detector measures beforehand a distance H where there is one sheet. A motor displaces a lifting plate to a paper-feeding position upon storing paper in the feeding unit. The remaining amount detector measures a distance y1 to the lower face of a paper stack. Thereafter, upon transport of paper from the stack, a control unit causes the remaining amount detector to measure a distance y2 for every predetermined number n of fed sheets. A remaining sheet calculation unit calculates a displacement y1?y2=?y to the bottom of the paper stack S, and calculates the thickness of one sheet on the basis of the displacement ?y and the number n of fed sheets (t=?y/n). The remaining sheet calculation unit divides the thickness (H?y2) of the paper stack by the thickness t of one paper sheet, and calculates the number of remaining sheets m as (m=((H?y2)/t)+1).Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2012Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: Kyocera Mita CorporationInventors: Akizou Ohtani, Fujio Tabata
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Patent number: 8500118Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus including sheet feeding unit; a pressure plate on which sheets are stacked and which is biased so that an uppermost sheet of the stacked sheets comes in pressure contact with the sheet feeding unit; a first pressing-down mechanism which presses down the pressure plate to separate the uppermost sheet and the sheet feeding unit by a constant distance when the sheet feeding unit is not operated; a second pressing-down mechanism which is adopted to press down the pressure plate when an amount of the sheets stacked on the pressure plate is smaller than a predetermined amount, and is given a load from the pressure plate depending on a position of the pressure plate; and sheet stacking amount detecting unit which measures the load and detects a stacking amount of the sheets stacked on the pressure plate on the basis of the measured load.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2010Date of Patent: August 6, 2013Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masaya Shimmachi, Kenji Kawazoe, Kazuyuki Morinaga, Tetsu Hamano, Toshiaki Tokisawa
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Patent number: 8419012Abstract: A placement plate for placing a recording sheet is provided in a case to be movable upward and downward. A regulating member is supported by the case to be slidable in the width direction of the recording sheet. A locking section is provided on at least one of the placement plate and the regulating member so as to lock the placement plate with respect to the regulating member when the regulating member is located in an area different from an area between the maximum size and the minimum size at the edge of the recording sheet in the width direction.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2012Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yasuyuki Otsuki
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Patent number: 8387968Abstract: A recording-material-feeding device includes a stacking portion that holds a stack of recording materials, a lifting member that moves the stacking portion up and down between a feeding position at which a recording material is fed and a refilling position at which refill recording materials are supplied, a suction member that draws one or more recording materials by suction with a negative pressure, a negative-pressure-generating member that generates the negative pressure, and a stopping member that stops an edge of the stack of recording materials on the stacking portion and includes a sealing member that maintains the level of the negative pressure. The sealing member moves up and down between a retracted position at which refill recording materials are supplied and a sealing position at which the level of the negative pressure is maintained, the sealing member moving with the up-and-down movement of the stacking portion.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2011Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroaki Fujikura, Yuji Otsuka
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Patent number: 8360416Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a tray on which sheets are to be placed, a rope connected to the tray, a pulley which includes a shaft and on which the rope is taken up such that the winds thereof are aligned in an axial direction of the shaft, and a motor for moving the tray upward by rotating the pulley about the shaft in a direction to take up the rope to locate the uppermost sheet on the tray at a sheet pickup position. A sheet remaining amount detection device applied to this sheet feeder includes a position detector for detecting a present position which is a present take-up position of the rope on the pulley in the axial direction, and a remaining amount detecting section for detecting the remaining amount of the sheets on the tray based on the present position detected by the position detector.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2011Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignee: Kyocera Mita CorporationInventor: Satoru Hayama
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Patent number: 8348260Abstract: A sub-assembly of a document processor that routes at least one document from an input hopper, along a document path and to an output bin is disclosed. The document processor includes a flag movably-arranged within the input hopper to/from a closed orientation and an open orientation; a rod fixed to and extending from the flag, wherein the rod includes an outer surface; a cam member including a camming surface, wherein the camming surface is communicatively-coupled to the outer surface of the rod; a driven shaft connected to the cam member, wherein the cam member further includes a one-way clutch, wherein the driven shaft extends through the one-way clutch; and a feed motor connected to the driven shaft. A method for operating the sub-assembly is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2011Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: Burroughs, Inc.Inventors: Johan P. Bakker, George T. Spray, David B. Tratar, James M. Spall, Michael J. Moore
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Patent number: 8342514Abstract: Sheets fed out from a sheet feeding portion, which is brought into pressure contact with the sheets by the upward movement of a sheet stacking portion to feed out the sheets, are separated and conveyed one by one while being upwardly curved. During the sheet feeding operation, the sheet stacking portion is sequentially moved up, and when the sheet feeding operation is completed, the sheet stacking portion is moved down. Further, a remaining amount indicating member moved with the upward movement of the sheet stacking portion to indicate the remaining amount of sheets is held at a position before the sheet stacking portion is moved down, by a holding mechanism, when the sheet feeding operation is completed and the sheet stacking portion is moved down.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2010Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hisayuki Tomura, Kei Sawanaka, Akio Nemoto, Kazushi Nishikata, Masato Suzuki, Atsuya Takahashi, Shotaro Yoshimura, Mitsunari Ito
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Patent number: 8267395Abstract: Disclosed is a paper supply unit having an improved paper supply structure. The paper supply unit includes a main body having an opening, a cassette configured to be attached to and detached from the main body through the opening. The cassette can include a first holding portion and a second holding portion, each configured to hold printing medium. The second holding portion configured to transfer printing medium from the second holding portion to the first holding portion. The paper supply unit can include a guide device disposed between the first holding portion and the second holding portion when the cassette is mounted in the main body and configured to guide the printing medium in the first holding portion.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2009Date of Patent: September 18, 2012Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Myung Woo Yang
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Patent number: 8262083Abstract: A media cassette includes a body having a removable lid. The media cassette comprises a housing defining a closeable pick window; an urging plate biased towards the pick window for urging a stack of media items towards the pick window; a detent located distal from the pick window for limiting movement of the urging plate; and a detent moving mechanism operable to move the detent. The detent moving mechanism may be operated by engaging the removable lid or by insertion of the cassette into a media handler. The media cassette allows the urging plate to exert less force on the stack of media items by expanding the space available for media items located within the cassette by activating the detent moving mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2009Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: NCR CorporationInventors: Scott H. Deas, Shoaib A. Khan
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Patent number: 8262082Abstract: A medium supplying unit of an image forming apparatus includes: a cassette frame; a loading plate which is movably coupled to the cassette frame, and which supports a printing medium thereon; a pickup roller which picks up the printing medium from the loading plate; and a loading plate moving unit which causes the loading plate between a knock up state in which the loading plate located to allow the printing medium can be picked up by the pickup roller and a knock down state in which the loading plate is separated from the pickup roller, the loading plate moving unit causing the loading plate to move during when the loading plate is in the knock down state so as to reduce the occurrence of multiple sheets of printing media being picked up and supplied.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2008Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Jin-Soo Lee
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Patent number: 8251364Abstract: A printer has a separating unit, such as a depressing cam and a depressing slider, which presses a middle plate against the biasing force of a spring and separates a sheet on the middle plate from a sheet feeding roller by a predetermined distance, a separation driving unit, such as a DC motor, which moves the separating unit, a measuring unit which measures the driving load applied to the separation driving unit when the separation driving unit drives the separating unit, and a load imparting unit, such as a brake plate, which imparts load to the middle plate, the separating unit, or the like. The brake plate or the like imparts load when a sheet is separated from the sheet feeding roller by the separating unit, and the brake plate or the like changes the load to be imparted, according to the turning angle of the middle plate.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2010Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazuyuki Morinaga, Kenji Kawazoe, Masaya Shimmachi, Tetsu Hamano, Toshiaki Tokisawa
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Publication number: 20120205860Abstract: A sheet storage apparatus 10a (10b) includes a sheet storage portion 31 that loads and stores a plurality of sheets P, and an end cursor (a restriction member) 50 that is disposed in the sheet storage portion 31 and restricts a sheet position. The end cursor 50 is composed of two or more members so as to be foldable and removably fixed in the sheet storage portion 31.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2012Publication date: August 16, 2012Applicant: KYOCERA MITA CORPORATIONInventor: Yoshihiro YAMAGUCHI
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Publication number: 20120161386Abstract: A media presenter configurable for use in either a front access or a rear access dispenser is described. The media presenter comprises a chassis including a central track defining a central handle end and a central pick end. A nose is coupled to the chassis at the central pick end, and includes (i) a presenting end distal from the chassis and (ii) a nose track arranged to couple to the central track. A removable track is coupled to the chassis and extends from a handle end of the chassis to the central handle end. The nose track, the central track, and the removable track combine to provide a presenting track extending from the handle end to the presenting end. The presenter can present media items to a customer in a rear access dispenser, or can be reconfigured by exchanging the positions of the nose and removable track to present media items in a front access dispenser.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2010Publication date: June 28, 2012Applicant: NCR CORPORATIONInventors: Scott Deas, Gordon Burke, William G. Potts
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Patent number: 8177223Abstract: A lifting unit and a process for lifting a stack of sheets having at least a first support (20, 120, 220) and at least a second support (22, 122, 222) are described. The first support defines a first con-toured or flat support surface, and the second support defines a second support surface which has a substantially horizontal, flat main surface. In the lifting unit at least one unit is provided for lifting the first and second supports. During operation the supports are lifted such that at least a highest point of the first support is kept elevationally above the second support, the second support is lifted more quickly than the first support, and the substantially horizontal, flat main surface of the second support is kept in its horizontal alignment. The lifting unit is described, in combination with a sheet feeder.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2008Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Eckhard Bauer, Soenke C. Bluethgen, Dimitrios Kostudis, Jorg Leyser, Ingo Neuber, Stefan Schluenss
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Patent number: 8172221Abstract: Apparatus for continuous singling of stacks of loose sheet material, in particular bank notes, vouchers, checks, separation cards, etc., includes a singler for singling stacks of loose sheet material and a feeding device which moves stacks of loose sheet material to be singled into a position where sheet material is grasped by the singler and transferred to a transport system, wherein the feeding device has a first, substantially single-axis moved feeding element and a second, substantially multi-axis moved feeding element. An area for receiving sheet material to be singled and which is divided into a first subarea and a second subarea is provided, wherein the first and second subareas adjoin each other and the second subarea forms an input area for inputting sheet material to be singled.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2008Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Assignee: Giesecke & Devrient GmbHInventors: Mario Mönch, Erwin Demmeler
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Patent number: 8167300Abstract: A method for determining the amount of media sheets in a media tray in an image forming device according to one embodiment includes raising a lift plate supporting a stack of media sheets toward a pick mechanism for feeding the media sheets by rotation of a motor in a first direction. An amount of rotation of the motor in the first direction is determined. An indication of an amount of media sheets remaining in the media tray is provided based on the determined amount of rotation of the motor in the first direction.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2010Date of Patent: May 1, 2012Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Brian Allen Blair, Dustin Daniel Fichter, Derek Masami Inouye, Kevin Schoedinger, Jeffrey Lawrence Tonges, Edward Lynn Triplett
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Patent number: 8118300Abstract: A sheet feed mechanism includes a chassis for supporting a stack of sheets; a top sheet engaging member for engaging a top most sheet of the stack; a stack engaging structure, a first end of the stack engaging structure engaging the stack of sheets to bias a top most sheet of the stack of sheets against the top sheet engaging member, the stack engaging structure being supported from the chassis by a resilient member; a friction surface extending perpendicularly from a second end of the stack engaging structure opposite to the first end; a lock mechanism having a lock arm hingedly connected to the chassis, the lock mechanism including a biased contact foot for engaging the friction surface to retard a rectilinear movement of the stack engaging structure; and an actuator for engaging and disengaging the contact foot from the friction surface.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2010Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty LtdInventors: Geoffrey Philip Dyer, Robert John Brice, Attila Bertok, Gregory Michael Tow, Tobin Allen King, Kia Silverbrook
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Patent number: 8066048Abstract: A device for applying labels to a label carrier including a movable rack, which defines a plurality of magazine sites, each of the magazine sites being configured for accommodating a label magazine that is suitable for accommodating a large number of labels. The magazine rack further includes docking means with the aid of which the rack can be docked to a labeling unit prepared for applying the individual labels from a selected label magazine to the label carrier. The device further includes a supply unit through which a selected label magazine can be transferred from the magazine site within the rack to an operating position at which the labels are taken hold of by the labeling unit and applied individually to one of the label carriers.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2008Date of Patent: November 29, 2011Assignee: Krones AGInventor: Dieter Leykamm
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Patent number: 8047527Abstract: The sheet containing apparatus is provided with: an apparatus main body; a drawer that is capable of being pulled out from the apparatus main body; a sheet container that is movable relative to the drawer and that contains a sheet; a feeder that feeds a sheet contained in the sheet container; and a moving unit that moves the sheet container in a direction intersecting with a feed direction in which the feeder feeds a sheet.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2009Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yuichi Adachi, Yoshiaki Watanabe, Mitsuhiro Nakamura, Yoshiyuki Kitazawa
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Patent number: 8042801Abstract: Disclosed herein is an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus can include an apparatus body, a cassette detachably mounted to the apparatus body, the cassette being configured to hold print media, and a sensor unit configured to sense whether the cassette is mounted, whether the print media are loaded, and/or whether the print media is properly positioned in the cassette.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2009Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Je Hwan You
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Patent number: 8041285Abstract: A paper feeding device includes a stacking plate for stacking sheets. The stacking plate is movable vertically within a range from a lower limit position to a pick-up position. The stacking plate has a first surface facing the lower limit position and a second surface facing the pick-up position. The paper feeding device also includes a driving device for driving the stacking plate. The paper feeding device has a locking member for locking the staking plate in the lower limit position. The locking member has a deformable section for contact with the second surface of the stacking plate. The deformable section becomes deformed by a driving force applied through the stacking plate as locked in the lower limit position by the driving device, to unlock the stacking plate.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2007Date of Patent: October 18, 2011Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Susumu Hashimoto, Toshiki Ohgita, Hidetoshi Kaneko, Masayuki Nagatani
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Patent number: 7997818Abstract: An image recording apparatus, including a sheet-supply tray device which accommodates and holds a plurality of recording sheets and which supplies the recording sheets, one by one, in a sheet-supply direction; and an image recording device which records an image on each of the recording sheets supplied from the sheet-supply tray device.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2007Date of Patent: August 16, 2011Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tetsuo Asada, Yukio Shiohara
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Patent number: 7988142Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes: a first sheet feeding unit; a second sheet feeding unit provided adjacent to the first sheet feeding unit; one or plural first shutter(s) provided in the first sheet feeding unit; a driving unit that drives the first shutter(s); and one or plural second shutter(s) provided in the second sheet feeding unit, the second shutter(s) opening and closing in association with the opening and closing of the first shutter(s) driven by the driving unit. According to the present invention, when plural shutters for designating a stacking range of sheets are provided, an operation of any one of the shutters can be suitably associated with operations of the other shutters.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2009Date of Patent: August 2, 2011Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tadashi Sugiyama
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Patent number: 7980420Abstract: A card dispensing apparatus having a compact configuration has a housing to support a stack of cards on a fixed base. Openings in the base member can permit surfaces from a conveying member to extend into the housing and contact a surface of the lowest card. The conveyer member can move horizontal to a release point and retract beneath the base member to return to an initial position. A movement unit provides a cyclic looping movement of the conveyer member into and out of the housing for transporting cards. A feed unit positioned at the dispensing point of the cards can grasp and release the cards from the card dispensing apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2007Date of Patent: July 19, 2011Assignee: Asahi Seiko Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takahito Yamamiya
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Publication number: 20110140347Abstract: A sheet feeding device that feeds sheets by a sheet feeding unit from a sheet feeding cassette storing the sheets, in which positions of rotation centers of a lifting plate and a lifting plate pressing member are varied from each other in such a manner that a rotation track of an edge of an opening of the lifting plate pressing member and a rotation track of a vertical surface of an engaging member provided on the lifting plate intersect with each other, so that the edge is engaged with the vertical surface at the intersection position of the rotation tracks to restrict rotation of the lifting plate when the lifting plate moves upward before a lifting operation of the lifting plate pressing member.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2010Publication date: June 16, 2011Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shuji Nishitani, Shinichi Ueda
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Publication number: 20110097130Abstract: A printer is provided that includes a printing unit printing an image on a sheet being conveyed on a printing path, a first feeder unit configured such that a sheet placed thereon is fed to the printing path via a first feeding path, a second feeder unit configured such that a sheet placed thereon is fed to the printing path via a second feeding path even while the first feeder unit is being replenished with sheets, and a controller configured to, in response to a first requirement being satisfied while the first feeder unit is forbidden to be replenished with sheets during a continuous printing operation, switch an actually-working feeder unit that works for actual sheet feeding in the continuous printing operation, to the second feeder unit, the first requirement including a condition that one or more sheets are placed on the second feeder unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2010Publication date: April 28, 2011Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Naoki HASHIMOTO
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Patent number: 7931266Abstract: A sheet feeding device is provided. The sheet feeding device includes a sheet holder to hold a sheet in a position to be fed, a feed roller to pick up the sheet, a first lifter to move a closer portion of the sheet holder by one of a front end and a rear end thereof, a second lifter to move a further portion of the sheet holder by one of a front end and a rear end thereof, and a coordinating system to move the first lifter and the second lifter in cooperation with each other to move the overall sheet holder in a direction to be closer to the feed roller, wherein an amount of the sheet holder to be moved by the first lifter is greater according to a constant rate with respect to an amount of the sheet holder to be moved by the second lifter.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2009Date of Patent: April 26, 2011Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tsugio Okamoto
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Patent number: 7926805Abstract: A sheet feeding device to feed sheets in a sheet feeding path is provided. The sheet feeding device includes a sheet cassette, in which a stack of sheets is stored, a body, in which the sheet cassette is removably installed, a feeder unit to forward the sheets in the stack in the sheet feeding path, at least one restrictive member, which is configured to be shifted between a releasing position and a restricting position and restricts a height of the stack of sheets to be stored in the sheet cassette when in the restricting position, a shifting unit to shift the positions of the at least one restrictive member. The shifting unit shifts the at least one restrictive member to be in the restricting position when the sheet cassette is removed from the body and to be in the releasing position when the sheet cassette is installed in the body.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2009Date of Patent: April 19, 2011Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Junki Ueyama
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Publication number: 20110074095Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes a first storing unit in which a sheet bundle is stacked, a second storing unit that is provided near the first storing unit and in which the sheet bundle is stacked, a transfer tray that is provided in the second storing unit and transfers the sheet bundle from the second storing unit to the first storing unit, and a stopper that regulates, when the transfer tray transfers the stacked sheet bundle from the second storing unit to the first storing unit and moves from the first storing unit to the second storing unit, movement of the sheet bundle on the transfer tray.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2010Publication date: March 31, 2011Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Masahiro OHNO
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Publication number: 20110062656Abstract: A media stocker includes: a paper feeding table configured to support plural recording media in a stacked state; a lifting and lowering mechanism configured to lift and lower the paper feeding table; a bottom plate attached to the paper feeding table and configured to receive the recording media placed thereon and support the recording media such that a downstream side end in a conveying direction of the recording media on the paper feeding table moves up and down relatively to an upstream side end in the conveying direction; and a control section configured to make an angle of the bottom plate adjustable such that a surface of the recording medium at the top extends along a direction substantially orthogonal to a lifting and lowering direction of the paper feeding table.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2010Publication date: March 17, 2011Applicant: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Toshiharu Shimosato, Haruo Hasegawa
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Patent number: 7883284Abstract: An image recording apparatus, including a sheet-supply tray device which accommodates and holds a plurality of recording sheets and which supplies the recording sheets, one by one, in a sheet-supply direction; and an image recording device which records an image on each of the recording sheets supplied from the sheet-supply tray device. The sheet-supply tray device includes a first tray which accommodates and holds at least one first sheet of the plurality of recording sheets; a second tray which accommodates at least one second sheet of the plurality of recording sheets, and which selectively takes a stacked posture thereof in which the second tray is stacked on the first tray, and an opening posture thereof in which at least a portion of the second tray opens at least a portion of the first tray; and at least one dropping preventing cover which prevents the at least one second sheet from dropping out of the second tray in a state in which the second tray takes the opening posture thereof.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2007Date of Patent: February 8, 2011Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tetsuo Asada, Yukio Shiohara
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Patent number: 7881653Abstract: An image recording apparatus including: a body; a supply tray attached to the body for putting a recording sheet thereon; a recording mechanism provided in a middle of a feed path defined in the body for recording an image on the recording sheet; a feeding mechanism which has an arm pivotably supported at one of opposite ends thereof and a feeding roller rotatably provided in the other of the opposite ends of the arm, and which is configured such that the recording sheet is fed toward the recording mechanism by rotating of the feeding roller held in contact with the recording sheet; a discharge opening provided in the body for discharging the recording sheet therethrough; a cover supported by the body to be pivotable between an open position and a closed position; and a cover-arm interlock mechanism which permits the arm to pivot such that the feeding roller contacts the recording sheet when the cover is positioned at the open position, and which positions the arm such that the feeding roller is away from theType: GrantFiled: June 27, 2007Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masatoshi Izuchi
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Patent number: 7874554Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for automated, continuous singling of loose sheet material, by the steps of feeding a stack of loose sheet material to be singled located on a first feeding element from a deposit position to a position in which the uppermost sheet of the stack can be grasped by the singling unit, sheet-by-sheet singling of the fed stack by the singling unit, the stack being fed by the feeding element such that the particular uppermost sheet of the stack can be grasped by the singling unit, feeding a further stack of loose sheet material to be fed located on a second feeding element from the deposit position to a position in which the uppermost sheet of the stack to be fed is located below the first feeding element, and uniting the stack to be singled and the fed stack by drawing the first feeding element out of the feeding path.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2004Date of Patent: January 25, 2011Assignee: Giesecke & Devrient GmbHInventors: Peter Dopfer, Christian Casensky, Erwin Demmeler, Mario Mönch
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Patent number: 7866654Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes a first storing unit in which a sheet bundle is stacked, a second storing unit that is provided near the first storing unit and in which the sheet bundle is stacked, a transfer tray that is provided in the second storing unit and transfers the sheet bundle from the second storing unit to the first storing unit, and a stopper that regulates, when the transfer tray transfers the stacked sheet bundle from the second storing unit to the first storing unit and moves from the first storing unit to the second storing unit, movement of the sheet bundle on the transfer tray.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2008Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masahiro Ohno
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Patent number: 7845631Abstract: A transporting device moves sheet-like objects. The transporting device has an elevator plate mounted to be liftable and lowerable on a loading surface to load an object to be moved; a drive part to lift and to lower the elevator plate via gears; and a controller to execute a preparatory operation to operate the drive part in a direction only by a drive amount corresponding to the gear backlash during the time after the drive part has completed an elevator plate drive operation in one direction until the start of an elevator plate drive operation in another direction.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2007Date of Patent: December 7, 2010Assignee: Kyocera Mita CorporationInventors: Hiroshi Wada, Katsuhiro Yoshiuchi
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Publication number: 20100289209Abstract: A method and apparatus for non-contact measurement of a media stack in an image production device is disclosed that may include detecting the position of an unfluffed media stack, setting a desired media stack height by changing a media elevator position using a media elevator control unit based on the detected unfluffed media stack position, determining if printing and fluffing has started, wherein if it is determined that printing and fluffing has started, detecting the position of the transition between the fluffed and unfluffed portions of the media stack using the one or more sensors, determining if the position of the transition between the fluffed and unfluffed portions of the media stack is below a predetermined threshold, wherein if it is determined that the position of the transition between the fluffed and unfluffed portions of the media stack is below the predetermined threshold, setting the desired media stack height by changing the media elevator position based on the detected position of the trType: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2009Publication date: November 18, 2010Applicant: XEROX CORPORATIONInventors: Robert Alan CLARK, Kenneth Paul MOORE
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Patent number: 7823869Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a sheet feed tray on which a first sheet bundle is stacked at a first position where sheet feeding to a conveyance path can be performed, and a conveyance tray on which a second sheet bundle is stacked at a second position adjacent to the sheet feed tray, and which conveys the second sheet bundle to the sheet feed tray and stacks the second sheet bundle on the sheet feed tray after the first sheet bundle is fed, presses the stacked second sheet bundle to a side plate provided in a direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the conveyance tray, and aligns an end of the second sheet bundle.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2008Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tokihiko Ise
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Patent number: 7819398Abstract: A feeding apparatus includes a cassette unit and a feeding-apparatus main body. The cassette unit can be mounted and dismounted to/from the feeding apparatus. The cassette unit includes a casing which is the base member of the cassette unit; a movable cassette hopper on which a housed recording medium is to be placed; and a locking section that holds the attitude of the cassette hopper. The feeding-apparatus main body includes a contact portion that comes into contact with the locking section to release the holding state when the cassette unit is mounted to the feeding-apparatus main body.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2008Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Keiichiro Fukumasu
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Patent number: 7798489Abstract: A media handling system for an image forming machine includes a stationary frame, a platform supporting a stack of media sheets thereon, a bin supporting the platform and in turn supported on the stationary frame for undergoing movement relative thereto between a first position in which the bin locates the platform below and aligned with a pick mechanism and movable relative to the bin toward and away from the pick mechanism and a second position in which the bin displaces the platform away from and out of alignment with the pick mechanism, and a motion transmitting assembly coupled between the stationary frame, platform and bin and operable to convert movement of the bin between first and second positions relative to the stationary frame into movement of the platform relative to the bin toward and away from the pick mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2008Date of Patent: September 21, 2010Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Douglas Andagan Baena, Jr., Moneleo De Castro Cedeno, Daniel Paul Cahill, William Paul Cook, Edward Lynn Triplett, Jason Lee Rowe
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Patent number: 7758042Abstract: Sheets fed out from a sheet feeding portion, which is brought into pressure contact with the sheets by the upward movement of a sheet stacking portion to feed out the sheets, are separated and conveyed one by one while being upwardly curved. During the sheet feeding operation, the sheet stacking portion is sequentially moved up, and when the sheet feeding operation is completed, the sheet stacking portion is moved down. Further, a remaining amount indicating member moved with the upward movement of the sheet stacking portion to indicate the remaining amount of sheets is held at a position before the sheet stacking portion is moved down, by a holding mechanism, when the sheet feeding operation is completed and the sheet stacking portion is moved down.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2007Date of Patent: July 20, 2010Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hisayuki Tomura, Kei Sawanaka, Akio Nemoto, Kazushi Nishikata, Masato Suzuki, Atsuya Takahashi, Shotaro Yoshimura, Mitsunari Ito
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Patent number: 7753364Abstract: The sheet capacity of a pivoting feed head is combined with a complimentary pivoting design for the paper tray lift, such that a large total capacity of sheets is attained within a compact space, while allowing the lifting mechanisms to be located outside of the perimeter of the paper tray.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2007Date of Patent: July 13, 2010Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Thomas M. Lyga, James A. Salomon, James A. Fairweather, Norman R. Lilly, Anthony W. Chiappetta
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Patent number: 7748702Abstract: A method and a device combine auxiliary and main stacks in a delivery or feeder of a machine for processing printing materials. The device includes a rake that can be moved in and out between the main and auxiliary stacks by a motor drive. A control computer controls the motor drive of the rake. Different speed profiles are stored in the control computer for the drive of the rake as a function of the printing materials in the stacks. A sheet-fed offset printing press having the device is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2006Date of Patent: July 6, 2010Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AGInventors: Klaus Auer, Michael Bantlin, Uwe Peters, Rolf Spilger
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Patent number: 7735822Abstract: A sheet cassette is adapted to be detachably attached to a cassette receiver of an information processing apparatus. A cassette body is formed with an opened space adapted to contain sheets therein. A stopper is operable to prevent a sheet from moving in a first direction to enter the opened space when a volume of the sheets contained in the opened space reaches a maximum containing capacity, while allowing the sheets contained in the opened space to move in a second direction to be fed to the information processing apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2008Date of Patent: June 15, 2010Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Yuichi Aruga, Toshihiro Imae
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Patent number: 7726647Abstract: A sheet feed mechanism includes a chassis for supporting a stack of sheets; a top sheet engaging member for engaging a top most sheet of the stack; a stack engaging structure for engaging the stack and biasing the top most sheet against the top sheet engaging member, the stack engaging structure hingedly connected to the chassis at a hinge axis; a friction surface extending from the stack engaging structure, the friction surface extending in a curvature parallel to a locus of the stack engaging structure about the hinge axis; a lock mechanism having a lock arm hingedly connected to the chassis at the hinge axis, the lock mechanism further having a biased contact foot for engaging the friction surface to retard a movement of the stack engaging structure about the hinge axis; and an actuator for engaging and disengaging the contact foot from the friction surface.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2009Date of Patent: June 1, 2010Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty LtdInventors: Geoffrey Philip Dyer, Robert John Brice, Attila Bertok, Gregory Michael Tow, Tobin Allen King, Kia Silverbrook
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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: 7722032Abstract: A sheet feeding device, includes a sheet loading table; a sheet feeding member that feeds a sheet from an uppermost portion of sheets stacked on the sheet loading table; a regulating member that regulates a side of sheets, in a transverse direction orthogonal to a sheet feeding direction; an opening and closing mechanism that opens and closes a sheet feeding section; a lowering mechanism that lowers the sheet loading table that holds sheets at a sheet feeding position, to a lower position by opening the opening and closing mechanism; an adjusting mechanism that adjusts a position of the regulating member in the transverse direction; and a holding mechanism that holds a position of the sheet loading table so as to hold the sheets at the sheet feeding position even when the opening and closing mechanism is opened.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2006Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Hirobumi Sasaki, Tomoo Suzuki
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Patent number: 7712735Abstract: An unstacker device for unstacking flat objects comprises a motor-driven feed magazine controlled so as to move flat objects in a stack and on edge facing an unstacking head provided with a motor-driven drive having a perforated belt and a suction chamber, which motor driven drive is actuated so as to separate a current first object from the stack and so as to eject it in a direction that is transverse to the direction in which the stack of flat objects is moved, in which device the motor-driven drive is actuated and stopped each time a current object is unstacked, and the stack of flat objects is straightened up in the magazine in response to detection of signals delivered by a plurality of sensors disposed in the unstacking head.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2007Date of Patent: May 11, 2010Assignee: SolysticInventors: Pierre Chorier-Pichon, Stephane Ambroise, Stephane Samain
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Patent number: 7712736Abstract: A printer apparatus includes a paper cater plate portion for carrying paper on which an image is printed, a prescribed shaft portion arranged above the paper carrier plate portion, a paper feed roller for feeding the paper provided on the shaft portion, a pushing member for pushing the paper carrier plate portion toward the paper feed roller, a cam provided on the shaft portion, and a cam abutment portion provided in the paper cater plate portion and abutting on the earn. The cam is formed from a resin and includes a cut-out portion so that a portion of the cam abutting on the cam abutment portion when the paper cater plate portion is lifted is elastic.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2005Date of Patent: May 11, 2010Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.Inventor: Kiyoshi Chinzei
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Patent number: 7703762Abstract: When a paper feed cassette is again mounted, a pressing portion of a pressing member is brought into contact from the front side on a second surface of an extending portion of a contacting member, and the contacting member is pressed by the pressing member to be displaced from the retract position to the contact position. At this time, the pressing portion of the contacting member presses a pressed portion of a disc member to rotate a third cam itself in the counterclockwise direction in the drawing. Accordingly, the lift lever locked by the third cam is released, and an end portion of an arm member is allowed to move upward.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2008Date of Patent: April 27, 2010Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Makoto Hattori