Holder Movable Relative To Feed Position Patents (Class 271/162)
  • Patent number: 11565897
    Abstract: A sheet feeder including: a housing including a mount portion that receives recording media; an open-close portion that is disposed on an upper surface of the housing to close the mount portion and rotates about a first hinge to open or close a mount space over the mount portion; and a manual insertion portion at least part of which is disposed on the open-close portion to receive manually inserted recording media, the manual insertion portion being rotatable about the first hinge or a second hinge disposed parallel to the first hinge to rotate upward from a position where the manual insertion portion overlaps the open-close portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Shoichi Maeda, Masahito Niwa, Yuichi Araki, Yoshiki Kimura, Misaki Suruga
  • Patent number: 11554926
    Abstract: A sheet conveyor unit is connected to downstream side of an upstream side unit in a sheet conveying direction. The sheet conveyor unit includes a convey guide for receiving a sheet discharged from outlet of the upstream side unit. The convey guide is constituted of a pair of guide members disposed to face each other with a predetermined space therebetween. The guide members have the same shape and include base parts having guide surfaces that form a sheet conveying path when combined to face each other, and inclined parts bent to directions apart from the guide surfaces from one end of the base parts in the sheet conveying direction so as to form a receiving port. The convey guide is attached selectively to one of positions different in at least one of a height direction and the sheet conveying direction with respect to an apparatus main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Masayuki Kakuta, Risa Hibino
  • Patent number: 11535468
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a sheet feeding device including a sheet feed tray on which a medium is mounted in an inclined orientation, a feeding roller configured to feed the medium, and a sheet feed slot that is defined by the sheet feed tray and the feeding roller i, and a recording section configured to perform recording onto the medium fed from the sheet feeding device. The recording apparatus includes a scanner unit that is disposed on a body of the recording apparatus and functions as a reading device for reading a document, and a guiding member that is inclined from a side surface of a guiding member installation section that is a side surface of the scanner unit on a sheet feed tray side in a state in which the scanner unit is closed with respect to the body of the recording apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Ryoichi Morisawa, Takashi Matsuki
  • Patent number: 11492219
    Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a tray that stores a recording medium in a closed state in which the tray is placed in an apparatus body, the tray being capable of being pulled out from the apparatus body in a predetermined pulling direction; a transport unit that is provided on the apparatus body and that transports the recording medium in a direction crossing the pulling direction when the tray is in the closed state; a first contact portion provided on the tray and having a contact surface spaced from the transport unit when viewed in the pulling direction, the first contact portion being located upstream of the transport unit in the pulling direction and the contact surface being in contact with an upstream end portion of the recording medium stored in the tray in the pulling direction when the tray is in the closed state; a second contact portion disposed at a position that is upstream of the transport unit in the pulling direction and at which the second contact portion overlaps the transport unit wh
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventor: Tatsuya Yamashita
  • Patent number: 11434092
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sheet cassette includes a sheet placing portion. The sheet placing portion can rotate around a rotation shaft while placing a sheet of a placeable maximum size in a sheet placing area to be flat. The rotation shaft extends to be perpendicular to a discharge direction and a gravity direction of the sheet. The rotation shaft is disposed between a first end portion on a downstream side along the discharge direction in the sheet placing area and a second end portion on an upstream side positioned on a side opposite to the first end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Mikio Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11414283
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet feeding device having a plurality of sheet feeding units, an opening and closing controlling unit, and a receiving unit. The opening and closing controlling unit controls opening and closing of the sheet feeding unit. Where the receiving unit receives an instruction for assigning a sheet having selected one attribute to designated one sheet feeding unit, the opening and closing controlling unit opens the designated one sheet feeding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Kawamura, Yuzo Harano, Hideaki Ooba, Aya Ito, Yusuke Kimura
  • Patent number: 11286124
    Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a casing; a door rotatable relative to the casing; a tray configured to stack a sheet thereon and rotatable between a closed position where the tray is closed to the casing, a first open position where the tray opens relative to the casing at a first angle, and a second open position where the tray opens relative to the casing at a second angle larger than the first angle; and a sheet feeding unit provided in the casing and configured to feed the sheet stacked on the tray being in the first position. When the door is opened relative to the casing at an angle exceeding the first angle in a state in which the tray is in the first open position, the door moves the tray to the second open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Isao Kannari
  • Patent number: 11267666
    Abstract: A drive transmitter includes a first unit including a coupling portion having grooves spaced at an angle of 180 degrees in the rotational direction, and a second unit having projections spaced at an angle of 180 degrees in the rotational direction. The projections are configured to be inserted into the grooves of the coupling portion. The coupling portion has a guiding portion and a non-guiding portion. The guiding portion is sloped, with a height from a bottom face of the grooves decreasing in the rotational direction of the first unit, and is configured to guide the projections to the grooves. The non-guiding portion is disposed at a point symmetrical position to the guiding portion to an axial center of the first unit. One of the projections is not in contact with the non-guiding portion while another one of the projections is in contact with the guiding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Horita, Jumpei Aoyama
  • Patent number: 11247862
    Abstract: A detector includes a first member that makes contact with an upper surface of a paper sheet stored in a sheet feeding cassette, and a second member that supports the first member such that it is capable changing postures, while also movably supporting the first member in an up-and-down direction to coincide with the upper surface of a paper sheet stored in the sheet feeding cassette. The first member has a guide portion that makes contact with the sheet feeding cassette and/or a paper sheet stored in the sheet feeding cassette. The first member changes postures with respect to the second member as a result of the guide portion making contact with the sheet feeding cassette and/or a paper sheet stored in the sheet feeding cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Shibayama
  • Patent number: 11198572
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a sheet feed tray. The sheet feed tray includes a first guide and a second guide. The first guide has a first end portion. The first end portion has a first area located in a central portion in a width direction, and a second area located closer to one end in the width direction than the first area. The first end portion is inclined such that the first area is downstream of the second area in the sheet conveying direction. The second guide has an upper end portion located downstream of the first end portion of the first guide in the sheet conveying direction and above the first end portion. The upper end portion has a third area located in a central portion in the width direction and a fourth area located closer to an end in the width direction than the third area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuji Tokoro
  • Patent number: 11185161
    Abstract: A printer paper drawer door closing mechanism includes a fixed chassis defining a chassis plane, a lever arm joined to the chassis and pivotable about a lever arm pivot axis from a first lever arm limit state to a second lever arm limit state. A first bearing surface extends from the lever arm at a first lever arm distance and a second bearing surface extending from the lever arm at a second lever arm distance. The first bearing surface is at a bearing surface distance from the second bearing surface. An energy storage element is integrated with the lever arm. A cam plate is translatable toward and away from the lever arm and pivotable about a cam plate pivot axis from a first cam limit state to a second cam limit state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Toshiba TEC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Brad W. Towe
  • Patent number: 11128777
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a medium mounting section, a feed mechanism, a recording section, a housing, and a reading unit. The reading unit is provided on top of the housing and includes a document feed opening, a transport section, and a reading section. A back cover moves in tandem with a mounting tray, and moves to a closed position in which the back cover covers the opening when the mounting tray is closed and an open position in which the back cover does not prevent the mounting tray from rotating for stowage in the opening when the mounting tray is open. When in the closed position, the mounting tray covers the document feed opening of the reading unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Keisuke Sasaki, Toshio Miyake
  • Patent number: 11097911
    Abstract: A medium conveyance device includes a body, a table in which a placement surface is formed and that is supported by the body movably to be arranged in a first area or a second area, a guide that is supported by the table movably to be arranged in a third area or a fourth area and that regulates move of an original that is placed on the table such that a height of the guide is lower when the guide is arranged in the fourth area than when the guide is arranged in the third area, and a mechanism that moves the guide along with move of the table such that the guide is arranged in the third area when the table is arranged in the first area and the guide is arranged in the fourth area when the table is arranged in the second area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: PFU LIMITED
    Inventor: Shogo Yoshita
  • Patent number: 11001462
    Abstract: A recording-medium container includes a press portion and an urging member. The press portion is disposed to be movable toward and away from a side of a recording medium stack loaded in the recording-medium container, and pressed against the side. The urging member urges the press portion toward the recording medium stack when a quantity of the recording medium stack exceeds a predetermined load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuichi Adachi
  • Patent number: 10919720
    Abstract: A sheet conveyance unit includes a sheet inlet port, an inlet guide, and a guide switching mechanism. The inlet guide has an upper guide and a lower guide below the upper guide. The guide switching mechanism switches a position of the inlet guide between a conveyance position at which the upper guide and the lower guide face each other with a first distance and a separation position at which the upper guide and the lower guide are spaced from each other by a second distance greater than the first distance. To connect the sheet conveyance unit to the sheet discharge unit, the inlet guide is disposed to the separation position before the discharge guide is inserted between the upper guide and the lower guide, and is disposed to the conveyance position after the discharge guide is inserted between the upper guide and the lower guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Masami Fuchi, Masayuki Kakuta, Sachio Izumichi, Seiji Okada, Risa Hibino
  • Patent number: 10873677
    Abstract: A multi-function apparatus employs an in-body sheet discharge type configuration. The image forming device includes a front door and a multi-purpose tray. The front door is movable between a closed position set along a side surface at one side of a case of the image forming device and an opened position opened at the one side with respect to the side surface. The front door has an opening formed therein. The multi-purpose tray is provided to be selectively located at a non-use state at which the multi-purpose tray closes the opening and an in-use position at which the multi-purpose tray opens the opening. When the front door is located at the closed position and the multi-purpose tray is located at the non-use position, an upper end surface of the multi-purpose tray is exposed upward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mariko Uchida, Yusuke Ikegami
  • Patent number: 10836599
    Abstract: In a printing apparatus, a first tray is capable of stacking a sheet discharged from a discharge port. A second tray is accommodated in a lower side of the first tray and is capable of stacking the sheet discharged from the discharge port by being drawn out in a sheet discharging direction from the discharge port. A changing unit changes inclination angles of the first tray and the second tray with respect to the sheet discharging direction according to a drawn-out position of the second tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaya Shimmachi, Yasuhito Tsubakimoto, Yuji Kanome, Kaneto Tokuyama, Takashi Awai
  • Patent number: 10807815
    Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a stacking portion having a stacking surface on which sheets are stacked, a feeding portion configured to feed the sheets stacked on the stacking surface, and an abutment member having a contact surface configured to contact edges of the sheets stacked on the stacking surface and extending along a stacking direction of the sheets. The abutment member moves with a constant contact angle between the contact surface and the edges of the sheets in a cross section parallel with the stacking direction in a case where the contact surface is pushed by the sheets inserted toward the feeding portion in an insertion direction. In addition, a detection portion is configured to output a detection signal in accordance with a position of the abutment member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomoya Tateishi
  • Patent number: 10800620
    Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a casing; a sheet stacking unit rotatable between a closing position and first and second opening positions; a sheet feeding unit; a link unit provided with a slidable engaging portion; and a spring. The sheet stacking unit includes a first guide; and a second guide branching from the first guide. The first guide includes a first portion, a first supporting portion, and a second portion. The second guide includes a second supporting portion. The engaging portion is guided from the second guide to the first portion of the first guide by the sheet stacking unit being closed from the second opening position, and the engaging portion is guided from the first portion of the first guide to the second portion by way of the branch portion by the sheet stacking unit being opened from the closed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Isao Kannari
  • Patent number: 10703593
    Abstract: A sheet housing device includes: a housing; and a sheet cassette. The sheet cassette has: a detection mechanism; and a pair of cursors. The detection mechanism includes: a detection switch; a first actuator; and a second actuator. A first cursor pushes down a pressed part of the first actuator and a connection part pushes up a connected part of the second actuator, and the second actuator swings in a first rotation direction from a first posture and the second actuator is set to a second posture in which a switch pressing part is capable of pressing a switch pressed part. The switch pressing part has: a first pressing part that is connected to a front end of a pressing arm; and a second pressing part that is disposed to protrude further toward an upstream side in the first rotation direction than the pressing arm does.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Maeda, Yoshiaki Tashiro
  • Patent number: 10654297
    Abstract: A web printing system has a loading tool to aid in the loading of new wide format web media. The loading tool is pivotable between a first position for loading a leading edge portion of the web onto the loading tool and a second position wherein an end portion of the loading tool extends above a print surface when in use. The end portion of the loading tool includes a beam element protruding from the loading tool in its pivoting direction towards the print surface, wherein in the second position the beam element is positioned with respect to the turn element, such that an S-shaped curve is formed in a web held on the loading tool. The curvature in the web significantly enhances the friction exerted by the beam element on the web, thereby stably holding the web in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: CANON PRODUCTION PRINTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Anne A. Wind, Marcus H. G. W. Hees
  • Patent number: 10603926
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which at least part of an image scanner is disposed in an area below an original discharge unit and above an image forming unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Ohta, Kazushi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10545449
    Abstract: A feeding apparatus comprises a locking unit for locking a connected state between an image forming apparatus and the feeding apparatus; an operating unit to which a force is applied in a separating direction in order to separate the feeding apparatus from the image forming apparatus and configured to perform an unlocking operation of unlocking the locking unit by being operated upon application of the force in the separating direction; and a handgrip unit provided at a position different from a position of the operating unit and to which a force is applied in the separating direction in order to separate the feeding apparatus from the image forming apparatus. The handgrip unit extends in a second horizontal direction perpendicular to a first horizontal direction and is arranged at a position at least partially overlapping a position where the operating unit is arranged with respect to the first horizontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Finetech Nisca Inc.
    Inventor: Masatoshi Ozawa
  • Patent number: 10399801
    Abstract: A medium transport device includes a base frame which includes an outer edge forming portion which configures an outer edge of a device top surface, a medium support tray which is capable of switching between a horizontal posture, and a sub-tray which is capable of being displaced between a storage position and a pulled-out position, and supports the medium at the pulled-out position, in which the sub-tray includes a convex portion which configures a portion of the flat device top surface together at the storage position, and in which the sub-tray is capable of being displaced along a direction that is parallel to the device top surface in a state in which the medium support tray takes the horizontal posture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Katsumi Yamada, Kohei Kozaki, Shintaro Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 10384883
    Abstract: Systems and methods that utilize a card reorienting mechanism are described. Generally, the card reorienting mechanism can transport and rotate a card without substantially contacting one of the principal surfaces of the card. The use of the card reorienting mechanism permits reorienting of the card without substantially contacting the principal surface of the card after the operation has been performed on the principal surface of the card. The card reorienting mechanism of the present disclosure can be useful where rotation of the card without contacting the principal surfaces of the card is desired moments after ink is applied to one of the principal surfaces of the card. In addition, substantially the entire principle surface is accessible for processing operations while the card is on the reorienting mechanism, such as for laser personalization or for image capture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Entrust Datacard Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick C. Cronin, Mark J. Sobania, Arthur J. Paulson, Rajesh Kalachand Juriasingani
  • Patent number: 10322896
    Abstract: A sheet supporting apparatus includes a first lock portion supported movably with respect to an apparatus body between a first locking position where the first lock portion locks a retention portion at a retaining position and a first releasing position where the first lock portion releases a lock of the retention portion and the first lock portion, a second lock portion supported movably with respect to the apparatus body between a second locking position where the second lock portion locks the first lock portion at the first locking position and a second releasing position where the second lock portion releases a lock of the first lock portion and the second lock portion, and a regulation portion provided on a sheet supporting portion, and configured to abut against the second lock portion positioned at the second locking position and regulate a movement of the second lock portion to the second releasing position in a state where the sheet supporting portion is attached to the apparatus body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Furuta
  • Patent number: 10281864
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus provided with a sheet accommodating member that accommodates a sheet and is capable of being inserted into and withdrawn from an apparatus main body, and the image forming apparatus includes: a moving member movably supported in the sheet accommodating member; a charge member that is charged with energy by a movement of the moving member; and a retractor that retracts the sheet accommodating member into the apparatus main body by the energy charged in the charge member, when the sheet accommodating member is inserted into the apparatus main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Sho Karakama, Masahiko Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10268143
    Abstract: A drive device, which is included in an image forming apparatus, includes a drive source, a drive switching device configured to switch between a transmission state and a halting state, a first rotary body having a rotary shaft, a first drive transmission passage through which a driving force is transmitted to the first rotary body, a second rotary body, a second drive transmission passage through which the driving force is transmitted to the second rotary body, a drive transmission body rotatably mounted on the rotary shaft of the first rotary body, and an input drive transmission body mounted on the rotary shaft of the first rotary body and configured to input the driving force to the rotary shaft of the first rotary body, the input drive transmission body configured to rotate together with the drive transmission body as a single unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kimihiro Tanaka, Kenji Tomita, Yohei Miura, Kentaro Uji
  • Patent number: 10214376
    Abstract: A sheet medium flattening device includes a mounting frame configured to mount and support following components; an annular passage, including an annular inner passage plate and an annular outer passage plate, a heating module arranged in a hollow inner cavity of the inner passage plate to supply heat for the inner passage plate; at least one pinch roller arranged at an outer side of the annular guiding plate and realizing clamping with the inner passage plate through a hole slot arranged in the annular guiding plate; a reversing mechanism configured to selectively convey banknotes between the conveying passage and the annular passage of the flattening device; a driving device configured to drive the inner passage plate to rotate; and a control system configured to control a temperature of the heating module and control a selectively switchover of the reversing mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: GRG BANKING EQUIPMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yang Chang, Yin Xia, Zhiwen Jiang, Zhuang Jiang, Hongjun Wu, Zhiqiang Sun, Dong Tan
  • Patent number: 10160612
    Abstract: Provided is a sheet conveying apparatus that includes a conveying unit capable of changing its posture through rotation, and forms a sheet conveyance path capable of conveying a sheet without fail regardless of which posture the conveying unit is in. A first conveying unit is capable of being in a first posture and in a second posture by rotating from the first posture. In a case where the first conveying unit is in the first posture, a sheet conveyance path is formed in which the first conveyance path, the second conveyance path, and the third conveyance path are connected in this order. In a case where the first conveying unit is in the second posture, a sheet conveyance path is formed in which the first conveyance path and the third conveyance path are connected in this order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Kawanishi, Kazuyuki Morinaga, Kuniaki Sato, Makoto Takemura
  • Patent number: 10118422
    Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus, including: a carriage; a lever rotatable about an axis of a shaft and including a lever arm; and a guide having an elongate hole defined by a first edge portion having stoppers for retaining the lever arm and a second edge portion, wherein the guide having an inclined portion including an inclined surface for rotating the lever arm toward the second edge portion and formed downstream of the stoppers in a first direction, wherein the biasing member biases the lever in a second direction opposite to the first direction and in a direction directed from the second edge portion toward the first edge portion, and wherein a distance between: a first position where the inclined surface and the lever arm contact; and the axis of the shaft is larger than a distance between: a second position where each stopper contacts the lever arm; and the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuta Arakawa
  • Patent number: 10099883
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided that may offer functionalities including printing, scanning and/or copying. The apparatus may include a manual sheet feeding tray disposed at the rear of the apparatus. The height of the sheet feeding tray might not exceed a height of the apparatus, allowing use of the apparatus in spaces having smaller depths. The apparatus may include a sheet guide configured to move in conjunction with the movement of the tray. In some arrangements, a surface of the sheet feeding tray may differ in height between lateral edges of the tray and a central portion. This difference may cause a sheet to be curved in a lateral direction, rendering the sheet more inflexible in a longitudinal direction. According to other aspects, a depressed portion of the tray may match a protrusion extending from the guide in shape such that the two portions may mate in a retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshinori Osakabe
  • Patent number: 10071869
    Abstract: A medium feeder includes a medium mounter, a pair of edge guides, and a sheet number limiter. The medium mounter has a mounting surface on which a medium to be fed is placed. The pair of edge guides is provided at the medium mounter to guide side edges of the medium in a direction that intersects with a feeding direction in which the medium is fed. The sheet number limiter is provided at the pair of edge guides to limit the number of media mountable on the medium mounter. The sheet number limiter has an extension that extends in a feeding direction of the medium such that a distance between the extension and the mounting surface increases downstream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yohei Miyagi
  • Patent number: 10065818
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, an image processing apparatus comprises a sheet feed cassette, an operation lever, a sliding section, a sheet lifting and lowering tray, and a main body rail section. The sheet feed cassette is housed to be capable of being pulled out from an apparatus main body. The operation lever is arranged at the side of the sheet feed cassette and is rotatable around a shaft positioned at the middle in a longitudinal direction. The sliding section is arranged at the rear side of the shaft of the operation lever. The sheet lifting and lowering tray can place a sheet and adjust an inclination thereof in conjunction with the operation lever. The main body rail section is arranged in the apparatus main body and guides running of the sliding section at the time of pulling out the sheet feed cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yosuke Nishimura
  • Patent number: 10059541
    Abstract: A sheet tray, including a tray body having a bottom plate, and a sheet guide, is provided. The sheet guide includes a guide plate to align sheets at a predetermined position, a lever, a swingable device having a boss and a guide groove, and a stopper pivotably connected with a hinge. The boss guided in the guide groove moves the lever between a first position, wherein the boss is in a first section in the guide groove and the stopper is lowered to an engaged position, with an engageable part being engaged with the bottom plate; and a second position, wherein the boss is in a second section in the guide groove and the stopper is uplifted to a separated position with the engageable part being separated from the bottom plate. When the lever moves from the first position to the second position, the lever tilts by ascending and pivoting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kei Kondo
  • Patent number: 10023410
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes a first roller, a first guide, a second guide, a second roller, and a third roller. The first guide is configured to guide the sheet conveyed by the first roller and includes a first guide surface and a first edge portion located downstream of the first guide surface in a sheet conveying direction. The second guide, disposed downstream of the first guide, includes a second guide surface and a second edge portion located upstream of the second guide surface. The second roller is disposed downstream of the first roller and above the first roller. The third roller is disposed at a position more proximate to the second guide surface than the second roller. When projected on a cut plane orthogonal to an axis of the third roller, at least of a part of the second edge portion overlaps the third roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yohei Hashimoto, Yuji Tokoro
  • Patent number: 10015334
    Abstract: An ink jet printer is a multifunctional recording apparatus in which a scanner unit is coupled to a recording unit in a rotationally movable manner. The scanner unit includes a protrusion. A carriage, the protrusion, and a rotational movement shaft of the scanner unit are arranged in this order from the unit front side to the unit rear side in the unit depth direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masamitsu Shimazu
  • Patent number: 9963316
    Abstract: A sheet stacking tray includes a first stacking portion, a second stacking portion, and a base portion. In a sheet widthwise direction perpendicular to the sheet discharge direction, the first stacking portion includes a first sheet stacking surface having a first stacking width within a range from one half of a sheet width of a maximum-size sheet to be discharged up to the sheet width of the maximum-size sheet. The second stacking portion includes a second sheet stacking surface having a second stacking width smaller than the first stacking width. A border between the first stacking portion and the second stacking portion lies on a discharge-direction upstream side of a contact point where a leading end portion of the maximum-size sheet comes into contact with the sheet stacking part while the sheet is discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Terumitsu Noso, Sachio Izumichi
  • Patent number: 9938097
    Abstract: A cut-out is provided in a lower guide so as to permit a return claw to move between a retracted position and a protruded position. Furthermore, an upper surface of the return claw positioned in the protruded position functions as a guide portion that guides an underside of a sheet that has been manually fed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Murakami, Daisuke Aoki, Yu Shuhama
  • Patent number: 9939774
    Abstract: A connection mechanism includes a connecting portion including a rotation arm rotatable around a rotation shaft, an urging unit configured to urge the rotation arm, and an engagement pin provided on the rotation arm; and a connected portion having an engagement groove formed in a tapered shape in an urging direction of the urging unit so as to allow entering of the engagement pin and holding of the engagement pin by the urging force of the urging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Jun Agata
  • Patent number: 9745155
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes: a casing; a first sheet tray provided in a bottom portion of the casing; an image-forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet supplied from a sheet accommodation portion of the first sheet tray; a sheet supplying path; a first conveying path; and a shutter. The sheet supplying path is configured to provide communication between the sheet accommodation portion and the image-forming unit. The first conveying path is provided in one of the casing and the first sheet tray, and has one end formed with an opening and another end configured to communicate with the sheet supplying path, the opening being open downward. The shutter is movable between a closing position closing the first conveying path and an opening position opening the first conveying path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryoko Oguri, Isao Fukuchi
  • Patent number: 9666010
    Abstract: A cash box (10) has a holding area (24) bordered by a bottom unit (26) for holding a stack of currency bills. The bottom unit (26) has at least one belt (28, 30), on which the currency bills accommodated in the holding area (24) stand on their edges. Furthermore, at least one belt support (50, 52) is adjustable between a first position and a second position. The belt support (50, 52) in the second position raises the belt (28, 30) in the direction of the holding area (24) relative to the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Wincor Nixdorf International GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Geesmeier
  • Patent number: 9604801
    Abstract: A sheet transport apparatus includes a first casing in which a transport path is formed; a transport unit which transports a sheet along the transport path; a second casing which is provided to be movable with respect to the first casing; a sheet support unit which is rotatably provided in the first casing at a position on a side to which the second casing is moved, the sheet support unit being changeable between a first state, a second state, and a third state and supporting the sheet at least in the third state; and an urging unit which urges the sheet support unit toward the first state within a range from the first state to the second state and which urges the sheet support unit toward the third state within a range from the second state to the third state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuta Uchino
  • Patent number: 9592975
    Abstract: A paper transfer device includes a first paper transfer path that transfers a paper from a first paper feeder, a second paper transfer path that transfers a paper from a second paper feeder, a first paper guide plate fixed on the first paper transfer path, a rotatable second paper guide plate provided so as to faces the first paper guide plate with the first paper transfer path interposed therebetween when closed, a third paper guide plate fixed on the second paper transfer path, a rotatable fourth paper guide plate provided so as to face the third paper guide plate with the second paper transfer path interposed therebetween when closed, a cooperative mechanism that opens the fourth paper guide plate synchronously with opening of the second paper guide plate, and closes the fourth paper guide plate synchronously with closing of the second paper guide plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: RISO KAGAKU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mitunori Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 9567180
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a conveyor, a first cover and a second cover movable in conjunction with the first cover. The second cover includes a restricted portion configured to be moved together with the second cover. The first cover includes a restricting portion configured to contact the restricted portion to prevent the second cover from being moved from a first position toward a second position when the first cover is located at a closed position. The restricting portion and the restricted portion are contacted to each other at a contact position at which a force, which is applied from the restricted portion toward the restricting portion when the second cover receives an external force, does not include a component force acting in a direction of moving the first cover from the closed position toward an opened position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yusuke Murodate
  • Patent number: 9555983
    Abstract: A sheet transport apparatus includes a first casing in which a transport path is formed; a transport unit which transports a sheet along the transport path; a second casing which is provided to be movable with respect to the first casing; a sheet support unit which is rotatably provided in the first casing at a position on a side to which the second casing is moved, the sheet support unit being changeable between a first state, a second state, and a third state and supporting the sheet at least in the third state; and an urging unit which urges the sheet support unit toward the first state within a range from the first state to the second state and which urges the sheet support unit toward the third state within a range from the second state to the third state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuta Uchino
  • Patent number: 9546058
    Abstract: A stacking device includes: a first stacking portion having a stacking surface on which a sheet is stacked; a widthwise direction regulating unit, provided movably relative to the first stacking portion in a widthwise direction of the sheet, for regulating a widthwise position of the sheet stacked on the stacking surface; a second stacking portion provided rotatably relative to the first stacking portion between a first position and a second position. The second stacking portion is overlaid on the first stacking portion at the first position and supports, at the second position, an upstream portion of the sheet with respect to a feeding direction of the sheet fed by a sheet feeding unit. The second stacking portion is provided with a cut-away portion to avoid interference with the widthwise direction regulating unit when rotates between the first position and the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuji Mitsui, Yuya Yanagi
  • Patent number: 9541878
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus may include a main body having a developing apparatus, a driving source configured to generate power in the main body, a driven unit configured to receive the power from the driving source to be operated, a supply cassette configured to be detachable from the main body and in which printing media are stacked, and an opening/closing unit configured to receive power from the driving source configured to drive the driven unit to move the supply cassette back and forth. Accordingly, the supply cassette can be automatically opened and closed to provide user convenience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Myung Sik Kwon
  • Patent number: 9448523
    Abstract: A bump alignment assembly using at least two input media feeds for use in an imaging device. Two spaced apart media guides form a tunnel-shaped bubble chamber about a media path. Two media feed roll pairs are positioned adjacent to the entrance of the bubble chamber. The width of the entrance to the bubble chamber is equal to or greater than the separation of the feed nips of the two media feed roll pairs allowing two or more media paths to be accommodated without the use of media path extensions. A bump alignment roll pair is adjacent the exit of the bubble chamber. Entry, exit and biasing surface features of the media guides provide for buckling and bubble formation of media being fed into the bubble chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Michelle Elizabeth Beck, Derek Masami Inouye, Philip David Jones, Michael James Shanor, Jeffrey Lawrence Tonges
  • Patent number: 9291988
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus to which a plurality of process cartridges has a safety switch for detecting opening and closing of a front cover, stroke switches for detecting positions of the process cartridges, a display portion and a speaker for notifying a state of the process cartridge, and a control portion. The control portion has a cartridge information notifying function for, when closing of the front cover is detected by the safety switch and the process cartridge is not detected by the stroke switch, notifying information of the process cartridge. Further, the control portion has a cartridge information notifying function for notifying first notification information for replacing the process cartridge, a cartridge moving function for moving the process cartridge by a moving portion, and a cartridge information notification cancelling function for cancelling notification of the first notification information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Eiji Tenjiku, Yasuyuki Ishiguro, Hisashi Kunihiro, Hitoshi Nagahama