Holder Moved Parallel To Plane Of Sheets Patents (Class 271/164)
  • Patent number: 7819398
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Keiichiro Fukumasu
  • Patent number: 7789389
    Abstract: A media dispenser has a delivery module for feeding media, a stacking module for stacking the media, which are fed through the delivery module, on a stacking plate, and a delivery clamp module for clamping the media stacked on the stacking module and delivering the clamped media to the customer, and for feeding the media, which the customer did not take out, to the stacking plate. A path through which the media clamped by the delivery clamp module are fed to a reject box is opened by moving the stacking plate of the stacking module. The method comprises the steps of returning the media onto the stacking plate by a clamp assembly, opening a reject slot by allowing a driving plate to be moved by a driving source and the stacking plate to be moved together with the driving plate, and dropping the media as the clamp assembly unclamps the media through the opened reject slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: LG N-Sys Inc.
    Inventor: Kyung-Ho Ko
  • Patent number: 7758042
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hisayuki Tomura, Kei Sawanaka, Akio Nemoto, Kazushi Nishikata, Masato Suzuki, Atsuya Takahashi, Shotaro Yoshimura, Mitsunari Ito
  • Patent number: 7735822
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichi Aruga, Toshihiro Imae
  • Patent number: 7731170
    Abstract: An open/close mechanism can be used for paper trays of an image forming apparatus. The open/close mechanism includes a plate member provided on a side of a housing of the image forming apparatus and configured to pivot upon an axis between an open position and a close position, and a box member that is arranged in the housing beneath the plate member and that can be drawn out of the housing from the side. The open/close mechanism includes also includes a restricting unit that is coupled to the plate member and that abuts against the box member when the box member is set in the housing and when the plate member is in the open position thereby restricting detachment of the box member from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshikane Nishii, Kazuhiro Wakamatsu, Yasuhide Ohkubo, Ippei Kimura, Mizuna Tanaka, Haruyuki Honda, Masafumi Takahira, Hiroshi Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 7731179
    Abstract: A sheet tray assembly including: (a) a tray unit configured to accommodate sheets, and having an upper opening for allowing the sheets to be introduced into the tray unit via the upper opening; (b) a cover unit configured to cover the upper opening; and (c) a link interconnecting the tray unit and the cover unit, and having (c-1) a first end portion at which the link is connected to the tray unit and (c-2) a second end portion at which the link is connected to a proximal end portion of the cover unit. The link is movable between first and second pivot positions as a result of pivot movement of the link relative to the tray unit, whereby a posture of the link is changeable by the pivot movement, such that the second end portion of the link is placed in a first height level when the link is positioned in the first pivot position, and is placed in a second height level that is higher than the first height level when the link is positioned in the second pivot position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masatoshi Izuchi, Keisuke Wakakusa
  • Patent number: 7731180
    Abstract: A sheet-feeding cassette includes a main body. A locked portion allows the main body to be locked to a locking portion in a cassette accommodating section by inserting the main body in the cassette accommodating section. An unlocking unit is provided for detaching the locked portion from the locking portion when the main body is drawn out of the cassette accommodating section. A handle is provided in the main body and includes fixed and movable grips. The fixed grip has a recess with a “]” shaped cross section open to the insertion direction. The movable grip is slidable to a fitted state in the recess of the fixed grip when the handle is gripped, and a projecting state projecting partially from the recess when gripping is released. The unlocking unit operates for unlocking in accordance with changing of states of the movable grip from the projecting state to the fitted state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Yuzo Ohnishi
  • Patent number: 7722032
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hirobumi Sasaki, Tomoo Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7712988
    Abstract: A sheet feed tray including a regulating wall member being assembled in a displaceable manner with a placing tray, which includes a first tray side engagement portion, and regulating a position of a recording medium such that a wall portion of the regulating wall member contacts with the end portion of the recording medium, a first engagement member being disposed in the regulating wall member and including a first regulating wall member side engagement portion, the first regulating wall member engaging with the first tray side engagement portion regulates a displacement of the regulating wall member, an elastic unit being elastically deformable and generating a force for holding an engaging state between the first tray side engagement portion and the first regulating wall member side engagement portion, an elastic deformation regulating unit regulating a deformation amount of the elastic unit, and releasing operation unit releasing the engaging state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Makoto Hattori
  • Patent number: 7708265
    Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a housing having a cassette housing part recessed horizontally from the front surface toward the depth direction and a sheet feed cassette that can be drawn from the cassette housing part. The sheet feed cassette has an open top for storing sheets of paper. The sheet feeder includes a pressure plate provided pivotably about a first pivot so as to be inclined downwardly toward the depth direction of the sheet feed cassette and a pressure mechanism that presses sheets of paper against a pick-up roller when the sheet feed cassette is pushed into the cassette housing part. The sheet feeder includes a pressure plate regulation mechanism that inclines the pressure plate downwardly toward the depth direction while separating sheets of paper on the pressure plate or the pressure plate from the pick-up roller when the sheet feed cassette is drawn from the cassette housing part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takuro Kusama
  • Patent number: 7708269
    Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a stacking plate, a sheet stacker, and a damping member. The stacking plate is liftably supported in the sheet stacker and is adapted for sheets to be fed into a sheet processing apparatus to be stacked thereon. The sheet stacker is adapted to be movable between a housed position where the stacker is housed in a housing and an exposed position where the stacking plate is exposed outside of the housing. The damping member is adapted to exert on the sheet stacker a damping force according to moving speed of the sheet stacker, thereby limiting the moving speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Nakashima, Toyoaki Nanba
  • Patent number: 7681879
    Abstract: A sheet feeder is provided with a sheet accommodating portion, an elevating plate and an inclining mechanism. The sheet accommodating portion includes a bottom plate and a plurality of side plates provided perpendicular to the bottom plate, and can accommodate a plurality of sheets. The sheets accommodated in the sheet accommodating portion are successively fed to the outside from the uppermost one. The elevating plate is movable upward and downward and used to stack the sheets in the sheet accommodating portion. The inclining mechanism inclines the elevating plate such that the front ends of the sheets with respect to a sheet feeding direction are inclined downward during sheet feeding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Masami Fuchi
  • Patent number: 7677548
    Abstract: A cassette for mounting on an image forming apparatus body and supplying media to the apparatus body. The cassette includes a first tray, a second tray and a slide mechanism. The first tray and second tray are each able to contain multiple media. The slide mechanism allows the trays to be movable relative to each other. The first tray has an oblique surface and a first separation portion, and the second tray has an oblique surface and a second separation portion. Each of the oblique surfaces can separate an uppermost medium from other media such that distal ends of the media during delivery abut against the oblique surface. Each of the first and second separation portions guides the separated medium along the oblique surface in a paper feeding direction. The first separation portion has a different structure than the second separation portion provided for the second tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroki Chino
  • Publication number: 20100059928
    Abstract: A paper supply apparatus for conveying paper to an image forming apparatus has a paper accommodating unit to accommodate paper and to be drawn out from an accommodating space in a main body of the image forming apparatus. The apparatus also has a handle to rotate about an axis extending in the width direction of the paper in the paper accommodating unit. The handle includes a first edge that moves toward the paper accommodating unit upon rotation of the handle and a second edge that opposes the first edge. A link on the first edge of the handle releases engagement with the main body when the first edge moves toward the paper accommodating unit. A flapper is disposed on the second edge of the handle and forms a point where a force acts to move the first edge toward the paper accommodating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: KYOCERA MITA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshio Sugishima
  • Patent number: 7658375
    Abstract: A printer having a sheet tray, a drive for advancing sheets past a marking mechanism, and a picker to remove sheets from an aligned tray includes a load position and a pick position. The trays are selectively moved between the load and pick positions. A transmission is engagable to connect the drive to the tray moving mechanism, whereby the tray is moved between the pick position and the load position by the media sheet advancing drive. The transmission is disengagable to enable advancement of the media sheets without movement of the tray. Starting with both trays in their load positions, one of the trays is moved to its pick position whereat a sheet can be picked; moving the other of the trays to its pick position whereat a sheet of media from each of the trays can be picked; and moving the tray remaining at its pick position from its pick position to its media load position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Randal M. Wong, Juan Belon, Petrica D. Balcan
  • Patent number: 7654515
    Abstract: An image forming device is provided with a device main body, a first cassette, a second cassette that is capable of moving between a first position and a second position with respect to the device main body, a transportation device, and a printing device. The transportation device is capable of transporting a print medium housed in the first cassette in a case where the first cassette is positioned at a predetermined position wit respect to the device main body and the second cassette is positioned at the first position. The transportation device is capable of transporting a print medium housed in the second cassette in a case where the second cassette is positioned at the second position. The printing device prints an image on the print medium transported by the transportation device. A part of the second cassette positioned at the first position and/or the second position is positioned outside the device main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuji Koga
  • Publication number: 20100019444
    Abstract: The sheet processing system includes: an image forming unit forming an image on a sheet; a sheet stack unit that lowers along a moving route, as more sheets are stacked on the sheet stack unit, the sheets each having an image formed by the image forming unit and being transported through a first route; a processing unit provided in a housing, and applying processing to a sheet having an image formed by the image forming unit, the sheet being transported through a second route; a cover member provided so that a part of the housing is openable, partially reaching a position in the moving route when the part is opened, and allowing a user to operate the processing unit by opening the part; and a moving unit moving the sheet stack unit to a position where the sheet stack unit does not interfere with the cover member, upon abnormal transportation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventor: Hidehisa Kitazawa
  • Patent number: 7648135
    Abstract: A body section of an image-forming apparatus accommodates a sheet cassette such that the sheet cassette can be drawn out along a first direction. The sheet cassette has a sheet-position-limiting member. When the sheet cassette is empty of image-recording media, the sheet-position-limiting member is moved in the first direction to a predetermined initial position. When the sheet cassette is drawn out in the first direction, the sheet-position-limiting member moves in a second direction in relation to the sheet cassette. The body section and the sheet cassette are configured such that the sheet-position-limiting member is positioned according to the amount of drawing of the sheet cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryoichi Matsushima
  • Publication number: 20100007081
    Abstract: An assist mechanism aids movement of a retractable unit reciprocally moving between an open and a closed position and includes a pressing device, a stopper mechanism, an engagement member, a catch portion, and a release member. The pressing device presses the retractable unit toward the open position in which the unit is extended. The stopper mechanism controls and releases retraction of the retractable unit to the closed position in which the unit is retracted, and includes a stopper and a blocking member. The engagement member is provided in the retractable unit. The catch portion engages the engagement member. The release member releases a force pulling the retractable unit when the retractable unit is moved to the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Miki
  • Publication number: 20090315254
    Abstract: A connection mechanism connecting a sheet feeding unit, supplying a paper to an image forming apparatus, with the image forming apparatus or other sheet feeding unit, the connection mechanism comprising: a connection member disposed on a frame of the sheet feeding unit and rotatably supported on the frame; and an engaging member disposed on the image forming apparatus or the frame of the other sheet feeding unit, wherein: the connection member is rotated between an engaging position where the connection member engages with the engagement member and a retracting position where the connection member disengages with the engaging member and retracts from the engaging position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Inventors: Seiichi SHIRASAKI, Masahiko MIYAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20090302526
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes: a media tray on which a recording medium is mounted, and which has a rib along an inserting direction into a main body of the recording apparatus, the rib being formed on an opposite surface of the media tray to the recording medium; a feed tray on which the media tray is set, and which has a groove along the inserting direction, the groove being engageable with the rib; and a regulating member which regulates a height from the feed tray when the media tray is inserted into the main body of the recording apparatus. The regulated height is a height that prevents the insertion of the media tray into the main body of the recording apparatus in a state where the rib of the media tray does not engage with the groove of the feed tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasuo Miyauchi
  • Patent number: 7604232
    Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a casing having an engagement portion, and a sheet stacker detachably housed in the casing. The stacker has a liftable stacking plate, a handle, a lock claw, and a transmission mechanism. The plate is provided for loading a plurality of sheets. The handle is pivotable between operational and nonoperational positions. The claw is pivotable between engaged and disengaged positions. In the engaged and disengaged positions, the claw is engaged with, and disengaged from, the engagement portion, respectively. The mechanism has a solenoid and an interlock member. The solenoid has a plunger movable between locking and unlocking positions according to an input driving signal. The member allows, only with the plunger in the unlocking position, the claw to be moved from the engaged position to the disengaged position in association with pivot movement of the handle from the nonoperational position to the operational position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Nakashima, Toyoaki Nanba
  • Publication number: 20090256303
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Inventors: Yuichi Adachi, Yoshiaki Watanabe, Mitsuhiro Nakamura, Yoshiyuki Kitazawa
  • Patent number: 7597317
    Abstract: A recording section includes a recording head operable to record information on a first medium and a second medium. A first stacker has a first face and a second face, and is movable between a first position and a second position. A stacker position changer is operable to move the first stacker placed in the first position in a first direction, and then to move a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, thereby placing the first stacker in the second position. The first face is adapted to receive the first medium conveyed from the recoding section in the first direction, when the first stacker is placed in the first position. The second face is adapted to guide the first medium and the second medium conveyed to the recording section in a third direction opposite to the first direction, and to receive the first medium and the second medium conveyed from the recording section in the first direction, when the first stacker is placed in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yasumichi Okuda
  • Patent number: 7591463
    Abstract: A media support apparatus for a media cassette of an automatic media dispenser includes a base plate having a guide piece which is provided with a guide slot. A link mechanism has at least one connection pin, which is moved along the guide slot, and two connection link plates, the height of which, relative to the base plate, can be adjusted. A media seat is seated on each connection link plate. The horizontal spacing between the media seats can be adjusted. The apparatus is advantageous in that a single media cassette can be adapted to supply media of various sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: LG N-Sys Inc.
    Inventor: Joong-Ho An
  • Patent number: 7584950
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a print part; a feeding part; a first sheet feeding tray; and a second sheet feeding tray. The first sheet feeding tray stores a sheet of a first size therein, the feeding part feeding the sheet of the first size from the first sheet feeding tray to the print part in a sheet feeding direction. The second sheet feeding tray is mounted on the first sheet feeding tray and stores a sheet of a second size smaller than the first size therein, the feeding part feeding the sheet of the second size from the second sheet feeding tray to the print part in the sheet feeding direction, the second sheet feeding tray receiving a sheet printed by the print part and discharged in a direction opposite to the sheet feeding direction. The second sheet feeding tray has a pair of side guides which are provided in parallel to the sheet feeding direction and which contact against side ends of the sheet of the second side to guide the sheet of the second side to the print part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuo Asada, Yukio Shiohara
  • Publication number: 20090194935
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a paper feed cassette device to be removably installed to image recording device. The paper feed cassette device includes a paper feed cassette portion and a paper discharge tray portion that receives the recording media. The paper feed cassette portion has a first paper feed cassette portion and a second paper feed cassette portion that selectively contracts and extends by sliding along a particular direction. The paper discharge tray portion has a first paper discharge tray portion disposed above the first paper feed cassette portion and a second paper discharge tray portion that selectively contracts and expands by sliding along the particular direction. The second paper discharge tray portion selectively engages the second paper feed cassette portion, and the second paper feed cassette portion and the second paper discharge tray portion integrally slide with respect to the first paper discharge tray portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keisuke Wakakusa, Masatoshi Izuchi
  • Publication number: 20090166956
    Abstract: A sheet feed device includes a sheet tray and a guide unit. The sheet tray is configured to store a recording medium including a recording sheet. The guide unit is configured to support detachably the sheet tray. The guide unit includes a rotary member that is configured to contact an outer bottom surface of the sheet tray while contacting an outer side surface of the sheet tray, and rotate with mounting and detachment of the sheet tray. An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing a latent image on a surface thereof, an exposure unit for exposing the image bearing member to form the latent image, a developing unit for developing the latent image with toner to form a visible image, a transfer unit for transferring the visible image onto the recording medium, and the sheet feed device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kajiyama
  • Patent number: 7552920
    Abstract: A paper feed cassette capable of obtaining a printed material without a margin portion easily while inhibiting the number of components from increase. This paper feed cassette includes a paper feed cassette body storing a paper and a cover member detachably mounted on the paper feed cassette body. The cover member is integrally formed with a press portion pressing a margin portion of the paper when the margin portion of the paper having been printed is cut off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Morinaga
  • Patent number: 7549633
    Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes sheet accommodating means for accommodating a sheet, the sheet accommodating means being detachably mountable to the apparatus; feeding means for feeding the sheet from the sheet accommodating means; press-contact means for press-contacting the sheet in the sheet accommodating means to the feeding means; a guiding member for guiding the sheet accommodating means such that sheet accommodated in the sheet accommodating means is not contacted to the feeding means when the sheet accommodating means is mounted to the apparatus; moving means for moving the guiding member to bring the sheet into contact to the feeding means after the sheet accommodating means is mounted to the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Nishitani, Gen Kitamura
  • Patent number: 7547013
    Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus, having detachable and attachable sheet trays, a linkage mechanism between the sheet feeding apparatus and the sheet tray, and that can attach the sheet tray to the sheet feeding apparatus with a reduced force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Taizo Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 7547011
    Abstract: A burden on a user when changing sheets such as with an ink jet printer and the like is reduced, and the necessary stack space is secured without considering the step difference up to the mounting surface of an ejected paper tray worth of the amount of curls for sheets that easily curls such as post cards and the like. Thus, enlargement of the apparatus and increase in the manufacturing cost are suppressed, and is easily adopted for low cost type for mass consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuji Kurata, Kosuke Yamamoto, Junichi Yoshikawa, Yasuyuki Hirai, Yoshitaka Okamura
  • Patent number: 7487961
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichi Aruga, Toshihiro Imae
  • Patent number: 7484726
    Abstract: A sheet feeding device is adapted to be placed beside a sheet processing apparatus by being lifted on a side close to the sheet processing apparatus for engagement with the sheet processing apparatus. The sheet feeding device includes a housing, casters, and an elastic member. The housing stores therein sheets to be supplied to the sheet processing apparatus. Provided for supporting the housing, the casters are mounted on a bottom portion of the housing and include a first caster and a second caster. The first caster is located close to the sheet processing apparatus so as to be movable upward and downward. The second caster is located far from the sheet processing apparatus. The elastic member applies a downward force to the first caster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Susumu Hashimoto, Hidetoshi Kaneko, Toshiki Ohgita, Jinichi Nagata, Yoshitaka Matsumoto, Hideo Yoshikawa, Kouzou Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20090026694
    Abstract: The paper feeding cassette 10 has the cassette frame 10 for loading and storing paper, and the width-wise cursor 20 which is disposed in the cassette frame 10 and movably carries out the positioning of paper in the paper-width direction intersecting at right angles with the paper feeding direction, and can be pulled out from a machine main body. Provided are the plurality of engagement holes 14 formed in the cassette frame 10 corresponding to a paper width, the through-holes 23 formed through the width-wise cursor 20, and the lock pins 40 which engage with the engagement holes 14 via the through-holes 23 to prevent the width-wise cursor 20 from deviating in the paper-width direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventor: Keiji Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 7481425
    Abstract: A paper feed cassette to be inserted into a paper feed port of an image-forming apparatus includes a bottom case, a top cover, a catch tray, and a connecting mechanism. The main case has a paper extraction port from which the pre-printed paper is fed to the paper feed port. The top cover slides relative to the main cover from a closed position to an open position to open the paper extraction port as the main case is inserted into the paper feed port. As the top cover slides toward the open position, the connecting mechanism pivots the catch tray from a flat position to a raised position. An upper surface of the catch tray and an upper surface of the cover member together form a bent-shaped printed paper receiving surface when the catch tray is in the raised position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koichi Chikumoto
  • Publication number: 20090001657
    Abstract: A sheet-feeding device includes a sheet-feeding cassette with a sheet holding surface for holding a sheet. A side wall extends up from the sheet holding surface. A sheet-restricting plate is in the cassette on a downstream side in the sheet-feeding direction for setting a position of the sheet in a width direction perpendicular to the sheet-feeding direction. A cassette accommodating section accommodates the sheet-feeding cassette drawably in a direction parallel to the sheet-feeding direction. A projection is on an upstream side in the sheet-feeding direction from the position of the sheet-restricting plate. The projection is formed by partially projecting the side wall of the cassette upward. A height of the projection exceeds a maximum height of a sheet stack that can be accommodated in the cassette, and a height of parts of the side wall other than the projection is lower than the maximum height of the sheet stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7469891
    Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus, which comprises a sheet feed cassette adapted to be insertingly mounted in a sheet feed section of an apparatus body in such a manner that it can be pulled out frontward, a cover member attached to an upper edge of an opening which is formed in a rear portion of the apparatus body to allow a rear portion of the sheet feed cassette mounted in the sheet feed section to protrude rearward therefrom, and adapted such that, when the rear portion of the sheet feed cassette is located to protrude from the opening, it covers an upper surface of the protruded rear portion of the sheet feed cassette, and a noise absorbing material attached onto a surface of the cover member adapted to be located in opposed relation to the sheet feed cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Satoru Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7469892
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which a sheet containing device containing a sheet is detachably attached to a containing portion provided in an apparatus main body includes an engagement portion provided on the sheet containing device, a drawing device provided in the containing portion to be rotatable using one end thereof as a pivot, and a guide device which, when the drawing device rotates to draw the sheet containing device, guides a movement of the engagement portion in a drawing direction. The guide device is composed of a linear portion parallel to a direction in which the sheet containing device is inserted, and a curved portion provided on a downstream side of the linear portion with respect to a direction in which the sheet containing device is attached, the curved portion being curved not to extend away from the pivot of the drawing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaki Iwase, Yasuhiro Uchida, Minoru Kawanishi, Akira Matsushima
  • Patent number: 7455289
    Abstract: A paper feeder includes: a first paper feed cassette in which to store a recording medium with a lock state; a locking portion that determines whether to bring the lock state of the first paper feed cassette into the unlocked state or the locked state; a second paper feed cassette in which to store a recording medium, capable of selectively entering an unlocked state and a locked state; and a lock state transmitting portion that transmits the lock state of the first paper feed cassette to the second paper feed cassette to bring the second paper feed cassette into the unlocked state or the locked state in accordance with the lock state of the first paper feed cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Ito
  • Patent number: 7431287
    Abstract: The subject invention provides a sheet feeding device which can be easily attached to an image forming apparatus. The sheet feeding device includes an adapting part and a lock section. When the sheet feeding device is attached to the image forming apparatus, the adapting part is hooked to a catch section provided in the image forming apparatus. Then, the sheet feeding device is lifted up by the adapting part, which serves as a fulcrum, so as to attach lock section to an attachment board of the image forming apparatus. In this method, it is not necessary to lift up the entire body of the sheet feeding device, and therefore the sheet feeding device can be installed on the image forming apparatus with a little effort. After installation, the sheet feeding device transfers recording sheets to the image forming apparatus via a sheet feeding opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeki Hayashi, Toshiki Ohgita, Jinichi Nagata, Kiyoshi Tokishige, Naofumi Okada, Masaki Saka, Toyoaki Nanba
  • Publication number: 20080237972
    Abstract: A sheet-feeding cassette includes a main body. A locked portion allows the main body to be locked to a locking portion in a cassette accommodating section by inserting the main body in the cassette accommodating section. An unlocking unit is provided for detaching the locked portion from the locking portion when the main body is drawn out of the cassette accommodating section. A handle is provided in the main body and includes fixed and movable grips. The fixed grip has a recess with a “]” shaped cross section open to the insertion direction. The movable grip is slidable to a fitted state in the recess of the fixed grip when the handle is gripped, and a projecting state projecting partially from the recess when gripping is released. The unlocking unit operates for unlocking in accordance with changing of states of the movable grip from the projecting state to the fitted state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: KYOCERA MITA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuzo Ohnishi
  • Patent number: 7416181
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus in which an automatic double-side unit 81 is provided free to open and close on the side of an apparatus body 1a, and a manual paper feeding device 61 is provide adjacent to the automatic double-side unit. And, there are provided manual moving mechanisms 75, 86, 86a for moving the manual paper feeding device in a direction away from the side of the apparatus body in association with opening operation of the automatic double-side unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Reiji Murakami, Masahiro Kodo
  • Patent number: 7404555
    Abstract: A tray positioning mechanism S contacts one of a paper feed tray 2 and a main apparatus body as the paper feed tray 2 is attached to a tray receiver 52, to restrict movement in an attaching direction of the paper feed tray 2. The tray positioning mechanism S is attached to the other of the paper feed tray 2 and the main apparatus body. The tray positioning mechanism S includes a fixed member Sf fixed to the other of the paper feed tray 2 and the main apparatus body, and a contact member St having a contact portion Sh. The fixed member Sf and contact member St are relatively movably connected to each other. At least one of the fixed member Sf and the contact member St has a plurality of reaction force receiving surfaces Ss formed continuously for receiving a contact reaction force of the tray positioning mechanism S when the fixed member Sf and the contact member St are in contact with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Satoru Yonemoto
  • Publication number: 20080111295
    Abstract: A paper feeder includes a guide surface arranged on a paper feed cassette and a roller arranged on a cassette storage unit. When the paper feed cassette is moved along a storing direction thereof inside the cassette storage unit, the guide surface placed on the roller is slidably moved by rotation of the roller. In the paper feeder, since the cassette storage portion includes a placement surface on which the guide surface is placed by surface contact at a storage position where the paper feed cassette is stored in the cassette storage unit, the stored paper feed cassette can be maintained in a stable condition, and oscillation of the paper feed cassette generated when the papers are transported can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Applicant: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi TANAKA, Hideatsu SHIMAMOTO
  • Patent number: 7360760
    Abstract: A paper tray for use with a printer. The paper tray includes a sidewall, a door plate, a rotating member and a resilient element. The sidewall has a through hole. The door plate pivots on the sidewall and rotates around an X-axis. The rotating member is disposed in the through hole and pivots on the sidewall. The rotating member has an engagement portion and selectively rotates between a first position and a second position around a Y-axis. The resilient element is disposed between the rotating member and the sidewall, providing resilience to the rotating member to rotate to the first position. The rotating member rotates to the second position when exerted to overcome the resilience. The rotating member rotates to the first position by the resilience in the absence of external pressure, such that the engagement portion abuts the door plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: BENQ Corporation
    Inventor: Nien-Chin Lin
  • Patent number: 7300050
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus in which an automatic double-side unit 81 is provided free to open and close on the side of an apparatus body 1a, and a manual paper feeding device 61 is provide adjacent to the automatic double-side unit. And, there are provided manual moving mechanisms 75, 86, 86a for moving the manual paper feeding device in a direction away from the side of the apparatus body in association with opening operation of the automatic double-side unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Reiji Murakami, Masahiro Kodo
  • Publication number: 20070182089
    Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus to which a cassette accommodating a sheet is detachably mountable includes supplying means for supplying the sheet from the cassette; a reference member having a reference surface for regulating a position of a lateral edge of the sheet being fed in a predetermined feeding direction by the supplying means; feeding means for feeding the sheet in a direction inclined relative to the feeding direction toward the reference surface to abut the lateral edge of the sheet to the reference surface; and moving means for selectively moving the reference member in response to mounting of the cassette such that reference member is placed at a position corresponding to a width of the sheet accommodated in the cassette.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideki Kawashima, Hitoshi Nishitani
  • Patent number: 7165767
    Abstract: Dispenser modules include structure permitting their securement in stacked and aligned relation. The dispenser modules can contain sheet media such as notes and other items. The dispenser modules can be used in an automated banking machine operative to dispense multiple types of sheet media. Modules include a projection plate and a biasing latch arm on side walls thereof. The projection plate includes a pin adapted to be received in a side wall slot. A first module is locked to a second module through a first module latch preventing movement of a second module pin from a first module slot. Disassembly of the locked modules can occur with compressing of the latch to release the modules relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Diebold Self-Service Systems a division of Diebold, Incorporated
    Inventors: H. Thomas Graef, Michael S. Johnson, Michael Harty, Jonathan M. Peritt, Ken Kontor
  • Patent number: 7086644
    Abstract: A media cartridge for a printer has a connector for connecting to the printer and a media storage volume in which sheets of media are stored. A manually operated slider ejects one sheet at a time through an outlet to an input slot of the printer. The printer then draws the sheet past a printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Simon Robert Walmsley