With Means To Restrain Feed Of Next Sheet Patents (Class 271/167)
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Patent number: 8403322Abstract: A sheet feed device includes: a sheet accommodation unit; a separation roller that applies conveyance force to sheets; and a separation resistance body including a friction portion facing the separation roller for separating the sheets one at a time. The sheet accommodation unit includes a guide portion provided at an upstream of the separation roller in a sheet feed direction for guiding the sheet. The separation resistance body includes an extension portion, which is pressed toward the separation roller while being supported to be contacted/separated to/from the separation roller, and which is extended upstream in the sheet feed direction from an upstream end portion of the separation resistance body. The guide portion and the extension portion are arranged in a line in a width direction. An upstream end portion of the extension portion is retreated with regard to a guide surface of the guide portion when feeding the sheets.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2010Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yasuyuki Otsuki
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Patent number: 8398073Abstract: An automatic document feeder includes a sheet pick-up module and a floating shock-absorbing structure. The floating shock-absorbing structure is arranged at a feeding entrance. The sheet pick-up module includes a sheet pick-up roller and a sheet separation roller. When the sheet pick-up module is rotated to a sheet feeding position, the sheet pick-up roller is contacted with the floating shock-absorbing structure to feed the sheet into the internal portion of the automatic document feeder. By the floating shock-absorbing structure, the possibility of causing excessive shock and noise when the sheet pick-up arm strikes the feeding entrance will be minimized or eliminated.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2010Date of Patent: March 19, 2013Assignee: Primax Electronics, Ltd.Inventors: Wei-Hsun Hsu, Wen-An Huang
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Patent number: 8371573Abstract: A feeding device includes a tray for stacking sheet-like conveyance-target media, a first pressing unit, and a second pressing unit. The first and second pressing units face and apply a first and second pressing force, respectively, on a circumferential surface of a pick roller so that a first contact area and a second contact area overlap each other. The first pressing unit includes a first pressing unit separation roller, and the first contact area is defined wherein the first pressing unit and the pick roller make contact with each other. The second contact area is defined wherein the second pressing unit and the pick roller make contact with each other such that the first contact area and the second contact appear to partly overlap each other when viewed from an axial direction of the pick roller.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2011Date of Patent: February 12, 2013Assignee: PFU LimitedInventors: Shuichi Morikawa, Masao Takayama, Hideyuki Okumura
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Patent number: 8360417Abstract: This invention relates to an input tray media de-slouch apparatus, comprising; an input media tray, at least one pivotable media de-slouch arm operatively connected to the tray, and a releasable locking means operatively connected to the arm and the tray to lock the arm prior to media being placed against the arm to substantially keep the media from slouching and to release the arm when the media is being fed from the input tray.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2005Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Eng Long Goh, Mark Sutherland, Minh Duong, Danny Codd
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Publication number: 20130020754Abstract: A sheet separator and apparatus utilizing the same for separating media sheets in an image forming device. The apparatus includes a supporting member for supporting a stack of media sheets, a pick assembly to pick media sheets and to feed the media sheets to a processing assembly of the image forming device, and a media dam having at least one sheet separator. Each sheet separator includes a casing inclined at a predetermined angle to the supporting member, a biasing member and a base member slidable within the casing. A plurality of detents in the form of steps or teeth are provided on a sheet receiving surface of the base member and the biasing member act to separate a top most media sheet from an adjacent media sheet to prevent double feeding of media sheets.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2011Publication date: January 24, 2013Inventor: John Anthony Schmidt
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Patent number: 8356810Abstract: A transport device includes a stopper which comes into contact with a target ahead of a guide surface of a guide member and regulates movement of the target and a slider which slides by contact of the target with the stopper. The stopper has a first regulation surface with which the target comes into contact ahead of the guide surface of the guide member, and a second regulation surface which regulates the movement of the target which moves along the first regulation surface. A damper mechanism is connected to the slider and has a damper force that weakens kinetic energy by the target that the stopper receives.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2011Date of Patent: January 22, 2013Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Sho Aruga, Kiichiro Kanbe, Yosaku Tamura
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Patent number: 8322706Abstract: A medium transport device includes a transport unit for transporting a medium, and a guide member disposed on a downstream side of the transport unit in a direction that the medium is transported. The guide member includes a first portion corresponding to the transport unit and a second portion having a shape different from that of the first portion.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2007Date of Patent: December 4, 2012Assignee: Oki Data CorporationInventor: Takahiro Sunohara
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Publication number: 20120261878Abstract: A paper delivering device includes a delivering module and a detecting module. The delivering module includes a paper tray for supporting at least one paper, at least one roller attached on the paper tray for delivering the at least one paper, and a blocking member pivotably attached to the paper tray. The detecting module detects whether the at least one paper is placed in a position predetermined as correct. The blocking member is locked at a first position to prevent the sliding movement of the at least one paper when the at least one paper is not placed at the predetermined position, or may be rotated to a second position to allow the forward movement of the at least one paper when the at least one paper is correctly placed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2011Publication date: October 18, 2012Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.Inventor: KUO-MING LAI
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Patent number: 8267396Abstract: A sheet feed device has a tray with holding surface for holding sheets, a feed unit for feeding sheets from the tray, and a separation plate. The separation plate has an inclined surface and two or more separation portions that separate a sheet from the sheets held in the tray. At least one of the separation portions projects a first distance from the inclined surface. The separation plate also has a projection positioned on the inclined surface that projects a second distance from the inclined surface. The second distance is greater than the first distance. A first of the separation portions is positioned upstream of the particular projection in the sheet feed direction, and a second of the separation portions positioned downstream of the particular projection in the sheet feed direction.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2011Date of Patent: September 18, 2012Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tetsuo Asada, Yukio Shiohara
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Patent number: 8256761Abstract: A multi-axis moveable sheet separator for separating media sheets on a media dam having a mount having a plurality of pairs of opposed openings and a spring mount. The sheet separator comprises a spring mounted on the spring mount and a base including a sheet receiving surface having a plurality of lateral detents. Depending from the base are a first plurality of pairs of opposed legs and a second plurality of pairs of opposed legs that are shorter than the first plurality of pairs of opposed leg. When mounted in the media dam, the base compresses the spring. The moveable sheet separator may move with respect to a media receiving surface of the media dam in one of a translational direction, a rotational direction or a combination of both.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2011Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventor: William Scott Klein
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Publication number: 20120193865Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a holding unit that holds a recorded recording medium in a standing posture, a roller that sends the recording medium to the holding unit, and a restricting unit that restricts the position of the recording medium not to be in contact with the roller.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2012Publication date: August 2, 2012Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Sanshiro Takeshita, Takehiko Saito, Hidenao Suzuki, Hiroyuki Yoda
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Patent number: 8226083Abstract: A recording target medium feeding apparatus includes a body having a switching section and a feeding section that feeds a recording target medium. A recording target media cassette that receives the recording target media has an inner wall facing the leading edge of the recording target medium and switches between first and second states. In the first state, the inner wall has a predetermined angle with respect to a bottom surface of the recording target media cassette. In the second state, the inner wall has a steeper angle of inclination. In the first state, the inner wall separates the uppermost of the recording target media from a second recording target medium. In the second state, the inner wall contacts the leading edge of the recording target media loaded in the recording target media cassette and sets the leading edge of the recording target media at a uniform edge position.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2010Date of Patent: July 24, 2012Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Kenji Yanagishita
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Patent number: 8196918Abstract: A feed assembly including: feed roller; support element for supporting feed roller; separating mechanism for facilitating separation of first and second sheets; and base with guide surface for guiding sheets and positioning wall for positioning separating mechanism; wherein engaging portion for engaging with separating mechanism is formed in positioning wall; separating mechanism includes: separator for separating sheets; first biasing element including first and second ends; seat including first and second walls; positioning element installed on first wall to be moved between first and second positions; and shifter for shifting positioning element; first biasing element biases separator; shifter holds positioning element in first position; and when feed roller is removed from support element, shifter moves positioning element to second position.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2010Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Assignee: Kyocera Mita CorporationInventors: Shingo Arimura, Mashio Takezawa
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Patent number: 8186671Abstract: A sheet cassette includes a cassette main body, an intermediate plate, a pressure spring, and a first rear end restriction member provided slidably along a sheet feeding direction and restricting a rear end of a sheet. The sheet cassette also includes a second rear end restriction member provided slidably in the first rear end restriction member along the sheet feeding direction and restricting the rear end of the sheet. The first rear end restriction member includes a first height restriction portion restricting a height of a sheet of a predetermined size loaded in the cassette main body to a first height. The second rear end restriction member includes a second height restriction portion restricting a height of a sheet of a size smaller than the predetermined size loaded in the cassette main body to a second height smaller than the first height.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2009Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tatsuo Nishiyama
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Patent number: 8177221Abstract: A sheet separation device includes a separation member having a plurality of first separation portions that separate fed sheets one by one, and a turning member having an inclined surface, holes formed therethrough, and a plurality of second separation portions. The inclined surface is positioned to contact the fed sheets and turn a transport direction of the sheets. The plurality of holes are arranged along a first direction that is a transport direction of the sheets. The plurality of second separation portions contact the fed sheets and separate them one by one. Each of the second separation portions is positioned between a corresponding two holes, and each of the first separation portions is positioned to protrude from a corresponding one of the holes.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2010Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Keisuke Wakakusa, Kenji Samoto
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Publication number: 20120104688Abstract: A method for determining the amount of media sheets in a media tray in an image forming device according to one embodiment includes raising a lift plate supporting a stack of media sheets toward a pick mechanism for feeding the media sheets by rotation of a motor in a first direction. An amount of rotation of the motor in the first direction is determined. An indication of an amount of media sheets remaining in the media tray is provided based on the determined amount of rotation of the motor in the first direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2010Publication date: May 3, 2012Inventors: Brian Allen Blair, Dustin Daniel Fichter, Derek Masami Inouye, Kevin Schoedinger, Jeffrey Lawrence Tonges, Edward Lynn Triplett
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Patent number: 8167299Abstract: A sheet feeder is provided with a storing section for storing transfer sheets, a feed roller for feeding the transfer sheets stored in the storing section one by one from the uppermost one; a separation roller arranged to face the feed roller; a transport roller arranged downstream of the feed roller in a transport direction; and a transfer sheet guide for guiding the transfer sheet to the transport roller, wherein the transfer sheet guide includes a guide face formed to extend from the storing section along the transport direction of the transfer sheet on or in a vicinity of an extension of a line tangent to the feed roller and the transport roller on the side of transporting the transfer sheet, the guide face being formed in an area between the storing section and the separation roller.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2008Date of Patent: May 1, 2012Assignee: Kyocera Mita CorporationInventor: Seiichi Shirasaki
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Patent number: 8162312Abstract: A sheet pick-up device of an automatic document feeder is provided. The sheet pick-up device includes a two-way clutch transmission mechanism, a sheet pick-up arm, a stopper and a linking assembly. When the two-way clutch transmission mechanism is operated to have the sheet pick-up arm move to a standby position, the stopper is moved with the linking assembly to be in a stopping position. Whereas, when the two-way clutch transmission mechanism is operated to have the sheet pick-up arm move to a sheet pick-up position, the stopper is in a non-stopping position. The sheet pick-up device has enhanced operating stability.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2010Date of Patent: April 24, 2012Assignee: Primax Electronics Ltd.Inventors: Tung-Wen Tu, Jian Zeng, Jian-Gju Yu
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Patent number: 8152155Abstract: An envelope feed apparatus comprises a main body having a bottom; top (located opposite the bottom); and sides (located between the bottom and the top). The main body top has a flat surface that supports, for example, a stack of envelopes. The envelope feed apparatus also has a slider that includes sides contacting at least two of the main body sides. The slider sides move in a parallel direction to the main body sides as the slider moves relative to the main body. The slider has at least one roller connected to opposing slider sides. The roller(s) are positioned adjacent the main body top. The roller(s) move in a perpendicular direction to the flat surface of the main body top as the slider moves relative to the main body. The roller(s) contact the stack of envelopes when the stack of envelopes is on the flat surface of the main body top and apply pressure to the stack of envelopes in the perpendicular direction toward the flat surface of the main body top.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2011Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Samuel Seok Jae Jeong, Ian Joseph Frank
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Patent number: 8146912Abstract: A recording media separating device that separates recording media fed by a feeding roller and a hopper into a top recording medium and next-to-top recording media is provided. The recording media have been held in a feeding tray before being fed. The recording media separating device includes a movable contact separator having a movable contact separation surface that contacts leading ends of the recording media. When the number of the recording media held in the feeding tray becomes less than a predetermined number, the movable contact separation surface of the movable contact separator is moved to a separation position in a transportation path for the recording media.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2008Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Masamitsu Shimazu
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Patent number: 8141866Abstract: A paper feeding device having a paper cassette configured to support a plurality of the papers in a stacked manner, a separating bevel having an inclined plane inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to a supporting surface of the paper cassette and configured to separate the paper coming into abutment with the inclined plane, a pickup roller configured to feed the paper toward the separating bevel by coming into contact with the topmost paper from among the papers supported by the paper cassette and being rotated thereon, and a space forming unit configured to form a space S for letting part of the paper to escape in the feeding direction on part of the inclined plane in the area opposing the pickup roller in the feeding direction is employed.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2011Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Soshi Okawa, Akira Nemura, Hiroyuki Sugimoto, Sho Aruga
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Patent number: 8128083Abstract: An automated banking machine (10) includes a sheet picking mechanism (210). The sheet picking mechanism includes a rotatable picking member (212). With each rotation an end sheet (266) can be picked from a stack (264) of sheets. The picking member (212) has an outer surface section that includes a high friction portion (256) axially adjacent to a low friction portion (258). The low friction portion comprises an arcuate projecting portion that reduces risk of damage to a leading edge area of the end sheet due to opposed picking and stripping forces.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2007Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: Diebold Self-Service Systems division of Diebold, IncorporatedInventors: H. Thomas Graef, Kenneth C. Kontor, Michael Harty, Brian Jones
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Publication number: 20120049440Abstract: Disclosed is a paper mixing preventing apparatus which prevents a paper sheet stacked on a paper buffering unit, a paper arranging unit, or a stacker tray on a paper feeing path and a succeeding feeding sheet from being out of sequence. A lower unit and an upper unit are installed between a stacked paper sheet and the succeeding paper sheet. A pressing plate of the upper unit and the support plate of the lower unit move, so the support plate of the lower unit is rotated together with the pressing plate to prevent the succeeding paper sheet from being damaged. The associated movements of the lower unit and the upper unit are released at a position where the pressing plate of the upper unit is moved, and the lower unit primarily returns to its initial state and the upper unit returns to its initial state subsequently.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2011Publication date: March 1, 2012Inventor: Kijo JUNG
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Patent number: 8113505Abstract: Disclosed herein are a paper feeding device and an image forming apparatus capable a convenient removal a paper jammed between a pickup unit and a multi-sheet feeding prevention unit. The multi-sheet feeding prevention unit may be moveable in cooperation with a detachable paper cassette such that the multi-sheet feeding prevention member supported on the moveable multi-sheet feeding prevention unit moves toward and away from the pickup unit so that the pressing force between the pickup unit and the multi-sheet feeding prevention unit may be released to allow the jammed paper to be removed.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2009Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Jin Soo Lee
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Patent number: 8109502Abstract: An open/close mechanism of a media feed path for feeding a sheet medium from a media insertion unit allowing for a reduced parts count and minimal installation space is disclosed. In an embodiment, an open/close lever and paper pressure member of a check feeding device pivot horizontally on first and second vertical support shafts. When the pressure member pivots and presses against the delivery roller, the back end of the lever is pushed by the pressure member, pivoting the lever thereby retracting the front end of the lever from the check feed path. Because the lever is urged in a pivot direction causing the front end to enter the check feed path, when the paper pressure member returns to the position not pressed against the delivery roller, the open/close lever pivots in this urging direction returning to the position where the front end closes the check feed path.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2010Date of Patent: February 7, 2012Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Shogo Mizuyama
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Publication number: 20120001381Abstract: A damper member moves a stopper after a delay in time from a restricting position, at which the stopper restricts the movement of paper, to a releasing position, at which the restriction on the movement is released; the damper member includes a base having a first sliding surface along the paper movement direction and also includes a slider, having a second sliding surface facing the first sliding surface through a viscous material, that slides between a first position at which the stopper is placed at the restricting position and a second position at which the stopper is placed at the releasing position; when at least the slider slides and reaches the first position or the second position, a clearance area is formed in the base to store a viscous material, at a position corresponding to the front end in the sliding direction of the slider.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2011Publication date: January 5, 2012Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Yu Shinagawa, Hiroki Chino
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Patent number: 8087662Abstract: A sheet feeder, including: a holding portion for holding sheets; a sheet supply portion; an inclined member disposed downstream of the holding portion and having an inclined surface for guiding each sheet in a sheet feed direction along the inclined surface; a plurality of first separation protrusions provided on and integrally with the inclined member and arranged in the sheet feed direction, each first separation protrusion protruding from the inclined surface such that its distal end is located more downstream in the sheet feed direction than its proximal end; and a plurality of second separation protrusions formed of a metal, each second separation protrusion protruding from the inclined surface through a corresponding one of openings formed in the inclined member at a position in the sheet feed direction between corresponding adjacent two of the first separation protrusions, the second separation protrusions being arranged in the sheet feed direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2010Date of Patent: January 3, 2012Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tetsuo Asada, Keisuke Wakakusa
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Patent number: 8087663Abstract: A sheet feeder, including: a holding portion for holding sheets; a sheet supply portion; an inclined member having an inclined surface for guiding each sheet in a sheet feed direction along the inclined surface; a first separation protrusion provided integrally on the inclined member so as to protrude from the inclined surface such that its distal end is located more downstream in the sheet feed direction than its proximal end; a plurality of second separation protrusions formed of a metal and disposed more upstream in the sheet feed direction than the first separation protrusion, each second separation protrusion protruding from the inclined surface through a corresponding one of openings formed in the inclined member, the second separation protrusions being arranged in the sheet feed direction; and a fixing member by which the second separation protrusions are fixed to the inclined member on a surface thereof opposite to the inclined surface.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2010Date of Patent: January 3, 2012Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tetsuo Asada, Satoru Nakakita
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Patent number: 8079584Abstract: An improved document feeder flag assembly is disclosed. The improved document feeder flag assembly allows single handed, on the fly loading of a document sorter. A method for loading a document sorting machine with a single hand, while the method of operating the machine is also disclosed. The document feeder flag assembly includes a baseplate and a pivot post attached to the baseplate. Further, the assembly includes a flag arm having a first side and a second side, the first side of the flag arm is attached to the pivot post. There is also a feeder flag having a first side and a second side, the first side of the feeder flag being attached to a second side of the flag arm. The document feeder flag assembly also includes a resistance device attached between the feeder flag and the flag arm.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2009Date of Patent: December 20, 2011Assignee: Burroughs Payment Systems, Inc.Inventor: David B. Tratar
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Patent number: 8047534Abstract: A sheet accommodating device including: a tray configured to accommodate a sheet; and a pressing member configured to press the sheet accommodated in the tray, wherein the pressing member includes a guide portion configured to guide, where the sheet accommodated in the tray is transferred, the transferred sheet toward a downstream side in a sheet transferring direction in which the sheet is transferred.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2009Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Wataru Sugiyama, Takashi Ohama, Naokazu Tanahashi, Noriyuki Kawamata, Yuta Uchino
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Publication number: 20110241286Abstract: A feeding device includes a body having a sheet placement surface on which a sheet that is to be fed is placed; a cover rotatably provided at the body and supporting a back edge portion in a feeding direction of the sheet placed on the sheet placement surface when the cover is open; a moving member provided at the sheet placement surface so as to be movable in a direction parallel to the feeding direction; a linking member extending in a movement direction of the moving member from the moving member, one end portion thereof being rotatably linked to the moving member using a rotary shaft that is parallel to a rotary shaft of the cover; and a sheet back-edge regulating member provided at the linking member so as to be movable in the movement direction, and regulating a back edge in the feeding direction of the sheet.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2010Publication date: October 6, 2011Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.Inventor: Satoru ISHII
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Patent number: 7988143Abstract: A sheet feeder comprising: a cassette; a feed roller; a sloping separation plate provided on a downstream side of the cassette in a sheet feeding direction; and a separation member that includes a first separation claw and second separation claw, the first separation claw being closer a bottom surface of the cassette than the second separation claw, the separation member and the feed roller cooperating with each other to separate and feed the sheets, sheet by sheet; wherein the sloping separation plate has openings so as to allow distal projecting portions of the first separation claw and second separation claw to project through the sloping separation plate, respectively, and wherein, a first angle formed between the distal projecting portion of the first separation claw and the sloping separation plate is larger than a second angle formed between the distal projecting portion of the second separation claw and the sloping separation plate.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2008Date of Patent: August 2, 2011Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tetsuo Asada, Yukio Shiohara
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Patent number: 7980551Abstract: Provided is a feed device including: a loading unit in which a plurality of recording mediums is loaded in a stacked state; a delivery mechanism which has a first outer circumferential surface set such that friction force with the recording mediums is greater than friction force generated among the plurality of recording mediums when a feed operation is performed in a state of being in contact with the recording mediums and a second outer circumferential surface having a hardness higher than that of the first outer circumferential surface, and which performs the feed operation in a state in which at least the first outer circumferential is in contact with an uppermost recording medium of the recording mediums loaded on the loading unit so as to deliver the recording medium in a feed direction; a gate member and a gate energizing member.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2009Date of Patent: July 19, 2011Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Satoshi Kobayashi
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Patent number: 7980554Abstract: A friction backup roller assembly for a peripheral device, comprising an auto-compensating mechanism having a pick tire at one end, a media tray disposed adjacent to the auto-compensating mechanism, a backup roller extending through an aperture in the media tray, the backup roller having a tire, the auto-compensating mechanism pivotally positioned for engagement and disengagement of the pick tire with the backup roller, and a biasing element acting on the backup roller.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2006Date of Patent: July 19, 2011Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Dean Alan Eltzroth, Kevin Matthew Johnson, Michael William Lawrence, Robert Sandheinrich
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Patent number: 7971871Abstract: A sheet stacking tray assembly may include a tray having a lead edge surface, a tray exit ramp having a first end and a second end, and a feeder having a feeder edge. The first end of the tray exit ramp may be configured to connect to the lead edge surface. The tray exit ramp may be convex relative to the lead edge surface and may extend beyond the lead edge surface. The tray exit ramp may include one or more first anti-stub surfaces, that may be configured to be positioned below a lead edge of a sheet in a sheet stack. The feeder edge of the feeder may include one or more second anti-stub surfaces that are complementary to the first anti-stub surfaces. The feeder edge may be configured to interconnect with the second end of the tray exit ramp to form a transition surface.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2009Date of Patent: July 5, 2011Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Colin Jon Partridge, Michael George Snelling, Ian Alan Parks, Julia Allwright
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Patent number: 7963520Abstract: A sheet cassette loads and houses therein a plurality of sheets. A separating unit separates the sheets loaded in the sheet cassette one by one. The separating unit is arranged in the sheet cassette in opposite to a feeding roller that conveys the sheets from the sheet cassette. A rib is formed on a rear surface of a bottom plate of the sheet cassette. The rib is pressed by a pressing member.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2008Date of Patent: June 21, 2011Assignee: Ricoh Company, LimitedInventors: Mizuna Tanaka, Hiroshi Fujiwara, Shigeo Nanno, Tomoyoshi Yamazaki, Yasuhide Ohkubo, Haruyuki Honda, Ippei Kimura, Masafumi Takahira, Toshikane Nishii
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Patent number: 7959148Abstract: A tuned media buckler comprises a body made of a plastic material, a rib extending from the upper surface of the body with an overall flat configuration and uniform rigidity with the rib running along the upper surface and centrally lengthwise along the body, a spring force material backing the lower surface of the body opposite to the rib that compresses against the lower surface of the body in response to the generally normal force applied to the top edge surface of the rib by a media stack, and a housing having a central aperture running lengthwise of the housing such that the rib of the media buckler extends through the aperture for engagement by a media stack.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2009Date of Patent: June 14, 2011Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Michael Lee Alsip, Daniel Robert Gagnon, Kris Eren Kallenberger
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Publication number: 20110133393Abstract: The sheet material feeding apparatus according to this invention comprises a sheet material stacking unit selectively located at a feeding position for feeding a sheet material and at a standby position for non-feeding a sheet material; a first holding force applying unit configured to apply a first holding force and a second holding force applying unit configured to apply a second holding force for holding the guide member to the sheet material stacking unit; and a restraining unit configured to restrain the second holding force applying unit from applying the second holding force when the sheet material stacking unit is in the standby position.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2010Publication date: June 9, 2011Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Takayuki Okamoto
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Patent number: 7942403Abstract: Various methods and apparatuses are disclosed for handling a sheet, wherein at least one projection extends across a stack of sheets such that corners of the sheet are bent when being lifted from the stack.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2005Date of Patent: May 17, 2011Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: John A. Dangelewicz, Kevin T. Kersey, Timothy J. Carlin, Geoffrey F. Schmid, Michael A. Novick
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Publication number: 20110079953Abstract: A double feed detection apparatus includes a first element and a second element at positions where they are opposite to each other across a sheet, and a direction in which an ultrasonic wave or a light passes through the sheet is vertical to a conveyance direction of the sheet. An auto sheet feeder includes the first element and the second element of the double feed detection apparatus in a range from a downstream side of a joining point of an outside conveyance path and an inside conveyance path in the sheet conveyance direction to a near side of a read part.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2010Publication date: April 7, 2011Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Mitsunori ISHII, Akihito Tokutsu, Seiji Iino, Masakazu Iwamoto, Shinichi Miyakawa, Osamu Kitazawa
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Patent number: 7913997Abstract: A sheet feeding device comprises a pick roller; a push-up board; a first friction member located in a position on the push-up board opposed to the pick roller with the sheet bundle interposed therebetween; and a second friction member located in a position on the push-up board upstream in a sheet transferring direction and not opposed to the pick roller. In the sheet feeding device, the second friction member has a most protruding part which protrudes to the sheet bundle more than a sheet bundle side surface of the first friction member, and a dynamic friction coefficient of the second friction member to the sheet is larger than that of the first friction member and smaller than that of the pick roller. Accordingly, double-paper feeding can be prevented and even the last one sheet can be fed regardless types of sheets.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2007Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Kenichi Watanabe
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Publication number: 20110031681Abstract: An attachment assist device includes an engaging member, an engaged member, a drawing-force generator, biasing members, and rotational members. The engaging member is provided at one of a main unit and a sub unit detachably attached to the main unit. The engaged member is engaged by the engaging member and provided at the other of the main unit and the sub unit. The drawing-force generator generates a drawing force to draw the sub unit into an interior of the main unit. The biasing members are provided at the drawing-force generator to generate biasing forces in different directions. The rotational members are provided rotatably around support points at the drawing-force generator and engaged with the biasing members. The biasing members are serially connected with the rotational members to convert the biasing forces of the biasing members to the drawing force.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2010Publication date: February 10, 2011Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Katsuhiko Miki
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Patent number: 7881653Abstract: An image recording apparatus including: a body; a supply tray attached to the body for putting a recording sheet thereon; a recording mechanism provided in a middle of a feed path defined in the body for recording an image on the recording sheet; a feeding mechanism which has an arm pivotably supported at one of opposite ends thereof and a feeding roller rotatably provided in the other of the opposite ends of the arm, and which is configured such that the recording sheet is fed toward the recording mechanism by rotating of the feeding roller held in contact with the recording sheet; a discharge opening provided in the body for discharging the recording sheet therethrough; a cover supported by the body to be pivotable between an open position and a closed position; and a cover-arm interlock mechanism which permits the arm to pivot such that the feeding roller contacts the recording sheet when the cover is positioned at the open position, and which positions the arm such that the feeding roller is away from theType: GrantFiled: June 27, 2007Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masatoshi Izuchi
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Patent number: 7862035Abstract: The invention describes a sheet feed device having a sheet tray having a bottom plate defining a first portion of a storing portion that receives sheets therein, a feed roller, a separation plate, and a recessed portion formed in the separation surface. The feed roller moves to contact a sheet of the sheets, and to feed the sheet. The separation plate is disposed at a downstream end of the sheet tray and extends in a width direction. The separation plate has a separation surface which is inclined with respect to the bottom plate of the sheet tray, and defines at least a second portion of the storing portion. The recessed portion is formed in the separation surface and extends toward a downstream end of the separation surface. The separation plate is configured to separate the sheet from the sheets as the feed roller feeds the sheet.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2008Date of Patent: January 4, 2011Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yukio Shiohara, Tetsuo Asada
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Patent number: 7862031Abstract: A media feeder is provided, which includes: a raisable and lowerable hopper on which multiple media are stacked; an elevator moving the hopper to a raised or lowered position; a pick-up roller picking up an upper media stacked on the hopper by rotating while contacting the uppermost media when the hopper is at the raised position; a friction member disposed on the upper surface of the hopper, at a position facing the pick-up roller; and a projecting member disposed below the hopper. The hopper includes a window hole formed in the vicinity of the friction member. When the hopper is at the lowered position, the projecting member projects from the upper surface of the hoper through the window hole. Thus, when media are placed in the feeder, even the lowermost medium does not come into contact with the friction member, thereby facilitating the placement and positional adjustment of the media.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2009Date of Patent: January 4, 2011Assignee: Oki Data CorporationInventor: Shinya Kaseda
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Patent number: 7857302Abstract: A vacuum friction feeder including at least one vacuum friction belt provided with a plurality of holes, a pair of rollers, a table top provided with at least one suction port, an exposure table having a substantially horizontal top surface and a separator. The at least one vacuum friction belt is adapted to rotate around the table top while supported by the rollers such that a suction pressure can be drawn through the plurality of holes provided in the at least one vacuum friction belt as the plurality of holes pass over the suction port. The exposure table is operatively associated with the table top and is adapted to be movable relative to the table top in a plane defined by the substantially horizontal top surface to adjust the portion of the bottommost product in the stack of products exposed to the at least one vacuum friction belt.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2009Date of Patent: December 28, 2010Inventor: Robert Brian Wallace
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Patent number: 7852526Abstract: In one embodiment, a sheet separator includes a bias that resiliently biases a first sheet engaging surface in a direction away from a second surface, wherein the second surface engages the edge of sheets upon movement of the first surface. In one embodiment, a method applies opposite forces to a stack of sheets, wherein one of the opposite forces varies based upon a characteristic of the sheets.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2006Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Jiangxiao Mo, Kelly A. Brock, Stephen Tse Deng
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Patent number: 7841592Abstract: A paper feeding device includes a pick roller, a spring element and a separator pad. The pick roller has a roller surface. The spring element is disposed above the pick roller. The spring element has two spring arms extending toward two ends of the pick roller. Free ends of the two spring arms extend to positions outside the two ends of the pick roller and below the roller surface so as to be contactless with the roller surface and are pushed forward and upward by papers and then transfer a press force to the pick roller. A separator pad is arranged in front of the spring element and contacts with the roller surface of the pick roller for cooperating with the pick roller to separate a lowermost one of the papers. Because the spring arms are contactless with the pick roller directly, so the spring arms do not rub the pick roller, which avoids the pick roller being abraded.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2008Date of Patent: November 30, 2010Assignee: Foxlink Image Technology Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shao-Yang Wu, Yueh-Shing Lee, Wen-Sheng Liu
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Patent number: 7832722Abstract: A paper feeding device includes a supporting base and a paper arranging module. The supporting base has a supporting surface, an inclined supporting plane, and a slot located at the supporting surface. The paper arranging module includes a guiding structure fixed under the supporting surface, a paper-pushing structure slidably disposed on the guiding structure, an elastic element interconnected between the paper-pushing structure and a fixed end, and a gear disposed on the guiding structure. The gear has an engaging part for engaging with and driving the paper-pushing structure to move toward the inclined supporting plane along the slot for arranging the paper sheets supported on the supporting base, thus facilitating subsequent paper dividing. When a non-engaging part of the gear corresponds to the paper-pushing structure, the paper-pushing structure is restored to an original position by an elastic force of the elastic element.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2009Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: Kinpo Electronics, Inc.Inventor: Ying-Chieh Huang
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Patent number: RE43682Abstract: An automatic paper feeder for an image-scanning device with a pressure-adjustable mechanism for adjusting the paper feeding roller of the automatic paper feeder is disclosed. A pressure from paper sheets stacked on a paper tray of the automatic paper feeder is detected by a paper tray pressure detecting mechanism and transferred to a roller pressure adjusting mechanism to change a pressure between the paper feeding roller and a paper separating plate and adjust a feeding angle of the movable paper tray.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2005Date of Patent: September 25, 2012Assignee: Transpacific Systems, LLCInventor: Shu-Ya Chiang