Means To Change Orientation Or Direction Of Sheets During Delivery Patents (Class 271/184)
  • Patent number: 11939181
    Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus including a binding mechanism, a tray, a shift mechanism, and a control unit is provided. The binding mechanism is configured to apply binding to a sheet. The sheet applied with the binding is stacked on the tray. The shift mechanism is configured to perform a shift operation in which a side surface of the sheet is pushed and the sheet is deviated in a sheet width direction orthogonal to a discharge direction during discharge of the sheet to the tray. The control unit is configured to cause the shift operation to be performed by dividing the number of times for the shift operation into a plurality of times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Sugizaki
  • Patent number: 11782374
    Abstract: Disclosed is a post-processing apparatus configured to be coupled to an image forming apparatus or another post-processing apparatus. The post-processing apparatus includes: a post-processing unit that performs post-processing to a sheet that is conveyed; and a standby path arranged on an upstream side or a downstream side of the post-processing unit and capable of holding the sheet. The post-processing unit performs the post-processing in a state in which the sheet is partly in the standby path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Akira Tsunoda
  • Patent number: 11320776
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming engine, a re-conveyance path configured to guide a sheet, on which an image is formed by the image forming engine, to be switched back and re-conveyed toward the image forming engine. The apparatus also includes a discharge tray, and a discharge path configured to guide the sheet in a sheet discharge direction toward the discharge tray. A stack lever is configured to contact a top surface of the sheet on the discharge tray and press the sheet toward the discharge tray. A guide member is configured to form a part of the re-conveyance path, extend up to a position downstream of the stack lever in the sheet discharge direction above the stack lever, and guide the sheet being conveyed along the re-conveyance path, between the guide member and the stack lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinichi Hatakeyama, Shota Shinoya
  • Patent number: 11124373
    Abstract: There is disclosed a sheet media processing machine comprising a media inlet to receive sheet media along a feed direction from a first side of the machine and a media outlet to discharge sheet media along a discharge direction towards the first side of the machine. There is a feed mechanism to convey sheet media from the media inlet to the media outlet, and a re-feed prevention element disposed upstream of the media inlet with respect to the feed direction to inhibit recirculation of discharged sheet media along an external recirculation path between the media outlet and the media inlet. The re-feed prevention element is exposed to contact with sheet media and comprises an elastomer. There is also disclosed a feed guide comprising a re-feed prevention element, and a method in which such a feed guide is installed on a sheet media processing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Oscar Moya Rojo, Javier Onecha, Andreu Oliver, Dorkaitz Alain Vazquez, Nuria Fabregat, Felix Ruiz Martinez
  • Patent number: 10954088
    Abstract: Disclosed is a sheet conveying apparatus, including: a conveying member conveying a sheet; and a first and second changing portions s configured to change a conveying direction of the sheet conveyed by the conveying member by curving the sheet, wherein the conveying direction of the sheet being conveyed by the conveying member is changed by the first changing portion so that the sheet is conveyed toward the second changing portion. The relationship ?a>?b is satisfied where ?a indicates an angle in which a conveying direction of the sheet is changed by the first changing portion and ?b indicates an angle in which a conveying direction of the sheet is changed by the second changing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takanori Sakurai, Hiroshi Kokubo
  • Patent number: 10889134
    Abstract: To shorten the time to be taken to start executing a process to handle conveyance trouble of a print medium after the occurrence of the conveyance trouble, a printing apparatus of the present invention, upon sensing of conveyance trouble by a sensing unit during a printing operation, stops the conveyance of the print medium in the conveyance trouble and any print medium located upstream of it, and moves a printing head from a first position at which the printing head performs printing on a print medium to a second position to which the printing head is retreated from the first position, in parallel with a discharge operation for conveying, to a discharge unit, any print medium located downstream of the print medium in the conveyance trouble.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takaaki Ishida, Seiji Ogasawara, Masakazu Tsukuda, Shuichi Tokuda, Masaaki Matsuura, Kazuki Matsuo, Tomofumi Nishida, Yuna Hattori
  • Patent number: 10604370
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes a storage portion to store a sheet, first and second stack portions, first and second conveyance paths to convey a sheet towards the first stack portion and the second stack portion, respectively, a first conveyance unit, a reverse path, and a second conveyance unit. The first conveyance unit is provided downstream of the first conveyance path and reverses and conveys a sheet conveyed to the first conveyance path. The reverse path conveys, once more to the first conveyance path, a sheet that has been reversed by the first conveyance unit. The second conveyance unit is provided in the second conveyance path and downstream of an intersection point between the second conveyance path and the reverse path. While conveying and reversing a sheet conveyed to the second conveyance path towards the reverse path, the second conveyance conveys the conveyed sheet towards the second stack portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Yamamoto, Hiroshi Imanari, Ryo Iwasawa
  • Patent number: 10556762
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes first, second, and third rotating members, a switching unit, and a regulating member. The first rotating member rotates in one direction to convey, with the second rotating member, a sheet in a first direction and convey, with the third rotating member, the sheet in a second direction different from the first direction. The switching unit switches the first rotating member between first and second positions. The first position is a position in which the first rotating member coveys a sheet with the second or third rotating member. The second position is a position to which the first rotating member is retracted from the first position. Where the first rotating member moves from the first position, the regulating member regulates the sheet position so that a sheet rear end held by the second and third rotating members is positioned above a first rotating member moving trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Ogata, Motohiro Furusawa
  • Patent number: 10532905
    Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a body portion, and an openable unit including an openable portion supported by the body portion, a first movable guide to guide a sheet, a supporting portion to movably support the first movable guide between a first position, at which a first conveyance path through which the sheet is conveyed is formed between the first movable guide and the openable portion, and a second position, at which the first conveyance path is opened, the supporting portion being moved away from the body portion along with an opening operation of the openable portion, and a second movable guide movably supported by the first movable guide. An abutment portion abuts with the second movable guide in a state where the openable portion is closed, such that the second movable guide is held on a position to form a second conveyance path through which the sheet is conveyed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuji Nakayashiki
  • Patent number: 10472197
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body, a post-printing processing device, and a paper exit part. The main body forms an image on paper. The post-printing processing device is located above the main body and performs post-printing processing on paper. The paper exit part is located on a side surface of the post-printing processing device. Paper is ejected to the paper exit part. The post-printing processing device includes a paper inlet port and a conveyance device. The paper inlet port is located in a rear part of a lower surface of the post-printing processing device. The conveyance device conveys paper conveyed via the paper inlet port into the post-printing processing device in a forward direction thereof to a paper loading tray and conveys the paper therefrom leftward to eject the paper to the paper exit part located on the left side of the post-printing processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Tomoya Hotani, Hiroyuki Harada, Takeshi Iketani, Akira Horie, Rei Yamagishi, Masaaki Maruta
  • Patent number: 10427421
    Abstract: An aqueous ink printer includes a dryer that enables coated substrates to be printed with aqueous ink images. The dryer is configured to receive substrates from a first substrate transport and to hold a plurality of the substrates for a predetermined period of time to dry the aqueous ink images on the substrates before independently releasing each substrate in the plurality of substrates to a second substrate transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Jason M. LeFevre, Paul J. McConville, Douglas K. Herrmann, Chu-Heng Liu, Seemit Praharaj
  • Patent number: 10416603
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet includes an image-forming unit that forms the image on the sheet, and a conveying unit that conveys the sheet on which the image is formed by the image-forming unit. The conveying unit includes a pair of first rollers that discharges the sheet to the outside of the image-forming apparatus and a pair of second rollers that conveys the sheet in a direction in which the sheet is discharged to the outside of the image-forming apparatus and that subsequently switches a conveyance direction of the sheet to an opposite direction to convey the sheet again to the image-forming unit. The pair of the first rollers and the pair of the second rollers partially overlap when viewed in a width direction of the sheet that is perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junya Akatsuka, Masaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10379473
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet, includes an image forming unit configured to form the image on the sheet, a double-sided conveyance path through which the sheet with the image formed on a first surface passes before the image forming unit forms an image on a second surface opposite to the first surface, a guide member having a contact portion configured to contact one end of the sheet in the width direction of the sheet, the guide member being provided on the double-sided conveyance path, and a reversing roller pair forwardly and reversely rotatable, configured to convey the sheet to the double-sided conveyance path during a reverse rotation, the reversing roller pair having a drive shaft, and a first roller and a second roller coaxially disposed on the shaft, rotatable with the shaft, wherein the second roller is disposed at a position more away from the contact portion than the first roller in the axial direction of the shaft, the second roller having a larger outer diameter than
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Terutaka Endo, Daisuke Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10365598
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a detection device. The detection device includes an actuator and a roller. The roller includes a sheet contact part. The roller is supported by the actuator in a movable manner between a first roller position and a second roller position. When the roller is positioned at the first roller position, the sheet contact part juts out from the actuator as viewed in an axial direction of the roller. When the roller is positioned at the second roller position, the sheet contact part overlaps with the actuator as viewed in the axial direction of the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Tomohisa Ono
  • Patent number: 10354219
    Abstract: An order selection process is provided for the selecting of a plurality of a predetermined item or items from a stocked picking location in an order selection system. This process includes a method for converting a computer generated order selection form (pick ticket), a method and device for reading the order selection form (pick ticket), and a method for communication with a plurality of discharge conveyors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: ROSCH Logistical Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Craig Roper, William Schneider
  • Patent number: 10301129
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses print-medium buffering systems that have a set of print-medium-buffer flags (25) which, in one position, maintain a print medium in a guided path (G) as it passes through a print-medium buffer zone. A drive mechanism (30) is provided to move the set of print-medium-buffer flags away from the guided path, to a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Martin Urrutia Nebreda, Marta Ramis Llinares, Eduardo Martin Orue
  • Patent number: 10259672
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet includes an image forming unit, a first pair of rollers, a second pair of rollers, and a holder. The image forming unit is configured to form an image on a sheet. The first pair of rollers is configured to discharge the sheet out of the apparatus, the image having been formed on a first surface of the sheet by the image forming unit. The second pair of rollers is configured to convey the sheet again to the image forming unit to form an image on a second surface of the sheet opposite to the first surface. The holder is configured to hold one of the first pair of rollers and one of the second pair of rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Junya Akatsuka, Masaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10093499
    Abstract: A conveying unit conveys a sheet to a tray. A first surface of a wall member and the tray define a first space. A structural member has a facing surface which faces a second surface of the wall member. A wall surface of a frame, the second surface of the wall member, and the facing surface of the structural member define a second space. The wall member has a plurality of through holes including a first through hole and a second through hole. A first imaginary plane containing an edge of the first through hole in the second surface is away from the facing surface of the structural member by a first distance, and a second imaginary plane containing an edge of the second through hole in the second surface is away from the facing surface by a second distance which is different from the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro Kuroki, Isao Fukuchi
  • Patent number: 10065826
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed. For example, the apparatus includes a paper feed to feed print media a single sheet at a time, a plurality of rotating discs, wherein each one of the plurality of rotating discs comprises an elastomer ring to secure a leading edge of the single sheet against a registration wall and initiate a flipping process, a plurality of fans to generate an air flow, wherein the air flow levitates a trailing edge of the single sheet during completion of the flipping process, and a movable platform to hold a stack of the print media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Erwin Ruiz, Ali R. Dergham, Glenn David Batchelor, William A. Novak, Paul F. Brown, II
  • Patent number: 10031662
    Abstract: A method of processing a transaction comprising the steps of generating a position signal indicative of position of a touching of a touch screen having a transparent reference surface, displaying an image of the touching of the screen responsive to the position signal, and changing the image as a function of the difference between the position signal and a predetermined position value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventors: William H. Havens, Richard A. Romanchik
  • Patent number: 10005632
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed. For example, the apparatus includes a paper feed to feed print media a single sheet at a time, a plurality of rotating discs, wherein each one of the plurality of rotating discs comprises an elastomer ring to secure a leading edge of the single sheet against a registration wall and initiate a flipping process, an air duct to force an air flow towards the print media to levitate a trailing edge of the single sheet during completion of the flipping process, and a movable platform to hold a stack of the print media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Erwin Ruiz, Glenn David Batchelor, Ali R. Dergham, David J. Breed, Paul F. Brown, II, Mark A. Adiletta
  • Patent number: 9964901
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a fixing device, a conveying guide and a branching guide. In the apparatus main body, a conveying path and an inversion path are formed. The conveying guide guides the sheet along the conveying path closer to a downstream side than the fixing device. The branching guide guides the sheet toward an ejecting part along the conveying path closer to the downstream side than the fixing device and guides the sheet toward the inversion path along the conveying path closer to the downstream side than the fixing device. The conveying guide is detachably attached to one of the apparatus main body and the fixing device so as to cover a part of the fixing device from a downstream side in a conveying direction of the sheet. The branching guide is detachably attached to the conveying guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Hironori Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9946211
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a process unit to form an image onto a sheet. A fixer fixes the image to the sheet. A reverse roller makes a positive rotation to convey the sheet in a forward direction from the fixer, and makes an opposite rotation to convey the sheet in an opposite direction. A returner returns the sheet to the process unit. A branching member guides the sheet from the reverse roller to the returner. A first sensor detects the sheet. The controller controls the reverse roller to make the positive rotation at a circumferential speed higher than a speed of the sheet conveyed by the fixer, controls the reverse roller to wait for predetermined waiting time after the first sensor has detected a rear end of the sheet, and makes the waiting time shorter as a length of the sheet is greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Oyama
  • Patent number: 9931869
    Abstract: In one example in accordance with the present disclosure a media transport device is described. The device includes a number of drive rollers coupled to a frame. A number of media rollers are also coupled to the frame. The media rollers are in contact with, and rotated by, the number of drive rollers. Media rollers in a first set have a first diameter and media rollers in a second set have a second diameter that is different from the first diameter. The device also includes a number of pinch rollers coupled to the frame. The pinch rollers are in contact with the number of media rollers to form a number of nips through which media passes along a feed path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Josep Ortiz Mompel, Javier Deocon Mir, Eduardo Martin Orue, Joaquim Brugue Garvi
  • Patent number: 9862509
    Abstract: A boxing apparatus erects packages that can be erected along a limited section of a conveyor, without having to erect them all at once, even with individual packages that are long in the feed direction. The boxing apparatus has a fourth conveyor belt that blocks the front of a line of incoming packages and exerts an upward force on the front package. The front package is raised up by this upward force, so the following package rides up onto the package in front, and the packages are erected successively. Consequently, even individual packages that are long in the feed direction can be erected at a limited section of a third conveyor belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: ISHIDA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Arimatsu, Seisaku Iwasa
  • Patent number: 9864323
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, an outer cover, a conveyance unit, a movable roller, and an interlock mechanism. The outer cover is provided turnably between an outer closing position forming one surface of the apparatus body and an outer opening position in which the one surface of the apparatus body is set openable. The conveyance unit is provided turnably between an inner closing position in which an inside of the apparatus body is set closable and an inner opening position in which the inside of the apparatus body is set openable. The movable roller is pressed by a fixed roller pivotally supported inside of the apparatus body when the conveyance unit is displaced to the inner closing position. The interlock mechanism interlocks an operation of opening the outer cover with an operation of opening the conveyance unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Yuki Uohashi
  • Patent number: 9834015
    Abstract: A printing machine includes a printing unit which performs printing while transferring a sheet at a printing transfer speed, a circulation transfer unit which receives the sheet after simplex printing and transfers the sheet by reversing the sheet upside down, during duplex printing; and a paper refeed unit which refeeds, to the printing unit, the sheet transferred by the circulation transfer unit after simplex printing, wherein the circulation transfer unit includes a reversing unit which receives the sheet at the printing transfer speed, reverses the sheet upside down by switching back the sheet and accelerates the sheet up to a circulation transfer speed which is higher than the printing transfer speed when sheet transfer is restarted after temporal stop in the switching back, and a horizontal transfer unit which transfers the sheet switched back by the reversing unit, at the circulation transfer speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: RISO KAGAKU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaaki Shinohara, Tomohiko Shimoda, Tetsunori Saito, Kazuyuki Aoki, Takuya Okamura
  • Patent number: 9829847
    Abstract: A recording medium transporting device includes a transport path, a first open-close portion, and a second open-close portion. A recording medium on which an image is formed is transported over the transport path. The first open-close portion is disposed on a side surface of the transporting device so as to be openable to cover and closeable to uncover the transporting device. The first open-close portion renders a first portion of the transport path open when the first open-close portion is opened so as to uncover the transporting device. The second open-close portion is located inside the transporting device at a position further inward of the first open-close portion so as to be openable to cover and closeable to uncover the transporting device. The second open-close portion renders a second portion of the transport path open when the second open-close portion is opened so as to uncover the transporting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mizuki Arai, Hiromitsu Tomioka, Kohei Takahashi, Riwako Miyauchi
  • Patent number: 9791814
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet, includes an image forming unit configured to form the image on the sheet, a double-sided conveyance path through which the sheet with the image formed on a first surface passes before the image forming unit forms an image on a second surface opposite to the first surface, a guide member having a contact portion configured to contact one end of the sheet in the width direction of the sheet, the guide member being provided on the double-sided conveyance path, and a reversing roller pair forwardly and reversely rotatable, configured to convey the sheet to the double-sided conveyance path during a reverse rotation, the reversing roller pair having a drive shaft, and a first roller and a second roller coaxially disposed on the shaft, rotatable with the shaft, wherein the second roller is disposed at a position more away from the contact portion than the first roller in the axial direction of the shaft, the second roller having a larger outer diameter than
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Terutaka Endo, Daisuke Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9790052
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, comprising: a housing having a sheet discharge tray, a first opening, and a second opening disposed on an upper side of the first opening; an image forming unit; a sheet discharge path communicating with the first opening; a re-conveying path communicating with the second opening; and a swinging member having a first surface facing the first opening and a second surface, wherein the swinging member has a first end area swingably supported by the housing, a second end area, and a rib; the swinging member is disposed to be movable between a first position and a second position at which the second end area gets higher; and the rib is formed on the second surface opposing the first surface facing the sheet discharge tray in a state where the swinging member is disposed at the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Raizo Kosaka
  • Patent number: 9682836
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes: a conveying unit configured to convey a sheet along a conveying path; a switching unit configured to switch a sheet conveying destination; a delivering unit configured to deliver the sheet on the delivery path toward the device at the sheet conveying destination; a reversing unit configured to first convey the sheet from the reversing port toward the outside of the casing and then delivers the sheet from the position toward a circulation path while reversing the conveying direction of the sheet; a circulating unit configured to convey the sheet delivered toward the circulation path along the circulation path and return the sheet to the conveying path while the sheet is reversed; and a control unit configured to control the conveying unit, the reversing unit, the delivering unit, the circulating unit, and the switching unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Kowase
  • Patent number: 9609159
    Abstract: A sheet conveyance device includes a sheet mount on which a standard-sized sheet is mountable; a first conveyor to bring in the sheet from the mount, convey the sheet through a reverse conveyance path such that the sheet passes through a specific operation position, and eject the sheet into a sheet ejection area outside the mount; and a second conveyor to bring in a hard sheet with a higher bending rigidity than the sheet from one end of a straight conveyance path along a plane passing through the specific position of the reverse path, and eject the hard sheet conveyed along the straight path from another end of the straight path at a sheet ejection area side. The mount includes a hard sheet ejection port to let through at least a leading edge portion of the hard sheet to be ejected from the second conveyor in a sheet ejection direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Hatayama, Yasunobu Youda, Yohei Osanai, Tatsuaki Nagano, Kazushige Kawamura, Toshiyuki Horikawa
  • Patent number: 9580261
    Abstract: A conveying apparatus includes a first conveying unit that conveys a recording medium, a reversing unit that reverses the recording medium conveyed by the first conveying unit, a second conveying unit that conveys the recording medium from the reversing unit to the first conveying unit, and a first supply unit and a second supply unit that supply the recording medium to the second conveying unit at different supply positions. When sequentially reversing/conveying multiple sheets of the recording medium, a control unit alternately conveys the recording medium that has been reversed by the reversing unit and the recording medium that is supplied from the first or second supply unit after a predetermined number of sheets of the recording medium have been reversed by the reversing unit, and changes the predetermined number depending on whether the recording medium is supplied from the first supply unit or the second supply unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshihiro Nakagaki
  • Patent number: 9511966
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device is provided in a sheet discharge portion of an image forming apparatus. A curved path and a reverse conveyance path are formed within the sheet conveying device. An outer guide rib and an inner guide rib are provided to a conveyance guide forming a lower-side guide surface of the curved path. The inner guide rib is lower than a reference straight line connecting a pressure contact point of a discharge roller pair to a rotary roller, and the outer guide rib is higher than the reference straight line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Tetsuro Kawashima
  • Patent number: 9457978
    Abstract: The delivery system has a supply device having a supply port for supplying an article; a receiving device having a receiving port that is able to receive the article that is supplied from the supply port; and a detection unit that is capable of detecting: a first state in which the supply device and the receiving device are joined by the supply port engaging with the receiving port; a second state in which the supply device and the receiving device are close together and there is a space between the supply port and the receiving port; and a third state in which the supply device and the receiving device are separated and the space between the device is wider than in the second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Koda, Kazuhiko Onuki, Masaharu Shimakawa
  • Patent number: 9370919
    Abstract: The present invention provides a vacuum suction adjustable transfer roller and a film attachment method using the transfer roller. The transfer roller includes: a roller body (20) and a plurality of adjustment devices (40) mounted in the roller body (20). The roller body (20) includes a plurality of air draw-in passages (22) uniformly distributed therein. The air draw-in passages (22) draw in air by means of an air evacuation device. Each of the adjustment devices (40) includes: a valve (42) arranged in each of the air draw-in passages (22), a piezoelectric ceramic piece (44) connected to the valve (42), and a control circuit (46) electrically connected to the piezoelectric ceramic piece (44).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Shun Yang
  • Publication number: 20150110538
    Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet storage device having a high sheet receiving performance and whose size is reduced. A point 272 of intersection of a first upper guide and a second upper guide is located upstream from a point 271 of intersection of a first lower guide and a second lower guide in a sheet conveyance direction. Thus, the size of the sheet storage device can be reduced while the sheet receiving performance remains unaffected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Daisuke Kaneko, Masayoshi Fukatsu, Hiroharu Tsuji, Yohei Suzuki, Ichiro Yasumaru
  • Patent number: 8998205
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a apparatus main body, and a unit body that forms a medium transportation path, and is configured to be attachable and detachable with respect to the apparatus main body. The unit body includes a feeding roller that transports a medium, and a driven transportation unit that transmits the drive force of the drive transportation unit to the feeding roller. The unit body is displaceable between a first position at which the driven transmission unit is connected to the drive transmission unit and a second position at which the driven transmission unit is separated from the drive transmission unit. When a user pulls out the medium, the unit body retained at the first position moves from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akinobu Nakahata, Kazuyoshi Ohashi, Takeshi Aoki
  • Patent number: 8991823
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment comprises a feed guide forming a feed path of a sheet and having an end portion movable between a closed position and an open position by rotating around a shaft, wherein the end portion is positioned above the shaft when the feed guide is in the open position, and the feed guide is configured to provide access for removal of a jammed sheet when in the open position. The image forming apparatus further comprises a holding unit configured to releasably hold the end portion of the feed guide in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya Sato, Kazutoshi Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20150084271
    Abstract: There is provided a document processing device and a document processing method capable of aligning and loading documents being transported surely and at a high speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Jun Kuriyama, Fumio Koyama
  • Patent number: 8977184
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a conveyance path configured to guide a recording sheet conveyed from a sheet placement portion, passing through a sheet feeder unit, a nip portion between a photoconductor and transfer member, a fixing device, and a sheet ejection unit in this order; and a re-conveyance path configured to guide the sheet conveyed from the fixing device to an upstream-side path which constitutes part of the conveyance path extending upstream from the photoconductor. The re-conveyance path branches off from the conveyance path at a position downstream from the fixing device and extends to pass through a space between the photoconductor and the exposure device. The re-conveyance path includes a switchback mechanism configured to reverse a traveling direction of a sheet conveyed along the re-conveyance path after passing through the space between the photoconductor and the exposure device and to convey the sheet toward the upstream-side path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tokuda, Tomonori Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8967615
    Abstract: A reversing transporting device includes a transport-in path, a first transporting section provided at the transport-in path, a second transporting section provided at the transport-in path, a reversing path connected to the transport-in path, a third transporting section provided at the reversing path, a transport-out path connected to the reversing path, a fourth transporting section provided at the transport-out path, and a fifth transporting section provided at the transport-out path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Takaishi, Michio Tada, Takashi Abe, Akira Iwasaka, Toshitaka Tanaka, Hiroyuki Momiyama
  • Patent number: 8960665
    Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a first conveyance roller configured to convey a sheet, a second conveyance roller configured to convey the sheet at a variable speed ranging from a first sheet conveyance speed to a second sheet conveyance speed wherein the first sheet conveyance speed is less than a sheet conveyance speed of the first conveyance roller and the second sheet conveyance speed is greater than the sheet conveyance speed of the first conveyance roller, a driving unit configured to drive the second conveyance roller, and a control unit configured to control the driving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yutaka Nishimura
  • Patent number: 8939448
    Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus including a driving source, a switchback roller which switches between a normal rotation direction and a reverse rotation direction, first and second gear train for rotating the switchback roller in the normal and reverse rotation directions, respectively, a switching mechanism which switches among a first mode for transmitting driving force to the first gear train, a second mode for transmitting the driving force to the second gear train, and a third mode for not to transmit the driving force, a switching element which switches between a first state allowing switching of the switching mechanism into the first or third mode and a second state allowing switching of the switching mechanism into the second mode; and a controller which controls a state change of the switching element between the first state and the second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yohei Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 8925918
    Abstract: A conveying apparatus has a first conveying roller pair; a second conveying roller pair; a first conveying path through which a sheet is conveyed in such a manner that the first conveying roller pair is placed downstream of the second conveying roller pair; and a second conveying path through which the sheet is conveyed in such a manner that the first conveying roller pair is placed upstream of the second conveying roller path. A circumferential velocity of at least one of the first conveying roller pair and the second conveying roller pair is switched so as to meet conditions, i.e., |Va|>|Vb| when the sheet is conveyed through the first conveying path and |Va|?|Vb| when the sheet is conveyed through the second conveying path. Here, |Va| is an absolute value of the circumferential velocity of the first conveying roller pair, and |Vb| is an absolute value of the circumferential velocity of the second conveying roller pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takahiro Kiuchi
  • Publication number: 20150001789
    Abstract: Provided is a processing device including a shifting member that superimposes recording media during transportation and that places an uppermost recording medium and a lower recording medium on the lower side of the uppermost recording medium in plural superimposed recording media, a butting member that transports the recording media placed on the stack table so that edge portions of the plural recording media superimposed, and a pressing member that is arranged above the stack table and that contacts with the lower recording medium among the plural recording media transported by the butting member to press the edge portion of the lower recording medium against the aligning member, and then contacts with the uppermost recording medium to press the edge portion of the uppermost recording medium against the aligning member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuichi YASAKA
  • Patent number: 8876110
    Abstract: One embodiment of a credential manufacturing device comprises a first hopper, a first processing path, a first processing device, a substrate shuttle and a shuttle drive. The first hopper is configured to contain a plurality of card substrates and includes an output port. The first processing device is in the first processing path and is configured to perform a first process on individual card substrates in the first processing path. The substrate shuttle is positioned between the first hopper and the first processing path and is configured to receive individual card substrates from the output port of the first hopper, transport received card substrates along a shuttle path, and deliver received card substrates to the first processing path. The shuttle drive is configured to drive movement of the substrate shuttle along the shuttle path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Assa Abloy AB
    Inventors: Ted M. Hoffman, Philip G. Umberger
  • Patent number: 8870183
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of rotary members, a conveyance belt, an image forming device, and a switchback device. The conveyance belt is looped around the plurality of rotary members so as to circulate to intermittently feed a sheet in a sheet transport direction. The image forming device is disposed opposing the conveyance belt to form an image on the sheet fed by the conveyance belt. The switchback device is disposed downstream from the image forming device in the sheet transport direction to feed the sheet having passed the image forming device to a position downstream from the conveyance belt in the sheet transport direction and switch back the sheet. When the sheet is fed by the conveyance belt and the switchback device, a drive start timing of the switchback device is delayed from a drive start timing of the conveyance belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kuniyori Takano
  • Patent number: 8857598
    Abstract: There is provided a paper sheet conveying device of the present invention has: at least three or more conveying paths that are for conveying paper sheets and at each of which at least a partial segment is formed in an arc shape; and at least one or more switching portions for switching the conveying path that conveys the paper sheets, wherein the plural conveying paths are disposed such that two connection positions of each of the arc-shaped segments are connected to the connection position of the arc-shaped segment of a respectively different one of the conveying paths such that outer sides of arcs face one another, and the switching portion switches the conveying path that conveys the paper sheets, at a place of connection of the plural conveying paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuta Iizuka, Jumpei Nagao
  • Patent number: 8844922
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus which enables a sheet to be stopped at a target position with precision even when the sheet is stopped by moving a heavy unit such as a shift unit. A drive unit moves a moving unit so as to move a sheet, which is being conveyed, in a direction perpendicular to a conveying direction of the sheet. An output unit detects movement of the moving unit and output a signal in synchronization with movement of the moving unit. A control unit issues a stop instruction to the drive unit based on a delay time from when a start instruction to the drive unit is issued until when the signal in synchronization with the movement of the drive unit is output, and a target moving amount required for the moving unit to move to a target position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Ishikawa, Hitoshi Kato