By Means To Change Direction Of Sheet Travel Patents (Class 271/225)
  • Publication number: 20110140349
    Abstract: An inserter system includes a pre-fold accumulator subsystem in which plural sheets are collected before folding and insertion into an envelope. A divert gate is at the upstream side of the pre-fold accumulator to selectively downwardly divert sheets fed in a reverse direction from the pre-fold accumulator. Positioning of the divert gate is controlled by a mechanism that couples the divert gate and a drive shaft that drives a sheet drive belt component of the pre-fold accumulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Salomon, Norman R. Lilly, Aaron D. Smith
  • Publication number: 20110133395
    Abstract: A paper sheet handling apparatus includes a transport unit having a main transport path and a return transport path, a detection unit arranged at a predetermined detection position in the main transport path, and a controller controlling the transport unit based on the detection result of the detection unit. The controller leads, at the diversion position in the main transport path, a paper sheet transported along the main transport path into the return transport path, transports a subsequent paper sheet along the main transport path, and controls the transportation of the paper sheet and the transportation of the subsequent paper sheet respectively in response to the arrival of the subsequent paper sheet at the detection position such that the paper sheets are stacked into a batch at the joining position of the two transport paths with certain parts of the paper sheets being aligned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Inventors: Tetsuya Taniguchi, Kaname Kotani
  • Patent number: 7954810
    Abstract: A device for manufacturing a crosslaid fiber web including a first conveyor belt and a second conveyor belt, which are oriented in two different directions, wherein the second conveyor belt adjoins a side of the first conveyor belt. During operation of the device, the first conveyor belt transports longitudinal fiber web segments, which are conveyed to the second conveyor belt in a conveyance region. During transportation by the first conveyor belt, a conveyance area of the longitudinal fiber web segments projects with respect to the side of the first conveyor belt. The device comprises a guiding belt for supporting a portion of this conveyance area, in order to guarantee that, in the conveyance region, the longitudinal fiber web segments may be conveyed to the second conveyor belt in a completely outstretched fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Beiler Beheer B.V.
    Inventor: Martinus Cornelus Adrianus Van Den Aker
  • Publication number: 20110127712
    Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus capable of obtaining a sufficient conveying force for pulling back double-fed overlapping sheets to a stacking tray side. A sheet feeding member feeds sheets incoming from a stacking tray which stacks the sheets into a conveying pass. A separating member separates the sheets fed to the conveying pass by the sheet feeding member one by one. A double feed detection sensor generates an output for detecting double feed of sheets fed to the conveying pass. A rotatable member contacts the fed sheet. A driving unit rotationally drives at least the rotatable member in a rotational direction for reverse feeding of sheets. A control unit controls the driving unit when the double feed of sheets is detected based on the output of the double feed detection sensor, such that the rotatable member is rotationally driven in the rotational direction for reverse feeding of sheets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: CANON DENSHI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: HIROSHI KOMURO
  • Publication number: 20110127707
    Abstract: In a color printer in which a drive force of a fixed gear that rotates not in both a forward direction and a reverse direction but in either one direction only is transmitted to a discharging unit, a swing gear is attached to a branch guide via a switching link and a transmission link as a link mechanism. When a solenoid mechanism starts driving, the transmission link rotates. In accordance with the rotation of the transmission link, the switching link rotates, so that a switching among a discharge conveying path, a duplex-printing conveying path, and a switchback conveying path by the branch guide and a switching of a rotating direction of a transmission gear can be simultaneously performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Inventors: Haruyuki Honda, Hiroshi Fujiwara, Yasuhide Ohkubo, Ippei Kimura, Toshikane Nishii, Shigeo Nanno, Mizuna Tanaka, Tomoyoshi Yamazaki, Masafumi Takahira
  • Patent number: 7950653
    Abstract: A guide is proposed for devices for processing sheet material, particularly bank notes and checks, that is equipped with a guide body (1), with several guide wings (2) on the guide body (1), with at least three edges (15, 16, 17) on the guide wings (2) running parallel to each another and tapering to a point and with a guide drive (3, 4, 5) connected to the guide body (1) that sets the guide body (1) in motion in at least two different directions, wherein at least one of the two motions is a translational motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Wincor Nixdorf International GmbH
    Inventor: Elmar Berendes
  • Publication number: 20110115149
    Abstract: A sheet guide is rotationally supported by a shaft member to rotate freely on the shaft member. The sheet guide includes a support part that supports the sheet guide on the shaft member, a guide part that contacts sheets and guides sheets in a predetermined direction, and a weight, which has a predetermined weight, is arranged on an opposite side of the support part from the guide part, wherein the weight causes the guide part to rotate to a predetermined position when an external force applied to the guide part is released.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Manabu IMAI
  • Publication number: 20110109035
    Abstract: A media handling transport includes first and second device halves. Each of the device halves includes first, second and third body members, with the first end portion of the second body member disposed adjacent the first end portion of the first body member, the first end portion of the third body member disposed adjacent the second end portion of the first body member, and the second end portion of the third body member disposed adjacent the second end portion of the second body member. An inner body member defines a first media transport passageway with the second body member define, a second media transport passageway with the third body member, and a third media transport passageway with the first body member. The second end portions of the second and third body members define an abutting end of the device half, with the abutting end of the first device half disposed adjacent the abutting end of the second device half in an installed transport.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventors: James J. Spence, Mark S. Amico
  • Publication number: 20110101602
    Abstract: A paper ejector unit includes a paper path having a first path, a second path provided in a lower position than the first path, and a guide provided between the first and second paths and including an inclined face to restrict an upward deflection of the paper in transporting the paper forward to the exit slot; an opening formed downward at a forward back end of the second path; a reversible transportation roller assembly in the middle of the second path, configured to be rotated forward to transport the paper forward to the exit slot, to stop rotating to stop transporting the paper, and to be reversely rotated to retreat the paper having been transported to the exit slot; and a third path branching downward from the second path and provided near a forward upstream side of the reversible transportation roller assembly in order to recover the paper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventor: Takuro KOHYAMA
  • Patent number: 7934717
    Abstract: A rotation-transmitting mechanism includes a first planetary gear mechanism and a locking mechanism. The first planetary gear mechanism transmits rotational driving force to the transportation unit through a first planet gear to rotate the transportation roller when the motor rotates in a first direction, and transmits rotational driving force to the transportation unit through a second planet gear to rotate the transportation roller when the motor rotates in a second direction. The locking mechanism can lock a planetary rocking member of the first planetary gear mechanism in such a condition that rotational driving force of the motor is transmitted to the transportation unit through the second planet gear. The locking mechanism terminates locking of the planetary rocking member of the first planetary gear mechanism by engaging with the sheet in the transportation path downstream of the transportation roller with respect to the direction in which the sheet is transported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhisa Takeda, Masaki Shimomura, Masafumi Furuyama
  • Patent number: 7934721
    Abstract: An equipment for transferring sheets with change of direction for sheets entering along a first direction comprises output rollers to move the sheets along a second direction, right-angled with respect to the first direction, and members of engagement and movement, actuatable for engaging and moving the sheets entering along the first direction along the second direction up to the engagement with the output rollers. The members of engagement and movement provide a condition of reception in which define a space of reception for the entering sheets and a condition of engagement and movement in which engage the entered sheets and move the sheets for the engagement with the output rollers. The members of engagement and movement return to the condition of reception upon the engagement of the entered sheet with the output rollers for enabling a following sheet—to enter and to be moved along the first direction jointly with the movement of the previous entered sheet along the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: TECNAU s.r.l.
    Inventors: Giuliano De Marco, Alberto Massucco, Francesco Terrusi, Armando Aprato
  • Publication number: 20110089627
    Abstract: According to aspects illustrated herein, there are provided systems for conveying a sheet article into an intended pathway. The multi-way gate system for diverting sheets into multiple pathways in a sheet conveying device includes at least three pathways for directing the sheet from the sheet conveying member in a particular direction. A single gate plate is between the sheet conveying member and the pathways. The single gate plate is rotatable about a single axis to direct the sheet exiting the sheet conveying member toward one of the pathways.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Injae Choi, Barry Paul Mandel
  • Patent number: 7918449
    Abstract: A double-sided image forming device includes: a paper feeding section (3); a printing section (4); a first conveyance route (6) for conveying a fed paper sheet (2) to a paper discharge section (8) via the printing section (4); and a second conveyance route (7) for receiving, on its conveyance surface, the paper sheet (2), a first side (21) of which has been printed, from the first conveyance route (6), and for conveying the paper sheet (2) while reversing it, thereby conveying the paper sheet (2) to the upstream side of the printing section (4) in the conveyance direction of the first conveyance route (6), wherein the second conveyance route (7) has a reverse conveyance route (9) for receiving, on its conveyance surface, a second side (22) of the paper sheet (2), and for conveying the paper sheet (2) while reversing it, and wherein the reverse conveyance route (9) is formed by a combination of a plurality of reverse mechanisms each including: a first conveyance section (91) for linearly conveying the paper sh
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Duplo Seiko Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihide Sugiyama, Kazuya Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7918451
    Abstract: In a color printer in which a drive force of a fixed gear that rotates not in both a forward direction and a reverse direction but in either one direction only is transmitted to a discharging unit, a swing gear is attached to a branch guide via a switching link and a transmission link as a link mechanism. When a solenoid mechanism starts driving, the transmission link rotates. In accordance with the rotation of the transmission link, the switching link rotates, so that a switching among a discharge conveying path, a duplex-printing conveying path, and a switchback conveying path by the branch guide and a switching of a rotating direction of a transmission gear can be simultaneously performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Haruyuki Honda, Hiroshi Fujiwara, Yasuhide Ohkubo, Ippei Kimura, Toshikane Nishii, Shigeo Nanno, Mizuna Tanaka, Tomoyoshi Yamazaki, Masafumi Takahira
  • Publication number: 20110074099
    Abstract: A document deskewing module is provided for a self-service bunch document depositing terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Fredrik L.N. Kallin, Robert J. Ross
  • Publication number: 20110074085
    Abstract: A paper sheet obverse and reverse side arranging device according to the present invention, includes: a reversible conveying section which includes a rotor reversibly conveying paper sheets in two directions opposite to each other, and two inlet and outlet sections provided in front of the two directions, respectively; a sorting section which is provided in an upstream conveying path upstream from the reversible conveying section, and which sorts paper sheets to either one of the two inlet and outlet sections; two guiding sections which are provided in the two inlet and outlet sections, respectively, and which guide paper sheets conveyed from the reversible conveying section; two guide conveying sections which convey paper sheets guided from the reversible conveying section by the two guiding sections towards a downstream conveying path provided downstream; and a control section which controls the reversible conveying section and the sorting section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventor: Yasuhiro ONODERA
  • Patent number: 7914216
    Abstract: A method of interrupting a printing operation in a continuous transport process in which a first roller and a second roller transports plural printing mediums including a first medium on a tray in a transport direction to a printing area at which the printing operation is performed to each printing medium, the second roller is arranged at a downstream side of the first roller in the transport direction, and a third roller comes in contact with the first roller at a contact point to transport the printing mediums together with the first roller and is separated from the first roller not to transport the printing mediums, the method includes: separating the third roller from the first roller, when a trailing end edge of the first medium at least apart of which is disposed in the printing area is located at an upstream side of a predetermined point in the transport direction, and driving the second roller to transport the first medium after the third roller is separated from the first roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takuya Yasue, Jun Fukasawa
  • Patent number: 7904015
    Abstract: A media handling transport includes first and second device halves. Each of the device halves includes first, second and third body members, with the first end portion of the second body member disposed adjacent the first end portion of the first body member, the first end portion of the third body member disposed adjacent the second end portion of the first body member, and the second end portion of the third body member disposed adjacent the second end portion of the second body member. An inner body member defines a first media transport passageway with the second body member define, a second media transport passageway with the third body member, and a third media transport passageway with the first body member. The second end portions of the second and third body members define an abutting end of the device half, with the abutting end of the first device half disposed adjacent the abutting end of the second device half in an installed transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: James J. Spence, Mark S. Amico
  • Publication number: 20110049791
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided that may offer functionalities including printing, scanning and/or copying. The apparatus may include a manual sheet feeding tray disposed at the rear of the apparatus. The height of the sheet feeding tray might not exceed a height of the apparatus, allowing use of the apparatus in spaces having smaller depths. The apparatus may include a sheet guide configured to move in conjunction with the movement of the tray. In some arrangements, a surface of the sheet feeding tray may differ in height between lateral edges of the tray and a central portion. This difference may cause a sheet to be curved in a lateral direction, rendering the sheet more inflexible in a longitudinal direction. According to other aspects, a depressed portion of the tray may match a protrusion extending from the guide in shape such that the two portions may mate in a retracted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshinori OSAKABE
  • Patent number: 7887044
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a feed tray including a bottom plate configured to hold a sheet, a feed roller configured to feed the sheet in a first direction from the feed tray to a first conveying path, and a pressing member configured to press the sheet in the feed tray against the bottom plate of the feed tray. The pressing member includes a contact portion configured to contact the sheet in the feed tray, and a first guide positioned at a downstream end of the pressing member in the first direction. The first guide extends between the downstream end and the contact portion obliquely with respect to the bottom plate, such that a distance between the bottom plate and the first guide increases along the first direction. The first guide is positioned upstream of the feed roller in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuta Uchino, Takashi Ohama, Naokazu Tanahashi, Wataru Sugiyama, Noriyuki Kawamata, Tsuyoshi Ito
  • Patent number: 7885592
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for clearing paper jams in a module along a print path of a printer, the module having nip baffles and a rotatable and removable core element defining a print path therethrough. The apparatus comprises at least one cam, a rotatable handle mechanism and a ramp drive mechanism to facilitate the paper jam clearing and removal of the core element from the module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Gregory P. Schmitz, David G. Duff
  • Patent number: 7881652
    Abstract: A modular duplexing housing for an all-in-one device which may be added at a final stage of assembly in order to convert a simplex printing unit into a duplex printing and duplex ADF scanning unit. The modular duplexing unit includes a duplexing feedpath which may be positioned for feeding communication with a simplex printing feedpath in the all-in-one device. The modular duplexing unit may also comprise a secondary input tray in feeding communication with the simplex printing unit and duplexing ADF scanning unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Edwards, Brian K. Owens, Gregory P. Washnock
  • Publication number: 20110018192
    Abstract: System and methods for directing sheet media to one of multiple output paths is described. A multi-path gating system includes a multi-positionable gate including a fixed pivotable input end for receiving sheet media and a movable output end for routing the sheet media to one of multiple output paths. The multi-path gating system also includes an actuator configured to control the position of the output end of the multi-positionable gate, wherein the actuator orients the output end of the gate forming an output path for the sheet media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: KENNETH PAUL MOORE, WILLIAM HOLLENBAUGH, JR., KRISTEN L. LaDUE, JEFFREY MICHAEL FOWLER, BIN ZHANG
  • Patent number: 7871075
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet conveyance path, a pair of rollers configured to rotate in a conveyance direction to convey a sheet in the path by holding the sheet, and to reversely rotate in a direction opposite thereto. The reverse rotation is regulated so that the pair of rollers may reversely rotate within a predetermined amount. A sub-unit is releasable from a body of the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yohichi Asaba
  • Publication number: 20100327515
    Abstract: A roll-sheet feeding device having a roll sheet wound in a roll to feed a portion of the roll sheet to an image forming unit, includes a progressive mechanism to transmit a drive force from a drive source to transfer the portion of the roll sheet from the roll in a progressive direction, a roll-sheet drive mechanism to receive the drive force transmitted via the portion of the roll sheet transferred in the progressive direction, a rewinding mechanism to transfer the portion of the roll sheet in a direction opposite to the progressive direction via the roll-sheet drive mechanism to rewind the roll sheet, and a regenerating mechanism to obtain the drive force from the roll-sheet drive mechanism and transmit the obtained drive force to the progressive mechanism to regenerate the transmitted drive force as another drive force in addition to the drive force from the drive source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.,
    Inventors: Kikuya Nakada, Akito Yoshimaru, Atsuo Tokunaga, Yoshio Miyamoto, Shigeru Morinaga, Yusuke Harasawa, Kentaro Uehara, Satoshi Hirata
  • Publication number: 20100320672
    Abstract: A sheet folding device includes a sheet guide for holding a sheet bunch, a folding roll device having a first folding roll and a second folding roll, a folding blade inserting the sheet bunch supported on the sheet guide to a nip position between the first and second folding rolls, and a blade driving device for moving the folding blade from a standby position to the nip position on the folding rolls. The sheet guide has a curved guide section supporting the sheet bunch and an outlet guide section connected to the curved guide section to guide the sheet bunch to the folding rolls. The curved guide section has a curved guide plate supporting the sheet bunch so that the sheet bunch rolls back toward the folding roll device. The outlet guide section includes a pair of opposite guide plates in folding the sheet bunch by the folding blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: NISCA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eiji Fukasawa, Ichitaro Kubota, Kenichi Matsuno, Satoshi Iwama
  • Publication number: 20100308527
    Abstract: A bill discriminating and counting apparatus in which a plurality of bills with different sizes are filled between side hopper members and fed into a transport path by a feeding mechanism. The feeding mechanism comprises a plurality of rollers disposed in a bilaterally symmetrical state. The plurality of rollers are arranged so that, when a distance between the side hopper members is adjusted according to the longitudinal dimension of a bill with the maximum dimension in the longitudinal direction and a bill with the minimum dimension in the longitudinal direction is disposed at a position where the bill is brought into contact with one of the side hopper members, at least a part of the rollers installed on the opposite side of the side hopper member where the bill is brought into contact therewith is brought into contact with the bill. Also, the feeding mechanism comprises a guide member guiding the bill to the inlet of the transport path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: Glory, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyasu SATO, Atsushi Suzuki, Toshihiko Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7841594
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for altering the spatial orientation and/or direction of sheet material. The apparatus includes an input deck for receiving sheet material along an input feed path, an output deck for forwarding sheet material along an output feed path, and an orbit nip roller assembly disposed adjacent to and aligned with the input and output decks. The orbit nip roller assembly includes a primary and secondary roller defining a roller nip which lies substantially parallel to the input and output feed paths. The secondary roller is adapted to be bi-directionally displaced in an arc about the periphery of the primary roller such that the roller nip orbits the primary roller from a first radial position to a second radial position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Karel J. Janatka, Joseph A. Trudeau, Edward M. Ifkovits, Russell W. Holbrook
  • Patent number: 7843584
    Abstract: A configuration of an image forming system that includes an image forming apparatus and at least one of a paper feed apparatus and a post-process apparatus is defined based on system configuration information including a combination of identification information for the apparatuses and setting information for the order of arrangement of the apparatuses corresponding to the identification information without using a dedicated line connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akinobu Nishikata, Naohisa Nagata
  • Publication number: 20100296854
    Abstract: A medium transporting device includes: a transporting path; a contacted member that is provided on the transporting path to be movable in a medium width direction orthogonal to a medium transporting direction; a line-up member on the transporting path that lines up a position of the medium by sending the medium transported on the transporting path to the contacted member to bring the end of the medium in the medium width direction into contact with the contacted member; a displacement amount calculation unit that sets on a downstream side of the line-up member in the medium transporting direction, and calculates a misregistration amount of the medium in the medium width direction; and a contacted position control unit that controls a position of the contacted member by moving the contacted member in a direction of reducing the misregistration amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naohito OTSUKI, Michio TADA, Takashi ABE, Yousuke HASEGAWA, Shouichi MAEDA, Youichi YAMAKAWA
  • Publication number: 20100289210
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit; a conveyance unit; a motor; a stop order unit that orders stoppage of the motor; a detection unit, which detects a rotated number of the motor or a conveyance distance during a post-order period, and the post-order period being a period from when the stop order unit ordered stoppage of the motor until when the motor stops; a storage unit; a sensor, which detects passage of the recording medium; a timing determination unit, which determines a pre-order period as a appropriate order timing, wherein the pre-order period is calculated from dividing a difference between a first distance and a second distance by a conveyance speed, wherein the first distance is the conveyance distance stored in the storage, and the second distance is a distance between a position where the sensor detects passage of the recording medium and the target stoppage position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroyuki NAKAZAWA
  • Patent number: 7828290
    Abstract: An ADU transport roller driving device, an image forming apparatus and an ADU transport roller driving method, in which a phenomenon of a warp does not occur on a succeeding sheet, are provided. There are included one drive motor that drives plural transport rollers to transport sheets in an ADU, a first one-way clutch that transmits only rotation force of the drive motor in a forward direction to an entrance side transport roller disposed at an ADU entrance side in a sheet transport direction among the plural transport rollers, a second one-way clutch that transmits only rotation force of the drive motor in a reverse direction of an opposite direction to the forward direction to an exit side transport roller disposed at an ADU exit side in the sheet transport direction among the plural transport rollers, and an electromagnetic clutch capable of transmitting only the rotation force of the drive motor in the forward direction to the exit side transport roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masataka Muratani
  • Publication number: 20100276871
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet; a discharging roller pair that discharges the sheet, on which the image is formed, onto a stacking portion with a rotation in a first direction, and conveys the sheet to a re-conveying path for conveying the sheet to the image forming unit again with a rotation in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and a skew feed correction member that is provided in the re-conveying path, and contacts against a leading edge of the sheet conveyed by the rotation in the second direction to correct skew feed of the sheet, wherein sheet conveying force when contacting the leading edge of the sheet against the skew feed correction member is smaller than sheet conveying force of the discharging roller pair when discharging the sheet onto the stacking portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tatsubumi Mizuno
  • Publication number: 20100276863
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus, including: a conveyance portion configured to convey a sheet along a conveyance path; a skew-feed correction member positioned in the conveyance path such that a leading edge of the sheet conveyed by the conveyance portion contacts the skew-feed correction member to correct a skew-feed of the sheet; an receiving portion configured to receive information indicative of the width of the conveyed sheet, the width being in a direction orthogonal to a sheet conveyance direction; and a control portion configured to adjust a skew-correction conveyance amount of the conveyance portion applied to correct the skew-feed of the sheet by the skew-feed correction member, wherein the skew-correction conveyance amount is adjusted on information which the receiving portion receives such that the skew-correction conveyance amount is set to be larger for a sheet of smaller width compared to a sheet of greater width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takashi Yano
  • Publication number: 20100276870
    Abstract: A printing system includes: a printing unit that performs printing on a sheet; a conveyance mechanism that has a printing path for guiding a sheet to a printing position of the printing unit and a reverse path for reversing the sheet passing through the printing position and guiding the sheet again to the printing position; a control unit that performs double-side printing processing depending on a plurality of methods in which maximum numbers of the sheets existing in the conveyance mechanism at the same time are different from each other; and a determination unit that determines a probability of sheet jamming occurring in the conveyance mechanism. When the determination unit determines that the jamming occurrence probability is high, the control unit selects the method in which the maximum sheet number is small, and performs the double-side printing processing in accordance with the selected method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akihiro YAMADA
  • Publication number: 20100276864
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for monitoring the separation of a sheet product, particularly of banknotes. The invention is based on a device and a method for monitoring the separation of a sheet product, particularly of banknotes, by means of a separator (1, 2, 3) having a drive (4, 7) and a controller (8) for monitoring and controlling the angular speed (w) of the separator, and is based on monitoring of the angular speed of the separator by the controller for changes and the determination of faulty separation, if the change of the angular speed is greater than a permitted deviation, or if the angular speed falls below a threshold value (S).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Inventor: Franz Reuter
  • Patent number: 7819401
    Abstract: This disclosure provides a print media rotary transport apparatus and method of operation. The print media transport apparatus comprises a print media rotary path and a print media rotary bypass path, wherein the print media rotary path rotates a print media sheet about an axis orthogonal to the print media sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Steven R. Moore
  • Patent number: 7811017
    Abstract: A non-gated print media crossover for a printing system includes crossover pathways which intersect at a crossover junction. A control system controls arrival of sheets of print media at the crossover junction whereby a sheet conveyed on the first crossover pathway traverses the junction in an intersheet gap between sheets traversing the junction on the second crossover pathway. The printing system includes print media processing units, such as marking engines, paper sources, and output destinations, which are connected by a conveyor system incorporating the crossover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Stan Alan Spencer, Daniel W. Costanza
  • Publication number: 20100244371
    Abstract: Disclosed are a multi-sheet buffer module and a modular printing system incorporating the buffer module. The buffer module includes a primary sheet transport path that extends horizontally across a frame. Vertical buffer paths extend downward and upward from the primary sheet transport path. Each buffer path connects to a secondary sheet transport path, which provides a loop back connection to the primary sheet transport path. As a stream of sheets moves along the primary sheet transport path, sheets printed out of order will be selectively diverted into the sheet buffer paths. Then, at the proper moment, the sheet buffer paths will feed the buffered sheets into the secondary sheet transport path(s), which will transport them to the primary sheet transport path, such that they are inserted at the proper locations back into the stream of sheets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Eun Suk Suh
  • Publication number: 20100247200
    Abstract: A recording-medium-transporting-direction-switching-mechanism including a transport-unit transporting the recording-medium in one/another directions; a guiding-unit rotatably supported and one-end-portion being provided to be capable of existing in a transport-path, the guiding-unit being rotated by a leading-end-portion of the recording-medium transported toward the transport-unit contacting the guiding-unit, and rotating in a reverse-direction after a trailing-end-portion of the recording-medium transported by the transport-unit in the one-direction passes therethrough, and guiding the recording-medium transported by the transport-unit in the other-direction after the trailing-end-portion of the recording-medium passes therethrough, the one-end-portion of the guiding-unit having substantially rectanglular-shape, and a direction in which the leading-end-portion of the recording-medium transported toward the transport-unit is directed intersecting at an acute angle with a surface of the guiding-unit against w
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventor: Yukihiro Ichiki
  • Publication number: 20100244362
    Abstract: A first convey roller conveys a sheet in a sheet conveying direction such that a leading edge of the sheet passes through a nip of a second convey roller disposed downstream from the first convey roller. The second convey roller rotates in a reverse direction by a first rotation amount corresponding to a first linear distance to convey the sheet in a direction opposite to the sheet conveying direction, such that the leading edge of the sheet is released from the nip of the second convey roller. In response to the rotation of the second convey roller in the reverse direction, the first convey roller rotates by a second rotation amount corresponding to a second linear distance in the reverse direction to convey the sheet in the direction opposite to the sheet conveying direction, such that the leading edge of the sheet contacts the nip of the second convey roller when the first convey roller has rotated by the second rotation amount and the second convey roller has rotated by the first rotation amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Noriyuki Kawamata, Takashi Ohama, Wataru Sugiyama, Yuta Uchino, Tsuyoshi Ito
  • Publication number: 20100244354
    Abstract: Disclosed is a sheet buffering and inverting device having a sheet transport path and multiple sheet inverter paths extending upward and/or downward there from. Sheets being transported through the sheet transport path are selectively diverted into the sheet inverter paths, held, and subsequently fed back into the sheet transport path such that they are inverted. Optionally, an additional sheet transport path can branch off the sheet transport path upstream of the sheet inverter paths and can connect to the distal end of each of the sheet inverter paths to allow sheets to be buffered without being inverted. This device can be incorporated into a discrete module of a modular printing system to ensure sheets are properly merged and oriented after processing by multiple printing engines. Alternatively, it can be incorporated into a standalone printing system to ensure sheets are properly buffered and/or inverted prior to processing by a single printing engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Eun Suk Suh, Henry T. Bober
  • Publication number: 20100244372
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keisuke WAKAKUSA, Kenji SAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20100237557
    Abstract: Configuration with paired register rollers cooperative with a downstream head unit on a circulation route to register a print sheet, a feed route extending up to the register rollers, and feeder elements controllable for a downstream feed of print sheet along part of the feed route to the register rollers, the feeder elements being controllable for a change of feed speed or acceleration in accordance with information on a back tension of a print sheet on the circulation route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: RISO KAGAKU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Hara, Tatsunori Kaneko, Hitoshi Arai, Ryota Yamagishi
  • Publication number: 20100230892
    Abstract: A transporting path configuration includes: a separating mechanism that separates from one of transporting members the other transporting member; an opening/closing transporting path member that is rotatably attached above the transporting members and has one surface that configures a first transporting path of the recording medium discharged from the transporting members; a transporting path member that forms a second transporting path between the transporting path member and the other surface of the opening/closing transporting path member in a state of covering the opening/closing transporting path member; a handle that is attached to the opening/closing transporting path member so as to be extended above the second transporting path and is further extended above a cover that covers a discharge member; and a moving mechanism that moves the handle in the direction away from the cover when the other transporting member is separated from the one transporting member by the separating mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventor: Yoshiyasu Tanioka
  • Publication number: 20100225050
    Abstract: A feeding device has a conveying roller that rotates in a forward direction and a reverse direction, to selectively convey a sheet in a conveying direction and a reverse conveying direction. A particular guide member is positioned on an upstream side, guides the conveyed sheet toward the conveying roller, and has a stopper that contacts an end portion of the sheet, thereby stopping movement of the sheet in the reverse conveying direction. A control unit causes the conveying roller to rotate the conveying roller in the forward direction, such that the sheet is conveyed to a predetermined position, then to rotate the conveying roller in the reverse direction, wherein the end portion of the sheet contacts the stopper while the conveying roller rotates in the reverse direction, and then to again rotate the conveying roller in the forward direction, such that the sheet is conveyed toward the conveying roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Naokazu TANAHASHI
  • Patent number: 7789380
    Abstract: Two supply streams (1.1 and 1.2) of printed products are combined to form a combined printed-product stream. For this purpose, the supply streams are conveyed into a combining region (V) in a main conveying direction (F) in a state in which they, for example, rest loosely on conveying surfaces (3.1 and 3.2), are parallel to one another, adjacent to one another and on the same level, inner and outer edges of the printed products (P) of the two supply streams (1.1 and 1.2) being oriented parallel to the main conveying direction (F). At the entrance to the combining region (V), the inner edge region of each printed product of the first supply stream (1.1) is raised and, as they are conveyed through the combining region (V), the printed products of the two supply streams (1.1 and 1.2) are pushed transversely to the main conveying direction (F) and towards one another. An inner edge region of a printed product of the second supply stream (1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventor: H. Ulrich Stauber
  • Publication number: 20100207321
    Abstract: A feeding device includes a conveying roller that conveys a sheet downstream when the conveying roller rotates forward. A first guide member guides the conveyed sheet toward the conveying roller. A second guide member guides the sheet when the conveying roller rotates in reverse. A rotating member is positioned between the first guide member and the conveying roller, and has a support shaft and a pressing portion. The rotating member rotates about the support shaft between a first supported state where the rotating member is separated from the second guide member, and a second supported state where the rotating member is closer to the second guide member. In the first supported state, the sheet is conveyed from the first guide member to the conveying roller. A trailing end of the sheet moves toward the second guide member when the rotating member transitions from the first to the second supported state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji SAMOTO, Yuji KOGA
  • Publication number: 20100207320
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a sheet reversing mechanism is configured to take over and transfer, at a transfer speed Vr, a print sheet with an image already formed on one side being transferred at the transfer speed Vr from a first transfer mechanism, to stop the print sheet once, then to start transfer of the print sheet in an opposite direction, and to pass the print sheet to a second transfer mechanism at the transfer speed Vr. The first and second transfer mechanisms are located on upstream and downstream of a switchback reverse path for reversing print sheets respectively Upon lapse of a time T1 after detection of the print sheet by a print sheet detection unit, a transfer control unit drives the sheet reversing mechanism to start acceleration from a stopped state to the transfer speed Vr, the time T1 calculated based on the transfer speed Vr.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: RISO KAGAKU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masashi Hara
  • Patent number: RE42269
    Abstract: A double side scanner module which consists of a U-shaped inversion device and two image information reading devices is provided for reading images on the two sides of an original in a single pass. The U-shaped inversion device has two ends for providing a paper feeding path and a paper output path respectively. The two ends are at the same side for the convenience of operation. At both of the two ends, there is a glass window. Beneath each of the glass windows, there is an image information reading device. When an original is fed into the paper feeding end and conveyed through the first glass window, the first image information reading device starts to read the image on the first side of the original. When the original is conveyed through the U-shaped inversion device, the scanned side will be inverted to the other side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Transpacific Optics LLC
    Inventor: Will Kao