To Control Gripper-couple Moving Sheet To Alignment Patents (Class 271/228)
  • Patent number: 8544843
    Abstract: A first resist roller (72) and a second resist roller (75) are disposed in a transport path of paper on an upstream side and a downstream side in the transport direction of the paper, and the rotational speeds of the first resist roller (72) and the second resist roller (75) are controlled so that the leading edge of the paper butts against and stops at the first resist roller (72) and the second resist roller (75), after which the paper is transported by the first and second resist rollers (72, 75) and the angled travel of the paper is corrected. An angled travel detection unit (81, 82) that detects angled travel in the paper is disposed upstream from the first resist roller (72) in the transport direction of the paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazutaka Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8540239
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus which detects an end part position of a sheet in a sheet width direction orthogonal to a conveying direction of the sheet conveyed on a sheet conveying path, comprising a plurality of sensor portions; a holding portion which holds the plurality of sensor portions; a plurality of aperture stops which is disposed between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portions and which is provided on the holding portion; and a driving portion which causes a movement of the holding portion in the sheet width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Miho Kaiga, Shinkichi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8540240
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus has an upstream roller and a registration roller configured so that the sheet conveyed by the upstream roller abuts the registration roller to form a loop in the sheet to correct for skew. The skew of the sheet is corrected for by the leading edge of the sheet abutting the registration roller to bend the sheet so as to form the loop in the sheet. A resist sensor detects a time difference of passing time between the advanced leading edge and the retarded leading edge in the downstream leading edge of the sheet conveyed by the upstream roller, detects the skew amount of the sheet based on the time difference, and changes the backward rotation time of the registration roller depending on the skew amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kohei Deno, Masaki Maeno
  • Patent number: 8534667
    Abstract: A medium alignment apparatus may include an alignment body to form a transfer path is formed for passage of a medium and include an alignment reference surface for alignment of the medium is formed, an alignment roller portion mounted to the alignment body to align the medium while driving the medium simultaneously, and at least one alignment sensor portion to detect whether the medium is aligned by detecting a position of the medium passing along the transfer path. The alignment body may include a first body forming a transfer path for the medium, to which the alignment roller portion is mounted, and a second body disposed at one side of the first body to be movable relative to the first body at a speed corresponding to a transfer speed of the medium, providing a side directed to the first body as the alignment reference surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Nautilus Hyosung Inc.
    Inventor: Jin Hwan Cha
  • Publication number: 20130234387
    Abstract: A medium feeding device 1 includes a feeding roller 2 that conveys a medium in a conveying direction, and a brake roller 3 that includes rollers 32a and 32b that are arranged to be rotatable around one shaft 31 and cause a conveyance load to act on the medium that has entered between the feeding roller 2 and the rollers 32a and 32b. The rollers 32a and 32b are arranged to press the feeding roller 2 with a predetermined pressure. The medium feeding device 1 further includes a rotational difference generating unit 11 that generates a rotational difference between the rollers 32a and 32b so that the conveyance load acting on the medium by the rollers 32a and 32b becomes even.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: PFU Limited
    Inventor: Satoru Moto
  • Patent number: 8531742
    Abstract: A sheet detecting device including: an ultrasound generator; a transmitting side opening, which includes a first opening and a second opening to transmit the ultrasound; a transmitting side propagation unit, which is connected to the ultrasound generator and each of the transmitting side openings; a receiving side opening, which includes a third opening and a fourth opening to receives the ultrasound transmitted from the first opening and the second opening; an ultrasound receiver; a receiving side propagation unit, which is connected to each of the receiving side openings and the ultrasound receiver; and a first determining unit, wherein a first distance from the ultrasound generator to the first opening is different from a second distance from the ultrasound generator to the second opening, and wherein a third distance from the ultrasound receiver to the third opening is different from a fourth distance from the ultrasound receiver to the fourth opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20130214482
    Abstract: A conveying device includes a pair of first nipping rollers configured to be movable in a width direction while nipping a recording medium and rotate to convey the recording medium; a pair of second nipping rollers configured to be movable in the width direction while nipping the recording medium and rotate to convey the recording medium, the pair of second nipping rollers being arranged on an upstream side of the first nipping rollers in a conveying path; and a detecting unit configured to detect an amount of positional deviation in the width direction of the recording medium being conveyed in the conveying path. The pair of first nipping rollers is moved in the width direction based on a detection result of the detecting unit while the pair of first nipping rollers nips the recording medium so that a positional deviation of the recording medium in the width direction is corrected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Inventor: Tohru MATSUMOTO
  • Publication number: 20130187331
    Abstract: A sheet aligning device may include a sheet conveyance path; a detecting unit configured to detect a side edge of a sheet being conveyed in the sheet conveyance path; a stopper on an upstream side of the detecting unit and configured to open/close so as to allow/prevent passage of the sheet and to position a leading edge of the sheet; a first conveying unit on an upstream side of the stopper, the first conveying unit including a pair of first rollers configured to come in contact with/ separate from each other; a second conveying unit on an upstream side of the first conveying unit, the second conveying unit including a pair of second rollers configured to come in contact with/separate from each other; and a horizontal movement unit configured to move the pair of first rollers in an axial direction based on a detection result output by the detecting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Inventors: Takayuki MUNEYASU, Junji Shirakawa, Yutaka Shoji, Takeshi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8489012
    Abstract: An automated paper handling system for sending print media through a printer comprising a scan module for scanning print media and producing raw data regarding characteristics of the print media. The paper handling system also has a controller comprising a memory and a processor for receiving and processing the raw data to produce an information set. One or more connection ports connect the controller to a group of equipment, the group may comprise a printer, a paper detector, a cutting system, or an alignment system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Neuralog, LP
    Inventor: Ken Land
  • Publication number: 20130174703
    Abstract: A post-processing apparatus which enable reduction of shift alignment time and improvement of productivity. A shift unit performs a shifting operation for shifting a conveyed sheet, in a lateral direction orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction. An alignment unit aligns the sheet by a pair of alignment members thereof which are moved toward each other such side edges of the sheet in the lateral direction are held therebetween. A CPU of a finisher controller controls the alignment unit and the shift unit such that an operation for moving the alignment members from respective first standby positions in the lateral direction to respective second standby positions closer to the sheet than the corresponding first standby positions is executed in parallel with the shifting operation by the shift unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
  • Patent number: 8480081
    Abstract: The skew feeding amount of a sheet front end is calculated according to the difference between timings when activation sensors detect the sheet front end, and the skew feeding amount of the sheet side edge is calculated according to the difference between side edge positions of the sheet detected by the first side registration detection sensor or the second side registration detection sensor. Further, whether a sheet is a rectangular sheet or a non-rectangular sheet is determined before skew feeding of the sheet is corrected, and, when the sheet is determined to be a rectangular sheet, the skew feeding correcting portion is controlled based on one of the sheet side edge skew feeding amount and sheet front end skew feeding amount and the skew feeding correcting portion is controlled based on the sheet side edge skew feeding amount when the sheet is determined to be a non-rectangular sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshige Inoue
  • Publication number: 20130161900
    Abstract: A recording medium conveyor includes a first conveyance part conveying a recording medium; a second conveyance part conveying the conveyed recording medium toward a transfer position; a detection part detecting the position of the recording medium conveyed by the second conveyance part; a position error detection part detecting a position error between the transfer position and a position at which there is to be the recording medium when an image reaches the transfer position; a position error storage part storing the detected position errors; a steady-state position error calculation part calculating a steady-state position error from the stored position errors; a first control part controlling the conveyance speed of the first conveyance part to reduce the steady-state position error; and a second control part controlling the conveyance speed of the second conveyance part to reduce the detected position error, with the steady-state position error being reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Motoharu TAKAHASHI, Yusuke Ishizaki, Masahiro Ashikawa, Minoru Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8459640
    Abstract: A transporting device includes steering rollers, a center roller which is disposed between the steering rollers and deflection-detecting sensors that are positioned downstream from the steering rollers. When a sheet of paper has a width which is narrower than a width of a reference sheet of paper, the positional deflection of the sheet of paper is corrected by transporting the sheet of paper to a shift roller with the sheet of paper being nipped by the center roller and thrusting a forward end of the sheet of paper against a shift roller. When a sheet of paper has a width which exceeds the width of the reference sheet of paper, the positional deflection of the sheet of paper is corrected by rotating the steering rollers separately based on a detected result of the sensors with the sheet of paper being nipped by the steering rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Makoto Ui
  • Patent number: 8454012
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus has a first pair of rollers which nip and convey a sheet; a second pair of rollers provided on a downstream side of the first pair of rollers in a conveying direction of the sheet, which nip and convey a sheet; and a position detecting sensor which detects a position of a sheet in a width direction which is perpendicular to the conveying direction. When the first pair of rollers and the second pair of rollers nip and convey the sheet, the first pair of rollers and the second pair of rollers are simultaneously moved according to a position detected by the position detecting sensor in the same direction of the width direction which is perpendicular to the conveying direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Obuchi, Kenichi Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20130134663
    Abstract: A skew correcting device includes a first roller pair configured to nip and convey a sheet; a second roller pair disposed upstream of the first roller pair and configured to nip and convey the sheet; a contact portion disposed downstream of the first roller pair, the contact portion being a portion that the leading edge of the conveyed sheet comes into contact to correct skew of the sheet; a switching mechanism configured to change a nipping force of the first roller pair before the leading edge of the conveyed sheet comes into contact with the contact portion to form a loop in the sheet; and a control unit configured to make a determination on the basis of sheet information as to whether the nipping force of the first roller pair is to be changed, the control unit being configured to control the switching mechanism on the basis of the determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
  • Patent number: 8437682
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus that can detect a leading edge of a tabbed sheet after skew correction with high accuracy and without increasing a size of the apparatus. A transfer unit transfers a toner image to the sheet, the skew of which having been corrected based on a detection result of a first skew detection unit, while the toner image is controlled to be synchronized with the sheet based on the detection result of the first skew detection unit and a detection result of a second skew detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaaki Moriya
  • Publication number: 20130099441
    Abstract: A recording paper conveying device includes a registration roller pair and a conveyor roller pair adjacent to the registration roller pair. By rotating the conveyor roller pair, a sheet of recording paper is fed until leading edge of the sheet abuts the registration roller pair in stationary state so that the sheet is deflected by a prescribed amount. Then, conveyor roller pair is rotated at the constant velocity, and while the sheet is kept deflected, rotation of the registration roller pair is started, to start feeding of the sheet by the registration roller pair. While the registration roller pair is kept rotating, rotation of the conveyor roller pair is suspended, and then, the conveyor roller pair is returned to the state of rotation before suspension. Thus, unnecessary deflection of the sheet just in front of the registration roller pair can be prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
  • Patent number: 8424872
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus in which a sheet is abutted on a stopped registration roller to correct skew feeding, including: a sheet detecting portion, a first stepping motor and a second stepping motor. The conveying roller is controlled to tentatively stop the sheet, the conveying roller is driven prior to the start of the drive of the registration roller, the registration roller is driven after a loop of a predetermined amount is formed in the sheet, the conveying roller is driven at a sheet conveying speed that is equal to or lower than a sheet conveying speed of a self-start frequency when the conveying roller forms the loop in the sheet, rotation of the first stepping motor being able to be started at the self-start frequency, and acceleration of the registration roller and acceleration of the conveying roller are started after the loop of the predetermined amount is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tadashi Iwakawa
  • Patent number: 8419013
    Abstract: A disclosed sheet aligning device includes a sheet conveyance path; a detecting unit configured to detect a side edge of a sheet being conveyed in the sheet conveyance path; a stopper provided on an upstream side of the detecting unit and configured to open/close in such a manner as to allow/prevent passage of the sheet through the sheet conveyance path and to position a leading edge of the sheet being conveyed in the sheet conveyance path; a first conveying unit provided on an upstream side of the stopper, the first conveying unit including a pair of first rollers configured to come in contact with/separate from each other; a second conveying unit provided on an upstream side of the first conveying unit, the second conveying unit including a pair of second rollers configured to come in contact with/separate from each other; and a horizontal movement unit configured to move the pair of first rollers in an axial direction of the first rollers based on a detection result output by the detecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Muneyasu, Junji Shirakawa, Yutaka Shoji, Takeshi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20130082440
    Abstract: An image reading device includes a sheet tray, a conveying unit, a reading unit, a detecting unit, and a control unit. The conveying unit conveys the sheet along a conveying path in a conveying direction. The reading unit reads the sheet at a reading position in a main scanning direction orthogonal to the conveying direction. The control unit controls the reading unit to start reading the sheet when the detection unit detects that a leading edge of a sheet reaches a position upstream of the reading position by a first distance. The control unit controls the reading unit to stop reading the sheet when the detection unit detects that a trailing edge of the sheet reaches a position downstream of the reading position by a second distance. The first distance and the second distance are determined according to the size of the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shingo FUJIWARA
  • Publication number: 20130056926
    Abstract: Disclosed is a sheet conveying apparatus including a skew correction apparatus of a sheet which prevents the sheet from encroaching on a nip portion of a registration roller by backward rotation of the registration roller and also controls the backward rotation of the registration roller to the minimum so as to prevent the curling the sheet. The skew of the sheet is corrected for by the leading edge of the sheet abutting the registration roller to bend the sheet so as to form a loop in the sheet. A resist sensor detects a time difference of passing time between the advanced leading edge and the retarded leading edge in the downstream leading edge of the sheet conveyed by the upstream roller, detects the skew amount of the sheet based on the time difference, and changes the backward rotation time of the registration roller depending on the skew amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kohei Deno, Masaki Maeno
  • Patent number: 8382104
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus that is capable of reducing a jam and correcting misalignment of a sheet due to a buckling of the sheet certainly. A skew correction unit conveys a sheet while contacting one of side edges of the sheet with a reference member that is arranged in parallel to a conveyance direction in order to correct a skew of the sheet conveyed along a conveyance path. A misalignment correction unit moves the sheet that the skew has been corrected in a width direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction. A sheet position detection unit detects a position of the other of the side edges of the sheet that the skew has been corrected. A moving amount determination unit determines a moving amount by which the misalignment correction unit moves the sheet in the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Yasumoto
  • Publication number: 20130043648
    Abstract: A conveying apparatus including a conveying path with a curved path through which a sheet is passed, a main conveying roller provided downstream of the conveying path in a conveying direction of the sheet, the roller being rotated in a first direction to perform a conveying operation of conveying the sheet in the conveying direction and being rotated in a second direction opposite to the first direction to perform an skew correcting operation of forming a loop of the sheet, and an auxiliary guide member which supports the sheet using an inner side of a curvature of the conveying path and which is tilted toward the conveying direction side during the conveying operation when subjected to a force of the sheet which is stronger than during the skew correcting operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Keisei Hakamata
  • Patent number: 8376357
    Abstract: Registering a sheet in a differential drive registration system by identifying observed state values corresponding to a sheet handled by the differential drive registration system. The method also including determining an error vector, wherein the error vector is defined by a difference between the observed state values and reference state values for the sheet. Control input values are also determined based on the error vector, a set of control parameters, and the observed state values. The control input values being determined such that there is a linear differential relationship between the observed state values and the control input values. Additionally the method includes generating drive wheel velocities in the differential drive registration system based on the control input values. The identifying and determining steps being repeated for the sheet in a closed-loop process such that the observed state values substantially track the reference state values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Marina L. Tharayil, Silvia Mastellone, Jack Gaynor Elliot
  • Patent number: 8376358
    Abstract: An apparatus including a sheet registration nip assembly for changing characteristics of the sheet with respect to the transport path. The characteristics of the sheet including a skew position, process direction position or a lateral position of the sheet. The registration nip assembly changing a first sheet characteristic to a first target characteristic by the time the sheet reaches a preliminary registration datum. A delivery registration datum disposed downstream of the registration nip assembly. The registration nip assembly changing a second sheet characteristic to a second target characteristic when at least a portion of the sheet is disposed along the transport path between the preliminary registration datum and the delivery registration datum. The apparatus including an auxiliary nip assembly disposed between the delivery registration datum and the registration nip assembly, wherein the preliminary registration datum is disposed between the delivery registration datum and the auxiliary nip assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Joannes N. M. deJong, Lloyd A. Williams, Marina L. Tharayil
  • Patent number: 8371578
    Abstract: A sheet processing system capable of performing lateral shift correction of a sheet in an upstream sheet processing apparatus based on an amount of lateral shift to be caused by conveying thereof into a downstream sheet processing apparatus. A side edge sensor of a stacker detects a lateral shift amount of a sheet conveyed into the stacker. A stacker controller corrects lateral shift of the sheet by a shift unit. A side edge sensor of a finisher disposed downstream of the stacker detects a lateral shift amount of a sheet conveyed into the finisher. The finisher sends the detected lateral shift amount to the stacker. The stacker receives the lateral shift amount from the finisher, and the stacker controller corrects lateral shift of subsequent sheets based on both the lateral shift amount detected in the stacker and the lateral shift amount sent from the finisher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Ishikawa, Hitoshi Kato, Yasuo Fukatsu
  • Publication number: 20130032995
    Abstract: A medium alignment apparatus may include an alignment body to form a transfer path is formed for passage of a medium and include an alignment reference surface for alignment of the medium is formed, an alignment roller portion mounted to the alignment body to align the medium while driving the medium simultaneously, and at least one alignment sensor portion to detect whether the medium is aligned by detecting a position of the medium passing along the transfer path. The alignment body may include a first body forming a transfer path for the medium, to which the alignment roller portion is mounted, and a second body disposed at one side of the first body to be movable relative to the first body at a speed corresponding to a transfer speed of the medium, providing a side directed to the first body as the alignment reference surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: NAUTILUS HYOSUNG INC.
    Inventor: Jin Hwan CHA
  • Patent number: 8366102
    Abstract: Accurate sheet leading edge registration system and method including a first and second nip assembly, a first sheet leading edge sensor and a controller. The first and second nip assemblies being spaced apart from one another. The first sheet leading edge sensor capable of detecting an arrival of a leading edge of a sheet at a point in the process direction. The arrival being associated with engagement of the first and second nip assemblies with the sheet. The controller capable of imparting a rotational skew velocity to the sheet using the first and second nip assemblies. A center of rotation of the skew velocity being offset laterally from a center of the sheet leading edge and being coincident with a lateral position of a virtual point, the virtual point lateral position being offset from a lateral position of the first sheet leading edge sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Joannes N. M. deJong, Lloyd A. Williams
  • Patent number: 8366104
    Abstract: A device includes a conveying unit conveying a sheet, a guide, disposed downstream of the conveying unit in a conveying direction, guiding one side end of the conveyed sheet while being in contact with a side end, a feeding unit obliquely conveying the sheet closer to the guide, a pressing unit pressing the conveyed sheet in a direction in which the sheet moves away from the guide, and a control unit controlling the pressing unit and the feeding unit so that the feeding unit nips the pressed sheet to form a loop in the sheet between the conveying unit and the feeding unit and then conveys the sheet while the side end of the sheet is in sliding contact with the guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryosuke Sato, Kenji Shigeno, Masato Izumi, Tetsuhiro Nitta
  • Patent number: 8360422
    Abstract: A method and system for performing sheet registration are disclosed. Output values for a sheet may be identified within a reference frame. A difference between each output value and a corresponding desired output value may be determined. Input values may be determined based on at least the differences. State feedback values may be determined based on information received from one or more sensors. Jerk values may be determined for multiple drive rolls based on the input values and the state feedback values. A desired angular velocity for each drive roll may be determined based on the corresponding jerk value. A motor voltage may be determined for each drive roll that tracks an observed angular velocity value to the desired angular velocity value. The jerk values may create a linear differential relationship between the input values and the output values. The steps may be performed multiple times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Jack Gaynor Elliot
  • Patent number: 8356814
    Abstract: An aspect of the invention provides a sheet conveying apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and an image reading apparatus, in which generation of skew feeding caused by the shock in pressure contact of a rotation body can be reduced. An interlocking mechanism brings a driven roller 222 biased by a biasing member into pressure contact with a feeding portion 221c of a driving roller 221 in conjunction with rotation of the driving roller 221. The driving roller 221 includes a non-feeding portion 221d in a circumferential surface thereof. The driven roller 222 is caused to abut on a pressure holder 225 before the driven roller 222 moved in a direction in which the interlocking mechanism brings the driven roller 222 into the pressure contact with the driving roller 221 is brought into the pressure contact with the driving roller 221.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshige Inoue
  • Publication number: 20130015621
    Abstract: An automatic document feeding device including a pick motor coupled with a pick assembly, a deskew motor coupled with a deskew assembly, a sensor assembly coupled with a main media path and the deskew motor, and a feed motor coupled with a feed assembly. The deskew motor drives the deskew assembly, the deskew assembly deskewing the media sheet and moving the media sheet from the pick assembly to the feed assembly, the deskew assembly moving independently of the pick assembly and the feed assembly. The sensor assembly includes a plurality of sensors. The sensor assembly senses the media sheet moving along the main media path and sends at least one signal to a computer. The computer, based on the at least one signal, sends, an activation signal to at least one of the pick, deskew and feed motors and the first scanner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Inventors: Long C. Doan, Thaddie Natalaray, Kyi Thu Maung, Jeffrey C. Madsen, Jim Albritton-McDonald, Jeoffrey Goh, Hin Peng Teoh, Curtis J. Behrend, Keng Leong Ng
  • Patent number: 8348264
    Abstract: A control system and method for a sheet registration device including a general unit which determines desired contact point velocities for moving a sheet along a reference trajectory. The contact point velocity determination is independent of the sheet registration device. A specific unit is operably connected to the general unit. The specific unit determines registration device specific operating parameters for controlling registration device actuators to move the sheet along the reference trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Martin Krucinski
  • Patent number: 8348267
    Abstract: An improved media rotator/translator apparatus includes a cylinder on sphere nip. A series of beveled/spur gears are included, one of which rotates co-axially but independent to the drive roll shafts. This enables the drive rolls to be driven about their own axis while simultaneously allowing for rotation about the roll shaft axis. A ball idler is positioned above each drive roll providing media normal force. Thus, sheet translation, jogging, and rotation is obtained, but with no relative motion, thereby eliminating marking of certain media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew M Storey, Adam D Ledgerwood, Aaron M Moore, Derek A Bryl
  • Patent number: 8342517
    Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet conveying apparatus and an image forming apparatus capable of preventing occurrence of skew feeding when correcting sheet lateral deviation. A pair of lateral-shift correcting rollers 305 to correct positional deviation in the sheet width direction based on positional deviation quantity detected by a lateral-registration detection sensor 204c is controlled after controlling a skew feeding correcting roller 203 so as to correct sheet skew feeding based on skew-feeding quantity at a sheet leading edge detected by skew-feeding detection sensors 204a and 204b. Then, skew-feeding quantity of the sheet leading edge to be detected by the skew-feeding detection sensors 204a and 204b for correcting skew feeding of the next sheet is adjusted with skew-feeding quantity at the sheet trailing edge detected by the lateral-registration detection sensor 204c after positional deviation in the sheet width direction is corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidehiko Kinoshita, Masaaki Moriya, Atsushi Nakagawa, Mitsuhiro Sugeta, Noriaki Adachi, Satoshi Atarashi
  • Patent number: 8328188
    Abstract: A system and method for registering a sheet includes a lateral motion motor coupled to a nip and idler roller assembly that provides lateral alignment of the sheet. A de-skew assembly pivots the lateral motion motor and the nip and idler roller assembly about a pivot axis that is proximate to the lateral motion motor to de-skew the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Barry Paul Mandel, Joannes N. M. deJong, Lloyd A. Williams
  • Patent number: 8328187
    Abstract: In a sheet conveying apparatus a first shape information that expresses at least a part of the outer shape of a sheet. An obtaining unit obtains second shape information that expresses at least the part of the outer shape of the sheet. A correction amount computing unit computes a correction amount of the sheet for correcting an image to be formed on the sheet and/or correcting the position and/or orientation of the sheet based on the first shape information and the second shape information. A correction amount computing unit computes a correction amount for correcting the position and/or orientation of the sheet relative to the conveying direction from the computed skew amount. A position and/or orientation correction unit corrects an image to be formed on the sheet and/or the position and/or orientation of the sheet, according to the computed correction amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Yasumoto
  • Patent number: 8322718
    Abstract: In a recording medium conveyer, a driver drives a feeding member and a conveying member provided downstream from the feeding member in a recording medium conveyance direction independently. A controller stops driving the feeding member when a first time period elapses after a recording medium reaches the conveying member. When a selector judges that the thickness of the recording medium identifies the recording medium as thin paper, the controller does not drive the feeding member after the controller starts driving the conveying member, and when the selector judges that the recording medium has a thickness greater than a thickness of the recording medium that identifies the recording medium as thin paper, the controller restarts driving the feeding member no later than when the controller starts driving the conveying member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fujiwara, Mizuna Tanaka, Tomoyoshi Yamazaki, Toshikane Nishii, Kazuyoshi Kondo, Haruyuki Honda
  • Publication number: 20120300261
    Abstract: A recording material transporting device includes a transport path along which a recording material is transported, a first transporting unit that includes a first rotating member and a second rotating member being arranged apart from each other in a direction crossing the transport path, the first transporting unit correcting skew of the recording material by rotating the first rotating member and the second rotating member in a different speed, and a second transporting unit that includes a third rotating member and a fourth rotating member being arranged apart from each other in the crossing direction, the second transporting unit correcting skew of the recording material by rotating the third rotating member and the fourth rotating member in a different speed, wherein the third rotating member and the fourth rotating member are arranged between the first rotating member and the second rotating member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makio UEHARA, Michio TADA, Takashi ABE, Yoshiyuki TAKAISHI, Yousuke HASEGAWA, Yoichi YAMAKAWA, Hisakazu ONOE, Yasunobu GOTOH
  • Patent number: 8317191
    Abstract: A method and system have a media path having moving devices that move a media sheet in a processing direction. At least two elongated sensors within the media path are positioned diagonally relative to the processing direction. The media sheet has two lateral sides, a leading edge, and a trailing edge. A registration controller is operatively connected to the media path and to the elongated sensors. Each of the elongated sensors simultaneously identifies: a location of one of the lateral sides of the media sheet, such that a combination of the elongated sensors simultaneously outputs at least two lateral measures of locations of the lateral sides of the media sheet; and at least one measure leading edge or at least one measure of the trailing edge of the media sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Joannes N. M. deJong, Lloyd A. Williams
  • Publication number: 20120286468
    Abstract: A transporting device includes steering rollers, a center roller which is disposed between the steering rollers and deflection-detecting sensors that are positioned downstream from the steering rollers. When a sheet of paper has a width which is narrower than a width of a reference sheet of paper, the positional deflection of the sheet of paper is corrected by transporting the sheet of paper to a shift roller with the sheet of paper being nipped by the center roller and thrusting a forward end of the sheet of paper against a shift roller. When a sheet of paper has a width which exceeds the width of the reference sheet of paper, the positional deflection of the sheet of paper is corrected by rotating the steering rollers separately based on a detected result of the sensors with the sheet of paper being nipped by the steering rollers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Makoto UI
  • Publication number: 20120280447
    Abstract: A sheet 3 is caught between a clamper 15 and a platen drum 10 at its sheet front end portion. The clamper 15 is provided with a pressing member 32 with elasticity, and the pressing member 32 has two projections 32b. During conveyance, a pressing surface 32a tightly comes into contact with the front end portion of the sheet 3, while each projection 32b is elastically deformed and compressed. When correcting skew of the sheet 3, the clamper 15 is turned, while only the projections 32b press the front end portion of the sheet 3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasunobu Kayanuma
  • Patent number: 8297616
    Abstract: An assembly includes two nip assemblies spaced apart along a first axis. Each nip assembly includes a driven wheel and an idler roller. The driven wheel rotatably supported about the first axis. The idler cooperates with the driven wheel to engage a sheet. The idler rotatably supported about a second axis. The second axis being selectively moveable relative to the first axis. The selective movement between a first and second orientation occurs while the sheet is moved along the transport path. In the first orientation the second axis extends parallel to the first axis. In the second orientation the second axis extends at an oblique angle to the first axis. The selective movement pivots about a third axis extending through a centerline common to both the driven wheel and the idler. The selective movement of one of the two nip assemblies being independent from the selective movement of the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Marina L. Tharayil
  • Publication number: 20120242037
    Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus includes: a guide unit for guiding the side end of the sheet; a first roller pair arranged on the downstream side of the guide unit for conveying the sheet, including a driven roller held in contact with a whole sheet in a sheet width direction; and a second roller pair having a conveyance roller arranged on the downstream side of the roller and adapted to convey the sheet, and a plurality of pinch rollers pinching the sheet in cooperation with the conveyance roller, wherein each of the plurality of pinch rollers applies to the sheet a conveyance force inclined toward a conveyance path side end, which is nearer to the pinch roller, and wherein the smaller the distance between the pinch roller and the conveyance path side end, the greater the inclination of the conveyance force thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kengo Nieda, Koichiro Kawaguchi, Toshiki Takeuchi, Ryosuke Sato, Shigeru Toriihara
  • Publication number: 20120242036
    Abstract: A first resist roller (72) and a second resist roller (75) are disposed in a transport path of paper on an upstream side and a downstream side in the transport direction of the paper, and the rotational speeds of the first resist roller (72) and the second resist roller (75) are controlled so that the leading edge of the paper butts against and stops at the first resist roller (72) and the second resist roller (75), after which the paper is transported by the first and second resist rollers (72, 75) and the angled travel of the paper is corrected. An angled travel detection unit (81, 82) that detects angled travel in the paper is disposed upstream from the first resist roller (72) in the transport direction of the paper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventor: Kazutaka MATSUMOTO
  • Publication number: 20120235350
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus, including: a first conveying portion; a second conveying portion arranged downstream of the first conveying portion; a shutter member rotated by the pressure of the sheet and including a plurality of abutment surfaces against which a leading edge of the sheet conveyed by the first conveying portion abuts to correct a skew feed of the sheet; and an urging portion which provides the shutter member with an urging force for positioning one abutment surface at an abutment position at which the leading edge of the sheet abuts against the one abutment surface, the urging portion providing the shutter member with an urging force for rotating the shutter member to position another abutment surface at the abutment position after the leading edge of the sheet is nipped by the second conveying portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Watanabe, Yohei Suzuki, Motohiro Furusawa, Minoru Kawanishi
  • Patent number: 8256767
    Abstract: Accurate sheet registration is achieved by measuring the arrival of a leading edge and/or a trailing edge of the sheet using a first sensor. Also, measuring a first position of the sheet using a second sensor on a lateral edge of the sheet. Then performing a first adjustment moving the sheet laterally using the first position measurement. The first adjustment actuated prior to the sheet reaching a third sensor for measuring a second position of the sheet. The third sensor disposed downstream in the process direction of the second sensor and a sheet feeding nip. Then measuring a second position of the sheet using the third sensor on the lateral edge and performing a second adjustment of the sheet with regard to at least one of sheet skew, sheet velocity and sheet lateral position using at least one of the arrival, first position and second position measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Lloyd A. Williams, Joannes N. M. deJong
  • Patent number: 8240665
    Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention is provided with: a spherical conveying rotation member that is driven to rotate in a desired direction; a driven rotation member disposed above the conveying rotation member so as to be pressed onto an upper portion of the conveying rotation member so that the driven rotation member nips a sheet in cooperation with the conveying rotation member to convey the sheet; two driving rollers press with the conveying rotation member so as to drive the conveying rotation member to rotate; and a driven roller that is made in press-contact with the conveying rotation member to be driven together therewith, and in this structure, the two driving rollers and the driven roller are disposed below the conveying rotation member so as to support the conveying rotation member by the two driving rollers and the driven roller from below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Fujita
  • Publication number: 20120181743
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the embodiment, a sheet transport device includes a detecting unit configured to detect skew with respect to a transport direction of a sheet that is supplied, a transport unit configured to transport the sheet using a plurality of transport members disposed on the right and on the left at different intervals from an upstream side toward a downstream side in the transport direction and a control unit configured to cause rotation velocities of transport members on the right among the plurality of transport members to be different from rotation velocities of transport members on the left among the plurality of transport members in accordance with the skew of the sheet detected by the detecting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Satoru AKIMOTO, Yoshiki NAGASAKI
  • Patent number: 8205878
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a sheet conveyance path in which a sheet is conveyed; at least one sheet feeding mechanism to supply the sheet to the sheet conveyance path; a sheet conveyance mechanism to convey the sheet in a sheet conveyance direction; a detection mechanism to detect a position of a side of the sheet parallel to the sheet conveyance direction; a movement mechanism to move the sheet in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction; a memory to store reference position information specific to the at least one sheet feeding mechanism, respectively; and a movement control mechanism to control a movement distance of the movement mechanism based on the detected position and the reference position information specific to a selected one of the at least one sheet feeding mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Noritaka Masuda