To Control Gripper-couple Moving Sheet To Alignment Patents (Class 271/228)
  • Patent number: 7914000
    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: June 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Jack Gaynor Elliot
  • Publication number: 20110064499
    Abstract: This invention uses a paper registration device with a paper transport and a stalled roll together with an upstream and downstream CIS to enable paper skew measurements. The upstream CIS is positioned on a paper sheet transport between a beginning pre-registration nip and a buckle control sensor. A second downstream CIS is aligned with the first upstream CIS to provide skew measurement on the same side of a paper sheet. An advantage of this registration device is that it simultaneously corrects registration in a process direction, a cross process direction and corrects skew angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Donald E. Johnston, Joseph J. Ferrara
  • Publication number: 20110063356
    Abstract: A conveying distance control device includes a conveying roller; a first detecting unit detecting rotational positions of the conveying roller; a line sensor sequentially detecting marks arranged on a test chart; a calculation unit, and a control unit. The calculation unit calculates a skew angle between a line passing through positions of a first mark and a second mark and a conveying direction of the conveying roller. The control unit obtains conveying distance errors indicating differences between corrected conveying distances not including errors caused by the skew angle and theoretical conveying distance of the marks in association with the rotational positions of the conveying roller, calculates a correction value for correcting a conveying distance of the conveying roller based on relationships between the conveying distance errors and the rotational positions of the conveying roller, and controls the conveying distance of the conveying roller based on the correction value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Inventors: Masato Kobayashi, Nobuyuki Satoh, Norikazu Taki, Tatsuhiko Okada, Daisuke Sawada, Daisaku Horikawa
  • Patent number: 7900917
    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: July 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fujiwara, Mizuna Tanaka, Tomoyoshi Yamazaki, Toshikane Nishii, Kazuyoshi Kondo, Haruyuki Honda
  • Patent number: 7878503
    Abstract: Methods and devices for aligning a media sheet in a media feed path of an image forming device. One embodiment includes a drive shaft with skew correction rollers spaced apart on the drive shaft. The media sheet contacts a first skew correction roller and then contacts a second skew correction roller. The drive shaft is then rotated, driving the second skew correction roller and aligning the media sheet to the media feed path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron Don Deckard
  • Publication number: 20110018193
    Abstract: An apparatus for registering a sheet. The apparatus including a sheet registration nip assembly for changing a position and/or timing of the sheet. The apparatus also including a controller communicating a first signal to the sheet registration nip assembly to change a first sheet characteristic to a target characteristic. The first signal generated to impart the target characteristic to the sheet by the time the sheet reaches a preliminary datum. The preliminary datum disposed along the transport path between the sheet registration nip assembly and a delivery datum that is disposed downstream of the sheet registration nip assembly. The controller communicating a second signal to the sheet registration nip assembly to change a second sheet characteristic to the target characteristic. The second signal communicated when at least a portion of the sheet is disposed along the transport path between the preliminary datum and the delivery datum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joannes N.M. deJong, Lloyd A. Williams, Marina L. Tharayil
  • Patent number: 7857308
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, an idler roller has an insertion through-hole through which a rotation shaft is inserted. Collar-shaped stopper portions are formed on the rotation shaft and are located on both left and right sides of the idler roller when the rotation shaft is inserted and provided at a normal position. Coil springs are attached between the stopper portions and base surfaces of concave groove portions of the idler roller. The idler roller is held at the normal position by biasing force of both the coil springs when paper is not seized. When paper is seized, the idler roller is moved in a lateral direction by elastic restoring force caused by a torsion phenomenon occurring in the paper. The idler roller returns to the normal position due to biasing force of both the coil springs after the paper has passed through the idler roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Nakazawa, Yoshiharu Yoneda
  • Patent number: 7854379
    Abstract: A system for sensing coded records and structures for sensing coded records are used to sense sheets including notes and checks. The system includes at least one movable sheet supporting plate member in an automated banking machine. An angular reflective piece operatively connected with the plate member enables sensing sheets using radiation from transversely positioned sensors. The automated banking machine includes a deposit accepting device. The deposit accepting device is operative to receive a stack of sheets and to separate each sheet from the stack through operation of a picker. Each sheet is aligned with the sheet path and analyzed by analysis devices including at least one magnetic read head, an imager and/or a validation device. Sheets determined not to have at least one property of a genuine sheet are returned to a user of the machine. Sheets determined to have at least one property of genuine sheets are processed and stored in the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Diebold Self-Service Systems division of Diebold, Incorporated
    Inventors: Songtao Ma, William D. Beskitt
  • Patent number: 7845635
    Abstract: Methods and systems feed media sheets along a media path within an apparatus in a media path direction from a media source to a destination and align the media sheets as the media sheets travel along the media path using a media alignment unit. The methods and systems move the media alignment unit in a direction perpendicular to the media path direction using movable supports to position the media alignment unit at a location equidistant from sheet width edges of the media sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Douglas K. Herrmann
  • Patent number: 7848696
    Abstract: The invention provides an image forming apparatus wherein, when forming an image on transfer sheet, the transfer sheet is shifted across the width immediately before transfer of the image onto transfer sheet based on the position of a toner image formed on an intermediate transfer member as an image carrier, and the misalignment across the width is adjusted, thereby ensuring high-speed and high-precision adjustment of the position of the image formed on a single side or both sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Youbao Peng, Utami Soma, Atsushi Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20100301545
    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. The method includes providing at least the above-mentioned nip assemblies, first sheet leading edge sensor and controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joannes deJong, Lloyd A. Williams
  • Patent number: 7837191
    Abstract: A technique is provided that enables detection of the state of a sheet skew or the like without adding a special sensor or the like in a sheet carrying apparatus if possible. Information about sheet detection timing by two sensors that are arranged at different positions from each other in a sheet carrying direction and arranged at positions different from each other in a direction orthogonal to the sheet carrying direction is acquired. A skew of a carried sheet is determined in accordance with the acquired information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyo Katou, Yoshikatsu Kamisuwa
  • Publication number: 20100276872
    Abstract: A method and system feeds a sheet through a media path in a process direction. When the sheet is within a sheet registration carriage of the media path, the method and system align the sheet to a predetermined lateral position within the media path. The aligning process comprises unevenly activating nips within the sheet registration carriage and moving the sheet registration carriage in a lateral direction perpendicular to the process direction. When the sheet is within the sheet registration carriage, the method and system determine a lateral movement distance the sheet registration carriage will move in the lateral direction during the aligning of the sheet. If the lateral movement distance exceeds a predetermined distance, the method and system move the sheet registration carriage toward the starting position after the nips have released the sheet, but before the sheet has passed by the nips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Martin Krucinski, Saurabh Prabhat, Joannes N.M. deJong, Lloyd A. Williams
  • Patent number: 7819399
    Abstract: A method of using a buckle for relieving the stresses in sheets caused by differential displacements of drive nips during the registration process includes creating a buckle between pre-registration nips and registration nips. The velocities of the pre-registration nips and registration nips are closely controlled so that the magnitude of buckle between them is large enough to relieve the stresses in the sheet during the registration process, yet small enough to not interfere with the registration process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Injae Choi
  • Patent number: 7806404
    Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing sheet skew in a document processing device are disclosed. A document processing device may include a plurality of nips, a sheet skew measurement system, a feedback controller and an actuator. Each nip may include an idler wheel and a drive wheel. The sheet skew measurement system may be configured to measure sheet skew for a sheet. The feedback controller may be configured to generate a control signal in response to the sheet skew measured by the sheet skew measurement system. The actuator may be configured to adjust a loading force applied to a sheet by an idler wheel for at least one nip in response to the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Joannes N. M. deJong, Lloyd A. Williams
  • Publication number: 20100245449
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a conveyance roller which conveys the recording medium, a drive source for rotating the conveyance roller, a print head and a carriage mounted with the print head. The carriage includes an abutment portion. The image recording apparatus further includes a carriage position detector which detects a position of the carriage in a movement direction of the carriage and still further includes a rotating body which rotates in synchronization with the conveyance roller. The rotating body includes a reference portion which protrudes or depresses in the movement direction at a predetermined rotation phase of the rotating body and abut with the reference portion. Moreover, the image recording apparatus includes an origin determination section which, based on a result of the detection by the carriage position detector, determines an origin position of a rotation phase of the conveyance roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuji Koga, Naohisa Kinoshita, Shingo Ito
  • Patent number: 7798490
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and an image reading apparatus are capable of stably correcting the delay or the advance of a sheet even if sheet conveying rollers such as a skew feeding correction roller and the like are decentered. The delay amount or the advance amount of the sheet being conveyed is detected by a deviation amount detection unit and a control amount setting unit sets the sheet conveying speed and the correction time of a sheet conveying roller which corrects the delay or the advance of the sheet based on the delay amount or the advance amount of the sheet detected by the deviation amount detection unit. The control amount setting unit sets the sheet conveying speed and the correction time of the sheet conveying roller so that the delay or the advance of the sheet is corrected when the sheet conveying roller rotates integer multiple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ken-ichi Tamura, Hiromasa Katayama
  • Patent number: 7798491
    Abstract: A registration unit includes a skew correction roller pair configured to rotate a sheet conveyed from a conveyance roller pair and to correct skew of the sheet. The registration unit sheet further includes a projectable swinging guide arranged between the conveyance roller pair and the skew correction roller pair to deflect the sheet. The skew correction roller pair corrects the skew of the sheet deflected by the swinging guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junichi Moteki, Takashi Fujita, Hiroaki Takagishi, Nobuto Kamiyama, Seiichiro Kameda, Youichi Chikugo, Satohisa Tateishi, Kozo Inoue
  • Publication number: 20100207322
    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: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: TAKESHI YASUMOTO
  • Patent number: 7775518
    Abstract: A technique is provided that can realize highly accurate skew correction without employing any particularly complicated device configuration. The quantity of skew of a sheet is determined in accordance with a detection result from a first pair of sensors. Driving of each of first rollers and second rollers is separately controlled to carry the sheet in such a manner as to reduce the quantity of skew determined in accordance with the detection result from the first pair of sensors. The quantity of skew of the sheet is determined in accordance with a detection result from a second pair of sensors. Driving of each of the first rollers and the second rollers is separately controlled to carry the sheet in such a manner as to reduce the quantity of skew determined in accordance with the detection result from the second pair of sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hirofumi Kondo
  • Publication number: 20100194022
    Abstract: A sheet finishing apparatus includes: a conveying roller configured to convey a sheet to a storage tray; a positioning stopper provided in parallel to a conveying path for the sheet; an aligning roller configured to convey the sheet, move the sheet in a lateral direction orthogonal to a direction of the conveyance, and press the sheet against the stopper to laterally align the sheet; and a moving mechanism configured to move the position of the aligning roller in the conveying direction. The sheet finishing apparatus controls the position of the aligning roller according to a size of the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takahiro KAWAGUCHI
  • Patent number: 7766326
    Abstract: The sheet conveyance apparatus includes a controller which controls a moving unit. The moving unit moves a sheet conveyance unit for conveying a sheet toward a direction intersecting with a sheet conveyance direction. The controller performs the control such that a moving speed of a shift moving unit is reduced when a shift amount of the sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus main body is small. Therefore, generation of a noise and vibration can be suppressed to save electric power consumption. When the shift amount of the sheet is large, the moving speed of the shift moving unit can be increased to shorten an operation time necessary to the movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Obuchi, Hitoshi Kato
  • Patent number: 7766569
    Abstract: The method comprises the steps of feeding media from a media roll, arranged about an axis, through an input driving device and an output driving device of the media advance mechanism, wherein the output driving device engages the media with lower friction than said input driving device; releasing said input driving device such that it does not engage the media; and causing the media to move in the media advance mechanism such that the media is pulled taut between the roll and the output driving device and later the media slips with respect to said output driving device, whereby the media is aligned at right angles to the roll axis by effect of the friction between the media and the output driving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Eduardo Martin, Martin Urrutia, Antonio Monclus, Jordi Gimenez, David Claramunt
  • Patent number: 7748707
    Abstract: A method for deskewing a sheet. The method includes positioning a lower roller pair and at least one upper roller pair to form a substantially vertical transport path, wherein the lower roller pair and at least one upper roller pair each form a nip. The method includes driving the lower roller pair and the at least one upper roller pair so as to transport the sheet upward along the substantially vertical transport path, opening the nip formed by the at least one upper roller pair as a trailing edge of the sheet approaches the lower roller pair. The method further includes continuing to drive the lower roller pair so that the trailing edge passes through the nip formed by the lower roller pair and upward movement of the sheet ceases with the trailing edge supported by the lower roller pair, wherein gravity and continued rotation of the lower roller pair work together align the trailing edge with the lower roller pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.
    Inventor: Troy A. Giese
  • Patent number: 7748708
    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. Acceleration 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 acceleration 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 acceleration 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: July 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Jack Gaynor Elliot
  • Patent number: 7748697
    Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus according to an aspect of the invention includes conveying suction belts which have a function of rotating an adsorbed sheet and a function of conveying the sheet; a suction fan 112 which adsorbs the sheet to the belts; CCDs which detect a position and an skew in a direction orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction while the sheet is adsorbed to the belts; and a control device for driving the belts to rotate the sheet according to signals of CCDs in order to correct an attitude of the sheet adsorbed to the belts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Fujita, Hiroaki Takagishi, Nobuto Kamiyama, Kozo Inoue, Seiichiro Kameda, Junichi Moteki, Satohisa Tateishi, Youichi Chikugo
  • Publication number: 20100164164
    Abstract: A sheet carrying device includes: a sheet carrying unit having a first sheet carrying unit and a second sheet carrying unit, at least one of which has a sheet carrying force changing along a direction orthogonal to a traveling direction of a sheet, the first sheet carrying unit carrying the sheet in the traveling direction, the second sheet carrying unit carrying the sheet in the traveling direction together with the first sheet carrying unit; and a control unit which controls the carrying by the first sheet carrying unit and the carrying by the second sheet carrying unit on the basis of a result of detection from a detection unit which detects an inclination of the sheet that is traveling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirofumi KONDO, Yoshinori TSUEDA
  • Publication number: 20100156029
    Abstract: A paper feeding mechanism, an image forming apparatus employing the same and a paper feeding method thereof are disclosed. In an image forming apparatus capable of performing the printing operations at a particular printing operation that calls for a particular corresponding reference paper feeding speed, a reduction in the paper feeding noise may be achieved by providing a pickup roller operable at pickup/feeding speed that is slower than the reference feeding speed called for by the particular printing speed and a registration roller operable at the reference feeding speed. In addition, the pickup period at which the pickup roller picks up successive sheets of paper may be shortened to account for the slower operating speed of the pickup roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyun Suk KWAk, Young Jae Park
  • Publication number: 20100140861
    Abstract: The invention is to enable sheets to be aligned neatly even when front ends of the sheets are displaced to the front and back in overlapping the front and rear sheets and transporting the sheets from a sheet discharge outlet onto the tray, and provides an apparatus having a sheet transport path for transporting a sheet from a carry-in entrance to a predetermined sheet discharge outlet, a tray means for bearing and storing sheets, a regulation stopper for regulating the sheet by an end edge of the sheet striking the stopper, a holding path for temporarily holding a sheet in the sheet transport path, an alignment roller for transporting the sheet fed from the sheet discharge outlet to the regulation stopper, and a control means for controlling transport of the sheet, where the control means controls so that in the first operation mode, the alignment roller applies a transport force to the sheet by a predetermined pressing force after the rear end of the sheet is carried into the tray means, and that in the seco
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: NISCA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ichitaro Kubota, Kazuhiko Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7722039
    Abstract: A cam unit includes three cams fixed on a common cam shaft for moving a pair of feeding rollers, a pair of lateral registration rollers, and a stopper unit, respectively. A control unit corrects a lateral registration of a sheet whose skew is corrected by the stopper unit, based on a detection result of a detecting unit that detects a position of a side edge of the sheet, while conveying the sheet, controls the rollers not nip the sheet at least during the lateral registration, and controls rotations of the cams according to a length of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Yutaka Shoji, Junji Shirakawa, Takayuki Muneyasu
  • Patent number: 7722035
    Abstract: A method for correcting the lateral position of a printing material, includes gripping the printing material with a transport unit, rotating the transport unit in a lateral position correction angular range for correcting the lateral position of the printing material, and rotating the transport unit out of the lateral position correction angular range while retaining the correction of the lateral position of the printing material. An apparatus for correcting the lateral position of a printing material, a printing material conveying system and a machine for processing printing material, are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Michael Pasuch, Hendrik Frank, Helge Grandt
  • Patent number: 7712738
    Abstract: Methods and systems for performing sheet registration are described. A device having a plurality of drive rolls may receive a sheet. Each drive roll may operate with an associated angular acceleration. A state vector, including a plurality of state variables, may be identified. Error-space state feedback values may be determined based on a difference between each state variable and a corresponding reference state variable based on a desired sheet trajectory. Control input variable values may be determined based on the error-space feedback values and one or more gains. A motor control signal for a motor for each drive roll may be determined based on the control input variable values and the state variables. Each motor control signal may impart a desired angular acceleration for at least one drive roll. The identifying step and each determining step may be performed repeatedly to register the sheet to the desired trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Jack Gaynor Elliot
  • Patent number: 7712737
    Abstract: Methods and systems for performing sheet registration are described. A device having a plurality of drive rolls may receive a sheet. Each drive roll may operate with an associated angular velocity. A state vector, including a plurality of state variables, may be identified. Error-space state feedback values may be determined based on a difference between each state variable and a corresponding reference state variable based on a desired sheet trajectory. Control input variable values may be determined based on the error-space feedback values and one or more gains. A motor control signal for a motor for each drive roll may be determined based on the control input variable values and the state variables. Each motor control signal may impart a desired angular velocity for at least one drive roll. The identifying step and each determining step may be performed repeatedly to register the sheet to the desired trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Jack Gaynor Elliot
  • Publication number: 20100096798
    Abstract: A method and a module are described for storing and dispensing flat items such as banknotes or wads of banknotes, wherein the items are retained between ribbon means and deposited on a rotating support element having at least two faces comprising one or more flat or convex portions, after crossing a pair of feed-in/dispensing main rollers. Means are provided for adjusting the length of the ribbon means along the portion that extends between the points of contact with the main rollers and the points of contact with the supporting element and/or with the items stored on the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Inventor: Alberto Spinetti
  • Patent number: 7694962
    Abstract: When a comparative determination portion determines that passage of a sheet through a reference position is lagged based on a detecting signal from a passing timing detection unit, a sheet conveying speed of a skew feeding correction roller on the same side as that of a sensor which detects the lagged sheet in two sensors is increased to correct sheet skew feeding. When the comparative determination portion determines that passage of a sheet through a reference position is leaded, the sheet conveying speed of the skew feeding correction roller on the same side as that of a sensor which detects the leaded sheet in the two sensors is reduced to correct sheet skew feeding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaaki Morya, Hidehiko Kinoshita, Jun Yamaguchi, Atsushi Nakagawa
  • Publication number: 20100078874
    Abstract: A document feeder to reverse a document by conveying the document to a reverse path. The document feeder includes a conveyance roller to convey the document, a reverse roller provided along a conveyance path of the document conveyed by the conveyance roller to convey the document to the reverse path by changing a direction of conveyance of the document, and a reverse roller control unit to control the reverse roller to correct skew of the document. The reverse roller control unit controls the reverse roller to correct the skew of the document by striking the document conveyed by the conveyance roller against a nip formed between the reverse roller and a roller provided opposite the reverse roller to temporarily bend the document.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventor: Hiroaki NAGATA
  • Patent number: 7686300
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus is disclosed which is capable of preventing a motor from losing synchronization when initializing a roller position at power-up time, even if a diagonal feed mechanism does not have a sensor for detecting a position of a diagonal feed roller pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoto Watanabe, Takayuki Fujii, Shunsuke Nishimura, Toshiyuki Miyake, Takashi Yokoya, Ichiro Sasaki, Akinobu Nishikata, Hiroshi Matsumoto, Mitsuhiko Sato, Akihiko Sakai
  • Patent number: 7686299
    Abstract: This is a paper registration system that allows for a lateral reset while the paper is present in the nip space. By separating the nips, the carriage can move to reset position for the next sheet while the previous sheet is still present in the carriage. In addition, the configuration of the system of the invention is reduced or elimination of reaction forces on the carriage lead screw is provided. The registration embodiments of the present system are especially useful in a high speed marking system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Douglas K. Herrmann
  • Patent number: 7686298
    Abstract: A method of removing media lateral DC position errors in a long paper path using closed loop correction is disclosed. The amount of lateral DC media shift error generated (or the lateral DC correction required) in the paper path is sensed by a CCD or full width array sensor located in the downstream paper path. In the closed loop, this information is used to energize a motorized actuator in the upstream paper path to correct for lateral DC errors in the media path. Thus, the paper is delivered to the downstream media path within specifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander J. Fioravanti, Rakesh Suresh Kulkarni, Abu Islam, Keith Andrew Buddendeck, Saurabh Prabhat
  • Publication number: 20100072694
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for laterally aligning a sheet in a processing machine, in particular a printing machine, carries out lateral sheet alignment on a cylinder of the printing machine, e.g. a feed cylinder. In order to achieve large correction distances in relation to a possible lateral movement capability of a gripper bar, the latter is prealigned prior to correction in such a way that, in the event of deviation from predetermined desired values, it is prealigned laterally to defined positions. A sheet-fed rotary printing machine having the apparatus, is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: HEIDELBERGER DRUCKMASCHINEN AG
    Inventors: Holger Edinger, Jürgen Zeltner
  • Patent number: 7684749
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a transfer attitude correcting section for correcting a transfer attitude of the transfer sheet to receive the toner image and for conveying the corrected transfer sheet to the transfer section with a timing to match with the movement of the toner image. The transfer attitude correcting section includes a roller unit including a base board rotatable around a center of rotation and a registration roller mounted on the base board, a detecting section for detecting a position of the transfer sheet being conveyed by the registration roller; and a control section for control the roller unit based on detection data detected by the detecting section so as to correct a skew of the transfer sheet by rotating the base board and to correct a deviation of a transfer position of the transfer sheet by shifting the registration roller on the base board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hideo Yamane, Satoshi Sakata, Hiroyuki Watanabe, Akifumi Isobe
  • Patent number: 7677558
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device for conveying a sheet includes a displacement-amount detector configured to detect an amount of displacement of a conveyed sheet from a conveyance reference in a width direction being substantially perpendicular to a sheet conveying direction and a plurality of sheet conveying roller portions configured to be shiftable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction while pinching the sheet having the amount of displacement detected by the displacement-amount detector. Before the sheet reaches the sheet conveying roller portions, the sheet conveying roller portions are shifted based on the amount of displacement detected by the displacement-amount detector from a conveyance-reference position in a direction in which the sheet is displaced. After the sheet reaches the sheet conveying roller portions, the sheet conveying roller portions are shifted while pinching the sheet so as to reduce the amount of displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidehiko Kinoshita, Masaaki Moriya, Jun Yamaguchi, Atsushi Nakagawa
  • Publication number: 20100061783
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus provided with the first pair of rollers and the second pair of rollers which are positioned in the same axis perpendicular to a fixed direction, and convey a sheet in the conveying direction by rotating while nipping the sheet, the first drive section which drives the first pair of rollers and the second drive section which drives the second pair of rollers, the first detection section which detects a skew angle of the sheet against the conveying direction and a position of an edge part of the sheet in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction before the sheet is conveyed by the pairs of rollers, and the control section which changes at least one of the rotating speeds based on the detected skew angle, and controls a timing to change the rotating speed based on the detected position of an edge part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Shinpei Kawasaki, Tadashi Matsudaira, Youbao Peng
  • Patent number: 7658379
    Abstract: A skew roller is disposed near an abutment reference member. A pre-skew roller is disposed on the upstream side of the skew roller at a position corresponding to a conveyance center line. When a sheet conveyed by a pre-registration conveyance roller reaches the skew roller, the pre-registration conveyance roller moves upward to release a nipping force applied on the sheet. At the same time, the pre-skew roller moves downward to start aligning the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Yasumoto
  • Publication number: 20100013149
    Abstract: To provide a sheet conveying technique that can realize highly accurate skew correction with an inexpensive and simple apparatus configuration. A sheet conveying apparatus includes: first and second rollers that are arranged in positions different from each other in a direction orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction and can be driven to rotate independently from each other; a first skew detecting unit that is arranged on an upstream side or a downstream side of the first and second rollers in the sheet conveying direction and detects skew of a sheet at first skew detection accuracy; and a second skew detecting unit that is arranged further on the downstream side than the first skew detecting unit in the sheet conveying direction and detects skew of the sheet at second skew detection accuracy higher than the first skew detection accuracy. A skew amount of the sheet is determined on the basis of detection results of the respective first and second skew detecting units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hirofumi KONDO
  • Publication number: 20100007082
    Abstract: An apparatus for feeding and aligning sheets which are fed to a processing machine, e.g. a printing machine, includes at least two parallel transporting belts which, on a side directed toward the sheet, subject the sheet to different retaining forces, in such a way that the retaining force in outer peripheral regions is greater than in an inner region located therebetween. The transporting belts can be activated individually in dependence on the position of the sheet, and they can therefore align the sheet in its transporting direction and obliquely thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: HEIDELBERGER DRUCKMASCHINEN AG
    Inventors: Andreas Müller, Burkhard Wolf
  • Publication number: 20100007070
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sheet processing apparatus includes a first supporting member which supports a sheet and drops the sheet, a second supporting member which supports the sheet dropped from the first supporting member, a stacking member which stacks sheets, a first discharge member which discharges sheet from the first supporting member to the stacking member, a second discharge member which discharges the sheet on the second supporting member to the stacking member and a control unit. The control unit controls the first discharge member to discharge the sheet one by one from the first supporting member to the stacking member or to drop the sheet to the second supporting member on the basis of a threshold value or a predetermined value different from the threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ken IGUCHI, Katsuhiko Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 7643161
    Abstract: An inter-device media handler is configured to handle a print job in a print system having two or more media processing devices, such as a printer and a laminator. A sensor is configured to sense orientation of media buffered between the first media processing device and the second media processing device. A calculator module is configured to receive input from the sensor and to use the input to determine whether the media will stay within a working range of the second media processing device while the job is processed by the second media processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Francisco Javier Pozuelo, Annarosa Multari, Juan Carles Rubio, Gianni Cessel
  • Patent number: 7631868
    Abstract: A retractable scuffer includes an arm with foldaway drive wheels connected thereto that are independently pivotable to ensure even drive force on a sheet. The drive wheels flips down in a counter clockwise direction as the scuffer arm is driven to an extended position by a lead screw mechanism. This provides a shallow angle of contact with the sheet and allows the sheet to be pulled against a registration gate by the drive wheels versus being pushed, thereby eliminating unwanted reaction forces inherent in existing systems that push a sheet against a registration gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Brian J. Dunham
  • Patent number: 7628398
    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. Acceleration 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 acceleration 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 acceleration 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: July 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Jack Gaynor Elliot