Responsive To Sheet Sensor Patents (Class 271/258.01)
  • Patent number: 8948681
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit forming an image on a recording sheet; a transport unit transporting the recording sheet; a support surface supporting the recording sheet; a rotating member having an outer peripheral surface pressed against the support surface and rotationally following the recording sheet when the recording sheet passes through between the support surface and the outer peripheral surface; an ascertaining unit ascertaining a length of the recording sheet on the basis of an amount of rotation of the rotating member; and a restricting unit restricting a movement of the rotating member that moves toward the support surface after the recording sheet passes through between the support surface and the outer peripheral surface, the restricting unit preventing the outer peripheral surface, which comes into contact with the recording sheet, and the support surface from coming into contact with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Furuya, Yoshinari Iwaki, Minoru Ohshima
  • Patent number: 8925920
    Abstract: There are provided a paper conveying apparatus, a jam detection method and a computer-readable, non-transitory medium that suppress erroneous detection of occurrence of a jam by a sound due to a sound generated from the apparatus. The paper conveying apparatus includes a sound signal generator, provided with a sound detector near a conveyance path of paper, for generating a sound signal, a sound jam detector for determining whether a jam has occurred based on the sound signal output during a paper conveying operation, a control module for performing abnormal processing when the sound jam detector determines that the jam has occurred, and an abnormal sound detector for determining whether an abnormal sound has been generated based on the sound signal output before a paper conveying operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventors: Takayuki Umi, Masanobu Hongo
  • Patent number: 8925921
    Abstract: There are provided a paper conveying apparatus, an abnormality detection method and a computer-readable, non-transitory medium which can precisely determine whether an abnormality has occurred when paper is conveyed. The paper conveying apparatus includes a sound generator for generating a paper sound by contacting a paper, a first sound signal generator for generating a first sound signal corresponding to the paper sound, and an abnormal conveyance detector for determining whether an abnormal conveyance has occurred when the paper is being conveyed according to a detection method, wherein the abnormal conveyance detector is configured to change the detection method based on the first sound signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventors: Shuichi Morikawa, Masanobu Hongo, Ryoichi Yasukawa, Takayuki Umi
  • Patent number: 8910938
    Abstract: A medium carrying device includes a first pair of rollers that forms a nip part and carries a medium, the nip part being defined as an area where the rollers contact each other applying a pressure to other, a guide part that guides the medium to the first pair of rollers, and a medium detection member that includes a tip end part and a pivoting fulcrum and that is pivoted around the pivoting fulcrum by the medium as the medium moves along the guide part. In a case of being viewed from a roller axial direction of the first pair of rollers, the tip end part passes the nip part when the medium detection member pivots around the pivoting fulcrum as a center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Takahiro Sunohara
  • Patent number: 8899572
    Abstract: A printing apparatus comprising an image forming system, a sheet-feeding system, a sheet-transporting system, a sheet-controlling device, a sheet-detection device, a first driving system, a second driving system and a controller is provided. The sheet-controlling device and the sheet-detection device are disposed between the sheet-feeding system and the sheet-transporting system. The sheet-controlling device controls an entry of a sheet into the sheet-transporting system. The first driving system drives the sheet-controlling device, and the second driving system drives a transporting mechanism of the sheet-transporting system. The controller upon receiving an error signal from the sheet-detection device signals the sheet-controlling device to inhibit the entry of the sheet into the sheet-transporting system and signals the transporting mechanism to continue its operation. A duplex printing method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Avision Inc.
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Gotoda
  • Patent number: 8879129
    Abstract: A document scanner (10) includes an input tray (30) for holding documents (20) and an input image capture device (40) for capturing images of the documents (20)in the input tray (30) prior to transporting the document for imaging; an output tray (150) for holding documents (20) after the documents (20) exit the scanner; an output image capture device (140) for capturing images of the output tray; an image processor for determining characteristics of the output tray or characteristic of the documents (20) before imaging and after the documents (20) exit the scanner; and scanner functions are modified based on the output tray characteristics or the document characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Kodak Alaris Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Schaertel, Nelson A. Blish, Daniel P. Phinney
  • Patent number: 8879130
    Abstract: A system for capturing an image of a document includes an input tray (30) for holding documents (20); an input imaging device (40) that captures an image of a first document in the input tray; wherein the input tray image of the first document is captured as an area image; transmitting the captured input tray image of the first document to an image processor (100); and transporting the first document to an output tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Kodak Alaris Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Schaertel, Nelson A. Blish, Daniel P. Phinney
  • Publication number: 20140319764
    Abstract: A driving force transmission device includes a first rotating portion having a first facing portion, and a second rotating portion having a second facing portion. The second rotating portion has an operation range partially overlapping with that of the first facing portion. A cushioning member is provided between the first facing portion and the second facing portion. The cushioning member is deformed by being applied with a pressure. The first rotating portion and the second rotating portion transmit a driving force in a state where the cushioning member is deformed by application of the pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: OKI DATA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi SAITO
  • Publication number: 20140319765
    Abstract: A sorting apparatus comprises a conveyance path, a first storage section, a detection section, a first roller and a control section. The conveyance path conveys a sheet. The first storage section stores the sheet conveyed through the conveyance path. The detection section detects whether or not the sheet conveyed in the conveyance path is in the detection target area of the conveyance path. The first roller is located at the downstream side of the detection target area of the detection section in a conveyance direction of the conveyance path, and rotates to convey the sheet in the conveyance path towards the first storage section. The control section reversely rotates the first roller when the conveyance path is recovered from a stop state so that the sheet in the conveyance path is moved for a distance from the first roller to the detection target area of the detection section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ken Iguchi
  • Patent number: 8864131
    Abstract: A paper conveying apparatus includes a sound signal generator for generating a sound signal, a sound jam detector for determining whether a jam has occurred based on the sound signal, a control module for stopping conveyance of a paper when the sound jam detector determines that the jam has occurred, a paper state detector for detecting a state of the paper, and a recovery processing module for performing recovery processing which resumes conveyance of the paper in accordance with a content of detection of the paper state detector when the sound signal generator outputs a predetermined sound signal after stopping conveyance of the paper by the control module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventors: Masanobu Hongo, Takayuki Umi
  • Patent number: 8864130
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a separator, an image reader for reading an image from a paper, a conveying module for conveying a paper separated by the separator to the image reader, a side wall provided at a side of a conveyance path of the paper, a sound signal generator, provided with a sound detector between the separator and the conveying module and near the side wall, for generating a sound signal corresponding to a sound generated by the paper during conveyance, and a control module for determining whether a jam has occurred based on the sound signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventors: Takayuki Umi, Masanobu Hongo
  • Patent number: 8864132
    Abstract: Upon continuous feeding of a plurality of sheets and upon detection of a leading end of a sheet by a detection unit before an elapse of a first time after a start of a paper feed roller, a controller performs control such that a paper conveyance speed of the paper feed roller is set lower than a paper conveyance speed of a registration roller, and the paper feed roller is stopped after conveying the sheet having the leading end detected for a specified conveyance distance before a next timing of starting the registration roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Riso Kagaku Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiro Yamagata
  • Patent number: 8857815
    Abstract: There is provided a paper feeding device including: a microphone which detects sound occurred on a paper conveying path; a pre-processing unit which performs pre-processing on a signal of the sound detected by the microphone; and a jam detection unit which detects a jam of paper based on the sound signal on which the pre-processing is performed, a reference value about intensity of the sound, and a reference value about a duration time of the sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventors: Masanobu Hongo, Tetsuo Funada, Nobuhisa Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8849178
    Abstract: A sheet detecting apparatus including: a sheet detecting member having a plurality of abutment surfaces in a peripheral direction thereof, the sheet detecting member being rotated by a conveyed sheet abutting against one of the plurality of abutment surfaces; a detection portion which operates in association with the sheet detecting member; a sensor which generates a signal based on a position of the detection portion; and an urging portion which generates an urging force for positioning the one of the plurality of abutment surfaces of the sheet detecting member in a waiting position in which the leading edge of a sheet conveyed by a conveying portion abuts against the one of the plurality of abutment surfaces, and thereafter the urging portion switching the urging force to an urging force for positioning, in the waiting position, another one of the plurality of abutment surfaces against which a succeeding sheet abuts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Yoshimura, Kenji Watanabe, Minoru Kawanishi, Motohiro Furusawa, Yohei Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8840108
    Abstract: There are provided a paper conveying apparatus, a jam detection method and a computer-readable, non-transitory medium which can determine whether a jam has occurred based on the sound which is generated by a paper during conveyance at a low cost. The paper conveying apparatus includes an ultrasonic detector, provided near a conveyance path of a paper, for detecting an ultrasonic wave which passes through paper and outputting an ultrasonic signal, a multifeed detector for determining whether multifeed of papers has occurred based on a component of a first frequency band in the ultrasonic signal, and a sound jam detector for determining whether a jam has occurred based on a component of a second frequency band lower than the first frequency band in the ultrasonic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventors: Shuichi Morikawa, Masanobu Hongo, Ryoichi Yasukawa, Takayuki Umi
  • Patent number: 8840107
    Abstract: A paper conveyance apparatus including a conveyance roller module including a pair of a sheet feeding roller and a separation roller opposite to each other across a paper conveyance path, a sound receiving aperture positioned on the same side as one side of the paper conveyance path, the one side including any one of the conveyance roller module, a sound shield positioned on a straight line between a nip portion of the conveyance roller module and the sound receiving aperture, a sound signal generator for generating a sound signal in response to a sound detected through the sound receiving aperture, and a sound jam detector for determining whether a jam has occurred based on the sound signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventors: Takayuki Umi, Masanobu Hongo
  • Patent number: 8833761
    Abstract: A method for monitoring transport of bank notes in a transport system, using sensors arranged along the transport system for sensing transported bank notes, and a control device for monitoring and controlling the transport system using signals from the sensors, from which the control device derives a presence or absence of a bank note at the location of the respective sensor. The signals from all sensors are stored in a memory, and the signals from all sensors are assigned an explicit time statement or clock statement. All transported bank notes are assigned an explicit object code by the control device, and the object code is linked to the explicit time statement or clock statement. Stored signals from the sensors derive the occurrence and type of errors during the transport of the bank notes, and the signals are linked to the bank notes denoted by the object codes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Giesecke & Devrient GmbH
    Inventors: Eduard Dukart, Gerhard Sporer, Rudolf Christl
  • Patent number: 8833763
    Abstract: There are provided a paper conveying apparatus, a jam detection method and a computer-readable, non-transitory medium that can suppress erroneous detection of a jam by sound due to the sound which a paper which has a wrinkle generates. The paper conveying apparatus includes a separator, a sound signal generator, provided with a sound detector provided at a downstream side of the separator, for generating a sound signal in accordance with the sound generated by a paper during conveyance, a sound jam detector for determining whether a jam has occurred based on the sound signal, and a wrinkle detector, provided at a downstream side of the separator, for detecting optically a wrinkle of a paper, wherein the sound jam detector changes the method of detection of the jam when the wrinkle detector detects a wrinkle of a paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventors: Shuichi Morikawa, Masanobu Hongo, Takayuki Umi
  • Patent number: 8833753
    Abstract: A sheet detection device includes a moving member and a support member. The moving member includes an interference part capable of interfering with a sheet that passes through a sheet transport path. The support member slidably supports the moving member. When a sheet passes through the sheet transport path in a forward direction, the sheet interferes with the interference part of the moving member in a protruding posture, and the moving member turns in a first direction along the forward direction in a state of maintaining the protruding posture. When a sheet once stopped on the sheet transport path is pulled out in a reverse direction with a predetermined pull-out force, the moving member turns in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction, and changes the posture from the protruding posture to a retreating posture against a biasing force of a first bias member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Kuniaki Araishi
  • Patent number: 8833765
    Abstract: A paper sheet conveying apparatus includes: a conveying path in which a paper sheet is conveyed; a plurality of conveying rollers; a plurality of driving motors; an out-of-step detection portion; a stop control portion; and a driving restart control portion. The plurality of conveying rollers are disposed along the conveying path. The plurality of driving motors rotates the conveying rollers. The out-of-step detection portion detects an out-of-step in each of the driving motors. The stop control portion stops each of the driving motors when an out-of-step is detected. The driving restart control portion drives, after each of the driving motors is stopped, a first driving motor in which an out-of-step has occurred, and a second driving motor in which no out-of-step occurs, under a driving start condition that an amount of rotation of the second driving motor is less than an amount of rotation of the first driving motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Shinya Aono
  • Patent number: 8827266
    Abstract: There are provided a paper conveying apparatus, a jam detection method and a computer-readable, non-transitory medium that can suppress erroneous detection of the occurrence of a jam by a sound due to the sound generated along with conveyance of the paper. The paper conveying apparatus includes a first sound signal generator for generating a first sound signal, at least a part of the first sound signal generator is provided near a separator, a second sound signal generator for generating a second sound signal, at least a part of the second sound signal generator is provided at least at one end of a conveyance path of the paper, and a sound jam detector for determining whether a jam has occurred based on the second sound signal according to a detection method, wherein the sound jam detector changes the detection method based on the first sound signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventors: Takayuki Umi, Masanobu Hongo
  • Patent number: 8827267
    Abstract: There are provided a paper conveying apparatus, a jam detection method and a computer-readable, non-transitory medium that can improve the user friendliness in the recovery processing when determining that a jam has occurred during conveyance of a paper. The paper conveying apparatus includes a sound signal generator for generating a sound signal, a sound jam detector for determining whether a jam has occurred based on the sound signal, a control module for stopping conveyance of a paper when the sound jam detector determines that the jam has occurred, a paper state detector for detecting a state of the paper, and a recovery processing module for automatically performing a recovery processing which resumes conveyance of the paper in accordance with a content of the detection of the paper state detector after stopping the conveyance of the paper by the control module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventors: Masanobu Hongo, Takayuki Umi
  • Patent number: 8827268
    Abstract: There are provided a paper conveying apparatus, a jam detection method and a computer-readable, non-transitory medium which can suppress erroneous detection of the occurrence of a jam. The paper conveying apparatus includes a sound signal generator, provided with a sound detector near a conveyance path of paper, for generating a sound signal corresponding to a sound generated by a paper during conveyance of the paper, a sound jam detector for determining whether a jam has occurred based on a predetermined sound signal, and a control module for performing an abnormal processing when the sound jam detector determines that the jam has occurred and the predetermined sound signal is not generated at a predetermined timing, and determining that the jam has not occurred and not performing the abnormal processing when the sound jam detector determines that the jam has occurred and the predetermined sound signal is generated at the predetermined timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventors: Shuichi Morikawa, Masanobu Hongo, Takayuki Umi
  • Patent number: 8830494
    Abstract: A sheet sensing module and a duplex scanning apparatus having the sheet sensing module are provided. The sheet sensing module includes a first sensing arm, a second sensing arm, and an electronic sensor. The first sensing arm is partially exposed to a sheet feeding channel of the duplex scanning apparatus. The second sensing arm is partially exposed to an inverting channel of the duplex scanning apparatus. When a document is transferred through the sheet feeding channel to trigger said first sensing arm or the document is transferred through the inverting channel to trigger the second sensing arm, the electronic sensor generates a sensing signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Primax Electronics Ltd.
    Inventors: Ping-Hung Kuo, Yi-Liang Chen, Wei-Hsun Hsu, Szu-Chieh Wu
  • Patent number: 8820739
    Abstract: A method and apparatus that adjusts the step count at which a tray low paper condition is declared based on the number of outstanding feed commitments and the average number of feeds between tray increments. After a first tray increment has occurred, feeder software will wait a pre-determined number of additional tray increments, and will then calculate the average number of feeds between increments. Using this average and the number of outstanding feed commitments a low paper condition is declared when a predetermined logical test is true.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J Linder, Benjamin Paulson
  • Patent number: 8820741
    Abstract: There are provided a paper conveying apparatus, a jam detection method and a computer-readable, non-transitory medium which can precisely determine any occurrence of a jam by a sound which is generated by paper for various types of paper. The paper conveying apparatus includes a sound signal generator, provided with a sound detector near a conveyance path of a paper, for generating a sound signal corresponding to a sound generated by a paper during conveyance of the paper, a paper thickness setting module for setting a thickness of a paper conveyed to the conveyance path, and a sound jam detector for determining whether a jam has occurred based on a signal of a specific frequency band in the sound signal, wherein the sound jam detector determines the specific frequency band based on a thickness of the paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventors: Masanobu Hongo, Takayuki Umi
  • Patent number: 8810874
    Abstract: A duplex scanning apparatus and a sheet-feeding control method thereof are provided. The duplex scanning apparatus includes a sheet feeding channel, a sheet transfer channel, an inverting channel, and a sheet sensing module. A first end of the inverting channel is connected to a junction between said sheet feeding channel and the sheet transfer channel. A second end of the inverting channel is connected to the sheet transfer channel. A distance between the sheet sensing module and the first end of the inverting channel is greater than a distance between the sheet sensing module and the second end of the inverting channel. When a document is transferred through the sheet sensing module at the second time, a next document is fed into the sheet feeding channel through a sheet entrance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Primax Electronics Ltd.
    Inventors: Ping-Hung Kuo, Yi-Liang Chen, Wei-Hsun Hsu, Szu-Chieh Wu
  • Publication number: 20140225322
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus including a sheet supplier configured to supply a recording medium, a first conveyor configured to convey the recording medium supplied from the sheet supplier in a conveying direction, and a recording portion configured to record an image on the recording medium conveyed by the first conveyor may further include a controller configured to detect an orientation of the recording medium with respect to the conveying direction while the recording medium is conveyed and change a conveying speed of the recording medium conveyed by the first conveyor depending on the detected orientation of the recording medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akihiro Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8800989
    Abstract: A paper conveying device includes: a conveyance path, along which paper is conveyed; paper jam removal zones provided side by side along the conveyance path; paper detection sensors respectively provided in the paper jam removal zones for detecting the presence or absence of paper; a paper jam detecting section for detecting paper jam based on output signals from the paper detection sensors; a signal storing section for storing previous signal statuses just before current signal statuses of the output signals of the paper detection sensors; a display section for displaying one of the paper jam removal zones; and a display controlling section for identifying the one of the paper jam removal zones based on the current signal statuses and the previous signal statuses of the paper detection sensors when paper jam is detected, and displaying the identified paper jam removal zone on the display section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Riso Kagaku Corporation
    Inventor: Yousuke Minowa
  • Patent number: 8783684
    Abstract: There are provided a paper conveying apparatus, a jam detection method and a computer-readable, non-transitory medium that can suppress erroneous detection of a jam. The paper conveying apparatus includes a sound signal generator for generating a sound signal, a sound jam detector for determining whether a jam has occurred based on the sound signal, a special sound detector for determining whether a special sound has been generated based on a component of the sound signal, and a control module for performing abnormal processing when the sound jam detector determines that a jam has occurred and the special sound detector determines that a special sound has not been generated, and determining that no jam has occurred and not performing the abnormal processing when the sound jam detector determines that a jam has occurred and the special sound detector determines that a special sound has been generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventors: Masanobu Hongo, Takayuki Umi
  • Patent number: 8777220
    Abstract: In general, in a sheet feeding device of embodiments, a shaft connects through an one-way clutch structure to a conveying roller, rotates in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction, transmits the torque to the conveying roller to cause the conveying roller to rotate in the first direction if the shaft rotates in the first direction. The shaft does not transmit the torque to the conveying roller if the shaft rotates in the second direction. The shaft limits the rotation of the conveying roller in the second direction while the shaft is in a rotation-stop state. A controller has a second mode in which the shaft is rotated in a second direction to allow rotation of the conveying roller in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiaki Oshiro, Yoichi Yamaguchi, Isao Yahata, Takahiro Kawaguchi, Yoshiaki Sugizaki, Kikuo Mizutani, Hiroyuki Taki, Hiroyuki Tsuchihashi, Chiaki Iizuka, Hidetoshi Yokochi, Ken Iguchi, Hiroyuki Hazu, Hiroyuki Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 8770876
    Abstract: A printing apparatus is provided. The printing apparatus includes a printing unit, a sheet feeder, a discharge unit, a sheet path including a feeding path, a discharge path, and a reversing path, a manual sheet inlet, through which a recording sheet is manually inserted, a manual sheet path merging into the sheet path at a merging point and guiding the manually-inserted recording sheet to the merging point, a detecting unit to detect the manually-inserted sheet fed through the manual sheet inlet while a double-face printing operation is conducted with a preceding recording sheet, a judging unit to judge whether the detecting unit detected the manually-inserted sheet, and a conveyer controller unit to reduce a speed to convey the preceding recording sheet in the sheet path when the judging unit judges that the detecting unit detected the manually-inserted sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuki Fukusada, Tetsuya Okano
  • Patent number: 8764009
    Abstract: The unstacker device (1) for unstacking flat articles comprises: a magazine (3) in which the articles (2) to be unstacked are disposed on edge in a stack against a jogging edge (5) and facing an unstacking plate (4) arranged to separate a first article (2A) and to drive it in a certain unstacking direction (A) that is perpendicular to the jogging edge (5); a conveyor (7) for conveying the unstacked articles, the conveyor having an inlet (7A) downstream from the jogging edge (5); and retaining means (8) disposed between the jogging edge (5) and the inlet of the conveyor (7A) and actuated to exert a retaining force on an article (2A, 2B), which retaining force opposes movement of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Solystic
    Inventors: Agnes Philippe, Celine Guignard, Hicham El Bernoussi
  • Publication number: 20140175739
    Abstract: A medium carrying device includes a first pair of rollers that forms a nip part and carries a medium, the nip part being defined as an area where the rollers contact each other applying a pressure to other, a guide part that guides the medium to the first pair of rollers, and a medium detection member that includes a tip end part and a pivoting fulcrum and that is pivoted around the pivoting fulcrum by the medium as the medium moves along the guide part. In a case of being viewed from a roller axial direction of the first pair of rollers, the tip end part passes the nip part when the medium detection member pivots around the pivoting fulcrum as a center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: OKI DATA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takahiro SUNOHARA
  • Patent number: 8757616
    Abstract: A sheet feeding mechanism includes a separating member, a biasing member, a detectable portion and a detector. The separating member is mounted on a base portion to be movable between a first position to which the separating member is positioned when being pressed by a sheet feeding member and a second position at a distance from the first position. The biasing member biases the separating member so that the separating member moves from the first position toward the second position. The detectable portion is provided on the separating member. The detector detects the detectable portion at a detection position. The detectable portion is present at the detection position when the separating member is located at the first position and deviates from the detection position when the separating member is moved to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Shingo Arimura
  • Patent number: 8757617
    Abstract: An apparatus may be configured to: upon feeding a sheet by a roller, wait for a sheet waiting interval before feeding a next sheet by the roller, determine, using a sensor downstream from the roller in a sheet feeding path, a sensed sheet interval between at least two of the fed sheets; determine whether the sensed sheet interval is equal to or greater than a reference value; and in response to determining that the sensed sheet interval is equal to or greater than the reference value, reduce the sheet feed waiting interval for subsequent feeding of at least one sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuki Fukusada
  • Patent number: 8760734
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a sheet feeding unit configured to sequentially feed documents loaded on a document positioning plate, a reading sensor configured to read a document of the plurality of documents fed by the sheet feeding unit, an acquisition unit to acquire an interval of the document between a trailing edge of a preceding document and a leading edge of a next document conveyed through the conveyance path, and a reading unit to execute a first reading mode using the reading sensor to read the document conveyed at a first conveyance speed, and a second reading mode using the reading sensor to read the document conveyed at a second conveyance speed that is lower than the first conveyance speed, wherein the reading unit executes the second reading mode after the first reading mode when the interval of the document is less than a predetermined interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kuniaki Sato, Masaya Shimmachi, Haruo Ishizuka
  • Patent number: 8752829
    Abstract: A mechanical flag for an object detection device includes a body portion, a head portion extending from the body portion, a tail portion extending from the body portion; and an elongate aperture disposed in the body portion and about which the mechanical flag is rotatable and translatable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Devin S. Uehling
  • Patent number: 8752830
    Abstract: A sheet feeder which is capable of accurately detecting multi-feed of sheets even when the distance between sensors is changed. The sheet feeder includes a sheet container for holding a stack of sheets. Ultrasonic sensors for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, respectively, are provided on a conveying path. The ultrasonic sensor as a transmitter transmits ultrasonic waves to a sheet being fed and conveyed. A reception circuit detects a level of ultrasonic waves received by the ultrasonic sensor as a receiver. The level of ultrasonic waves detected after lapse of a predetermined time from transmission of ultrasonic waves is compared with a predetermined threshold value to determine multi-feed of sheets. A distance between the ultrasonic sensors is detected, and at least one of the predetermined time period and the predetermined threshold value is corrected based on the detected distance between the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuro Fukusaka, Yoshitaka Yamazaki, Taishi Tomii
  • Patent number: 8752833
    Abstract: A paper conveyance apparatus including a housing, a guide member for guiding a paper conveyed in a paper conveyance path, the guide member being attached to the housing, a sound signal generator for generating a sound signal in response to a sound detected through a sound receiving aperture disposed in a space between the housing and the guide member, and a vent path for cleaning the sound receiving aperture by an air blow to the sound receiving aperture, the vent path communicating with the interior and exterior of the space between the housing and the guide member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventors: Takayuki Umi, Masanobu Hongo
  • Patent number: 8746673
    Abstract: A system includes a media path along which physical media travels. A media pick device picks and transports the media in the media path according to one or more pick parameters. A device monitor can monitor a media pick or jam event and provide a media pick event output. The media pick event output identifies a media fault relating to at least one of the pick or the transport of the media. A controller processes the media pick event output to control the media pick device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Michael Nickerson, Richard L. Payne
  • Patent number: 8744280
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method comprising loading a medium onto an input tray of a imaging device; staging the medium within the imaging device, wherein staging the medium includes moving the medium from the input tray to a staging area within the imaging device; during the staging of the medium, determining an average load current of a motor that is associated with an automatic document feeder of the imaging device; and based on the average load current, determining a threshold load current of the motor, wherein the threshold load current corresponds to the panel of the imaging device having been opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventor: Burt Poppenga
  • Patent number: 8724190
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to start image formation in accordance with a second job while performing the image formation in accordance with a first job, each of the first job and the second job including information indicating one of paper feeding units; a detecting unit configured to detect whether a recording medium is stored in a paper feeding unit indicated by the first job; and an image formation control unit configured to cause the image forming unit to continue the image formation in accordance with the second job when the detecting unit detects that a recording medium is stored in the paper feeding unit, and cause the image forming unit to suspend the image formation in accordance with the second job when the detecting unit detects that no recording medium is stored in the paper feeding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Masahiro Kitayama, Hiromitsu Shimizu, Yasuaki Miyazaki, Yuji Sone, Shota Miyajima, Kohichi Irie, Shigeto Miyauchi, Wei Jing
  • Patent number: 8690152
    Abstract: When a sheet is transported as passed through a first roller pair equipped with a torque limiter and through a second roller pair, a loop formed in the sheet between the first roller pair and the second roller pair is cleared by a method wherein the amount of sheet loop is decreased by driving the second roller pair and disabling the first roller pair and wherein at the time when the sheet loop is decreased to a predetermined amount, a velocity of clearing the loop is lowered by rotating the first roller pair at a lower peripheral velocity than that of the second roller pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Takayuki Ito, Shigeru Tashiro, Naotoshi Kawai, Hiroaki Umemoto
  • Patent number: 8676065
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including at least one option cassette, and a paper jam handling method performed in the image forming apparatus are provided. The paper jam handling method includes the operations of detecting whether paper jam occurs in the image forming apparatus, checking whether paper sheets exist on a transfer path of the image forming apparatus and on a transfer path of the option cassette, when the paper jam is detected, and leaving the paper sheet on the transfer path of the option cassette as it is and discharging the paper sheet caught on the transfer path of the image forming apparatus. Accordingly, paper damage or paper consumption may be prevented by not discharging a paper sheet caught on a transfer path of at least one option cassette during paper jam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-gyu Park, Yun-su Kim
  • Patent number: 8668300
    Abstract: A multifunction machine includes: a first feeding roller and a second feeding roller; an intermediate roller pair provided to a curved portion of a transport route; a main transporting roller pair; a recording head; a first drive motor and a second drive motor; and a control section. The control section intermittently drives the main transporting roller pair and makes the recording head jet ink during a period of time in which the main transporting roller pair is stopped, and performs pre-paper feeding processing for rotating the first feeding roller a predetermined amount in a paper feeding direction when a rear end of a paper is positioned between a first sensor and the first feeding roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Samoto, Yuji Koga, Keisuke Wakakusa
  • Publication number: 20140061995
    Abstract: A paper sheet conveying apparatus includes a paper sheet conveyance path, a conveyance sound detection portion, an abnormality correspondence information storage portion, and an abnormality specifying portion. The conveyance sound detection portion detects conveyance sound of a paper sheet on the paper sheet conveyance path. The abnormality correspondence information storage portion has stored therein abnormality correspondence information indicating correspondence relationships between contents of a plurality of types of sheet conveyance abnormalities that can occur on the paper sheet conveyance path, and contents of the conveyance sounds detected by the conveyance sound detection portion when the respective sheet conveyance abnormalities occur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Kozo Shimazu
  • Publication number: 20140062009
    Abstract: There are provided a paper conveying apparatus, a jam detection method and a computer-readable, non-transitory medium that can improve the user friendliness in the recovery processing when determining that a jam has occurred during conveyance of a paper. The paper conveying apparatus includes a sound signal generator for generating a sound signal, a sound jam detector for determining whether a jam has occurred based on the sound signal, a control module for stopping conveyance of a paper when the sound jam detector determines that the jam has occurred, a paper state detector for detecting a state of the paper, and a recovery processing module for automatically performing a recovery processing which resumes conveyance of the paper in accordance with a content of the detection of the paper state detector after stopping the conveyance of the paper by the control module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: PFU LIMITED
    Inventors: Masanobu Hongo, Takayuki Umi
  • Publication number: 20140062008
    Abstract: There are provided a paper conveying apparatus, a jam detection method and a computer-readable, non-transitory medium that can improve the user friendliness in recovery processing when a jam has occurred during conveyance of a paper. The paper conveying apparatus includes a sound signal generator for generating a sound signal, a sound jam detector for determining whether a jam has occurred based on the sound signal, a control module for stopping conveyance of a paper when the sound jam detector determines that the jam has occurred, a paper state detector for detecting a state of the paper, and a recovery processing module for performing recovery processing which resumes conveyance of the paper in accordance with a content of detection of the paper state detector when the sound signal generator outputs a predetermined sound signal after stopping conveyance of the paper by the control module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: PFU Limited
    Inventors: Masanobu Hongo, Takayuki Umi
  • Patent number: 8651478
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a first conveying unit configured to convey a sheet in a conveying direction; a conveying path configured to guide the sheet to the first conveying unit, the sheet having been conveyed by the first conveying unit in a direction opposite to the conveying direction; a second conveying unit configured to convey the sheet in the conveying path; a rotation direction detecting unit configured to detect a rotation direction of the second conveying unit; and a control unit configured to perform control, at startup, to drive the first conveying unit in a direction that causes the sheet to be conveyed in the conveying direction, and if the rotation direction detecting unit detects rotation of the second conveying unit, to drive the second conveying unit in the rotation direction that is detected by the rotation direction detecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumie Kameyama, Hiroyuki Saito, Nobuhiro Toki, Kenji Shigeno