Responsive To Sheet Sensor Patents (Class 271/258.01)
  • Patent number: 8646775
    Abstract: A sheet detecting apparatus includes a turning portion, a sensor outputting a detection signal in response to turning of the turning portion to the detecting position, a first sliding contact portion sliding in contact with the protruded portion so as to move relatively to the protruded portion in an axial direction of the turning portion when the turning portion returns from the detecting position to the home position, and a second sliding contact portion sliding in contact with the protruded portion so as to move relatively to the protruded portion in the axial direction of the turning portion when the turning portion turns from the home position to the detecting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Terutaka Endo
  • Publication number: 20140037350
    Abstract: A sheet conveyer, including a manual-feed conveyer path; a first sensor to detect presence of the sheet inserted in the manual-feed conveyer path; an upstream-side conveyer and a downstream-side conveyer to convey the sheet toward a downstream side; a second sensor to detect presence of the sheet in a downstream position with respect to the upstream-side conveyer, the second sensor being switchable between a presence-detectable state and an absence-detectable state; and a controller is provided. The controller measures presence-detecting duration of the sheet by the second sensor and controls the downstream-side conveyer to continue conveying the sheet if the first sensor is detecting presence of the sheet when the second sensor is switched to the absence-detectable state, and if a difference between a value calculated based on the measured presence-detecting duration and a reference value obtained based on a reference sheet length is smaller than a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takashi SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 8641037
    Abstract: A sheet feeding device for use in an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus may include a sheet holder configured to be removed from and attached to the apparatus body and to hold a stack of sheets therein; an actuator including a base portion pivotally attached to the apparatus body via a first shaft and a movable portion pivotally attached to the base portion via a second shaft and extending toward the sheet holder; and a detector configured to detect a position of the base portion. The actuator may be configured such that the base portion and the movable portion pivot in response to the detector detecting the position of the base portion. The movable portion may be configured to pivot in a removal direction in which the sheet holder is removed from the apparatus body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Tokuda
  • Patent number: 8636282
    Abstract: A sheet feed apparatus which includes a sheet feed tray in which a plurality of sheets is loaded in piles; a sheet feed roller which is provided at a forward position of the sheet feed tray in a sheet feed direction, and sends the loaded sheets inside thereof; and a lift detection sensor which detects, by using a movable lever, a lift of a sheet bundle which occurs when the sheet bundle, of which a rear or a side in a sheet feed direction is bound, is sent by the sheet feed roller therein, the lift detection sensor being provided at a side position of the sheet bundle in a width direction and at a backward position with respect to the center of the sheet bundle in the sheet feed direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiaki Oshiro, Ken Iguchi, Isao Yahata, Kikuo Mizutani, Hiroyuki Taki, Chiaki Iizuka, Hidetoshi Yokochi, Yoshiaki Sugizaki, Takahiro Kawaguchi, Hiroyuki Tsuchihashi, Hiroyuki Hazu, Yoichi Yamaguchi, Hiroyuki Sugiyama, Yuichi Saito, Jun Ishii
  • Patent number: 8631922
    Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for detecting overlapped items in a sequence of items moving along a conveying path based on rigidity and thickness contour measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Sick, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Stone, Mohammed T. Islam, Omid Athari
  • Patent number: 8632156
    Abstract: A paper floating detection apparatus is arranged at a conveyance path of a conveyance device which holds paper on a conveyance surface and conveys the paper in a conveyance direction while causing a surface of the paper to face a droplet ejection head. The detection apparatus includes: a light emission unit and a light reception unit arranged to face each other across the conveyance path, such that an optical path of detection light emitted from the light emission unit and received by the light reception unit is substantially perpendicular to the conveyance direction, floating up of the paper from the conveyance surface being detected by detecting that the conveyed paper has shielded the detection light; and an air flow diverting guide member which is arranged in a periphery of the optical path and configured to prevent inflow of air having a temperature differential sufficient to affect the optical path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Yutaka Korogi, Tatsuya Nitta
  • Patent number: 8625877
    Abstract: A method is provided of operating an image-based check processing system to detect a double feed condition of carrier envelopes. An example method includes attempting to read a magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) codeline from a first predefined area of an image of a document item, determining if the document item is a carrier envelope, concluding that the document item is not a double-fed item when a determination is made that the document item is a carrier envelope, and concluding that the document item is potentially a double-fed item when a determination is made that the document item is not a carrier envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Darryl S. O'Neill, Michael Ancell
  • Patent number: 8622388
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a printing apparatus capable of correctly detecting an origin of a conveying roller for conveying a print medium at the time of its rotation with a simple configuration that does not accompany an increase of cost. For this purpose, the printing apparatus is equipped with a lock mechanism (a lock link lever) for stopping rotation of the conveying roller at a predetermined rotational position and saves a count value of a rotation amount of the conveying roller when the conveying roller is locked by the lock mechanism concerned as origin information. After this, driving of the conveying roller is controlled based on the saved origin information and a phase of rotation of the conveying roller obtained from the count value of the conveying roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Saito, Takaaki Ishida
  • Patent number: 8616549
    Abstract: A computer readable storage medium stores a feeding and conveyance control program. The feeding and conveyance control program causes a computer to perform executing sequence control of a feeding sequence module with respect to a feeding mechanism that feeds the recording medium. The sequence control includes two kinds of sequence control executed in accordance with an identifier indicating whether the vertical conveyance mechanism exists. Sequence control of a vertical conveyance sequence module is executed with respect to a vertical conveyance mechanism that relays conveyance of the recording medium. Sequence control of a resist conveyance sequence module is executed with respect to a resist conveyance mechanism that conveys the recording medium to the transfer position at a predetermined timing. Overall management of the above-described modules is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kohei Hayashi, Yoshihiko Yoshizaki
  • Patent number: 8585050
    Abstract: A document handling apparatus having a document transport path for moving a document therethrough. A detector proximate the transport detects a multifeed indication in the transport path or a misfeed indication in the transport path. A processing system processes the indications and issues a termination signal if a multifeed or a misfeed, or both, is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Anthony A. Syracuse, Randall R. Maysick, Thomas Gregory Middleton, Daniel P. Phinney, Swapnil Sakharshete, David M. Schaertel
  • Patent number: 8585051
    Abstract: An image recording device including a recording unit that records an image on a paper sheet conveyed in a conveying direction along a conveyance path, a paper feed tray that feeds the paper sheet to the conveyance path, a stopper unit that holds the paper sheet to stop the conveyance of the paper sheet, a notifying unit that issues a notification requesting removal of the paper sheet held by the stopper unit, and a control unit that controls at least one of the notifying unit to issue the notification requesting the removal of the paper sheet and the stopper unit to release the paper sheet to allow the conveyance of the paper sheet, based on where an instruction for recording an image on another paper sheet is originated, when the paper sheet is held by the stopper unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoru Arakane
  • Patent number: 8585052
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet storage unit, a sheet feeding unit, a conveyance path for conveying a sheet to the image forming unit, a plurality of sheet detection sensors disposed along the conveyance path, a determination unit for determining whether predetermined time elapses from a detection of a front end of the sheet until a detection of a rear end of the sheet and a discharge unit. When the determination unit determines that the predetermined time has elapsed based on the detection by the sheet detection sensor disposed in the furthest upstream position among the plurality of sheet detection sensors, the sheet is discharged from the discharge unit, and when the determination unit determines that the predetermined time has elapsed based on the detection by the sheet detection sensors other than that disposed in the furthest upstream position, the sheet is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumihiko Hirata, Yuji Yamanaka, Taro Ikeda, Kazuhiro Kosuga
  • Patent number: 8579286
    Abstract: An image recording device that makes it possible to accurately position images on the front and reverse surfaces of a recording medium even when there is an error in length in the direction of conveyance of the recording medium. The image recording device is equipped with a paper supply part, a paper discharge part, a table movement mechanism, which moves ten tables disposed at regular intervals along a circulation path, an image recording part, which records an image on printing paper on top of the table that is moved by this table movement mechanism, an inversion part, which inverts the printing paper, and a transport mechanism, which transports the printing paper inverted by the inversion part to the paper supply part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keisuke Hirai, Akira Murata, Kouichi Ueno
  • Publication number: 20130292899
    Abstract: A printer extracts a media sheet from a plurality of media sheets in a media supply and moves the media sheet along a media path. A plurality of sensors on the media path generate signals as the media sheet moves past the sensors, and the printer identifies a cross-process direction dimension of the media sheet with references to signals generated by the sensors. The printer identifies the dimension of the print medium without requiring media size sensors in the media supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Frederick T. Mattern, Brent Rodney Jones, Joseph Michael Ferrara, Adam Douglas Ledgerwood, Donald Richard Fess, Kenneth Paul Moore, Arthur Kahn, Gordon Byron Reid
  • Patent number: 8573593
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a unit that detects the position of a sheet in a sheet transport path when jamming is detected, a forced moving processing unit that, when jamming is detected and rotational driving of sheet transport rollers is stopped, based on the position of the sheet in the sheet transport path, performs forced moving processing in which the sheet is transported so as to forcibly move the sheet to a sheet removal position, and a forced moving processing determination unit that determines whether the forced moving processing is to be performed by the forced moving processing unit in accordance with the position of the sheet that was detected by the sheet position detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshinori Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 8573585
    Abstract: A non-transitory storage medium is disclosed herein. An example of the non-transitory storage medium includes instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to actuate a pick assembly of a media handling system to select a sheet of medium from a media stack and lower the media stack a predetermined amount and subsequently raise the media stack the predetermined amount upon failure to pick the sheet of medium from the media stack. The non-transitory storage medium may include additional instructions as disclosed herein. A media handling system and method of media handling are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Peter J Boucher, Garrett Clinton Waycaster, Andrzei Romanski, Mark D Lund
  • Patent number: 8567777
    Abstract: A method for feeding sheets through a sheet transport path. Ultrasonic energy is directed toward a sheet in the transport path while an audio receiver detects audio data generated by the ultrasonic source and the mechanisms that transport the sheet. The audio data is processed to determine whether a multifeed or a misfeed condition exists in the transport path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Anthony A. Syracuse, Randall R. Maysick, Thomas Gregory Middleton, Daniel P. Phinney, Swapnil Sakharshete, David M. Schaertel
  • Patent number: 8556259
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus including, a conveying portion conveying a sheet; a rotation detection portion rotatably provided; a sensor portion detecting the conveyed sheet based on a rotational position of the rotation detection portion; a rotation transmission portion transmitting a rotational driving force to the rotation detection portion to rotate the rotation detection portion in a predetermined rotational direction after the rotation detection portion is rotated by being pushed by the leading end of the sheet; and an urging unit configured to apply an urging force to the rotation detection portion so that the rotation detection portion comes into contact with a surface of the sheet, thereafter the rotation detection portion is returned to a waiting position along with the passage of the rear end of the sheet through the rotation detection portion after the rotation detection portion is rotated by the rotational driving force of the rotation transmitting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yohei Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8544844
    Abstract: An image forming system including an image forming apparatus and a sheet feeding apparatus. The system includes: a first conveying unit conveying to the image forming apparatus a recording material; a second conveying unit conveying to an image forming unit of the image forming apparatus the recording material; a detector detecting a recording material type while the second conveying unit halts conveying the recording material; a first controller, based on detection by the detector, determining a speed for conveying the recording material to the image forming unit, and conveying the recording material at the conveying speed; and a second controller controlling recording material conveying speeds of the first conveying unit. Before the recording material reaches the second conveying unit, the second controller maintains a first conveying speed, and after the recording material reaches the second convey unit, maintains a second conveying speed determined by the first control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryuichi Yoshizawa, Atsuya Takahashi, Akihiro Nakamura, Tadashi Okanishi, Kazuhisa Maruyama, Kaoru Sato
  • Publication number: 20130249165
    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: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Inventors: Eduard Dukart, Gerhard Sporer, Rudolf Christl
  • Patent number: 8523177
    Abstract: When continuous-conveying control is executed in a conveying apparatus which can handle various sizes of sheet, a conveying apparatus which can efficiently detect a conveying error by a required minimum conveyed amount or conveying time according to a sheet size is provided. For that purpose, a maximum conveyed amount from start of sheet feeding of the subsequent page to determination to be a sheet-feeding error is set based on a detection result of a rear end portion on a previous page by a PE sensor. The maximum conveyed amount when the rear end portion of the previous page is detected is set smaller than the maximum conveyed amount when not detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigeto Sakai
  • Patent number: 8515329
    Abstract: A sheet is placed on a sheet feed unit. A main-scanning sensor detects first detection information for identifying a sheet size in a main-scanning direction and a sub-scanning sensor detects second detection information for identifying a sheet size in a sub-scanning direction. A sheet sensor detects presence of the sheet on the sheet feed unit. It is monitored whether the sheet sensor has detected a sheet and a timer starts counting a first elapsed time from a time point at which the sheet sensor detects a sheet. A size identifying unit identifies, when the first elapsed time exceeds a first predetermined set time, a sheet size based on the first and the second detection information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Kiichirou Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8480071
    Abstract: A recording device that includes a feed roller for feeding a first and a second sheets sequentially, a first and a second conveying devices that convey the sheets in synchronization, a recording device that records image on the sheets, and a controller, that, after image recording on the first sheet is complete, stops the first and second conveying devices when a trailing end of the first sheet reaches a particular position between the first and the second conveying devices. The controller further controls the feed roller to feed the second sheet, such that a leading end of the second sheet contacts a nip of the first conveying device. After the leading end of the second sheet contacts the nip, the controller rotates the first conveying device in a reverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuo Asada, Hirotaka Aoki, Yasuhira Ota, Shingo Ito
  • Publication number: 20130168923
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a conveying path, a brushed motor, a motor drive unit, a conveying unit, a sensor, and a processor. The motor drive unit is configured to rotate and halt the brushed motor. The conveying unit is configured to convey a sheet along the conveying path by driving force of the motor. The sensor is configured to detect the sheet. The processor is configured to function as a halting unit configured to control the motor drive unit to halt the brushed motor in different methods depending on detection result of the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tasuku SUGIMOTO
  • Patent number: 8474810
    Abstract: A reflective photosensor detects a target object. The photosensor includes a transparent circuit board, a light emitter and a light receiver on one surface of the circuit board, including a light emitting element and a light receiving element, respectively, and disposed so that the light emitting element and the light receiving element face the one surface, a concave portion on the other surface of the circuit board, including a first refractive face to oppose the light emitting element and refract light from the light emitting element to the light receiving element and a second refractive face to oppose the light receiving element and refract, to the light receiver, a component of the light refracted by the first refractive face and specularly reflected by the target object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Norifumi Yamamoto, Masahiko Sato, Toshio Yanata, Masafumi Hashiguchi, Masataka Akaishi, Sohichiroh Naka
  • Patent number: 8465015
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus for which a control method is performed includes a recording unit, a conveying device conveying a recording medium to the recording unit, a feeding device supplying the recording medium to the conveying device, a recording medium conveying pathway along which the recording medium travels, and a control device controlling the conveying device and the feeding device. A first partial length of the recording medium conveying pathway extending from the feeding device to the recording unit is shorter than a conveyance direction length of a maximum usable size recording medium. When the leading end of the recording medium is located between the conveying device and the recording unit after the conveying device is driven to convey the recording medium, the control device switches the feeding device from a driven state to a non-driven state to move the feeding device by the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fujiwara, Tomoyoshi Yamazaki, Haruyuki Honda, Toshikane Nishii, Mizuna Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20130140760
    Abstract: A document handling apparatus having a document transport path for moving a document therethrough. A detector proximate the transport detects a multifeed indication in the transport path or a misfeed indication in the transport path. A processing system processes the indications and issues a termination signal if a multifeed or a misfeed, or both, is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventors: Anthony A. Syracuse, Randall R. Maysick, Thomas Gregory Middleton, Daniel P. Phinney, Swapnil Sakharshete, David M. Schaertel
  • Publication number: 20130140757
    Abstract: A document handling apparatus having a document transport path for moving a document therethrough. A single detector proximate the transport detects a misfeed indication in the transport path. A processing system processes the indication and issues a termination signal if a misfeed is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventors: Daniel P. Phinney, Randall R. Maysick, Thomas Gregory Middleton, Swapnil Sakharshete, David M. Schaertel, Anthony A. Syracuse
  • Publication number: 20130134651
    Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet stacking unit, a suction conveyance unit configured to convey an uppermost sheet stacked on the sheet stacking unit, a suction unit configured to adsorb the sheets onto the suction conveyance unit, and an adsorption completion detection unit. In the sheet feeding apparatus, when the tab-attached sheets are stacked on the sheet stacking unit and fed such that their tab portions are on the downstream side in a sheet feeding direction, the suction unit starts to adsorb the sheet and the suction conveyance unit starts to convey the sheet immediately after the adsorption completion detection unit detects the completion of the adsorption. When the sheets other than the tab-attached sheets are fed, the suction unit previously adsorbs the sheet onto the suction conveyance unit, and the suction conveyance unit starts to convey the sheet in response to the sheet feeding signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
  • Patent number: 8444142
    Abstract: A multifeed processing apparatus includes a control unit and is connected to a multifeed detecting mechanism and an image reading mechanism. The control unit includes (i) a calculating unit that calculates a shape of a peripheral edge of a medium from any one or both of an output of the image reading mechanism and an image of the medium read by the image reading mechanism, (ii) a detecting unit that detects a change in the shape on a boundary of an overlap detected portion, from the shape calculated by the calculating unit and a position of the overlap detected portion detected by the multifeed detecting mechanism, and (iii) a deciding unit that determines a case where the change in the shape is detected by the detecting unit, as a multifeed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fujii, Shinji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8439182
    Abstract: A system for controlling friction forces acting on a mailpiece in a mailpiece insertion module. The system includes, a backstop assembly for arresting the motion of the envelope when disposed in a first positon and permitting conveyance along the feed path when disposed in a second position, an actuator operative to position the backstop assembly into the first and second positions and consuming energy to maintain the backstop assembly in the first position, a sensor for acquirinq data indicative of the magnitude of energy consumed by the actuator; a means for developing a pressure differential across the envelope to urge the envelope into frictional engagement with a plurality of drive belts and for developing friction forces along a mating interface, and a system controller, for varying the magnitude of the pressure differential and the friction forces developed along the mating interface of the envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Boris Rozenfeld, John W. Sussmeier, Arthur H. DePol
  • Patent number: 8439345
    Abstract: An image forming device including a pickup roller and a scraper roller configured to send out a print sheet to a feed route, a before-registration roller configured to send out a print sheet to a registration roller, and a control unit configured to independently control the transfer speed of the print sheet at each point based on operation patterns relating to the pickup roller and the scraper roller, and an intermediate transfer roller configured to transfer the print sheet between the before-registration roller and itself, wherein the operation pattern is set based on a relationship between a distance from the intermediate transfer roller to the before-registration roller or a distance from the intermediate transfer roller to the registration roller and a length of the print sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Riso Kagaku Corporation
    Inventors: Hideaki Inoue, Hirokazu Yabune, Masaaski Saitou
  • Publication number: 20130093136
    Abstract: A method for preventing damage to a document by a document transport apparatus provides a member for receiving the document as a stack of sheets to be serial fed to a feeding station. At least two spaced-apart microphones are disposed at the feeding station and responsive to audio to produce signals representing audio energy received by each microphone respectively. The energy received from each microphone is compared to determine if it is ambient noise or if it indicates that two attached sheets are being fed or a single sheet is being damaged. The document transport apparatus is shut off to prevent damage to documents when it has been determined that two attached sheets are being fed or that a single sheet is being damaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Inventors: Swapnil Sakharshete, David M. Schaertel, Daniel P. Phinney
  • Patent number: 8419014
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a multifeed detecting mechanism including an ultrasonic sensor, and a control unit. The control unit includes (i) a detecting unit that detects an attached portion on a paper from an output of the ultrasonic sensor for the paper fed, and (ii) a determining unit that ignores, when it is detected as “Occurrence of multifeed” by the multifeed detecting mechanism and if an amount of variation in the output within the attached portion detected by the detecting unit is equal to or more than a first predetermined value, a result of detection as the occurrence of multifeed by the multifeed detecting mechanism, and determines the detection as “No multifeed”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yamagishi, Shinji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8413983
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including: a conveyor mechanism; a motor driver; and a controller for implementing a sheet-conveyance related control by execution of motor control processing in which a control input for a motor is calculated, wherein the controller implements the motor control processing in each sheet conveyance operation such that the control input is repeatedly calculated for conveying the sheet to a target stop position and for keeping the sheet located at the position, and wherein, in the motor control processing, the controller calculates the control input such that, after the sheet has reached the target stop position, the control input is equal to a hold control input required for keeping the sheet located at the position and such that, at a start point of the processing, the control input is not smaller than the hold control input in the processing in a previous sheet conveyance operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masatoshi Hirano
  • Patent number: 8408541
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling transfer of paper. In order to align the leading end of a sheet of paper, when the sheet arrives at a predetermined position in an image forming apparatus, a registration unit is stopped from operating and a driving unit that transfers the sheet from an auxiliary paper-feeding unit is also stopped from operating so that bending and crumpling of the sheet can be minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyun-soo Song
  • Patent number: 8387975
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus including, a conveying portion conveying a sheet; a rotation detection portion rotatably provided; a sensor portion detecting the conveyed sheet based on a rotational position of the rotation detection portion; a rotation transmission portion transmitting a rotational driving force to the rotation detection portion to rotate the rotation detection portion in a predetermined rotational direction after the rotation detection portion is rotated by being pushed by the leading end of the sheet; and an urging unit configured to apply an urging force to the rotation detection portion so that the rotation detection portion comes into contact with a surface of the sheet, thereafter the rotation detection portion is returned to a waiting position along with the passage of the rear end of the sheet through the rotation detection portion after the rotation detection portion is rotated by the rotational driving force of the rotation transmitting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yohei Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8368973
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a sheet feeding unit configured to sequentially feed a plurality of documents loaded on a document positioning plate, a reading sensor arranged in a conveyance path configured to read a document of the plurality of documents fed by the sheet feeding unit, an acquisition unit configured 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 configured 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: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kuniaki Sato, Masaya Shimmachi, Haruo Ishizuka
  • Patent number: 8360425
    Abstract: A depinching mechanism including a frame, a star wheel assembly, a limiter arm, a rocker arm and a sensor is provided in present invention. Through the depinching mechanism the star wheel assembly is lifted from the first position to the second position when paper jam occurs, and thus depinched the media the user can clear the paper jam. And after that the star wheel assembly is lowered from the second position to the first position. The star wheel assembly remains in the first position in the normal printing process. Since when paper jam occurs the star wheel assembly is lifted by the depinching mechanism, the user can easily and conveniently remove the jammed paper. And thus, the depinching mechanism can facilitate the user to remove jammed paper when paper jam occurs in printer. Thus, the depinching mechanism can be used in printers to solve the paper jamming problems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignees: Cal-Comp Precision (Singapore) Limited, Cal-Comp Electronics & Communications Company Limited
    Inventors: Chow-Jin Chng, Foo-Yin Theng, Cher-Lek Toh
  • Patent number: 8328178
    Abstract: A sheet conveying system which is capable of preventing a jammed sheet from being mixed with processed sheets, reducing waste in sheets and toners, and further alleviating the user's operations, when jamming has occurred during passing of a sheet between respective sheet conveying devices of upstream and downstream apparatuses. A puncher control section of a puncher as an upstream apparatus of the system issues a passing completion notification as to the passing of a sheet to a staple stacker control section of a staple stacker as a downstream apparatus of the system. Upon reception of the notification, when the staple stacker control section determines that the parameter of auxiliary information of the notification indicates an abnormal discharge of the sheet from the puncher, the staple stacker stops the conveyance of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Miyake, Mitsuhiko Sato, Ichiro Sasaki, Manabu Yamauchi, Naoto Watanabe, Akinobu Nishikata, Takayuki Fujii, Hidenori Sunada, Shunsuke Nishimura, Takashi Yokoya
  • Patent number: 8328189
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device with a sheet conveyance path through which a sheet is conveyed include: a sheet guide that has a first end rotatably supported to move a second end to be close to or away from the sheet conveyance path; and a sheet detecting section that has a first end protruding beyond the sheet guide and a second end rotatably supported so that the first end is pushed by the sheet and rotated. A rotation shaft of the sheet detecting section is disposed farther from the sheet conveyance path than a rotation shaft of the sheet guide, and the sheet guide is provided with a moving portion for moving the first end of the sheet detecting section to an inside of a guide face of the sheet guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takuya Okamura
  • Patent number: 8328191
    Abstract: A sheet material detection apparatus detects passage of a sheet material over a sheet material transportation path. The apparatus includes: a lever member that is exposed over the transportation path and turns from a reference position when the sheet material is brought into contact therewith; a detecting section that detects the turn of the lever member; a holder that supports the lever member in such a manner that the lever member can turn freely toward both sides in a direction of the transportation of the sheet material at a guide-facing-surface side, the guide facing surface being a surface facing a guide surface along which the sheet material is guided over the transportation path; and a counter weight with which the turning lever member is brought into contact, the counter weight turning due to contact with the lever member, the counter weight being thereafter brought into contact with the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya Tamura, Akira Nemura
  • Patent number: 8322717
    Abstract: A media transport apparatus includes a first media transport, having a first transport surface and a first drive unit, to convey the substrate media. A second media transport having a second transport surface and a second drive unit receives the substrate media from the first. A first force transducer outputs a force signal associated with a first force between the media transports. A control unit receives the force signal, and outputs a control signal to at least one of the first and second drive units that is dependent upon a comparison of the first relative force signal with a predetermined value. The control signal commands the first or second drive unit to drive the motion of the respective first or second media transport to maintain the force signal at or about no greater than the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Joannes N. M. de Jong, Steven R. Moore, Peter J. Knausdorf
  • Patent number: 8317193
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus has a conveying portion which conveys a sheet, a lever which is pushed by the sheet conveyed by the conveying portion, and moves from a standby position, a detecting portion which generates a signal corresponding to a position of the lever, and generates a first signal when the detecting portion detects movement of the lever in a first moving area from the standby position to a predetermined position and generates a second signal when the detecting portion detects movement of the lever in a second moving area beyond the predetermined position, and a biasing portion which does not apply to the lever a biasing force when the lever is in the first moving area, and applies to the lever a biasing force opposite in a direction in which the lever is pushed by the sheet and moves when the lever is in the second moving area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Yano
  • Patent number: 8292294
    Abstract: A sheet transportation device includes a transportation path for transportation of a sheet, a transportation unit for applying force to a sheet on the transportation path, and an electromagnetic component for driving the transportation unit by receiving supply of electric power. At the sheet transportation device, the absence/presence of a sheet is detected at a downstream side of the region where the transportation unit applies force to a sheet in the transportation path, and counter electromotive force induced in response to electric power being supplied to the electromagnetic component is supplied as the electric power for the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Junichi Masuda, Masayuki Watanabe, Takeshi Ishida, Takahiro Tsujimoto, Takahiro Yokoya
  • Patent number: 8286965
    Abstract: An automatic document feeder includes a controller that compares an input original length that is received from a main operating unit and an actual original length that is calculated based on a detection result from a registration sensor arranged, on a conveying path, downstream of a separation feeding unit. The controller sets, when a result of the comparison indicates that the input original length and the actual original length are not equal, a larger value between the input original length and the actual original length as a jam determining value. The controller controls a jam detection based on the set jam determining value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Motokazu Tamaoki
  • Patent number: 8281986
    Abstract: An automated banking machine operative to cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records. The automated banking machine includes a card reader that is operative to read card data from user cards corresponding to financial accounts. The automated banking machine is operative responsive to the card data to carry out transactions that transfer and/or allocate funds between accounts. The automated banking machine is further operative to provide users with a receipt for transactions conducted. The automated banking machine includes a cash dispenser operative to dispense cash to machine users and to cause the value of cash to be assessed to financial accounts corresponding to card data. The automated banking machine is further operative to receive currency bills or other sheets from a user and to process and store such sheets through operation of a currency accepting device. The account corresponding to card data may be credited for the value of bills or other sheets received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Diebold Self-Service Systems
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Eastman, Brian Jones, Michael S. Johnson, Shawn Griggy, Jeff A. Brannan, Michael J. Harty, Robert W. Barnett, Eric S. VanKeulen, Mike R. Ryan, William D. Beskitt, Kenneth Turocy
  • Patent number: 8281919
    Abstract: A system for controlling friction forces acting on a mailpiece in a mailpiece insertion module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Boris Rozenfeld, John W. Sussmeier, Arthur H. DePol
  • Publication number: 20120242031
    Abstract: The control unit 60 controls driving units 45b, 45c and 45d in such a manner that, when the detecting unit 36b detects at least the one paper sheet P2, the detected paper sheet P2 and the bundled of paper sheet P1 escrowed in the loop portion are merged to each other, and that the merged paper sheets P1 and P2 are escrowed in the loop portion. At this time, the control unit 60 controls the drive units 45b, 45c and 45d such that, after the detected paper sheet P2 and the escrowed bundle of paper sheet P1 have been merged or partly merged to each other, the merged or partly-merged paper sheets P1 and P2 are accelerated in at least the loop portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventor: Tetsuya TANIGUCHI
  • Patent number: 8272639
    Abstract: A document processing device capable of detecting a multifeed condition is configured to determine criteria of the multifeed or condition. If a detected multifeed meets the criteria, a detection of the multifeed or condition may be ignored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Roland Simonis, Paul Ridl