Laterally Spaced Sensors Patents (Class 271/265.03)
  • Patent number: 9151594
    Abstract: A position detection apparatus comprises a sensor unit 80 and a moving holder 81 and a holder drive portion 82. The sensor unit has a plurality of pairs of sensors, each of which includes a light emitting portion held on the first holding surface 81a and a light receiving portion held on a second holding surface 81b as a pair and which are arranged along sheet width direction, and the sensor unit detects the edge position of the sheet S while the holder drive portion moves the moving holder in the sheet width direction and every other light emitting portions in the plurality of pairs of sensors is turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoji Misao
  • 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: 8899400
    Abstract: The check deposit apparatus of the present invention comprises an insertion part that is used to insert a check from outside for deposit, a feed part furnished with a feed roller that feeds the placed check along a feed path, an alignment part furnished with an alignment roller that feeds the check fed from the feed part to one side of the feed path and also aligns it, a check reading part that reads information of the check that has been aligned by the alignment part, first and second sensor groups that judge whether the check inserted into the insertion part has a specification that enables it to be fed and processed toward the alignment part normally, a third sensor group that judges whether the check aligned in the alignment part has a specification that enables it to be read and processed normally in the check reading part, and a control part that judges whether to deposit or return the check in question based on the information sensed by the first and second group or third sensor group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Nautilus Hyosung Inc.
    Inventors: Jae Hoon Kwak, Woo Ho Lee
  • Publication number: 20140348563
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes a sheet conveying unit that conveys a sheet including a drive roller, a driven roller, and a rotary encoder provided on a rotational axle of one of the drive roller and the driven roller; a conveying amount measuring unit that measures a conveying amount of the sheet; a first detection unit positioned downstream of the sheet conveying unit, the first detection unit being positioned apart from the drive roller and the driven roller not to overlap with the drive roller and the driven roller in the conveying direction; a second detection unit positioned upstream of the sheet conveying unit; and a conveying distance calculation unit that calculates a conveying distance of the sheet based on the measured result by the conveying amount measuring unit and the detected results detected by the first detection unit and the second detection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto NAKURA, Takuro KAMIYA, Shingo TAKAI, Naoto UEDA, Satoshi UEDA, Akira KOBASHI, Koichi KUDO
  • 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: 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
  • Patent number: 8773684
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the present disclosure includes: a printing unit configured to perform printing on a recording medium; a multiple-sheet-feed detecting unit configured to detect a multiple sheet feed of the recording medium; an image holding unit configured to hold an image expected to print on the recording medium on which the multiple sheet feed is detected (i.e. the multi-fed medium); and a print control unit configured to control the printing unit. The print control unit is further configured (a) to cancel printing on the multi-fed medium, and (b) to cause the printing unit to print the held image on another recording medium, which (b1) is in transfer after the multi-fed medium, (b2) is nearest in a transferring order to the multi-fed medium, and (b3) has a property same as that of the multi-fed medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Masato Hirota
  • Patent number: 8684356
    Abstract: Provided are a high-quality sheet feeding apparatus which can detect multifeeding of sheets in a wide range of the sheet conveying direction and realize a stable conveying state, and an image forming apparatus therewith. A CPU controls a multifeeding detection sensor to detect multifeeding of sheets at a plurality of transmission points P1 to P5 of the multifeeding detection sensor. This CPU sets a plurality of transmission points across the front end and rear end of a sheet moving in the sheet conveying direction, based on size information of the sheet read from a storage portion and the timing of detection passing of the sheet in a horizontal path first sensor. This enables detection of multifeeding across the front end and rear end of a preceding sheet in the sheet conveying direction, and also enables detection of unseparated multifeeding that a subsequent sheet follows overlapping the preceding sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuro Fukusaka, Yuzo Matsumoto, Yoshitaka Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8678384
    Abstract: A medium transport unit includes: a transport roller; a transport belt which transports a loaded medium by driving of the transport roller; a sensor array which includes a plurality of imaging elements arranged vertically to a transport direction of the medium and outputs reading signals which are detected and output by the plurality of imaging elements and indicate a density value of the medium on the transport belt; a comparator which outputs a digitalized signal of HIGH if the reading signal exceeds a threshold signal; and a signal output circuit which receives the digitalized signal and outputs a first value if the digitalized signal is transitioned from LOW to HIGH.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenichi Komiya, Koji Tanimoto, Daisuke Ishikawa, Hiroyuki Ishikawa, Kazutoshi Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20140042692
    Abstract: A recording medium conveying apparatus includes a conveying path, a conveying section, recording medium detection sensors, a medium interval calculation section, a control section, and a difference calculation section. The difference calculation section sets a medium interval based on an output from the recording medium detection sensor serving as a reference sensor to a reference value and calculates a difference by subtracting a medium interval based on the output from each of the other recording medium detection sensors from the reference value. When, during the continuous conveyance of recording media, a value obtained by subtracting the difference from the medium interval based on the output from any of the other recording medium detection sensors is equal to or less than zero, the control section controls the conveying section to extend the medium interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Yasutaka Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8550459
    Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a manual feed tray on which sheets are stacked, a feeding member, side regulating plates, a detecting portion which detects positions of the side regulating plates and detects a width size of the sheets, an operation panel which receives an input of width size information of the sheets from a user, and a control circuit which compares width size information detected by the detecting portion and the width size information input to the operation panel, and stops a sheet feeding operation of the feeding member when the two pieces of width size information are different, and the control circuit compares the width size information of the detecting portion and the width size information of the operation panel, per sheet before the feeding member starts feeding the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hajime Sekiguchi, Takeshi Suga
  • Patent number: 8540239
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus which detects an end part position of a sheet in a sheet width direction orthogonal to a conveying direction of the sheet conveyed on a sheet conveying path, comprising a plurality of sensor portions; a holding portion which holds the plurality of sensor portions; a plurality of aperture stops which is disposed between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portions and which is provided on the holding portion; and a driving portion which causes a movement of the holding portion in the sheet width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Miho Kaiga, Shinkichi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8490968
    Abstract: When a trailing edge detection sensor is affected by toner, dust, etc. adhered on an optical path thereof or when the sensor fails, malfunction of the apparatus is prevented from happening by measuring the size of a record material only with a unit for detecting a leading edge. The image forming apparatus has a unit for leading edge detection adapted to detect the leading edge of the record material and a unit for trailing edge detection adapted to detect the trailing edge of the record material, and is configured to, when the unit for trailing edge detection falls in detection capability or fails, form an image and measure the size of the record material only with the unit for leading edge detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Kokubo
  • Patent number: 8437682
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus that can detect a leading edge of a tabbed sheet after skew correction with high accuracy and without increasing a size of the apparatus. A transfer unit transfers a toner image to the sheet, the skew of which having been corrected based on a detection result of a first skew detection unit, while the toner image is controlled to be synchronized with the sheet based on the detection result of the first skew detection unit and a detection result of a second skew detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaaki Moriya
  • Patent number: 8382102
    Abstract: A transportation alignment device, a control method for a transportation alignment device, and a recording device determine the alignment of media having a transparent part with high transmittance at its leading end with a simple configuration, and prevent idling of processes downstream from the alignment member. A plurality of optical media detection sensors arranged across the width of the transportation path on the upstream side of the alignment plates each detect a medium touching the alignment plates. If all of the media detection sensors do not detect the medium when the medium has been advanced sufficiently to contact the alignment plate and align the medium, a medium, such as a laminated medium, having a high transmittance part at the leading end thereof is determined to be aligned, the alignment plate is retracted from the transportation path, and the medium is conveyed to the downstream side of the transportation path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Toshihiro Imae
  • Patent number: 8348270
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body, a sheet conveyance apparatus, and a control unit. The main body includes an image forming unit to form an image on a sheet. The sheet conveyance apparatus and the main body are detachable from each other and the sheet conveyance apparatus may convey the sheet to the image forming unit. The sheet conveyance apparatus includes a sheet conveyance path through which the sheet passes and a detection unit. The detection unit includes light emitting and receiving units that transmit light across the sheet conveyance path therebetween. The detection unit detects a reference and an edge position of the conveyed sheet in a width direction of the sheet orthogonal to a sheet conveyance direction. The control unit determines a position of the sheet based on detections of the reference and the edge position of the conveyed sheet by the detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazushi Nishikata, Yoji Misao, Satoshi Koga, Kazunari Nishimoto
  • Patent number: 8177228
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for monitoring the singling of sheet material, in particular of bank notes. The invention starts out from monitoring the singling of sheet material, in particular of bank notes, by means of a singler having a drive and a control device for a monitoring and controlling of the singler, wherein a monitoring of place, time, orientation and state of the singled sheet material is effected immediately after the singling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Giesecke & Devrient GmbH
    Inventors: Dominik Nützel, Frantz Reuter, Rainer Stoll
  • Patent number: 7866664
    Abstract: A method for sensing a paper skew adapted for a device having a paper feeding mechanism is provided. The device has a feed sensor which is fixed at a start position of paper feeding; and, a position sensor which moves in a direction perpendicular to a direction of paper feeding and passes through a first and a second positions. The first position is the intersection of a moving path of the position sensor and a line. The feed sensor is on the line, and the line is parallel to the direction of paper feeding. The method includes the device having a first distance; moving the position sensor to the second position; feeding a work paper into the device; obtaining a second distance which is a moving distance of the work paper fed; and determining whether the work paper is skewed or not according to the difference between the first and the second distances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Kinpo Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Tsung-Fu Kao
  • Patent number: 7866663
    Abstract: A method for sensing a paper skew adapted for a device having a paper feeding mechanism is provided. The device has a feed sensor which is fixed at a start position of paper feeding; and, a position sensor which moves in a direction perpendicular to a direction of paper feeding and passes through a first and a second positions. The first position is the intersection of a moving path of the position sensor and a line. The feed sensor is on the line, and the line is parallel to the direction of paper feeding. The method includes the device having a first distance; moving the position sensor to the second position; feeding a work paper into the device; obtaining a second distance which is a moving distance of the work paper fed; and determining whether the work paper is skewed or not according to the difference between the first and the second distances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Kinpo Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Tsung-Fu Kao
  • Publication number: 20100308532
    Abstract: A method and system for insuring printing accuracy in simplex imaging or duplex imaging, including a media sheet in a media path adapted to move the media sheet through the system. The media path includes sensors and a datum. The sensors include a leading edge sensor and a trailing edge sensor adapted to record the time of arrival of the edge. The edge arrival time difference is determined between the arrival time of the edge using output from the trailing edge sensor and the arrival time of the edge using output from the leading edge sensor. A correction factor is based upon the time difference. The time of arrival of the media sheet at the datum is determined using the correction factor to align items printed on both side of the media sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Joannes N.M. deJong, Lioyd A. Williams
  • Patent number: 7837191
    Abstract: A technique is provided that enables detection of the state of a sheet skew or the like without adding a special sensor or the like in a sheet carrying apparatus if possible. Information about sheet detection timing by two sensors that are arranged at different positions from each other in a sheet carrying direction and arranged at positions different from each other in a direction orthogonal to the sheet carrying direction is acquired. A skew of a carried sheet is determined in accordance with the acquired information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyo Katou, Yoshikatsu Kamisuwa
  • Patent number: 7832726
    Abstract: A sheet-convey device, includes a holder, a convey member, and a recognizer. On the holder, a first sheet having a first width and a second sheet having a second width larger than the first width are placeable. The convey member conveys a sheet placed on the holder in a predetermined direction. The recognizer recognizes a width of the sheet and includes first and second sensors for sensing whether a part of the sheet is present at respective first and second positions of the holder. The first position is located inside of the first width in the widthwise direction with the first sheet placed on the holder, while the second position is located outside of the first width and inside of the second width with the second sheet placed on the holder. The second position is located upstream of the first position in the predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshinori Osakabe
  • Patent number: 7792479
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is configured so that a first detection position and a second detection position are set along the direction of conveying a transfer material between adjacent conveyance rollers. The image forming apparatus has four sensors, two of which are disposed in the first detection position at a predetermined interval, and the remaining two of which are disposed in a second detection position at a predetermined interval. An actual length of the transfer material can be detected with high accuracy by performing (1) cancellation of an error in detection caused by variation in a speed at which the transfer material is conveyed, (2) cancellation of an error in detection caused by a skew, and (3) cancellation of an error in detection caused by oblique passing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Yasumoto
  • Patent number: 7751771
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sheet transport apparatus comprising; sheet transport means capable of conveying sheets at a transfer speed that is the same as a transfer speed ? of sheet in an image forming position where an image is formed on the sheet, and at a transfer speed ? that is faster than the transfer speed ?, skew feeding correction means which corrects skew feeding of sheet conveyed by the sheet transport means and which feeds the sheet to the image forming position where the image is formed, and sheet interval control means for controlling a distance between a sheet and a next sheet by changing timing at which the transfer speed of the sheet is reduced from the transfer speed ? to the transfer speed ? at upstream side from the skew feeding correction means in a sheet conveying direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinsuke Ubayashi
  • Patent number: 7703766
    Abstract: A method for sensing a paper skew adapted for a device having a paper feeding mechanism is provided. The device has a feed sensor which is fixed at a start position of paper feeding; and, a position sensor which moves in a direction perpendicular to a direction of paper feeding and passes through a first and a second positions. The first position is the intersection of a moving path of the position sensor and a line. The feed sensor is on the line, and the line is parallel to the direction of paper feeding. The method includes the device having a first distance; moving the position sensor to the second position; feeding a work paper into the device; obtaining a second distance which is a moving distance of the work paper fed; and determining whether the work paper is skewed or not according to the difference between the first and the second distances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Kinpo Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Tsung-Fu Kao
  • Patent number: 7654520
    Abstract: A sheet-handling apparatus with a detecting device includes a casing, a plurality of entrance rollers located in the casing, an image collector arranged at one side of the casing, a plurality of middle reflectors and side reflectors. A paper path is formed between the entrance rollers, the paper path includes a middle path and two side paths arranged in the sides of the middle path. The image collector includes an illuminant and an image sensor. The middle reflectors are fixed in the casing and at the other side of the paper path and face to the middle path. The side reflectors are arranged at the side of the middle reflectors. The invention can monitor a paper when it is stuck in the paper path, and the manufacture cost of the invention is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Foxlink Image Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yueh-Shing Lee
  • Patent number: 7592614
    Abstract: An image is recorded of the edge of a moving object, in particular a sheet, in a machine processing printing material. The illumination is carried out with an illuminating device, and an image is recorded of at least one part of the edge with an image recording device. The use of the illuminating device and/or the image recording device is substantially synchronous with the movement of the object and substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the object. A preferred illuminating device has a row or array of light sources which in each case are switched on and off synchronously with the movement of the object. The constant shadow or shadow strip produced by the illumination moves with the object and ensures adequate contrast between the brightly illuminated object and the dark background, so that the object can be segmented reliably, at least in the region of the edge, and its position, orientation and movement can be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Tobias Müller
  • Publication number: 20090166965
    Abstract: A recording apparatus including feeding unit that feeds a medium, conveying unit that conveys the fed medium, recording unit that performs recording on the medium, and controlling unit that controls the feeding unit and the conveying unit, a measuring unit that measures a distance between the previous medium and the next medium after completing the preparatory feeding; and determining unit that determines whether or not the measured distance is a predetermined distance or greater, wherein, if the distance is the predetermined distance or greater, the controlling unit completely feeds the next medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Jun FUKASAWA
  • Patent number: 7547017
    Abstract: A sheet feed device of this invention includes a sheet feed tray, a sheet feed unit which feeds a sheet placed on the sheet feed tray, a detection sensor which detects the presence/absence of a sheet on the sheet feed tray, and a sensor mounting member which mounts the detection sensor on the sheet feed tray. The sensor mounting member can mount the detection sensor on the sheet feed tray such that the angle of the sensor can be adjusted with respect to the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignees: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc., Nisca Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Mizubata, Kiyoshi Hata, Masahiko Fukushima, Masahiro Ogawa, Hiroyuki Yamada, Masaki Higuchi
  • Publication number: 20090102118
    Abstract: A sheet transporting apparatus including: sheet sensors arranged in a sheet transporting path; an enclosure door; a door sensor that detects the open/close state of the enclosure door; a control unit that determines the opened state or closed state of the enclosure door on the basis of the result of the detection by the door sensor, and makes a determination whether or not a sheet stays at the respective portions of the sheet sensors and whether or not the staying sheet is removed; and a display unit that displays a portion where the sheet stays, wherein the control unit controls such that it repeatedly makes a determination regarding the stay and the removal of the sheet when the sheet stays in the sheet transporting path and the enclosure door is opened, and updates the display on the basis of the result of the determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventor: Hiromasa SHIBANO
  • Patent number: 7481428
    Abstract: A paper leaf detecting device includes a plurality of sensors positioned at an oblique angle relative to a transporting direction of leaves of paper, the plurality of sensors being arranged in a single row that extends in a direction orthogonal to the transporting direction of the leaves of paper. The paper leaf detecting device makes it possible to detect information on leaves of paper by using their transportation to scan the leaves of paper in a direction that is orthogonal to the transporting direction. An increase in size in the transporting direction of the leaves of paper is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Laurel Precision Machines Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Kato
  • Patent number: 7469895
    Abstract: There is described a document feeding apparatus and an image reading apparatus, which are employed for a copier, a facsimile, a scanner, etc. The document feeding apparatus or the image reading apparatus includes: a document feeding tray on which documents are stacked; a paper forwarding device to forward the documents; a document detector to detect the documents; and a controller to control the paper forwarding device. When forwarding a document having a length equal to or greater than a predetermined length in a conveying direction, the controller activates the paper forwarding device so as to forward a next document based on a detected result acquired by the document detector. While, when forwarding a document having a length smaller than the predetermined length, the controller activates the paper forwarding device so as to forward a next document without being based on a detected result acquired by the document detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Masashi Aoki, Tsuyoshi Mizubata, Satoru Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20080169602
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device of an aspect of the invention includes: a conveying path that allows a sheet to be conveyed and includes a first guide face and a second guide face opposing and apart from each other at a predetermined interval; a sheet conveying unit disposed on the conveying path; and a first detecting unit and a second detecting unit arranged opposing each other across the conveying path. Each of the first and second detecting unit includes: an arm member rotatably supported to take a posture where the arm member projected from the guide face to the conveying path and a posture where the arm member is retracted from the conveying path by rotating toward the guide face; and a first sensor that outputs a signal depending on the posture of the arm member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroyuki SHINGAI
  • Patent number: 7392743
    Abstract: There are provided a thickness detecting apparatus which can restrain erroneous detection even though a sheet or the like overlaps with only a part of a rotary body, and, which can enhance the degree of accuracy of detection, comprising a cylindrical displaceable rotary body and a cylindrical stationary rotary body which are opposed to each other, the thickness detecting apparatus detecting a thickness of the sheet or the like to be transferred in accordance with a displacement by which the displaceable rotary body is separated from the stationary rotary body, when the sheet or the like passes through between the displaceable rotary body and the stationary rotary body, and the center of a load with which the displaceable rotary body presses the sheet or the like is biased from the center of the displaceable rotary body in one of center axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi-Omron Terminal Solutions, Corporation
    Inventors: Ryota Kawaguchi, Katsuyoshi Funai
  • Patent number: 7391043
    Abstract: Various edge detection arrangements are disclosed, including an edge detection method and arrangement that utilizes outputs of commonly illuminated reference and edge sensors as the inputs for a comparator. The reference sensor is configured to have a wide field of view and the edge sensor is configured to have a narrow, high gain, field of view. Therefore, the reference sensor has a broad signal response to an edge passage and the edge sensor a steep and narrow signal response. When the two signals are biased to cross each other, the comparator output changes state, indicating passage of an edge. Because the reference sensor provides a base signal level directly related to the real time illumination level that the edge sensor also receives, the reference sensor provides a switch point along the transition ramp of the edge sensor that integrates a majority of the random error sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: ZIH Corp.
    Inventor: Robert A. Ehrhardt, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7319842
    Abstract: To provide a sheet conveying apparatus capable of enhancing an accuracy of correcting a skew of a sheet, and of preventing position shift of a sheet. The present invention provides a sheet conveying apparatus for conveying a sheet by a sheet conveying unit disposed along a sheet conveying path, including: a skew detection sensor for detecting a skew of the sheet with respect to a sheet conveying direction by a plurality of detection sensors disposed in a direction intersecting perpendicularly the sheet conveying direction; and a skew correction roller adapted to be pivotally moved in a direction of correction of a skew of the sheet in a state with the skewed sheet being held on the basis of a detection signal from the skew detection sensor, in which one of the plurality of detection sensors of the skew detection sensor is disposed nearly on an extension line from a pivotal movement center of the skew correction roller in the sheet conveying direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noriaki Koyanagi, Takeshi Suga
  • Patent number: 7128314
    Abstract: A banknote dispensing device including a storage section for storing one or more banknotes, a discharging unit driven by a first motor for discharging banknotes one-by-one at a first speed, and a transporting unit driven by a second motor for receiving the discharged banknotes from the discharging unit and transporting the discharged banknotes at a second speed where the second speed is faster than the first speed, the one-way clutch permitting the discharged banknote to be continuously drawn at the second speed without damaging the discharged banknote. The banknote dispensing device includes one or more sensors connected to a control unit, the control unit determining whether the transported banknote is transported properly and turning off the motors in an error condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Asahi Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Joji Iida
  • Patent number: 6955351
    Abstract: A paper feeding device comprises a document tray for loading the document, a document-detecting sensor for detecting the document loaded in the document tray and a MYLAR® made of a sheet-shaped resilience material. A part of the MYLAR® is in contact with the document carrying surface at the upstream side of the detecting position of the document-detecting sensor The document is pushed towards the detecting position during the MYLAR® pushing the upper surface of the document. The MYLAR® is bent to form a loop. The lower guide plate is arranged to be in contact with a part of the loop When the document is not detected, the filler of the document-detecting sensor and the MYLAR® overlap each other. A long hole is set in the loop of the MYLAR®.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideki Sueoka
  • Patent number: 6913259
    Abstract: An apparatus for detection of multiple documents (10) in a document transport system comprises a transmitter (15), located on a first side of a document feed path (40), and emits a signal through the document feed path. A reflector (52), located on a second side of said document feed path, reflects the signal through the document feed path. A first sensor detects the signal from the transmitter. A second sensor detects the signal from the transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Inventors: Daniel P. Phinney, Jennifer J. Phinney, Nelson A. Blish, David M. Schaertel
  • Patent number: 6672587
    Abstract: In a multiple-sheet monitoring device for sheet-processing machines, provision is made to arrange a number of sensing elements spaced apart from one another over the format width of the sheets to be conveyed or the sheet stream to be conveyed, and in this case all the sensing elements interact with the same switching element in order to stop the sheet-processing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Markus Möhringer, Jochen Renner
  • Patent number: 6651980
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus permits keeping predetermined sheet intervals, even when sheet conveyance is temporarily discontinued and then resumed, after resumption of conveyance. The sheet conveying apparatus has a first roller which feeds sheets at predetermined sheet intervals, and a second roller which conveys a plurality of sheet fed from the first roller. After temporarily discontinuing conveyance of the plurality of sheets, conveyance of the plurality of sheets is resumed by use of the first roller and the second roller. The variation in the sheet interval caused when temporarily discontinuing sheet conveyance is corrected upon resumption of sheet conveyance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keizo Isemura, Ikuo Takeuchi, Shinsuke Ubayashi, Ichiro Sasaki, Manabu Yamauchi, Takashi Nakanishi, Tomoyasu Yoshikawa, Kenji Fukushi, Hiroto Nishihara
  • Patent number: 6283471
    Abstract: A method of controlling sheet feed to a sheet-processing machine, wherein sheets are separated from a pile, conveyed onto a table, brought individually into contact with alignment lays for leading edges of the sheets, and conveyed onward therefrom individually for processing in the machine, includes, upon misalignment of a sheet, generating a signal by ultrasonic detectors active in transmission operation, the ultrasonic detectors being fixedly disposed parallel to the alignment lays and including two ultrasonic transmitters arranged at a defined distance, and ultrasonic receivers associated therewith, maintaining over the area of a measuring window sonic energy flux originating from the ultrasonic transmitters, respectively, at a substantially constant sonic intensity in the conveying direction of the sheets, integrally detecting by the respective ultrasonic receiver the sonic energy passing through the measuring window, and simultaneously measuring a difference in the sonic energy measured by the ultrasonic
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Markus Künzel, Tobias Müller, Thomas Wolf
  • Patent number: 6247695
    Abstract: A stack height assembly consisting of two transmissive sensors and two flags, the stack height of a feeder module can be set to three different levels depending on the weight of the media. This “optimization” of the stack height to address the media's failure mode results in increased latitude. When feeding lightweight media, the stack height is set larger in order to increase the gap to the feedhead. This allows more room for separation of the media using fluffer jets. This increased gap also reduces the chances that the un-acquired media will be fluffed into contact with the acquisition surface and subsequently be shingle fed into the take away roll due to the friction between sheets. When feeding heavyweight media the stack height will be set smaller. This reduces the gap to the feedhead and reduces the time required to acquire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Linder, William R. Haag, Kenneth P. Moore, Stephen B. Williams
  • Patent number: 6224053
    Abstract: A dispensing device employs a mechanical touch sensor. The mechanical touch sensor includes a touching level with a magnet that generates a magnetic field and a Hall generator that interacts with the magnetic field to generate an output corresponding to a thickness of the sheet material for verifying a correct transport of the sheet material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Siemens Nixdorf Informationssysteme Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Norbert Bischke, Ulrich Nottelmann