Sensor Located At The Delivering And Controls The Feeding Patents (Class 271/3.17)
  • Patent number: 11921001
    Abstract: A method and system for inspecting deviation in dynamic characteristics of a feeding system are provided, and the method includes: exciting the feeding system and detecting vibrations of a subcomponent of a component to be inspected of the feeding system to generate a monitoring excitation signal in a monitoring mode; calculating, by a modal analysis method, monitoring eigenvalues and monitoring eigenvectors of the monitoring excitation signal; determining, by a modal verification method, similarity between the monitoring eigenvalues and standard eigenvalues of a digital twin model and similarity between the monitoring eigenvectors and standard eigenvectors of the digital twin model; determining that the dynamic characteristics of the subcomponent are deviated, when the monitoring eigenvalues and monitoring eigenvectors are not similar to the standard eigenvalues and standard eigenvectors. Therefore, the subcomponent whose dynamic characteristics are deviated can be sensed remotely and precisely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Hiwin Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Hsien-Yu Chen, Yu-Sheng Chiu, Chih-Chun Cheng, Wen-Nan Cheng, Chi-Ming Liu
  • Patent number: 11847369
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus generates a code for identifying images in imposition image data representing an image print region, determines candidate regions so that codes in print regions in pages represented by the imposition image data will not be printed at a same position, generates print data based on the imposition image data so that the code will be placed in at least one of the determined candidate regions. For the print data, up to a predetermined number of pages represented by pieces of the imposition image data, a print position of the code is same in a first page and a following second page. When a predetermined number of pages represented by the pieces of the imposition image data is reached, the print position of the code is different in the first page and the second page. The generated print data is output to a printing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Wakako Tanaka, Takashi Nakamura, Naoki Sumi
  • Patent number: 11662683
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a conveyance unit configured to convey a sheet, a stacking portion on which the sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit is stacked, a first regulation member configured to regulate a position of an edge portion, in a conveyance direction, of the sheet stacked on the stacking portion, a second regulation member configured to regulate a position of an edge portion, in a width direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction, of the sheet stacked on the stacking portion, a binding unit supported movably in the conveyance direction and configured to perform a binding process of binding the sheet stacked on the stacking portion, and a moving unit configured to move the second regulation member in the conveyance direction accompanied with a movement, in the conveyance direction, of the binding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomooku Koyama, Jun Agata, Yasuhiro Nakahara, Hiroharu Tsuji
  • Patent number: 11117767
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a feeding roller configured to feed a printing sheet stacked on a stacking unit, a conveyance roller configured to convey the printing sheet fed by the feeding roller, a printing unit configured to print the printing sheet conveyed by the conveyance roller, a conveyance control unit configured to control conveyance of printing sheets so that the trailing edge of a preceding sheet as a printing sheet precedingly fed from the stacking unit and the leading edge of a succeeding sheet as a printing sheet succeedingly fed from the stacking unit overlap each other, and a determination unit configured to determine whether to convey the succeeding sheet to a position facing the printing unit while keeping an overlap state between the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomofumi Nishida, Noriyuki Sugiyama, Yasuyuki Asai, Motoyuki Taguchi, Tetsuya Saito, Yoshiaki Suzuki, Syunichi Kunihiro
  • Patent number: 10737901
    Abstract: A printing system executes printing of a plurality of copies of a document, and includes first and second paper eject trays. The printing system ejects a plurality of paper sheets of the document to the first or second paper eject tray; detects a full state or a near full state being a predetermined number of paper sheets less than the full state; and ejects the paper sheets of a next copy to the first paper eject tray until the first paper eject tray is full and subsequently to the second paper eject tray, in response to detecting that a total ejectable paper sheet number is greater than or equal to the number of paper sheets of the next copy, the total ejectable paper sheet number being obtained by adding together the numbers of paper sheets that can be ejected to the first and second paper eject trays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hanae Itabashi
  • Patent number: 10640315
    Abstract: A drive apparatus according to the present invention includes a stepping motor that transmits power to a rotating shaft of a conveyance roller, a brushless motor that transmits power to the rotating shaft of the conveyance roller, a first controller that controls an operation of the stepping motor so that the stepping motor rotates at a constant speed, and a second controller that controls an operation of the brushless motor. The second controller switches control of the brushless motor between, in accordance with a conveyance state of the sheet, assist control in which power of the brushless motor assists a rotation of the stepping motor, brake control in which power of the brushless motor prevents the rotation of the stepping motor, and neutral control in which power of the brushless motor does not affect the rotation of the stepping motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Satoshi Miyajima, Hiroshi Oyama, Remi Ishikawa, Tadayuki Ueda
  • Patent number: 9598253
    Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises a feeding roller configured to feed a printing sheet, a conveyance roller configured to convey the printing sheet, a printing unit configured to print on the printing sheet, a conveyance control unit configured to control conveyance of printing sheets so that a trailing edge of a preceding sheet and a leading edge of a succeeding sheet overlap each other, an acquisition unit configured to acquire, before completion of a printing operation of the preceding sheet, information of a leading edge position of the succeeding sheet, and a determination unit configured to determine whether to convey the succeeding sheet to a position facing the printing unit while keeping an overlap state between the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet in accordance with the leading edge position of the succeeding sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya Saito, Noriyuki Sugiyama, Yasuyuki Asai, Syunichi Kunihiro
  • Patent number: 9443173
    Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises a conveyance control unit which controls conveyance of printing sheets so that a trailing edge of a preceding sheet as a printing sheet precedingly fed from a stacking unit and a leading edge of a succeeding sheet as a printing sheet succeedingly fed from the stacking unit overlap each other, and a determination unit which determines whether to convey the succeeding sheet to a position facing the printing unit while keeping an overlap state between the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet. The determination unit determines whether the printing sheet is suitable for overlap conveyance, and if the determination unit determines that the printing sheet is unsuitable for overlap conveyance, the conveyance control unit conveys the succeeding sheet while the succeeding sheet does not overlap the preceding sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Motoyuki Taguchi, Syunichi Kunihiro, Tetsuya Saito, Yoshiaki Suzuki, Noriyuki Sugiyama, Yasuyuki Asai, Ryo Yonemoto
  • Patent number: 9428355
    Abstract: A printing apparatus has a conveyance control unit which controls conveyance of printing sheets so that a trailing edge of a preceding sheet as a printing sheet precedingly fed from the stacking unit and a leading edge of a succeeding sheet as a printing sheet succeedingly fed from the stacking unit overlap each other; and a skew correction unit which performs skew correction of the succeeding sheet while the succeeding sheet overlaps the preceding sheet by the conveyance control unit. The skew correction unit makes the leading edge of the succeeding sheet abut against the conveyance roller during a time from an end of a last line feed operation by the conveyance roller for printing on the preceding sheet by the printing unit to start of a next conveyance operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Asai, Syunichi Kunihiro, Naoki Aoyama, Katsuya Ogawa, Noriyuki Sugiyama, Yasufumi Tanaami, Ryo Yonemoto
  • Patent number: 9388010
    Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises a feeding roller, a conveyance roller, a printing unit configured to print the printing sheet, a conveyance control unit configured to control conveyance of printing sheets so that a trailing edge of a preceding sheet and a leading edge of a succeeding sheet overlap each other, and a determination unit configured to determine whether to convey the succeeding sheet to a position facing the printing unit while keeping an overlap state between the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet, wherein if a non-printing area of the succeeding sheet cannot be detected before a printing operation of a last row of the preceding sheet, the conveyance control unit controls to convey the preceding sheet while feeding of the succeeding sheet stops, and to convey only the succeeding sheet to the position facing the printing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Syunichi Kunihiro, Tomofumi Nishida
  • Patent number: 9383708
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a conveyance section, a plurality of sensors, an image forming section, a conveyance control section and a control section. The conveyance section forms a conveyance path for conveying paper. The plurality of sensors outputs detection signals indicating the existence of the paper at a plurality of positions along the conveyance path. The image forming section forms images on the paper conveyed by the conveyance section. The conveyance control section controls the conveyance of the paper conveyed by the conveyance section based on the detection signals of the plurality of sensors. The control section determines, in a case in which the detection signal of any of the plurality of sensors is abnormal, whether it is due to sensor failure or paper conveyance abnormality, and sets to ignore the detection signal of the failed sensor and continue the processing if it is due to the sensor failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ryuta Imaizumi
  • Patent number: 9360819
    Abstract: A printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a feeding unit, a conveying unit including a pair of rollers, a printing unit, a control unit and a determination unit. The control can execute successive overlapped conveyance and skew correction. In the skew correction a leading edge of the printing medium abuts against the pair of rollers in a stop state. The determination unit determines whether to execute the successive overlapped conveyance. The control unit executes the skew correction of the succeeding printing medium at a timing according to a determination result of the determination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Noriyuki Sugiyama, Yasuyuki Asai, Syunichi Kunihiro, Naoki Aoyama, Toshiyuki Kuroda, Yoshiaki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9266696
    Abstract: A conveyance control apparatus includes a stacking base that stacks ejected paper sheets, a sensor that detects a paper sheet after the paper sheet is ejected according to job data before the paper sheet is stacked on the stacking base, a detection time measuring unit that measures sensor-on time during which the sensor detects the paper sheet, a storage unit that stores near-full-stack time for judging whether stacked volume on the stacking base enters into a near-full-stack state, a judging unit that judges stack state on the stacking base based on paper sheet information of the job data and a measured result by the detection time measuring unit, and a conveyance control unit that performs control to temporarily stop paper sheet feeding and then to feed predetermined number of paper sheets, when the judging unit judges that the sensor-on time is equal to or greater than the near-full-stack time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: RISO KAGAKU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideaki Ogawa, Yoshihiro Hanamoto, Yoshikazu Hara, Kazuaki Mori, Hiroaki Takanohashi, Yousuke Minowa, Yoshiaki Kono
  • Publication number: 20150125165
    Abstract: A sheet feeder control method for controlling a sheet feeder of an image forming apparatus includes feeding a sheet through a sheet feed path exposable to the exterior of the sheet feeder, detecting the feeding of the sheet at at least a first position on the sheet feed path, discharging the fed sheet to the exterior of the sheet feeder, detecting the discharge of the sheet at a second position downstream of the first position in a sheet feeding direction, detecting a sheet jam during the feeding and discharging of the sheet, and if the jammed sheet is detected at the second position but not at the first position, cancelling a malfunction state due to the sheet jam when the sheet stops being detected at the second position, irrespective of whether the sheet feed path is covered or exposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Ryo TAKENAKA
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20150001785
    Abstract: A duplex printing method performed by a printing apparatus, the method comprising the steps of: feeding in a first sheet; transporting the first sheet along a sheet-circulating path; forming an image on a front side of the first sheet; feeding in a second sheet; detecting a sheet-feeding error; inhibiting an entry of the second sheet into the sheet-circulating path; forming an image on a back side of the first sheet; and ejecting the first sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventor: Katsuhiko GOTODA
  • Publication number: 20140374982
    Abstract: A scanner device including: a scanning path on which a scanning member for scanning an image from a document is disposed; a supply path on which a document is supplied to the scanning path; a discharge path on which a document is discharged after scanning of the document on the scanning path has been completed; and a re-supply path that extended to the supply path from a intersection where the scanning path and the discharge path cross so that a document fed along the discharge path in a direction opposite to a document-feeding direction is re-supplied to the supply path after scanning of one side of the document has been completed, wherein one-side guide portions of the supply path, the discharge path, and the re-supply path are integrally formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yong-kon JO
  • Patent number: 8894065
    Abstract: The present invention provide a printing apparatus and a method for conveying a sheet wherein generation of noise is minimized using a simple configuration, wherein, during sheet discharging, a sheet is discharged at a speed suitable for the sheet discharging, and wherein the sheet is aligned at a sheet discharging position. The printing apparatus controls conveyance of sheets as follows. A first sheet and a second sheet fed subsequently to the first sheet are conveyed at a relatively low conveying speed until an upstream trailing end of the first sheet is placed at a sheet discharging standby position. Then, the first sheet is discharged to the sheet discharging position, and the first sheet and the second sheet are conveyed at a relatively low conveying speed until a downstream leading end of the second sheet is placed at a sheet feeding control position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuji Takayama
  • Publication number: 20140339756
    Abstract: A printing apparatus according to one aspect of this invention automatically discharges, of sheets remaining on a conveyance path when a sheet being conveyed jams, dischargeable sheets to one of a plurality of sheet retraction units. At this time, the printing apparatus detects the stacked state of sheets discharged to the sheet retraction unit. When the printing apparatus detects that the sheet retraction unit has become a predetermined state, it changes the discharge destination of sheets to be conveyed to the sheet retraction unit, thereby controlling not to further discharge a sheet to that sheet retraction unit. According to this control, when retracting sheets remaining on the conveyance path upon occurrence of a jam in the printing apparatus, occurrence of a new jam can be prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventor: Takuto Harada
  • Patent number: 8879128
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus is disclosed. The image reading apparatus includes an automatic document feeding unit that transports a document in a predetermined direction while the document floats above a platen glass member and a light source disposed below the platen glass member that irradiates a portion on the document at a predetermined reading location such that reflected light from the portion on the document is converted into image data and a floating distance between the document and the platen glass member is detected to set a value of an image parameter for correcting the image data for the document, based on the detected floating distance between the document and the platen glass member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Toshikazu Higashi, Masahiro Nonoyama
  • Patent number: 8777208
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a feeding delay control unit to control a delay in feeding image formation media to a conveying unit and a counting unit to count a number of image formation media discharged to a discharge tray. When a count value of the counting unit reaches a threshold, the feeding delay control unit causes a feeding unit to switch a feeding mode from a small spacing mode, in which a next image formation medium is fed while a previously-fed image formation medium is on a conveying path, to a large spacing mode, in which an image formation medium is fed after a previously-fed image formation medium is discharged from the conveying path. When a number of image formation media on which images have been formed is smaller than a upper limit, the feeding mode is returned from the large spacing mode to the small spacing mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Masataka Yamazaki
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8636275
    Abstract: An automatic document feeder includes a separating and feeding unit which has a separating member and a paper feeding member coming into contact with the separating member at a predetermined separating pressure, and separates and feeds an original sheet by sheet from a bundle of originals placed on an original placing table; a conveying unit which conveys the original separated by the separating and feeding unit toward a scanning position; a separating pressure switching unit which applies and releases the separating pressure and which is controlled by a control unit to release the separating pressure after a leading edge of a preceding sheet of the original has passed through the separating and feeding unit and to apply the separating pressure before a sheet of original separated and fed next to the preceding sheet of original is fed from the bundle of original to the separating and feeding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Mamoru Kambayashi, Motoya Sano, Hideki Tobinaga, Shinya Kitaoka, Atsushi Kanaya, Norio Kimura, Michitaka Suzuki, Yoshito Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8593683
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a conveyance unit configured to convey a document, a first detection unit configured to detect a first deviation amount of the conveyed document by a leading edge of the document, a first correction unit configured to correct deviation of the conveyed document if the first deviation amount is larger than a predetermined value, an input unit configured to read the document the corrected deviation and to input image data, a second detection unit configured to detect a second deviation amount of the conveyed document by a trailing edge of the document, and a second correction unit configured to correct deviation of the document included in the input image data if the second deviation amount is larger than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Daiki Ikari
  • Patent number: 8553277
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image forming apparatus and an image checking apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a transport control unit which transports a recording medium at a transport speed, and forms an image on the recording medium. The image checking apparatus includes a transport-speed acquisition unit, a detector, a reading unit, and an operation-state notification unit. The transport-speed acquisition unit acquires transport-speed information from the image forming apparatus. The detector detects a mark shown on the recording medium. The reading unit reads a checking-target image formed by the image forming apparatus at a position distant from the mark, on the basis of the transport-speed information and information concerning a positional relationship between the mark and the checking-target image. The operation-state notification unit notifies the image forming apparatus of an operation state of the image checking apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhide Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8542416
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a first conveying path, a curved conveying path, a second conveying path, an upper cover, a first image reading section, a third conveying roller, a second conveying roller, a second image reading section, a first conveying roller, a fourth conveying roller and a control unit. The control unit controls to stop conveying the sheet when a back edge of the sheet passes the first conveying roller in the case where a length of the sheet is less than a first distance between the first conveying roller and the third conveying roller, and controls to stop conveying the sheet after conveying the sheet until the back edge passes the third conveying roller in the case where the length of the sheet is greater than the first distance and is less than a second distance between the third conveying roller and the fourth conveying roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaru Takeuchi
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8456652
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus that forms images on sheets by using input image data, the apparatus including: a detection unit that detects a blank area outside of an image forming area formed on a sheet; a setting unit that, when a sum of a length in a conveyance direction of a blank area on a trailing edge side in the conveyance direction of a sheet and a length in the conveyance direction of a blank area on a leading edge side in the conveyance direction of a sheet conveyed following the sheet is a reference value or less, sets a sheet conveyance interval to the reference value, and when the sum is greater than the reference value, sets the conveyance interval to be less than the reference value; and a conveying unit that conveys the sheets at the conveyance interval set by the setting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kouichi Unno
  • Patent number: 8444135
    Abstract: A sheet conveyance device includes a loading section, a first conveyance member a separation section, a first sheet length detector to detect whether the sheet is longer than a predetermined length slightly longer than a specific sheet size in the sheet conveyance direction, a trailing-edge detector disposed downstream from the separation section, a leading-edge detector disposed downstream from the trailing-edge detector a distance smaller than the specific sheet size and from the first conveyance member a distance longer than the specific sheet size, and a controller. When the sheet is equal to or greater than the predetermined length, the controller starts sheet feeding when the trailing-edge detector detects the trailing edge of the sheet, and when the sheet is smaller than that, the controller starts sheet feeding when either the leading-edge detector detects the leading edge of the sheet or the trailing-edge detector detects the trailing edge thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichiro Morita, Hideki Tobinaga, Shinya Kitaoka, Mamoru Kambayashi, Michitaka Suzuki, Atsushi Kanaya, Norio Kimura, Yoshito Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20130049283
    Abstract: A controller controls operations of a sheet conveying portion and a sheet feeding portion in such a manner that an operation for feeding a preceding sheet by the sheet feeding portion is started after a downstream portion of a subsequent sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying portion is overlapped an upstream portion of the preceding sheet stacked on the stacking portion, and the downstream edge of the preceding sheet is caused to abut against the reference member by the sheet feeding portion in a state where the upstream portion of the preceding sheet and the downstream portion of the subsequent sheet are maintained in an overlapped state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroharu Tsuji, Masatoshi Yoshida, Tomooku Koyama, Junichi Sekiyama
  • Patent number: 8376120
    Abstract: A paper handling apparatus including: feeder stations for feeding documents to a conveyer; a collator for collating documents into packs, and collating packs into groups of documents; an inserter module for inserting each group into an envelope; a monitor which monitors the cycling and working times of sections of the inserter module; sensors for determining at least one of: a first desired gap being the minimum gap between trailing edges of consecutive groups, a second desired gap being the minimum gap between the trailing edge of one pack and the leading edge of the following pack a third desired gap being the minimum gap between the trailing edge of one group to the leading edge of the following group; and a controller for controlling the feeder stations to achieve at least one of the desired gaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Neopost Technologies
    Inventor: John Brown
  • Patent number: 8366096
    Abstract: A document reader has a main conveying path, an auxiliary conveying path, a pickup roller, a first conveying roller, and a second conveying roller. The auxiliary conveying path runs between a first connection point and a second connection point on the main conveying path. The cylindrical surface of the first conveying roller is located partially on the main conveying path and partially on the auxiliary conveying path. While the first conveying roller is under the forward or reverse control, it rotates normally. The cylindrical surface of the second conveying roller is located partially on the main conveying path between the second connection point and a discharge position. A controller switches from the forward control selected during this mode to the reverse control, while a document being conveyed along the main conveying path is out of contact with the first conveying roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Mizude, Kenji Tanaka, Hideyuki Hiro, Daisuke Mukaiyama, Tomohiko Okada
  • Publication number: 20120326378
    Abstract: A system for conveying sheets of corrugated paperboard material or other materials. The system includes a processing module configured for transferring the material in a conveying direction, the processing module having a first nip point. A conveyor is positioned downstream of the processing module and also configured for transferring the material in the conveying direction. The conveyor includes a first support roller and second support roller having a first conveyor belt wound therearound, with the belt defining a deflector section extending from the first support roller to the second support roller. Similar to the processing module, the conveyor includes a second nip point. An adjustment drive can be operatively associated with either or both of the first and second support rollers and configured to adjust the position of the second nip point in or counter to the delivery direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventor: Curtis A. Roth
  • Patent number: 8308153
    Abstract: A transversal cutting equipment for sheets separable from overlapped continuous forms, wherein the forms are longitudinally divided from a basic continuous form for producing documents with a single sheet or more sheets, and wherein the documents and the respective sheets are printed according to a predetermined order. The equipment comprises a cutting device for joined separation of the sheets; an accumulating and forwarding device; transport paths; and differentiating means for modifying the transport times of the sheets along one or more transport paths. The cutting device operates in a continuous way, while the accumulating and forwarding device collects the sheet or sheets of a partially formed document and sends the sheet or sheets upon the completion of the document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Tecnau S.r.l.
    Inventors: Giuliano De Marco, Armando Aprato, Francesco Terrusi, Alberto Massucco, Francesco Modica
  • Publication number: 20120200025
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus which enables quick removal of remaining sheets in the image forming apparatus via an orthogonal reverse section in case a jam occurs inside the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a main conveyance section to convey a sheet in the image forming apparatus and to convey the sheet to an ejected sheet section; an orthogonal reverse section to receive the sheet from the main conveyance section and turn over the sheet without swapping a front edge for a rear edge of the sheet by conveying the sheet in a direction perpendicular to a sheet conveyance direction of the main conveyance section and a sheet ejection section to eject the sheet in the orthogonal reverse section outside the orthogonal reverse section along a direction to turn over the sheet by the orthogonal reverse section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Akifumi ISOBE, Masashi SUGANO, Akinori KIMATA, Katsunori TAKAHASHI, Kenji TAMAKI, Satoshi SHIMAO
  • Patent number: 8172216
    Abstract: An apparatus and method in which documents and enclosures are fed by feeding stations to a supply track and subsequently transported along the supply track to a gathering station. A sensor downstream of the feeding stations is used for scanning markings. A divert station connected to the supply track allows clearing the supply track, when scanned markings indicate that the first sheet of a next set has been scanned in the supply track, by diverting the first sheet to the divert station. This allows enclosures of the set being gathered to be fed along the supply track and gathered at the gathering station. After the completed set has vacated the gathering station, the diverted sheet is transported to the gathering station and gathered with further documents of the next set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Neopost Technologies
    Inventors: Hans Oosterhoff, Melle Jonker, Fokke De Boer
  • Patent number: 8089647
    Abstract: An information processing device to generate data pertaining to a document from electronic paper which has a display section to display and retain the document, and a memory to store document identification data, includes a document data storage unit which stores document electronic data, a communication unit which acquires document identification data from the electronic paper, a reading unit which scans the display section, a data extraction unit which extracts from the document data storage unit document electronic data corresponding to the document identification data, a difference processing unit which extracts a note image appended on a surface of the display section according to a difference between an image from the extracted document electronic data and an image of the scanned display section, and a data generation unit which associates data of the extracted appendix image and the extracted document electronic data, thereby generates data pertaining to the document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Hotta, Yoshitsugu Hirose, Yoko Ogura, Yasunori Saito, Ikutaroh Nagatsuka
  • Publication number: 20110260390
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a medium transfer apparatus for an automated teller machine, wherein the structure for opening and shutting the medium transfer path of the medium transfer apparatus is simply formed, to thereby conveniently open and shur the medium transfer path of the medium transfer apparatus, and to conveniently and quickly prevent a jam occurring during the transfer of a paper medium performed by the medium transfer apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: NAUTILUS HYOSUNG INC.
    Inventors: Jin Hwan Cha, Hyun-Soo Jang, Sung-Chang Hur, Dong-Sik Lee
  • Patent number: 8038144
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a sheet reversing mechanism is configured to take over and transfer, at a transfer speed Vr, a print sheet with an image already formed on one side being transferred at the transfer speed Vr from a first transfer mechanism, to stop the print sheet once, then to start transfer of the print sheet in an opposite direction, and to pass the print sheet to a second transfer mechanism at the transfer speed Vr. The first and second transfer mechanisms are located on upstream and downstream of a switchback reverse path for reversing print sheets respectively Upon lapse of a time T1 after detection of the print sheet by a print sheet detection unit, a transfer control unit drives the sheet reversing mechanism to start acceleration from a stopped state to the transfer speed Vr, the time T1 calculated based on the transfer speed Vr.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Riso Kagaku Corporation
    Inventor: Masashi Hara
  • Publication number: 20110187039
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus with a double-face printing function is provided. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a sheet feeding path including a regular feeding path and a return-feeding path and capable of accommodating a plurality of recording sheets, a sheet-ejection controller to eject the recording sheet out of the sheet feeding path through a sheet outlet. The sheet-ejection controller controls a recording sheet closer to the sheet outlet in the direction of sheet-conveyance along the sheet feeding path to be ejected prior to a recording sheet further from the sheet outlet when cancellation of the print job is entered during a double-face printing operation, in which the images are formed on one side of N pieces of recording sheets continuously and the other side of M pieces of recording sheets thereafter, whilst M is smaller than or equal to N.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Naomichi BAN
  • Patent number: 7976008
    Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a feed tray receiving sheets, a catch tray receiving the sheets ejected thereon, a feeding mechanism conveying the sheets from the feed tray to the catch tray, an ejection mode switching mechanism switching an ejection mode between a first mode in which the sheets are sequentially ejected on a stack of sheets already ejected and a second mode in which the sheets are sequentially ejected and inserted under a stack of sheets already ejected, an ejection detecting sensor detecting a sheet ejected on the catch tray, and a controller configured to, in response to an instruction to start feeding the sheets, forbid driving of the feeding mechanism when determining that the ejection mode is set to the second mode and determining with the ejection detecting sensor that a sheet is on the catch tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takuro Kusama
  • Patent number: 7976007
    Abstract: A multiple media feed system includes an adjustable media singulator feeder that is adjustable to feed from a stack of media items a selectable number of media items to form a group of overlapped media items. A thickness sensor is positioned to measure the thickness of media items fed from the stack of media items. A controllable media feeder is positioned to engage and feed media items fed from said stack of media items by the adjustable media singulator feeder. The controllable media feeder is controlled to feed media items when the thickness sensor has determined that the thickness of the selected number of media items is at the controllable media feeder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventor: David G. Collings
  • Publication number: 20110042883
    Abstract: A sheet-feeding type scanning apparatus and an automatic sheet feeding method are provided. The sheet-feeding type scanning apparatus includes a scanning module, a first sheet input tray, a first sheet pick-up roller assembly, a sheet ejecting tray, a sheet transfer channel, a plurality of transfer roller assemblies, a sheet ejecting roller assembly, a sheet-feeding sensor and a clutch module. Once a first sheet article of multiple sheet articles placed on the first sheet input tray are fed into the internal portion of the sheet-feeding type scanning apparatus to trigger the sheet-feeding sensor, the clutch module is disabled. At this moment, a second sheet article placed on the first sheet input tray fails to be fed by the first sheet pick-up roller assembly. Therefore, the double feeding problem is solved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: PRIMAX ELECTRONICS LTD.
    Inventors: Chung-Kai Wang, Chao-Min Yang, Wei-Hsun Hsu, Wen-An Huang
  • Publication number: 20110008087
    Abstract: A guide path branched downward from a conveyance path for guiding a sheet having a toner image fixed thereon to a sheet discharge tray, a switchback path, and a inversed discharge path guide the sheet once, and then guide the sheet to the sheet discharge tray with its front and back surfaces and its leading and trailing edges in a sheet conveyance direction reversed. A fan supplies air between a sheet discharged by a sheet discharge roller and a sheet already discharged onto the sheet discharge tray from a supply opening provided below the sheet discharge roller. A control portion for controlling a blowing operation of the fan selectively operates the fan when discharging the sheet after passing the sheet through the guide path, the switchback path, and the inversed discharge path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kozo Inoue
  • Publication number: 20100301542
    Abstract: A paper sheet processing device having a simplified and low cost structure capable of detecting whether or not a paper currency receiving section is attached to the device and also detecting the position of a pressing plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takao Nireki
  • Patent number: 7828279
    Abstract: A method of scanning documents obtains the document that is to be scanned from an input tray, transports the document at a transport velocity past a scanner to obtain image data therefrom, and stacks each scanned document aligned with trailing-edge registration in a sloped output tray, in the order of scanning, by a sequence that detects the trailing edge of the scanned document, feeds the leading edge of the scanned document from an exit nip in a forward direction and above the sloped output tray at a transport velocity, then changes the speed at the exit nip to an exit velocity, different from the transport velocity, according to the timing of the trailing edge detection. The trailing edge of the scanned document is ejected at the exit velocity. The exit nip speed is restored to the transport velocity for feeding the leading edge of a subsequent document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Donald W. Hammen
  • Publication number: 20100226678
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit that forms an image on a first sheet; a fixing unit that fixes the image on the first sheet; a discharging unit that discharges the first sheet and a second sheet; a first transporting path that transports the first sheet on which the image is fixed to the discharging unit; a branch path that is branched from the first transporting path downstream of the fixing unit in a sheet transporting direction, the first sheet being transported to the branch path from the first transported path; a second transporting path that transports the second sheet in a direction opposite to the sheet transporting direction to the discharging unit; a plurality of sheet stock units in which sheets are stocked; a first sheet feed unit that feeds the first sheet from at least one of the plurality of sheet stock units to the first transporting path; and a second sheet feed unit that feeds the second sheet from at least one of the plurality of sheet stock units to the second tr
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryuichi SATO, Osamu Tamura, Noriyoshi Tsuchiya, Yoshiyuki Takaishi
  • Publication number: 20100209163
    Abstract: A sheet feeding device including: a sheet feeding tray; a first air blowing section which blows air against a lateral side of the sheet bundle; a second air blowing section which blows air against a leading edge of the sheet bundle; a sheet adsorption conveyance section which conveys sheets one by one; a sheet type information transmission section; a shielding member arranged to open or shield the ventilating path; a shielding state switching section which switches to any one state of opening, partial shielding and overall shielding, wherein in the partial shielding state, less amount of air is allowed to pass than the opening state; a sheet adsorption detecting section; and a control section which controls to switch among the state of opening, partial shielding and overall shielding of the ventilating path, in accordance with the information from the sheet type and the sheet adsorption detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Tomoo SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 7762549
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a feeding section configured to feed a recording sheet, a first conveyance roller which conveys the recording sheet fed from the feeding section to a recording area and conveys the recording sheet during a recording operation, a recording section configured to record an image on the recording sheet at the recording area downstream from the first conveyance roller in the direction of feeding the recording sheet, a conveyance rate detection unit configured to detect the conveyance rate of the recording sheet conveyed by the first conveyance roller, a recording sheet end detection unit disposed downstream from the first conveyance roller and detects the end part of the recording sheet, and a correction unit configured to correct the conveyance rate of the recording sheet conveyed by the first conveyance roller based on a result detected by the conveyance rate detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Hirai
  • Patent number: 7758037
    Abstract: An envelope loader device comprising a mail-receiving bed provided with conveyor rollers and serving to receive a stack of mail items, jogger means for holding the mail items against a referencing wall, a drive motor for driving said conveyor rollers in rotation, and control means for actuating said drive motor and for causing a fraction of said stack of mail items to be ejected as a function of a mail presence sensor mounted at said mail-receiving bed and whose state depends on whether or not mail items are present in a downstream feeder device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: NEOPOST Technologies
    Inventor: Romain Pillard