Movably Mounted Supply Patents (Class 271/9.08)
  • Patent number: 11633965
    Abstract: A printer includes a first accommodating portion, a supply roller, a recording device, a cutter configured to cut a recording medium into a first recording medium and a second recording medium, a second accommodating portion, a third accommodating portion that accommodates an unrecorded second recording medium that is the second recording medium on which an image has not been recorded by the recording device, and a switcher. The third accommodating portion is movable between a first position at which the third accommodating portion receives the unrecorded second recording medium cut by the cutter and a second position at which the unrecorded second recording medium accommodated in the third accommodating portion is in contact with the supply roller. The supply roller is configured to supply the unrecorded second recording medium accommodated in the third accommodating portion that is positioned at the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takuya Tsuji
  • Patent number: 11084673
    Abstract: A media supplying apparatus includes a first support portion, a second support portion, a housing portion, and a holding portion. The first support portion has a first supporting surface for supporting a paper sheet, is inclinably provided, and when inclined from a non-use state, switches to a use state. The second support portion has a second supporting surface that supports the paper sheet, and is disposed upstream of the first support portion in the use state in a supply direction of the paper sheet. The housing portion is, inclinably toward an upstream of the first supporting portion in the supply direction, provided, and retractably houses the second support portion. The holding portion holds the first support portion and the housing portion in an inclination orientation so that the first supporting surface and the second supporting surface are aligned in the supply direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Ryoichi Morisawa, Takashi Matsuki
  • Patent number: 11072189
    Abstract: The medium discharging apparatus includes a medium receiving portion that includes a first portion and a second portion that is provided on the first portion and that is configured to be displaced between a retracted position and an advanced position, a moving member configured to move between a first position and a second position, in which the moving member pushes and moves the second portion towards the advanced position as the moving member moves from the first position towards the second position and in which the moving member is moved to the first position as the second portion is displaced to the retracted position, a pushing member that pushes the moving member towards the second position, and a restricting member configured to switch between a restricting state that restricts a movement of the moving member towards the second position, and a non-restricting state that releases the restricting state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Miyamoto, Masaki Shimomura, Akira Nakazawa, Toshihiro Imae
  • Patent number: 9891580
    Abstract: An elastic force of an elastic member 11 required for rotating a driven rotational body 8b is decreased. A first rotational body 8d and a second rotational body 9a arranged downstream of a driven rotational body 8b in a drive train that transmits a driving force from a driving rotational body 7 to a driven member 4 are included. The first rotational body 8d rotates in synchronization with the driven rotational body 8b. The second rotational body 9a is rotated by the first rotational body 8d and rotates the driven member 4. The first rotational body 8d rotates without rotating the second rotational body 9a when the driven rotational body 8b rotates by an elastic force of an elastic member 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideto Chino, Junichi Ochi
  • Patent number: 9409733
    Abstract: A conveying apparatus has first and second trays arranged on an upstream of a conveyor and configured to support the sheet in contact with the conveyor, a feeder configured to feed the sheet on the first tray toward the conveyor, a first sensor configured to output a first signal in response to the sheet being present on the first tray, a second sensor configured to output a second signal in response to the sheet being present between the first tray and the conveyor and configured to output the second signal in response to the sheet being present between the second tray and the conveyor, and a controller configured to execute a removal notifying process to output a notification indicating removal of the sheet on the first tray in response to output of the second signal before a time period since the first signal was output exceeds a threshold period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Arakane, Yuki Matsui
  • Patent number: 9272859
    Abstract: A supply apparatus including: a supply member that contacts a print medium and feeds out the print medium; a drive transmission unit configured to transmit rotation of a drive shaft to the supply member; and an arm member that supports the supply member and the drive transmission unit and rotates around a predetermined axis, wherein a contacting position between the supply member and the print medium is switched to any position of an upstream side or a downstream side in the feeding-out direction depending on a rotating position of the arm member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noriko Sato
  • Patent number: 9254975
    Abstract: A printer includes a lower tray and an upper tray disposed above the lower tray. An optical sensor which detects the presence or absence of a sheet is disposed above the upper tray. The optical sensor is disposed in a roller support member which supports a feeding roller and serves as a swingable swing member. A distance between the optical sensor and the sheet is adjusted by swing of the roller support member according to the number of sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya Tamura, Narihiro Oki, Tatsuya Shirane
  • Patent number: 9216598
    Abstract: A feeding apparatus includes an apparatus main body; a feeding section which feeds sheets in a feeding orientation; a feed tray which has a first tray to load some of the sheets, and a second tray provided above the first tray to load the rest of the sheets, and which is movable relative to the apparatus main body along the feeding orientation; and a guide which guides the sheets by contact with the sheets fed by the feeding section. At an end portion of the first tray on the downstream side in the feeding orientation, a first projective portion is formed to project upward and have a supporting portion capable of supporting the second tray on its upper end, and a second projective portion is formed to project upward from a different position from the first projective portion in a width direction perpendicular to the feeding orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirotaka Aoki, Tetsuo Asada, Shinichi Hisada, Ryuji Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9199821
    Abstract: An upper cassette for which a media feed direction length is shorter than that of a lower cassette is provided movably in a medium feed direction to a device main unit. When the upper cassette is not moving, and when the upper cassette is not in a feed state, if the upper cassette is at a position further to a side of a feed position than a removal position, the upper cassette is moved to the removal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yohei Nunokawa, Yasuhiko Yoshihisa
  • Patent number: 9061853
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a tray is configured to move between a first position inside an apparatus body and a second position outside the apparatus body. The tray allows a first recording medium to be conveyed from a first receiving portion of the tray when the tray is positioned in the first position. A supply part has a first opening and allows a second recording medium different from the first recording medium to be conveyed through the first opening. A conveying mechanism conveys, in the second direction, the second recording medium supplied from the supply part. The conveying mechanism includes a guide member disposed below the first receiving portion and configured to guide the second recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasushi Okabe
  • Patent number: 9039005
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including a chassis with an opening formed on one side thereof; a first placement section, on which a sheet inserted through the opening is placeable; a cover configured to be openable to expose and closable to cover the opening and configured to form, when in a position to expose the opening, an outer part of the first placement section outside the chassis; and a second placement section arranged in an upper position with respect to the first placement section, and on which a sheet inserted through the opening is placeable, is provided. The second placement section is detachably attached to the chassis through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Saya Minoshima, Junki Ueyama
  • Patent number: 9033331
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body with a main conveyance path, a first storage portion including a first conveyance path, a second conveyance path and a joint section. The joint section is a part where an upstream end of the main conveyance path and downstream ends of the first and second conveyance paths join. The first storage portion includes a movable guide at the position of the downstream end of the first conveyance path. The movable guide is displaced to a projecting position where the movable guide projects toward the joint section from the downstream end of the first conveyance path to guide the sheet in a state where the first storage portion is mounted in the apparatus main body and a retracted position substantially retracted from the joint section in a state where the first storage portion is withdrawn from the apparatus main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Shingo Arimura, Eiji Tatsumi
  • Patent number: 8967614
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus including a first tray having a first holding portion for holding sheets, a second tray disposed above the first tray and including a second holding portion for holding sheets, a sheet feeder that selectively feeds a sheet from one of the first tray and the second tray in a sheet feed direction, a recording unit that records an image on the sheet fed by the sheet feeder, and a discharge roller that discharges the sheet on which the image is recorded by the recording unit. The second holding portion of the second tray moves above the first holding portion of the first tray. The second tray further includes a discharged sheet receiving portion for receiving the sheet discharged by the discharge roller. The second tray including the discharged sheet receiving portion pivots relative to the first tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukio Shiohara, Tetsuo Asada, Yuji Koga
  • Patent number: 8944707
    Abstract: A printing medium supplying unit usable with an image forming apparatus which includes a casing and a feeding unit to feed a printing medium, and the image forming apparatus having the same. The printing medium supplying unit includes a feeding cassette to store and to supply the printing medium; and a guide unit rotatably coupled to the feeding cassette to guide the printing medium to the feeding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyun-soo Kim
  • Patent number: 8913946
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus that is orientatable in either a first position or a second position, the second position being different from the first position in inclination with respect to a horizontal plane, comprising: a platform configured to be stacked with a plurality of recording sheets used for image formation; a pickup roller in contact with the recording sheets and configured to pick up the recording sheets one at a time; a pressing member applying pressure to the platform against the pick-up roller; and a pressure changer causing the pressing member to change an amount of the pressure according to whether the image forming apparatus is in the first position or in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Shigeru Sawano, Masashi Kawai, Naoki Nonoyama
  • Patent number: 8851466
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a lower tray which is detachably mounted to an apparatus body, an upper tray provided above the lower tray, which is detachably mounted to the apparatus body, and a feeding roller capable of contacting each of a recording medium stored in the lower tray and the recording medium stored in the upper tray from above. The feeding roller is supported at an intermediate position, which is lower than a position of the feeding roller reached when the feeding roller contacts a bottom surface of the upper tray and higher than a position of the feeding roller reached when the feeding roller contacts a recording medium set as a top sheet in a state in which a maximum number of recording media are stored in the lower tray, in an unmounted state of the upper tray and the lower tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toshikazu Kotaka, Tetsuya Tamura
  • Patent number: 8807739
    Abstract: There is provided a recording apparatus including an apparatus main body including a first placement portion on which a recording medium is placed, a recording unit which performs recording on the recording medium, and a first transport path through which the recording medium is transported from the first placement portion to the recording unit, an extension unit including a second placement portion, which is detachably attached to the apparatus main body, on which the recording medium is placed, and a second transport path capable of communicating from the second placement portion to the first transport path of the apparatus main body, and a detachable member detachably provided in the apparatus main body and exposing at least a part of the second transport path when detached from the apparatus main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Katsumi Okamoto
  • Patent number: 8807553
    Abstract: An image recording device includes a tray unit, a sheet feeder disposed above the tray unit, a recording unit disposed above the sheet feeder, and a unit for discharging the sheet having as image recorded thereon. The tray unit includes a first tray for holding thereon a first sheet, a second tray disposed above the first tray to hold thereon a second sheet, and a third tray disposed above the first tray. The second tray selectively moves between a first position and a second position. When the second tray is in the first position, the sheet feeder feeds the second sheet from the second tray, and the third tray receives the second sheet discharged from the discharging unit. When the second tray is in the second position, the sheet feeder feeds the first sheet from the first tray, and the first tray, the second tray, and the third tray overlap one another vertically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuo Asada, Satoru Nakakita
  • Patent number: 8798517
    Abstract: A sheet supplying device that is incorporatable in an image forming apparatus includes a recording media container, a sheet feeding unit to feed a recording medium from the recording media container, and a frame to support the recording media container and the sheet feeding unit. The recording media container is detachably attachable to the frame in a first operation in which the recording media container is moved in a sheet conveyance direction in which the recording medium is conveyed upstream or downstream by the sheet feeding unit, and the recording media container is separated from the frame and the sheet feeding unit with the sheet feeding unit remaining in the frame, and a second operation in which the recording media container is moved in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction, and the recording media container is separated from the frame together with the sheet feeding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Matsuyama, Ippei Kimura, Ikuo Fujii, Takamitsu Ikematsu, Masafumi Takahira, Kaoru Tada, Tomoyoshi Yamazaki, Toru Hanashima, Chikara Hiraoka, Tamotsu Ikeda, Kazuyoshi Kondo
  • Patent number: 8777209
    Abstract: A paper feeder, a control method thereof, and an image forming apparatus having the same are provided. The paper feeder includes a moving member to push paper loaded on one paper loader to another empty paper loader. With regard to operation of the moving member, the stop time of the moving member may be variable based on a paper size input by a user, which enables a stop position of the moving member to be automatically adjusted based on the paper size, resulting in enhanced user convenience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seok Heon Chae, Min Gi Kim
  • Patent number: 8764004
    Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a sheet guide portion disposed upstream of a nip portion so as to guide a leading edge of a sheet sent from a sheet storing portion to the nip portion, and a manual bypass guide member which extends from a manual bypass sheet feeder and has a leading edge portion disposed between the sheet guide portion and the nip portion and can be elastically deformed in up and down direction so as to guide a manual bypass sheet to the nip portion. The manual bypass sheet is guided by the manual bypass guide member toward the nip portion and is sent out by the feed roller to a sheet transport path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Susumu Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 8727334
    Abstract: A recording device includes a judgment unit and a control unit. The judgment unit judges whether or not a designated standby time has elapsed still without a next recording job after the current recording job performed by the recording unit has ended in a state with the first media housing unit arranged in the feed position. The control unit controls the drive unit to hold the first media housing unit in the feed position when the judgment unit judges that it is before the standby time has elapsed, and on the other hand, to move the first media housing unit from the feed position to the removal position when the judgment unit judges that it is after the standby time has elapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yohei Nunokawa, Yasuhiko Yoshihisa
  • Patent number: 8714539
    Abstract: A recording medium cassette includes a lower sheet placement unit on which a first recording medium is placed, an upper sheet placement unit on which a second recording medium is placed and configured to slide with respect to the lower sheet placement unit, and a recorded medium receiver on which the first recording medium and the second recording medium that have undergone a recording operation of a recording unit are placed. The recorded medium receiver is pivotably disposed at an end portion of the lower sheet placement unit in a feed direction. The upper sheet placement unit is pivotably disposed at the other end portion of the lower sheet placement unit in the feed direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Toshikazu Kotaka
  • Patent number: 8714852
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus, including a sheet-supply tray device which accommodates and holds a plurality of recording sheets and which supplies the recording sheets, one by one, in a sheet-supply direction; and an image recording device which records an image on each of the recording sheets supplied from the sheet-supply tray device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuo Asada, Yukio Shiohara
  • Patent number: 8714540
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus including a first tray having a first holding portion for holding sheets, a second tray disposed above the first tray and including a second holding portion for holding sheets, a sheet feeder that selectively feeds a sheet from one of the first tray and the second tray in a sheet feed direction, a recording unit that records an image on the sheet fed by the sheet feeder, and a discharge roller that discharges the sheet on which the image is recorded by the recording unit. The second holding portion of the second tray moves above the first holding portion of the first tray. The second tray further includes a discharged sheet receiving portion for receiving the sheet discharged by the discharge roller. The second tray including the discharged sheet receiving portion pivots relative to the first tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukio Shiohara, Tetsuo Asada, Yuji Koga
  • Patent number: 8695960
    Abstract: A media loading and unloading system, for use with a media cutting system having a cutting table and cutting apparatus to cut or score media held on a surface of the cutting table, includes an elevator assembly and a bi-directional transport system. The elevator assembly includes a drive and multiple vertically displaced bins that are vertically movable up and down by the drive. The bi-directional transport system transports media in a lateral feed direction from the elevator assembly to the cutting table surface and removes media from the cutting table surface in a lateral direction opposite to the feed direction to the elevator assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Barry P. Mandel, William W. Nowak, Robert A. Clark, Linn C. Hoover, Thomas C. Hollar, Peter J. Knausdorf, Thomas J. Wyble, Kathleen A. Feinberg, Ming Yang
  • Patent number: 8641032
    Abstract: A sheet cassette includes a lower stage side tray that accommodates a sheet, an upper stage side tray that is slidable with respect to the lower stage side tray on an upper portion of the lower stage side tray and accommodates the sheet, and a discharged sheet tray that is slidable with respect to the upper stage side tray, is displaceable to a position to receive the sheet discharged after being recorded on, and covers an upper portion of the upper stage side tray. The upper stage side tray and the discharged sheet tray are configured to be driven by a driving unit, and the discharged sheet tray is displaced by the driving unit to a position to receive the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhisa Nakamura, Atsuhiko Takeuchi, Kazumasa Harada, Kensuke Tamai, Kazutoshi Matsuzaki
  • Publication number: 20140021677
    Abstract: To provide a recording device that can reduce the frequency of delays in the start of the next recording job for which the feed source is the same first media housing unit, due to the operation of moving the first media housing unit from the feed position toward the removal position after a recording job ends, a computer inside a printer is equipped with a cassette control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yohei NUNOKAWA, Yasuhiko YOSHIHISA
  • Publication number: 20140008861
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a medium cassette that includes a first medium accommodation tray having a first medium accommodation portion for accommodating a medium to be transported to a recording unit, and a paper discharge tray that is placed on the medium cassette and receives a medium on which recording has been performed on the recording unit. The paper discharge tray has a close state where the paper discharge tray is overlapped on at least a part of the first medium accommodation portion of the first medium accommodation tray and receives the medium on which recording has been performed on the recording unit and an open state where the paper discharge tray is moved rotationally with respect to an end portion of the medium cassette to open the first medium accommodation portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventor: Toshikazu KOTAKA
  • Patent number: 8625173
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus including: a main frame including (a) a pair of side plates facing each other in one direction and (b) a base plate whose opposite end portions in the one direction are respectively supported by the pair of side plates; a guide member provided at an inside area interposed between a pair of side plates in the one direction, so as to define a conveying path through which a recording medium is conveyed; and a sensor device supported by one of the pair of side plates and configured to sense the recording medium conveyed through the conveying path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuo Asada, Hirotaka Aoki
  • Patent number: 8550448
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a decolorizing device includes a first stacker to stack sheets to be decolorized images on the sheets, a second stacker arranged adjacent to the first stacker, wherein the sheets stacked on the first stacker is kept waiting on the second stacker in order to be decolorized the images, a pressing unit to urge the sheets stacked on the second stacker downward and keep the sheets stacked on the second stacker flat, an image decolorizing unit to decolorize the images on the sheets, and a sheet feed unit positioned on an upper surface of the pressing unit to convey the sheets pressed on the pressing unit from the second stacker to the image decolorizing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ken Iguchi, Isao Yahata, Takahiro Kawaguchi, Hiroyuki Taguchi, Hiroyuki Tsuchihashi, Hiroyuki Taki
  • Publication number: 20130249162
    Abstract: A guide device includes a plate on which a first medium is to be placed, and provided above a space in which a container is to be inserted, a moving member that moves along a surface of the plate in a supply direction of the first medium or in an opposite direction, a substantially sheetlike guide member that guides the first medium in the supply direction, and a drawing member that draws the moving member toward the plate. When the container is taken out of the space, the moving member is drawn toward the plate in the opposite direction by the drawing member, and the guide member withdraws to a position superposed on the plate. When the container is inserted in the space, the moving member is pushed in the supply direction by the container, and the guide member protrudes from the position in the supply direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shun IKEURA, Kenichi ISHIKURA, Takayuki YAZAWA
  • Publication number: 20130221597
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a lower tray configured to store a recording medium, an upper tray which is provided above the lower tray and configured to store a recording medium, and a feeding roller capable of contacting each of the recording medium stored in the lower tray and the recording medium stored in the upper tray from above. The lower tray and the upper tray are attached to and detached from an apparatus body including a recording unit and the feeding roller, independently from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
  • Publication number: 20130221600
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a lower tray which is detachably mounted to an apparatus body, an upper tray provided above the lower tray, which is detachably mounted to the apparatus body, and a feeding roller capable of contacting each of a recording medium stored in the lower tray and the recording medium stored in the upper tray from above. The feeding roller is supported at an intermediate position, which is lower than a position of the feeding roller reached when the feeding roller contacts a bottom surface of the upper tray and higher than a position of the feeding roller reached when the feeding roller contacts a recording medium set as a top sheet in a state in which a maximum number of recording media are stored in the lower tray, in an unmounted state of the upper tray and the lower tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
  • Patent number: 8517370
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus including a first tray having a first holding portion for holding sheets, a second tray disposed above the first tray and including a second holding portion for holding sheets, a sheet feeder that selectively feeds a sheet from one of the first tray and the second tray in a sheet feed direction, a recording unit that records an image on the sheet fed by the sheet feeder, and a discharge roller that discharges the sheet on which the image is recorded by the recording unit. The second holding portion of the second tray moves above the first holding portion of the first tray. The second tray further includes a discharged sheet receiving portion for receiving the sheet discharged by the discharge roller. The second tray including the discharged sheet receiving portion pivots relative to the first tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukio Shiohara, Tetsuo Asada, Yuji Koga
  • Patent number: 8509673
    Abstract: This invention improves operability at a final stage of moving a slide unit in one direction. A withdrawal mechanism 14 includes a charge spring 45 charged with energy to interlock withdrawal of a sheet cassette, a lock member 39 locking the charge spring in a state of being charged with the energy, a ratchet mechanism releasing interlocking of the charge spring with the sheet cassette with respect to movement of the sheet cassette in a push-in direction, and an unlock member 70d interlocking the sheet cassette with the charge spring and releasing locking of the charge spring at a final stage of moving the sheet cassette in the push-in direction. The sheet cassette is moved in the push-in direction by the energy charged in the charge spring at the final stage of moving the sheet cassette in the push-in direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaki Seto
  • Publication number: 20130140756
    Abstract: A medium storage box is provided. The medium storage box includes a first supporting plate for storing first medium, a second supporting plate spaced apart from the first supporting plate, for storing second medium, and a pickup roller, disposed between the first supporting plate and the second supporting plate, for selectively picking up one of the first medium and the second medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: LG N-SYS INC.
    Inventor: LG N-SYS INC.
  • Publication number: 20130134649
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus including a first tray having a first holding portion for holding sheets, a second tray disposed above the first tray and including a second holding portion for holding sheets, a sheet feeder that selectively feeds a sheet from one of the first tray and the second tray in a sheet feed direction, a recording unit that records an image on the sheet fed by the sheet feeder, and a discharge roller that discharges the sheet on which the image is recorded by the recording unit. The second holding portion of the second tray moves above the first holding portion of the first tray. The second tray further includes a discharged sheet receiving portion for receiving the sheet discharged by the discharge roller. The second tray including the discharged sheet receiving portion pivots relative to the first tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukio SHIOHARA, Tetsuo ASADA, Yuji KOGA
  • Patent number: 8439344
    Abstract: An image recording device includes a housing, a tray unit mounted in the housing and configured to hold thereon sheets, a feeder configured to feed a sheet from the tray unit, a recording unit configured to record an image on the sheet fed by the feeder, and a discharging unit configured to discharge the sheet after the recording unit records the image on the sheet. The tray unit includes a first tray including a first holding surface for holding thereon a first sheet, a second tray includes a second holding surface for holding thereon a second sheet and configured to move above the first holding surface between a first position and a second position, and a third tray supported by the first tray and disposed above the second tray in the second position, and configured to receive the sheet discharged by the discharging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuo Asada, Satoru Nakakita
  • Patent number: 8398068
    Abstract: An image recording device includes a tray unit, a sheet feeder disposed above the tray unit, a recording unit disposed above the sheet feeder, and a unit for discharging the sheet having an image recorded thereon. The tray unit includes a first tray for holding thereon a first sheet, a second tray disposed above the first tray to hold thereon a second sheet, and a third tray disposed above the first tray. The second tray selectively moves between a first position and a second position. When the second tray is in the first position, the sheet feeder feeds the second sheet from the second tray, and the third tray receives the second sheet discharged from the discharging unit. When the second tray is in the second position, the sheet feeder feeds the first sheet from the first tray, and the first tray, the second tray, and the third tray overlap one another vertically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuo Asada, Satoru Nakakita
  • Patent number: 8398069
    Abstract: A paper feeder, a control method thereof, and an image forming apparatus having the same are provided. The paper feeder includes a moving member to push paper loaded on one paper loader to another empty paper loader. With regard to operation of the moving member, the stop time of the moving member may be variable based on a paper size input by a user, which enables a stop position of the moving member to be automatically adjusted based on the paper size, resulting in enhanced user convenience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seok Heon Chae, Min Gi Kim
  • Patent number: 8342503
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus including a first tray having a first holding portion for holding sheets, a second tray disposed above the first tray and including a second holding portion for holding sheets, a sheet feeder that selectively feeds a sheet from one of the first tray and the second tray in a sheet feed direction, a recording unit that records an image on the sheet fed by the sheet feeder, and a discharge roller that discharges the sheet on which the image is recorded by the recording unit. The second holding portion of the second tray moves above the first holding portion of the first tray. The second tray further includes a discharged sheet receiving portion for receiving the sheet discharged by the discharge roller. The second tray including the discharged sheet receiving portion pivots relative to the first tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukio Shiohara, Tetsuo Asada, Yuji Koga
  • Patent number: 8342502
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus including a first tray having a first holding portion for holding sheets, a second tray disposed above the first tray and including a second holding portion for holding sheets, a sheet feeder that selectively feeds a sheet from one of the first tray and the second tray in a sheet feed direction, a recording unit that records an image on the sheet fed by the sheet feeder, and a discharge roller that discharges the sheet on which the image is recorded by the recording unit. The second holding portion of the second tray moves above the first holding portion of the first tray. The second tray further includes a discharged sheet receiving portion for receiving the sheet discharged by the discharge roller. The second tray including the discharged sheet receiving portion pivots relative to the first tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukio Shiohara, Tetsuo Asada, Yuji Koga
  • Patent number: 8292287
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a decolorizing device includes a first stacker to stack sheets to be decolorized images on the sheets, a second stacker arranged adjacent to the first stacker, wherein the sheets stacked on the first stacker is kept waiting on the second stacker in order to be decolorized the images, a pressing unit to urge the sheets stacked on the second stacker downward and keep the sheets stacked on the second stacker flat, an image decolorizing unit to decolorize the images on the sheets, and a sheet feed unit positioned on an upper surface of the pressing unit to convey the sheets pressed on the pressing unit from the second stacker to the image decolorizing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ken Iguchi, Isao Yahata, Takahiro Kawaguchi, Hiroyuki Taguchi, Hiroyuki Tsuchihashi, Hiroyuki Taki
  • Patent number: 8066273
    Abstract: A dual-stack document storage bin comprises a substantially U-shaped container including a first bottom wall which interconnects first and second sidewalls to provide (i) the substantially U-shape, and (ii) a first document storage chamber which is defined between the first and second sidewalls and into which documents can be stacked to form a first stack of documents when the U-shaped container is in a first position. The dual-stack document storage bin further comprises a substantially L-shaped housing including a second bottom wall and a third sidewall which is disposed relative to the second bottom wall to provide (i) the substantially L-shape, and (ii) a second document storage chamber which is defined between the third side wall and the second sidewall and into which documents can be stacked to form a second stack of documents when the U-shaped container is in a second position which is different from the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Brian P. Connell, Fredrik L. N. Kallin, David W. Norris, Robin I. G. Angus
  • Patent number: 7997574
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body which includes an attachment portion, a standby tray which is provided adjacent to the attachment portion of the apparatus body and stacks a paper thereon, a paper feeding tray stacks the paper thereon, a movement mechanism which moves the paper from the paper feeding tray located at the mounted position onto the standby tray along the paper conveying path, a holder member which moves to a first position so as to hold the paper at a predetermined position on the paper feeding tray and moves to a second position so as to recede from the paper conveying path, and a lock mechanism which engages with the holder member so as to hold the holder member at the first position when the paper feeding tray is located at the withdrawn position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tadashi Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 7971866
    Abstract: A sheet-feeding scanning apparatus having a business card feeding mechanism is provided. The sheet-feeding scanning apparatus includes a scanning module, an ordinary document input tray, an ordinary document pick-up roller assembly, an ejecting tray, a transfer channel, a plurality of transfer rollers, a business card input tray, and a business card pick-up roller assembly. The business card input tray has a business card support plate. In a case that a jam event occurs, the business card support plate may be swung for facilitating removing the jammed business card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Primax Electronics Ltd.
    Inventors: Wen-An Huang, Chung-Kai Wang, Wei-Hsun Hsu, Chao-Min Yang
  • Patent number: 7963517
    Abstract: A sheet feed device includes a first sheet cassette having an accommodating portion accommodating a first plurality of sheets and a second sheet cassette, disposed on the first sheet cassette, accommodating a second plurality of sheets. The sheet feed device also includes a sheet feeder configured to selectively feed the first plurality of sheets and the second plurality of sheets toward a sheet feed path, and a sheet separator configured to separate, one by one, the sheets fed by the sheet feeder. Specifically, the second sheet cassette is configured to move above the accommodating portion and with respect to the sheet feeder between a sheet feed position in which the sheet feeder contacts sheets accommodated in the second sheet feed cassette to a non-sheet feed position in which the second sheet feed cassette prevents the sheet feeder from contacting sheets accommodated in the second sheet feed cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukio Shiohara, Tetsuo Asada, Yuji Koga
  • Patent number: 7950648
    Abstract: A feeding device according to the present invention includes a box, paper holders, and a shifting mechanism. The box is open at its top. The paper holders are open at their tops and positioned in the box. Each of the paper holders holds a pile of sheets of paper in it. The shifting mechanism so shifts at least one of the paper holders that the top sheet in one of the paper holders is positioned in a single feed position in the box according to selection data output from the apparatus with which the feeding device is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaya Asakawa, Masahiko Fujita, Tadasu Taniguchi, Masatsugu Ohishi, Masaharu Kimura, Yasuaki Fukada, Norichika Katsura, Yasuhiro Takai
  • Patent number: 7904016
    Abstract: When an original document is placed on the lift tray, a timer is reset and starts counting a predetermined time. Whether an alignment device is moved to adjust the original documents loaded on the lift tray in, for example, the widthwise direction transverse to the transportation direction is then determined. If a change in the detected width of the original documents is detected, the timer is reset and started again. If there is no change in the detected width of the original documents, a control waits for the timer to time out. If the timer reaches the predetermined time, the lift tray is driven up by the lift motor and rises until the top limit sensor turns on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Kuwahara, Toshihide Higashimori, Kouichi Kimura, Hidehiro Tabuchi