Including Continuous Web Supply Patents (Class 271/9.1)
  • Patent number: 10222734
    Abstract: A moving-side roller reliably separates from a stationary-side roller so as to enable appropriate document transport. An image reading apparatus causes a roller support member supporting the moving-side roller to come into contact with the stationary-side roller. A contact state and a separation state can be switched. The image reading apparatus includes an external force providing portion to exert a third external force on the roller support member in a direction for restraining warping that is generated in the roller support member by a first external force that a cam exerts on the roller support member and by a second external force that an urging device exerts on the roller support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kohei Kozaki, Kensuke Tamai, Shinji Kanemaru, Hitoshi Igarashi
  • Patent number: 9509877
    Abstract: Examples include an indication of whether a print job is a cut media or continuous media print job. Examples include acquisition of information indicating whether a print job to be printed on a printing device is a cut media print job or a continuous media print job, and determination of when reflected intensity of output light reflected within the printing device has crossed a detection threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Arthur H. Barnes, Pierre J. Kaiser
  • Patent number: 9008563
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has rotatable members for rotatably retaining respective ones of flanges mounted to opposite ends of a roll sheet, and placement stages on which the roll sheet is to be placed and on which respective ones of the rotatable members are mounted. Racks are mounted to respective ones of the placement stages for undergoing movement to move the placement stages relative one another to vary a distance between the placement stages. A pinion is arranged between the racks for undergoing rotation to move the racks, and a potentiometer whose resistance value varies in accordance with a distance between the placement stages undergoing movement with rotation of the pinion is provided. An A/D converter outputs a value based on a resistance value of the potentiometer. A calculation device calculates a width of the roll sheet based on the value output from the A/D converter. A memory stores the calculated width of the roll sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko I Infotech Inc.
    Inventor: Kiyohito Hirota
  • Patent number: 8845214
    Abstract: A conveying device includes a first feeder that rotatably supports a roll sheet and feeds the roll sheet to a conveying path, a second feeder that feeds a cut sheet to the conveying path, and a controller that determines whether a sheet fed to the conveying path is the roll sheet or the cut sheet based on the relationship between movement of the sheet fed to the conveying path and rotation of the roll sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Hata
  • Patent number: 8733880
    Abstract: A digital printing method includes printing timing marks for each of images; in reprinting after printing is temporarily suspended, feeding a web of paper to travel backwards so that a plurality of images and timing marks printed thereon before printing is temporarily suspended move towards upstream of a digital printer and thereafter feeding the web of paper to travel forwards again, and counting by mark sensors, upstream of the digital printer, the number of such timing marks moving in each of the backward feed and forward re-feed of the web of paper; and when the number of counts of the timing marks counted in the forward re-feed coincides with the number of counts of the timing marks counted in the backward feed, reinitiating to print consecutive images from a position following an image last printed before printing is temporarily suspended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Miyakoshi Printing Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Izawa, Yuuichi Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8714541
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus, for conveying a roll paper as a sheet and a cut paper as a sheet to record an image on the sheet, includes a sheet type selecting unit, a rotation amount measurement unit, a determination unit, a conveyance suspension unit, and a first conveyance restarting unit. The sheet type selecting unit allows a user to select a roll paper mode and a cut paper mode. The determination unit determines whether a conveyed sheet is the roll paper or the cut paper based on the rotation amount measured by the rotation amount measurement unit. The conveyance suspension unit suspends the sheet conveyance in response to it being determined that the conveyed sheet is different from the selected sheet type. The first conveyance restarting unit restarts a sheet conveyance by the conveyance suspended during the cut paper mode, by switching to the roll paper mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takahiro Kato
  • Patent number: 8678688
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a printing device may include first and second printers respectively having first and second controllers. The first and second printers may be configured to share a common paper path with each other. The first controller in the first printer may enable the first printer to operate if the common paper path is not in use by the second printer. In this case, the first controller may inform the second printer that the common paper path is in use by the first printer. On the other hand, the second controller in the second printer may enable the second printer to operate if the common paper path is not in use by the first printer. In this case, the second controller may inform the first printer that the common paper path is in use by the second printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Norihisa Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 8585304
    Abstract: A label printer enables drop-in loading of linerless label paper rolls and prevents print defects caused by variation in the label paper transportation and the readhesion of chaff to the label paper. A pair of roll guiding members 37 and 38 limit the position of the outside of the label paper roll 5 to a position separated a predetermined distance from the label paper entrance 11 by contacting the outside of the label paper roll 5 inside the roll paper compartment 7 of the label printer 31 at a position offset from the label paper entrance 11 toward the center of the roll paper compartment 7. The roll guiding members 37 and 38 are members with low friction resistance when in contact with the outside of the label paper roll 5, and thus reduce the friction that can cause inconsistent paper transportation and chaff from wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 8449104
    Abstract: A conveyance apparatus includes a holding unit configured to hold a roll sheet, a conveyance unit configured to convey the roll sheet in a first direction in which the roll sheet is unrolled and a second direction opposite from the first direction, and a control unit configured to control the drive of the conveyance unit. The amount of drive per unit conveyance distance at the time when the conveyance unit conveys the roll sheet is controlled so as to be larger in the conveyance in the first direction than in the conveyance in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keiji Okazawa
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8292526
    Abstract: A thermal printer has a thermal head for performing printing on a continuously fed recording sheet. A platen roller is mounted to undergo rotation for feeding the recording sheet between the platen roller and the thermal head. A cutting member cuts the recording sheet after printing is performed thereon by the thermal head. A sheet presenter mechanism discharges the recording sheet cut by the cutting member to the exterior. The sheet presenter mechanism is mounted to undergo movement to vary a discharge direction of the recording sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Hideki Sakai
  • Patent number: 8157462
    Abstract: The mechanism for opening and closing an operating cover of a printer having a discharge guide that remains in the same posture while moving in conjunction with opening and closing the operating cover prevents the gap between the discharge guide and the cover case of the operating cover from widening when the operating cover opens and closes. In a roll paper printer 1, the top end part 32a of the cover case 32 of an operating cover 3 is pivotably attached on the side of the discharge guide 5, which remains in the same posture while moving in conjunction with the cover 3 opening and closing. So that the cover case 32 does not separate from the cover frame 31 when the cover 3 opens and closes, a torsion spring 37 constantly urges the cover case 32 to open and close in unison with the cover frame 31 through an intervening connector arm 34.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kenichi Hirabayashi
  • Publication number: 20120056365
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus, for conveying a roll paper as a sheet and a cut paper as a sheet to record an image on the sheet, includes a sheet type selecting unit, a rotation amount measurement unit, a determination unit, a conveyance suspension unit, and a first conveyance restarting unit. The sheet type selecting unit allows a user to select a roll paper mode and a cut paper mode. The determination unit determines whether the conveyed sheet is the roll paper or the cut paper based on the rotation amount measured by the rotation amount measurement unit. The conveyance suspension unit suspends the sheet conveyance in response to it being determined that the conveyed sheet is different from the selected sheet type. The first conveyance restarting unit restarts a sheet conveyance by the conveyance suspended during the cut paper mode, by switching to the roll paper mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takahiro Kato
  • Patent number: 7924313
    Abstract: A camera device includes an image sensor for capturing an image. A printer includes an ink ejection printhead and is configured to print the captured image. A replaceable print roll includes an ink reservoir section configured to supply ink to the printer for printing. A validation apparatus is configured to validate the replaceable print roll and enable the printer to print the captured image only subsequent to validation of the print roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Paul Lapstun, Simon Robert Walmsley
  • Patent number: 7865125
    Abstract: A continuous feed (CF) printing module, printing system, and method is provided. The CF printing module comprising an image transfer system configured to selectively mark a media web, and a media web transport system configured to selectively advance a media web without image marking by the image transfer system at a first speed and selectively route a media web for image marking by the image transfer system at a second speed. The first speed greater than the second speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Steven R. Moore
  • Patent number: 7761046
    Abstract: Mechanism unit(s) functioning as automatic-feed cassette(s) and mechanism unit(s) functioning as manual-feed tray(s) together form a single integral module, constituting a hybrid paper supply module. A plurality of hybrid paper supply modules are stacked together to constitute a paper supply mechanism. Manual-feed tray(s) with which manual-feed mechanism unit(s) of respective hybrid paper supply module(s) is or are provided is or are maintained in stored state(s) as a result of electromagnetic attraction produced by electromagnet(s). In correspondence to image forming condition(s), electromagnetic attraction at one electromagnet is terminated, causing manual-feed tray(s) to assume deployed state(s). Furthermore, primary path(s) passing vertically through module interior(s) is or are formed so as to permit transport of recording paper toward printing unit(s) of hybrid device(s) regardless of from which hybrid paper supply module(s) it is that recording paper is taken up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Hiramoto, Susumu Hashimoto, Shigeru Yoshida, Takashi Kubo, Yasuaki Fukada, Yasushi Matsutomo
  • Patent number: 7628391
    Abstract: A taped bag feeder having a housing with a bag guide positioned thereon, a drive mechanism, a first reel and second reel for supplying an assembly of imbricated taped bags to a packaging operation. The assembly of imbricated taped bags having a pair of tape strands connected to the first and second reels which are rotated by the drive mechanism thereby advancing the assembly. The first and second reels being disposed on a face of the bag feeder parallel to and spaced from a longitudinal axis defined by an upstream end and downstream end of the bag guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Curwood, Inc.
    Inventors: David Lawrence Zuleger, Steven John Schult, Kenneth Eugene Nowak
  • Patent number: 7483050
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a handheld camera having a sensor adapted to sense an image and a processing system. The processing system includes a a camera manager for controlling the sensing of the image, an image processing manager for manipulating the image and, a print manager for controlling printing of the manipulated image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Paul Lapstun, Simon Robert Walmsley
  • Patent number: 7441972
    Abstract: A tape printer includes a holder support member at one side end in a roll sheet holder storage part in a direction substantially perpendicular to a feeding direction. In the holder support member, a mounting piece which is substantially rectangular in section and formed protruding outward on a positioning holding member of a roll sheet holder is fitted. The tape printer further includes a flat portion formed substantially horizontally between a rear edge of an insertion opening through which a roll sheet is inserted into the tape printer. On the flat portion, a front portion of a guide member is placed. At a rear edge of the flat portion in the feeding direction, at plural positions corresponding to various kinds of the roll sheets having different widths, there are formed four second positioning grooves in which part of the guide member is fitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Sugimoto, Keiji Seo, Akira Sago, Atsushi Kasugai
  • Patent number: 7381002
    Abstract: A tape printer includes a holder support member at one side end in a roll sheet holder storage part in a direction substantially perpendicular to a feeding direction. In the holder support member, a mounting piece which is substantially rectangular in section and formed protruding outward on a positioning holding member of a roll sheet holder is fitted. The tape printer further includes a flat portion formed substantially horizontally between a rear edge of an insertion opening through which a roll sheet is inserted into the tape printer. On the flat portion, a front portion of a guide member is placed. At a rear edge of the flat portion in the feeding direction, at plural positions corresponding to various kinds of the roll sheets having different widths, there are formed four second positioning grooves in which part of the guide member is fitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Sugimoto, Keiji Seo, Akira Sago, Atsushi Kasugai
  • Patent number: 6690476
    Abstract: A method and system for unloading continuous forms media from an image forming device while utilizing full forms. The full form utilization feature of the present invention is applicable to printing onto sheets having multiple forms. During an automatic unload operation, the last printed form from a print run is unloaded and the first unused form is positioned to be the first printed form on a subsequent run. The full form utilization feature of the present invention reduces or minimizes the number of forms wasted during print runs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Allan Anthony Hren
  • Patent number: 6546227
    Abstract: A continuous-medium-box feeding device feeds a continuous-medium box to a printing device printing on a continuous medium fed from the continuous-medium box containing the continuous medium. The continuous-medium-box feeding device includes a set table capable of sliding between a first position and a second position adjacent to the first position, and a stand-by table capable of sliding between the first position and a third position adjacent to the second position. At the first position, the continuous medium can be fed from the continuous-medium box to the printing device. At the second position, the continuous-medium box can be removed from the set table. At the second and third positions, a continuous-medium box containing a continuous medium to be printed on next can be placed on the stand-by table. In the continuous-medium-box feeding device, the stand-by table can feed the continuous-medium box on the set table positioned at the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Kunio Miyakoshi, Masatoshi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6533262
    Abstract: An apparatus for reducing friction, tearing, or wrinkling of the surface of a single-ply or multiple-ply continuous medium being fed to a processing station by either sprocket engagement of an edge-perforated medium or pinch roller pressure engagement of the medium as the medium moves in a vertically-oriented path, said reduction being effectuated through selectively altering the contact path length of guides supporting the medium in a direction reducing any friction forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Atsuo Yagihashi, Kazuyoshi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 6467763
    Abstract: A method and corresponding system for assembling collation sets from a split web consisting of two webstreams, each providing a series of collations of connected sheets. The method includes the steps of: alternately selecting the two webstreams and from the selected webstream drawing a sheet to a cutting or bursting station; cutting or bursting the sheet to separate it from the webstream; conveying the sheet to an accumulating station where sheets are accumulated; monitoring the sheet for determining whether the sheet is a beginning or an end of a collation; and ejecting the sheets accumulated from the selected webstream based on the determining of whether the sheet is the beginning or the end of a collation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur H. Depoi, Richard Rochford, Stanley Rydzak, Richard F Stengl
  • Patent number: 6394024
    Abstract: A coating apparatus for applying a coating on to a photographic media. The apparatus includes a coating section for applying a coating on to a photosensitive media having an entrance and an exit. A first supply assembly is provided for supplying a first media of a first format adjacent the entrance. A retractable second retractable supply assembly and a retractable taking-up assembly is provided for supplying and taking up a second media of a second format, the second format being different from the first format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Ralph L. Piccinino, Jr., Kevin H. Blakely
  • Publication number: 20020030319
    Abstract: In the manufacture of a paper or board web (W), the web is slit or cut, the rising/lowering (H) of the edges of a slit/cut gap (C) formed at the slitting/cutting point or the width (L) of the gap is measured by means of a measurement device (21A; 21B; 21C), and the curl of the paper or board web (W) is regulated based on the result of measurement. A paper or board machine line has means for regulating curl in the web (W); means for slitting or cutting the paper or board web and for measuring the rising/lowering (H) of the edges of a slit/cut gap (C) formed at the slitting/cutting point or the width (L) of the slit/cut gap (C) in connection with the manufacture of the web (W) in order to regulate the curl of the web (W) based on the result of measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Inventors: Antti Komulainen, Kari Juppi
  • Publication number: 20010040339
    Abstract: A device for transporting sheets in a region of a selectively usable sheet pile feeder includes a crosscutter of a sheet-fed processing machine having conveyor belts and contact-pressure devices cooperating therewith for feeding the sheets from the crosscutter, and a separating device of the sheet pile feeder, whereon contact-pressure devices are disposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Publication date: November 15, 2001
    Inventors: Hermann Karl Buck, Holger Edinger
  • Patent number: 6293541
    Abstract: Featured is a sheet feed unit including a first transport path in which is transported a first sheet, a second transport path and a protrusion. A second sheet is transported in the second transport path and guided at a prescribed angle relative to the first transport path. The protrusion is located or fixed at a confluence of the first transport path and the second transport path. The protrusion also has a guide surface that is placed to allow the second sheet to be guided along the first transport path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takao Horiuchi, Toshihiro Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 6250624
    Abstract: An extension guide unit 30 is provided on a side portion of a recording medium conveying passage. An extension guide 36 is held in a wound state in an extension guide holder 31 of the extension guide unit 30. In order to convey a recording medium, the extension guide 36 is drawn out, by which the recording medium is guided. This enables the recording medium to be smoothly conveyed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Copyer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Kiyohara, Iwao Kawamura, Kiyokazu Namekata, Kazuhiro Murakami, Kazuhiro Nisimura, Kensuke Izuma, Ryoma Suzuki, Satoru Sasame, Yuuichi Sugiyama, Tatsuo Fujimura