Document Feed Patents (Class 358/498)
  • Patent number: 8934154
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an automatic document feeder to feed an original document downstream, a frame, an image reader to read the original document fed by the automatic document feeder, and an image reader mounting unit to hold the image reader thereon. The frame pivotally supports the image reader mounting unit. A parallelism adjusting unit is provided to adjust parallelism of the image reader mounting unit. The parallelism adjusting unit is disposed on a side opposite a pivoting center for the image reader mounting unit at a prescribed interval therefrom. The pivoting center is located near a reading reference point in the image reader, at which the image reader starts reading the original document in main and sub-scanning directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoshi Nakayama
  • Patent number: 8928959
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a reading unit, a conveyance unit, a carriage, a motor, a motor gear, a conveyance gear, a carriage gear, a switching gear, and a control device. The conveyance unit is configured to convey a document from a document tray. The switching gear is configured to be placed in either one of a first position where the motor gear is communicated with the conveyance gear and a second position where the motor gear is communicated with the carriage gear. The control device is configured to: control the motor to rotate the motor gear in a first direction to have the switching gear free from the conveyance gear in response to a determination that the document jam has occurred; and control the motor to rotate the motor gear in a second direction to have the switching gear communicate with the conveyance gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroko Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 8928946
    Abstract: A cover member is openable and closable with respect to a document table, and has a color reference surface facing the document table, and a partial region provided on a color reference surface and having a predetermined density different from a density of the color reference surface. When a document determination portion determines that a document is a book document, a density correction portion corrects a density in a specific density correction range at a central portion in document image data read from a document by a image reading portion, based on a second density difference which is a density difference between a density of the color reference surface read by a reading control portion when a book document is placed on a document placement surface, and a density of the color reference surface read by the image reading portion when the cover member is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Fujita
  • Patent number: 8928956
    Abstract: An illumination system includes a light source unit including light emitting elements arranged in array in a main scan direction to project light beams radially, and an optical guide of a long length made from a translucent material to guide incident beams from an exit surface of the light source unit in a certain direction for output, and including at least one surface with a diffuse structure to diffuse a transmitted beam or a reflected beam among the incident beams, wherein the diffuse structure is configured to diffuse the beam at a center at a larger divergence angle than at ends in the main scan direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Iwamatsu, Mitsuru Nakajima, Tetsuya Ogata, Tsuyoshi Fujimoto, Tokiko Inoue, Chihiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8928898
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transport guide member, and a detection mechanism. The transport guide member guides a recording medium. The detection mechanism detects presence or absence of the recording medium. An actuator portion of the detection mechanism includes a shaft portion and a detection portion configured to swing about the shaft portion when abutting the recording medium. A first guide rib of the transport guide member is provided with a notch portion through which the shaft portion penetrates. The shaft portion is provided with a second guide rib configured to close an opening of the notch portion viewed from an axis direction of the shaft portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Yuzo Onishi
  • Patent number: 8928952
    Abstract: A scanning apparatus includes a scanning module, a calibration plate, and a driving module. The calibration plate includes a first background region for calibrating the brightness of the scanning module and a second background region for intensifying an edge of a document to be scanned. The driving module is used for driving movement of the calibration plate. As a consequence, the scanning light beam from the scanning module is projected onto the first background region or the second background region of the calibration plate. Under this circumstance, the purposes of calibrating the brightness and increasing the image processing efficiency are both achieved. Moreover, since the calibration plate is driven by the driving module to be moved in the direction parallel with said scanning light beam, the purpose of dynamically adjusting the brightness can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Primax Electronics Ltd.
    Inventors: Tung-Wen Tu, Jiang-Wei Wu
  • Patent number: 8928897
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the disclosure, a portable handheld device includes a CPU for processing a script; a multi-core processor for processing an image, and a DRAM for storing image data. The CPU and the multi-core processor are integrated on one chip and share a data cache provided on the same chip. The DRAM is provided external to the chip. The portable handheld device further comprises a DRAM interface for receiving and sending data to the DRAM, the DRAM interface being provided on the same chip and sharing the data cache with the CPU and the multi-core processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8928954
    Abstract: Once the number of successive occurrences of document feed errors during execution of fed reading has reached a predetermined number of times, an image reading control portion of the image reading device performs stationary reading in cases in which a stationary-reading document detection portion detects the presence of the document, even when a document set detection portion detects that the document is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Hideyuki Teramoto
  • Patent number: 8928951
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire luminance information of a white reference member by reading the white reference member with an image reading unit including a sensor while rotating the image reading unit in units of a predetermined angle, and a correction unit configured to correct the luminance information acquired by the acquisition unit using a correction coefficient predetermined for each rotation angle of the image reading unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takehito Utsunomiya
  • Patent number: 8922851
    Abstract: An image scanning device has a sheet conveying roller conveying a sheet when a conveyed sheet scanning function is activated, a guide member defining a sheet feed path, a first gear transmitting a driving force to the sheet conveying roller, a first supporting shaft extending in a direction parallel with a width direction of the sheet feed path and supporting the first gear, a second gear engaging with the first gear, a second supporting shaft extending in a direction perpendicular to the first supporting shaft and supporting the second gear, a holder unit holding the second supporting shaft, the holder unit arranged at one end of the sheet feed path in the width direction, a reinforce member made of metal and extending in the width direction, first and second fixing units fixing longitudinal ends of the reinforce member to the holder unit and the guide member, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takayuki Akimatsu
  • Patent number: 8922801
    Abstract: A reading apparatus includes an auto document feeder configured to be openable and closable around a hinge with respect to a unit including an image sensor. The auto document feeder includes a roller configured to move a document relative to the image sensor, a motor, a gear train configured to transmit a rotation of a rotational shaft of the motor to the roller, and an encoder unit configured to detect rotation information of the motor, and including a sensor and a code wheel. An orientation of the rotational shaft is substantially parallel to a rotational axis of the hinge, and the gear train is arrayed in a direction of an extension of the rotational shaft. A gear that is a part of the gear train is attached to one end of the rotational shaft, and the code wheel is attached to the other end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiro Tomoda, Masahiro Kawanishi, Takashi Awai, Tadashi Hanabusa, Haruo Ishizuka
  • Patent number: 8922850
    Abstract: Contamination of a reading window is detected between documents by a contamination detection section when a plurality of sheets of documents are transferred and a transferred document is read through a reading window, transfer of the document is stopped by a stopping section based on the detection result, and a corresponding purport is displayed on a display section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideyuki Hiro
  • Patent number: 8922791
    Abstract: A camera system including: a substrate having a coding pattern printed thereon and a handheld digital camera device. The camera device includes: a digital camera unit having a first image sensor for capturing images and a color display for displaying captured images to a user; an integral processor configured for: controlling operation of the first image sensor and color display; decoding an imaged coding pattern printed on a substrate, the printed coding pattern employing Reed-Solomon encoding; and performing an action in the handheld digital camera device based on the decoded coding pattern. The decoding includes the steps of: detecting target structures defining the extent of the data area; determining the data area using the detected target structures; and Reed-Solomon decoding the coding pattern contained in the determined data area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8917416
    Abstract: An apparatus that controls a display unit to display, as a preview image, an image to be printed on a print medium by a printing apparatus that includes a function for adjusting a conveyance amount to convey a print medium in a conveyance direction by increasing or decreasing the conveyance amount as compared to a reference conveyance amount when an image of a designated size is printed acquires an adjustment amount of the conveyance amount and changes a size of the preview image with respect to the conveyance direction according to the acquired adjustment amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideyuki Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20140368894
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: an opening/closing portion configured to be rotatable around a hinge shaft; a biasing portion configured to apply a force to the opening/closing portion such that moment of the hinge shaft rotation higher than moment of the hinge shaft rotation according to self-weight of the opening/closing member is generated in a state in which the opening/closing portion is placed in a range up to a predetermined rotation angle from a closed position with respect to the apparatus main body, and moment of the hinge shaft rotation that is balanced with the moment of the hinge shaft rotation according to the self-weight of the opening/closing portion is generated in a state in which the opening/closing portion is opened more than the predetermined rotation angle; and a holding portion configured to maintain the opening/closing portion at the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuichi Yamamoto, Tomofumi Sakuma
  • Publication number: 20140368895
    Abstract: Once the number of successive occurrences of document feed errors during execution of fed reading has reached a predetermined number of times, an image reading control portion of the image reading device performs stationary reading in cases in which a stationary-reading document detection portion detects the presence of the document, even when a document set detection portion detects that the document is present.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Hideyuki TERAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20140368851
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, an image reading apparatus comprises a conveyance section, a reading section, a flexible unit and a control section. The conveyance section conveys a sheet along a conveyance path. The reading section arranged along the conveyance path reads the surface of the conveyed sheet. The flexible unit flexes the sheet conveyed towards the reading section. The control unit controls the flexible unit to flex the sheet when the reading section carries out a first reading processing of reading an image representing the surface state of the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventor: Yuichi Saito
  • Patent number: 8913293
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a high-speed duplex-printing mode execution unit, a print request unit, an output processing unit, a request control unit, and a request invalidation unit. The high-speed duplex-printing mode execution unit executes a high-speed duplex-printing mode in which image formation is sequentially performed on first sides from a leading sheet, and then image formation is performed on a second side of at least the leading sheet. The print request unit issues simplex-printing requests. The output processing unit receives the requests, performs an output process, and causes image formation to be performed. The request control unit causes the print request unit to issue simplex-printing requests using, as a trigger, either input of each duplex-printing request or completion of the output process. The request invalidation unit maintains a trigger based on the output process completion as invalid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions
    Inventor: Yuki Fukasawa
  • Patent number: 8913305
    Abstract: There is a problem in that, when a handle section is provided in a recording device, the handle section protrudes from a casing and the size of the recording apparatus is increased. A recording apparatus is provided with a recording head which records on paper and a discharge tray which is provided to be able to slide with regard to a casing and holds the paper which is recorded upon using the recording head and discharged, where the discharge tray has a through section which is formed on the downstream side in a discharge direction and a handle section which is formed at an edge section more to the downstream side in the discharge direction than the through section, the handle section is accommodated inside of the casing in a state where the discharge tray is accommodated in the casing, the through section and the handle section are positioned outside of the casing in a state where the discharge tray is drawn out from the casing, and the discharge tray is supported in a state of hanging down from the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Ichiro Yoshioka, Seiichi Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 8913309
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus that includes an image reading portion, a tray, a first regulation member movable in a width direction on the tray, a second regulation member movable in association with the first regulation member, a first rotating portion and a second rotating portion that are each capable of being rotated by a sheet on the tray, and a sensor portion configured to generate a signal based on rotations of the first and second rotating portions. The first rotating portion is located between the first regulation member and the second regulation member that regulate both edges of a sheet having a minimum width, and the second rotating portion is located between the other edge of a sheet having a smaller width and the first regulation member, when sheets having different widths are supported on the tray with each having one edge aligned with the first regulation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Seiichiro Adachi
  • Patent number: 8913310
    Abstract: An image reading device includes a conveyor unit that conveys a document along a conveying path for ADF-type image scanning including a curved path. The conveyor unit includes a conveyor roller that reverses a conveying direction of the document in the curved path. The device further includes a first contact surface that comes into contact with a first side of the document when the document is conveyed, a second contact surface that comes into contact with a second side of the document when the document is conveyed, a first reading unit that reads an image on the first side of the document, and a second reading unit disposed above the second contact surface and reading an image on the second side of the document. A part of the conveyor roller is disposed lower than the first and second contact surfaces in an up down direction of the image reading device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Osakabe, Katsuro Miura, Takashi Ohama
  • Patent number: 8913292
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes an image reading unit and a computational unit. The image reading unit includes a reference reflecting member that acts as a color reference, an illuminating unit that illuminates a part of the reference reflecting member and a sheet being transported in proximity thereto, a line sensor that reads an image formed on the sheet and the part of the reference reflecting member in proximity to the sheet in the sheet width direction, and a spectroscope that measures the spectral distribution of each of multiple patches for correcting color tones formed on the sheet and arranged in the sheet transport direction. The computational unit generates color tone correction data by performing computations based on the spectral distribution of each patch measured by the spectroscope, and the read values of the reference reflecting member obtained by the line sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sunao Ishizaki, Yoshifumi Takebe
  • Patent number: 8908241
    Abstract: A document reading device includes: a document reading device main body; and an opening/closing body with one end supported rotatably with respect to the document reading device main body while another end openably/closably provided, the other end of the opening/closing body being provided with a handgrip having a depression sloped toward inside of the opening/closing body in accordance with approach of the opening/closing body to the document reading device main body in a closed status with respect to the document reading device main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Ohgi, Hiroko Saito, Norio Irie, Kazuhiro Tobita, Mitsuyuki Ishida
  • Patent number: 8908233
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a cover configured to be movable between a first position, in which the top of the main body is covered, and a second position, in which the top of the main body is exposed; a supporting member configured to vertically move with respect to the main body so that the rotation center of the cover is moved between an ascent position and a descent position; a cam configured to rotate together with the cover such that a cam surface abuts on the main body, thereby vertically moving the supporting member, wherein the cam has a shape to displace the rotation center to the descent position when then the cover rotates to the first position and to displace the rotation center to the ascent position when the cover rotates to the second position so that interference of the cover is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Ohama, Yoshinori Osakabe
  • Patent number: 8908242
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a roller that rotates about a rotating axis and conveys a particular medium in a conveying direction, a reader that reads the particular medium, and a body. The body includes a first port formed in the body, and a lid pivotably attached to the body and pivots about a pivoting axis, which is perpendicular to the conveying direction and the rotating axis. The lid pivots between a first position, in which the lid covers at least a portion of the first port, and a second position, in which the lid is separated from the first port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Nakayama, Hirofumi Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20140355083
    Abstract: In a sheet conveying device, a first sensing portion is configured to output a first sense signal when a sheet is absent at a first sensing position determined in advance on a sheet placement portion, and output a second sense signal when the sheet is present at the first sensing position. A second sensing portion is configured to output the second sense signal when the sheet is absent at a second sensing position separated from the first sensing position in a width direction perpendicular to a conveying direction of the sheet, and output the first sense signal when the sheet is present at the second sensing position. A sensing control portion is configured to sense a plurality of states in accordance with a combination of the first sense signal and the second sense signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Shinichi Omoya
  • Publication number: 20140355084
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: document reading device; document holder; and first locking device. Document reading device is provided so as to be openable and closable relative to apparatus body. Document holder is provided so as to be openable and closable relative to document reading device. First locking device locks document holder so as to prevent document holder from performing opening operation in the case of the document reading device performing opening operation. Document reading device includes an opening. First locking device includes: locking member, first hook member, and lid member. Locking member is inserted into the opening in a state where document holder is closed relative to document reading device. First hook member is engaged with locking member inserted in the opening, below document placing surface. Lid member is movable between closing position at which the opening is closed, and opening position at which the opening is opened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Teruhiko Inada, Nobuhiro Fukuma
  • Patent number: 8902477
    Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a feeding guide configured to guide a sheet, a separation unit configured to separate the sheet from a plurality of sheets, and a holding portion configured to hold the separation unit. The separation unit may be configured to be removably attached to the holding portion. Further, the holding portion may be configured to move from a first position where the holding portion holds the separation unit in contact with a pressing portion to a second position where the holding portion holds the separation unit away from the pressing portion while remaining connected to the feeding guide. The pressing portion may be configured to press the separation unit toward a feeding roller when the holding portion is in the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinji Ukai
  • Patent number: 8902481
    Abstract: In a method for document digitization, an apparatus generates a first image of a document sheet by irradiating the document sheet using a first light source and detecting the document sheet irradiated with light from the first light source, which enables detection of ink on the document sheet that defines a marked portion. The apparatus further generates a second image of the document sheet by irradiating the document sheet using a second light source and detecting the document sheet irradiated with light from the second light source, which enables detection of content on the document sheet. The apparatus further obtains a region of the second image that corresponds to the marked portion of the document sheet based on the first image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignees: Lite-On Electronics (Guangzhou) Limited, Lite-On Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Yi Cai, Qi Ning, Chih-Po Lin
  • Patent number: 8902480
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises an image sensor configured to extend in a horizontal scanning direction, a carriage, a guide section and a reading control section. The carriage configured to move in a vertical scanning direction orthogonal to the horizontal scanning direction to change a reading position of a document. The guide section configured to have a guide surface for guiding the document to the document glass, and a white part, a first colorizing part and a second colorizing part which are formed on the guide surface in line in the vertical scanning direction. The reading control section configured to move the carriage to align the reading position in the vertical scanning direction with one of the white part, the first colorizing part and the second colorizing part and execute a reading processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shoichi Taniguchi
  • Publication number: 20140347712
    Abstract: A reading unit of an image reading apparatus has a configuration in which a plurality of line sensors, including a first line sensor and a second line sensor that are arranged apart, are regularly arranged. The relation 0.95?L/(n×D)?1.05 (n=integer from 1 to 5) is satisfied where L is a distance between the first line sensor and the second line sensor in a sub scan direction. Before reading a document, the image reading apparatus detects an edge of the document, from which an image is to be actually read, using the first line sensor and the second line sensor to acquire correction information about document reading.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiromasa Yoneyama, Hideaki Matsumura
  • Patent number: 8896891
    Abstract: A document conveying device includes a document table on which a stack of document sheets is placed; a rotating shaft member detachably provided on a main body of the document conveying device; a feeding member configured to contact and feed a topmost sheet of the stack of document sheets, the feeding member being attached to the rotating shaft member via a driving force transmitting member; a separating unit configured to separate the topmost sheet from one or more sheets that are fed together with the topmost sheet, rotating members rotatably attached to the rotating shaft member; a holding member configured to hold the feeding member and the driving force transmitting member; and a rotating member position restricting unit configured to restrict a position of the rotating members other than the holding member to a given predetermined position with reference to a position of the holding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Fumiyuki Heishi, Hiroshi Kubo, Takashi Fujii, Shinya Kitaoka, Takeshi Akai, Takehisa Shimazu, Takuma Ariga, Michitaka Suzuki, Yoshito Suzuki, Jun Yamada, Satoshi Saito, Kenichiro Morita, Ikuhisa Okamoto, Kenji Hayasaka, Hiroaki Utagawa
  • Patent number: 8896889
    Abstract: A document scanning apparatus for scanning a document is provided. The document scanning apparatus includes an image sensor unit which irradiates an incident light towards the document and generates image data by sensing a reflected light reflected from the document, a supporting unit which supports the image sensor unit, a movement unit which moves the image sensor unit between a scanning position and a calibration position, a housing which houses the image sensor unit, the supporting unit, and the movement unit, a transparent plate which transmits the incident light and the reflected light, a calibration sheet which is attached to a surface of the transparent plate, which is exposed to outside and is positioned in an area including the calibration position, and a housing cover which is coupled to the housing and seals inside of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jee-hoon Chun, Gyu-sok Jun
  • Patent number: 8891143
    Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a sheet supporting portion, a sheet feeding portion, and a movable regulating portion. The sheet feeding portion feeds a sheet bundle uppermost sheet. The movable regulating portion is disposed downstream of the sheet bundle in a sheet feeding direction such that the movable regulating portion is tiltable between a regulation position and a regulation release position. While the movable regulating portion regulates the sheet bundle movement in the regulation position, the sheet feeding portion forms a loop in the uppermost sheet between the sheet feeding portion and the movable regulating portion, the movable regulating portion is moved to the regulation release position after loop formation to remove the formed loop, and the movable regulating portion is returned to the regulation position after loop removal such that the movable regulating portion raises the uppermost sheet leading end to separate the uppermost sheet from other sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akira Omori
  • Patent number: 8885180
    Abstract: A portable handheld device includes an image sensor for capturing an image; an orientation sensor for determining a rotation of the image sensor; and a system-on-chip processor having integrated on a common wafer a CPU for processing a script language, a multi-core processor for processing an image captured by the image sensor, and a common synchronization register. The multi-core processor includes multiple processing units connected in parallel by a crossbar switch. Each processing unit stores one or more synchronization bits for identifying which of the other processing units are functioning as a single process therewith. The common synchronization register contains therein synchronization bits from each of the processing units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8885179
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the disclosure, a portable handheld device includes a CPU for processing a script; a multi-core processor for processing an image, and a DRAM for storing image data. The CPU and the multi-core processor are integrated on one chip and share a data cache provided on the same chip. The DRAM is provided external to the chip. The portable handheld device further comprises a DRAM interface for receiving and sending data to the DRAM, the DRAM interface being provided on the same chip and sharing the data cache with the CPU and the multi-core processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8885233
    Abstract: Disclosed is a portable scanner for digitizing books. The scanner has a first leaf and a second leaf joined to each other at a hinge. A first support member is attached to the first leaf and a second support member is attached to the second leaf. The support members maintain the first leaf at an angle of less than ninety degrees relative to a surface supporting the first leaf. At least one scanning mechanism is connected to one of the first or second leafs. A page turning mechanism flips each page of a book to be scanned and maintain each page in a secure position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Pathway Innovations and Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Ji Shen
  • Patent number: 8885234
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises: an image reading portion which has a box-shaped first housing with a reading surface, and a scanning device displaceable along the reading surface in the first housing, and reads a first image on a document by relatively displacing the document and scanning device; and an image recording portion which includes a recording medium supply device accommodating a recording medium, a feeding mechanism feeding the recording medium fed out of the supply device, a recording device recording a second image on the recording medium, and a second housing incorporating at least the feeding mechanism and recording device. The apparatus is placed on a rest surface in a substantially upright position, and the reading portion is changeable in position between an upright position in which the reading surface is opposed to the recording portion, and a horizontal position in which the reading surface faces upward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takatoshi Takemoto, Michifumi Ishigami, Sakiko Kobayashi, Kazuma Aoki, Masahiko Furuhashi, Manabu Isshiki, Hiroaki Yazawa
  • 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: 8879129
    Abstract: A document scanner (10) includes an input tray (30) for holding documents (20) and an input image capture device (40) for capturing images of the documents (20)in the input tray (30) prior to transporting the document for imaging; an output tray (150) for holding documents (20) after the documents (20) exit the scanner; an output image capture device (140) for capturing images of the output tray; an image processor for determining characteristics of the output tray or characteristic of the documents (20) before imaging and after the documents (20) exit the scanner; and scanner functions are modified based on the output tray characteristics or the document characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Kodak Alaris Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Schaertel, Nelson A. Blish, Daniel P. Phinney
  • Patent number: 8879126
    Abstract: An image reading device includes a first reading unit, second reading unit, and determining unit. The first and second reading units are configured to read one surface and another surface of an original, respectively. The second reading unit is disposed downstream of the first reading unit with respect to a conveying path. The determining unit determines, based on read data obtained by reading the one surface with the first reading unit before the original is arrived at the second reading unit, whether or not an image is formed on the one surface. The first reading unit continues reading the one surface and the second reading unit fails to read another surface when an image is formed on the one surface. The second reading unit reads another surface and the first reading unit fails to read the one surface when an image is not formed on the one surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazumasa Ozaki
  • Patent number: 8879130
    Abstract: A system for capturing an image of a document includes an input tray (30) for holding documents (20); an input imaging device (40) that captures an image of a first document in the input tray; wherein the input tray image of the first document is captured as an area image; transmitting the captured input tray image of the first document to an image processor (100); and transporting the first document to an output tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Kodak Alaris Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Schaertel, Nelson A. Blish, Daniel P. Phinney
  • Patent number: 8879082
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes an original document platform, a reflection carriage, a wire, a pulley, a slide member, a projecting section and a guide section. The reflection carriage includes a mirror for reflecting light, and is moved in a first direction along a sub-scanning direction with respect to the original document. The wire is wound around a pulley. The slide member is installed on the reflection carriage, rotatably supports the pulley, and slidably moves in the first direction with respect to the reflection carriage. The projecting section is provided to project in a second direction that intersects with the first direction, on one of the reflection carriage and the slide member. The guide section is provided to extend in the first direction on the other of the reflection carriage and the slide member. The projecting section abuts against the guide section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Hideto Hiyanagi
  • Publication number: 20140320941
    Abstract: In a reading apparatus including a first conveying device including a first and a second movable unit to cause the sheet to pass through the first position; and a second conveying device including a third and a fourth movable unit to cause the sheet to pass through the second position; characterized in that when the reading device reads the sheet at the first position, a moving velocity of the second movable unit is larger than a moving velocity of the first movable unit, and when the reading device reads the sheet at the second position, a moving velocity of the fourth movable unit is larger than a moving velocity of the third movable unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Kazushi Ino, Atsushi Ogata, Ichiro Yasumaru, Hiroshi Kato, Daisuke Kaneko, Hiroki Kato
  • Publication number: 20140320940
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet feed portion configured to feed a sheet, an image forming portion configured to form an image on the sheet, a first conveying path configured to guide the sheet fed from the sheet feed portion such that the sheet passes through the image forming portion, a second conveying path configured to guide the sheet on which the image has been formed on one surface thereof by the image forming portion to the first conveying path again, a document feed portion configured to feed a document to the second conveying path, an image reading portion configured to read an image of the document fed by the document feed portion, and a control portion configured to control the sheet feed portion and the document feed portion such that the document and the sheet are conveyed on the second conveying path in a sequence in which the document and the sheet are mixed in a case where an operation of forming images respectively on both surfaces of a plurality of sheets overlaps with an operati
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazushi Ino, Ichiro Yasumaru, Atsushi Ogata, Daisuke Kaneko, Tomoyuki Iwakoshi, Masaru Aoki, Hiroshi Kato
  • Publication number: 20140320939
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first conveying path which connects between a sheet feed portion and a sheet discharging portion, and on which a image forming portion is arranged. The image forming apparatus further includes a second conveying path configured to guide the sheet on which the image has been formed on one surface thereof by the image forming portion to the first conveying path again, a document conveying path, and a reading portion. The document conveying path includes a document feeding path, a document discharging path, and a common conveying path which serves as at least a part of the second conveying path, and guides the document from a document feed portion to a document discharging portion through the document feeding path, the common conveying path and the document discharging path without causing the document to pass through the image forming position. The reading portion reads a first face and a second face of the document which is fed from the document feed portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Ogata, Ichiro Yasumaru, Kazushi Ino, Hiroshi Kato, Daisuke Kaneko, Tomoyuki Iwakoshi, Hiroto Endo
  • Patent number: 8873116
    Abstract: A sheet scanner comprises a sheet inlet on a front side, a scanned sheet outlet on a rear side, and a deflector to direct scanned sheets from the outlet towards the front side of the scanner, over the top cover thereof, and further comprises a stopper on the top cover, at the front side of the scanner and above the sheet inlet, to temporarily restrain the leading edge of a scanned sheet such that the sheet advances and folds over itself and beyond the stopper, the leading edge being released from the stopper when the sheet folded over itself and beyond the stopper pulls it downwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: David Chanclón Fernández, Xavier Alonso Becerro, Joan Sanjuán Mercadal, Emilio López Matos, Gianni Cessel, Ricardo Sanchis Estruch, Ignacio De Olazábal Zugasti
  • Patent number: 8873117
    Abstract: A sheet transport device includes a shaft member that extends in an axial direction orthogonal to a sheet transport direction, and a roller that includes plural components which are assembled together so as to surround the shaft member. The components have a shape such that a joint between the components is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the roller which is formed by assembling the components together. The joint extends from one end to another end of the outer peripheral surface in the axial direction while bending or curving at least at a portion in the middle thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiichirou Arikawa, Hiroko Furukata
  • Patent number: 8873111
    Abstract: There is provided an image reading device comprising: a image capturing unit that captures a manuscript; a predetermined image pattern displayed in a region that is captured by the image capturing unit and provides a background of the manuscript; and a region determination unit that determines an image region corresponding to the manuscript, based on an image element corresponding to the image pattern and another image element corresponding to a shadow of the manuscript in an image captured by the image capturing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventors: Masakazu Sakai, Masaaki Sakai, Yoshikazu Morita, Yoshiro Kawamoto, Yoshifumi Nomura
  • Publication number: 20140313554
    Abstract: An image reader is provided, which includes a light guide unit forming an optical path to guide light emitted by a first light emitting portion of a first reading unit to a second light receiving portion of a second reading unit, which optical path passes across a feeding path in a detection position such that a document sheet passing through the detection position on the feeding path blocks the light on the optical path, and a controller determining that a leading end or a trailing end of the document sheet passes through the detection position in response to detecting a change in a light receiving state of the second light receiving portion when the document sheet passes through the detection position with the first light emitting portion emitting light and a second light emitting portion of the second reading unit not emitting light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventor: Yoshinori Osakabe