Jam Patents (Class 399/21)
  • Patent number: 9465336
    Abstract: A control device configured to control an image forming apparatus by replacing a fixing device mounted therein with another fixing device including a storing portion configured to store information corresponding to a width of a recording material. The control device includes: a reading portion configured to read the information corresponding to the width of the recording material stored in the storing portion; an obtaining portion configured to obtain information corresponding to a width of a recording material to be subjected to image formation; and a controller configured to control an operation of the image forming apparatus on the basis of the information read by the reading portion and the information obtained by the obtaining portion. The controller prohibits an image forming operation when the width of the recording material obtained by the obtaining portion is smaller than the width of the recording material read by the reading portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shutaro Saito, Kenichi Tanaka, Taiya Hirayama
  • Patent number: 9432542
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a method of controlling power-saving modes of the image forming apparatus are provided. The method of controlling power-saving modes of the image forming apparatus includes beginning a first power-saving mode after standing by in a normal mode for first time if no print operation is implemented, and beginning a second power-saving mode after standing by in the normal mode for second standby time if an error occurs under implementation of a print operation, wherein the second time is shorter than the first time, and the second power-saving mode includes a an error-checking mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yong Bin Yoon, Chang Hwan Kim
  • Patent number: 9348290
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device that passes a sheet to a nip portion formed between first and second rotating bodies, and conveys the sheet, the sheet conveying device includes a separation state determining unit configured to determine a separation state between the sheet having passed the nip portion and a surface of the first rotating body, a sheet separating unit configured to allow force to act on the sheet, and a control unit configured to control the force acting on the sheet by the sheet separating unit according to a result of the separation state determining unit, wherein the separation state determining unit includes an illumination unit, an imaging unit, and an acquisition unit, and the separation state between the sheet and the first rotating body is determined based on the acquired positional information of a tip of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA INC.
    Inventors: Noboru Oomoto, Atsuhiko Shimoyama, Shinichi Yabuki, Ryo Oshima
  • Patent number: 9335718
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a rotatable first developer carrier; a tray on which a recording sheet is to be discharged; a switchback roller configured to rotate in a first rotating direction to convey the recording sheet in a direction coming close to the tray, and a control device configured to switch a rotating direction of the switchback roller from the first rotating direction to a second rotating direction opposite to the first rotating direction after rotation of the first developer carrier is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9291964
    Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes a fixing unit that heats a medium having a developer image thereon while moving the medium to fix a developer image onto the medium, a motor that provides the fixing unit with a driving force to be used to move the medium, and a controller that determines whether the driving force provided by the motor is being transmitted to the fixing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Shuichi Fujikura
  • Patent number: 9213283
    Abstract: Provided is a fixing device including a heating rotating body that heats a toner image formed on a recording medium, a pressurizing rotating body including an endless belt that is placed in such a manner that an outer circumferential surface thereof faces the heating rotating body, a first pressurizing member that is placed on a side of an inner circumferential surface of the endless belt and forms a fixing nip portion between the endless belt and the heating rotating body, and a second pressurizing member that guides the recording medium so that the recording medium comes into contact with the heating rotating body on an upstream side of the fixing nip portion in a transportation direction of the recording medium, and a releasing unit that releases pressure contact of the pressurizing rotating body that is in pressure contact with heating rotating body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroko Furukata, Shigeru Watanabe, Yasutaka Goto
  • Patent number: 9193547
    Abstract: A sheet conveyer, including a manual-feed conveyer path; a first sensor to detect presence of the sheet inserted in the manual-feed conveyer path; an upstream-side conveyer and a downstream-side conveyer to convey the sheet toward a downstream side; a second sensor to detect presence of the sheet in a downstream position with respect to the upstream-side conveyer, the second sensor being switchable between a presence-detectable state and an absence-detectable state; and a controller is provided. The controller measures presence-detecting duration of the sheet by the second sensor and controls the downstream-side conveyer to continue conveying the sheet if the first sensor is detecting presence of the sheet when the second sensor is switched to the absence-detectable state, and if a difference between a value calculated based on the measured presence-detecting duration and a reference value obtained based on a reference sheet length is smaller than a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takashi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9110436
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus (100) includes: a side cover (201) mounted on a side part of an apparatus body to be freely opened and closed; a fixing portion (80) mounted inside the apparatus body and close to the side cover (201) and fixing an image to a paper sheet P fed in a direction from a bottom to a top of the apparatus body; and a document platen (130) mounted at an upper part of the apparatus body and supporting a document placed thereon. The document platen (130) includes a cutout portion (130K) formed in a manner such that a portion opposed to an upper part of the side cover (201) is cut out inside; and the fixing portion (80) includes a nip (85) that, when the side cover (201) is opened, can be viewed obliquely from a lateral upper side of the apparatus body through the cutout portion (130K).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaya Asakawa, Yasuhiro Suto
  • Patent number: 9108441
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a recording material applying member configured to apply a recording material to a recording medium; a fixing member configured to fix a recording material to the medium; a first transportation unit configured to transport the medium to the recording material applying member and the fixing member; a discharge unit configured to discharge the medium; a second transportation unit configured to return the medium to the recording material applying unit; a reverse unit configured to reverse front and back surfaces of the recording medium provided in the second transportation unit; a transportation path switching unit configured to transport the medium to the discharge unit or the second transportation unit; and a control device configured to control the transportation path switching unit so as to transport the medium to the discharge unit when a fixing ability of the fixing member is decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Jun Yamanobe
  • Patent number: 9098044
    Abstract: An image forming system includes a feed section, a transport section, a toner-image forming section, a fixing section, a problem detecting section, and an additional feed section. The feed section feeds a sheet. The transport section transports the sheet fed from the feed section. The toner-image forming section forms a toner image onto the sheet transported by the transport section. The fixing section fixes the toner image formed by the toner-image forming section onto the sheet. The problem detecting section detects a problem in a sheet transport operation. The additional feed section feeds an additional sheet from the feed section toward the fixing section if the number of sheets stopped by the transport section in accordance with detection of the problem by the problem detecting section and subsequently transported toward the fixing section after the sheet transport operation is resumed is smaller than a predetermined number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX XO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomonari Sakurai
  • Patent number: 9069316
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body, sheet discharge unit, fixing unit, and conveying guide. The fixing unit thermally fixes a developer image deposited on a sheet to provide an image-fixed sheet. The conveying guide defines at least a part of a conveying path. The conveying guide guides one surface of the image-fixed sheet. The conveying guide includes a fixed guide unit and movable guide unit. The fixed guide unit guides end portions of the image-fixed sheet in a widthwise direction orthogonal to a conveying direction of the image-fixed sheet. The fixed guide unit is immovable relative to the main body. The movable guide unit is disposed adjacent to the fixed guide unit in the widthwise direction and movable relative to the fixed guide unit. The movable guide unit guides the image-fixed sheet in a first position. The movable guide unit exposes the conveying path in a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahito Saeki
  • Publication number: 20150147074
    Abstract: A cleaner includes a cleaning member electrostatically removing toner on an object; a first electricity supplier supplying a first voltage (or current) with polarity opposite to that of toner to the cleaning member; a toner collecting member collecting toner from the cleaning member; and a second electricity supplier supplying a second voltage with the polarity greater than the first voltage to the toner collecting member. The first and second electricity suppliers set plural setting values of the first and second voltages smaller than the targeted values of the first and second voltages, and first and second control members of the first and second electricity suppliers output first and second control signals while changing in step-by-step manner so that first and second output members of the first and second electricity suppliers apply the first and second voltage in step-by-step manner before the first and second voltages reach the targeted voltages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Yuuji WADA, Kenji Sugiura, Naohiro Kumagai, Seiichi Kogure, Junpei Fujita, Yusuke Mitani, Kazuki Yogosawa
  • Publication number: 20150147073
    Abstract: If a sheet is jammed while conveyed, whether the jammed sheet and a sheet preceding the jammed sheet have been generated by cutting an uncut sheet from which the jammed sheet is derived is determined. If the jammed sheet and the preceding sheet have not been generated, a printing apparatus re-prints a plurality of images including an image of the jammed sheet on a sheet, and the cutting apparatus cuts the re-printed sheet. If the jammed sheet and the preceding sheet have been generated, the printing apparatus re-prints a plurality of images including an image of the jammed sheet on a sheet, the cutting apparatus cuts the re-printed sheet, and a sheet that includes the same image as the preceding sheet is discharged to a different discharge destination from that of the preceding sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventor: Takashi Nonaka
  • Patent number: 9039161
    Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes: (a) a storage device for storing an image data set representing a plurality of images; (b) a liquid ejection head for performing an image formation on each recording medium; (c) a curl reduction device for reducing curl caused in each recording medium having the corresponding image formed thereon by the liquid ejection head; (d) an output tray for receiving each recording medium whose curl has been reduced by the curl reduction device, such that the received recording media are stacked on the output tray; and (e) a control device configured to control the curl reduction device, such that the curl caused in an earlier one of the recording media is reduced by a smaller degree than the curl caused in a later one of the recording media that has been subjected to the image formation later than the earlier one of the recording media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Itogawa
  • Patent number: 9036173
    Abstract: The present specification discloses systems and methods for enabling users to troubleshoot multifunction devices using handheld devices, such as mobile phones. In one embodiment, software executing on the handheld device receives data indicative of an error state in a multifunction device, causes the handheld device to obtain and display an image representative of an area of the multifunction device which would need to be serviced to address the error state, determines instructions for addressing the error state, and causes the handheld device to display the instructions in relation to the image representative of an area of the multifunction device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: David Andrew Thomas, Martin Richard Walsh
  • Patent number: 9030715
    Abstract: A sheet conveyance device is capable of detecting a sheet length in a conveyance direction correctly, and of detecting a length of a non-standard size sheet correctly. A detection unit detects front and rear ends of a sheet conveyed with a conveyance unit. A measurement unit measures sheet length in a conveyance direction based on a detection result of the detection unit. An acquisition unit acquires a reference length of the sheet. A computation unit computes a correction value that is used to correct a length measured by the measurement unit based on length measured and the reference length acquired in a correction mode. A storage unit stores the correction value computed. A determination unit determines sheet length corrected based on the correction value and the length measured at the time of conveyance of a sheet in a mode other than correction mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hidenori Sunada
  • Publication number: 20150125165
    Abstract: A sheet feeder control method for controlling a sheet feeder of an image forming apparatus includes feeding a sheet through a sheet feed path exposable to the exterior of the sheet feeder, detecting the feeding of the sheet at at least a first position on the sheet feed path, discharging the fed sheet to the exterior of the sheet feeder, detecting the discharge of the sheet at a second position downstream of the first position in a sheet feeding direction, detecting a sheet jam during the feeding and discharging of the sheet, and if the jammed sheet is detected at the second position but not at the first position, cancelling a malfunction state due to the sheet jam when the sheet stops being detected at the second position, irrespective of whether the sheet feed path is covered or exposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Ryo TAKENAKA
  • Patent number: 9025973
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body movably supporting an openable-and-closable portion, and the openable-and-closable portion is provided with a detection sensor. A first detection lever configured to be movable by being pushed by a sheet is provided on the main body, and a second detection lever configured to be capable of moving in conjunction with the movement of the first detection lever is provided on the openable-and-closable portion. The detection sensor is activated by the movement of the second detection lever based on the movement of the first detection lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takafumi Suzuki, Masaya Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 9020372
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of properly reducing recovery printing time, while reducing abrasion and deterioration of image bearing members. As an image formation mode determining method, a first method is selected before a print job is interrupted e.g. a jam, whereas for recovery printing, one of the first method and a second method is selected. In the first method, if an image to be formed is a color image, an image formation mode is set to an all-contact mode having an intermediate transfer belt brought into contact with all of photosensitive members, and if the image is a monochrome image, the mode is set to a partial-contact mode having the belt brought into contact only with a photosensitive member for black toner. In the second method, the mode is set to the all-contact mode for all pages on which image formation is to be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Yako
  • Patent number: 9020373
    Abstract: A computer performs the following processing: calculating a probability that a machine fails in work applied to a printed matter; calculating, as a production environmental load value, a value including a printing environmental load value, a paper environmental load value, a product of the probability and a re-printing environmental load value, and a product of the probability and the paper environmental load value, the printing environmental load value representing a degree of load put on the environment resulting from printing onto paper used for the printed matter, the paper environment load value representing a degree of load put on an environment resulting from production of the paper, the re-printing environmental load value representing a degree of load put on the environment until the printing unit has conducted printing again since the machine failed in the work; and displaying the production environmental load value on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Shigeo Tomita, Kazuhiko Kowase
  • Publication number: 20150104204
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising: an image bearing member which bears a toner image; a first driving portion which drives the image bearing member; a transfer portion which nips a sheet with the image bearing member and transfers the toner image to the sheet from the image bearing member; a sheet conveying portion which conveys the sheet with the toner image transferred by the transfer portion; a second driving portion which drives the sheet conveying portion; a sheet detector which detects the sheet between the transfer portion and the sheet conveying portion; and a controller which controls the second driving portion to drive the sheet conveying portion to convey the sheet after the first driving portion is stopped, so that the sheet detector can detect the sheet nipped between the image bearing member and the transfer portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventor: Shotaro Ishihara
  • Patent number: 9008523
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of distinguishing whether paper material retained in a sheet conveying path is an original or a recording material. An image forming apparatus includes an image reading unit that reads an original, a photosensitive drum that forms an image on a recording sheet, and a main motor and a double-sided-printing drive motor which convey the original and the recording sheet. Paper sheet sensors detect an occurrence of a jam of the original or the recording sheet. When a paper jam is detected, a CPU controls a display section to display a plurality of sheets retained in a conveying path, in a manner distinguishing between the original and the recording material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toru Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20150093126
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a printing processing unit, a paper jam detection unit, and an operation display unit. The printing processing unit performs printing on a plurality of index sheets having index labels in different positions. The paper jam detection unit detects a paper jam in the plurality of index sheets. The operation display unit displays, when the paper jam is detected, a paper jam handling pattern selection screen for selecting a paper jam handling pattern of the printing processing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventor: Daijiro Kitamoto
  • Publication number: 20150093125
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cartridge, a first unit, and a second unit. The first unit includes a sheet discharge tray and a guide. The cartridge has an accommodating portion configured to accommodate a color material. The guide is positioned below the sheet discharge tray and is configured to guide the cartridge to its assembled position. The first unit has an opening directing downward, and the guide has a lower end. The second unit includes a sheet supply tray positioned below the guide. The first unit and the second unit are pivotally movably connected to each other about a pivot axis to provide a first position and a second position. In the first position, the opening is closed by the second unit and the lower end of the guide is directed toward the sheet supply tray. In the second position, the opening is exposed to an outside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Masanari YOSHIKAWA, Yasushi OKABE
  • Patent number: 8995849
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a print mechanism which performs a printing on a plurality of papers; a paper feed section on which the papers to be printed are placed; a paper discharge section on which the papers that have been printed are placed; a transport route which extends from the paper feed section to the paper discharge section via a printing position at which the printing is performed by the print mechanism; a transport mechanism which successively transports the papers along the transport route; and a controller which controls the transport mechanism. The controller controls the transport mechanism to perform a transportation of the papers by a plurality of transport modes including a first transport mode and a second transport mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuichi Ota
  • Patent number: 8991823
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment comprises a feed guide forming a feed path of a sheet and having an end portion movable between a closed position and an open position by rotating around a shaft, wherein the end portion is positioned above the shaft when the feed guide is in the open position, and the feed guide is configured to provide access for removal of a jammed sheet when in the open position. The image forming apparatus further comprises a holding unit configured to releasably hold the end portion of the feed guide in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya Sato, Kazutoshi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8983360
    Abstract: A printing system including: a first printer that forms an image on continuous-form printing paper, and includes a pre-heating unit that preliminarily heats the continuous-form printing paper prior to fixation and a fixing unit that performs the fixation; and a second printer that forms an image on the continuous-form printing paper fed from the first printer. The second printer includes a jam detecting unit that detects, at a detection position upstream of a position where the second printer forms the image on the continuous-form printing paper, and a control unit that controls the jam detecting unit such that the jam detection is not performed for a period of time, over which a deformed portion of the continuous-form printing paper which has been at rest at the pre-heating unit of the first printer passes through the detection position of the jam detecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Soushi Kikuchi, Yuuki Kikushima, Sho Sawahata, Hidenori Takayasu
  • Patent number: 8977187
    Abstract: A post-processing device supplies a recoding medium when a punching unit is determined to have failed. The post-processing device allows the recording medium to be supplied to a stapling unit if passage of the recording medium supplied to the punching unit through an arrangement position of a second sensor is detected within a first time period after detection of passage of the recoding medium through an arrangement position of a first sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Jun Nishimura
  • Publication number: 20150063836
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of conditioning a fusing member having a top-release layer. The method includes heating the top-release layer to at least the melting temperature of the top-release layer while rotating the fusing member and while no pressure member engages the top-release layer, and cooling the top-release layer to less than the melting temperature of the top-release layer while rotating the fusing member. Other methods and devices are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Fangsheng Wu, Benjamin Karnik Johnson, Charles Scott McDavid, Jennifer Lyn Gordon
  • Patent number: 8971731
    Abstract: A recording material conveying device includes a stripping claw being in contact with one rotary body of a first pair of rotary bodies, and a supporting member supporting a recording material curved when a jam occurs. The supporting member includes a supporting section located more away from the stripping claw than an imaginary straight line (C) passing a nip portion of the first pair of rotary bodies and a surface on a conveying path's side of the stripping claw, and the supporting section supports the recording material curved when the jam occurs. The recording material conveying device further includes a conveyance guide that is disposed on the downstream side from the supporting member and is displaced toward a pressed direction by a pressing force acting when the curved recording material comes into contact with the conveyance guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Susumu Murakami
  • Patent number: 8970928
    Abstract: This invention provides a technique of preventing a collision between an original document and a printing material on a conveyance path when an image forming apparatus executes both additional printing on the original document and printing on the printing material. In a case where both additional printing on an original document and printing on a printing material are executed, the image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the invention conveys a read original document to a transfer unit through a conveyance path commonly used for an original document and sheet, and prints an image to be added on the original document. After the original document is conveyed to the transfer unit through the conveyance path, the image forming apparatus feeds a sheet from a sheet feeding unit to the conveyance path, and performs copying on the sheet in the transfer unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Junya Arakawa
  • Patent number: 8948618
    Abstract: A print system is provided which can execute, in a case that a jam occurs in a sheet processing apparatus, recovery processing of a job in which the jam occurred without wasting a sheet that has been already used in a subsequent job.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuuki Maeda
  • Patent number: 8942575
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a cover member, a cover open/closed detection sensor, a driven unit, a drive detection sensor, and an attitude determination unit. The cover open/closed detection sensor outputs a closed signal corresponding to a closed attitude and an open signal corresponding to an open attitude. The drive detection sensor outputs a state signal corresponding to the drive state of the driven unit. The attitude determination unit determines whether the cover member is in an open attitude or is in a closed attitude based on a closed signal and a state signal input after the open signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Masatomo Matsuda
  • Patent number: 8938173
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus for fixing an image formed on the recording material, includes: a fixing rotatable member for forming a fixing nip; and wrapping preventing members, each provided downstream of the nip with respect to a feeding direction of the recording material, for preventing the recording material from wrapping around the rotatable member. When the recording material is jammed downstream of the fixing nip, the wrapping preventing members move to narrow the space from the rotatable member to the wrapping preventing members by being pushed by the jammed recording material. The wrapping preventing members are arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to the recording-material feeding direction. Also provided is a connector for connecting adjacent wrapping preventing members to move, when one is pushed by the jammed recording material, to narrow the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Osamu Sasaoka
  • Patent number: 8925921
    Abstract: There are provided a paper conveying apparatus, an abnormality detection method and a computer-readable, non-transitory medium which can precisely determine whether an abnormality has occurred when paper is conveyed. The paper conveying apparatus includes a sound generator for generating a paper sound by contacting a paper, a first sound signal generator for generating a first sound signal corresponding to the paper sound, and an abnormal conveyance detector for determining whether an abnormal conveyance has occurred when the paper is being conveyed according to a detection method, wherein the abnormal conveyance detector is configured to change the detection method based on the first sound signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventors: Shuichi Morikawa, Masanobu Hongo, Ryoichi Yasukawa, Takayuki Umi
  • Patent number: 8910940
    Abstract: An image forming system of one aspect of the present invention includes a first image forming apparatus arranged on the upstream side in a sheet conveyance direction, a second image forming apparatus arranged on the downstream side in the sheet conveyance direction, and an intermediate apparatus arranged between the first image forming apparatus and the second image forming apparatus and having a registration roller on the sheet conveyance path through which a sheet conveyed from the first image forming apparatus is conveyed to the second image forming apparatus. The intermediate apparatus has a path opening mechanism configured to release a pressure contact of the registration roller arranged on the sheet conveyance path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventor: Hideo Isohara
  • Publication number: 20140334833
    Abstract: There is provided a technique for reducing the user's labor of removing, from a printing apparatus, sheets which remain on a conveyance path when a jam occurs in the printing apparatus. To achieve this, a printing apparatus according to one aspect of the invention serves as a sheet conveying apparatus for conveying a sheet through a conveyance path, which identifies a sheet jam position on the conveyance path, conveys, to a first sheet retraction unit, a sheet on the upstream side in a conveyance direction with respect to the identified jam position, and conveys, to a second sheet retraction unit, a sheet on the downstream side in the conveyance direction with respect to the identified jam position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventor: Takuto Harada
  • Publication number: 20140334834
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first light-emitting unit, a second light-emitting unit, and a remaining-recording-medium detector. The first light-emitting unit is arranged on an outer surface of a recording medium setting unit on which recording media are set, and emits light while the recording media are being conveyed from the recording medium setting unit. The second light-emitting unit is arranged on or near an operating member that is to be operated when a recording medium jammed in a main body of the image forming apparatus is removed. The remaining-recording-medium detector detects presence or absence of a recording medium remaining in the main body of the image forming apparatus. The second light-emitting unit emits light when the operating member needs to be operated, based on a result of detection by the remaining-recording-medium detector. The first light-emitting unit and the second light-emitting unit emit light in different manners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventor: Goro KATSUYAMA
  • Patent number: 8886078
    Abstract: An intake fan (62) is provided on a side surface of an exposure device (40) provided below a plurality of image formation portions (20) far from a fixing unit (30), and a ventilation path (70) is formed on a side surface of the exposure device (40) on a back side, and outside air sucked by the intake fan (62) into a body of an apparatus is fed through the ventilation path (70) to the back side of the image formation portion (20K) closest to the fixing unit (30). The air flows through a space between a division plate (80) and the image formation portions (20) toward a discharge fan (61), and the image formation portions (20) are air-cooled sequentially from the image formation portion (20K). Thus, it is possible to effectively air-cool the image formation portions without increasing the size of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Ohno, Mitsuru Satou
  • Publication number: 20140328603
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a transfer member, a power supply, and a control device that controls the power supply to output a DC-AC superimposed bias or a DC bias to transfer a toner image on the image carrier onto a recording medium. The control device controls the power supply to alternately output a first bias being a DC component the same in polarity as the DC bias and a second bias being a DC component opposite in polarity to the DC bias to clean the transfer member when image formation is not taking place. The first bias is output with two target output values including a first value and a second value lower than the first value. The second bias is output with one target output value. An output time of the second bias is longer than an output time of the first bias.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Takehide MIZUTANI, Hirokazu ISHII, Tsutomu KATO, Yasufumi TAKAHASHI, Shinya TANAKA, Osamu ICHIHASHI, Yuji KATO
  • Patent number: 8876417
    Abstract: A paper sensor comprises a moveable grill. The paper sensor is arranged for location within an air flow in a printer, and comprises the grill as a paper-engaging body provided with a plurality of through holes such that air can flow freely through the grill. The grill is operable to move between a first position and a second position. The paper sensor is arranged so that in use a sheet of paper introduced adjacent the grill engages the grill and reduces the air flow through one or more of the holes in the grill, creating a pressure differential across the grill, that pressure differential causing the grill to move from the first position to the second position, and thereby indicating the presence of paper. A printer comprising a paper sensor, and a method of sensing paper is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Giries Kadis, Sharon Nagler, Gregory Brusilovski
  • Publication number: 20140314429
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a method of controlling an image forming apparatus, and a non-transitory recording medium storing a program for controlling an image forming apparatus are provided. Each of the image forming apparatus, the method, and the program obtains and stores image identifiers, obtains and stores a passing image identifier for identifying an image to be output to a recording medium to which failure has occurred, transfers a developer image to the recording medium, holds the developer image, presses the recording medium against the holding member, generates and obtains a trigger signal used for determining timing at which a developer image reaches a transfer unit, detects an error in conveyance of the recording medium, and creates a gap between a holding member and a pressing member disposed opposite the holding member when an error is detected in conveyance of the recording medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Asano
  • Patent number: 8864130
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a separator, an image reader for reading an image from a paper, a conveying module for conveying a paper separated by the separator to the image reader, a side wall provided at a side of a conveyance path of the paper, a sound signal generator, provided with a sound detector between the separator and the conveying module and near the side wall, for generating a sound signal corresponding to a sound generated by the paper during conveyance, and a control module for determining whether a jam has occurred based on the sound signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventors: Takayuki Umi, Masanobu Hongo
  • Patent number: 8864131
    Abstract: A paper conveying apparatus includes a sound signal generator for generating a sound signal, a sound jam detector for determining whether a jam has occurred based on the sound signal, a control module for stopping conveyance of a paper when the sound jam detector determines that the jam has occurred, a paper state detector for detecting a state of the paper, and a recovery processing module for performing recovery processing which resumes conveyance of the paper in accordance with a content of detection of the paper state detector when the sound signal generator outputs a predetermined sound signal after stopping conveyance of the paper by the control module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventors: Masanobu Hongo, Takayuki Umi
  • Patent number: 8861989
    Abstract: A printer includes a printing unit configured to print on a print medium while transferring the print medium by a first transfer section, a transfer unit located downstream the printing unit in a transfer route and configured to transfer the print medium by a second transfer section, and a controller configured to control the printing unit and the transfer unit. The controller is configured to stop the first transfer section prior to the second transfer section upon detection of a jam of the print medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Riso Kagaku Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Hara, Masatoshi Fujimoto, Hirokazu Yabune
  • Patent number: 8857815
    Abstract: There is provided a paper feeding device including: a microphone which detects sound occurred on a paper conveying path; a pre-processing unit which performs pre-processing on a signal of the sound detected by the microphone; and a jam detection unit which detects a jam of paper based on the sound signal on which the pre-processing is performed, a reference value about intensity of the sound, and a reference value about a duration time of the sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventors: Masanobu Hongo, Tetsuo Funada, Nobuhisa Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8855506
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device. The fixing device includes a rotatable endless fixing member, a nip forming member arranged inside the fixing member, a pressing member in contact with the nip forming member via the fixing member, and a heating source configured to heat the fixing member. When an abnormality occurs in at least one of the fixing device and other devices included in the image forming apparatus, a rotation of the fixing member is stopped prior to stopping a rotation driving of a discharging unit and, after stopping, the fixing member is controlled to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Takamasa Hase, Masahiko Satoh, Shinichi Namekata, Kenji Ishii, Takeshi Uchitani, Tadashi Ogawa, Teppei Kawata, Arinobu Yoshiura, Kazuya Saito, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Kensuke Yamaji, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Hiromasa Takagi, Naoki Iwaya, Takuya Seshita, Takahiro Imada, Hajime Gotoh, Akira Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20140294406
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, in which a method of handling a sheet conveyance error is performed, includes an apparatus body, a fixing unit fixing an image to a recording medium at a nip area thereof, a sheet conveying path, a sheet output roller unit outputting the recording medium outside the apparatus body, a sheet output detector detecting the recording medium, a post-fixing nip detector detecting the recording medium, a notifying unit notifying a user of an error recovery process when the error is detected by the error detector, and a controller. A distance from the post-fixing nip detector to the sheet output detector is smaller than a given size of the recording medium. When the error is detected by the error detector and the recording medium is detected by the sheet output detector, the controller causes the notifying unit to display a different process according to the detection results.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Yosuke EGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20140294405
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes print engine portion, paper sheet detectors, and control portion. Control portion stop paper sheet conveyance, when detecting occurrence of jam. Control portion determines fixing nip position which is position of the fixing nip portion on fixing stop paper sheet, on basis of outputs of paper sheet detectors. When fixing nip position is located at leading end side half of fixing stop paper sheet in paper sheet conveying direction, control portion rotates fixing motor in reverse direction to convey fixing stop paper sheet to upstream side in paper sheet conveying direction. When fixing nip position is located at rear end side half of fixing stop paper sheet in paper sheet conveying direction, control portion rotates fixing motor in a forward direction to convey fixing stop paper sheet toward a downstream side in paper sheet conveying direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Kenji Miyamoto, Takahiro Honda, Mari Kokomoto
  • Patent number: 8843004
    Abstract: An area calculating unit calculates an image area of a toner image formed on a sheet recording member. A behavior detecting unit detects behavior of the recording member fed out of a conveying nip formed by a pair of conveying members. A thickness obtaining unit obtains thickness information of the recording member. An index calculating unit calculates an index value indicating windability of the recording member with respect to the conveying members based on the image area, the behavior, and the thickness information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Satoh, Yasushi Nakazato, Kohji Ue, Jun Yamane