Jam Patents (Class 399/21)
  • Patent number: 8081886
    Abstract: The present invention can include an image forming apparatus including a conveying device configured to convey a medium for recording along a conveyance path, an image forming portion configured to form an image on the medium for recording conveyed by the conveying device, a first medium detecting device configured to detect the presence and absence of the medium for recording at a first position in the conveyance path, a second medium detecting device configured to detect the presence and absence of the medium for recording at a second position in the conveyance path, and a storage device configured to store information on a state where after the medium for recording is detected by the first medium detecting device, the absence of the medium for recording is detected by the first medium detecting device, and then the medium for recording is not detected by the second medium recording detecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tetsuya Okano
  • Patent number: 8068757
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus including a fixing portion in which a fixing nip portion is defined between a heater and a pressure roller via an endless belt, a pressure setting portion, which sets a pressure to be exerted on the fixing nip portion, sets a first pressure during fixing, sets a second pressure lower than the first pressure when the apparatus is not used, and sets a third pressure lower than the first pressure and higher than the second pressure when a recording material is jammed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinji Hashiguchi
  • Publication number: 20110286752
    Abstract: An apparatus and method that cleans a photoreceptor in a printing apparatus is disclosed. The method can include setting a voltage bias of an electrostatic cleaning brush in a printing apparatus to a first voltage bias. The method can include generating an image on media using a photoreceptor. The method can include cleaning the photoreceptor using the electrostatic cleaning brush operating at the first voltage bias. The method can include measuring operating conditions of the printing apparatus to determine an expected film accumulation rate on the photoreceptor. The method can include adjusting the voltage bias on the electrostatic cleaning brush to a second voltage bias based on the measured operating conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Aaron Michael BURRY, Bruce Earl Thayer, Michael F. Zona
  • Publication number: 20110280590
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided that, even when a recording material is conveyed with a short interval between papers, reduces mistaken detection of a jam without reducing throughput of image formation. To accomplish this, when an interval between papers is not detected by a sensor that is disposed upstream in a conveyance direction but is detected by a sensor that is disposed downstream in the conveyance direction, there is a high possibility of determining that a jam has been generated in which recording material wraps around a fixing roller, but even in such a case, discharge processing is executed normally without a determination that a jam has been generated in which recording material has wrapped around a fixing roller, by using a recording material size and a time period of detection of the interval between papers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoki Inoue, Nobuyuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8047540
    Abstract: A recording medium conveying device including a body portion capable of being mounted to and removed from a body of an apparatus, the body portion being provided with a conveying roller; a knob member disposed at a side at which the body portion is removed, the knob member allowing manual rotation of the conveying roller; and a handle member for mounting the body portion to and removing the body portion from the body of the apparatus. The handle member is rotatably supported so as to move between a first position and a second position, The knob member is connected to a rotating shaft of the conveying roller so as to move along a direction in which the body portion is removed. The handle member moves between the first position and the second position in response to an accommodation operation and a draw-out operation of the knob member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Hironori Daigo, Yuya Shimohora
  • Publication number: 20110262153
    Abstract: At least one of processing units is capable of being pulled out of a main body of an apparatus during the occurrence of a sheet conveyance jam. A first cutter and a second cutter are arranged in the vicinity of the processing unit. The first cutter is configured to cut the sheet on an upstream of the processing unit. The second cutter is configured to cut the sheet on a downstream thereof. When the processing unit is pulled, the sheet is cut on the upstream and downstream of the processing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kanto Kurasawa, Yoshiaki Suzuki, Toshiaki Tokisawa, Masahito Yoshida, Kota Uchida, Takayuki Okamoto
  • Patent number: 8033545
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to improve the process sequence in a printing machine. Another object of the present invention is to increase the operational life of the printing machine. A method has been provided for transporting printing material (9) through a printing machine in which, in case of an occurrence of paper jam in the transport path (2), a flap (5) in the transport path (2) is actuated and a sheet of printing material (9) is transported along the flap (5) out of the transport path (2). Furthermore, a transport arrangement (1) for transporting printing material (9) along a transport path (2) in a printing machine is provided, comprising at least one transport path flap (5) actuated by a control arrangement (20) for opening and closing, and comprising an associated container (8) for receiving waste printing material when said flap (5) is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Matthias Prinz
  • Publication number: 20110236042
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit that forms an image on recording paper; a paper feeding unit that feeds the recording paper to the image forming unit; an opening/closing door that is provided to be opened/closed by an operator; a paper conveyance path through which the recording paper is conveyed from the paper feeding unit through the image forming unit to a paper outlet, the paper conveyance path including a maintenance feasible conveyance path and a maintenance infeasible conveyance path that does not allows the operator to maintain even if the opening/closing door is opened; and a residual paper detecting unit that detects residual paper remaining on the maintenance infeasible conveyance path. New recording paper is fed to the paper conveyance path when the residual paper detecting unit has detected the residual paper after opening and closing the opening/closing door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yasuki TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20110236040
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a carrying unit which carries a sheet from a sheet supply unit toward a sheet discharge unit; a transfer unit which transfers an image to the sheet; a fixing unit which fixes the image transferred to the sheet by the transfer unit, at a second position in the carrying unit; an acquisition unit which acquires information about the size of the sheet at a third position upstream from the second position in the carrying direction in the carrying unit; and a control unit which controls the carrying unit when the size of the sheet accepted by the acceptance unit is different from the size of the sheet acquired by the acquisition unit, and thus carries the sheet to a fourth position where a rear end of the sheet in the carrying direction is situated downstream from the second position in the carrying direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Norio TANAKA
  • Patent number: 8027597
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including: a fixing device having: a first heat generator for generating heat for a fixing processing, the first heat generator using electric power supplied by a commercial power source; and a second heat generator for generating heat for the fixing processing, the second heat generator using electric power supplied by the auxiliary power source device; a heat generation controller for allowing the first heat generator and the second heat generator to generate heat; a sheet jam detector for detecting a sheet jam of a recording sheet which occurs in the image forming section having the fixing device and a conveyance path of a recording sheet; and a charge controller for allowing charging of the auxiliary power source device to start when the sheet jam detector detects a sheet jam, and the charged capacity detector detects no full charge of the auxiliary power source device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Junya Yoda, Akira Shimatani
  • Patent number: 8023837
    Abstract: The invention provides an image forming apparatus an image forming portion for forming an image on a sheet, a stack portion for stacking a sheet, a discharge portion for discharging the sheet, on which an image is formed by the image forming portion, to the stack portion, a sheet detection portion for detecting a conveying condition of the sheet on which an image is formed, a fully stacked condition detection portion for detecting whether the sheets stacked in the stack portion are in a fully stacked condition, and a determining portion for determining an abnormal condition of the sheet in the stack portion, based, after the detection of a sheet passing by the sheet detection portion, on a result of detection by the fully stacked condition detection portion as to whether the sheets stacked in the stack portion are in a fully stacked condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuji Nishitani, Takateru Okubo
  • Patent number: 8019237
    Abstract: A system and method for avoiding paper jams and possible shutdown in an image forming device by automatically executing a series of re-feed cycles for a sheet of image receiving media in a multi pass image forming device. The sheet transport section of the image forming device includes a hold section and a sensor associated with the hold section to provide input to a control unit to execute one or more re-feed cycles based on a failure to sense a sheet of image receiving media in the hold section at an appropriate time in operation of the image forming device. The control unit also controls a hold duration for the sheet of image receiving media at the hold section to synchronize a final feed of the sheet of image receiving media with the operation of the marker unit in the image forming device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Henry T. Bober
  • Patent number: 8019236
    Abstract: An image forming device is provided that is capable of properly checking removal of a paper that has caused a paper jam in a fixing part. The fixing part includes transporting mechanisms for transporting a paper on which a toner image is formed. A first paper detecting part is disposed on an upstream side of the fixing part. A second paper detecting part is disposed on a downstream side of the fixing part. A paper jam detecting part detects paper jams in the fixing part. A transportation control part drive-controls the transporting mechanisms to change a transporting direction of the paper to a reverse direction when a paper jam in the fixing part is detected and the paper is not detected by the first detecting part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Abe
  • Publication number: 20110206388
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus for fixing an image formed on the recording material, includes a fixing rotatable member for forming a fixing nip; a plurality of wrapping preventing members, each provided downstream of the fixing nip with respect to a feeding direction of the recording material, for preventing the recording material from wrapping around the fixing rotatable member, wherein when the recording material is jammed downstream of the fixing nip, the wrapping preventing members moves to narrow space from the fixing rotatable member by being pushed by the jammed recording material, wherein the wrapping preventing members are arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to the recording material feeding direction; and a connecting portion for connecting adjacent ones of the wrapping preventing members to move, when one of the wrapping preventing members is pushed by the jammed recording material, also adjacent one of wrapping preventing members to narrow the space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Osamu Sasaoka
  • Publication number: 20110194861
    Abstract: A medium carrying device includes: first and second carrying part that carry a medium to a second position via a first position; a slack detection unit positioned between the first and second carrying part and detecting slack in the medium; a medium carrying detection part that detects a carrying state of the medium; an input part that receives a recovery instruction when an abnormality is detected in the carrying state of the medium by the medium carrying detection part; a controller that stops the carrying of the medium by the first and second carrying parts when the abnormality is detected in the carrying state of the medium by the medium carrying detection part and that resumes the carrying of the medium by the first and second carrying parts according to a detection result by the slack detection part when the input part receives the recovery instruction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Toyokazu SHIRAISHI
  • Publication number: 20110158660
    Abstract: Certain embodiments provide an image forming apparatus including: a transmission and reception part to receive print data of each of plural pages page by page. through a USB communication interface; a cassette part; a printing part; a paper discharge part; a manual paper feed tray on which the discharged sheet is set with the image being printed on a side of the sheet and an opposite side of the sheet being to be printed; and a control part that causes the printing part to print an even page on one side of a sheet from the cassette part and to print an odd page on the other side of the same sheet from the manual paper feed tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akitoshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7970294
    Abstract: A document feeding apparatus includes a first delivery roller delivering a document sheet discharged from a fixing unit, a second delivery roller discharging the document sheet to a paper delivery tray, a motor driving the second delivery roller, a lever installed at the downstream, or upstream, side of the first delivery roller out of a document sheet transporting pathway, which rotates at a predetermined angle when contacting the document sheet and returns to an original position when not contacting the document sheet, a sensor sensing a rotation time and a returning time of the lever, and a controller determining a double feeding or slipping state of the document sheet based on a signal transferred from the sensor regarding the rotation time and the returning time of the lever, and controlling the driving speed of the motor according to the determination result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dae-lim Shin
  • Patent number: 7965951
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a print engine; a fixing unit; a medium sensor that outputs a detection signal when a recording medium passes said medium sensor; and a controller that determines from the detection signal whether an abnormal transportation of the recording medium has occurred or not, wherein when said controller determines from the detection signal during continuous printing that a following one of two consecutive pages of recording medium remains in said print engine after removing a preceding one of the two consecutive pages that has been abnormally transported, said controller controls said fixing unit to a predetermined temperature and subsequently allows the following one of the two pages to pass through said fixing unit at a first speed so that the following one of the two pages is discharged from the image recording apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Takao Uchida
  • Publication number: 20110135326
    Abstract: When an interrupted printing process is to be restarted, normally printed sheets can be reused. When jamming of a sheet is detected while a job is being performed, the printing is interrupted and specification of one or more sheets among the sheets that have been fed from the feeding unit before the job was interrupted is accepted from a user. Furthermore, a feeding unit in which the specified sheet is set so as to be reused by the user is selected. Then, when the printing is to be restarted, control is performed so that one or more sheets that have been specified are not reprinted, the specified sheets being fed from the selected feeding unit and being output together with the sheet to be reprinted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Makoto Anno
  • Publication number: 20110135325
    Abstract: The present invention realizes an image forming system wherein an efficient cleaning of plural fixing apparatuses by using a blank sheet is attained, the system includes: an image forming section; a sheet feeding apparatus; a plurality of fixing apparatuses; a temperature control section controlling the temperature of the fixing apparatuses; a sheet retention determination section determining whether there is a sheet retained in any of the fixing apparatuses during a jam; and a control section controlling cleaning of the fixing apparatuses by a blank sheet fed from the sheet feeding apparatus, wherein the control section carries out cleaning of the fixing apparatus in which it has been determined that a sheet is retained based on input from the sheet retention determination section, when the temperature of the fixing apparatus has been determined to have reached a prescribed temperature based on input from the temperature control section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Masatoshi HITAKA, Hiroyuki ARAI, Chikatsu SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 7957674
    Abstract: In order to facilitate removal of jammed sheets in an image forming device placed at a low place, there is provided an image forming device including a main body formed with an upper opening; an image forming unit that forms images on recording medium, and an upper cover pivotably movably supported to the main body for covering the upper opening. The main body accommodates the image forming unit. The upper cover includes a discharge roller and a pinch roller pressed against the discharge roller. The discharge roller discharges the recording medium conveyed from the image forming unit outside the main body of the image forming device in cooperation with the pinch roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takuya Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20110123203
    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: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventors: Soushi KIKUCHI, Yuuki Kikushima, Sho Sawahata, Hidenori Takayasu
  • Patent number: 7937002
    Abstract: A document reading apparatus has a controller for conveying original documents from a section for loading documents via a section for reading documents to a section on which the documents are stacked, and controlling an operation of reading the documents. The apparatus includes respective sections for reporting apparatus information, detecting a start instruction when reading a document, and counting sheets conveyed to the reading section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20110097093
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus capable of performing, even by a short brake, brake assist by which a sheet is stopped at a position where the sheet is visible. Upon occurrence of a wrap jam, brake control for a drive motor and brake assist control are performed. In the brake assist control, a pressing process is performed based on the number of assist operation pulses, which is set in advance. When an edge of a home position sensor signal is detected, a process for stopping the pressing process is carried out, whereby a pressing unit assumes a maximum pressing position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takashi Birumachi
  • Patent number: 7929869
    Abstract: A transporter is adapted to transport a sheet in a transport direction in a transport path that includes a detecting range. A measurer is disposed at an upstream end of the detecting range in the transport direction, and is operable to measure a moving distance of the sheet. A detector is disposed at a downstream end of the detecting range in the transport direction, and is operable to detect a leading end edge of the sheet. A processor is operable to detect a jam in case that the moving distance is longer than a distance of the detecting range in the transport direction while the leading end edge of the sheet is not detected by the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventors: Ryoichi Yasukawa, Minoru Masuda, Satoshi Ishida
  • Patent number: 7916318
    Abstract: There is provided an image forming system that automatically discharges paper sheets other than poorly fed ones without making an emergency stop, even when poor paper feeding is caused due to a paper jam or the like. At paper feeding, information showing poor paper feeding is transmitted when the poor paper feeding is detected in supplying the paper sheets. At image forming, a determination is made whether the paper conveyance in forming the image is continued or stopped when an instruction, based on the information showing the poor paper feeding. At paper discharging, a determination is made whether the paper conveyance in discharging the paper sheets is continued or stopped when an instruction, based on the information showing the defective conveyance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiro Nakamura, Atsuya Takahashi, Kaoru Sato, Ryuichi Yoshizawa, Kazuhisa Maruyama
  • Publication number: 20110064428
    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: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: RISO KAGAKU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi HARA, Masatoshi FUJIMOTO, Hirokazu YABUNE
  • Publication number: 20110064427
    Abstract: When a sheet processing device is in operation, if any of a paper jam, a motor error, and an open door occur, a sheet-processing-device control unit stops all the loads of the sheet processing device other than the entrance motor. After that, the sheet-processing-device control unit determines whether an entrance sensor detects a sheet remaining in a sheet discharging path. If no sheet is detected, the entrance motor stops in the same manner as the other loads stop. If the entrance sensor detects a sheet, the entrance motor continues driving. When the number of steps of the entrance motor that continues driving increases to a number equal to or more than a predetermined number that corresponds to a sheet position that is accessible by a user from a discharge tray, the entrance motor stops.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Inventor: Hiroki Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7896344
    Abstract: This is a system that enables a marking system to automatically clear itself of paper jams even when the marking system is unattended. The paper transport is enabled to move forward and backward, and when a jam occurs it will automatically move backward or in reverse direction until the jam is cleared. Sensors indicate where the jam is and when it is cleared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Joyce Kay Nakada, Shahana Rahman, David P. Rich, David L. Nelson
  • Patent number: 7899342
    Abstract: When forming an image, if there are not enough sheets remaining in a paper feed cassette to satisfy the image forming request, the image forming operation is not executed, and along with prompting the user to refill the paper, the paper feed cassette is pushed out towards an uninstalled state. The apparatus waits for a paper refill, and begins the image forming operation after that paper refill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kayo Kamei, Motokazu Nakao, Masatsugu Hatanaka, Shigeru Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20110044704
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing unit fixing an unfixed toner image formed by an image forming unit and transferred by a transfer unit on a recording medium; a discharge unit provided above the fixing unit and discharging the recording medium; a fixing jam processing cover rotating with respect to an apparatus main body so as to open or close a part of a paper conveyance path from the fixing unit to the discharge unit; a conveyance guide member swingably provided on the fixing jam processing cover and guiding the recording medium to the discharge unit; and a supporting member having an inclined surface with which the conveyance guide member makes contact and along which, as the fixing jam processing cover is being opened, the conveyance guide member slides to become less inclined with respect to a horizontal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: KYOCERA MITA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masakazu Uehara
  • Patent number: 7894086
    Abstract: An image forming system includes an image reading apparatus, a printer that is connected to the image reading apparatus and performs printing processing by directly receiving image data read by the image reading apparatus, and a notification unit that notifies failure information to the other apparatus if a failure occurs either in the image reading apparatus or in the printer, wherein the image reading apparatus includes a failure information acquisition unit that acquires failure information notified by the notification unit when a failure has occurred in the printer, a determination unit that determines whether or not the image reading apparatus is in the process of reading image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasushi Ujigawa
  • Publication number: 20110026944
    Abstract: In a fixing device, a fixing member contacts an opposing member to form a nip therebetween through which a recording medium bearing a toner image passes. A plurality of separators provided downstream from the nip in a recording medium conveyance direction contacts the fixing member to separate the recording medium having passed between the fixing member and the opposing member from the fixing member. A plurality of contact-direction biasing members connected to the plurality of separators biases the separators to cause the separators to contact the fixing member. A releasing member contacts the separators to cause the separators to separate from the fixing member. A driver connected to the releasing member separates the releasing member from the separators to cause the separators to contact the fixing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventor: Yutaka Naitoh
  • Patent number: 7881622
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a feeding portion, an image forming portion, a discharge portion, a paper transport path, a plurality of detection members, and a control portion. The image forming portion forms images on sheets of paper fed from the feeding portion. The path transports paper from the feeding portion to the discharge portion via the image forming portion. The detection members detect transport state of paper at respective locations on the path including the feeding portion, between the feeding and image forming portions, within the image forming portion, between the image forming and discharge portions, and the discharge portion. Upon detection of paper jam at any of the locations, the control portion displays, on an indicator, information identifying a location where the jam has occurred, and the image forming portion where paper is detected by the detection members, as locations of paper to be eliminated from the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Haruo Sayama, Yasushi Matsutomo, Kiwamu Morita, Michihiro Yamashita, Yuriko Kamei, Yasuhiro Takai
  • Publication number: 20110020016
    Abstract: According to the embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a paper transporting unit configured to transport a paper, an image forming unit configured to form an image on the paper, a fixing unit configured to generate heat for fixing the image on the paper, and a lighting unit configured to irradiate the fixing unit with red light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kousuke Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7862029
    Abstract: An image forming system includes an input unit for input of setting information, an image forming unit, a conveying unit, a control unit, and a jam detecting unit, wherein a set of a plurality of different kinds of special sheets disposed in a predetermined order is used. When occurrence of a jam is detected by the jam detecting unit, the control unit recognizes whether a special sheet having been fed is present in the image forming system, and if it is recognized that a special sheet is present in the image forming system, the control unit controls the conveying unit, after the jam being released, to eject a special sheet or sheets as unnecessary up to one that is disposed preceding a special sheet that is of the same kind as a most front one that was present in the image forming system at the time of the occurrence of the jam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jun Yokobori, Takao Kurohata, Shoichi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7860412
    Abstract: To provide an image forming apparatus including: a discharge tray which can moves between a first position capable of loading a discharged sheet and a second position that is separated from the first position; and a sheet loading amount detection sensor which has a sheet detection flag abutting against the upper surface of the sheet loaded on the discharge tray and capable of moving in accordance with a loading amount of the sheet loaded on the discharge tray, and detects the sheet loading amount by detecting a position of the sheet detection flag, wherein when the discharge tray means is located at the second position, the sheet detection flag is removed from a position capable of detecting the sheet loading amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naonori Kayama, Hiroaki Namiki, Shotaro Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 7860424
    Abstract: Image processing apparatus and method to perform an image processing job based on a received processing request, which includes a processing condition set by a user. Error protection is performed to detect a job setting error caused by a mismatching between the processing condition of the image processing job and a processing capability of the image processing apparatus. Error information relates to a previously detected air that is the job setting error previously detected. Error report conditions indicate whether the previously detected air has a same condition as the processing condition of the image processing job. Error information is managed to store information relating to the currently detected error when the currently detected error satisfies an error storage condition, determine whether the currently detected satisfies the error report condition and generate an error report to notify the user and an administrator when these conditions are satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Saori Iura, Nobuhiro Shindo, Toshiya Suzuki, Michiaki Nishinosono, Yutaka Matsumoto, Hiroki Ohzaki
  • Publication number: 20100303479
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a rotating member to heat a toner on a sheet; a heater to heat the rotating member; a power controller to maintain temperature of the rotating member in a first mode after the temperature reaches the target temperature, and configured to raise the temperature to the target temperature in a second mode after the temperature falls under the target temperature; a waste toner container to store a waste toner; an agitator to agitate the waste toner in the waste toner container; an driver to rotate the agitator a number of times in a drive if the heat controller stops to raise the temperature in the second mode; a counter to count a number of the drives; and an agitation controller to set the number of times in the drive based on the number of the drives.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinichi ITOH, Norio KOUZU
  • Patent number: 7844190
    Abstract: An image forming device includes a main body unit; an image forming device disposed in the main body unit; a first structural member capable of dividing and moving relative to a third structural member; a second structural member capable of dividing and moving relative to the third structural member and the first structural member; a first transport path situated between the first structural member and the second structural member; a second transport path situated between the second structural member and the third structural member; a sensor for detecting the medium; a first positioning unit for restricting a movement of the second structural member; a second positioning unit for engaging the first structural member with the third structural member; and a control unit for sending a signal to restrict a movement of the first structural member to a specific position based on a detection result of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Takeshi Asaba
  • Publication number: 20100278545
    Abstract: A printer includes a feed unit; an image forming unit, which executes double-side printing; an acceptance unit, which accepts an execution command of either continuation printing and reprinting if double-side printing is stopped and a first recording medium with only a first side image printed thereon exists in the conveying path of the printer; and a control unit, which prints only the unprinted second side image, if a continuation printing command is entered and the control unit reprints the first side image on a second recording medium and also prints the unprinted second side image on the second recording medium, if a reprinting command is entered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yukiyoshi Hanayama
  • Patent number: 7809290
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image processing apparatus which can promptly detect whether or not a jam has been removed in the case of occurrence of the jam such as a paper jam. A paper feeding apparatus 1b includes a paper feed tray 11, a pickup roller 61, a paper roller 63, a sorting roller 64, feeding rollers 66a, resist rollers 67, a paper ejection roller 73, a passage detection sensor 69, an overlapped feeding detection sensor 68 and a second detection apparatus 71. An image processing apparatus 100 includes a position detection portion 41 for detecting a location of a jam which occurs during feeding of recording paper, a determination portion 42 for determining a jam state based on a detection result of the position detection sensor 69, an examination portion 43 for examining whether the jam has been resolved and a resuming portion 44 for resuming the processing when an examination of the jam location by the examination portion 43 is finished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akira Tamagaki
  • Publication number: 20100247117
    Abstract: An image forming device includes a changeover flap, a cover, a flap displacement mechanism, an inlet end, an outlet end, and a first conveyer passage extending from the outlet end. A second conveyer passage is bifurcated from the first conveyer passage at a bifurcated portion. The changeover flap is provided at the bifurcated portion and is pivotally movable. The flap displacement mechanism includes a pivot arm pivotally movable. The pivot aim includes a free end portion provided with a linking portion to which the changeover flap is pivotally movably connected. The pivot arm and the changeover flap is configured to change an angle therebetween in accordance with a pivotal movement of the changeover flap and the pivot arm in interlocking relation to the pivotal movement of the cover from its closed position to its open position to displace the linking portion toward the cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshiya TOMATSU
  • Patent number: 7805087
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet conveying device configured to convey a sheet along a conveying path, a fixing roller configured to perform thermal fixing on the sheet having unfixed toner, a motor configured to rotationally drive the fixing roller, a first sheet detector disposed downstream from the fixing roller, a second sheet detector provided between the first sheet detector and the fixing roller and where the second sheet detector does not detect the sheet when the sheet is being properly conveyed, and a controller configured to perform motor stopping methods for stopping the driving of the motor, wherein the methods providing different motor stopping capabilities. When the first sheet detector is not detecting the sheet at a predetermined timing, the controller selects from the methods on the basis of a detection result of the second sheet detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hidenori Sunada
  • Publication number: 20100239271
    Abstract: A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, wherein plurality of cartridges are detachably mounted to a main assembly of the apparatus, the color electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a cartridge supporting member for supporting the cartridges, the cartridge supporting member being movable between an inside position which is in the main assembly the outside position which is out of the main assembly; a belt unit including a feeding belt for feeding a recording material on which the image is to be formed; and locking means for locking the cartridge supporting member and the belt unit in the state that the feeding belt and the cartridge are contacted to each other, wherein the belt unit and the cartridge supporting member in the state of being locked by the locking means are movable from the inside position to the outside position, and the feeding belt and the cartridge are capable of being spaced from each other by releasing the locking means
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Kawamura, Seiji Inada
  • Patent number: 7801452
    Abstract: An image forming system that makes it possible to open or remove an external cover of an apparatus to perform maintenance on the apparatus even while the system is operating. Out of a plurality of conveying paths, at least one conveying path for which at least one part related to the conveying path can be subjected to maintenance is determined, in accordance with a type of the image forming process being executed. The conveying path for which it has been determined that the part related to the conveying path can be subjected to maintenance is displayed on a display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Okamoto, Kiyoshi Watanabe, Tomokazu Nakamura, Hitoshi Kato, Takayuki Fujii, Norifumi Miyake
  • Publication number: 20100189449
    Abstract: A recording sheet processing device includes a stack tray used, when a recording sheet gets jammed inside a subsequent finishing device, for collecting recording sheets left inside a preceding image forming device and recording sheets left inside a recording sheet feeding unit of the image forming device before those recording sheets reach the finishing device. A portion of a conveying path in the recording sheet processing device is opened so that the recording sheet that has jammed at the finishing processing side can freely fall down into a stack tray. Then, a conveying path switching claw is switched to a position for collecting subsequent recording sheets into the stack tray. Thus, subsequent recording sheets are collected in the stack tray without stoppage in conveyance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Inventors: Takeshi Goto, Osamu Kitagawa, Fumi Miura
  • Publication number: 20100183320
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus may include a printer to fix images on paper sheets that travel along a first paper path and a second paper path, and first and second doors that may be open to uncover the first and second paper paths, respectively. First and second sensors may detect if the respective doors are open and first and second jam detectors may detect jams along the respective paper paths. A memory may store first and second jam removal guidance for the jams along the respective paper paths. A controller may cause a display to switch from displaying the first jam removal guidance read from the memory to displaying the second jam removal guidance read from the memory upon the second door sensor detecting the second door is open.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ayako Yamada
  • Patent number: 7756425
    Abstract: When an error occurs in an image processor, error information including a performer of the job having been processed upon occurrence of the error, the type of the job, and the type of the error is transmitted to a host. In the host, a transmission destination of support information is determined based on the type of the job having been processed upon the occurrence of the error, and the support information is retrieved from a knowledge base, based on the type of the error in the job, and transmitted to the transmission destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Masato Fujii
  • Publication number: 20100124424
    Abstract: In a duplex printer, when it is determined that a paper jam occurs only in the first transport path that is a path upstream of a sheet stacking unit among the first and second transport paths along a feeding direction of papers (the second transport path is a path downstream of the sheet stacking unit), operations of a sheet feed unit, a first printing unit for printing on one side of papers and an intermediate sheet transport unit that are located along the first transport path, are stopped. Then, all papers stacked on the sheet stacking unit are fed out and a second printing unit prints on another side of the fed-out papers. The papers with their both sides are printed are ejected by a sheet ejection unit. According to the duplex printer, it can be prevented that papers are wasted needlessly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Applicant: RISO KAGAKU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Manabu Iwamoto