Duplex Patents (Class 399/364)
  • Patent number: 8570580
    Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises: an acquisition unit configured to analyze an input print job and acquires information of a sheet to be used in printing; and a printing unit configured to print the input print job by performing paper feed from an inserter controlled by another connected printing apparatus, if the information acquired by the acquisition unit indicates that a sheet to be used in printing is stored in a manual insertion paper feed unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshiro Tachibana
  • Patent number: 8564850
    Abstract: When optically scanning a medium, scanning can proceed immediately even if the size of the medium is unknown. Before or when an optical reading device starts scanning to read all of a recording medium, the CPU 40 sets a scan block of a size that can always be scanned based on the output of media edge sensors 47 and the distance from the scanning position of the optical reading device to the detection position of the media edge sensors 47, and then scans the set scan block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Motoyama
  • Patent number: 8565666
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a recording medium is fed by being switched between a first conveying path feeding a recording medium to a first image forming portion and a second conveying path feeding the recording medium to a second image forming portion without being enabled to pass through the first image forming portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoki Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 8547577
    Abstract: A printing device includes at least one printing engine that has many sensors (first sensors and second sensors) and at least one engine controller operatively connected to the printing engine. The engine controller uses software to control operations of the printing engine. Also, at least one non-volatile memory is operatively connected to the engine controller. The non-volatile memory stores values used by the engine controller to control operations of the printing engine. At least one adapter card is operatively connected to the non-volatile memory and to the first sensors and second sensors. The first sensors correspond to the design of the controller and are items designed as original equipment of the printing device. To the contrary, the second sensors correspond to the design of the adapter card and are items designed to be installed in the printing device after the printing device is in post production, customer service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Paul, Aaron M. Burry, Bruce Earl Thayer, Michael F. Zona
  • Patent number: 8540237
    Abstract: An auto document feeder includes a lead path, a first reverse path, a second reverse path, and a both surfaces eject path. The lead path guides a document from a left side to a right side of a read position. The first and second reverse paths are connected to the lead path, and reverse the document to guide the document from the right side to the left side of the read position. A both surfaces eject path is connected to the first and second reverse paths and guides the document whose image information of a second surface has been read to eject further to the right side than the read position. A shared curve path shared by the lead path and the both surfaces eject path includes a portion between the read position and a portion in which a lead curve path protrudes the most.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Murata Machinery, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Nose, Toshihiro Kawamura
  • Patent number: 8537440
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus that can automatically read images on a plurality of pages stored in electronic paper without setting the electronic paper on a page-by-page basis even when using an original fixed reading method. A scanner unit reads an image on an original placed on an original platen glass by scanning the original by moving a reading unit from one end of the original to the other end. Communication with electronic paper is carried out to acquire image information stored in the electronic paper. An image file of which image is to be read is selected from the displayed image information. An image display on the electronic paper placed on the original platen glass is controlled by communicating with the electronic paper using a communication unit. The scanner unit scans in images of the selected image file displayed on the electronic paper on a page-by-page basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8538309
    Abstract: A printing apparatus comprising: a printing section including a conveyer, a reconveyer, and a printer; a sensor; a determination section; and a controller. The determination section determines whether a pair of the first sheet and the second sheet is eligible for the high-speed duplex printing based on the combination of the length of the first sheet and the length of the second sheet before the second sheet conveyed by the reconveyer. The controller controls the printing section to convey the first sheet and the second sheet to the reconveyer when the pair of the length of the first sheet and the second sheet is eligible for the high-speed duplex printing, and controls the printing section to eject at least one of the first and the second sheet when the pair of the length of the first and the second sheets is not eligible for the high-speed duplex printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naomichi Ban
  • Publication number: 20130236226
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises an image formation unit to form an image on a sheet, a reversing path extended vertically to receive and reverse front and rear sides of the sheet by changing a conveyance direction of the sheet to an opposite direction, a curved importing path to send the sheet with the image into the reversing path, an exporting path to receive the sheet sent from the reversing path, a sheet re-feeding path to re-feed the sheet from the exporting path to the image formation unit, and a base structure to support a main body of the image forming apparatus at a bottom thereof. The base structure includes a guiding surface to guide the sheet sent from the importing path to the reversing path and change a sheet conveyance direction substantially from a vertical direction to a horizontal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Inventor: Yusuke FUNAYAMA
  • Patent number: 8526874
    Abstract: A transmission mechanism of an image forming apparatus includes: a first transmitting section transmitting a driving force of a drive mechanism to a first transporting roller; and a second transmitting section transmitting the driving force of the first transmitting section to a second transporting roller. The first transmitting section has a first gear rotatable integrally with the first transporting roller. The second transmitting section has a second gear engaged with the first gear; a shaft extended in a direction intersecting the rotational axes of the first and second transporting rollers, and rotatable integrally with the second gear; a third gear rotatable integrally with the shaft; and a fourth gear engaged with the third gear and rotatable integrally with the second transporting roller. The image forming apparatus is capable of transporting a paper favorably along a re-transporting path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masafumi Inoue
  • Publication number: 20130202338
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of improving productivity in a print job mixedly involving single-sided printing and double-sided printing. Sheets are fed one by one to an image forming section. When double-sided printing is to be performed, a sheet having an image formed on the first side thereof by the image forming section is re-fed thereto so as to have an image formed on the second side thereof. When a sheet for double-sided printing exists, which is posterior in page order to a sheet for single-sided printing, an image forming order is changed such that the first side of the sheet for double-sided printing is subjected to image formation prior to the sheet for single-sided printing. When it is predicted that a state will occur in which the sheet for single-sided printing cannot be fed, the image forming order is not changed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
  • Patent number: 8488222
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus is provided which performs a correction process in such a manner that a geometrical arrangement of images of a plurality of pages of image data is approximated to a predetermined appropriate geometrical arrangement. The image processing apparatus causes a display to display a list of information indicating degrees of correction on the individual pages to be performed by an image processing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Atsushi Ito
  • Patent number: 8480080
    Abstract: A sheet processing device includes a conveyance member, an elastic plate member, a first conveyance path, and a second conveyance path. The conveyance member conveys a sheet of recording media with the sheet attached thereon and has a circumferential portion to separate the sheet from the conveyance member by a curvature of the conveyance member. The first conveyance path is formed by the conveyance member. The second conveyance path is disposed downstream from the first conveyance path and includes a reversal conveyance path to reverse the sheet. A face continuous to a front edge of the elastic plate member, except for the front edge, is positioned in an attachment weakened area of the circumferential portion of the conveyance member in which an attachment force of the sheet on the circumferential portion is weakened by separation of the sheet from the conveyance member by the curvature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masateru Ujiie
  • Patent number: 8459644
    Abstract: A dual path, single reversing roll inverter driven by a single actuator includes a single reversing roller with two, diametrically opposed idler rollers. The configuration of the reversing roller and idler rollers forms a first nip and a second nip that are alternately used to accept sequential sheets from a paper path. The first and second nips discharge the sheets into respective first and second inverting paths. A method for inverting sheets using the dual path, single reversing roll inverter includes rotating the roller in a first direction to direct a first sheet through the first nip. The roller is then rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction to direct the first sheet from the first nip and into the first inverting path and to simultaneously direct a second sheet into the second nip. A gate alternately directs the sequential sheets into the first and second nips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce Allen Thompson, Frank Albert Porter, Michael J. Linder, William Matthew Harney, Robert J. Rinefierd
  • Patent number: 8441679
    Abstract: There is provided an image forming device that includes a conveyor section, an image forming section, an accessing section and a control unit. The conveyor section conveys recording media in a conveying path, the recording media including a recording medium having a data storage unit attached thereto and a recording medium with no data storage unit attached thereto, the data storage unit storing data or being capable of storing data. The image forming section forms an image on the recording medium. The accessing section is disposed at an access position along the conveying path and accesses the data storage unit to execute an access operation to write data into or read data from the data storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toru Tsuzuki
  • Patent number: 8416470
    Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for removing show-through from a scanned image. The method includes scanning at least one line in a medium at a first intensity in a first scanning operation; scanning the at least one line in the scanning medium at a second intensity different from the first intensity, in a second scanning operation; and removing show-through from an image obtained during the first scanning operation based on a difference in a show-through effect between images obtained during the first and second scanning operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Young-hoon Jeong
  • Patent number: 8405869
    Abstract: A color conversion device includes an acquisition section and a correction section. The acquisition section acquires first color information of an image to be printed on a specific position in a first side of a recording paper and second color information of an image to be printed on a position corresponding to the specific position in a second side of the recording paper. The correction section corrects the first color information and second color information acquired by the acquisition section, based on combination information on color combination of images on the corresponding positions of the first side and the second side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jungo Harigai
  • Publication number: 20130071166
    Abstract: An image formation device is provided with a discharge tray configured to receive the sheet discharged from a discharge exit, a guide portion configuring at least a part of a first feed path and a second feed path extending from a fixing unit to the discharge exit, a reversibly rotatable roller configured to reverse a feeding direction of the sheet fed from the fixing unit to the discharge exit so that the sheet is reversely fed toward an entrance of the of the developing unit. In this configuration, the first path and the second path are converged to form a converged feed path on the discharge exit side, the reversibly rotatable roller is provided in the converged feed path, and a converged feed path guide portion, which is a part of the guide portion, is displaceable to a position to expose the converged feed path to outside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hirotaka MORI
  • Patent number: 8398075
    Abstract: An auto document feeder includes a lead path, a first reverse path, a second reverse path, and a both surfaces eject path. The lead path guides a document from a left side to a right side of a read position. The first reverse path and the second reverse path are connected to the lead path, and reverse the document to guide the document from the right side to the left side of the read position. A both surfaces eject path is connected to the first reverse path and the second reverse path and guides the document whose image information of a second surface has been read so as to eject further to the right side than the read position. Further, the lead path includes a lead curve path which protrudes to the left side and is arranged more to the left side than the read position. A shared curve path shared by the lead path and the both surfaces eject path includes a portion between the read position and a portion in which the lead curve path protrudes the most.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Murata Machinery, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Nose, Toshihiro Kawamura
  • Patent number: 8385758
    Abstract: An image forming device includes a first medium container for a first printing medium; a second medium container for a second printing medium; a medium feeder for feeding one of the first and second media from one of the first and second medium containers; a special process unit that performs a special process on the first printing medium fed by the medium feeder when image data, including instruction information instructing the special process, is received; a detector that detects a characteristic of the first printing medium; a special process capability determination unit for determining whether or not the special process can be performed based on the characteristic; and a control unit that ejects the printing medium and that causes the second medium to be fed from the second medium container when the special process capability determination unit determines that the special process cannot be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsunori Nakai
  • Patent number: 8382098
    Abstract: The present invention provides a recording medium turnover device and a recording medium processing apparatus using the same. The recording medium turnover device comprises: a passage assembly, configured to form a first passage (3), one end of which is connected with a recording medium inlet (1) and the other end of which is connected with a recording medium outlet (2); a turnover mechanism (4), which is located on one side of the passage assembly and comprises a first plate (41) being located below the outlet and extending away from the outlet and a second plate (42) swingably arranged between the outlet and the inlet and forming a recording medium containing space with the first plate; conveying rollers (411, 424), configured to convey the recording medium; and a guide plate (5), which is controlled to guide the recording medium to enter the first passage or the recording medium containing space of the turnover mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Shangdong New Beiyang Information Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming Gao, Zhenxing Zhao, Jigang Zhang, Kai Liu
  • Publication number: 20130028645
    Abstract: A multi-component duplex print is produced on a receiver. Master print engines and slave print engines synchronized to the masters are arranged along the transport path of the receiver with inverters between them. Each inverter has an inverted travel path and a non-inverted travel path, and a difference of a travel time of the receiver in the inverted travel path of each inverter as compared to a travel time of a receiver in the non-inverted travel path of that inverter is adjusted to be an integral multiple of a period between successive receivers. A received job specification designating a first assigned one of the print engines to print on a first assigned side of the receiver. A controller sets the positions of the inverters so the first assigned side of the moving receiver is the corresponding print side of the first assigned print engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventors: Michael Thomas Dobbertin, Timothy John Young
  • Patent number: 8355159
    Abstract: A method of synchronizing the timing of a plurality of physically coupled print engines wherein the receiving sheet is inverted between a first and a second print engine including determining any change in the speed of the master print engine relative to the speed at original set up and adjusting the timing parameters within the slave print engines based on the speed of the master engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Michael T. Dobbertin, Thomas K. Sciurba
  • Patent number: 8348261
    Abstract: A paper inverting apparatus that inverts the front and back of paper by transporting the paper through a paper inverting path that inverts the front and back of the paper, includes an extending/contracting mechanism that extends/contracts the path length of a circulation path of which the paper inverting path is configured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Ryuji Moriyama
  • Patent number: 8307971
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a document track, a processing device, and a selector gate after the processing device. The document track includes a second, return path extending from a location at the selector gate to a location before the processing device. A bi-directional drive mechanism receives the document as the document passes through the selector gate in the forward direction. A gate actuator selectively moves the selector gate. Upon the bi-directional drive mechanism reversing direction after receiving the document to drive the document in the reverse direction, when the selector gate is in the first position, the selector gate diverts the document into the return path and re-introduces the document to the processing device with the document now in a reverse orientation. When the selector gate is in the second position, the selector gate allows the document traveling in the reverse direction to be re-introduced, in reverse, to the processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Burroughs Payment Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Michael Spall, Johan P. Bakker
  • Patent number: 8277041
    Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus, including: a first recording head and a second recording head each having a plurality of ejection openings from which ink is ejected; a conveying mechanism which defines a conveyance path through which a recording medium is conveyed so as to pass a first position at which the recording medium is opposed to the ejection openings of the first recording head and a second position at which the recording medium is opposed to the ejection openings of the second recording head; and a bypass conveying mechanism which defines a bypass path that is connected to the conveyance path at a position thereof between the first position and the second position, for permitting the recording medium to be conveyed so as to bypass the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideki Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20120243926
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a recording medium is fed by being switched between a first conveying path feeding a recording medium to a first image forming portion and a second conveying path feeding the recording medium to a second image forming portion without being enabled to pass through the first image forming portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Naoki Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 8248655
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus which has a double-side copying function, including: at least either one of an original document detection section that detects a size of an original document, and an original document size setting section that sets a size of the original document as required; an original document top position setting section that sets a top position of the original document as required; a binding direction setting section that sets a binding direction of the original document and a binding direction of an output sheet as required; an output size setting section that sets a size of the output sheet as required; a print magnification ratio setting section that sets a print magnification ratio as required; and a copy region determination section that sets a copy region with reference to a top left corner of the original document, the top left corner being identified when the original document is placed such that the top position thereof is upward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Masaki Baba
  • Patent number: 8244158
    Abstract: An apparatus includes: an image forming unit having a photosensitive drum; a motor configured to rotate forwardly and reversely; a discharging roller to which a driving force is transferred from the motor; an one way clutch configured to transfer the driving force to the photosensitive drum or block a transfer of the driving force; a returning roller returning the recording sheet drawn by the discharging roller; a rotation direction converting mechanism transmitting the driving force to the returning roller to rotate the returning roller in a certain direction; and a time lag mechanism including engaging portions with a gap therebetween, when the rotation direction of the motor being switched, each of the engaging portions being engaged with each other after a predetermined time, thereby delaying the transfer of the driving force from the motor to the returning roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Atsushi Miwa
  • Patent number: 8224226
    Abstract: A method of increasing productivity in a reproduction apparatus wherein a first print engine and a second print engine are coupled by an inverter and synchronized. Each sheet of a plurality of receiver sheets is selectively printed in an invert mode or a non-invert mode. A difference of a travel time of a first receiver sheet in an invert path through the inverter in the invert mode as compared to a travel time of a second receiver sheet in a non-invert path through the inverter in the non-invert mode is adjusted so that the difference is an integral multiple of a period between the receiver sheets. Frames on a dielectric support member in the appropriate print engine are skipped when switching between invert mode and non-invert mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Michael T. Dobbertin, Timothy J. Young
  • Patent number: 8210635
    Abstract: A printer comprising: an image former that forms a plurality of images on a plurality of sheets; a circulation transfer route composed of a first transfer route that transfers each sheet fed from a feeding route toward a discharging route, and a second transfer route that is branched from the first transfer route and returns each sheet received from the first transfer route to the first transfer route; a printing rate detector that detects a printing rate of each image; a circulation number determiner that determines a circulation number of each sheet on the circulation transfer route based on the printing rate of each image; a scheduling coordinator that coordinates a sheet transfer schedule based on the circulation number of each sheet; and a transfer drive controller that controls quantities described in the sheet transfer schedule by controlling driving mechanisms on the circulation transfer route and switching between the first and second transfer routes based on the schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Riso Kagaku Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiko Kusuhata
  • Patent number: 8190079
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a conveyor unit, a printing unit, a data acquiring unit, and a control unit. The image forming unit forms an image based on image data. The conveyor unit conveys a transfer medium onto which the image is to be transferred. The printing unit prints the image onto the transfer medium. The data acquiring unit acquires the image data. The control unit controls the conveyor unit, the printing unit, and the data acquiring unit. The control unit controls the conveyor unit not to feed a transfer medium from a feed tray to the printing unit when a command for printing a second side by double-sided printing is not detected within a predetermined time after detecting a command for printing a first side by double-sided printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Kazuo Mohri
  • Publication number: 20120128395
    Abstract: A sheet-fed duplex printer comprises a pair of impression cylinders 6a, 6b and first and second electrophotographic printing units 7a and 7b. Each of the cylinders is provided on a peripheral surface thereof with a paper gripper for gripping a sheet of paper. The cylinders and printing units are so disposed relative to each other and suitably operated for printing on one face of the sheet of paper as it is conveyed following the peripheral surface of one cylinder, and for printing on the other face of the sheet of paper as it is conveyed following the peripheral surface of the other cylinder. This arrangement allows high precision and high speed printing of a sheet of paper large in size without increasing the entire apparatus length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: MIYAKOSHI PRINTING MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideo IZAWA, Kenji TAKAHASHI
  • Patent number: 8141692
    Abstract: An apparatus for capturing images from checks and other financial and payment-related documents includes a base unit including an input slot for receiving a document to be processed. A transport stage located within the base unit receives the document from the input slot. The transport stage includes a document track, a processing device located along the document track, and a one-way gate located along the document track after the processing device. The document track includes a second, return path extending from a location at the one-way gate to a location before the processing device. A bi-directional drive mechanism receives the document as the document passes through the one-way gate in the forward direction. The bi-directional drive mechanism then reverses direction to drive the document in the reverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Burroughs Payment Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Michael Spall, Johan P. Bakker
  • Patent number: 8144372
    Abstract: An image scanning apparatus comprises a platen surface which is provided at an upper part of a main body of the image scanning apparatus so that an original sheet to be scanned is placed thereon; and an original sheet support portion which is provided to support an original sheet having a larger size than the platen surface. The original sheet support portion is provided to protrude laterally from the main body in a position under the platen surface to be able to support an end portion of a protruding portion of the original sheet protruding outside from the platen surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroto Sugahara, Kosuke Nukui
  • Publication number: 20120063828
    Abstract: A multi-position letterbox media diverter that maximizes productivity includes a gate configured like a tomahawk to allow sufficient space for the diverter to operate immediately after the trail edge of a sheet passes the front edge of the gate and thereby increase gate actuation time. Reversible drives of an inverter are used to direct the sheet to a duplex path while another sheet is simultaneously directed by a lower integrated baffle portion of the gate to an output tray as needed. Thus, reducing the time required for the sheet to be in the inverter path before reversing sheet direction, thereby facilitating a reduction in required transport speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Adam D. Ledgerwood, Carlos M. Terrero, Donald R. Fess, Joseph Marasco
  • Patent number: 8134755
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus according to an aspect of the invention includes a first reading unit which reads a surface of a document and a second reading unit which reads the other surface of the document. The first and second reading units include off-axial imaging units respectively. The off-axial imaging unit includes plural imaging mirrors in which off-axial reflecting surfaces having curvatures are formed. In the off-axial imaging unit, an incident direction and an outgoing direction of a reference axis light beam are different from each other. The off-axial imaging units are provided such that vertical directions of the first and second reading units become identical while an incident side of the light beam is located below an outgoing side with respect to the imaging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takayuki Suga
  • Patent number: 8131204
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a single-sided image forming unit that forms an image on a first side of a sheet and discharges the sheet in a predetermined discharge state, a first double-sided image forming unit that forms an image of an even page on a first side of the sheet, reverses the sheet on which the even page is formed, conveys the reversed sheet to an image forming unit, forms an image of an odd page on a second side of the sheet, and discharges the sheet in a predetermined discharge state, and a second double-sided image forming unit that forms an image of an even page on the second side of the sheet and an image of an odd page on the first side of the sheet and discharges the sheet in a predetermined discharge state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masatoshi Kadota
  • Patent number: 8125665
    Abstract: An image processing system includes a printing unit configured to print an image, a managing unit configured to manage charging information that can be reduced according to print processing performed by the printing unit, and a control unit configured to slow down the print processing performed by the printing unit if an available printing remaining amount indicated by the charging information is less than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuaki Miyahara
  • Patent number: 8121510
    Abstract: For a sheet circulating transfer route that includes a sheet transfer portion of a printing mechanism provided with a transfer belt for transfer of a sheet as positioned thereto, a transfer section provided with drive rollers for transfer of a sheet as image-formed by an image former of the printing mechanism, and a sheet invert portion operable for inversion of the sheet as image-formed, there is a drive controller adapted, in conformity to a condition that a sheet to be positioned in the printing mechanism is equal in length to or longer than a path distance from the image former to the drive rollers, to set a transfer speed of the sheet as image-formed by the drive rollers up as an identical speed to a transfer speed of the sheet as positioned by the transfer belt, and in non-conformity to the condition, to set it up as a greater speed than the transfer speed by the transfer belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Riso Kagaku Corporation
    Inventor: Atsushi Roppongi
  • Patent number: 8102578
    Abstract: An image scanning apparatus includes a reversal tray on which printable media are temporarily stacked, and a reverse roller installed inside a main body immediately before the reversal tray at a junction between the reversal tray and an end of a second moving path, which is driven in both clockwise and anti-clockwise directions by power transmitted via a discharge roller to guide one of the printable media towards and away from the reversal tray along a second moving path, wherein a feeder, a pick-up roller, a scanning unit, a discharge tray, and transport rollers are installed on a first moving path in order to scan images from one side of the printable medium, and the reversal tray and the reverse roller are installed on the second moving path in order to scan images from the other side of the printable medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jin-kyu Oh
  • Patent number: 8072657
    Abstract: It is a first aspect of the present invention to provide a scanning device that includes a first imaging device adapted to convert contents of a first surface of a medium to a digital representation of the contents of the first surface of the medium, a scanning path adapted to guide the medium adjacent to the first imaging device, a first output path for guiding the medium to a first output tray, the first output path connected to the scanning path, a second output path for guiding the medium to a second output tray, the second output path connected to the scanning path, and a diverter guide adapted to direct the medium from the scanning path to one of the first output path and the second output path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Brandon Langrel, Allen Wayne Waugerman, Stephen Ray Wilson
  • Patent number: 8059314
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus which is capable of performing a stable reading operation and matching a sub-scanning magnification with which an original image is scanned, between the front side of an original and the reverse side of the same. A CCD line sensor reads the front side of an original, and a CIS line sensor reads the reverse side of the same. A lead roller is disposed upstream of the CCD line sensor and conveys the original at a first conveying speed. A discharge roller is disposed downstream of the CCD line sensor and conveys the original at a second conveying speed which is higher than the first conveying speed. A CPU controls one main scanning time period of the CCD line sensor after the original is held by the discharge roller, such that the one main scanning time period becomes shorter than before the original is held by the discharge roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuhiro Ishido
  • Patent number: 8055179
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of efficiently performing an image forming processing even in a case where a post-processing apparatus performs a post-processing during a both-sides printing. A first time period needed by a first both-sides image forming processing and a second time period needed by a second both-sides image forming processing are computed in a case where a post-processing unit performs a post-processing on a recording sheet formed images on both sides thereof. The first time period and the second time period is compared, and any one of the first both-sides image forming processing and the second both-sides image forming processing is selected based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidenori Sunada, Kiyoshi Okamoto, Mitsuhiko Sato, Yuichiro Maeda, Kiyoharu Kakomura
  • Patent number: 8040576
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes an original-sheet support table and reading an image on an original sheet supported by the original-sheet support table. The original-sheet support table includes: (a) an original-sheet support surface on which the original sheet is supported; (b) a contact surface which stands up from the original-sheet support surface and is contactable with one side of the original sheet supported by the original-sheet support surface; and (c) at least one guide mark which is provided in the contact surface. The original sheet is positioned on the original-sheet support surface in a state in which the one side of the original sheet is held in contact with the contact surface of the original-sheet support table and one end of the one side of the original sheet is aligned with the at least one guide mark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideo Ohira, Yoshinori Osakabe
  • Publication number: 20110236096
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, an image forming unit, and a retransporting unit. The retransporting unit includes a transporting roller for applying a transporting force to the sheet and an input portion disposed at a position shifted upstream of the transporting roller in a retransporting direction. The input portion is configured to receive an input of a drive force supplied from the apparatus body. The retransporting unit further includes a drive shaft extending in a retransporting direction. The drive shaft is configured to transmit the drive force from the input portion toward the transporting roller by rotating about an axis thereof. A height of the image forming apparatus may be reduced by this configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Atsushi MIWA
  • Patent number: 8027606
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including an image forming section forming images on image forming faces of a recording medium, a condition setting section individually setting an operating condition of the image forming section for forming the image on a first image forming face of a recording medium and another operating condition of the image forming section for forming the image on a second image forming face of the recording medium opposite to the first image forming face in the manual duplex mode, and a control section controlling the image forming section on the basis of each operating condition set by the condition setting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Furukawa, Katsuyuki Yokoi, Kensuke Miyahara
  • Patent number: 8018606
    Abstract: There is provided a color page printer including a print engine operable by a color mode for executing color printing and a monochrome mode for executing monochrome printing, and a control unit for controlling the print engine to generate a printed paper having a content corresponding to received print data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Osamu Azami
  • Patent number: 8014043
    Abstract: The display system includes the display apparatus and the scanner apparatus disposed so as to be drawable forward below the display apparatus. In addition, the upper unit is attached so as to be openable and closeable to the lower unit. Moreover, in the scanner apparatus, a sheet-like original, an image of which is read by the image reading device, can be fed from a front side of the upper unit. In addition, when the image of the sheet-like original is read by the scanner apparatus, the original is fed from the front face side of the scanner apparatus to read the original image, and when an image of a book original is read, the scanner apparatus is pulled out forward so that an image of the book original is read in a state where the upper unit is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Suto
  • Publication number: 20110206435
    Abstract: A medium reversing apparatus, an image forming apparatus and an image reading apparatus that respectively have the medium reversing apparatus are supplied capable of avoiding medium damage and medium load abnormality. In the medium reversing apparatus that conveys a sheet-like medium back and reverses obverse side and reverse side of the medium, a medium ejection opening is used for ejecting at least a part of the medium; an ejecting member at least ejects the part of the medium from the medium ejection opening and conveys the medium back; and a bend forming section is set at the outside edge portion of the ejecting member and bends the medium from a clamp face of the medium clamped by the ejecting member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: OKI DATA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi SAITO
  • Patent number: 8000645
    Abstract: A productivity module for increasing duplex throughput of a first print engine includes a second print engine, a controller, and an inverter. The controller is configured to receive one or more timing signals from the first print engine and synchronize timing of the second print engine with the first print engine based at least in part on the timing signals received from the first print engine. The inverter has an input paper path having an entrance configured to accept one or more receiver sheets from the first print engine; an output paper path having an exit configured to supply the one or more receiver sheets to the second print engine; and an inversion paper path having an entrance coupled to an exit of the input paper path and an exit coupled to an entrance of the output paper path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Michael T. Dobbertin, Timothy J. Young