Automatic Document Feeder Patents (Class 399/367)
  • Patent number: 8896891
    Abstract: A document conveying device includes a document table on which a stack of document sheets is placed; a rotating shaft member detachably provided on a main body of the document conveying device; a feeding member configured to contact and feed a topmost sheet of the stack of document sheets, the feeding member being attached to the rotating shaft member via a driving force transmitting member; a separating unit configured to separate the topmost sheet from one or more sheets that are fed together with the topmost sheet, rotating members rotatably attached to the rotating shaft member; a holding member configured to hold the feeding member and the driving force transmitting member; and a rotating member position restricting unit configured to restrict a position of the rotating members other than the holding member to a given predetermined position with reference to a position of the holding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Fumiyuki Heishi, Hiroshi Kubo, Takashi Fujii, Shinya Kitaoka, Takeshi Akai, Takehisa Shimazu, Takuma Ariga, Michitaka Suzuki, Yoshito Suzuki, Jun Yamada, Satoshi Saito, Kenichiro Morita, Ikuhisa Okamoto, Kenji Hayasaka, Hiroaki Utagawa
  • Patent number: 8879128
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus is disclosed. The image reading apparatus includes an automatic document feeding unit that transports a document in a predetermined direction while the document floats above a platen glass member and a light source disposed below the platen glass member that irradiates a portion on the document at a predetermined reading location such that reflected light from the portion on the document is converted into image data and a floating distance between the document and the platen glass member is detected to set a value of an image parameter for correcting the image data for the document, based on the detected floating distance between the document and the platen glass member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Toshikazu Higashi, Masahiro Nonoyama
  • Patent number: 8867112
    Abstract: In an image reading device, a scanning unit moves relative to the main unit between a base position and a moved position. A conveyance unit moves relative to the scanning unit between a base position and a moved position at which the cover closes the platen, and is formed with a first and second openings. The cover member moves between a base position at which the cover member covers a second opening and a moved position. The first and second detectors detect a state of the scanning unit, the conveyance unit, and the cover member. The conveyance unit conveys the document along one of a first and second conveying paths that is used to convey the document and is determined based on the state of the first and second detectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Osakabe, Daisuke Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8861051
    Abstract: A roller assembly includes a roller shaft, a roller base and at least one roller. The roller shaft defines at least one clipping slot. The roller shaft passes rearward through the roller base to rotatably mount the roller base to the roller shaft. An inside of the roller base extends forward to form an elastic arm. A free end of the elastic arm projects beyond a front surface of the roller base. The free end of the elastic arm defines a hook portion hooked in the clipping slot to restrain the roller base on the roller shaft. The roller is set around the roller base. When the roller assembly is disassembled, press down upon the free end of the elastic arm to make the hook portion project out of the clipping slot, so that the roller base together with the rollers is disassembled from the roller shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Foxlink Image Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hung Ming Chang, Che Pin Hung
  • Patent number: 8849176
    Abstract: An automatic document feeder and a media record equipment using the same are provided. The automatic document feeder includes a frame, a cover and a gear chain. An end of the cover pivoted to the frame has a cam. The gear chain disposed in the frame has multiple driven gears and a rotating unit. The driven gears engaged with each other rotate about a first axial direction. The rotating unit having a first rock arm contacting the cam and a second rock arm with one of the driven gears disposed thereon is capable of rotating about the first axial direction. The cam pushes the first rock arm to drive the rotating unit to rotate about the first axial direction, and then an engagement between the driven gear on the second rock arm is released by departing from another driven gear engaged therewith when the cover opens relative to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignees: Cal-Comp Precision (Singapore) Limited, Cal-Comp Electronics & Communications Company Limited
    Inventors: Michael Medrano Recinto, Domingo Jr. Abao Vicente, Cher-Lek Toh, Chen-Fu Huang, Harold Magtibay Cabral
  • Patent number: 8831502
    Abstract: The height of an image reading unit or an operating panel in an image forming apparatus is adjusted to facilitate their operation depending on the physical characteristics of a user, such as his height or use of a wheel chair. A second operating panel and a second automatic document feeder (ADF) are disposed on the side of the image forming apparatus, so that a user on a wheel chair can access them easily. The second ADF houses plural sheet trays that are configured to open or close together. When the sheet trays are closed, a first operating panel disposed at the top of the apparatus is activated while the second operating panel on the side is deactivated. When the sheet trays are open, the second operating panel is activated while the first operating panel is deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tasuku Kohara, Takashi Inoue, Kazuo Koike, Kenichi Yamada, Taisuke Omi, Tsuyoshi Endoh
  • Patent number: 8830494
    Abstract: A sheet sensing module and a duplex scanning apparatus having the sheet sensing module are provided. The sheet sensing module includes a first sensing arm, a second sensing arm, and an electronic sensor. The first sensing arm is partially exposed to a sheet feeding channel of the duplex scanning apparatus. The second sensing arm is partially exposed to an inverting channel of the duplex scanning apparatus. When a document is transferred through the sheet feeding channel to trigger said first sensing arm or the document is transferred through the inverting channel to trigger the second sensing arm, the electronic sensor generates a sensing signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Primax Electronics Ltd.
    Inventors: Ping-Hung Kuo, Yi-Liang Chen, Wei-Hsun Hsu, Szu-Chieh Wu
  • Patent number: 8824027
    Abstract: An automatic media feeder includes: a media stacker on which sheets are to be stacked; a discharged media stacker; a scanning position where the sheet is to be scanned; a first conveyance path from the media stacker to the scanning position; a feeding device configured to convey the sheet from the media stacker to the scan position along the first conveyance path; a discharging device configured to discharge the sheet that passed through the scanning position to the discharged media stacker; a first reverse mechanism configured to turn over the sheet conveyed from the media stacker toward the scanning position along the first conveyance path and return the turned-over sheet to the first conveyance path; and a second reverse mechanism configured to refeed the sheet that passes through the scanning position to the first conveyance path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventors: Naoya Tonooka, Hidenori Ueda
  • Publication number: 20140241775
    Abstract: A sheet tray includes a tray section. A rear end portion of the tray section capable of supporting an upstream side of a sheet in a direction of conveyance of the sheet extends in a width direction of the sheet transversely of the direction of conveyance of the sheet. Both ends of the rear end portion of the tray section in the width direction of the sheet are raised upward perpendicularly to a placement surface relative to the middle of the rear end portion in the width direction of the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Tetsuro Kawashima
  • Patent number: 8818256
    Abstract: A photocopier apparatus includes a scanning module configured to scan an original document; a printing module configured to print a copy of the original document using output from the scanning module; and a media feed path configured to transport the original document and the copy to a single output receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: William Herrmann, Bradley J. Anderson, Leonard Schroath
  • Patent number: 8817338
    Abstract: A scan mechanism and a scan module are provided. The scan mechanism adapted to be used in a scan module includes a rack and a scan unit. The rack has an engaging surface, a bottom surface and a plurality of teeth disposed on the engaging surface. Each of the teeth comprises a top end, wherein the distance between the centers of any two adjacent top ends is W, the shortest distance from the top end of each tooth to the bottom surface of the rack is D, and W/D is from 0.56 to 0.79. The scan unit includes a gear engaged with the teeth of the rack and adapted to roll along the engaging surface of the rack, wherein the scan unit is slidably disposed on the rack through the gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignees: Cal-Comp Precision (Singapore) Limited, Cal-Comp Electronics & Communications Company Limited
    Inventors: Domingo Abao Vicente, Jr., Chia-Hung Kao
  • Patent number: 8810874
    Abstract: A duplex scanning apparatus and a sheet-feeding control method thereof are provided. The duplex scanning apparatus includes a sheet feeding channel, a sheet transfer channel, an inverting channel, and a sheet sensing module. A first end of the inverting channel is connected to a junction between said sheet feeding channel and the sheet transfer channel. A second end of the inverting channel is connected to the sheet transfer channel. A distance between the sheet sensing module and the first end of the inverting channel is greater than a distance between the sheet sensing module and the second end of the inverting channel. When a document is transferred through the sheet sensing module at the second time, a next document is fed into the sheet feeding channel through a sheet entrance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Primax Electronics Ltd.
    Inventors: Ping-Hung Kuo, Yi-Liang Chen, Wei-Hsun Hsu, Szu-Chieh Wu
  • Patent number: 8804211
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus comprises a feeding mechanism conveying a document, a moving mechanism moving a reading unit, a driving source shared by the mechanisms, a biasing mechanism moving the reading unit to a predetermined position by an elastic member when the reading unit is moved out of a reading region, a transmission element being displaced by the movement of the reading unit and switching transmission of the drive force, and a disengaging mechanism disengaging the reading unit in the predetermined position to the reading region from the predetermined position by the drive force of the driving source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Morinaga, Kaneto Tokuyama
  • Patent number: 8773736
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus to convey a sheet to be scanned to an image reader unit is provided. the image reading apparatus includes a sheet tray, in which the sheet to be scanned is stored, a separator, which frictionally picks up the sheet from the sheet tray and conveys the picked-up sheet toward an entry side of the image reader unit, through which the sheet enters a position above the image reader unit, to have a first side of the sheet scanned by the image reader unit, and a resisting force applier, which applies convey-resisting force to the sheet, of which first side has been scanned, being returned to the entry side of the image reader unit to have a second side of the sheet with the convey resistance scanned by the image reader unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomohiko Goto
  • Patent number: 8743431
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes: a sheet housing unit that houses a sheet; a sheet conveying unit that conveys the sheet; a sheet detection unit that detects presence or absence of the sheet in the sheet housing unit; a sheet nipping unit that nips the sheet housed in the sheet housing unit; and a control unit. The control unit controls the sheet nipping unit to reach a nipping state to nip the sheet in the sheet housing unit upon the sheet detection unit detecting a sheet-present state, executes a power saving mode to stop supplying power to at least a part of the electric mechanisms when no drive command is input for a predetermined time, and controls the sheet nipping unit to cancel the nipping state before execution of the power saving mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Kenji Hayasaka, Hiroshi Kubo, Shinya Kitaoka, Takehisa Shimazu, Takeshi Akai, Takuma Ariga, Fumiyuki Heishi, Yoshito Suzuki, Akihito Kameda, Hiroaki Utagawa, Jun Yamada, Takashi Fujii, Motoya Sano, Satoshi Saito, Ikuhisa Okamoto, Kenichiro Morita
  • Patent number: 8736926
    Abstract: A sheet conveyance device includes a loading section, a sheet feeding unit, a separation section disposed downstream in a sheet conveyance direction from the sheet feeding unit, a conveyance member to transport a sheet separated by the separation section, a trailing-edge detector disposed at a first conveyance distance (L1) downstream from a separation position (Ab) and including a rotary follower and a rotation detector, a first leading-edge detector disposed downstream from the trailing-edge detector, and a controller. The trailing-edge detector A detects a sheet length in the sheet conveyance direction. The controller causes the sheet feeding unit to start sheet feeding in response to detection of the leading edge of the sheet by the first leading-edge detector when the detected sheet length equals a predetermined reference length and in other cases in response to detection of the trailing edge of the sheet by the trailing-edge detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshito Suzuki, Hideki Tobinaga, Atsushi Kanaya, Shinya Kitaoka, Norio Kimura, Mamoru Kambayashi, Michitaka Suzuki, Kenichiro Morita
  • Patent number: 8730542
    Abstract: A sheet feeding device including a roller to apply conveying force to one of a plurality of stacked sheets, a separator piece to apply conveying resistance to the stacked sheets and to nip the one of the stacked sheets in cooperation with the roller, a movable member being movable with respect to the roller, a pair of spring arms configured to contact the stacked sheets at an upstream position along a conveying direction with respect to a nipping position between the roller and the separator piece, and a bridge to bridge between the pair of spring arms, is provided. The bridge and the movable member are slidably in contact with each other at least when the sheet feeding device is in a conveyable condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazutoshi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8730529
    Abstract: A document scanner (10) includes an input tray (20) for holding documents; a transport system (45) for moving documents through the scanner; at least one document detection sensor (135A-135E) for detecting documents; an image capture device for capturing image data for a document; an image processor for determining characteristics of the document based on the image data; and wherein the processor compares characteristics of the document to ultrasonic data and excludes ultrasonic data which conflicts with image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Kodak Alaris Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce A. Link, George E. Lathrop
  • Patent number: 8730540
    Abstract: A sheet transport apparatus that transports a sheet to a reading section for reading the sheet, has a reading front roller pair contacting with a front end of the sheet to form a register loop in the sheet; a first transport path extending curvingly toward the reading front roller pair; a second transport path extending curvingly toward the reading front roller pair after joining the first transport path; a first register space in which a register loop is formed in a sheet guided along the first transport path; and a second register space in which a register loop is formed in a sheet guided along the second transport path. The first register space is provided on the upstream side of a junction position in which the first transport path joins the second transport path, and the second register space is provided on the downstream side of the junction position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Nisca Corporation
    Inventors: Mamoru Akiyama, Seiji Nishizawa, Toshiya Sato, Koji Kanda, Tetsuya Noda, Toshiyuki Ito
  • Patent number: 8724186
    Abstract: An image reading device includes a case, a reading section, an engaging section, a guide section, a first deformation characteristic section, and a second deformation characteristic section. The case includes a bottom plate. The reading section moves in a sub-scanning direction. The guide section guides movement of the reading section. When the bottom plate is divided into a first region and a second region with the guide section as a boundary, the first deformation characteristic section is arranged in the first region, and has a deformation characteristic such that the first deformation characteristic section deforms with respect to heat in a first direction that is perpendicular to the bottom plate. The second deformation characteristic section is arranged in the second region, and has a deformation characteristic such that the second deformation characteristic section deforms with respect to heat in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Naoki Shibata
  • Patent number: 8717637
    Abstract: A method for scanning documents in a document scanner (10) includes transporting (45) documents from an input tray (20) to an document detection sensor (135A-135E); detecting documents with the document detection sensor; capturing image data for a document with an image capture device; determining characteristics of the document based on the image data with an image processor; comparing characteristics of the document to document detection sensor data; and excluding document detection sensor data which conflicts with the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Kodak Alaris Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce A. Link, George E. Lathrop
  • Patent number: 8711406
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a main chassis, an image reader unit, a cover unit, a first movable assembly, which rotatably supports the cover unit to be rotatable with respect to the image reader unit, and a second movable assembly, which rotatably supports the image reader unit to be rotatable with respect to the main chassis. The first movable assembly includes a support member, which supports the cover unit to be vertically movable with respect to the image reader unit, and a frame, which is arranged on the image reader unit and accommodates the support member. The first movable assembly is arranged to have a lower end thereof to be in a lower position with respect to a lower end of the image reader unit. The second movable assembly is arranged in a lower position with respect to the first movable assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Sakae Ito
  • Patent number: 8699040
    Abstract: A paper-feeding device and a multi-functional printer are provided. The paper-feeding device includes a base, a driving axle, a position-limiting element and a retaining element. The base has a first assembling portion. The driving axle, the position-limiting and the retaining elements are all in the base. The position-limiting element has a second assembling portion and two position-limiting portions on radial directions of the second assembling portion between the inserting portion and the body. The retaining element includes a swing frame, a paper-separating element and a spring. The body of the swing frame is located between the two position-limiting portions. The first and second pivoting portions coaxial and connect the body are pivoted respectively to the first and second assembling portions. The inserting portion of the paper-separating element is sheathed by the body and the separating element leans against the driving axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignees: Kinpo Electronics, Inc., Cal-Comp Electronics & Communications Company Limited
    Inventors: Shih-Jer Din, Ken-Hua Chang
  • Patent number: 8699101
    Abstract: An image reader is provided, which includes a feed tray that has a loading surface and is swingable around a first swing axis parallel to a width direction of a document sheet placed on the feed tray between a first position where the loading surface is directed downward above a housing and a second position where the loading surface is directed upward at an upstream side relative to the housing in the feeding direction, a first opening formed between the housing and the feed tray placed in the second position, the first opening being configured such that an inside of the housing communicates with an outside of the housing therethrough, a second opening formed in a position higher than a power supply unit and lower than the first opening inside the housing, and a communication path through which the first opening communicates with the second opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takaaki Mukai
  • Patent number: 8687248
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus configured to read images of both surfaces of a document is provided. The image reading apparatus may include a first image reading device configured to read an image of a first surface of a document, a second image reading device configured to read an image of a second surface of the document, and a document conveying mechanism configured to convey the document from the second image reading device to the first image reading device. The first image reading device has a first reading range, and the second image reading device has a second reading range, which is smaller than the first reading range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaru Takeuchi, Katsuro Miura, Takashi Fujiwara, Takayuki Akimatsu
  • Publication number: 20140079457
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus performs control to parallelly achieve document image reading by a reading unit and image formation by an image forming unit for forming on a recording material a document image read by the reading unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuki Nakajima, Masaru Aoki, Hiroto Endo, Daisuke Kaneko
  • Publication number: 20140079456
    Abstract: When images of a plurality of document sheets are to be read and formed on a plurality of recording materials, an image forming apparatus performs control to convey a document sheet and a recording material at one of a recording material conveyance speed and a document conveyance speed, whichever is lower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki Nakajima, Masaru Aoki, Hiroto Endo
  • Patent number: 8677267
    Abstract: A method and user interface which enables the setting of a variable value feature, having a plurality of values associated therewith, wherein the plurality of values include a default value and a plurality of non-default values. The method and user interface displays a first value associated with a user selected variable value feature and changes the displayed first value associated with the selected variable value feature by a predetermined amount so as to display a second value associated with the selected variable value feature by a user engaging a user activatable area associated with the selected variable value feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Debora Margaret Hejza Litwiller
  • Patent number: 8659802
    Abstract: An image scanner includes a transparent plate, a scanning device, a driving device, a positioning member, a light absorbing portion and a white reference portion. The transparent plate has an original placing surface. The scanning device irradiates an original with light by means of a light source and scans reflected light from the original. The driving device reciprocates the scanning device along the transparent plate. The positioning member positions the original placed on the original placing surface of the transparent plate. The light absorbing portion, which is disposed on the original placing surface side of the positioning member and at substantially a central portion of the positioning member in moving directions of the scanning device, absorbs ambient light entering to the original placing surface side of the positioning member through the transparent plate. The white reference portion is provided to the original placing surface side of the positioning member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Ikeno, Yoichi Susaki
  • Publication number: 20140044466
    Abstract: A motor controller, operatively connected to a motor having an output shaft, includes a rotary detector to detect a rotation direction and a rotation amount of the output shaft of the motor to generate an actual rotary signal, a drive controller to generate a control signal based on the actual rotary signal and a target rotary signal indicating a target rotary direction and a target rotary amount, and a driver to supply a driving power to the motor based on the control signal. When the motor is in a hold state, the control signal is reversed periodically for a predetermined reverse time period T2 per a predetermined one reverse cycle T1. When the control signal is not reversed for a certain lock detection time period Tr that is longer than the revere cycle T1 of the control signal, supply of the driving power to the motor is blocked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Inventors: Takuya Murata, Natsuko Ishizuka
  • Publication number: 20140023415
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of suppressing the productivity of image formation from being lowered due to discharge of surplus tabbed sheets in a double-sided printing job in which output sheet bundles are produced by inserting tabbed sheets into each bundle of double-sided printed recording sheets. In a case that output sheet bundles are each produced by setting tabbed sheet bundles each comprised of five tabbed sheets to the image forming apparatus, by inserting one tabbed sheet subsequently to double-sided image formation on five recording sheets, and by performing double-sided image formation on other five recording sheets, four surplus tabbed sheets are discharged subsequently to feeding of the tabbed sheet, instead of discharging the four surplus tabbed sheets after completion of image formation on a second surface of a tenth recording sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kunio Takane
  • Publication number: 20140003851
    Abstract: An image scanner section is disposed above a printer section. The image scanner section is supported by the printer section in such a manner as to be pivotable about a pivotal axis. The printer section has a lower housing having a substantially rectangular shape as viewed from above. The image scanner section has an upper housing having a substantially rectangular shape as viewed from above. The upper housing and the lower housing are configured such that a second upper corner portion, which is a corner portion of the upper housing, projects beyond a second lower corner portion, which is a corner portion of the lower housing and is located just under the second upper corner portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Sakae Ito, Takuro Kusama, Satoru Hattori
  • Publication number: 20130336696
    Abstract: An automatic document feeder and a media record equipment using the same are provided. The automatic document feeder includes a frame, a cover and a gear chain. An end of the cover pivoted to the frame has a cam. The gear chain disposed in the frame has multiple driven gears and a rotating unit. The driven gears engaged with each other rotate about a first axial direction. The rotating unit having a first rock arm contacting the cam and a second rock arm with one of the driven gears disposed thereon is capable of rotating about the first axial direction. The cam pushes the first rock arm to drive the rotating unit to rotate about the first axial direction, and then an engagement between the driven gear on the second rock arm is released by departing from another driven gear engaged therewith when the cover opens relative to the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicants: Cal-Comp Electronics & Communications Company Limited, Cal-Comp Precision (Singapore) Limited
    Inventors: Michael Medrano Recinto, Domingo Jr. Abao Vicente, Cher-Lek Toh, Chen-Fu Huang, Harold Magtibay Cabral
  • Patent number: 8605342
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus may include a main unit, a cover unit, an openable unit, and a conductive member. The cover unit is pivotable relative to the main unit, and includes a metal frame and a reading device configured to read an image of a document conveyed through an upper path of a U-shaped conveying path. The openable unit is pivotable relative to the cover unit, and includes a document pressing member configured to face the reading device when the openable unit is closed relative to the cover unit. The conductive member is configured to electrically connect the metal frame and the document pressing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takayuki Akimatsu
  • Patent number: 8605300
    Abstract: Am MFP (100) is provided with: a casing (22) which is turnably supported at a turning support point (25) to an apparatus main body (40) and which stores an image reading part (20) capable of optically reading a document; and an outer cover (23) which is turnably supported at a turning support point (21) to the apparatus main body (40) and which has a top surface (23a) opposing a bottom surface (66) of the casing (22) and a bottom surface (23b) covering image forming means, and is provided with a suspending mechanism that opens and closes the outer cover (23) in conjunction with opening and closing operation of the casing (22), and the turning support point (21) of the outer cover (23) is arranged with a distance from the turning support point (25) of the casing (22) toward a turning end of the casing (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Teruhiko Nagasgima, Akinori Matsuno
  • Patent number: 8599450
    Abstract: An image read device is provided, which conveys an original while performing reading of an image of the original at a read position on a transparent member by a read unit fixed, the image read device including: a moving unit that moves the transparent member back and forth in an original conveying direction; a control unit that conveys the original and moves the transparent member by using the moving unit while causing the reading of the image to be performed at the read position; and a determining unit that, when an event causing interruption of original conveyance occurs, stops the transparent member and determines whether a control of returning the transparent member to a home position is to be performed or not in accordance with a stopped position of the original in an original conveying path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kubo, Takashi Fujii, Yasuo Kosuga, Tatsuaki Nagano, Kenichiro Morita, Takeshi Akai
  • Publication number: 20130315610
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, an ADF includes: a sheet-feed cover unit; a switch unit to be switched on or off depending on whether the sheet-feed cover unit is open or closed and including a first terminal, to which a first voltage, by which a driving motor is driven, is input, and a second terminal connected to the driving motor; and an open/close-detection circuit unit that includes a first switch circuit and a second switch circuit. The first switch circuit is switched on or off based on a threshold voltage that is larger than a second voltage to be generated in the driving motor by a jammed-document removing motion and smaller than the first voltage. The open/close-detection circuit unit detects that the sheet-feed cover unit is closed when the second switch circuit is energized, but detects that the sheet-feed cover unit is open when the second switch circuit is de-energized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Hiroaki UTAGAWA, Hiroshi KUBO, Shinya KITAOKA, Takehisa SHIMAZU, Takeshi AKAI, Fumiyuki HEISHI, Norio KIMURA, Yoshito SUZUKI, Jun YAMADA
  • Patent number: 8588645
    Abstract: A multi-function printer includes an image forming unit and a scanner unit. The image forming unit includes a body casing, a developing unit having a developing roller extending in a lateral direction, a developer cartridge provided on one side of the axis of the developing roller and detachably attached to the body casing, a discharge tray, a side cover, a support unit for supporting the developer cartridge such that the developer cartridge is detachably attached to a front side of the body casing, a sheet feeding tray detachably attachable to the front side of the body casing, and a discharge unit provided on the front side of the body casing and discharging sheet on which an image is formed to the rear side of the body casing. The scanner unit is provided above the image forming unit having a predetermined space opened on the one side therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryuya Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8582185
    Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present invention, an image reader comprises a plurality of light receiving elements configured to receive light from an object to be read and to convert the light into image signals. The image reader further comprises means for determining a distance between the object and the plurality of light receiving elements at a plurality of different positions of the object. Moreover the image reader comprises means for selecting at least one correction process portion based at least on the distance between the object and the plurality of light receiving elements. The image reader comprises means for applying the at least one selected correction process to the image signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takahiro Ikeno
  • Patent number: 8570622
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a sequence of documents passing along a transport path is described. The method including: operating a radiation transmitter with a control signal at a first, working, level to cause radiation at a first intensity to impinge on one side of a document as it passes an inspection position in the transport path; receiving at a radiation receiver, radiation from the transmitter that has passed through the document, the radiation receiver generating an output signal with a level related to the intensity of the received radiation; and monitoring the output signal to detect the presence and/or a characteristic of the document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: De la Rue International Limited
    Inventors: Cyril Pellaton, Marco Bart, Giuseppe Acunto, Michael Enz
  • Patent number: 8550447
    Abstract: An automatic document feeder includes a document input tray, a document discharge tray, a pushing member, and an elastic element. The document discharge tray is disposed under the document input tray. The pushing member is disposed on the document input tray. By pushing the pushing member, the pushing member is swung relative to the document input tray. The elastic element is contacted with the pushing member and the document input tray. The elastic element provides an elastic force to the pushing member. When the pushing member is not pushed, the pushing member is returned to an original position in response to the elastic force. By pushing the pushing member to allow the pushing member to be swung relative to the document input tray, the document discharge tray is exposed through the document input tray. Consequently, the paper sheet can be easily removed from the document discharge tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Primax Electronics Ltd.
    Inventor: Chun-Yu Lee
  • Patent number: 8542414
    Abstract: A position of a leading edge of an original sheet should be accurately detected utilizing a shadow thereof, irrespective of thickness of the original sheet. In a scanner, an image sensor recognizes the shadow of the leading edge of the original sheet projected on a projection screen when a light source emits light to the original sheet being automatically transported on a glass plate. The original sheet is determined to have reached a reading position, when the original sheet is further transported by a predetermined distance after the shadow is recognized. The projection screen is located above the glass plate at a position spaced apart from the image sensor by a predetermined distance, and hence the timing that the shadow of the leading edge of the original sheet is projected on the projection screen is constant irrespective of the thickness of the original sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yoichiro Maki
  • Patent number: 8532557
    Abstract: An attachment assist device includes an engagement member provided in one of a main body and a retractable unit, a catch portion provided in the other of the two, to engage the engagement member when the retractable unit is positioned at a drawing start position, and a drawing unit provided in the main body, to draw the retractable unit to a drawing completion position in the main body against multiple resistive forces acting on the retractable unit. On a projection plane on which the retractable unit is projected in an attachment direction, an engagement position where the engagement member engages the catch portion is disposed inside a rectangular area defined by two opposing corners respectively positioned at points of action of two of the multiple resistive forces acting on the retractable unit while the retractable unit moves from the drawing start position to the drawing completion position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Kusumi, Katsuhiko Miki, Yoshikuni Ishikawa, Hiroshi Kajiyama
  • Patent number: 8509672
    Abstract: A sheet transport apparatus including two or more covers is described. The two or more covers are disposed relative to a sheet transport path. In one example, the two covers include two stacked covers that are movable relative to each other. In another example, the two covers include two side-by-side covers in which one pivots, permitting movement of the other side-by-side cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Daisuke Kozaki
  • Patent number: 8498025
    Abstract: An image reader reads an image on a document while transporting it along a transport path. The image reader includes an image-reading unit, a document guide member and a size detector. The image-reading unit reads the image in a predetermined line width and generates image data based on the image. The document guide member is disposed along the document path and has a first mark thereon. The first mark extends in a main scanning direction of the image-reading unit and has a width greater than or equal to the predetermined line width. The size detector detects the size of the document based on image data read by the image-reading unit at a size detection position where the document overlaps with the first mark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Ryuji Fukasawa
  • Patent number: 8493639
    Abstract: An image recording device having a recording unit to record an image on a sheet is provided. The image recording unit includes a feed guide defining a first conveying path; an arm disposed between the recording unit and the tray, the arm having a feed roller rotatably disposed at a free end and configured to feed the sheet in the tray to the first conveying path. The arm pivots between a first arm position, and a second arm position. The return guide pivots between a first return guide position, and a second return guide position. A space occupied by the return guide in the first return guide position overlaps a space occupied by the arm in the second arm position. The return guide is in the second return guide position when the arm is in the second arm position which is retracted from an insertion space occupied by the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Samoto, Yuji Koga
  • Patent number: 8493633
    Abstract: A system for media handling and uniformity calibration for an image scanner includes an optical window, an assist roller, an adjustment mechanism, and a calibration strip. The assist roller receives and guides media through a gap between the assist roller and the optical window. The adjustment mechanism is integrated with the assist roller for controlling the distance between the assist roller and the optical window for smooth passage of media. The controlled reflectivity calibration strip connected to the adjustment mechanism facilitates sensor calibration, such as flat field correction. The adjustment mechanism moves to position the calibration strip in alignment with the optical window whenever sensor calibration is desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Martin Edward Hoover, Steven Robert Moore, Kathleen A. Feinberg
  • Patent number: 8482814
    Abstract: Provided is a traveling unit driving apparatus where a driving belt of the traveling unit is manufactured with ease, and concurrently therewith, can be coupled reliably to the unit in a state with high durability. A driving belt extended between a pair of pulleys is formed using a belt with ends and teeth, and a belt fixing means is comprised of a first and second engagement portions provided in the traveling unit, a concave recess portion disposed between the portions, and a lock fixing member that is fitted into the concave recess portion. Then, the first and second engagement portions and the concave recess portion are provided with a first and second mount surfaces for bending and supporting the belt opposite end portions, the lock fixing member is fitted into the concave recess portion, and the belt opposite end portions are thereby sandwiched and held in a bent state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Nisca Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Hirokawa, Shinnosuke Enomoto, Mamoru Dohi
  • Patent number: 8469351
    Abstract: A sheet conveyer device, including a main housing and a cover member, is provided. The cover member has a plane section made of a transparent material and is attachable to the main housing with a predetermined facing surface of the plane section set to face a predetermined plane of the main housing. An ornamental sheet can be detachably attached to the sheet conveyer device in a position between the predetermined plane and the cover member. The cover member includes an engaging piece, which is formed on a same side as the predetermined facing surface of the plane section and is engageable with an engageable section in the main housing. The engaging piece has a sheet holding rib and a clearance in between the predetermined facing surface and the sheet holding rib and holds a lateral end of the ornamental sheet in the clearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Daisuke Kozaki
  • Patent number: 8467112
    Abstract: An image sensor reads an image from a document sheet disposed on a document holding portion of a platen glass while the image sensor is moving along the platen glass in a predetermined direction or reads an image from a document sheet fed by a document feeder while the image sensor is stopped at the image reading position. A discharge guide member guides a document sheet which has passed the image reading position in a direction downstream from the platen glass. A sliding mechanism slides a first plate that faces the document holding portion selectively between a first position and a second position along the platen glass in a sliding direction parallel to the predetermined direction. The image reading position is within the document holding portion. The first plate, when in the first position, covers the image reading position, and the first plate, when in the second position, is separated from the image reading position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaru Takeuchi