Manual Feed Patents (Class 399/392)
  • Patent number: 10775730
    Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus, includes a moving portion configured to move one of a feeding portion and a stacking portion to switch between a contact state in which the feeding portion is in contact with a sheet on the stacking portion and a separation state in which the feeding portion is separated from the sheet; and a controller configured to control the moving portion to bring the feeding portion into the contact state at a time of start of a sheet feed job. The controller executes a first mode of controlling the moving portion to bring the feeding portion into the separation state, and executes a second mode of controlling the moving portion to maintain the feeding portion in the contact state when a sheet detector detects a sheet on the stacking portion after end of feeding of a final sheet in the sheet feed job.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 10556453
    Abstract: Provided is a printer that continues printing using an alternate paper feed port when the paper stocked in the paper feed port being used for printing becomes exhausted while printing, providing excellent usability and preventing using inappropriate paper. A printing device capable of alternate printing using a second paper set in a different paper feed port when first paper set in a first paper feed port and used for printing is depleted, includes: a print job receiver that receives print jobs including printing conditions; a paper information acquisition unit that acquires paper information about paper set in the paper feed ports; a no-paper detector; a paper feed port selector that selects a paper feed port based on the printing conditions and paper information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Ikumi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10423112
    Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a side face of a device body and a bypass tray. The bypass tray is supported so as to be turned around a turning fulcrum part with respect to the side face between a close position along the side face and an open position being held at a predetermined angle with respect to the side face. The bypass tray includes a facing surface and a first positioned part. The facing surface faces to the side face in the close position and is capable of stacking the sheet in the open position. The first positioned part is arranged on the facing surface below the turning fulcrum part. The side face includes a first positioning part. The first positioning part is fitted with the first positioned part in the open position to restrict movement of the bypass tray in the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Long Dang Bui
  • Patent number: 10175626
    Abstract: A feeding device includes a detection unit, a control unit, a first plate on which a recording material is placed, a second plate located above the first plate in vertical direction, and an uplift unit to uplift a recording material placed on the first plate. The detection unit changes a detection result when an uplifted recording material arrives at a feeding position. The recording material placed on the first plate is uplifted by the uplift unit until the detection result is changed. The detection result is changed when a recording material fed from the second plate passes the detection unit while the recording material placed on the first plate is not in the feeding position. The control unit causes recording material to be sequentially fed from the second plate, and causes the uplift unit to uplift the recording material placed on the first plate in an interval time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Eiji Akasaka
  • Patent number: 9310760
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus which forms an image with an image forming section includes: a casing in which the image forming section is arranged; a cover which is displaceably attached to the casing; a first elastic portion which is elastically deformable, and which is provided on one of the casing and the cover, the first elastic portion having an engage-objective portion which is engageable with an engaging portion provided on the other of the casing and the cover; and a second elastic portion which is elastically deformable, and which applies, to the first elastic portion, a force in a direction returning the first elastic portion to an original state when the first elastic portion is deformed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 9188928
    Abstract: A cover opening and closing unit includes a cover installed to be opened from and close a main body and a manual paper feed tray that is rotatably installed on the cover. The cover is connected to the main body by a link element and a connection link is connected to the link element and the manual paper feed tray so that, when the cover is opened from the main body when the manual paper feed tray is in an opened state with respect to the cover, an open angle of the manual paper feed tray with respect to a vertical direction is maintained within 90 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae-wuk Lee, Je-won Jung
  • Patent number: 9037073
    Abstract: A bypass feeder, which is included in an image forming apparatus, includes an opening/closing unit opening and closing with respect to an apparatus body between a unit closed state and a unit open state, a bypass tray opening and closing with respect to the opening/closing unit between a tray closed state and a tray open state, a linkage including a flexible-member fixing member and connecting the opening/closing unit to the apparatus body, and a flexible member having one end fixed to the fixing member and the other end fixed to the bypass tray. When the opening/closing unit is changed to the unit open state while the bypass tray is rotated away from the opening/closing unit to the tray open state, the fixing member of the linkage shifts by pulling the flexible member to hold the bypass tray at a substantially horizontal line with respect to a sheet loading surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Jumpei Aoyama
  • Patent number: 8991811
    Abstract: An image recording device having a first housing, a second housing, and a support tray adjacent to a first side of the second housing and a first side of the first housing. The support tray is pivotably connected to the first housing and is movable between a third state and a fourth state and a retainer portion connecting the support tray to the second housing in a first state and a second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shota Iljima
  • Patent number: 8989620
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a chassis having a first opening on a first side, photosensitive members, an intermediate transfer belt arranged to have a surface thereof facing the photosensitive members, primary-transfer members, a secondary-transfer roller, a first feed roller, a cleaner device, a waste toner container, which is removably installed in the chassis through the first opening and settled in a position opposite from the photosensitive members across the intermediate transfer belt, a connector, a first feeding path extending in a range between the first feed roller and the secondary-transfer roller, and a second feeding path being formed in clearance between the intermediate transfer belt and the waste toner container to convey a recording sheet being inserted through a sheet inlet and merging into the first feeding path in the vicinity of the first feed roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirotaka Mori, Hiroshi Nakano, Noboru Suzuki, Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 8971732
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a storage unit to store sheets fed to an image forming unit, a sheet guide disposed above the storage unit and to form a sheet conveyance path, on which a sheet is conveyed, a detection unit disposed above the sheet guide and including a light emitting portion to emit light and a light receiving portion to receive light, a light passage portion disposed in the sheet guide, through which light emitted from the light emitting portion in the detection unit passes, a reflection portion disposed below the storage unit and to reflect towards the light receiving portion, light emitted from the light emitting portion and having passed through the light passage portion, and a control unit to determine, based on light received by the light receiving portion, whether there is a sheet in the sheet conveyance path and whether there is a sheet stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenji Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8941849
    Abstract: A sheet positioning device includes a sheet setting plate, first and second regulating members disposed facing each other to move in an orthogonal direction to a sheet conveyance direction to regulate positions of two facing ends of the sheet on the plate by contacting these ends, a driving mechanism to move the first regulating member in the orthogonal direction, first and second contact detectors mounted on the first and second regulating members to detect contact of the two facing ends, and a controller to stop the driving mechanism based on detection results obtained by the first and second contact detectors. The first and second regulating members are used to adjust a position of the sheet to a predetermined position. Respective contact surfaces of the first and second contact detectors with the sheet extend over an entire maximum loadable range in a sheet setting direction on the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Rie Ohtsuka, Satoshi Araaki, Jumpei Aoyama, Yosuke Eguchi
  • Patent number: 8903301
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit; a first conveying path, along which a recording medium accommodated in a paper feeding cassette is conveyed to the image forming unit; and a second conveying path, along which a recording medium inserted into a manual paper feeding port is conveyed to the image forming unit; wherein the manual paper feeding port is formed at a front side of the image forming apparatus on an upper surface of an apparatus main body and wherein an inclined path obliquely extending from the manual paper feeding port to below and toward a rear of the apparatus main body is also formed, wherein the second conveying path is structured so that a recording medium inserted into the manual paper feeding port can fall into the inclined path due to the weight of the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Makoto Hattori
  • 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: 8824952
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, comprising a case that accommodates an image forming unit; a sheet cassette that is capable of moving relative to the case; and a cover disposed above the sheet cassette, wherein the cover covers a side of the case in which the sheet cassette is removably set in the case, the cover is capable of opening and closing, and a slot, through which a sheet is capable of being inserted, is formed between the cover and the sheet cassette with a lower end of the cover defining an upper end of the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Soichiro Nishimura
  • 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: 8770572
    Abstract: In a conveying apparatus, a support member supports a second guide member such that the second guide member is pivotable between a first position and a second position, a downstream-side edge of the second guide member in a sheet conveying direction being closer to a first guide member than to a fourth guide member when the second guide member is in a first position, the downstream-side edge of the second guide member being closer to the fourth guide member than to the first guide member when the second guide member is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuta Uchino
  • Publication number: 20140186083
    Abstract: A cover opening and closing unit includes a cover installed to be opened from and close a main body and a manual paper feed tray that is rotatably installed on the cover. The cover is connected to the main body by a link element and a connection link is connected to the link element and the manual paper feed tray so that, when the cover is opened from the main body when the manual paper feed tray is in an opened state with respect to the cover, an open angle of the manual paper feed tray with respect to a vertical direction is maintained within 90 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-wuk LEE, Je-won Jung
  • Patent number: 8718533
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a cover member attached to and detached from a main body in a sliding manner, and achieves power transmission from the main body to driving elements of the cover member through an electronic clutch, thereby simplifying a power transmission structure and improving reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyung Won Yoon
  • Patent number: 8712312
    Abstract: A cover opening and closing unit includes a cover installed to be opened from and close a main body and a manual paper feed tray that is rotatably installed on the cover. The cover is connected to the main body by a link element and a connection link is connected to the link element and the manual paper feed tray so that, when the cover is opened from the main body when the manual paper feed tray is in an opened state with respect to the cover, an open angle of the manual paper feed tray with respect to a vertical direction is maintained within 90 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-wuk Lee, Je-won Jung
  • Patent number: 8655255
    Abstract: A sheet conveyer device is provided. The sheet conveyer device includes a sheet tray, a feeder roller, a separator roller, a roller holder to rotatably support the feeder roller and to be coupled with the separator roller, spreading from a separator roller side toward a feeder roller side, to be movable between a first position and a second position, a manipulation arm configured to be coupled to the roller holder and to manipulate the roller holder to move between the first position and the second position, and a driving unit to drive the manipulation arm to move the roller holder. The manipulation arm is coupled to the roller holder at a coupled section, which is in a position between the feeder roller and the separator roller and in a position between two tangent planes which are common to the feed roller and the separator roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 8611806
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an endless belt operating as an intermediate image transfer member. A plurality of process cartridges is juxtaposed along the endless belt. Each process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum confronting the endless belt and a developing agent carrying member disposed in confronting relation with the photosensitive drum for supplying toner to the photosensitive drum. A first conveying member is provided in each process cartridge. A second conveying member is provided in the housing, and the first conveying member conveys a recording sheet in cooperation with the second conveying member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masashi Imai
  • Patent number: 8585038
    Abstract: In an image-forming device the first sensor detects a recording sheet manually inserted from a manual sheet insertion opening. The sheet-skew correction roller is provided downstream side of the first sensor in the conveying direction. The controller is configured to control the sheet-skew correction roller to begin rotating if a stopping time has elapsed from a moment when the first sensor detects the recording sheet. The stopping time is initially set to a first stopping time. The controller is configured to function as a determining unit and a changing unit. The determining unit is configured to determine whether the recording sheet is properly conveyed. The changing unit is configured to change the stopping time to a second stopping time from the first stopping time if the determining unit determines that the recording sheet is not properly conveyed, the second stopping time being longer than the first stopping time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tetsuya Okano
  • 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: 8565663
    Abstract: A conveying apparatus has a conveying apparatus main body; and a feeding device including a placement portion that a conveyed material is placed on and a feeding portion that feeds the conveyed material into the conveying apparatus main body, the feeding device being movable between a feedable position and a stored position; and the placement portion and the feeding portion moving relatively to each other between the feedable position and the stored position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Naito, Hiroyuki Tanaka, Hiroyuki Suzuki, Osamu Uto
  • Patent number: 8554124
    Abstract: A printing medium feeding apparatus includes a feeding part which feeds a printing medium, and a printing medium aligning roller part which aligns a leading edge of the printing medium fed from the feeding part and transfers the aligned printing medium to an image forming part which forms an image on the printing medium, wherein the printing medium aligning roller part comprises a pair of rollers which transfer the printing medium to the image forming part, and an aligning shutter which is rotationally coupled to at least one of the pair of rollers, which rotates when the leading edge of the printing medium contacts the aligning shutter with a pressure greater than a reference pressure in a reference direction and guides the leading edge of the printing medium fed from the feeding part toward the reference direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-soo Lee, Hoon Kang
  • Patent number: 8543051
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming part; a paper dust collecting roller that collects paper dust from a sheet; a conveying roller that is opposed to the paper dust collecting roller and conveys the sheet; a paper dust removing member that contacts the paper dust collecting roller for removing the paper dust therefrom; a supporting member that extends in a width direction of the sheet; a swing shaft for swinging the supporting member; and a pressing member that presses the supporting member for contacting the paper dust removing member with the paper dust collecting roller. The supporting member includes: a guiding surface that contacts the sheet conveyed along the conveying path for guiding the sheet toward the image forming part along the conveying path; and a paper dust receiving part which receives the paper dust removed by the paper dust removing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasunori Akatsuka, Akira Terao
  • Patent number: 8526840
    Abstract: When a manual feed tray detector detects that a manual feed tray has been set to a feeding position before any one of workflow images displayed on a workflow screen is pressed by a user, a display controller causes a sheet storage location reception screen to be displayed in an interrupting manner between respective reception screens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Narihiko Suese
  • Patent number: 8517617
    Abstract: A printer is provided that includes a double-side feeding path on which a first sheet is conveyed in a double-side printing operation, a manual feeding path on which a manually-fed second sheet is conveyed to a junction where the manual feeding path joins the double-side feeding path, a detector detecting the second sheet fed via the manual feeding path, and a controller configured to continue the double-side printing operation when the detector detects the second sheet during a continued-execution period, during which feeding of the second sheet is unlikely to have an influence on feeding of the first sheet even though the second sheet is fed via the manual feeding path in execution of the double-side printing operation. When the detector detects the second sheet outside the continued-execution period, the controller stops the double-side printing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoki Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 8515329
    Abstract: A sheet is placed on a sheet feed unit. A main-scanning sensor detects first detection information for identifying a sheet size in a main-scanning direction and a sub-scanning sensor detects second detection information for identifying a sheet size in a sub-scanning direction. A sheet sensor detects presence of the sheet on the sheet feed unit. It is monitored whether the sheet sensor has detected a sheet and a timer starts counting a first elapsed time from a time point at which the sheet sensor detects a sheet. A size identifying unit identifies, when the first elapsed time exceeds a first predetermined set time, a sheet size based on the first and the second detection information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Kiichirou Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8452223
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including: an image bearing member bearing a toner image formed by an image forming portion; a transfer part transferring the toner image formed on the image bearing member onto a sheet; a separation/feeding part separating sheets stacked on a sheet stacking member and feeding the sheet while nipping the sheet; and a transport part transporting the sheet fed by the separation/feeding part to the transfer part, in which a transporting operation of the transport part is changed according to a length of the sheet to be transported in a transport direction of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tadashi Iwakawa
  • Patent number: 8446651
    Abstract: An image reading device includes a light source, an imaging unit that captures an image of an original using light from the light source, a conveying unit that conveys the original to the imaging unit, a casing that accommodates at least the imaging unit and the conveying unit, the casing having an insertion slot for feeding the original to the conveying unit, a determination unit that determines whether or not the image reading device is in a conveyable state in which the conveying unit is enabled to convey the original toward the imaging unit, and a notification unit that visually indicates whether or not the image reading device is in an insertion-enabled state enabling the original to be inserted through the insertion slot to the conveying unit based on determination made by the determination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventor: Mikio Murosaki
  • Patent number: 8401456
    Abstract: A medium holding apparatus detachably is attached to a medium feeding section of an image forming apparatus. A supporting section supports the medium thereon. A side guide is mounted to the supporting section. The side guide extends in a direction parallel to a first direction in which the medium is advanced to the medium feeding section, and is movable in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The side guide abuts the side edge of the medium to guide the medium toward the medium feeding section. A guide unit is mounted to the supporting section, and holds the medium in a gently curved position. When the medium is fed to the image forming apparatus, the guide unit guides the medium to the supporting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Hiromi Kano
  • Patent number: 8385771
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a chassis having a first opening on a first side, photosensitive members, an intermediate transfer belt arranged to have a surface thereof facing the photosensitive members, primary-transfer members, a secondary-transfer roller, a first feed roller, a cleaner device, a waste toner container, which is removably installed in the chassis through the first opening and settled in a position opposite from the photosensitive members across the intermediate transfer belt, a connector, a first feeding path extending in a range between the first feed roller and the secondary-transfer roller, and a second feeding path being formed in clearance between the intermediate transfer belt and the waste toner container to convey a recording sheet being inserted through a sheet inlet and merging into the first feeding path in the vicinity of the first feed roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirotaka Mori, Hiroshi Nakano, Noboru Suzuki, Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 8342504
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus (100) is equipped with a left-side cover (2), manual supply tray (10b), a carry guide (31) and a lift plate (33), and these are rotatably supported by a third shaft (35). The apparatus is reduced in size and a protrusion length L of the lift plate (33) is enlarged. The change in inclination angle of the lift plate (33) is reduced and a paper-sheet supply characteristic, even when the amount of paper sheets placed on the manual supply tray (10b) changes, is stabilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Kiyonori Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8333373
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a housing including a sheet feed opening for feeding a recording sheet to the image forming unit, a tray which accommodates a recording sheet, and a feed member which rotates while pressing a recording sheet fed through the sheet feed opening to apply a transport force to the recording sheet. Also, the image forming apparatus may include a friction member provided to oppose the feed member, and contact the recording sheet from a side opposite to the feed member to apply a transport resistance to the recording sheet, a resin support frame which supports the friction member, and a metal transport chute which includes a guide part provided to contact the recording sheet fed from the tray to guide the recording sheet toward the image forming unit, the transport chute being formed integrally with the support frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Okuchi, Yoshikazu Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8320815
    Abstract: An image forming device includes a plurality of medium feed units configured to feed a recording medium on respective carrying routes, an image forming unit configured to form an image on the recording medium fed from one of the plurality of medium feed units, a first roller provided on a common route of the carrying routes, the first roller being configured to rotate at a first circumferential velocity and carry, to the image forming unit, the recording medium fed from one of the plurality of medium feed units, and a control unit configured to control the first circumferential velocity of the first roller depending on from which of the plurality of medium feed units the recording medium is fed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Yano, Sachiko Yano
  • Patent number: 8320813
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a paper feeding device that supplies paper; a reception unit that receives a print instruction including output control information in which a paper type is designated by page; a setting unit that sets a priority in paper change by paper type based on the output control information included in the print instruction received by the reception unit; an instruction unit that issues a paper change instruction based on the priority set by the setting unit; and a printing device that performs printing on paper of a type designated by the instruction unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaya Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 8254824
    Abstract: A recording medium conveying device includes a first conveying unit that feeds a recording medium from a recording medium storage section to a registration roller, the recording medium storage section being located in a main body of an image forming apparatus; and a second conveying unit that feeds a recording medium from a bypass tray to the registration roller. A conveying roller of the first conveying unit and a conveying roller of the second conveying unit are driven by a driving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Naoki Mizutani
  • Patent number: 8238766
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit; a transport roller transporting the sheet to the image forming unit; a stacking unit stacking a sheet; a manual feed path extending from a manual feed slot to the transport roller; a feed path extending from the stacking unit to the transport roller; a feed unit transporting the sheet of the stacking unit to the transport roller through the feed path; a first detection unit detecting a sheet inserted into the manual feed path from the manual feed slot; and a control unit, when the first detection unit detects the sheet inserted from the manual feed slot while an operation to feed the sheet of the stacking unit to the image forming unit by the feed unit and the transport roller, and an image forming operation by the image forming unit are executed, aborting the image forming operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tetsuya Okano
  • Patent number: 8131201
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a paper feeding cassette that selectively stores at least first and second kinds of paper sheets having different sizes with respect to a paper feeding direction. Heights of the paper sheets storable in the paper feeding cassette are set in such a manner that the height of the second paper sheets is lower than the height of the first paper sheets. The apparatus also has a paper feeding tray and a structural member that has a mechanism for feeding third paper sheets loaded on the paper feeding tray. The structural member is disposed in a space of the cassette defined by a difference in the heights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Takatoyo Kitamura, Chisato Hatakeyama
  • Patent number: 8096545
    Abstract: A sheet-feeding scanning apparatus having a business card feeding mechanism is provided. The sheet-feeding scanning apparatus includes a scanning module, an ordinary document input tray, an ordinary document pick-up roller assembly, a transfer channel, a plurality of transfer rollers, an ejecting tray, an ejecting roller assembly, a business card input tray, and a business card pick-up roller assembly. The business card input tray includes a business card support plate, a spring, a separation slice and a position-limiting glide slot. The business card pick-up roller assembly includes a business card pick-up roller, a business card separation roller and a shaft rod. The shaft rod is sheathed by the business card separation roller. The sheet-feeding scanning apparatus is adapted for scanning images of multiple ordinary documents or multiple business cards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Primax Electronics Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung-Kai Wang, Wei-Hsun Hsu, Wen-An Huang, Chao-Min Yang
  • Patent number: 8087658
    Abstract: A multifunction peripheral includes a main body, a jam access cover, and a manual paper feeding tray. The jam access cover can expose the interior of the main body by being rotated. The manual paper feeding tray is attached to the jam access cover so as to be rotatable with a tray rotation shaft at a position that is different from a jam access cover rotation shaft as a center. A projection is arranged on the manual paper feeding tray so as to contact with a recess on the main body side to regulate the rotation of the manual paper feeding tray when the jam access cover is opened. The manual paper feeding tray includes a distal end that is located a higher position than the jam access cover rotation shaft when the projection contacts with the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Murata Machinery, Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryohei Ohtsuki
  • Publication number: 20110311252
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment includes: an image carrier; a transfer device which transfers a toner image formed on the image carrier onto a recording medium; a resistance measuring device which causes a current to flow through the recording medium before transferring the toner image and measures the resistance of the recording medium; and a setting unit which sets a condition of the transfer on the basis of the measurement result of the resistance of the recording medium. The resistance measuring device includes an electric shock prevention member which prevents the current from flowing to a user through the recording medium during the measurement of the resistance of the recording medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicants: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Mitsutoshi Watanabe, Masato Ogasawara
  • Patent number: 8019269
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a case comprising an opening for feeding a recording sheet into an interior of the case; a cover comprising an actuator unit, the cover capable of being moved between a closed state in which the cover closes the opening, and an open state in which the cover is displaced forward in a conveying direction of the recording sheet so as to open the opening to the interior of the case, and the actuator unit indicating a displacement of the cover; and a detection unit which detects whether the cover is in the open state or the closed state based on the displacement of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masamitsu Ukai
  • Patent number: 7986911
    Abstract: The present application is directed to image forming devices with option trays to introduce media into a media path. One embodiment include the image forming device having a body with a front, back, top, and bottom sides. The sides may form an interior space to contain an imaging unit. The imaging unit may include elements for producing toner images. A media path may extend in a substantially vertical orientation within the interior space. An integrated tray may be positioned at the bottom side of the body and include a first input tray and a manual feed inlet on the front side of the body. Each of first input tray and manual feed inlet form sections of the media path. An option tray may be operatively connected to the bottom side of the body, and may include a second input tray and a multi-purpose feeder. The option tray further lengthens the media path and provides additional avenues to introduce media sheets into the media path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Franklin Joseph Palumbo, Paul Douglas Horrall, Luis Banguis Jimenez
  • Patent number: 7938392
    Abstract: A method of controlling medium feeding in an image forming apparatus includes an image forming step of forming an image on a medium in response to an image forming request, and a feed control step of selecting one of a plurality of first medium feed units that feeds a medium corresponding to attribute information that matches medium attribute information included in the image forming request, and of selecting a second medium feed unit upon finding matching between attribute information indicative of a medium fed by the second medium feed unit and the medium attribute information included in the image forming request if none of the first medium feed units feeds a medium corresponding to the attribute information that matches the medium attribute information included in the image forming request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuka Saito, Yutaka Matsumoto, Nobuhiro Shindo, Daisuke Masui
  • Patent number: 7890018
    Abstract: An image forming device includes a body having a top, a bottom, a front and a back. In one embodiment, a plurality of horizontally-aligned imaging units, each comprising a photoconductive member, transfer toner images to an intermediate transfer mechanism located below the plurality of imaging units. A pick mechanism may pick media sheets from a media input tray and feeds the media towards the front of the body. For duplex printing, the media sheets may travel along a duplex path that extends along the front of the body. In one embodiment, an access door at the front of the body pivots between a closed position and an open position. In the open position, a user may gain access to both media paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Franklin Joseph Palumbo, Darin M. Gettelfinger, Paul Douglas Horrall, Reginald Keith Bethel, David Anthony Schneider
  • Patent number: 7866655
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body provided with an opening, an image forming unit attachable to and detachable from the apparatus main body via the opening, a cover supported pivotally on the apparatus main body so as to cover the opening, and a sheet feeding unit disposed below the opening. The sheet feeding unit includes a sheet storing portion that is supported pivotally on the apparatus main body for stacking sheets thereon, a sheet feeding roller that feeds a sheet toward inside the apparatus main body, and a housing that supports the sheet feeding roller thereon in a rotatable manner. The cover has a housing supporting portion that abuts on the housing from above the housing when the cover is in a closed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Masakazu Uehara
  • Patent number: 7831192
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a first and a second sheet feeding sections for accommodating sheets before printing in a stacked manner; a first sheet conveying section including first conveying members and adapted to convey a sheet received from the first sheet feeding section; a second sheet conveying section including second conveying members and adapted to convey a sheet received from the second sheet feeding section; a plurality of image forming units each including driven members and adapted to form toner images of different colors; a first driving source for driving the first conveying members; and a second driving source for driving the second conveying members. Some of the driven members are driven by the first driving source and others are driven by the second driving source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Omura, Yoshihiro Andou
  • Patent number: 7806397
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sheet-feeding scanning apparatus having a business card feeding mechanism. The sheet-feeding scanning apparatus is adapted for scanning an image of an ordinary document or a business card. The sheet-feeding scanning apparatus includes a scanning module, an ordinary document input tray, an ordinary document pick-up roller assembly, an ejecting tray, a first channel, a second channel, a transfer roller assembly, a business card input tray and a business card pick-up roller assembly. The business card feeding mechanism can provide a relatively flat feeding and scanning channel for the business card such that the bending degree of the business card during transportation is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Primax Electronics Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung-Kai Wang, Chao-Min Yang, Wen-An Huang, Wei-Hsun Hsu