Copy Medium Input Tray Patents (Class 399/393)
  • Patent number: 11940754
    Abstract: A container member includes a container body that contains a recording medium and that tilts with respect to a horizontal direction such that a leading edge of the contained recording medium is higher than a trailing edge, a trailing edge restriction portion that comes into contact with the trailing edge of the recording medium that is contained in the container body in a front-rear direction of the recording medium and that restricts a position of the trailing edge of the recording medium, and a restriction portion that restricts movement of the trailing edge in a thickness direction of the recording medium that is contained in the container body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Shinya Hasegawa, Kota Tomioka, Hiroyuki Tanaka, Yoichi Yamakawa
  • Patent number: 11774904
    Abstract: A cassette drawing-in device includes a guide portion to guide a pin protruding from a paper feed cassette, a first member in which the guide portion is formed, a second member facing the first member, a first rotation shaft, a first link rotationally supported by the first rotation shaft, a second rotation shaft provided on the first link, a second link rotationally supported by the second rotation shaft and including an engagement groove which engages the pin and slides on the pin in a direction intersecting the moving direction of the pin, and a protruding portion on one or both of the first member and the second member within a range of movement of the second link that accompanies the rotation of the first link about the first rotation shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mikio Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11724898
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image processing device includes a cassette main body, a device main body, a handle, and a pressing member. The cassette main body contains a sheet. The device main body stores the cassette main body retractably in a first direction. The handle is displaceably supported by the cassette main body. The pressing member is supported by the cassette main body. The pressing member presses the device main body in a second direction opposite to the first direction in conjunction with displacement of the handle with respect to the cassette main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Mikio Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11618643
    Abstract: A sheet storage apparatus includes a sheet housing portion, a handle for drawing the sheet housing portion, and a cover member. The sheet housing portion is drawably disposed in the apparatus main body and configured to house a sheet. The cover member is mounted to an end portion of the sheet housing portion in a drawing direction and having, in a portion facing the handle, a recess toward a sheet housing portion. A contact portion configured to come into contact with the sheet housing portion is disposed at a position corresponding to a portion in which the recess is formed, on a facing surface of the cover member, the facing surface facing the sheet housing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Junpei Kamichi
  • Patent number: 11614709
    Abstract: An accommodating device includes a device body, an accommodating unit that accommodates a medium in the device body, and an expanding and contracting member that expands and contracts to connect the accommodating unit to the device body so as to be pulled out and has a part fixed to the accommodating unit on an inner side with respect to a side surface of the accommodating unit in an intersecting direction with a pulling direction of the accommodating unit and on a lower side of the accommodating unit in a vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Kota Tomioka, Hiroyuki Tanaka, Yoichi Yamakawa, Shinya Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 11480915
    Abstract: In accordance with aspects of the disclosed subject matter, an image forming apparatus can include a main body housing having a space inside. The main body housing can include a front wall having an opening, and a rear wall, the front wall and the rear wall defining a space therebetween. A drum cartridge can include a photosensitive drum, and a developing cartridge can include a developing roller. A drawer can be provided for supporting the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge, the drawer being movable between an inner position where the drawer is accommodated inside the space and an outer position where at least a part of the drawer is drawn out of the space through the opening. A transfer roller can be located nearer to the rear wall than the developing roller locates when the drawer supporting the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge is at the inner position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 11377315
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, the image processing apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a sheet feed cassette, a pull-in member, and a biasing member. The sheet feed cassette is provided to be insertable into the apparatus main body. The pull-in member pushes the sheet feed cassette from a pull-in start position to a pull-in complete position to pull in the sheet feed cassette to the apparatus main body. The biasing member biases the pull-in member in the insertion direction. The biasing force of the biasing member in the state where the pull-in member is at a first position closer to the pull-in complete position than the pull-in start position is larger than the biasing force of the biasing member in the state where the pull-in member is at a second position closer to the pull-in start position than the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Katsuya Oshida
  • Patent number: 11209770
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a housing including a resin frame. The resin frame is divided in a sheet feeding direction to include a conveyance frame, a process frame and a fixation frame. Moreover, the image forming apparatus comprises a driving unit and a drive frame. The driving unit is attachably and detachably provided in the drive frame, and applies a rotational driving force to rotating bodies. The drive frame is positioned with respect to the conveyance frame or the process frame, supports the rotating bodies, and has an attaching portion for the driving unit. Moreover, the drive frame is attached to one surface of the resin frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shohtaroh Okamoto, Masafumi Sakamoto, Shinichi Takeda, Noriaki Taguchi, Hideaki Kadowaki
  • Patent number: 10703116
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a medium storage cassette which includes a medium storage region and is capable of being inserted and removed with respect to an apparatus main body, in which the medium storage cassette includes a main cassette unit and a sub-cassette unit which is capable of switching between a first state and a second state which is displaced more in the removal direction than in the first state to expand the medium storage region, and in which the apparatus main body includes a cover which is provided to be capable of being displaced between a position corresponding to the first state of the sub-cassette unit and a position corresponding to the second state and which covers a top portion of the medium storage region on the removal direction side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Otsuka, Satoshi Nakata, Katsumi Yamada, Manato Nishi, Kenichi Furuya
  • Patent number: 10668756
    Abstract: A printer includes a body, a cover, a long hole formed in one of the body and the cover, a first shaft provided on another one of the body and the cover and disposed to pass through the long hole, a groove formed in the one of the body and the cover, and a second shaft provided on the other one of the body and the cover and disposed to pass through the groove. The cover is attached to the body so as to be rotatable around the first shaft, the groove extends parallel to the longitudinal direction of the long hole, the cover is slidable relative to the body while the second shaft is in the groove, and the cover is rotatable around the first shaft when the second shaft is out of the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: FUJITSU COMPONENT LIMITED
    Inventors: Tetsuhiro Ishikawa, Masahiro Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 9599948
    Abstract: An image forming device includes: a main casing; a retaining unit; a feed tray; and a pickup roller. The retaining unit retains a plurality of photosensitive drums juxtaposedly arrayed and spaced away from each other in an array direction. The retaining unit is movable in the array direction between a mounted position in which the retaining unit is mounted in the main casing and a pulled-out position in which the retaining unit is pulled out of the main casing. The feed tray is configured to accommodate a first transferred medium. The pickup roller is configured to pick up the first transferred medium accommodated in the feed tray. The pickup roller is arranged to overlap with the retaining unit in the array direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 9501028
    Abstract: A unit moving apparatus includes a unit provided to a main body in such a manner so as to be attached to and pulled out from the main body, a main-body guide portion provided to the main body and configured to guide the unit while restricting rotation of the unit at a time of attaching and pulling out the unit, a pull-in unit configured to apply a pulling force to the unit to pull the unit into the main body, and a unit restriction portion configured to restrict rotation of the unit in such a manner that the units rotates within an angle smaller than an angle to which the main-body guide portion restricts the unit's rotation when a rotation moment is generated by the pulling force of the pull-in unit applied to the unit and a load applied to the unit in a direction opposite to an attachment direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Fumihiko Hayayumi
  • Patent number: 9162837
    Abstract: The first remaining amount holding unit stores the remaining amount of sheet detected by the remaining amount detection unit before a sheet adding operation to the sheet stacking surface. The second remaining amount holding unit stores the remaining amount of sheet detected by the remaining amount detection unit after the sheet adding operation to the sheet stacking surface. The determination unit determines a sheet adding position based on the respective remaining amount of sheet stored in the first remaining amount holding unit and the second remaining amount holding unit. The feeding speed control unit changes a sheet feeding speed of the pickup roller based on the sheet adding position determined by the determination unit and the sheet remaining amount detected by the remaining amount detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Tsukasa Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 9126784
    Abstract: A paper feeding device includes a pressing member, a restricting mechanism, and an interlocking mechanism. The pressing member is movable up and down between a pressing position and a release position. The pressing position causes a pressure to a paper sheet against the feed roller. The release position causes a release of the pressure. The restricting mechanism is movable between a restricting position and a removal position. The restricting position causes a restriction on moving up of the pressing member to the pressing position. The removal position causes a removal of the restriction. The interlocking mechanism is configured to move the restricting mechanism to the removal position in interlock with rotation of the feed roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kohji Aoki, Haruhisa Furumoto
  • Patent number: 9042804
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus which includes a main body, an image forming unit to form an image on a printing medium, a plate to open and close a first side of the main body; a pickup unit which includes a driven gear to rotate in forward and backward directions, a pickup roller to receive a driving force from the driven gear to pick up the printing medium disposed on the plate, and a support frame to rotatably support the pickup roller and to interlock with the forward and backward rotations of the driven gear to move toward and away from the plate, a driving source to drive the image forming unit and the driven gear, and a blocking gear disposed between the driven gear and the driving source, to prevent the support frame, spaced apart from the plate, from moving toward the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hyun-ho Kim
  • Patent number: 9026030
    Abstract: A low cost, low complexity method and apparatus for improved productivity and reducing operator induced shut-downs when feeding multiple jobs of different media type, but the same size, from a single sheet tray includes providing media identification divider sheets that contain patterns of either simple bars or punched holes with the divider sheets loaded into the sheet supply tray on top of their corresponding sheet stack except the first one; providing a digital sensor that reads each media identification divider sheet pattern; and feeding media for the first job. When the first job is complete, remaining sheets for that job can be fed (optionally at high speed) to a purge tray. Media divider sheets for each successive job after the first job are sent to the purge tray for reuse later.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph S Vetromile, Kenneth P Moore
  • Patent number: 9026031
    Abstract: The bottom surface of a paper cassette that supports recording paper is configured of a first bottom surface and a second bottom surface. The second bottom surface is formed of a swing member having a fulcrum at the downstream side in the paper feeding direction and being capable of swinging about the fulcrum with the upstream side in the paper feeding direction serving as a free end, thereby providing a structure in which an angle formed by the second bottom surface and a separation slope increases when the second bottom surface is caused to sink downward by a swing of the swing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kohei Ueno, Yoshikane Tsuchihashi
  • Publication number: 20150104232
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus which includes: a containing portion configured to contain a sheet on which an image is to be formed; a pair of guide rails facing in an up-down direction, the guide rails guiding a slide movement of the containing portion; an engaging portion provided in the guide portion that is guided by the guide rails; a first stopper which abuts the engaging portion so as to regulate removal of the containing portion from an apparatus main body; and a second stopper, wherein the first stopper is movable in a sliding direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventor: Fumihiko Hayayumi
  • Patent number: 9008565
    Abstract: A recording medium storage cassette includes a recording medium loading plate and a rear end cursor. The rear end cursor aligns rear end positions of recording media. The rear end cursor includes a cursor main body portion, an abutting portion that abuts rear ends of the recording media, a lock portion having a protrusion for engaging with a rack, and a biasing member disposed between the abutting portion and the lock portion so as to bias the abutting portion and the lock portion in a direction away from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Susumu Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 8977184
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a conveyance path configured to guide a recording sheet conveyed from a sheet placement portion, passing through a sheet feeder unit, a nip portion between a photoconductor and transfer member, a fixing device, and a sheet ejection unit in this order; and a re-conveyance path configured to guide the sheet conveyed from the fixing device to an upstream-side path which constitutes part of the conveyance path extending upstream from the photoconductor. The re-conveyance path branches off from the conveyance path at a position downstream from the fixing device and extends to pass through a space between the photoconductor and the exposure device. The re-conveyance path includes a switchback mechanism configured to reverse a traveling direction of a sheet conveyed along the re-conveyance path after passing through the space between the photoconductor and the exposure device and to convey the sheet toward the upstream-side path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tokuda, Tomonori Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8977185
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording sheet storage unit for storing recording sheets substantially in an upright position, an image forming unit which forms an image on a recording sheet conveyed from the recording sheet storage unit, and a recording sheet receiving unit for storing the recording sheet conveyed from the image forming unit substantially in an upright position. In this image forming apparatus, a paper conveyance passage extends upward from a lower portion of the recording sheet storage unit toward the recording sheet receiving unit. The image forming unit positioned on the paper conveyance passage comprises a fixing device and a developer unit at least including a developer carrier, and the fixing device is arranged above the developer unit. Further, a developer receptacle for storing developer that is supplied to the image forming unit is arranged adjacent to one longitudinal end of the developer carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Shigeharu Katayama, Mitsuko Hanai
  • Patent number: 8971729
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a sheet feeding portion which feeds a topmost sheet of sheets stacked on a sheet stacking portion and an image forming portion which forms an image to the sheet fed by the sheet feeding portion. The image forming apparatus also has a moisture-proof member set to a covering position so as to contact with and cover a topmost sheet of sheets stacked on the sheet stacking portion, a moisture-proof member detection portion which determines whether the moisture-proof member is available at the covering position, and a notification portion which notifies the presence or absence of the moisture-proof member at the covering position based on a detection result from the moisture-proof member detection portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuri Yoshimura
  • Publication number: 20150055973
    Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a recording medium storage unit in which a recording medium is stored, a pickup unit to pick up the recording medium stored in the recording medium storage unit, a pair of transport rollers being engaged with each other to rotate and transport the recording medium picked up by the pickup unit; an image forming unit to form an image on the recording medium transferred by the pair of transport rollers; and a frame including a first support region to support at least one of the pair of transport rollers, and a second support region to support at least a part of the image forming unit, wherein the frame further includes a vibration blocking slit that is disposed between the first and second support regions to block vibration from being transmitted from the first support region to the second support region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jung-hoon CHOI, Hwan-jin YOON, Seung-bok JUNG
  • Publication number: 20150050059
    Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus including a casing which includes one side wall extending in a vertical direction and has a first opening; and a discharge portion which receives a recording medium having a developer image formed thereon, and a cassette which accommodates recording media and is removably mounted to the casing. The casing further includes a tray which is disposed near the one side wall and receives a recording medium to be transported into the casing through the first opening. The tray is rotatable between a first position where the tray is bent so as to cover at least part of the one side wall and the discharge portion and a second position where the tray extends so as to be separated from the one side wall and receives a recording medium to be supplied into the casing through the first opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Keisuke Takahashi, Kazutoshi Kotama, Hikaru Yoshizumi
  • Publication number: 20150023710
    Abstract: A medium cassette is configured to be held and attached to a main body of an image forming apparatus so that the medium cassette slides in an insertion direction or a pullout direction relative to the image forming apparatus. The medium cassette includes a rear side guide for guiding a medium to be placed at a rear side in the pullout direction; a locking member disposed to be able to engage with a body of the medium cassette for regulating a position of the rear side guide relative to the body of the medium cassette; and a movement conversion member for converting a movement of the rear side guide generated by an impact when the medium cassette is attached to the body of the image forming apparatus to a movement of the locking member in a direction that the locking member engages with the body of the medium cassette.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventor: Hiroshi YUASA
  • Patent number: 8929799
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus having: a slit plate in which a plurality of slits of different widths are provided, the slit plate being movable in an amount proportional to an amount of movement of a elevating plate; a sensor unit disposed such that the slits pass between a luminous element and a light-sensitive element, the sensor unit outputting a detection signal that indicates whether light emitted by the luminous element is in a transmitted state or not; and a control unit that stores positions of the elevating plate corresponding to the widths of the slits, and identifies a position of the elevating plate corresponding to a slit width derived from a detection signal outputted by the sensor unit, thereby deriving a remaining quantity of sheets on the elevating plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventor: Shinya Naoi
  • Patent number: 8929798
    Abstract: A printer including a printer housing further including a cavity and a print media tray arranged to fit within the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jerrod H. Tyler, Kevin Lo, Raymond C. Sherman
  • Patent number: 8913946
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus that is orientatable in either a first position or a second position, the second position being different from the first position in inclination with respect to a horizontal plane, comprising: a platform configured to be stacked with a plurality of recording sheets used for image formation; a pickup roller in contact with the recording sheets and configured to pick up the recording sheets one at a time; a pressing member applying pressure to the platform against the pick-up roller; and a pressure changer causing the pressing member to change an amount of the pressure according to whether the image forming apparatus is in the first position or in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Shigeru Sawano, Masashi Kawai, Naoki Nonoyama
  • Patent number: 8913948
    Abstract: A printer accessory including a housing and a connector, the connector having a frame defining an opening in the housing, and including a contact housing and a door slideably disposed within the opening. Biasing elements bias the contact housing and door to extend from the opening, wherein the door is configured to be depressed into the housing through the opening to expose electrical contacts on the contact housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jerrod Houston Tyler, Kevin Lo, Jeffrey Castleberry, Alvaro Pardo
  • Patent number: 8894059
    Abstract: A sheet feeding device comprises a structure as an option, on which an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus having a lower face with a positioning depression is placed. The structure includes a mounting member, a reinforcement member and a positioning pin. The mounting member is located to face to a periphery of the lower face. The reinforcement member is located below the mounting member. The positioning pin includes an upper part having a guard part and a lower part. The pin penetrates the mounting member so that the upper part can fit in the positioning depression and the lower part can come into contact with the reinforcement member. When the apparatus main body is placed, the upper part fits in the positioning depression, the guard part comes into contact with an edge of the positioning depression and the lower part comes into contact with the reinforcement member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Takeshi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8886069
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body, a sheet stack unit, an endless intermediate transfer member, a first transfer member for transferring a toner image onto the sheets conveyed from the sheet stack unit, at a nip formed between the intermediate transfer member and the first transfer member, and a second transfer member. In addition, a first voltage applying device applies a voltage to the first transfer member, a second voltage applying device applies a voltage having an opposite polarity to the second transfer member, and a controller controls the first and second voltage applying devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuya Yanagi, Yasuhiro Fukase
  • Patent number: 8882377
    Abstract: Disclosed are a printing media holder and an image forming apparatus including the same. The printing media holder includes an printing media alignment unit capable of moving bidirectionally toward and away from the printing media loaded on the printing media holder, and includes a release mechanism that releases the printing media alignment unit, to allow the printing media alignment unit to move its position for aligning of print media of different sizes, in response to a force received thereto in any of the bidirectional directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sin-Ae Kim
  • Patent number: 8879101
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a main body and optional trays and a communication method between the main body. optional trays. The apparatus includes the main body having a main controller, at least one optional tray detachably set up in the main body and having a tray controller for communicating with the main controller to transmit and receive data, and communication lines forming a communication channel connecting the main controller and the tray controllers, for data exchange, and for informing the main controller that the data is provided from tray controllers to the main controller. Since the main body and the optional trays communicate through a single UART communication channel, the number of communication channels is decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Han-sang Oh
  • Patent number: 8864130
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a separator, an image reader for reading an image from a paper, a conveying module for conveying a paper separated by the separator to the image reader, a side wall provided at a side of a conveyance path of the paper, a sound signal generator, provided with a sound detector between the separator and the conveying module and near the side wall, for generating a sound signal corresponding to a sound generated by the paper during conveyance, and a control module for determining whether a jam has occurred based on the sound signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventors: Takayuki Umi, Masanobu Hongo
  • Patent number: 8843052
    Abstract: A slide rail includes an outer rail including a first rail board and a pair of rims projecting from the first rail board, forming first grooves, an inner rail inserted between the first grooves and including a second rail board narrower than the first rail board and a pair of rims projecting from the second rail board, forming second grooves, a large-diameter roller held between the first grooves and attached to a leading side of the second rail board in a direction in which the inner rail is inserted, and a small-diameter roller held between the second grooves and attached to a leading side of the first rail board in a direction in which the inner rail is drawn out. The first and second rail boards include protruding portions extending along the long side and protruding outward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiki Yokoyama, Yasutomo Ide, Yasuhiro Kuba, Tsuyoshi Hashiyada, Kouhei Okamoto
  • Patent number: 8843051
    Abstract: A medium containing cassette includes: a container case for containing media; a stack plate movable in the container case and configured to stack the media thereon; a separator provided on the container case and configured to separate the media one by one; and a bias member configured to bias the stack plate toward the media stacked on the stack plate. The bias member is disposed to have a greater distance from the stack plate than the separator, in a direction from the stack plate to the separator, on a plane substantially perpendicular to a bias direction of the bias member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Udagawa
  • Publication number: 20140241779
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a feed tray, an image forming unit including a photosensitive member, a registration mechanism including a registration roller pair and configured such that, after a leading edge of the sheet fed from the feed tray reaches the registration roller pair, the registration roller pair rotates to convey the sheet toward the photosensitive member along a conveying path, a switchback mechanism for switching back, along a re-conveying path, the sheet having an image formed thereon by the image forming unit, and a re-conveying roller for conveying the switched-back sheet toward the registration roller pair via a conjunction between the re-conveying path and the conveying path. The registration roller pair includes a registration driving roller and a registration pinch roller driven by the registration driving roller. The re-conveying roller in contact with the registration driving roller is driven by the registration driving roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasunori Akatsuka
  • Patent number: 8817277
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a recording medium conveying mechanism configured to convey a recording medium; a registration roller configured to correct the direction of the recording medium; a first sensor set upstream in a recording medium conveying direction of the registration roller; an image forming section configured to form an image on the conveyed recording medium; and a lateral shift correcting apparatus set downstream of the image forming section and configured to correct the position of the recording medium in an oblique direction by an angle corresponding to a lateral shift amount of the recording medium detected by the first sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshihiro Matsushima
  • Patent number: 8798517
    Abstract: A sheet supplying device that is incorporatable in an image forming apparatus includes a recording media container, a sheet feeding unit to feed a recording medium from the recording media container, and a frame to support the recording media container and the sheet feeding unit. The recording media container is detachably attachable to the frame in a first operation in which the recording media container is moved in a sheet conveyance direction in which the recording medium is conveyed upstream or downstream by the sheet feeding unit, and the recording media container is separated from the frame and the sheet feeding unit with the sheet feeding unit remaining in the frame, and a second operation in which the recording media container is moved in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction, and the recording media container is separated from the frame together with the sheet feeding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Matsuyama, Ippei Kimura, Ikuo Fujii, Takamitsu Ikematsu, Masafumi Takahira, Kaoru Tada, Tomoyoshi Yamazaki, Toru Hanashima, Chikara Hiraoka, Tamotsu Ikeda, Kazuyoshi Kondo
  • Patent number: 8787814
    Abstract: A sound insulation member is detachably attached to a bottom of a printer main body to shield a noise in the printer main body. The sound insulation member is detached from the printer main body when an option sheet feeding apparatus is added. When the sound insulation member is not detached from the printer main body in adding the option sheet feeding apparatus, the sound insulation member enters a recess that is provided on an upper surface of the option sheet feeding apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Watanabe, Takeji Horie, Shoji Ito
  • Patent number: 8781361
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body of the image forming apparatus; a developing cartridge that is detachably disposed in the main body and includes an image carrier; a charging roller that is disposed to face the image carrier in the developing cartridge and charges a surface of the image carrier; a charging roller separating unit that moves the charging roller between a first position in which the charging roller is in contact with the image carrier and a second position in which the charging roller is spaced apart from the image carrier; and a paper feeding cassette detachably disposed in the main body; wherein when the paper feeding cassette is first mounted, the charging roller is fixed in the second position by the charging roller separating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ho-jin Jang, Hyun-wook Bae, Seung-gweon Lee
  • Patent number: 8770577
    Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a sheet conveyance path provided in an apparatus main body and configured to convey a sheet, a jamming handling cover configured to be openable and closable and to expose the sheet conveyance path to an exterior by being opened, a unit configured to be able to be drawn out of the apparatus main body, a lever member provided in the sheet conveyance path and configured to rotate by contacting the sheet passing through the sheet conveyance path, and a stopper member configured to move to a restriction position to restrict the drawing-out of the unit, in conjunction with the rotation of the lever member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinichi Onodera
  • Patent number: 8770576
    Abstract: A sheet feed unit includes a medium container configured to contain sheet-like recording media; a bottom plate disposed in the medium container and configured to accommodate the recording media thereon; a sheet feed device configured to feed out the recording media contained in the medium container; a main body of the sheet feed unit, which the medium container can be inserted into and pulled out from, including the sheet feed device; and a displaying member configured to display a remaining level of the recording media in the medium container, the displaying member including a first display oriented in a first direction and a second display oriented in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The sheet feed unit improves a freeness in the observable range of the displaying member and the remaining level of the recording media in the medium container can be more accurately ascertained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ippei Kimura, Takamitsu Ikematsu, Kaoru Tada, Ikuo Fujii
  • Patent number: 8770578
    Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus restricts a position of an upstream end of a sheet by a restricting member supported rotatably to a restricting mechanism body. The restricting member moves between a hold position and a project position by interlocking with a rotating operation of an sheet supporting plate by engaging with an interlock member. An unlock mechanism unlocks the restricting mechanism body from a cassette body and also disengages the restricting member from the interlock member. When the restricting member is disengaged from the interlock member by the unlock mechanism, the restricting member is biased to the hold position by a bias portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shingo Yamamoto, Fumihiko Hayayumi
  • Patent number: 8768235
    Abstract: An image recording device is provided, having a recording unit configured to record an image on a sheet, and a tray disposed below the recording unit. The tray includes a sheet holding surface configured to hold the sheet. Additionally, the image recording device includes a sheet feeder disposed between the recording unit and the tray. The sheet feeder includes a roller for feeding the sheet from the tray. The roller is configured to move between a first roller position in which the roller contacts the sheet holding surface of the tray and a second roller position in which the roller is separated from the sheet holding surface. A return guide, disposed between the recording unit and the sheet feeder, defines a second conveying path to guide the sheet having an image recorded on one side thereof back to the feed guide. The return guide has a first opening configured to accommodate the roller of the sheet feeder when the roller is in the second roller position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuo Asada, Hirotaka Aoki, Satoru Nakakita, Shota Iijima, Kenji Samoto, Yuji Koga
  • Patent number: 8746681
    Abstract: A sheet feeder is provided that includes a housing, a feed tray having a loading surface, and a swingable opening cover including a sliding contact portion, extending in a direction perpendicular to a width direction of a sheet. The sliding contact portion is configured to slide in contact with a feed tray in a swing motion of the feed tray from a first position where the loading surface is directed downward above the housing to a second position where the loading surface is directed upward at an upstream side relative to the housing in a feeding direction. The sliding contact portion is disposed on at least one end of the opening cover in the width direction, and exposed to an outside of the sheet feeder when the feed tray is in the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masatsugu Mizuno, Kouji Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8725057
    Abstract: An image formation apparatus has a belt unit and a drawer casing configured to accommodate the plurality of process units. The drawer casing is movable in a horizontal direction so that it is insertable in and/or drawable from a main body of the image formation apparatus. An openable cover for an opening formed on an end face of the drawer casing is provided. The drawer casing is arranged above an imaginary plane including the bridging surface of an endless belt, while a sheet tray is arranged below the imaginary plane. A pair of rollers is arranged on the sheet tray side with respect to the movable path and configured to feed the sheet fed from the sheet tray to the belt unit. A first guide and a second guide, which is provided opposite to the first guide with a predetermined clearance therebetween, are provided to form a sheet feed path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hikaru Iino, Hiroyuki Okuchi, Masato Makino
  • Patent number: 8714852
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus, including a sheet-supply tray device which accommodates and holds a plurality of recording sheets and which supplies the recording sheets, one by one, in a sheet-supply direction; and an image recording device which records an image on each of the recording sheets supplied from the sheet-supply tray device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuo Asada, Yukio Shiohara
  • Patent number: 8718532
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including an image forming part which forms an image on a printing medium, a main feeding part which accommodates the printing medium and supplies the printing medium to the image forming part, and a reversing part which transfers the printing medium, on which an image is formed on a first surface thereof in the image forming part, to the main feeding part, wherein the main feeding part includes a feeding roller part which re-feeds the printing medium, having been transferred through the reversing part, to the image forming part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-soo Lee, Jae-yong Kim, Ki-hun Kim
  • Patent number: 8708335
    Abstract: A sheet conveyer device including a sheet container tray and a guide member to restrict a position of edges of the sheets is provided. The sheet container tray includes a first engagement section. The guide member includes an arm part and a first engageable part being engageable with the first engagement section. One of the first engagement section and the first engageable part is formed to have a concave structure, and the other one of the first engagement section and the first engageable part is formed to have a convex structure. A first plane in the concave structure, which becomes slidably in contact with the convex structure when the guide member is moved in a pointing direction, is formed to incline in a more moderate angle than an angle of a second plane in the concave structure, which becomes separated from the convex structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasunori Akatsuka