Discharge Of Copy (e.g., Exit Tray) Patents (Class 399/405)
  • Publication number: 20100232857
    Abstract: An embodiment includes an image forming apparatus utilizing internal paper ejection. An embodiment may include a paper ejection tray disposed on the bottom of a paper ejection space. In some embodiments, the paper ejection tray may include a flat portion, a sloping portion, and/or a protruding portion. In an embodiment, the flat portion of the paper ejection tray may extend substantially horizontally by a predetermined distance downstream from a wall on the upstream side in a paper ejection direction. An embodiment may include a sloping portion that slopes upward downstream from the flat portion. In some embodiments, the protruding portion may slope upward from the flat portion to the front of the apparatus, the top of the protruding portion being higher than an operation panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: KYOCERA MITA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru Nakayama
  • Publication number: 20100232856
    Abstract: A discharge mechanism includes: a rotating shaft that is rotatable; a plurality of roll portions provided around the rotating shaft; an opposing member provided above the roll portions so as to oppose the roll portions, the opposing member holding and conveying a material to be conveyed, in cooperation with the roll portions so that the material to be conveyed is discharged onto a discharge section; and a protrusion formed on an outer periphery of the rotating shaft, the protrusion not protruding beyond the outer diameter of the roll portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventor: Yasuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7796930
    Abstract: A technique of preventing toner from adhering to a guide which guides a change of a conveying direction of a paper by the paper on which a toner image is formed contacting with the guide is provided. The technique includes: a concave guide, having a concave guide surface, which guides conveyance of a paper so as to change a conveyance direction of the conveyed paper; and a guiding roller provided in the vicinity of a position on the concave guide surface of the concave guide where a front edge of the paper conveyed toward the concave guide abuts so as to have a roller surface project from the concave guide surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshiya Inomata
  • Patent number: 7789388
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus according to the invention includes a first conveying path; a sheet reverse conveying portion; a second conveying path; a third conveying path; and a movable guide portion configured to guide the conveyed sheet. The guide portion is moved to a position where the sheet can pass when the sheet is guided from the first conveying path to the second conveying path, and the guide portion is moved to a position where the guide portion guides the sheet to the third conveying path while blocking between the first and second conveying paths such that the sheet can not intrude from the second conveying path into the first conveying path when the sheet conveyed by the sheet reverse conveying portion is conveyed in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideyuki Matsubara, Fumiki Inui, Kazuhide Kudo
  • Publication number: 20100221032
    Abstract: According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes, an image forming unit configured to fix a developer image on a sheet medium and output the sheet medium, and an output-image storing unit configured to store, on the inner side of a door involving a lock mechanism, the sheet medium on which the developer image is fixed by the image forming unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: HISAYA ISHIO, KEIICHIRO TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20100221031
    Abstract: According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes, an image forming unit configured to fix a developer image on a sheet medium and output the sheet medium, and an output-image storing unit configured to store, on the inner side of a door involving a lock mechanism, the sheet medium on which the developer image is fixed by the image forming unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: HISAYA ISHIO, KEIICHIRO TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20100196073
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus distributes and conveys sheets to plural storage trays. The apparatus includes a flapper configured to guide a sheet to each of the plural storage trays by changing an angle thereof, a conveying roller configured to discharge the sheet moved along the flapper to each of the storage trays, and a link member which is connected to the flapper and the conveying roller, and rotates to change the angle of the flapper and a position of the conveying roller with respect to the plural storage trays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroyuki TAKI
  • Patent number: 7764921
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image reader, an image forming unit, an output portion, and a notifying mechanism for notifying the operator of the apparatus. The image reader is configured to read an image on an original sheet to create image data. The image forming unit is configured to form a toner image on a sheet according to the image data. The output portion is disposed between the image reader and the image forming unit and includes a bin tray configured to receive the sheet having the toner image. The notifying mechanism includes a signal generator and a notifying member. The signal generator is configured to generate a signal when the sheet is output onto the bin tray. The notifying member is configured to notify that the sheet is output on the bin tray in accordance with the signal generated by the signal generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Horiguchi, Makoto Kurata
  • Patent number: 7764922
    Abstract: In a housing in which a printing unit is provided, a printed-paper storing unit that stores paper printed by the printing unit is provided to be removable to the outside. This printed-paper storing unit can be brought into a lock state in which removal to the outside of the housing is physically prevented by a fixing mechanism. When a print job sent from a user side designates internal storage of printed paper, the printed-paper storing unit is fixed in the housing by the fixing mechanism and locked. An unlock number of a number selected at random is notified to the user side to perform printing. After the printing is finished, the finish of the printing is notified to the user side and the lock state is released according to input of the unlock number to make it possible to remove printed paper to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuo Sasama
  • Publication number: 20100183352
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a plurality of process units each including a photoconductor drum are arranged in tandem; a plurality of exposure units configured to expose the photoconductor drum to light are each disposed above and opposite to the corresponding photoconductor drum; an output tray configured to receive an ejected recording sheet on which an image has been formed is disposed above the plurality of exposure units; and an image reader unit configured to read an image of a source document is disposed above the output tray with a predetermined space provided between the image reader unit and the output tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hidenori HISADA
  • Patent number: 7761047
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a discharge wall including a discharge port that discharges a sheet; a first roller; a second roller, the first roller and the second roller transferring the sheet toward the discharge port; a discharge tray including a stacking plate that receives the sheet discharged from the discharge port; and an uncurling device configured to be detachably mounted on the image forming apparatus, the uncurling device including: a curl correcting unit that corrects a curl of the sheet discharged from the discharge port by curving the sheet; and a pushing member including an elastic member, the pushing member pushing the second roller toward the first roller by an elastic force of the elastic members in a state where the uncurling device is mounted on the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junji Uehara, Junki Ueyama
  • Publication number: 20100178092
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body, an auxiliary discharging part disposed at one side of the main body, a cover unit to open and close the auxiliary discharging part and stack thereon paper discharged through the auxiliary discharging part, a guide member rotatably mounted to the cover unit to guide the paper when the paper is rotating, and a supporting device to support the guide member when the auxiliary discharging part is in an opened state. Since the supporting device supports the guide member when the auxiliary discharging part is in an opened state, paper being discharged through the auxiliary discharging part may be stably stacked on the cover unit, being prevented from interfering with the guide member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Won KIM, Jae Ho Lee
  • Publication number: 20100172679
    Abstract: A print-medium storing unit, a print-medium storing apparatus including the same, and an image forming apparatus including the same which are provided in a power transmission mechanism, print-medium storing apparatus which is installed on a discharge path of a print-medium in an image forming apparatus, includes a plurality of storing units which is arranged with multi-layers, and a controller which controls to drive a feeding unit of another storing unit arranged between the storing unit through which the print-medium is to be discharged and the image forming apparatus, by a driving source of the storing unit through which the print-medium is to be discharged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Joo-heon LEE
  • Patent number: 7748705
    Abstract: A paper discharge tray 6 includes: a paper loading portion 7 provided in a bent form including a first tray surface 7a and a second tray surface 7b; a rear wall 8 for supporting and aligning the trailing end of paper discharged on the paper loading portion 7; and an installation portion 10 provided along the paper loading portion 7. On two portions of the first tray surface 7a, there are provided guide members 11 each having a first slope 11a that inclines upward in the paper discharge direction (direction indicated by an arrow A in the figure). When paper of a predetermined size is discharged on the guide members 11, the paper slides down along the first slopes 11a and the second tray surface 7c, and then is loaded with the trailing end of the paper aligned by the rear wall 8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Masayuki Yamada
  • Patent number: 7748706
    Abstract: An image-forming device includes an extension tray and an engaging unit. The cover member is capable of opening and closing thereon. The extension tray is rotatably attached to an upper part of the cover member. The engaging unit engages the cover member with the main casing when the cover member is closed. The engaging unit includes an engagement part, an engaging part, and an operating part. The operating part disengages the engaging part from the engagement part when operated. The operating part is capable of being operated when the extension tray is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Makoto Ishii
  • Publication number: 20100166473
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a particular tray, a sheet feeder configured to feed a sheet from the particular tray to a first conveying path in a feed direction, a recording unit positioned along the first conveying path, and a driving roller positioned along a second conveying path and configured to convey the sheet, after the sheet passes the recording unit, along the second conveying path and back to the first conveying path. The particular tray includes a side guide configured to position the sheets in a widthwise direction perpendicular to the feeding direction. The side guide includes a guide member that defines at least a portion of the second conveying path and is configured to guide the sheet along the second conveying path, and a driven roller rotatably supported on the guide member and configured to pinch the sheet against the driving roller as the sheet is conveyed along the second conveying path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuo ASADA, Naokazu TANAHASHI, Shota IIJIMA, Masatoshi IZUCHI, Satoru NAKAKITA
  • Publication number: 20100166474
    Abstract: A sheet discharge tray that forms a sheet-receiving unit in an image-forming apparatus includes a climbing slope from a sheet discharge direction start point to a sheet discharge direction end point. The sheet discharge direction end point is formed by a variable tray having a supporting portion provided on a side of the sheet discharge direction start point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventor: Shiroh SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20100150580
    Abstract: A printing system includes a movable tray for holding recording media. The movable tray includes spaced-apart reference marks for determining distance traveled by the tray. A reference-mark optical detector is positioned to provide a field of view through which the reference marks pass. An identifying-mark optical detector provides a field of view through which media-type identifying marks on a piece of recording medium pass. A signal processor provides an output relative to: a) amount of reference marks passing through the field of view of the reference-mark optical detector, and b) signal variation in a signal provided by the identifying-mark optical detector. A look-up table includes media identification signal patterns that are correlated to corresponding media types. Finally, a comparator compares the output of the signal processor to the media identification signal patterns in the look-up table in order to identify type of recording medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventors: Donald V. Brumbaugh, Gary A. Kneezel
  • Publication number: 20100150634
    Abstract: A sheet discharging device, comprising: a housing including a first wall; a discharge section configured to discharge a sheet to an outside of the housing through a slit defined in the first wall; a pressing portion attached to the housing so that the pressing portion presses the sheet discharged through the slit outside the slit; and a moving unit configured to move the pressing portion along the slit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: KYOCERA MITA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takeshi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7733540
    Abstract: A multifunction apparatus is provided with a printer unit having a discharge tray disposed on a top face thereof and a scanner unit disposed on the image recording unit with a space being defined between the image reading unit and the discharge tray. The scanner unit has a casing. The casing is provided in the printer unit rotatably about a rear side of the apparatus in such a fashion as to open a front side of the apparatus. The casing has a recessed part formed at a position of a bottom plate thereof and corresponding to the discharge tray. Thus, a recording sheet removal opening opened on a front side of the apparatus is formed. A reinforcing portion recessed in such a fashion as to be swollen toward an internal space of the casing is formed on the bottom plate having the recessed part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masato Moribe
  • Patent number: 7722034
    Abstract: A sheet discharge tray that can improve width direction alignment of discharged sheets of various sizes with a simple structure. Ribs are disposed on a sheet discharge tray. And a space between at least a pair of adjacent ribs among the ribs at a discharging direction upstream end portion is narrower than a space between the at least two adjacent ribs at a discharging direction downstream end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Denshi Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeru Kosuda, Jun Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20100124449
    Abstract: A sheet tray unit includes a particular feed tray configured to hold one or more sheets therein, and a discharge tray disposed on the particular feed tray and configured to receive a discharged sheet. The discharge tray includes a first discharge tray portion, a second discharge tray portion, and a third discharge tray portion. The first discharge tray portion is configured to support the second discharge tray portion such that the second discharge tray portion selectively slides in a first direction and in a second direction, which is opposite and substantially parallel to the first direction. The second discharge tray portion is configured to support the third discharge tray portion such that the third discharge tray portion selectively slides in the first direction and in the second direction. The first discharge tray portion includes a stopper configured to limit the third discharge tray portion from sliding in the first direction beyond a predetermined position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuo Asada, Masatoshi Izuchi
  • Publication number: 20100123282
    Abstract: A document feeding device includes a pressing member that extends in a document conveying space from a document conveying surface of an outer conveying guide member having a counter conveying roller, of two conveying guide members provided in a first document conveying path such as to oppose front and back sides of a document, toward a document conveying surface of an inner conveying guide member. The pressing member extends in a document width direction perpendicular in a document feeding direction with its leading end extending in a conveying space from one of the conveying surfaces toward the other conveying surface. This structure prevents a large displacement of the document even when the document is released from the nip between conveying rollers or passes between the two conveying guide members provided in the document feeding direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Applicant: KYOCERA MITA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoto Miyakoshi
  • Patent number: 7717421
    Abstract: A system for sensing a media stack to detect a given stack height includes a stack site in an output bin and a mechanical flag mounted adjacent to a side thereof in a counterbalanced state at a home position where an exposed portion of the flag extends into a media sheet delivery path where it is struck by an edge of repetitive media sheets moving to the site. The striking of the exposed portion by the sheet edge causes the flag to deflect to a displaced position outside of the delivery path, allowing the sheet to land on the site increasing the height of a media sheet stack at the site. The counterbalanced state further allows the flag to return to the home position with its exposed portion in the media path until a given stack height is reached where the stack blocks further return of the flag indicating that the output bin is full.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: David Erwin Rennick, Edward Lynn Triplett, Gary Michael Tylicki
  • Publication number: 20100119275
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a main body (11). A side wall (12) extends up at one side of the main body (11) while a rear wall (13) extends up at the rear of the main body (11). A document reader (14) is disposed atop the side wall (12) and the rear wall (13), and a discharging unit is defined between the document reader (14) and the main body (11). A discharge tray (16) is provided in the discharging unit for receiving recording sheets after printing, and a sheet storing portion (18) is formed between the upper surface of the main body (11) and the discharge tray (16). The sheet storing portion (18) has an opening at least at the front opposite to the rear wall (13), and the recording sheet is held to project out through the opening upon being stored into the sheet storing portion (18).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Masumi Akiyama, Hiroshi Ishida, Takaya Akiyama
  • Publication number: 20100119274
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit to form an image on a sheet of recording media, an image reading unit to read image data of an original document, disposed above the image forming unit, a sheet discharge space defined by the image reading unit and the image forming unit and disposed therebetween, a discharge port formed in a first inner side wall of a main body of the image forming apparatus, through which the sheet is discharged into the sheet discharge space, a positioning member to position and detachably mount a positioning member to position and detachably mount an auxiliary unit adjacent to the discharge port in the sheet discharge space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventors: Shuuya Nagasako, Junichi Iida, Shinya Kitaoka
  • Publication number: 20100119245
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a paper discharge device that can sort sheets on a tray. The paper discharge device has paper discharge rollers, a tray and a driving mechanism. The paper discharge rollers are configured to discharge a sheet having an image formed thereon. The tray is configured to be stacked with the sheet discharged from the paper discharge rollers. The driving mechanism is configured to move the tray in a direction approaching the paper discharge rollers and a direction away from the paper discharge rollers and vary a stacking position of the sheet on the tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Isao YAHATA, Hiroyuki TAKI
  • Patent number: 7715771
    Abstract: A tandem type color image forming machine includes a plurality of image forming units, a primary transfer belt, and a paper feed cassette in its image forming machine body. The paper feed cassette is arranged longitudinally in the lateral direction of the belt mechanism or below the belt mechanism. In addition, the machine includes a secondary transfer unit for transferring toner images from the primary transfer belt to a paper fed from the paper feed cassette. The machine also includes a paper feed conveyor passage for guiding paper, a fixing unit downstream of the paper feed conveyor passage, a pair of discharge rollers and a paper discharge passage formed between the fixing unit and the pair of discharge rollers. Further, the machine has a pocket for receiving and storing paper discharged from the pair of discharge rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Masakazu Uehara
  • Publication number: 20100111584
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes: a recording unit that performs a recording operation on a sent recording medium; a main body that has the recording unit; a discharge stacker that places the recording medium discharged from the main body therein; and a flexible member that forms a lateral closed region by connecting a downstream end in a discharge direction of the discharge stacker and the main body on the upper side of the downstream end in the discharge direction of the discharge stacker in a placing direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi SHIOHARA, Munetoyo AONO
  • Patent number: 7711311
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a main body with a casing and performs an image forming operation. A sheet receiving surface constitutes part of the casing and can receive a sheet discharged after an image forming process is performed. A window is provided on the sheet receiving surface for enabling part of the interior of the main body to be seen. An auxiliary tray is attached to the sheet receiving surface and is displaceable between an unfolded position to auxiliary support a discharged sheet and an accommodated position to be accommodated in the sheet receiving surface. The window is at a bottom of a recess formed by recessing a part of the sheet receiving surface. The auxiliary tray is accommodated in the recess when at the accommodated position and includes a transparent portion for ensuring visibility of the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihiko Watanabe, Tasuku Chihara
  • Patent number: 7711310
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes multiple sheet discharge trays arranged on a downstream of a fixing unit in a layer structure, and multiple sheet-receiving units provided corresponding to the multiple sheet discharge trays arranged in the layer structure. Each of the sheet-receiving units respectively includes a climbing slope from a sheet discharge direction start point to a sheet discharge direction end point, and an angle of the climbing slope of a sheet-receiving unit is close to plane, as the sheet-receiving unit is arranged on a further downstream. It is thus possible to provide the image-forming apparatus in which discharged sheets of paper are not piled up on the sheet-receiving unit in a curled state or the discharged sheet does not push out the sheet piled on the sheet-receiving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shiroh Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7706738
    Abstract: A paper discharge device and an image forming apparatus having the same are provided. In the paper discharge device, the paper discharge roller has a non-uniform diameter extending in a longitudinal direction and the idle roller contacts with the paper discharge roller in the longitudinal direction of the paper discharge roller so that the print paper unfolds and discharges utilizing a velocity differential at a nip between the paper discharge roller and the idle roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Byung-Sun Ahn
  • Patent number: 7706737
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments are directed to the printing of mixed output jobs automatically as a single integrated job. More particularly, a merging module connects two print systems, for example, at approximately 90 degrees to one another, although other configurations are possible. The merging module includes at least one sheet rotator in a plane that is common to both the paper paths of both print engines. It also includes at least two bypass paths (one above and one below the rotator) to route the two paper paths around the rotator and enable both print engines to deliver their output to the appropriate finishing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph H. Lang
  • Patent number: 7699312
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus has a pair of conveying rotary members for conveying a sheet, an openable and closable conveying guide for guiding the sheet conveyed by the pair of conveying rotary members, a conveying path, which is disposed on a downstream side of the conveying guide, on which the sheet guide passes, a discharging portion on which the sheet having passed on the conveying path and discharged is stacked, and an obstructing member for obstructing the entrance of the conveying path. In a state in which the conveying guide is closed, the sheet conveyed by the pair of conveying rotary members is guided to the conveying path by the conveying guide. In a state in which the conveying guide is closed, the obstructing member is retracted from the entrance of the conveying path, and in a state in which the conveying guide is opened, the obstructing member obstructs the entrance of the conveying path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayuki Fukuda, Kenji Ninomiya
  • Patent number: 7697883
    Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet processing apparatus that can prevent, with higher certainty, lift of the trailing end of each sheet placed in sheet stacking portion. This apparatus includes a first holding member and a second holding member that prevent lift of the trailing end of each sheet from an intermediate stacking portion. When introduced to the intermediate stacking portion, the subsequent sheet comes into contact with the first holding member, so that the first holding member moves to the retracting position. As the subsequent sheet continues to be conveyed, the subsequent sheet comes into contact with the second holding member, so that the second holding member moves from the restricting position to the retracting position. As the trailing end of the sheet is introduced, the first holding member moves from the retracting position to the restricting position, to hold down the trailing end of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Ogata, Masayoshi Fukatsu, Junichi Sekiyama, Hiroharu Tsuji
  • Patent number: 7682014
    Abstract: An ink jet imaging system comprises a heated imaging drum that rotates in at least one direction, a print head for ejecting ink onto the heated imaging drum as it rotates past the print head to form an image, a media sheet transport for synchronizing movement of a media sheet with rotation of the heated imaging drum, a transfixing roller that forms a transfixing nip with the heated imaging drum to transfix the image on the rotating heated image drum onto the media sheet synchronized by the media sheet transport, and a media director located between the media sheet transport and the heated imaging drum to direct the media sheet into close proximity with the heated imaging drum at a position sufficiently prior to the transfixing nip that the heated imaging drum heats the media sheet before the media sheet enters the transfixing nip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Trevor James Snyder, James Edward Williams, Jeffrey J. Folkins, Barry Paul Mandel
  • Patent number: 7682095
    Abstract: A paper storage apparatus for stacking and storing paper in sequence comprising a first discharge roller 21 for discharging paper (check S1) in a specified discharge direction; a paper storage pocket (check storage pocket 12) for stacking the paper at a position offset from the specified direction in which the check S1 is transported by the first discharge roller 21, a movable first guide member (paper guide 60) having a first position disposed at an inclined angle relative to the direction the check S1 is discharged by the first discharge roller 21, for guiding the check S1 into the storage pocket 12, and a second position displaced from the first position for applying pressure upon the check(s)in the check storage pocket 12 and a movable second guide member (paper shift lever) 40 positioned between the first discharge roller 21 and first guide member (paper guide 60) which pivots from a first position in response to the leading edge of the paper to allow the paper to advance into a second position for urgin
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kenichi Hirabayashi
  • Publication number: 20100061787
    Abstract: Provided is a printing apparatus which includes a tray for setting a printing medium thereon, the printing apparatus including: a switch section which is used to perform a power-on operation or a power-off operation; a tray driving section which performs a driving operation of extracting the tray; a detection section which detects whether the printing medium exists on the tray; a control section which moves the tray to a discharge position by controlling the tray driving section in order to prompt an operation of extracting the printing medium from the tray before an initialization process ends when the printing medium is detected upon performing a power-on process; and a storage section which stores information that the control section moves the tray to the discharge position upon performing the power-on process,
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Katayama
  • Publication number: 20100054789
    Abstract: An ejection tray includes a container that contains a plurality of stacked recording sheets printed by a printing unit of an image forming apparatus, a movable cover mounted on the container, and a sorting member that sorts out a desired recording sheet from the recording sheets stacked in the container. The desired recording sheet sorted out in the container is allowed to be taken out when the cover is opened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kunihito SAWAI, Yutaka HASEGAWA
  • Patent number: 7672628
    Abstract: A post-fixing support unit which is disposed between a fixing roller including a heating roller having a heat generator and a pressure roller so disposed opposite to the heating roller as to form a nip portion and a plurality of sheet discharge rollers which are disposed on the downstream side relative to the fixing roller and corrugation rollers disposed respectively between the adjacent two sheet discharge rollers, such that the post-fixing support unit is located on the upstream side relative to the corrugation rollers at the same position as at least the corrugation rollers in the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Sato
  • Patent number: 7668500
    Abstract: An image forming device includes an image forming device body having an image forming unit in the interior thereof, and at least one paper tray attached to the image forming device on which paper is to be mounted. The paper tray includes a paper mounting unit having a paper mounting surface on which paper is to be mounted, and at least one movable auxiliary mounting unit. The auxiliary mounting unit is supported by the paper mounting unit, and includes an auxiliary mounting surface that is deployed from the paper mounting unit and which serves to extend the mounting surface. The brightnesses of the mounting surface and the auxiliary mounting surface of the paper tray are lower than the brightness of the paper to be mounted on each mounting surface, and the brightness of at least a portion of the auxiliary mounting surface is higher than the brightness of the mounting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuro Kawashima
  • Publication number: 20100021220
    Abstract: A low voltage flexible heater for installation in the base of a printer cabinet and operating on 28 volts or less and providing continuous surface temperatures of 200° C. for convective drying of paper in the print sheet stacker. The pad may be formed of silicone rubber with adhesive backing for ease of installation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Chris Watts, Lee Monahan
  • Patent number: 7648137
    Abstract: A medium ejection device includes an ejection member, a stacking member and a rib. The ejection member ejects a medium toward a medium ejection direction. The stacking member stacks the medium ejected from the ejection member. The rib is disposed in a substantially up and down direction, and is contacted by a tailing end of the medium ejected from the ejection member. The rib includes a convex portion protruding toward the stacking member in an upper portion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Sakae Ogashiwa
  • Publication number: 20100003048
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit, a fixing unit, a discharging unit, and multiple guide members. The transfer unit transfers an image onto a transfer sheet. The fixing unit fixes the image to the transfer sheet by application of heat and conveys the fixed transfer sheet to a further downstream portion of the image forming apparatus. The discharging unit discharges the transfer sheet to an external portion of the image forming apparatus. The multiple guide members form a sheet conveyance path that has first and second paths including a hollow portion defined by the multiple guide members to enable an air current generated during image forming to pass therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Yamazoe
  • Publication number: 20090324312
    Abstract: A document feeding device includes: a document placing tray; a document ejection tray disposed above the document placing tray; a feeding path; a separating mechanism; and ejection rollers. A nip position of the ejection rollers is arranged in a side opposite to a side where the document placing tray is arranged with reference to a vertical plane passing through a separation position of the separating mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takuro KUSAMA
  • Patent number: 7636528
    Abstract: An image-forming device includes: a casing; an image-forming section including a plurality of image-forming units; a paper supply unit; and a discharge unit. The plurality of image-forming units are arranged substantially vertically within the casing when the casing is disposed in an orientation in which it is intended to be used, each image-forming unit forming an image in a corresponding color. The paper supply unit is disposed above the image-forming units when the casing is disposed in the orientation in which it is intended to be used. The paper supply unit is configured to accommodate a recording medium substantially in a vertical orientation and to supply the recording medium to the image-forming section. The discharge unit is disposed above the image-forming units when the casing is disposed in the orientation in which it is intended to be used. The discharge unit is configured to receive the recording medium discharged from the image-forming section substantially in a vertical orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Yasushi Okabe, Shigeharu Katayama, Yasutake Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7634214
    Abstract: A presser member which abuts on a sheet which passes through a sheet conveyance path, and rotates toward a sheet conveyance direction while being pressed by the sheet is provided rotatably in the sheet conveyance path where the sheet conveyed to a sheet stack portion passes, and a move portion to which this presser member is retracted from the sheet conveyance path is provided. When drawing out a jammed sheet from the sheet conveyance path in a direction reverse in a sheet conveyance direction, a jam recovery door is opened, the move portion is operated in connection with this opening motion, and the presser member is retracted from the sheet conveyance path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junichi Sekiyama, Masayoshi Fukatsu, Atsushi Ogata, Hiroharu Tsuji
  • Publication number: 20090304428
    Abstract: An image forming system including: an image reading portion, which reads an image on an original; an image forming portion, which forms an image on a sheet; and a storage device, which stores an original before the image reading portion reads an image thereon and a sheet before the image forming portion forms an image thereon, the storage device being detachably mounted to the image forming system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kohei Koshida
  • Publication number: 20090297243
    Abstract: In an image forming device, a fixing unit thermally fixes a development image transferred onto a first surface of a recording medium, the recording medium having a second surface opposite to the first surface. The conveying wall defines a conveying path, along which the recording medium is conveyed from the fixing unit in a conveying direction, the recording medium being conveyed along the conveying path with the first surface of the recording medium confronting the conveying wall, the recording medium having a pair of lateral parts in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction, the recording medium being curled at the pair of lateral parts to bring the first surface to face outwardly and the second surface to face inwardly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takuji Matsuno
  • Patent number: 7627281
    Abstract: A sheet tray (1) includes at least one sheet detecting sensor (10) for detecting a sheet set on a sheet setting surface (2). The sheet detecting sensor (10) includes (i) a movable detecting section having a projecting section which projects from the sheet setting surface (2), and (ii) a detecting section for detecting rotation of the movable detecting section, and the projecting section have a ball-like shape. This makes it possible to provide (i) a sheet tray which is able to prevent breakage of sheet and breakage of the projecting section even when setting the sheet on the sheet setting surface from any direction and any angle; (ii) a sheet transporting apparatus including the sheet tray; and (iii) an image forming apparatus including the sheet tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Tanaka, Yoshiyuki Nishizato, Kenji Nakanishi, Tomohiko Okada, Akira Kohno