Discharge Of Copy (e.g., Exit Tray) Patents (Class 399/405)
  • Publication number: 20090290922
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an ejection tray and a first function enhancement unit. The ejection tray projects from one side of the image forming apparatus, and receives a recording medium ejected after an image is recorded on the recording medium. The first function enhancement unit is detachably attached to the one side of the image forming apparatus. A bottom face of the first function enhancement unit is positioned above the ejection tray, and a front side of the first function enhancement unit is positioned at rearward from a sheet centerline in a sheet transport direction of the recording medium ejected onto the ejection tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Inventor: Mami Endo
  • Publication number: 20090285614
    Abstract: By providing a rib formed to be inclined with respect to the conveyance direction on a guide member provided at the upstream side of the conveyance section where a contact member that cools rapidly the sheet subjected to fixing processing is provided, a problem of the occurrence of uneven gloss on the surface of a toner image by contact between a sheet and a guide member or a conveyance roller in a conveyance section that conveys the sheet subjected to fixing processing is solved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Satoshi HAMAYA
  • Patent number: 7616921
    Abstract: A sheet conveying mechanism, which conveys a sheet on which a toner image has been fixed at a heat-fixing process, includes conveying rollers each of which is a single roller having the same diameter throughout a width for passing the sheet and is disposed in a predetermined section for a cooling process after the heat-fixing process, and includes a sheet conveying guide provided on the predetermined section and having a sheet-passing surface made in the same shape throughout the width for passing the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Toshio Shida, Masaaki Uchiyama
  • Publication number: 20090269116
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a recording head, a holding tray on which a first recording material is set and which is configured to be advanced and retracted in a linear path between a first position wherein it opposes the recording head and a second position wherein it is retracted from the first position, a reverse transporting portion for transporting a second recording material which is set under the second position while reversing the second recording material in a U shape, and a path forming member for guiding the reversed, another recording material to the linear path after the recording material is bypassed above the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shintaro KOMURO, Nobuhiko SHINOZAKI, Tomoya TAKIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20090269115
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier; a developing device that supplies one of plural color developers to the image carrier and forms a developer image; a transfer unit that transfers the developer image to a recording medium; a fixing unit that fixes the developer image; a transport path for transporting the recording medium from a supply position to an exit port; a return path for transporting the recording medium subjected to the fixing process to a position upstream of the transfer unit for performing subsequent processes on a developer image of another color developer; and a plane, including a junction of the transport path and the return path and a center of rotation of the developing device, being provided at a 90°—or wider angle with respect to a plane including a transfer position and the center of rotation of the developing device, on an upstream side of the another plane in a transport direction of the recording medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventors: Masahiro SATO, Atsuyuki KITAMURA, Junichi MURAKAMI, Tetsuji OKAMOTO, Koichi WATANABE, Shuichi NISHIDE
  • Patent number: 7603072
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a conveyance section which conveys at least one sheet of a second special sheet group so as to be inserted between two special sheets of a first special sheet group on a stacking section. A rest of special sheets which belong to the same set as a special sheet of the second special sheet group having been last supplied is supplied and ejected to a sheet ejection destination other than the stacking section before a special sheet of the second special sheet group is inserted after the latter sheet of the two special sheets of the first special sheet group are supplied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jun Yokobori, Masaru Ushio
  • Patent number: 7599654
    Abstract: A drive unit for changing the driving rate of paper ejection rollers for ejecting sheets of paper after fixing is installed, and an image forming apparatus has an option, and when ejecting the sheets of paper to an intra-body paper ejection unit, after the sheets of paper pass a fixing device, the paper ejection rate of paper ejection rollers 24 is increased, and the ejection force of the sheets of paper P is increased, and paper jamming at the time of paper ejection to the intra-body paper ejection unit is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba TEC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenichiro Shishikura
  • Publication number: 20090245907
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image forming portion that forms an image on a surface of a sheet, a feeding device that feeds the sheet in a sheet feeding direction, a sheet receiving portion, and an engagement portion selectively moves between a first position and a second position. When the engagement portion is in the first position, the engagement portion engages the leading end of the sheet. When the engagement portion is in the second position, the engagement portion does not engage the sheet. When the engagement portion is in the first position, the engagement portion engages a leading end of the sheet before a trailing end of the sheet passes the feeding device. The sheet receiving portion receives the sheet after the engagement portion engages the leading end of the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayuki Takata, Yoshikazu Takahashi, Kazama Goto, Naoya Okazaki
  • Publication number: 20090245905
    Abstract: There is provided an automatic document feeder, comprising: a document tray; an output tray; a movable ejection flap configured to be movable between a first position where the document for which the image reading is finished is sunk into a position between the output tray and a bottom of a stacked document already staked on the output tray and a second position where the document is ejected on the output tray without being sunk into the position; a setting unit configured to set the movable flap to one of the first position and the second position; a change unit configured to change a position of the movable flap to the second position in response to a fact that a predetermined condition is satisfied in a state where the position of the movable flap has been set to the first position through the setting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryoichi MATSUSHIMA
  • Publication number: 20090238623
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image reader, an image forming unit, a sheet discharge device, a sheet receiver, and a sheet moving mechanism. The image reader provided substantially at an upper portion of the image forming apparatus reads an image of a document. The image forming unit disposed substantially below the image reader through some space forms an image based on image information read by the image reader and transfers the image onto a recording medium. The sheet discharge device discharges the recording medium on which an image is formed. The sheet receiver provided in the space between an upper portion of the image forming unit and a bottom portion of the image reader receives the recording medium discharged by the sheet discharge device. The sheet moving mechanism moves the recording medium that is discharged onto the sheet receiver by the sheet discharge device in a desired direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventor: Kazumi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7591463
    Abstract: A media support apparatus for a media cassette of an automatic media dispenser includes a base plate having a guide piece which is provided with a guide slot. A link mechanism has at least one connection pin, which is moved along the guide slot, and two connection link plates, the height of which, relative to the base plate, can be adjusted. A media seat is seated on each connection link plate. The horizontal spacing between the media seats can be adjusted. The apparatus is advantageous in that a single media cassette can be adapted to supply media of various sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: LG N-Sys Inc.
    Inventor: Joong-Ho An
  • Patent number: 7590380
    Abstract: When printing is interrupted, the selection between the use of a sheet bundle stacked on an accumulating tray and no use thereof is appropriately made. A bookbinding system includes a bookbinding apparatus having the accumulating tray for stacking a plurality of printed sheets thereon as the sheet bundle. When an interrupting factor is generated for interrupting a printing job, the printing is interrupted. Upon restarting the printing after the interrupting factor is cancelled, the printing apparatus determines whether the sheet bundle stacked on the accumulating tray is used for forming a bound book or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Mima
  • Patent number: 7590379
    Abstract: A safe and space-saving image formation device that reduces, with a simpler configuration, generation of abnormal images by blockage, skewing, etc. by the document image reading device, that has an interior of the internal paper ejection unit with a larger space, has satisfactory operability for removing the recording medium, has improved maintenance characteristics, for example, unit replacement and adjustment, and/or that has improved external product quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Mae, Masaaki Yoshikawa
  • Publication number: 20090226230
    Abstract: The present invention provides a post-processing apparatus that can handle recording sheets set to be stapled and recording sheets not set to be stapled in a single job and reliably prevent post-processed recording sheets from falling off a tray. The post-processing apparatus includes a post-processing section 5 that performs stapling processing based on an input condition and two trays 8a and 8b on which processed recording sheets are loaded. The input condition includes mixed-processing information about first processing that involves stapling processing and second processing that does not involve stapling processing. The control section 90 performs the first processing and second processing on the recording sheets in a single job based on the mixed-processing information. The control section 90 loads the recording sheets subjected to the first processing and recording sheets subjected to the second processing onto different trays 8a and 8b.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventor: Yasunobu Ohkawa
  • Patent number: 7583926
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes first to fifth transport paths. The first path transports a sheet from a sheet feeding section to a sheet output section through a first confluence, an image recording section, a first bifurcation, and a second confluence in that order. The second path transports a sheet from the first bifurcation down to a switchback section through a second bifurcation and a third bifurcation in that order. The third path transports a sheet from the third bifurcation to the first confluence through a third confluence, and vice versa. The third path is positioned between the switchback section and a portion of the first transport path located in the image recording section. The fourth path transports a sheet from the second bifurcation to the third confluence, and vice versa. The fifth path transports a sheet from the second bifurcation to the second confluence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masato Tamehira, Junya Masuda, Yoshinori Shiraishi
  • Publication number: 20090214279
    Abstract: A medium ejection apparatus is provided which may be part of an image forming apparatus. The medium ejection apparatus may include an ejection roller configured to eject a recording medium and a pinch roller disposed opposite to the ejection roller. The pinch roller is configured to move toward and away from the ejection roller and to press a recording medium toward the ejection roller. Also, the medium ejection apparatus may include an elastic member configured to press the pinch roller toward the ejection roller and a lever disposed downstream of the pinch roller in a recording medium transport direction. The lever is configured to be moved between a first position and a second position. When the lever is in the second position, the lever contacts the pinch roller, which causes a force to be applied against the elastic member, and the pinch roller is spaced away from the ejection roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Ito
  • Patent number: 7578589
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a openable/closable conveyance cover enabling exposure of a recording paper conveyance path on which recording paper is conveyed, on a top of a printer part carrying out recording on the recording paper, and has a conveyance cover lock part configured to fix a state in which the conveyance cover is opened, when recording paper jam occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shoji Asanuma
  • Patent number: 7577395
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a printer body having a developing portion and a fixing portion therein; a plurality of sheet feeding rollers successively disposed along a sheet discharge path of the printer body and driven to discharge a sheet from fixing portion to an upper portion of the printer body; and a rear cover portion having a rear cover provided on a side of the printer body to open and close, a guide rib member to guide the sheet from the fixing portion, an idle roller to rotate in contact with one of the sheet feeding rollers to feed the sheet, and a supplementary guide member to change a position thereof when the rear cover is open to prevent the sheet being discharged to the guide rib member from running into the idle roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung-gee Baek, Dong-woo Kim
  • Patent number: 7577396
    Abstract: A printing apparatus prints on a medium at a first transport speed or a second transport speed lower than the first transport speed. The printing apparatus includes: an image forming unit for forming a developer image on the medium according to a print job sent from a host device; a fixing unit for fixing the developer image on the medium; a discharge roller for discharging the medium; a discharged medium detection unit for detecting a trailing edge of the medium passing through the fixing unit; a last medium determining unit for determining whether the discharged medium detection unit detects a last medium of the print job; and a control unit for discharging the medium at the first transport speed or controlling the last medium determining unit to determine the last medium and discharging the last medium at a transport speed higher than the second transport speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Isao Kitano
  • Patent number: 7577394
    Abstract: An apparatus of the present invention includes a first guide supported by a cover body in such a manner that the first guide can swing around a hinge with respect to the main body of the apparatus and a second guide provided on the apparatus main body. The first guide is supported in such a manner that it can move with respect to the cover body. When the cover body swings so as to open a sheet conveyance path, a site of the first guide on the side of the hinge swings with respect to the cover body in such a direction so as to separate from the second guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Harukazu Sekiya
  • Patent number: 7569011
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet; a curling unit that curls the sheet on which the image is formed; a sheet folding unit that performs a folding process for the sheet on which the image is formed; and a control unit that controls an operation of the curling unit and the sheet folding unit so that the sheet is substantially curled in a first direction to be folded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masashi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 7570906
    Abstract: A tandem type color image forming machine comprises a plurality of image forming units, a belt mechanism comprising an endless belt including a linear moving area, and a paper feed cassette in its image information machine body. The image forming units are arranged along the linear moving area of the belt with a space therebetween. The belt mechanism is arranged longitudinally so that the linear moving area of the belt extends almost in the vertical direction. The paper feed cassette is arranged longitudinally in the lateral direction of the belt mechanism or below the belt mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Masakazu Uehara
  • Patent number: 7567365
    Abstract: In order to provide an image reading apparatus of which a contact glass sheet can be replaced and recycled with ease without damaging the contact glass sheet when removing the same, and further intrusion of particles of dust into the apparatus when operating the apparatus can be prevented, an image reading apparatus having an image reading unit mounted to be able to be reciprocated in a frame body of the apparatus and a contact glass sheet is composed such that; the frame body comprises an upward-open lower frame in which the image reading unit is accommodated to be able to be reciprocated and an upper frame having an opening on the upper face thereof to be covered with the contact glass sheet, the upper and lower frames are assembled detachably by means of fitting portions provided to both frames, the contact glass sheet is attached to said upper frame by means of a strip-shaped adhesive member glued onto the undersurface of the upper frame along the brim part of the opening to be covered with the contact gl
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Koichiro Tsujimoto, Tomohide Hozono, Shinichi Kotera
  • Patent number: 7558493
    Abstract: A full-loading sensing device and method thereof is provided for an image forming apparatus. The full-loading sensing device includes at least one lever rotated in different directions from reference locations by loading of a discharged paper and opening of a jam removal cover, respectively, and an optical sensor for sensing different rates of change in an amount of light corresponding to respective rotational directions of the lever. It is thereby possible to provide a single sensing mechanism that is capable of sensing and distinguishing both a full-loading state and a jam removal cover-open state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae-min Kwon
  • Patent number: 7558523
    Abstract: An automatic document feeder for duplex scanning includes a scanning module, a pickup roller assembly, a first discharging roller assembly, a second discharging roller assembly, a first path, a second path, a third path, a sheet feeding tray, a first discharging tray and a second discharging tray. The first discharging tray is used as a reverse region. Since only the scanning module inside the automatic document feeder is used for scanning the document without the participation of the flatbed image scanning portion, the operative space for accommodating the scanning module in the flatbed image scanning portion is not required. As a result, the length and the overall volume thereof are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Primax Electronics Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung-Kai Wang, Chien-Kuo Kuan
  • Publication number: 20090169281
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image processing unit for performing a first image processing; a discharge unit disposed above the first image processing unit for discharging a medium after the first image processing is performed on the medium; a medium placing unit for placing the medium thus discharged; a second image processing unit disposed above the medium placing unit for performing a second image processing; and an operational unit disposed on the second image processing unit at a specific position thereof for performing a specific operation. The medium placing unit may include a step portion for forming a space between the medium thus discharged and a surface of the medium placing unit. The step portion and the operational unit may be situated at positions, so that the operational unit does not block the step portion viewed from above the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventor: Takeshi Oyama
  • Publication number: 20090169224
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus has a discharge device, an air blow device and a detection device, wherein an amount of blown air by the air blow device when the height of the recording materials detected by the detection device is higher than a preset first detection position is smaller than an amount of blown air by the air blow device when the detected height of the recording materials is lower than the first detection position. Thereby, there is provided an image forming apparatus which is improved in the alignment of the recording materials on the stacking portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: YOUHEI SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 7548723
    Abstract: A paper delivering device to deliver printing paper, including: a lower frame; an upper frame rotatably coupling with the lower frame by a hinge part and rotating between a driving position in which the upper frame is disposed to parallel with respect to the lower frame with putting a delivery pathway of the printing paper between there and an opened position where the upper frame is spaced from the driving position; an upper delivery roller disposed on a lateral surface facing to the lower frame in the upper frame; a plate, interposed between the lower frame and the upper frame, to be detachable from the lower frame in a surface direction of the printing paper; and a lower delivery roller disposed on a lateral surface facing the upper frame of the plate and delivering the printing paper by oppositely rotating with the upper delivery roller when the plate is disposed at the lower frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hoon Kang
  • Publication number: 20090148210
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image reading unit configured to read image information of an original document, an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet according to the image information, a sheet discharge space located between the image reading unit and the image forming unit, into which the sheet is discharged after passing through the image forming unit, a first sheet discharge port disposed facing the sheet discharge space, a second sheet discharge port located beneath the first sheet discharge port, and a sheet handling unit detachably mountable in the sheet discharge space, configured to connect to the first sheet discharge port and block the second sheet discharge port when mounted in the sheet discharge space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventor: Ryo Takenaka
  • Patent number: 7546053
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus for discharging a sheet from a discharge port to a sheet tray, includes a main unit provided with a discharge port and movably provided with a sheet tray to hold the sheet discharged from the discharge port, a drive unit to start movement of the sheet tray toward a position of the discharge port on the basis of an instruction of image forming start, and an image forming unit to compare sheet tray movement time which is time required for the sheet tray to reach the discharge port by the drive unit with image formation processing time which is time of an image forming process performed before discharging the sheet from the discharge port and when the sheet tray movement time does not exceed the image formation processing time, to start the image forming process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ayako Yamada
  • Patent number: 7540678
    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: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kenichi Hirabayashi
  • Publication number: 20090129839
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus is provided with: a carrier that carries a toner image; a transporting unit that transports a sheet with using a transporting route; a transfer unit that transfers the toner image carried by the carrier to the sheet transported by the transporting unit; a fixing unit that fixes the toner image transferred by the transfer unit on the sheet; and an exit opening that is disposed so that a transfer position of the transfer unit is located between the exit opening and a fixation position of the fixing unit in a section including a transporting route over the entire length and that discharges the sheet on which the toner image is fixed by the fixing unit to an outside of the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Michio YAMAZAKI, Tomonari Sakurai, Tsutomu Mori, Yoshinori Nishizawa
  • Patent number: 7532854
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a discharging roller decelerating unit and a method of decelerating discharging rollers. The image forming apparatus includes a print unit, discharging rollers, a sensor unit that sensing a trailing edge of paper, and the discharging roller decelerating unit. The method includes detecting a trailing edge of paper using a sensor unit and decelerating the discharging rollers after a predetermined period of delay time subsequent to the sensing of the trailing edge of the paper. Accordingly, even when there is a difference between the sensing moments of the trailing edge of the paper, the decelerating moments of the discharging rollers are stabilized, and thus the paper can be uniformly stacked regardless of double-sided printing or single-sided printing, even when the paper is discharged at a high speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dae-lim Shin
  • Patent number: 7532855
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: an apparatus main body; a discharge roller portion that discharges sheet members; a tray being capable of stacking the sheet members discharged from the discharge roller portion; and a curl correcting member being capable of arranging on a downstream side in a sheet member carrying direction of the discharge roller portion, brought into contact with the sheet member having a curl convex upwardly and discharged from the discharge roller portion, and having a correcting face for exerting a correcting force to a side of correcting the curl. The curl of the sheet member is corrected by the curl correcting member when the curl correcting member is arranged on the downstream side of the discharge roller portion, and is not corrected by the curl correcting member when the curl correcting member is not arranged on the downstream side of the discharge roller portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahito Kajita
  • Publication number: 20090116889
    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: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Makoto Ishii
  • Patent number: 7529494
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus discharging a printed medium at a stable speed. A image developer affixes an image to a printing medium to form a printed medium and a transporting roller moves the printed medium toward a discharge roller. A one-way clutch driving the transport roller permits the discharge roller to assert control over the printed medium while the printed medium is in contact with the transport roller. The discharge roller is controllable to accelerate and decelerate the printed medium so that printed media are orderly stacked. The one way clutch permits the discharge roller and the transport roller to be spaced apart less than a length of the printed medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jung-yun Won
  • Patent number: 7529518
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an original scanning section, a sheet feeding section, an image forming section, a sheet receiving section and an indicator (LEDs). The image forming section is located between the original scanning section and the sheet feeding section and has a smaller cross-sectional area when cut by a horizontal plane than either of the original scanning section and the sheet feeding section such that a sheet receiving space into which each sheet of the printing medium is ejected is left between the original scanning section and the sheet feeding section. The sheet receiving section is located in the sheet receiving space for receiving the sheets of the printing medium ejected from the image forming section. The indicator notifies users that one or more sheets of the printing medium have been delivered to the sheet receiving section by emitting light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Kubo
  • Publication number: 20090110458
    Abstract: A post-processing apparatus is provided, in which a sheet to be post-processed is substantially vertically dropped in a sequence from a first stage to a second stage, and from the second stage to a third stage, the sheet is temporarily stored in the first stage, a bundle of sheets is post-processed in the second stage, and the sheets are stacked in the third stage, wherein an opening/closing first supporting member is disposed in the first stage, an opening/closing second supporting member and a post-processing unit are disposed in the second stage, a sheet stacking member is disposed in the third stage, and the apparatus includes an integral sheet aligning member which butts against an end portion of the sheet supported by the first supporting member, and end portions of the sheets supported by the second supporting member, and a sheet aligning member moving unit which moves the sheet aligning member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Mahito SATO
  • Publication number: 20090110459
    Abstract: An image forming device is disclosed. The device includes a toner-image forming unit which forms a toner image; a transfer unit; a fixing unit; a paper-output unit; a drive unit; a first drive-power transmission gear; a second drive-power transmission gear; a gear housing; a first positioning unit which positions the fixing unit relative to a device body; and a second positioning unit. The second positioning unit positions the paper-output unit relative to the device body in the direction of a gap between the first drive-power transmission gear and the second drive-power transmission gear by engaging the gear housing with the device body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: Haruyuki Honda, Yasuo Matsuyama, Hiroshi Fujiwara, Kazuyoshi Kondo, Yasuhide Ohkubo, Ippei Kimura, Toshikane Nishii, Mizuna Tanaka, Tomoyoshi Yamazaki, Masafumi Takahira
  • Patent number: 7526244
    Abstract: To provide an image forming apparatus including: a discharge tray which can moves between a first position capable of loading a discharged sheet and a second position that is separated from the first position; and a sheet loading amount detection sensor which has a sheet detection flag abutting against the upper surface of the sheet loaded on the discharge tray and capable of moving in accordance with a loading amount of the sheet loaded on the discharge tray, and detects the sheet loading amount by detecting a position of the sheet detection flag, wherein when the discharge tray means is located at the second position, the sheet detection flag is removed from a position capable of detecting the sheet loading amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naonori Kayama, Hiroaki Namiki, Shotaro Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 7522874
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus has a discharge device, an air blow device and a detection device, wherein an amount of blown air by the air blow device when the height of the recording materials detected by the detection device is higher than a preset first detection position is smaller than an amount of blown air by the air blow device when the detected height of the recording materials is lower than the first detection position. Thereby, there is provided an image forming apparatus which is improved in the alignment of the recording materials on the stacking portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Youhei Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20090097894
    Abstract: In a printer, a scanner unit is formed into a taper shape having a thinner thickness on a side of a pick-up roller in a removing direction of a process unit, to allow the process unit to be removed from the printer. A part of a sheet feeding path is formed in an area between the process unit and a sheet cassette. An image forming position on the sheet feed path is set lower than an upper end of the pick-up roller. Thus, removal of the process unit can be readily performed. Further, the height of the printer at a position of the pick-up roller can be reduced as compared with a case where the scanner unit is not formed into a taper shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Sakae Ito, Shusaku Tsusaka, Yasuo Tamaru, Tomitake Aratachi, Terumasa Ito
  • Patent number: 7519321
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus in which a scanner portion is disposed in an upper portion of the apparatus, a paper cassette is disposed in a lower portion of the apparatus, and a print portion is disposed between the scanner portion and the paper cassette, in one embodiment, a paper post-processing portion that performs paper post-processing for paper transported from the apparatus main body after printing is disposed in a space of the apparatus main body formed by the scanner portion, the print portion, and the paper cassette. Provided in a discharge roller portion that discharges paper from the paper post-processing portion to a discharge tray are a drive roller, and a first idler roller and second idler roller that form a pair with the drive roller and can be selectively used when discharging paper to the discharge tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasushi Matsutomo
  • Patent number: 7515870
    Abstract: The image forming device compares the size of the paper ready to be discharged with the size of the paper left on the paper tray if there is any paper left on the paper tray, and supplies a supporting member having a larger bending strength than the paper onto the paper left on the paper tray depending on the result of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Takeshi Ikusawa
  • Patent number: 7515866
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed that includes an image forming part configured to form an image on a recording medium, a feed part for feeding the recording medium, a manual feed part for manually feeding the recording medium, and a shutter member configured to open and close a manual feed opening from the manual feed part. The shutter member is provided so as to be swingable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshifumi Togashi, Manabu Nonaka
  • Patent number: 7515864
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus including an image reading unit, an image forming unit, and a column support portion supports the image reading unit in a cantilever manner so that a space is provided between the image reading unit and an upper surface of the image forming unit, and receives the image reading unit at an upper surface and a side surface thereof. Further, the image reading unit may be provided with a downwardly extending portion extending downward from a lower surface thereof, and the column support portion may receive the lower surface of the image reading unit at the upper surface thereof, and receive the downwardly extending portion of the image reading unit at the side surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takanoshin Imada, Yuichi Fujisawa, Masashi Sudo, Junichi Yumoto
  • Publication number: 20090087240
    Abstract: A paper discharge device includes a discharge member, a paper carry portion, a first moving section, a pair of paper side end register sections, a second moving section, and a discharge paper control section. The paper carry portion carries thereon paper discharged by the discharge member. The first moving section moves the discharge member in a paper width direction to shift the position of paper. The pair of paper side end register sections holds the paper from both sides in the paper width direction. The second moving section moves the pair of paper side end register sections in the paper width direction. The discharge paper control section, when the shifting direction of the paper by the first moving section is switched from one direction to the other direction, controls the second moving section to move the pair of paper side end register section in the other direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Osamu Tamura, Yoshiyuki TAKAISHI, Ryuichi SATO
  • Publication number: 20090087241
    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: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventor: Byung-Sun Ahn
  • Patent number: 7512359
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus of the present invention, although an upper cover is rotated when a body frame is opened, a free end of a base for fixing a paper receiving tray makes contact with a side of the frame, thus an inclination angle of the paper receiving tray in link motion with rotation of the upper cover is controlled, and the paper receiving tray is inclined at time of rotation of the cover member, and sheets of paper are prevented from falling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideaki Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 7512356
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an apparatus body having a document table portion on which a document is placed, a scanning unit provided inside the apparatus body to optically scan an image of the document placed on the document table portion, an image forming unit for forming a developer image on a photosensitive drum in accordance with the image information scanned by the scanning unit, a transfer charger for transferring the developer image formed by the image forming unit on a sheet, a fixing unit for fixing the developer image transferred by the transfer charger on the sheet, an ejecting roller for ejecting the sheet on which the developer image is fixed by the fixing unit to the outside, a sheet receiving unit provided below the scanning unit inside the apparatus body to receive the sheet ejected from the ejecting roller, and a blowing unit for blowing cool air to the sheet receiving unit along a lower surface part of the scanning unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoshi Kaiho