For Feeding Plural Record Media Concurrently Or Selectively Patents (Class 400/605)
  • Patent number: 7220070
    Abstract: A printer having a main printer unit 1 an image recording unit 3 and a base unit 2. The image recording unit 3 includes a carriage 25 having an ink head for discharging ink to paper and a guide shaft 26 for slidably guiding the carriage 25. The base unit 2 is disposed opposite the image recording unit 3 and supports the image recording unit 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Narita, Yoshiki Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 7192209
    Abstract: At a printing unit which structures a printing apparatus, a portion of a transport path, which portion includes a rear portion of an upper guide path portion of a printing guide path, a sub-scanning guide path, a paper ejection buffer and a front portion of a branching guide path, is assembled to an upper face side of a sliding panel together with a printing section and a separation and ejection roller which are assembled to the upper face side of the sliding panel. The sliding panel is attached to a casing of the printing unit with a pair of guide rails interposed therebetween at a front end portion and a rear end portion. By sliding of this sliding panel, the portion of the transport path can be slid along a direction substantially intersecting a direction in which the transport path extends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Otsuka, Shinji Seto, Kohei Murakami, Fuminori Takizawa
  • Patent number: 7177962
    Abstract: There is provide a reading/recording apparatus capable of ensuring that a reading device and a recording device do not collide when the apparatus is miniaturized to thereby protect the reading unit and the recording unit by having the reading device and the recording device share a moving space on a shared conveying path used as both a conveying path for an original and a conveying path for a recording sheet. The original is conveyed to a reading position on the shared conveying path. The reading unit is freely movable between the reading position and a reading standby position away from the reading position, and reads an image of the original at the reading position. The recording medium is conveyed to a recording position on the shared conveying path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noriaki Seto
  • Patent number: 7125181
    Abstract: A portable printer device is capable of holding a plurality of paper rolls. The portable printer device comprises a single printing portion which is provided for printing of each of the plurality of paper rolls. A paper roll hold device includes a plurality of paper roll hold portions each of which holds one of the plurality of paper rolls, and includes a plurality of paper passages each of which is provided to deliver a paper from one of the plurality of paper roll hold portions to the printing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited
    Inventors: Yoshinari Takabatake, Sumio Watanabe, Fumio Sakurai, Yukihiro Mori, Toshiyuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7104712
    Abstract: A tape printer includes a holder support member at one side end in a roll sheet holder storage part in a direction substantially perpendicular to a feeding direction. In the holder support member, a mounting piece which is substantially rectangular in section and formed protruding outward on a positioning holding member of a roll sheet holder is fitted. The tape printer further includes a flat portion formed substantially horizontally between a rear edge of an insertion opening through which a roll sheet is inserted into the tape printer. On the flat portion, a front portion of a guide member is placed. At a rear edge of the flat portion in the feeding direction, at plural positions corresponding to various kinds of the roll sheets having different widths, there are formed four second positioning grooves in which part of the guide member is fitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Sugimoto, Keiji Seo, Akira Sago, Atsushi Kasugai
  • Patent number: 7056046
    Abstract: A printing apparatus that enables transmission of information between its main body and a predetermined information processing apparatus includes first and second print media supplying sections, a paper feeding unit, first and second sensors, a storage section, a determining section and a communication section. The second print media supply section stacks print media of a different size from that of the first print media supplying section. The second print media supplying section is removably installed in the first print media supplying section. The paper feeding unit is commonly used for supplying the print media stacked on both the first and section print media supplying sections. The first sensor determines whether or not the second print media supplying section is installed and the second sensor determines whether or not the second print media supplying section can supply the print media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shin-ichi Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 7056047
    Abstract: A printer 1 has transportation paths for conveying media in two directions, that of a first transportation path P1 and that of a second transportation path P2 (or third transportation path P3) perpendicular to the first transportation path P1. With this printer 1 a single compact unit can be used for media processing by reading and printing the media, as well as for printing receipts and validation printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corp.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Sasaki, Masashi Fujikawa, Kunio Omura
  • Patent number: 7004653
    Abstract: A printer equipped with a copy function is capable of carrying out a two-set double-sided printing, using a series of printing papers, each of which has a printed content on one side and a blank page on the other side. With the aid of a built-in processing unit, such a series of the printing papers are regarded as serial pairs of two adjacent printing papers, and an image on one side of each printing paper is read by an image sensor, and then copied on the other side of the printing paper adjacent thereto. When the number of all the printing papers is odd, an image read on one side from the last printing paper is copied on one side of a supplementary paper sheet. When the total number n of the printing papers initially read out is even, printing paper are sequentially fed to said image printer, and printing papers, each of which is placed on a paper feed tray for printing in such a manner that its blank page on the other side is printable, are received in the order of reading by the image printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshikatsu Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 6988842
    Abstract: A printing apparatus and method to for use in a continuous high velocity mail production system, preferably for printing postal indicia. A transport path conveys a series of mail pieces at a print velocity. At least two ink jet print heads are available to perform printing operations. During normal operation, only one print head is operating at a time. To allow continuous uninterrupted operation, when a first print head is removed from service for a maintenance operation, a second print head is automatically brought into service. Adjustments to the triggering of the print cycle are made to account for the different print heads at different locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Miller, John W. Sussmeier, Anthony E. Yap
  • Patent number: 6980767
    Abstract: An improved electrophotographic printer is provided for printing on sheet media, and for joining two or more sheets of sheet media together within the print engine. A first sheet can be imaged with “standard” information and/or indicia, and can also have one or more strips of toner applied at predetermined locations. The first sheet is then run back to the print engine while a second (virgin) sheet of print media is picked from an input tray at a time that will cause both sheets to run through the print engine simultaneously, either exactly at the same time, or with some offset spacing. The two sheets will become joined or affixed to one another at locations in which the toner strips are of sufficient size and density, and will be output together as if stapled, or sealed, together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel P. Cahill, David L. Merrifield
  • Patent number: 6973286
    Abstract: A system for printing media includes a plurality of marking engines for outputting printed media in a stream, a media path system operable to transport the printed media from the marking engines to one or more finishing stations such that the streams are merged and transported one on top of the other and one or more finishing stations capable of compiling media in groups of 2 or more sheets for post processing the printed media into one or more completed jobs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Barry P. Mandel, Robert M. Lofthus, Steven R. Moore, Martin Krucinski, Lisbeth S. Quesnel
  • Patent number: 6959165
    Abstract: A system for printing media includes a plurality of marking engines for outputting printed media in a stream, a media path system operable to transport the printed media from the marking engines to one or more finishing stations such that the streams are merged and transported one on top of the other and one or more finishing stations capable of compiling media in groups of 2 or more sheets for post-processing the printed media into one or more completed jobs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Barry P. Mandel, Robert M. Loftlus, Steven R. Moore, Martin Krucinski, Lisbeth S. Quesnel
  • Patent number: 6929414
    Abstract: There is provided a reading/recording apparatus which is capable of properly conveying originals during original reading operation, even if there exists a state where a recording medium conveying device shares the same space with an original conveying path. A shared conveying path has at least part thereof used as both a conveying path for an original and a conveying path for a recording medium. The original is conveyed on the shared conveying path, where an image of the original is read. The read image is recorded on the recording medium at a recording position on the shared conveying path. A recording medium conveying device is movable between a sharing state where the recording medium conveying device shares a space with the conveying path for the original and a non-sharing state where the recording medium conveying device does not share the space with the conveying path for the original, and conveys the recording medium on the shared conveying path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Daiki Kadomatsu
  • Patent number: 6899479
    Abstract: A printer comprising a printing section that has a platen, a cutter section with a stationary blade and a movable blade and a printhead located oppositely on both sides of the guide path. A first unit is located on one side of the guide path arranged inside the casing which can be separated into a first casing member and a second casing member, holding either one of the stationary blade and the movable blade in the cutter section and a second unit located on the other side of the guide path that has either one of the other platen and the other printhead and either one of the other stationary blade and the other movable blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsumune Hayashi, Hiroyuki Koyama, Kouichi Yamada
  • Patent number: 6893175
    Abstract: A system and a method to control the motion of envelopes within a postage printing module to accommodate the use of slower print techniques and to achieve continuous high speed throughput in a mail processing system. At least two print heads in series are utilized to ensure continuous printing operation, even when a print head must be taken out of service for maintenance, or fails. Depending on which print head is in used, different sets of transport elements in the print module are used to affectuate the motion profile appropriate for the print head that is in operation. Based on the status of the print heads, a controller selectively groups different individual transport elements together to act in unison for the motion control. Print heads may be geared to operate in synchronism with the motion of the print transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Sussmeier, Richard F. Stengl, Jerry Leitz
  • Patent number: 6890071
    Abstract: A printer having a housing including a pair of sidewalls, a bottom wall and a tray for supporting print media from below. The tray includes a receiving segment mounted for slideable movement parallel to the plane of the bottom wall and a telescoping segment mounted for slideable movement into the receiving segment during times of printer non-operation, and away from the receiving segment during printer operation. In another embodiment, a printer includes an elongated tray having a plurality of articulated segments wherein the tray is mounted to the housing for rotation between an operation position and a non-operation position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Iranpour Khormaei, Daniel R. Dwyer
  • Patent number: 6883987
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for treating forms, especially betting slips or the like, comprising a reader with a transport device that forms a gap-type transport path for a betting slip. In the path of said transport path a reading head is disposed and is linked with a control and evaluation unit. In the projection of the at least one vertically aligned transport path a printer is disposed below the reading heat that is linked with the control and evaluation unit. Said printer comprises an abutment and a print head that can be adjusted between an abutment remote rest position and an abutment proximal operative position. Downstream of the abutment and below said abutment a sheet tray is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Wincor Nixdorf International GmbH
    Inventors: Hartmut Kamin, Günter Baitz, Wolfgang Malke
  • Patent number: 6871949
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a recording apparatus for recording with a recording section including a feeding section for separately feeding recording paper sheet by sheet and a conveyance route extending substantially straight for conveying a recording medium having a high rigidity. A part of the feeding section is overlapped with the conveyance route in a vertical cross-sectional direction, but is not overlapped in a direction intersecting with the conveyance direction of the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuji Nakano, Toshiya Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 6823786
    Abstract: A tandem printer with a mechanism for fine substrate-position correction, comprising: a first printing station; a second printing station; a rotatable element, rotating at a given rotation rate, that receives the substrate after printing thereon by the first printing station and transfer the substrate toward the second printing station; a sensor which measure the position of an edge of the substrate during its transfer from the first printing station to the second printing station; and a controller, which applies a corrective step change in angular position of the rotatable element responsive to the measurements of the sensor, without changing the general rotation rate of the rotatable element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Indigo B.V.
    Inventors: Aron Shmaiser, Daniel Sagi, Lior Lewintz
  • Patent number: 6817794
    Abstract: In the case where the paper size and paper type other than that stored in the tray of the printer is specified by the printing job data, through registration to the alternative table an alternative printing is performed on the papers stored in a predetermined tray. Even in the case where there is no paper of a specified size and type the next time on, the printer does not become in the paper disagreement error condition, and the printing processing is executed. Thus, it is not necessary to change the setting of the tray or depress the CONTINUE switch in each printing job data, and the printing processing is continued. Therefore, operability in users is enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junichi Kakutani
  • Patent number: 6789969
    Abstract: A printer retracts the platen and transportation rollers when a cover is opened while avoiding interference with parts inside the printer without hindering smooth opening and closing of the cover, increasing printer size, or requiring a large space around the printer. The printer 10 has a frame (cover 12 and unit frame 27) having a paper storage unit 13 for storing a paper roll P1, a cover 28 for opening and closing an opening 26 to the paper storage unit 13, a print head 16 for printing on the roll paper from the paper roll P1, a movable platen 17 freely rotatably coupled to the cover 28 for guiding the back of the roll paper at a proximal position opposite the print head 16, and an abutment 35 for engaging a engagement lever 36 and rotating the movable platen 17 in a contrary direction in conjunction with opening and closing the cover 28.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Hirabayashi, Kazuya Oshida, Norio Nagata
  • Patent number: 6783290
    Abstract: A system and a method to control the motion of envelopes within a postage printing module to accommodate the use of slower print techniques and to achieve high throughput in a mail processing system. The system transports envelopes according to a motion profile in which the envelope is decelerated from a transport velocity to a slower printing velocity. After the printing operation has been completed, the envelope is accelerated back to the transport velocity and transferred to a downstream module. None of the intervals of deceleration, low print velocity, or acceleration may occur while an envelope in the postage printing module is also in the control of another module. The print head is geared to operate in synchronism with the print transport. Further, upon the occurrence of an error condition, such as a jam, the print transport is decelerated to a stop in such a manner as to preserve the spacing between subsequent envelopes to be the same as if no error condition had occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventor: John W. Sussmeier
  • Patent number: 6773180
    Abstract: When images in the order of photographing are printed on papers being conveyed in parallel, the images are allotted to each paper such that the order of an image to be printed in a predetermined order from the leading end of the paper closer to a tray is one smaller than that of the other paper, and the order of images to be printed on each paper gradually increase by twos toward the tail end of each paper. The papers cut with a cutting unit after each image is printed are conveyed with a conveyor belt and piled on the tray in the order of photographing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Tsuji, Togo Kinoshita
  • Publication number: 20040141789
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a media handling device for handling sheets of media contained in a stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventors: Curtis G. Kelsay, Paul D. Faucher
  • Patent number: 6709177
    Abstract: Two paper trays 11, 12 are disposed in such a manner that they are superimposed on top of each other in the vertical direction, a first paper feed roller 13 for feeding out paper from the upper-side paper tray 11 is disposed backwardly of and obliquely upwardly of a second paper feed roller 14 with respect to a direction in which the paper is fed out, and the upper-side paper tray 11 is disposed backwardly of and adjacently to the second paper feed roller 14. The sheets of paper fed out from the upper- and lower-side paper trays are delivered along the upper or lower surface of the second paper feed roller 14 and a are then fed into a common registration roller 10 without providing a delivery roller on the way. A holder 18 for supporting a handling member 16 to be contacted with the second paper feed roller 14 is supported by the paper tray 12 and can be retreated downwardly when pulling out the paper tray 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoto Sugimura
  • Patent number: 6682237
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed herein for enabling dual-loading of print media through a printzone of a printing device. Further characteristics and features of the present invention are additionally disclosed herein, as are exemplary alternative embodiments. This abstract is not to be used in the interpretation of any of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Thomas Cocklin, Richard L. Brinkly
  • Patent number: 6652173
    Abstract: A ticket dispensing mechanism (40) includes a drive (42) receiving sheet material (24) from a supply (22). The drive advances the sheet material. A printer (48) prints ticket information on the sheet material as it is advanced by the drive thereby to form a printed ticket. A retaining mechanism (64) receives the printed ticket advanced by the drive and holds the printed ticket in a manner such that the leading end of the next ticket printed contacts and ejects the held ticket prior to itself being held by the retaining mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Spielo Manufacturing Incorporated
    Inventors: Calvin Duke Martini, Eugene Anthony Helmetsie, Paul Chiasson
  • Patent number: 6648533
    Abstract: A label making inkjet printer applies print imaging directly to the adhesive side of a media provided in sheet-form and in reel-form. Because inkjet printing is a non-contact printing method, print imaging may be applied to the adhesive side of the media. According to one embodiment, a user manually pulls tape-form media through the printer while encoding signals detect linear movement of the media and provide basis for synchronizing operation of an inkjet print head. According to another embodiment, a motorized media transport carries tape-form media on a pair of media transport belts past an inkjet print head. The resulting adhesive label when applied to a contact surface substantially disappears due to its transparent nature leaving visible only print imaging applied thereto and captured between the protective tape media and contact surface therebelow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Clement C. Lo, Thomas A. Saksa, Andrew S. P. Chiu
  • Patent number: 6558055
    Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a printer having a ribbon guide capable of reflecting light emitted from a paper detection sensor away from the paper detection sensor in the absence of a printing paper. As a result, the possibility of erroneous recognition of paper detection is eliminated. There are provided a print head 1, a ribbon guide 3 attached to the print head, and a reflection-type paper detection sensor 4 arranged on a side of the platen in a manner opposed to a printing paper P passing between the platen and the ribbon guide 3 to emit light for detecting the printing paper. The ribbon guide 3 is formed with sloped surfaces 3b and 3d that are inclined relative to a surface of a printing paper P to reflect the light emitted from the paper detection sensor 4 toward a position away from the paper detection sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Precision Inc.
    Inventors: Mitsuharu Shishido, Yuji Nakagaki
  • Patent number: 6540420
    Abstract: A transport roller 32 has high rigidity and the surface supported at its center portion thereof is formed as a low-friction surface 32a by the polish finishing process and the surface thereof except for the low-friction surface is formed as a high-friction surface 32b by the ceramic coating process. The driven roller 33 is disposed so as to oppose to the low-friction surface in a manner that the surface thereof extends over the boundary of the low-friction surface 32a and the high-friction surface 32b. The driven roller 33 may be disposed in a manner that the surface thereof extends over the entire width of the low-friction surface 32a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Fujioka, Hiroshi Asawa
  • Patent number: 6533478
    Abstract: A control unit controls a cut roller and a pinch roller according to a detection output signal representing the type of roll paper, thereby directly delivering a printed paper not requiring protection treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinichi Matsuyama
  • Patent number: 6511240
    Abstract: A miniaturized rolled-paper holding mechanism is capable of detecting the residual quantity of rolled-paper in both horizontally and vertically installed states of a printer. The rolled-paper holding mechanism includes a rolled-paper holder, a holder cover, a positioning member, and a residual-paper-quantity sensor. The positioning member is structured such that, as the holder cover is opened or closed, the inclination angle of the positioning member is varied with respect to a second-bottom-portion inclined surface formed in the rolled-paper holder. Further, a second positioning groove—which, when the holder cover is closed, can be contacted with rolled-paper R having a given diameter—is formed between the positioning member and the second-bottom-portion inclined surface of the rolled-paper holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiko Yamada
  • Patent number: 6450711
    Abstract: In high speed reproduction apparatus in which closely spaced printed sheets are sequentially fed downstream in a sheet path at a process velocity, a dual inverter system of two independent but cooperative sheet inverters is sheet control gated to receive alternate sheets from the sheet path for inversion in the alternate independent sheet inverters. These dual alternate sheet inverters may advantageously operate at substantially the same sheet velocity as the connecting sheet path, instead of the much higher speed and acceleration/deceleration typical of conventional single inverter systems. Yet the original collated sequential sheet order is maintained. The two independent but cooperative alternate sheet inverters may be operatively connected in series spaced along the sheet path to be alternatingly fed alternate sheets from the sheet path by separate gates and to return sheets to the same sheet path at different locations, or, connected in parallel with the sheet path by a single decision gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Brian R. Conrow
  • Patent number: 6443645
    Abstract: A cabinet is formed on the top face with an entry opening for rolled paper, and a storage section for accommodating the rolled paper. A cover is provided for opening/closing the entry opening, and the upper front of the cover is provided as a slipsheet entry face for inserting a slipsheet. The slipsheet entry face is formed in one side margin with a slipsheet guide along the insertion direction of the slipsheet. A paper discharge slot of the rolled paper is formed by a gap between a buff portion of the cabinet and the tip of the cover, when the cover is closed. The paper discharge slot is at a position lower than that of the slipsheet entry face. A slipsheet print section is placed on the upper rear portion of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiki Takei, Yutaka Akahori
  • Patent number: 6435743
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a media supply section and a media take-up section. Each section is capable of accepting a plurality of cassettes. On the supply section side, the cassettes can contain a roll of photosensitive material that is to be processed through a printing section. The cassettes on the take-up sections are initially empty and are designed to receive the web of photosensitive material after the web has been conveyed through the printing section. The cassettes can be provided at a plurality of locations and can be angularly positioned with respect to each other. A single transport assembly can be provided at each of the supply section and take-up section, and can be rotatable about a rotatable point so as to accept or discharge media to each of the appropriate cassettes. A splicer is provided on the transport assembly in the supply section, for splicing the end of the material from an empty cassette, and is also rotatable with the transport assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Christopher J. Kralles, John G. Weigand, Michael J. Chapman
  • Patent number: 6431704
    Abstract: A printer device for interconnection with a computer system comprising a printer head unit including an ink jet print head for printing images on print media and further having a cavity therein for insertion of a consumable print roll unit; and a print roll unit containing a consumable print media and ink for insertion into said cavity, said ink being utilised by said ink jet print head for printing images on said print media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 6412995
    Abstract: A platen has an impact surface positioned to oppose a printhead so that a part of a printhead strikes paper loaded on the impact surface. The platen includes a first impact surface having a curved surface, a second impact surface having a curved surface, and an opening formed between the first and second impact surfaces. The platen is rotatable about an axis such that the first and second impact surfaces are selectively positioned to oppose the printhead. Paper advances into the platen and passes through the opening from an inside of the platen to outside of the platen so that the paper extends to cover the first impact surface, and another paper advances to the second impact surface. The impact surfaces may have different curvatures with respect to the axis. A projection may be formed on the impact surface and extends transversely of the paper advancement. The projection is substantially configured to the flection of the paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignees: Oki Data Corporation, Oki Data Systems, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigemi Togashi, Yoichi Goto, Akihiro Moriyama
  • Patent number: 6406201
    Abstract: An auxiliary print media tray or cartridge forms part of a print media handling system that provides for holding two discrete supplies of print media in a manner that permits the user to select printing media from one supply or another, without the need for first emptying either of the supplies. The print media is oriented in a manner such that both supplies engage a common media feed mechanism, such as pick and feed rollers. As a result, a printer that employs two discrete media supplies is provided without the increased manufacturing cost or size that would otherwise be required if duplicate pick and feed rollers (or related components) were employed. One embodiment of the present invention is particularly adapted for holding in an auxiliary tray a supply of relatively small print media, such as photo-type paper that is popular as a medium upon which high-quality digital images may be printed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Robert K Beretta, Kevin I. Campbell, Paul W Martin, Raymond C Sherman, Jeffrey G. Bingham
  • Patent number: 6402404
    Abstract: A sheet supply control apparatus for a printing press includes a sucker, a memory, a sheet detector, a counter, and a CPU. The sucker supplies sheets to a printing unit one by one with a predetermined supply interval. A count of sheets to be supplied to the printing unit is set in the memory. The sheet detector detects the sheets supplied from the sucker. The counter counts sheets supplied from the sucker after the sheet detector detects a first sheet. The CPU controls supply operation of the sucker, on the basis of the count preset in the memory and the count of the counter, such that the count of sheets supplied from the sucker coincides with the count preset in the memory. A sheet supply control method for a printing press is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Komori Corporation
    Inventors: Toshikazu Tomita, Satoru Eguchi
  • Publication number: 20020054780
    Abstract: The present invention provides a paper tray for a printer or a like device that includes both means for holding paper prior to printing thereon, and means for receiving paper exiting from the printer. In this way a single paper tray can both supply to and receive paper from the printer, and therefore it is only necessary to provide access to one side of the printer in which the tray is inserted. The printer may therefore be incorporated as part of a stack of other electrical/electronic items such as audio-visual equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2000
    Publication date: May 9, 2002
    Inventor: Andrew Shun Pui Chiu
  • Patent number: 6361163
    Abstract: An inkjet printer, and method of assembling the printer, for printing an image on a first receiver of a first size and on a second receiver of a second size. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first receiver is fed in a first direction and the second receiver is fed in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The printer includes an ink jet print head movable in the first direction to print the image on the first receiver in one printing pass and movable to-and-fro in the first direction for printing the image on the second receiver in at least one printing swath. Thus, printing on differently sized receivers is obtained without reorienting the receivers or changing-out the print head to a different size print head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: William Y. Fowlkes
  • Patent number: 6360657
    Abstract: A printer is capable of stably feeding even a thin recording medium to a printing section and obtaining good print quality similar to that obtainable in the case of a thick recording medium. The printer comprises a first supply path for supplying a first recording medium, a second supply path for supplying a second recording medium thicker than the first recording medium, a printing section for printing on a recording medium supplied from the first supply path or the second supply path, and a delivery section for delivering the recording medium printed in the printing section. A guide spring member which is movable up and down is projected upstream of the printing section and in a meeting portion of the first supply path and the second supply path. This guide spring member serves to support a top surface of the first recording medium at a predetermined height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Seiko Precision, Inc.
    Inventors: Naoki Tanabe, Satoru Tada
  • Patent number: 6345782
    Abstract: A printer in which a cover to the roll paper holder in which roll paper is held can be easily opened even when such problems as a roll paper jam occur. Opening and closing a cover (30) to the roll paper loading mechanism (2) of the printer is detected by a photointerrupter (288) detecting whether the locking lever (280) is in a locked or unlocked position. When the lock is unlocked, an cover unlocked signal is asserted to the drive control unit (39). The drive control unit (39) then drives a solenoid (62B) to switch the drive motor (61) torque transfer path from the roll paper gear train to the slip form gear train. This disengages a first gear (71) on the printer and an engaging paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Nakayama, Kohei Osawa
  • Patent number: 6341839
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to the field of ink-jet printers used for color printing of large format articles. This invention is used for improving quality and for increasing the yield of printers and comprises successively applying primary colors, suppressing color aberrations when printing a semi-transparent material on both sides, precisely positioning the head when printing an image on the substrate and eliminating the lines connecting the carriage to the systems supplying control signals, air and inks. To this end, the carriage with the jet heads is moved in one direction along a closed guiding rail which is fitted with a hatched ruler for precise positioning, wherein the heads will thus bypass the substrate on both sides while information is transmitted from the device control unit to the carriage using a radio transceiver. The printer can further be (equipped With two independent and parallel substrate feeding systems for performing a one-sided printing on two substrates at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Inventors: Vladislav Sergeevich Burikov, Alexandr Viktorovich Bokarev, Igor Vyacheslavovich Burikov, Vladimir Vasilievich Kozlov
  • Patent number: 6325503
    Abstract: A hardcopy printing mechanism and a greeting card feeder retrofit kit therefor, along with an operating method are provided for printing images on a first-sized media, and on both surfaces a second-sized greeting card media without removing the first-sized media from its normal supply tray. The hardcopy device may be an electrophotographic or inkjet printer preferably equipped with a duplexer module which inverts media from a printed first surface to an opposing second surface for printing an image thereon. For a printer having an alignment surface, and a width adjuster to push the first-sized media against the alignment surface, the greeting card feeder includes a biasing member which pushes the card stock against the alignment surface. The retrofit kit includes a supply of pre-scored greeting card stock and a software program with a group of greeting card images for a consumer to select from to print store-bought quality greeting cards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Thomas E. McCue, Jr., Mark Garboden, Todd M. Gaasch
  • Publication number: 20010046405
    Abstract: A large printer comprises a paper feeding unit in which at least one roll of paper and at least one sheet of paper including a stiff carton to be supplied are loaded, the paper feeding unit being located at a height that enables a user standing in front of the printer to execute the paper feeding process including replacement of the roll paper and setting the sheet of paper. A printing unit is located below the paper feeding unit. A discharged paper stacking unit is located below the printing unit. A paper feeding path extends from the paper feeding unit to the discharged paper stacking unit via the printing unit so as to be substantially straight. The feeding unit includes at least a pair of spindle receptacles into which both ends of an elongated spindle, on which a paper roll is mounted, are inserted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 1999
    Publication date: November 29, 2001
    Inventor: KENICHI MIYAZAKI
  • Patent number: 6290410
    Abstract: A modular duplex media handling system used in conjunction with a simplex media handling print recording apparatus, includes a drive roller having a simple gear linkage. The simple gear linkage provides a fixed rotational relationship between the drive roller and a feed roller of the simplex handling apparatus. A media guide pivots about the drive roller's axle between a first position into which it is biased, and a second position into which it is deflected by a media sheet. From the first position, a media sheet retracting from a print zone can enter the duplex media handling system. From the second position, a media sheet can move from the input tray around the feed roller into the print zone, or move out of the duplex media handling system back into the input tray to await refeeding for second side printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Craig D. Sunada, Carl D. Beckett, Kevin D. O'Hara, Jeffrey R. Blackman
  • Patent number: 6283653
    Abstract: A printing apparatus having a plurality of print modes and a plurality of paper feeding means is constructed by means for designating the print mode, means for selecting the paper feeding means, and means for discriminating whether a print medium corresponding to the designated print mode coincides with a print medium corresponding to the selected paper feeding means or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuichi Higuchi
  • Patent number: 6280106
    Abstract: A print media feeder system to automatically change the supply of a printing medium in a printer between a feeder mode of medium in continuous band form and a feeder mode of medium in cut sheet form, comprising a pair of rollers arranged at a point along a first movement path of a first printing medium in continuous band form, said point being loacated between the input for said first medium and the main roller pulling the same and which rollers can be made to cooperate to, selectively, pull said first medium in one or the other direction along said first movement path; valve means for the printing medium arranged to cooperate with said main pulling roller for the purpose of allowing the passage, along the length of said first movement path, of said first medium towards or from a printing area, and to prevent passage of a second printing medium in cut sheet form from said printing area, around said main roller and along said first movement path, which valve means divert said second printing medium in cut shee
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Fernando Juan, Juan Carlos Hernandez
  • Publication number: 20010010774
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a media supply section and a media take-up section. Each section is capable of accepting a plurality of cassettes. On the supply section side, the cassettes can contain a roll of photosensitive material that is to be processed through a printing section. The cassettes on the take-up sections are initially empty and are designed to receive the web of photosensitive material after the web has been conveyed through the printing section. The cassettes can be provided at a plurality of locations and can be angularly positioned with respect to each other. A single transport assembly can be provided at each of the supply section and take-up section, and can be rotatable about a rotatable point so as to accept or discharge media to each of the appropriate cassettes. A splicer is provided on the transport assembly in the supply section, for splicing the end of the material from an empty cassette, and is also rotatable with the transport assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventors: Christopher J. Kralles, John G. Weigand, Michael J. Chapman