Toshiba has been granted a patent for a sheet conveying device that includes a placement tray, a presence detection sensor, and a control unit. The control unit delays the determination of the presence or absence of a sheet on the tray to a predetermined timing when certain conditions are met. The device also includes next-sheet feeding sensors to detect the presence or absence of the sheet along the path of conveyance. GlobalData’s report on Toshiba gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Toshiba, Battery management systems was a key innovation area identified from patents. Toshiba's grant share as of September 2023 was 26%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Sheet conveying device with delayed presence detection based on conditions
A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US11772917B2) describes a sheet conveying device and an image forming apparatus with improved sheet detection capabilities. The sheet conveying device includes a placement tray for holding a sheet, a presence detection sensor to detect the presence or absence of a sheet on the tray, and a control unit that delays the determination of sheet presence or absence to a predetermined timing under certain conditions. These conditions include when the lifted amount of the tray reaches a specified value or when a predetermined number of sheets have been fed. The device also includes first and second next-sheet feeding sensors to detect the presence or absence of the sheet along the path of conveyance. The control unit determines the presence or absence of the sheet based on the detection result obtained after the predetermined timing is reached.
In addition, the presence detection sensor has an end portion that protrudes onto the placement tray when the absence of the sheet is detected, and does not protrude when the presence of the sheet is detected. This feature enhances the accuracy of sheet detection.
The sheet conveying device further includes a registration roller for adjusting the output timing of the sheet, and the second next-sheet feeding sensor is installed between the next-sheet feeding sensor and the registration roller. This arrangement ensures precise sheet feeding and registration.
The device also offers a first mode in which the determination timing of sheet presence or absence is delayed to the predetermined timing, and a second mode that prioritizes document exchange speed. The control unit can switch between these modes based on the specific requirements.
The image forming apparatus, which incorporates the sheet conveying device, includes a storage unit to store a second sheet and a printer unit to form an image on the second sheet based on image information generated from the first sheet. This allows for efficient printing and image formation.
Overall, this patent presents advancements in sheet conveying and detection technology, offering improved accuracy and efficiency in sheet handling and image formation processes.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
