US4873547A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sheet conveying apparatus
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1989-02-16
•
Granted: 1989-10-10
•
Expires: 2009-02-16
Abstract
Abstract An image forming apparatus includes sheet accommodating cassette for accommodating sheets, a device for forming images on the sheets, a first sheet conveying passage for conveying the sheet to the image forming device from the sheet accommodating cassette, a conveyor for accommodating a bundle of sheets having been subjected to an image forming operation by the image forming means at first sides thereof in a form in which leading edges of the sheets are gradually deviated in a sheet advancement direction, and for conveying the bundle as a whole, a feeder, disposed downstream of the conveyor with respect to the sheet advancement direction, for feeding one by one the sheets of the bundle from the sheet closest to the feeder, a second sheet conveying passage merging into the first passage for refeeding to the image forming device the sheets fed by the feeder, and a confining device for confining the sheets of the bundle other than the sheet being fed by the feeder.
Inventors
- 👤 Nobukazu Sasaki
- 👤 Toshirou Kasamura
- 👤 Masashi Ohashi
- 👤 Naoki Okuda
- 👤 Toshihiko Kusumoto
- 👤 Yasunori Maeda
- 👤 Takashi Ozawa
- 👤 Yasuyoshi Yamamoto
- 👤 Atsushi Kubota
- 👤 Akiyoshi Kimura
- 👤 Makoto Masuda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 06:32
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/65; G03G15/6555; G03G15/6579; B; B65; B65H; B65H1/00; B65H1/08; B65H1/22; B65H3/00; B65H3/02; B65H3/06; B65H83/00; B65H83/02; G03G15/22; G03G15/23; G03G15/231; G03G15/232; G03G15/234; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/00362; G03G2215/00367; G03G2215/00417; G03G2215/0043
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 61
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
A sheet conveying apparatus, comprising: conveying means for accommodating a bundle of sheets in a form in which leading edges of the sheets are gradually deviated in a sheet advancement direction, and for conveying the bundle as a whole; feeding means, disposed downstream of said conveying means with respect to the sheet advancement direction, for feeding one by one the sheets of the bundle from the sheet closest to said feeding means; and confining means for confining the sheets of the bundle other than the sheet being fed by said feeding means, said confining means including first and second members for gripping and stopping the bundle of the sheet by contacting respective sides of the bundle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
116 words
A sheet conveying apparatus, comprising: conveying means for accommodating a bundle of sheets in a form in which leading edges of the sheets are gradually deviated in a sheet advancement direction, and for conveying the bundle as a whole; feeding means, disposed downstream of said conveying means with respect to the sheet advancement direction, for feeding one by one the sheets of the bundle from the sheet closest to said feeding means; and confining means for confining the sheets of the bundle other than the sheet being fed by said feeding means, said confining means including first and second members for gripping and stopping the bundle of the sheet by contacting respective sides of the bundle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said conveying means includes a couple of rollers for gripping and moving the sheets therebetween.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said conveying means includes a couple of rollers for gripping and conveying the sheets therebetween, which also function as said confining means by gripping the bundle of the sheets by contacting the respective sides of the bundle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the sheet closest to said feeding means is released from said confining means by conveying the bundle of sheets through a predetermined distance by said couple of rollers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said confining means confines the bundle at different positions in accordance with sizes of the sheets.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said feeding means is effective to shift the sheet being fed thereby in a direction perpendicular to the sheet advancement direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
175 words
A sheet conveying apparatus, comprising: first conveying means for accommodating a bundle of the sheets in a form in which leading edges of the sheets are gradually deviated in a sheet advancement direction, and for conveying the bundle as a whole; second conveying means, disposed upstream of said first conveying means with respect to a sheet advancement direction, for conveying the sheets to said first sheet conveying means; control means for controlling said first conveying means to advance the sheet conveyed from said second conveying means through a first predetermined distance and then to reverse the sheet through a second predetermined distance which is shorter than said first predetermined distance so as to provide the gradual deviation whose distance is a difference between the first and second distances; and sheet guiding means including a guiding member for guiding a trailing edge portion of the sheet, said sheet guiding means guiding the sheet during the reversing of the sheet by said first conveying means so as to prevent the sheet from contacting said second feeding means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
175 words
A sheet conveying apparatus, comprising: first conveying means for accommodating a bundle of the sheets in a form in which leading edges of the sheets are gradually deviated in a sheet advancement direction, and for conveying the bundle as a whole; second conveying means, disposed upstream of said first conveying means with respect to a sheet advancement direction, for conveying the sheets to said first sheet conveying means; control means for controlling said first conveying means to advance the sheet conveyed from said second conveying means through a first predetermined distance and then to reverse the sheet through a second predetermined distance which is shorter than said first predetermined distance so as to provide the gradual deviation whose distance is a difference between the first and second distances; and sheet guiding means including a guiding member for guiding a trailing edge portion of the sheet, said sheet guiding means guiding the sheet during the reversing of the sheet by said first conveying means so as to prevent the sheet from contacting said second feeding means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said sheet guiding means guides a trailing edge portion of the sheet to under said second conveying means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said guiding means is movable.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
149 words
A method of conveying sheets, comprising: conveying a sheet conveyed first conveying means by second conveying means in a predetermined direction; conveying, while the sheet is being acted on by the second conveying means after a trailing edge of the sheet passes through the first conveying means, the sheet in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction by the second conveying means; stopping the second conveying means when an edge of the sheet opposite to the trailing edge reaches a predetermined position which is away from the second conveying means by a predetermined distance toward downstream with respect to the predetermined direction; repeating said conveying and stopping steps each time the sheet is conveyed by the first conveying means to the second conveying means, by which plural sheets are held by the second conveying means with the opposite edges thereof being displaced from adjacent ones by the predetermined distance.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
149 words
A method of conveying sheets, comprising: conveying a sheet conveyed first conveying means by second conveying means in a predetermined direction; conveying, while the sheet is being acted on by the second conveying means after a trailing edge of the sheet passes through the first conveying means, the sheet in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction by the second conveying means; stopping the second conveying means when an edge of the sheet opposite to the trailing edge reaches a predetermined position which is away from the second conveying means by a predetermined distance toward downstream with respect to the predetermined direction; repeating said conveying and stopping steps each time the sheet is conveyed by the first conveying means to the second conveying means, by which plural sheets are held by the second conveying means with the opposite edges thereof being displaced from adjacent ones by the predetermined distance.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 10, wherein the second conveying means is away from the first conveying means by a distance shorter than a length of the sheet measured along its conveyance direction.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 10, wherein the sheet conveyed by the first conveying means is conveyed by the second conveying means in the predetermined direction through a second predetermined distance shorter than a length of the sheet measured along its conveyance direction.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method according to claim 12, wherein after the second conveying means conveys the sheet through the second predetermined distance, the second conveying means conveys the sheet in the opposite direction through a distance which is shorter than the second predetermined distance and then stops the sheet.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
173 words
A sheet conveying apparatus, comprising: first conveying means for conveying a sheet in a predetermined direction; second conveying means for receiving the sheet conveyed by said first conveying means and for further conveying the sheet; detecting means for detecting passage of a trailing edge of the sheet being conveyed in the predetermined direction through said first conveying means; and control means for controlling said second conveying means to convey the sheet in the predetermined direction; to stop the sheet, after said detecting means detects the passage of the trailing edge, when and edge of the sheet opposite to the trailing edge reaches a position which is away from said second conveying means by a first predetermined distance toward downstream with respect to the predetermined direction; to convey the sheet in the direction opposite to the predetermined direction; and to stop the sheet when the opposite edge of the sheet reaches a position which is away from said second conveying means by a second predetermined distance toward downstream with respect to the predetermined direction.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
173 words
A sheet conveying apparatus, comprising: first conveying means for conveying a sheet in a predetermined direction; second conveying means for receiving the sheet conveyed by said first conveying means and for further conveying the sheet; detecting means for detecting passage of a trailing edge of the sheet being conveyed in the predetermined direction through said first conveying means; and control means for controlling said second conveying means to convey the sheet in the predetermined direction; to stop the sheet, after said detecting means detects the passage of the trailing edge, when and edge of the sheet opposite to the trailing edge reaches a position which is away from said second conveying means by a first predetermined distance toward downstream with respect to the predetermined direction; to convey the sheet in the direction opposite to the predetermined direction; and to stop the sheet when the opposite edge of the sheet reaches a position which is away from said second conveying means by a second predetermined distance toward downstream with respect to the predetermined direction.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the first predetermined distance is longer than the second predetermined distance.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said control means further controls said second conveying means to stop the opposite edge of the sheet being conveyed by said first conveying means until a predetermined amount of a loop is formed, and then to start the conveyance in the predetermined direction.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said second conveying means is away from said first conveying means by a distance shorter than a length of the sheet measured along its conveyance direction.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said first conveying means includes a pair of rotatable members.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said second conveying means includes a pair of rotatable members.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said control means controls said second conveying means to repeat the operations of said second conveying means each time the sheet is conveyed thereto, to stack the sheets with the opposite edges thereof being displaced from adjacent ones by the second predetermined distance.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of conveying sheets, comprising: abutting a leading edge of a sheet being conveyed by first conveying means to a second conveying means to form a loop; operating the second conveying means, after the loop is formed, to convey the sheet by the second conveying means; stopping the second conveying means when the leading edge of the sheet reaches a position which is away from the second conveying means by a predetermined distance toward downstream; and repeating said abutting, operating and stopping steps each time an additional sheet is conveyed by the first conveying means so that plural sheets are held by said second conveying means with the leading edges thereof being displaced from adjacent ones by the predetermined distance.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of conveying sheets, comprising: abutting a leading edge of a sheet being conveyed by first conveying means to a second conveying means to form a loop; operating the second conveying means, after the loop is formed, to convey the sheet by the second conveying means; stopping the second conveying means when the leading edge of the sheet reaches a position which is away from the second conveying means by a predetermined distance toward downstream; and repeating said abutting, operating and stopping steps each time an additional sheet is conveyed by the first conveying means so that plural sheets are held by said second conveying means with the leading edges thereof being displaced from adjacent ones by the predetermined distance.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 21, wherein the loop of the sheet is formed on the preceding sheet held by the second conveying means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
149 words
A sheet conveying apparatus, comprising: first conveying means for conveying a sheet in a predetermined direction; second conveying means for receiving the sheet from said first conveying means and for further conveying it; detecting means for detecting passage of the sheet at a predetermined position; control means for controlling said second conveying means to operate said second conveying means to convey the sheet in the predetermined direction, on the basis of the detection by said detecting means, after a loop of the sheet is formed by a leading edge of the sheet being conveyed by said first conveying means being abutted to said second conveying means, and for controlling the second conveying means to stop said second conveying means when the leading edge of the sheet reaches a position which is away from said second conveying means by a predetermined distance toward downstream with respect to the predetermined direction.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
149 words
A sheet conveying apparatus, comprising: first conveying means for conveying a sheet in a predetermined direction; second conveying means for receiving the sheet from said first conveying means and for further conveying it; detecting means for detecting passage of the sheet at a predetermined position; control means for controlling said second conveying means to operate said second conveying means to convey the sheet in the predetermined direction, on the basis of the detection by said detecting means, after a loop of the sheet is formed by a leading edge of the sheet being conveyed by said first conveying means being abutted to said second conveying means, and for controlling the second conveying means to stop said second conveying means when the leading edge of the sheet reaches a position which is away from said second conveying means by a predetermined distance toward downstream with respect to the predetermined direction.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising guiding means for guiding the sheet to pass on the preceding sheet held by said second conveying means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the loop of the sheet is formed on the preceding sheet held by the second conveying means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
69 words
An apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said control means controls said second conveying means to repeat formation of the loop and subsequent conveyance of the sheet by the second conveying means each time the sheet is conveyed thereto from said first conveying means to hold the sheets by said second conveying means with the leading edges thereof being displaced from an adjacent one by the second predetermined distance.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said first conveying means includes a pair of rotatable member.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said second conveying means includes a pair of rotatable members.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of conveying sheets, comprising: conveying a sheet conveyed by first conveying means by second conveying means in a predetermined direction; stopping the second conveying means, while the sheet is being acted on by the second conveying means after a trailing edge of the sheet passes through the first conveying means; conveying the sheet in the predetermined direction by the second conveying means after a leading edge of the sheet overtakes at trailing edge of a preceding sheet; and stopping the second conveying means while the current sheet and the preceding sheet are in said second conveying means.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of conveying sheets, comprising: conveying a sheet conveyed by first conveying means by second conveying means in a predetermined direction; stopping the second conveying means, while the sheet is being acted on by the second conveying means after a trailing edge of the sheet passes through the first conveying means; conveying the sheet in the predetermined direction by the second conveying means after a leading edge of the sheet overtakes at trailing edge of a preceding sheet; and stopping the second conveying means while the current sheet and the preceding sheet are in said second conveying means.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method according to claim 29, wherein said second conveying means is stopped after it receives the second sheet and when the leading edge of the first sheet reaches a position which is away from said second conveying means by a predetermined distance toward downstream with respect to the predetermined direction.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method according to claim 29, wherein said second conveying means is stopped after a trailing edge of the first sheet passes through the first conveying means and when the leading edge of the second sheet reaches a position which is away from said second conveying means by a first predetermined distance toward downstream with respect to the predetermined direction.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method according to claim 31, wherein said second conveying means is stopped after said second conveying means receives the second sheet and when the leading edge of the first sheet reaches a position which is away from said second conveying means by a second predetermined distance toward downstream with respect to the predetermined direction.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
136 words
A sheet conveying apparatus, comprising: first conveying means for conveying a sheet in a predetermined direction; second conveying means for receiving and further conveying the sheet from said first conveying means; trailing edge detecting means for detecting passage of a trailing edge of the sheet, which is being conveyed in the predetermined direction, through said first conveying means; leading edge detecting means for detecting that a leading edge of the sheet, which is being conveyed in the predetermined direction, has reached a predetermined position; and control means for controlling said second conveying means to stop said second conveying means on the basis of detection by said trailing edge detecting means and to start said second conveying means to convey the sheet in the predetermined direction on the basis of detection by said leading edge detecting means.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
136 words
A sheet conveying apparatus, comprising: first conveying means for conveying a sheet in a predetermined direction; second conveying means for receiving and further conveying the sheet from said first conveying means; trailing edge detecting means for detecting passage of a trailing edge of the sheet, which is being conveyed in the predetermined direction, through said first conveying means; leading edge detecting means for detecting that a leading edge of the sheet, which is being conveyed in the predetermined direction, has reached a predetermined position; and control means for controlling said second conveying means to stop said second conveying means on the basis of detection by said trailing edge detecting means and to start said second conveying means to convey the sheet in the predetermined direction on the basis of detection by said leading edge detecting means.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said control means stops said second conveying means on the basis of the detection by said trailing edge detecting means to stop the leading edge of the sheet at a first position, while said second conveying means holds the sheet.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said control means controls said second conveying means to start said second conveying means, while a leading edge of a preceding sheet is at the first position and after the leading edge of the current sheet overtakes a trailing edge of the preceding sheet.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of conveying sheets, comprising: conveying a first sheet conveyed by first conveying means by second conveying means in a predetermined direction; stopping the second conveying means, while the first sheet is being acted on by the second conveying means after a trailing edge of the first sheet passes through the first conveying means; further conveying the first sheet in the predetermined direction by the second conveying means after a leading edge of a second sheet overtakes a trailing edge of the first sheet; and stopping the second conveying means while the first sheet and the second sheet are being acted on by said second conveying means.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of conveying sheets, comprising: conveying a first sheet conveyed by first conveying means by second conveying means in a predetermined direction; stopping the second conveying means, while the first sheet is being acted on by the second conveying means after a trailing edge of the first sheet passes through the first conveying means; further conveying the first sheet in the predetermined direction by the second conveying means after a leading edge of a second sheet overtakes a trailing edge of the first sheet; and stopping the second conveying means while the first sheet and the second sheet are being acted on by said second conveying means.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of conveying a sheet, comprising: providing sheets which are stacked and deviated stepwisely by a predetermined distance in a predetermined conveying direction; conveying the stack of sheets to sheet feeding means by conveying means; stopping said conveying means after a leading edge of a sheet of the stack disposed at a most downstream position with respect to the conveying direction is abutted to said feeding means to form a loop of the sheet and after a trailing edge of the most downstream sheet passes through the conveying means; and then starting said feeding means, while the remaining sheets are held by the conveying means which has been stopped.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of conveying a sheet, comprising: providing sheets which are stacked and deviated stepwisely by a predetermined distance in a predetermined conveying direction; conveying the stack of sheets to sheet feeding means by conveying means; stopping said conveying means after a leading edge of a sheet of the stack disposed at a most downstream position with respect to the conveying direction is abutted to said feeding means to form a loop of the sheet and after a trailing edge of the most downstream sheet passes through the conveying means; and then starting said feeding means, while the remaining sheets are held by the conveying means which has been stopped.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 37, wherein the start of the feeding means is effected after said conveying means stops.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
134 words
A sheet conveying apparatus, comprising: conveying means for holding a stack of sheets which are deviated stepwisely in a predetermined direction and for conveying the stack in the predetermined direction; feeding means for receiving the sheet from said conveying means and feeding it, said feeding means being disposed away from said conveying means toward downstream with respect to the predetermined direction by a distance shorter than a length of the sheet measured along the predetermined direction; detecting means for detecting passage of a trailing edge of a sheet which is most downstream with respect to the predetermined direction through said conveying means; and control means for controlling said conveying means and said feeding means to stop said conveying means and to start said feeding means on the basis of detection by said detecting means.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
134 words
A sheet conveying apparatus, comprising: conveying means for holding a stack of sheets which are deviated stepwisely in a predetermined direction and for conveying the stack in the predetermined direction; feeding means for receiving the sheet from said conveying means and feeding it, said feeding means being disposed away from said conveying means toward downstream with respect to the predetermined direction by a distance shorter than a length of the sheet measured along the predetermined direction; detecting means for detecting passage of a trailing edge of a sheet which is most downstream with respect to the predetermined direction through said conveying means; and control means for controlling said conveying means and said feeding means to stop said conveying means and to start said feeding means on the basis of detection by said detecting means.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said control means controls said conveying means and said feeding means to start said feeding means after stopping said conveying means.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
59 words
An apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said control means controls said conveying means to receive and convey the sheet and to stop said conveying means when a leading edge of the sheet reaches a predetermined position which is away from said conveying means toward downstream by a predetermined distance, each time the sheet comes to said conveying means.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
212 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: means for forming an image on a sheet; first conveying means for conveying in a predetermined direction the sheet on which the image is formed by said image forming means; second conveying means for receiving the sheet conveyed by said first conveying means and for further conveying it; detecting means for detecting passage of a trailing edge of the sheet being conveyed in the predetermined direction through said first conveying means; control means for controlling said second conveying means to convey the sheet in the predetermined direction; to stop the sheet, after said detecting means detects the passage of the trailing edge, when an edge of the sheet opposite to the trailing edge reaches a position which is away from said second conveying means by a first predetermined distance toward downstream with respect to the predetermined direction; to convey the sheet in the direction opposite to the predetermined direction; and to stop the sheet when the opposite edge of the sheet reaches a position which is away from said second conveying means by a second predetermined distance toward downstream with respect to the predetermined direction; and third conveying means for receiving the sheet from said second conveying means and for conveying it to said image forming means.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
212 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: means for forming an image on a sheet; first conveying means for conveying in a predetermined direction the sheet on which the image is formed by said image forming means; second conveying means for receiving the sheet conveyed by said first conveying means and for further conveying it; detecting means for detecting passage of a trailing edge of the sheet being conveyed in the predetermined direction through said first conveying means; control means for controlling said second conveying means to convey the sheet in the predetermined direction; to stop the sheet, after said detecting means detects the passage of the trailing edge, when an edge of the sheet opposite to the trailing edge reaches a position which is away from said second conveying means by a first predetermined distance toward downstream with respect to the predetermined direction; to convey the sheet in the direction opposite to the predetermined direction; and to stop the sheet when the opposite edge of the sheet reaches a position which is away from said second conveying means by a second predetermined distance toward downstream with respect to the predetermined direction; and third conveying means for receiving the sheet from said second conveying means and for conveying it to said image forming means.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
189 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: means for forming an image on a sheet; first conveying means for conveying in a predetermined direction the sheet on which the image is formed by said image forming means; second conveying means for receiving the sheet from said first conveying means and for further conveying it; means for detecting passage of the sheet at a predetermined position; control means for controlling said second conveying means to operate said second conveying means to convey the sheet in the predetermined direction, on the basis of the detection by said detecting means, after a loop of the sheet is formed by a leading edge of the sheet being conveyed by said first conveying means being abutted to said second conveying means, and for controlling the second conveying means to stop said second conveying means when the leading edge of the sheet reaches a position which is away from said second conveying means by a predetermined distance toward downstream with respect to the predetermined direction; and third conveying means for receiving the sheet from said second conveying means and for conveying it to said image forming means.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
189 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: means for forming an image on a sheet; first conveying means for conveying in a predetermined direction the sheet on which the image is formed by said image forming means; second conveying means for receiving the sheet from said first conveying means and for further conveying it; means for detecting passage of the sheet at a predetermined position; control means for controlling said second conveying means to operate said second conveying means to convey the sheet in the predetermined direction, on the basis of the detection by said detecting means, after a loop of the sheet is formed by a leading edge of the sheet being conveyed by said first conveying means being abutted to said second conveying means, and for controlling the second conveying means to stop said second conveying means when the leading edge of the sheet reaches a position which is away from said second conveying means by a predetermined distance toward downstream with respect to the predetermined direction; and third conveying means for receiving the sheet from said second conveying means and for conveying it to said image forming means.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
173 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: means for forming an image on a sheet; first conveying means for conveying in a predetermined direction the sheet on which the image is formed by said image forming means; second conveying means for receiving and further conveying the sheet from said first conveying means; trailing edge detecting means for detecting passage of a trailing edge of the sheet, which is being conveying in the predetermined direction, through said first conveying means; leading edge detecting means for detecting when a leading edge of the sheet, which is being conveyed in the predetermined direction, reaches a predetermined position; and control means for controlling said second conveying means to stop it on the basis of detection by said trailing edge detecting means and to start said second conveying means to convey the sheet in the predetermined direction of the basis of detection by said leading edge detecting means; and third conveying means for receiving the sheet from said second conveying means and for conveying it to said image forming means.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
173 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: means for forming an image on a sheet; first conveying means for conveying in a predetermined direction the sheet on which the image is formed by said image forming means; second conveying means for receiving and further conveying the sheet from said first conveying means; trailing edge detecting means for detecting passage of a trailing edge of the sheet, which is being conveying in the predetermined direction, through said first conveying means; leading edge detecting means for detecting when a leading edge of the sheet, which is being conveyed in the predetermined direction, reaches a predetermined position; and control means for controlling said second conveying means to stop it on the basis of detection by said trailing edge detecting means and to start said second conveying means to convey the sheet in the predetermined direction of the basis of detection by said leading edge detecting means; and third conveying means for receiving the sheet from said second conveying means and for conveying it to said image forming means.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
246 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: means for forming an image on a sheet; a first passage for conveying the sheet on which the image is formed by said image forming means; conveying means for receiving the sheet from said first passage, for holding a plurality of the sheets and for conveying the sheets in a predetermined direction; feeding means for receiving the sheet from said conveying means and feeding it, said feeding means being disposed away from said conveying means toward downstream with respect to the predetermined direction by a distance shorter than a length of the sheet measured along the predetermined direction; first control means for controlling said conveying means to receive and convey the sheet and to stop said conveying means when a leading edge of the sheet reaches a predetermined position which is away from said conveying means toward downstream by a predetermined distance, each time the sheet comes to said conveying means; detecting means for detecting passages through said conveying means of a trailing edge of sheets most downstream with respect to the predetermined direction; second control means for controlling said conveying means and said feeding means to start conveyance of said conveying means after said conveying means holds a plurality of the sheets, and to stop said conveying means and to start said feeding means on the basis of detection by said detecting means; and a second passage for guiding the sheet from said feeding means to said image forming means.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
246 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: means for forming an image on a sheet; a first passage for conveying the sheet on which the image is formed by said image forming means; conveying means for receiving the sheet from said first passage, for holding a plurality of the sheets and for conveying the sheets in a predetermined direction; feeding means for receiving the sheet from said conveying means and feeding it, said feeding means being disposed away from said conveying means toward downstream with respect to the predetermined direction by a distance shorter than a length of the sheet measured along the predetermined direction; first control means for controlling said conveying means to receive and convey the sheet and to stop said conveying means when a leading edge of the sheet reaches a predetermined position which is away from said conveying means toward downstream by a predetermined distance, each time the sheet comes to said conveying means; detecting means for detecting passages through said conveying means of a trailing edge of sheets most downstream with respect to the predetermined direction; second control means for controlling said conveying means and said feeding means to start conveyance of said conveying means after said conveying means holds a plurality of the sheets, and to stop said conveying means and to start said feeding means on the basis of detection by said detecting means; and a second passage for guiding the sheet from said feeding means to said image forming means.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus according to claim 45, further comprising switching means for selectively passing the sheet in said first passage through a first path wherein the orientation of the sheet is reversed and a second path wherein it is not reversed.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-10-09 | 1993-04-10 | 1993-10-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-10-09 | 1997-04-10 | 1997-10-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-10-09 | 2001-04-10 | 2001-10-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |