# US 7,609,423 B2 · Sheet transfer apparatus having a light volume detection means for detecting a deviation amount of a sheet and image reading apparatus having the sheet transfer apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,609,423 B2 - Document ID: US7609423B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/854,194 - Filed: 2004-05-27 - Published: 2005-08-25 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2003-05-28 - Assignees: Nisca Corporation; Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Kazuhide Sano; Shunichi Hirose - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7609423B2 ## CPC - H04N 1/00702: {Position} - B65H 5/062: {between rollers or balls} - B65H 7/10: responsive to incorrect side register (controlling transverse register of webs B65H23/032) - B65H 7/14: by photoelectric feelers or detectors - G03G 15/607: {for detecting size, presence or position of original} - H04N 1/00734: {Optical detectors} - H04N 1/00748: {Detecting edges, e.g. of a stationary sheet} - H04N 1/00755: {Detecting an interruption of light} - H04N 1/00766: {Storing data} - H04N 1/00774: {Adjusting or controlling} - H04N 1/053: in main scanning direction, e.g. synchronisation of line start or picture elements in a line - B65H 2511/12: Width - B65H 2511/20: Location in space - B65H 2553/412: in barrier arrangements, i.e. emitter facing a receptor element - B65H 2553/81: on a movable element - B65H 2801/06: Office-type machines, e.g. photocopiers - B65H 2801/39: Scanning - H04N 1/1013: {with sub-scanning by translatory movement of at least a part of the main-scanning components (H04N1/107 takes precedence)} - H04N 1/12: using the sheet-feed movement {or the medium-advance or the drum-rotation movement} as the slow scanning component, {e.g. arrangements for the main-scanning}({sheet-feed movement by translatory movement of a flat picture-bearing surface H04N1/1008; main-scanning using oscillating or rotating mirrors H04N1/113; } using multi-element arrays H04N1/19) - H04N 1/2032: {of two pictures corresponding to two sides of a single medium (refeeding a sheet for double-sided scanning H04N1/00572)} - H04N 2201/04712: using unbroken arrays of detectors, i.e. detectors mounted on the same substrate - H04N 2201/04729: in the main-scan direction - H04N 2201/04734: Detecting at frequent intervals, e.g. once per line for sub-scan control - H04N 2201/04737: by detecting the scanned medium directly, e.g. a leading edge - H04N 2201/04781: Controlling the phase of the signals - H04N 2201/04789: in the main-scan direction - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract The present invention comprises a light volume detection means for detecting the light volume according to the deviation amount at a sheet transfer position in the width direction of a sheet end to be transferred, the light volume detection mean being constituted by a light emitting element and a light receiving element having a light receiving surface of a prescribed length in the width direction of the sheet, and at least either said light receiving element or the light emitting element can be moved to a position in the sheet width direction according to the size of the sheet placed on the feed tray. Therefore, even if the size of the sheet transferred by the transfer means is different, the light volume detection means is able to detect the light volume at an adequate position according to the size of the sheet, the detection accuracy of the position deviation amount is enhanced with respect to the sheet different in size, and the accurate deviation amount can be detected. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sheet transfer apparatus for transferring a sheet to a read position for reading a sheet image, comprising: a feed tray capable of placing sheets of a plurality of sizes in which a length in a width direction of the sheet perpendicular to a transfer direction of the sheet is different; a discharge device for storing the sheets read at said read position; a transfer means for transferring the sheet placed on said feed tray to the prescribed read position; and a light volume detection means arranged upstream in the transfer direction of said read position to detect a light volume according to a deviation amount at a sheet transfer position in the width direction of a sheet end to be transferred, wherein said light volume detection means comprises a light emitting means and a light receiving means having a light receiving surface of a prescribed length in the width direction of the sheet, said light receiving means is arranged on an opposite side of said light emitting means with a sheet transfer channel interposed, and wherein said light emitting means comprises a plurality of elements which is positioned in the width direction of the sheet on said feed tray while said light receiving means is movable with respect to the plurality of elements according to the sizes of the sheets. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sheet transfer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transfer channel extends from said feed tray to said discharge tray through said read position and is formed into an approximately U-shape, said plurality of light emitting means is installed internally of said approximately U-shaped transfer channel, and said light receiving means is installed movably externally of said approximately U-shaped transfer channel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sheet transfer apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an operating means for moving said light receiving means to a position corresponding to the sheet size, and an apparatus outer cover formed with an opening for enabling operation of said operating means from outside. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The sheet transfer apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an actuator for moving said light receiving means in the width direction of the sheet, and a control means for controlling said actuator so as to move said light receiving means to a position according to the size of the sheet. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The sheet transfer apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a means for moving said light emitting means to a position corresponding to the size of the sheet in association with movement of said light receiving means. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The sheet transfer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a range of incident light incident on said light receiving means from said light emitting means is controlled, a diaphragm member formed with a diaphragm opening for setting a detection area of said light volume detection means is provided between said light emitting means and said light receiving means, and said diaphragm member is moved in association with movement of said light receiving means. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The sheet transfer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said feed tray places the sheet with a central portion in the sheet width direction as a reference. ### Claim 8 An image reading apparatus for reading an image of a sheet to be transferred to a prescribed read position, comprising: a feed tray capable of placing sheets of a plurality of sizes in which a length in a width direction of the sheet perpendicular to a transfer direction of the sheet is different; a discharge device for storing sheets read at said read position; a transfer means for transferring the sheet placed on said feed tray to the prescribed read position; a reading means for reading the image of the sheet transferred by said transfer means at said read position, a light volume detection means arranged upstream in the transfer direction of said read position to detect a light volume according to a deviation amount at a sheet transfer position in the width direction of a sheet end to be transferred, and an operation means for calculating the deviation amount with respect to a reference position of said sheet transfer position on a basis of an output signal of said light volume detection means, wherein said light volume detection means comprises a light emitting means and a light receiving means having a light receiving surface of a prescribed length in the width direction of the sheet, and said light receiving means is arranged on an opposite side of said light emitting means with a sheet transfer channel interposed, and wherein said light emitting means comprises a plurality of elements which is positioned in the width direction of the sheet on said feed tray while said light receiving means is movable with respect to the plurality of elements according to the sizes of the sheets. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The image reading apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising: a storage means for temporarily storing image data of said sheet read by said reading means, and a correction means for correcting the read position of the image data stored in said storage means according to the deviation amount calculated by said operation means. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The image reading apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising: a correction means for correcting a sheet read area by said reading means according to said deviation amount calculated by said operation means. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The image reading apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said correction means corrects a read start position of the sheet in a main scanning direction perpendicular to the sheet transfer direction by said reading means according to said deviation amount calculated by said operation means.