IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,649,640
Granted Patent B2
US 12,649,640 · App. 18/559,521 · Granted Jun 9, 2026

Medium discharge device, control method, and control program

Inventors: Kiichiro Shimosaka (Kahoku, JP); Syuichi Morikawa (Kahoku, JP)
Assignee: PFU LIMITED
B65H43/08B65H29/125B65H29/14B65H43/04
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,649,640
App. No.
18/559,521
Granted
Jun 9, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided are a medium ejection apparatus, a control method, and a control program to enable precise determination of whether abnormal ejection of a medium has occurred. A medium ejection apparatus includes an ejection roller to eject a medium, a tray to stack the medium ejected by the ejection roller, a first optical sensor located above the ejection roller and including a first light emitter to emit light toward the tray and a first light receiver to generate a first optical signal based on received light, a second optical sensor located above the ejection roller and including a second light emitter to emit light toward a downstream side of the tray in a medium ejecting direction and a second light receiver to generate a second optical signal based on received light, a determination module to determine whether abnormal ejection of the medium has occurred based on the first optical signal and the second optical signal, and a control module to execute abnormality processing when it is determined that abnormal ejection of the medium has occurred.

Claims (52)

1 . A medium ejection apparatus comprising:

an ejection roller to eject a medium;

a tray to stack the medium ejected by the ejection roller;

an optical sensor including a light emitter, including a light emitting diode, to emit light toward a downstream side of the tray in a medium ejecting direction such that the light intersects with an extension surface of a placement surface of the tray and a light receiver, including a photodiode, to generate an optical signal based on received light; and

a processor to execute abnormality processing based on the optical signal.

2 . The medium ejection apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the processor determines whether abnormal ejection of the medium has occurred based on the optical signal, and wherein

the processor executes abnormality processing when it is determined abnormal ejection of the medium has occurred.

3 . The medium ejection apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein

the processor sets determination sensitivity to abnormal ejection of a medium specified by a user, and wherein

the processor determines whether abnormal ejection of the medium has occurred based on the set determination sensitivity.

4 . The medium ejection apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a second optical sensor located above the ejection roller and including a second light emitter, including a light emitting diode, to emit light toward the tray and a second light receiver, including a photodiode, to generate a second optical signal based on received light, wherein

the optical sensor is located above the ejection roller, and wherein

the processor executes abnormality processing based on the optical signal and the second optical signal.

5 . The medium ejection apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein

the processor determines whether abnormal ejection of the medium has occurred based on the optical signal and the second optical signal, and wherein

the processor executes abnormality processing when it is determined that abnormal ejection of the medium has occurred.

6 . The medium ejection apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the processor determines, as abnormal ejection of the medium, whether curling of a front edge of the medium, curling of a rear edge of the medium, non-falling of the rear edge of the medium, flying out of the medium being ejected from the tray, push-out of the medium which has been ejected by the medium being ejected, or change in an order of the media stacked on the tray has occurred.

7 . The medium ejection apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the processor detects a length of the medium, and wherein

the processor executes abnormality processing further based on the length of the medium.

8 . The medium ejection apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the processor detects a thickness of the medium, and wherein

the processor executes abnormality processing further based on the thickness of the medium.

9 . A control method, the method comprising:

executing abnormality processing based on an optical signal generated by an optical sensor including a light emitter, including a light emitting diode, to emit light toward a downstream side of a tray to stack a medium ejected by an ejection roller in a medium ejecting direction such that the light intersects with an extension surface of a placement surface of the tray and a light receiver, including a photodiode, to generate the optical signal based on received light.

10 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein

whether abnormal ejection of the medium has occurred is determined based on the optical signal, and wherein

abnormality processing is executed when it is determined abnormal ejection of the medium has occurred.

11 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein

the optical sensor is located above the ejection roller, and wherein

abnormality processing is executed based on the optical signal and a second optical signal generated by a second optical sensor located above the ejection roller and including a second light emitter, including a light emitting diode, to emit light toward the tray and a second light receiver, including a photodiode, to generate a second optical signal based on received light.

12 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein

whether abnormal ejection of the medium has occurred is determined based on the optical signal and the second optical signal, and wherein

abnormality processing is executed when it is determined that abnormal ejection of the medium has occurred.

13 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein, as abnormal ejection of the medium, whether curling of a front edge of the medium, curling of a rear edge of the medium, non-falling of the rear edge of the medium, flying out of the medium being ejected from the tray, push-out of the medium which has been ejected by the medium being ejected, or change in an order of the media stacked on the tray has occurred is determined.

14 . The method according to claim 7 , further comprising detecting a length of the medium, wherein

abnormality processing is executed further based on the length of the medium.

15 . A computer-readable, non-transitory medium storing executable instructions, the executable instructions comprising:

executing abnormality processing based on an optical signal generated by an optical sensor including a light emitter, including a light emitting diode, to emit light toward a downstream side of a tray to stack a medium ejected by an ejection roller in a medium ejecting direction such that the light intersects with an extension surface of a placement surface of the tray and a light receiver, including a photodiode, to generate the optical signal based on received light.

16 . The computer-readable, non-transitory medium according to claim 15 , wherein

the optical sensor is located above the ejection roller, and wherein

abnormality processing is executed based on the optical signal and a second optical signal generated by a second optical sensor located above the ejection roller and including a second light emitter, including a light emitting diode, to emit light toward the tray and a second light receiver, including a photodiode, to generate a second optical signal based on received light.

17 . The computer-readable, non-transitory medium according to claim 16 , wherein

whether abnormal ejection of the medium has occurred is determined based on the optical signal and the second optical signal, and wherein

abnormality processing is executed when it is determined that abnormal ejection of the medium has occurred.

18 . The computer-readable, non-transitory medium according to claim 17 , wherein, as abnormal ejection of the medium, whether curling of a front edge of the medium, curling of a rear edge of the medium, non-falling of the rear edge of the medium, flying out of the medium being ejected from the tray, push-out of the medium which has been ejected by the medium being ejected, or change in an order of the media stacked on the tray has occurred is determined.

19 . The computer-readable, non-transitory medium according to claim 15 , the executable instructions further comprise detecting a length of the medium, wherein

abnormality processing is executed further based on the length of the medium.

20 . The computer-readable, non-transitory medium according to claim 15 , wherein

whether abnormal ejection of the medium has occurred is determined based on the optical signal, and wherein

abnormality processing is executed when it is determined abnormal ejection of the medium has occurred.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 15, 2023
From: SHIMOSAKA, KIICHIRO; MORIKAWA, SYUICHI
To: PFU LIMITED
Reel/Frame 065570/0899 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240317538A1 · Sep 26, 2024
References Cited (12)
US 7942413B2 · Eguchi · 2011 [cited by examiner]
JP 2000118824A · 2000 [cited by applicant]
JP 2001122498A · 2001 [cited by applicant]
JP 200326370A · 2003 [cited by applicant]
JP 2007119148A · 2007 [cited by applicant]
JP 2009120321A · 2009 [cited by applicant]
JP 2020203761A · 2020 [cited by applicant]
JP 202114328A · 2021 [cited by applicant]
Japanese Office Action dated Feb. 7, 2024 regarding Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-522099 corresponding to U.S. Appl. No. 18/559,521 (3 pages) with English Translation (5 pages). [cited by applicant]
International Search Report dated Jun. 29, 2021 for corresponding PCT Application No. PCT/JP2021/019057 (3 pages) with English Translation (2 pages). [cited by applicant]
Written Opinion dated Jun. 29, 2021 for corresponding PCT Application No. PCT/JP2021/019057 (4 pages) with English Translation (4 pages). [cited by applicant]
International Preliminary Report on Patentability dated Nov. 21, 2023 for corresponding PCT Application No. PCT/JP2021/019057 (5 pages) with English Translation (5 pages). [cited by applicant]