Patent Grant
9039009
Embodiments described herein relate generally to a sheet feed apparatus and sheet feed method.
An image forming apparatus such as a copy machine, or a facsimile, an image reading apparatus such as a scanner, a color erasing apparatus which erases a printed sheet using a special toner, or the like frequently uses a sheet feed apparatus which continuously feeds a plurality of sheets into the apparatus.
This type of sheet feed apparatus loads a plurality of sheets in a loading unit in piles, and sends sheets one by one into the apparatus from the top of a bundle of sheets. Accordingly, the plurality of sheets which is loaded in the loading unit has to be loaded in a state of being separated one by one, respectively.
However, due to an operational error, or a mistake by a user, there may be a case where a bound sheet bundle of a plurality of sheets which is bound by a staple, a clip, glue, or the like, is placed in the loading unit. When the bound sheet bundle is carried into a main body of the apparatus such as the image reading apparatus, or the color erasing apparatus, there is a problem in that a paper jam occurs in the apparatus, or an internal part of the apparatus is damaged. Therefore, in the sheet feed apparatus, a variety of measures for preventing the bound sheet bundle from being sent into the main body of the apparatus is taken.
For example, a “lift” of a sheet bundle, which occurs when abound sheet bundle is fed, is detected by a “lift” detection unit, using a light emitting element and a light receiving element, as disclosed in JP-A 2009-292575.
However, in the sheet feed apparatus, paper dust is easily generated since sheets rub against each other. For this reason, when configuring the “lift” detection unit using the light emitting element and the light receiving element, there is a possibility that the generated paper dust is attached to the surface of the light emitting element or the light receiving element, and deteriorates a detection performance thereof.
In addition, the light emitting element and the light receiving element are arranged in positions in an upper part of a sheet feed tray in which the sheets are loaded, accordingly, the light emitting element and the light receiving element are usually exposed outside of the apparatus. For this reason, the light receiving element is easily affected by external light such as the westering sun, or room light, accordingly there is a possibility of an occurrence of a detection error due to the external light.
Therefore, a sheet feed apparatus is desired which includes a highly reliable “lift” detection unit which is not affected by paper dust, external light, or the like.
In accompanying drawings,
Embodiment of the sheet feed apparatus and the sheet feed method will be described with reference to accompanying drawings.
The sheet feed apparatus according to the embodiment includes a sheet feed tray in which a plurality of sheets is loaded in piles; a sheet feed roller which is provided at a forward position of the sheet feed tray in a sheet feed direction, and sends the loaded sheets inside thereof; and a lift detection sensor which detects, by using a movable lever, a lift of a sheet bundle which occurs when the sheet bundle, of which a rear or a side in a sheet feed direction is bound, is sent by the sheet feed roller therein, the lift detection sensor being provided at a side position of the sheet bundle in a width direction and at a backward position with respect to the center of the sheet bundle in the sheet feed direction.
(1) First Embodiment
(1-1) Configuration
In the above configuration, the sheet feed unit 200 includes a sheet feed tray 102, a pickup roller 104, a sheet feed roller 105, a separation roller 107, a control unit 201 (refer to
The sheet feed tray 102 loads sheets to be reused. The sheet feed tray 102 loads sheets of a variety of sizes of A4, A3, B5, or the like. The sheets loaded in the sheet feed tray 102 are sheets, for example, on which images are formed using a recording material of which color is erased by being heated at a predetermined temperature or more.
The pickup roller 104, the sheet feed roller 105, and the separation roller 107 which is arranged so as to face the sheet feed roller 105 send the sheet on the sheet feed tray 102 one by one into the first conveying path 118 in the color erasing apparatus 100. The sheet feed tray 102 includes a load detection sensor 103 which detects the presence of the sheet on the sheet feed tray 102. The load detection sensor 103 may be, for example, a micro sensor, or a micro actuator.
In addition, the sheet feed tray 102 is provided with a regulating member 140 which regulates a position of the loaded sheet in the width direction. A lift detection sensor 150 is provided inside the regulating member 140, and in the vicinity thereof. The structure and operation of the lift detection sensor 150 will be described later.
The first conveying path 118 forms a conveying path which goes toward the first tray 110 from the sheet feed tray 102. A sheet feed detection sensor 130 which detects the passage of the sheet is arranged in front of the sheet feed roller 105 and the separation roller 107 in the sheet feed direction. The sheet feed detection sensor 130 is a sensor, for example, which is turned on when the front end of the sheet passes through, and is turned off when the rear end of the sheet passes through. The first conveying path 118 conveys the fed sheet to the reading unit 106, or the first tray 110.
The reading unit 106 is arranged along the first conveying path 118 on the downstream in the sheet conveying direction of the sheet feed tray 102. The reading unit 106 includes, for example, a reading unit such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) scanner, a CMOS sensor, or the like. The reading unit 106 is configured by two reading units which are arranged along the first conveying path 118, and by interposing the conveying path therebetween, and is able to read both sides of images on a conveyed sheet.
The first branching member 124 is present on the downstream side of the reading unit 106 as a switch part. The first branching member 124 switches the conveying direction of the conveyed sheet. The first branching member 124 conveys the sheet which is conveyed from the first conveying path 118 to the second conveying path 120, or the first tray 110. The second conveying path 120 is branched by the first conveying path 118 at a branching point at which the first branching member 124 is arranged. The second conveying path 120 branched by the branching point conveys the sheet to the color erasing unit 108. In addition, the second conveying path 120 joins the first conveying path 118 at a joining point 121 on the upstream of the reading unit 106 in the sheet conveying direction. Accordingly, the second conveying path 120 is able to convey the sheet which is conveyed from the reading unit 106 to the reading unit 106 again through the color erasing unit 108.
The first conveying path 118 includes a second branching member 126 on the downstream of the first branching member 124. The second branching member 126 guides the sheet which is conveyed from the first branching member 124 to the first tray 110, or a third conveying path 122. The third conveying path 122 conveys the sheet to the second tray 112.
The color erasing unit 108 erases color of the image on the conveyed sheet. For example, the color erasing unit 108 erases color of the image which is formed on the sheet using the recording material by heating the sheet up to a predetermined erasing temperature in a state of coming into contact with the conveyed sheet. For example, the color erasing unit 108 of the color erasing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment includes two color erasing units of 108a for erasing a first surface, and 108b for erasing a second surface of the sheet. The color erasing units 108a and 108b are arranged so as to face each other by interposing the second conveying path 120 therebetween. The color erasing unit 108a heats the sheet by being in contact with the sheet from one side surface of the sheet. The color erasing unit 108b heats the sheet by being in contact with the sheet from the other side surface of the sheet. The color erasing unit 108 erases the images on both sides of the sheets to be conveyed by one conveying. The color erasing unit 108 includes temperature sensors 109a and 109b, respectively, which detect a temperature of a heating unit of the color erasing units 108a and 108b. The temperature sensors 109a and 109b may be a contact type, or a non-contact type.
The operation unit 128 which is arranged at the upper side of a main body of the color erasing apparatus 100 includes a touch panel-type display unit, and a variety of operation keys. The operation key includes, for example, a numeric keypad, a stop key, a start key, or the like. A user instructs functional operations of the color erasing apparatus 100 such as a start of the color erasing, reading of the image on the sheet to be erased, or the like, through the operation unit 128. The operation unit 128 displays setting information, an operation status, log information of the color erasing apparatus 100, or a message for a user to be described later.
The discharge rollers 114 and 116 discharge the sheet to the first and second trays 110 and 112 which are vertically arranged at the bottom of the main body. For example, the first tray 110 loads the sheet of which the image thereon is erased, and is reusable. The second tray 112 loads the sheet which is determined as a sheet not reusable. Hereinafter, the first tray 110 is referred to as a reuse tray 110, and the second tray 112 is referred to as a reject tray 112. In addition, the reuse tray 110 and the reject tray 112 are also able to switch a sheet to be received. Setting of respective trays regarding what sheet is to be loaded, that is, setting of sheets regarding conveying destination may be set, for example, from the operation unit 128. Due to this setting, the second branching member 126 switches the conveying path, and guides the conveyed sheet to the first tray 110, or the third conveying path 122.
The conveying path of the sheet is appropriately changed on the basis of a processing mode which is executed by the color erasing apparatus 100. The color erasing apparatus 100 includes a plurality of processing modes. The color erasing apparatus 100 includes, (1) a first color erasing mode in which only the color erasing processing is performed without performing image reading, (2) a second color erasing mode in which the color erasing processing is performed after performing the image reading, (3) a third color erasing mode in which whether or not a sheet p is reusable after the color erasing processing is determined (separation processing), without performing the reading processing which is performed before the color erasing processing, (4) a fourth color erasing mode in which the color erasing processing is performed after reading the image, and further the separation processing is performed, and (5) a reading mode in which the image reading processing is performed without performing the color erasing of the image. The above described each mode can be selected in the operation unit 128 of the color erasing apparatus 100. In addition, a selection of each processing mode may be set from an external terminal without being limited to the operation unit 128 of the color erasing apparatus 100. In the first to fourth color erasing modes, the sheet is necessarily conveyed to the color erasing unit 108. On the other hand, in the reading mode, the color erasing apparatus 100 discharges the sheet through a reading unit 106 by controlling the first branching member 124 without conveying to the color erasing unit 108.
As described above, the sheet feed unit 200 includes the pickup roller 104, the sheet feed roller 105, the separation roller 107 for sending the sheet which is loaded in the sheet feed tray 102 one by one into the apparatus, and these units are respectively driven by a pickup motor 104a, a sheet feed motor 105a, and a separation motor 107a. The pickup motor 104a, the sheet feed motor 105a, and the separation motor 107a are connected to the control unit 201 through the interface 204.
In addition, the above described lift detection sensor 150, the sheet feed detection sensor 130, and the load detection sensor 103 are connected to the control unit 201 through the interface 203.
The sheet feed unit 200 includes the sheet feed tray 102 in which a plurality of sheets is loaded in piles. In addition, the sheet feed tray 102 is configured by the left and right side walls 301a and 301b, and a base plate 302. Respective thick arrows in
In addition, the regulating members 140a and 140b for regulating the position of the loaded sheet in the width direction (direction orthogonal to the sheet feed direction) are provided in the sheet feed unit 200. The regulating members 140a and 140b are configured so as to be movable in the width direction. It is possible to perform a regulation of the sheet in the width direction by causing the regulating members 140a and 140b to move, and to press the side end portion of the sheet with respect to the sheet which is loaded in the sheet feed tray 102. That is, it is possible to locate the position of the sheet in the width direction at the center of the sheet feed tray 102, and to align the width direction of the plurality of sheets.
The pickup roller 104 is provided at the forward center of the sheet feed tray 102 in the sheet feed direction. The sheet feed roller 105, the separation roller 107, and the sheet feed detection sensor 130 are located further forward of the pickup roller 104 in the sheet feed direction.
Using the pickup roller 104, the sheet feed roller 105, and the separation roller 107, the plurality of sheets (sheet bundle) which is loaded in the sheet feed tray 102 is taken into the color erasing apparatus 100 sequentially, one by one from the top.
The rotation direction of the sheet feed roller 105 is the same as that of the pickup roller 104, and the one sheet on the top face of the sheet bundle is sent further to the forward in the sheet feed direction. In contrast to this, the rotation direction of the separation roller 107 is opposite to the rotation direction of the sheet feed roller 105, and the separation roller 107 operates so as to push back the sheet bundle in the opposite direction to the sheet feed direction. As a result, only the sheet on the top of the sheet bundle is separated, and is taken into the apparatus.
By contrast,
As described above, the sheet feed roller 105 rotates so that the sheet on the top of the sheet bundle is sent into the apparatus, while the separation roller 107 rotates so that the plurality of sheets other than the top sheet are pushed back in the direction opposite to the sheet feed direction. In the meanwhile, in the bound sheet bundle, all of sheets are fixed to the bound portion. For this reason, the sheet bundle shows a motion of lift in a state of being curved upward from the sheet feed tray 102 by the respective rotational forces of the sheet feed roller 105 and the separation roller 107 in the opposite direction. As mentioned above, this motion of the sheet bundle is referred to as the “lift” of the sheet bundle. Such “lift” may occur even in a sheet bundle bound at a portion of the side thereof.
As described above, it is assumed that the sheet is sent into the apparatus one by one in the sheet feed apparatus such as the color erasing apparatus 100. Thus, when the bound sheet bundle is sent into the apparatus, there may be a problem in that paper jam occurs, or a part of the inside of the apparatus is damaged. Therefore, the color erasing apparatus 100 (sheet feed apparatus) according to the embodiment is configured to detect the “lift”, which occurs when the bound sheet bundle is about to taken into the apparatus, by using the lift detection sensor 150, and when the lift is detected, the sheet feeding is immediately stopped, accordingly, the paper jam, or the damage of the apparatus is prevented in advance.
As shown in
The lift detection sensor 150 includes a first movable lever 151, a second movable lever 152, and a reflection sensor 153. The first and second movable levers 151 and 152 are provided so as to be accommodated in the regulating members (140a and 140b), and the first and second movable levers 151 and 152 are also moved in the width direction along with the movement of the regulating members 140a and 140b in the width direction.
The first movable lever 151 is fixed to a first pivot 154, and the first pivot 154 is rotatably supported by the regulating members (140a and 140b). The first movable lever 151 has an L-shaped curved long arm and a short arm about the first pivot 154. As shown on the upper right in
On the other hand, the second movable lever 152 is fixed to a second pivot 155, and the second pivot 155 is also rotatably supported by the regulating members (140a and 140b) similarly to the first pivot 154. The second movable lever 152 has a short arm, and an arm which is longer than the short arm about the second pivot 155, and a reflective plate 157 is provided at the tip end of the long arm of the second movable lever 152. In addition, the short arm of the second movable lever 152 and the short arm of the first movable lever 151 come into contact in an intermediate contact point 158 due to their respective own weights.
As shown in
Meanwhile, as shown in
On the other hand, when the sheet feeding of the bound sheet bundle SB is started, the above described “lift” occurs, and the rear end of the bound sheet bundle SB is lifted. At this time, the side end of the bound sheet bundle SB comes into contact with the contact portion 156 of the first movable lever 151. Due to the contact, as shown in
As described above, at the intermediate contact point 158, the short arm of the second movable lever 152 and the short arm of the first movable lever 151 come into close contact with each other due to their respective own weighs thereof. Such a contact is kept during the rotation of the first movable lever 151.
Accordingly, when the first movable lever 151 rotates in the clockwise direction about the first pivot 154, the second movable lever 152 rotates in the counter-clockwise direction about the second pivot 155, as shown in
It should be noted that the state in
The reason why two movable levers of the first movable lever 151 and the second movable lever 152 are used as the movable levers is to amplify the motion of the first movable lever 151 using the second movable lever 152. That is, it is to increase a displacement of the reflective plate 152 of the second movable lever 152, even when a displacement of the contact portion 156 of the first movable lever 151 is small. As a result, the reflection sensor 153 is able to detect the presence or absence of the reflected light from the reflective plate 157 with high reliability.
Alternatively, only one movable lever may be used, instead of using two movable levers of the first movable lever 151 and the second movable lever 152.
(1-2) Operation
The operation of the color erasing apparatus 100 (sheet feed apparatus) according to the first embodiment which is configured as described above will be described using the flowchart in
When the sheets are loaded in the sheet feed tray 102, the load detection sensor 103 is turned on, as shown at the top in
In Act 1 in
When the loaded sheets are appropriate sheets which are separated one by one, the lift detection sensor 150 is not turned on (NO in ACT 2).
The third stage in
In ACT 3, the state of the load detection sensor 103 is determined. As long as the sheets are loaded in the sheet feed tray 102, the load detection sensor 103 is turned on, even when the appropriate sheets which are separated one by one are loaded, or when the inappropriate sheets which are bound are loaded.
When the sheets loaded in the sheet feed tray 102 are the appropriate sheets which are all separated one by one, the process returns to ACT 2 passing the pass YES in ACT 3 from NO in ACT 2, and repeats this process until the load detection sensor 103 is turned off. When the load detection sensor 103 is turned off (NO in ACT 3), that is, all of the sheet feeding is completed, the process proceeds to ACT 4, and the sheet feeding is stopped.
On the other hand, when the sheet feeding is started with respect to an inappropriate sheet bundle which is bound, only a sheet on the top of the sheet bundle is sent, and the leading edge thereof is detected by the sheet feed detection sensor 130. In this case, however, the above described “lift” occurs in the sheet bundle, and the lift detection sensor 150 is turned on (YES in ACT 2 in
As described above, it is possible to detect the “lift” of the bound sheet bundle using the lift detection sensor 150, and to stop sheet feeding of the bound sheet bundle using the color erasing apparatus 100 (sheet feed apparatus) according to the first embodiment, the paper jam, or the damage in the apparatus can be prevented in advance.
When the bound sheet bundle is drawn into the sheet feed roller 105 or the like, the “lift” is usually started from the trailing edge of the sheet bundle. In the color erasing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment, the lift detection sensor 150 is provided at a backward position with respect to the center of the sheet bundle in the sheet feed direction. Therefore, it is possible to detect the “lift” in an earlier stage, and to stop the sheet feeding before the sheet bundle is sent into the apparatus, when the “lift” occurs.
In addition, the lift detection sensor 150 according to the embodiment is basically configured by a mechanical sensor having a movable lever. Thus, the movable lever is not affected by the paper dust which is generated due to rubbing of sheets, or the like. In addition, the motion of the movable lever is detected using the reflection sensor 153 which is arranged at the lower part of the base plate 302 of the sheet feed tray 102. In addition, since the paper dust is blocked in the base plate 302, and does not reach the reflection sensor 153. For this reason, a detection performance of the lift detection sensor 150 according to the embodiment does not deteriorate due to the paper dust. Further, since the external light such as the westering light does not reach the reflection sensor 153 at the lower part of the base plate 302, a malfunction due to the external light does not occur, as well.
In addition, the movable lever of the lift detection sensor 150 according to the embodiment is accommodated in the regulating member (140a and 140b), and the movable lever is configured so as to move in the width direction of the sheet in conjunction with the motion of the regulating member (140a and 140b). Therefore, even with respect to the sheet with the different width, the movable lever is arranged adjacent to the side end portion of the sheet bundle at all times, accordingly, it is possible to reliably detect the lift of the sheet bundle.
Furthermore, by configuring the movable lever with two movable levers, it is possible to amplify the motion of the movable lever due to the contact with the sheet bundle. As a result, it is possible to enhance the accuracy of the lift detection.
(2) Second Embodiment
There may be a case where a user inserts additional sheets to the piled sheets which are loaded in a sheet feed tray 102 while sheet feeding is continued. In sheet feeding, since a sheet is taken into a apparatus from the top of the loaded sheets, when adding the sheet, it is assumed that a user lifts up a sheet bundle which is loaded in the sheet feed tray 102, and inserts sheets to be added from the bottom of the sheet bundle. When the sheet is added in this manner, since the user lifts up the sheet bundle from the sheet feed tray 102, even when the loaded sheets are appropriate sheets which are all separated one by one, a lift detection sensor 150 is turned on. Since this “ON” is caused simply by the user operation, not by the “lift” due to the bound sheet bundle, it is not necessary to stop the sheet feeding. Each example according to the second embodiment to be described below includes a means which continues the sheet feeding without stopping the sheet feeding when it is considered that the lift detection sensor 150 is turned on due to the fact that the user lifts up the sheets.
(2-1) First Example of Second Embodiment
According to a first example, a period is limited in which a detection result of the lift detection sensor 150 is used. That is, sheet feeding is stopped when the lift detection sensor 150 detects the lift during a predetermined period after starting the sheet feeding of the loaded sheets. On the other hand, even when the lift is detected after the predetermined period, the sheet feeding is not stopped. More specifically, the sheet feeding is stopped when the lift is detected during a period after the sheet feed detection sensor 130 detects the passing through of the leading edge of the sheet and until the trailing edge of the sheet passes through the position of the lift detection sensor 150, and the sheet feeding is not stopped even when the lift is detected after the period.
For example, the length of a predetermined period T is able to be obtained in advance from a distance D between the sheet feed detection sensor 130 and the lift detection sensor 150, and sheet feed speed V, as T=D/V. The control unit 201 determines whether or not the predetermined period is passed after detecting the leading edge of the sheet on the basis of the length of the predetermined period T which is obtained in advance.
During the above described period T, the lift of the bound sheet bundle is detected by being sent after detecting the leading edge of the sheet on the top of the sheet bundle.
Accordingly, for the case in which when the lift detection sensor 150 is turned on, the above described period T has passed (YES in ACT 10), it is considered that the lift detection sensor 150 is turned on as a result of a user consciously lifted the sheet bundle from the sheet feed tray 102, not as the lift which occurs when the bound sheet bundle is sent. Therefore, in this case, the process returns to ACT2, and processing is continued without stopping the sheet feeding (corresponding to a first detection signal of the lift detection sensor 150 in
In contrast to this, for the case in which when the lift detection sensor 150 is turned on, the above described period T has not passed (NO in ACT 10), it is considered that the lift detection sensor 150 is turned on by the lift which occurs when the bound sheet bundle is sent. Accordingly, in this case, the process proceeds to ACT 4, and the sheet feeding is stopped (corresponding to a second detection signal of the lift detection sensor 150 in
(2-2) Second Example of Second Embodiment
In a second example, if the lift detection sensor 150 has already detected the lift at a time when feeding the sheets loaded in the sheet feed tray 102 are started, then, the sheet feeding is continued without stopping the sheet feeding.
It is naturally after the start of sheet feeding that the lift of the bound sheet bundle occurs. Accordingly, if the lift detection sensor 150 has already been turned on at the time of starting the sheet feeding (YES in ACT 20), it is not considered as the lift caused by the bound sheet bundle, but as a lift caused by a user who consciously has lifted the sheet bundle from the sheet feed tray 102. Therefore, in this case the process returns to ACT 2, and the processing is continued without stopping the sheet feeding (refer to
In the process shown in
(2-3) Third Example of Second Embodiment
A third example is an example in which if the lift detection sensor 150 continuously detects the lift (ON) during a predetermined duration, sheet feeding is not stopped.
A time period in which the lift detection sensor 150 is kept to be turned on due to the lift corresponds to a period in which the side-end portion of the sheet bundle passes through a contact portion 156 of a movable lever 151 from bottom to top, and not so much a long period. For example, the duration of time in which the lift detection sensor 150 is continuously tuned on is a short time such as one second. Accordingly, when the lift detection sensor 150 is continuously tuned on over the predetermined duration (YES in ACT 30), it is considered that the lift detection sensor 150 is turned on due to the lift caused by a user who consciously lifts the sheet bundle from the sheet feed tray 102. Therefore, in this case, the process returns to ACT 2, and processing is continued without stopping the sheet feeding (refer to
In the processing shown in
(2-4) Fourth Example of Second Embodiment
In fourth example, if the load detection sensor 103 detects that sheets are not loaded in the loading surface of the sheet feed tray 102, that is, if the load detection sensor 103 is turned off when the lift is detected by the lift detection sensor 150, sheet feeding is not stopped.
When the lift detection sensor 150 detects the lift, and the load detection sensor 103 is turned off, it is considered that the lift detection sensor 150 is turned on due to the lift caused by a user who consciously lifts the sheet bundle from the sheet feed tray 102. Therefore, in this case, the process returns to ACT 2, and processing is continued without stopping the sheet feeding (refer to
In the processing shown in
According to the first to fourth examples of the second embodiment, it is possible to continue the sheet feeding without stopping when it is assumed that a user consciously lifts the sheet from the sheet feed tray 102 in order to add sheet, or the like, and as a result, the lift detection sensor 150 is turned on. For these cases, an unnecessary stop of sheet feeding is avoided even when the lift detection sensor 150 is turned on.
While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Indeed, the novel apparatuses and units described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the apparatuses and units described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the invention.
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/524,852, filed on Jun. 15, 2012, U.S. Provisional Patent Applications Ser. No. 61/499,152 filed on Jun. 20, 2011 and Ser. No. 61/540,519 filed on Sep. 28, 2011, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8201823 | Morikawa et al. | Jun 2012 | B2 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| H08-119492 | May 1996 | JP |
| H09-226980 | Feb 1997 | JP |
| 2004-182449 | Jul 2003 | JP |
| 2007-137655 | Jun 2007 | JP |
| 2008-230759 | Oct 2008 | JP |
| 2009-292573 | Dec 2009 | JP |
| 2012-051718 | Mar 2012 | JP |
| Entry |
|---|
| Office Action dated Apr. 1, 2014, filed in corresponding Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-137188, with English translation. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20140147136 A1 | May 2014 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61499152 | Jun 2011 | US | |
| 61540519 | Sep 2011 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 13524852 | Jun 2012 | US |
| Child | 14107956 | US |
