Patents Examined by Carlos A. Martinez
  • Patent number: 8830286
    Abstract: A color image forming apparatus has a plurality of photosensitive members, a light emitting element emitting light, a laser driving unit causing the light emitting element to emit light of a light amount at a first emission level for visualizing the toner image onto a first area where the toner image is to be visualized on the charged photosensitive member and to emit light of a light amount at a second emission level for weak emission onto a second area where the toner is not to be adhered to the charged photosensitive member. In addition, an acquiring unit acquires information associated with a remaining lifetime of each of the photosensitive members, a first drive current adjusting unit adjusts the first drive current, and a second drive current adjusting unit adjusts the second drive current, with the second drive current adjusting unit changing a magnitude of the second drive current in accordance with the information associated with the remaining lifetime of each of the photosensitive members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyoto Toyoizumi, Masaru Shimura, Hideo Nanataki, Kengo Kawamoto
  • Patent number: 8820872
    Abstract: A printing method includes selecting any one of a first printing mode and a second printing mode based on a printing position error data and an permissible printing position error; and performing a printing process based on the selected printing mode, wherein the first printing mode is a mode in which after a first liquid is discharged to the recording medium, the recording medium is transported to a upstream side in the transportation direction and other liquid is discharged, and the second printing mode is a mode in which the first liquid is discharged from the upstream nozzles in the transportation direction to the recording medium and other liquid is discharged from nozzles that are positioned from downstream side in transportation direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Inventor: Shinji Miwa
  • Patent number: 8817058
    Abstract: A system and method for reducing scan line jitter in laser scan systems employing a rotating mirror, including a controller for determining a unique time delay for each mirror facet and controlling laser sources so that video provided by each laser source is delayed in a scan line by the unique time delay corresponding to the mirror facet used in creating the scan line. The controller computes a facet map signature vector corresponding to each mirror facet matches the signature to a previously stored signature and assigns measured distance offset data to the mirror facets based upon the matching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Fei Chen, Craig Eric Hadady, Christopher Dane Jones, John Lemaster
  • Patent number: 8807683
    Abstract: A liquid discharge method including: performing a discharge operation of discharging liquid from each nozzle in a plurality of nozzle arrays, to each of which liquid is supplied from a corresponding container, the plurality of nozzle arrays corresponding to the plurality of containers which respectively contain a plurality of kinds of liquid, the nozzles being arranged in an array direction; detecting whether or not the liquid is discharged from each nozzle by the discharge operation; containing liquid to be discharged from a certain nozzle array in a container corresponding to a nozzle array which is different from the certain nozzle array when it is detected that there is a nozzle which does not discharge liquid in the certain nozzle array; and controlling the nozzle array which is different from the certain nozzle array to discharge the liquid to be discharged from the certain nozzle array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hirotsuna Miura
  • Patent number: 8797374
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus having: a light source that emits a beam; a photoreceptor that is scanned with the beam to obtain an electrostatic latent image thereon; and a control unit that determines a light intensity of the beam to be emitted for formation of a pixel, based on a data value for the pixel in image data and data values for its surrounding pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Inagaki
  • Patent number: 8791972
    Abstract: A reflex-type digital offset printing system includes four single-pass, single-color digital imaging systems arranged along a print medium feed path, and an image server that utilizes a positional clock to implicitly synchronize the imaging systems with the movement of a print medium along the feed path such that single-color (e.g., black, cyan, magenta, or yellow) image portions can be successively superimposed to produce a full color image. Each single-color digital imaging system utilizes a digital micromirror device and an anamorphic imaging system to generate a high energy, one-dimensional modulated line image that selectively evaporates fountain solution from an imaging cylinder before ink material is applied. Each imaging system utilizes a sensor that sends a respective drum position signal to the image server, and the image server utilizes the drum position signals to synchronize the single-color printing operations with the position of the printing medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Martin E. Hoover, Peter Paul, James D. Shoots, Jess R. Gentner
  • Patent number: 8783810
    Abstract: To improve positioning accuracy in a direction of relative movement of dots which are formed by a fluid ejection device in which a plurality of nozzle groups contained in the direction of the relative movement of the head section contain a plurality of nozzles in the direction of the relative movement, an ejection timing is set for adjusting in a direction of the relative movement the positions of dots formed by each of nozzle groups. A distribution of adjustment pixels is set for adjusting in the direction of the relative movement the positions of dots formed by each of nozzles. A fluid is ejected in accordance with raster data generated on the basis of a distribution of the adjustment pixels set by an adjustment pixel setting unit, on the basis of ejection timing set by a nozzle group timing setting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Yuda, Masato Mitsuhashi, Sumito Anzai
  • Patent number: 8764161
    Abstract: A method of continuous inkjet printing by using a printing fluid comprising water, a soluble or dispersed polymeric component, and less than a total of 10 wt % of low-volatile water soluble humectant having a boiling point of greater than 170C; ejecting spaced droplets from a printhead and controlling the spaced droplets to mark a substrate; stopping delivery of the printing fluid to the printhead; and then delivering the maintenance fluid from the maintenance fluid supply to the printhead to purge the printing fluid from the printhead, with the maintenance fluid comprising water and at least 5 wt % low-volatile water soluble humectant having a boiling point of greater than 170C, wherein the concentration of low-volatile water soluble humectant in the maintenance fluid is greater than that in the printing fluid to purge the printing fluid from the printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Wayne Lee Cook, Jeremiah D. Allen
  • Patent number: 8754920
    Abstract: A scanning optical apparatus includes: two light source units; a deflecting unit for deflecting two light beams for scanning; and two imaging optical systems disposed corresponding to the two light beams, in which: the two imaging optical systems form images of the two light beams on photosensitive members of different hues; the two imaging optical systems are disposed to be opposed with respect to the deflecting unit in a sub-scanning cross section; and a reflectance of a first reflecting optical element disposed in an optical path between the photosensitive member and the deflection surface passed by a light beam corresponding to an image of a hue having low brightness is lower than a reflectance of a second reflecting optical element disposed in an optical path between the photosensitive member and the deflection surface passed by a light beam corresponding to an image of a hue having high brightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Manabu Kato
  • Patent number: 8742824
    Abstract: A driver circuit is used for driving a plurality of switch elements connected between a power supply terminal and a common terminal. Each switch element includes an anode connected to the power supply terminal, a cathode, and a gate. The cathode is connected to a common terminal. The gate controls electrical conduction between the anode and the cathode. The driver circuit includes a switch circuit connected between the power supply terminal and the common terminal, and a driver into which a drive current flows. The switch circuit is in parallel with the switch elements, and electrically connects or disconnects the power supply terminal and the common terminal in response to a control signal supplied thereto. A transmission line, having a specific characteristic impedance, is connected between the common terminal and the driver circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Nagumo
  • Patent number: 8733878
    Abstract: A liquid discharger is provided that includes a sheet detector, a second discharging head discharging second liquid, a rotary roller, and a first discharging head discharging first liquid disposed in the above order from an upstream side in a feeding direction. The liquid discharger further includes an arrival time storing unit storing a standard arrival time for the predetermined position of a sheet to reach the first discharging head from the sheet detector when there is no second liquid attaching onto the rotary roller, a delay time storing unit storing a relationship between a attachment amount and a delay time, a delay time determining unit determining a delay time corresponding to a determined attachment amount based on the relationship, and a controller determining a moment when the first discharging head is to discharge the first liquid based on the stored standard arrival time and the determined delay time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shunji Uchino
  • Patent number: 8727473
    Abstract: A method for aligning a printhead to compensate for printhead roll has been developed. The method includes simultaneously operating a plurality of inkjets in a printhead to eject ink drops to form a plurality of marks on an image receiving member. A plurality of cross-process direction distances between one mark formed by a reference inkjet and each of the marks formed by the other inkjets is identified. A magnitude of a difference between an angular orientation of the printhead and the cross-process direction with reference to the plurality of identified cross-process direction distances indicates any printhead roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: James P. Calamita
  • Patent number: 8711196
    Abstract: A polygonal mirror, a light scanning unit using the polygonal mirror, and an image forming apparatus. The polygonal mirror is formed of a plastic and includes a plurality of reflection surfaces that are formed in an outer portion of the polygonal mirror and rotate around a rotational axis, and an internal mirror surface that defines a hole, wherein a ratio of an internal diameter d to an outer diameter D satisfies 0.1?d/D?0.3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-kwon Chun, Jae-hwan Yoo, Won-young Cho, Heon-hee Lim, Ho-hyun Hwang
  • Patent number: 8692856
    Abstract: A print apparatus is supplied capable of preventing print density unevenness. In the print apparatus that prints by moving a print head with respect to an ink ribbon that is rotated and transported in a predetermined direction, a controller analyzes print data, and performs one direction print by moving the print head in a reverse direction opposite to the predetermined direction on the basis of the analysis result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuo Noda
  • Patent number: 8684515
    Abstract: A radiation curable inkjet printing method for producing printed flexible foils and plastic bags wherein a web-like polymeric substrate having a maximum value for Tan ? between 40° C. and 110° C. and a surface energy Ssub is printed upon using a single pass inkjet printer with a non-aqueous radiation curable inkjet liquid having a surface tension SLiq, wherein SLiq is smaller than Ssub by at least 4 mN/m, and curing the radiation curable liquid on the substrate at a surface temperature equal or higher than the temperature of the maximum value for Tan ? and smaller than the melting point of the polymeric recording medium. A single pass inkjet printer is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Agfa Graphics NV
    Inventors: Geert Van Dyck, Etienne Van Thillo, Peter Bracke
  • Patent number: 8668299
    Abstract: To minimize deterioration in the dispersion of dots in an overlapping region between heads, a fluid-ejecting device includes: (A) a first nozzle column having first nozzles for ejecting a fluid; (B) a second nozzle column having second nozzles for ejecting a fluid and arranged to form an overlapping region in which an end portion toward one end in the predetermined direction overlaps an end portion at another end of the first nozzle column; and (C) a controller for ejecting a fluid from the first nozzle column and the second nozzle column in accordance with dot data indicating a dot size converted from inputted image data and ejecting the fluid from the second nozzles in the overlapping region in accordance with dot data obtained from a halftone process performed after multiplying the usage rate of the second nozzle column by incidence rate data for each of the dot sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Tanase, Toru Takahashi, Takamitsu Kondo, Hiroshi Wada
  • Patent number: 8651609
    Abstract: Color material recording amount determination unit configured to determine a color material recording amount data according to a gradation value and colorless material recording amount calculation unit configured to determine, according to the color material recording amount data, a base colorless material recording amount data of a colorless material that is recorded as a base of the color material are included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masashi Oya
  • Patent number: 8646899
    Abstract: Ink drying methods and apparatus are disclosed. One example ink drying apparatus includes a resistive heating element having a first power dissipation density adjacent to a center region of a print media travel path and a second power dissipation density adjacent to an edge region of the print media travel path, wherein the first and second power densities are not equal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Francisco Javier Perez Gellida, Jesus Ruiz Lluch, Emilio Angulo Navarro, Ezequiel Jordi Rufes Bernard
  • Patent number: 8648892
    Abstract: Apparatus that forms an image according to image information includes density sensors that detect image density variations in main and sub-scanning directions. A processing device generates correction data for correcting a light source output to suppress the density variations based on detection results. The processing device modifies the correction data such that the light source output after the correction is at least a minimum rated output at a position at which the output after the correction is lower than the minimum rated output, in the relation between a position on the surface of the photosensitive element in the main-scanning direction and the output after the correction, and modifies the correction data such that the light source output after the correction is at most a maximum rated output at a position at which the output after the correction is higher than the maximum rated output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Seizo Suzuki, Masaaki Ishida, Atsufumi Omori, Kazuhiro Akatsu, Muneaki Iwata, Hayato Fujita
  • Patent number: 8638352
    Abstract: An exposure device of an aspect of the present invention includes an exposure unit that is provided between a body to be exposed and a component and that exposes the body to be exposed; and an electrical connection member that is electrically connected to a connecting portion disposed in the exposure unit and includes a first bent portion formed by bending the electrical connection member at an outer side of a clearance between the body to be exposed and the component and a second bent portion formed by bending the electrical connection member on an opposite side of the exposure unit with respect to the first bent portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Sakamoto