Patents Examined by Negussie Worku
  • Patent number: 11895279
    Abstract: An image reading device includes a placement portion in which a placement surface on which an original document is placed is formed, an imaging portion that is arranged on a center side of the placement surface in an apparatus width direction above the placement surface in an apparatus upward and downward direction and images the original document, a display portion having a display screen of which at least a part is arranged on a far side of the placement surface in an apparatus depth direction and the center side of the placement surface in the apparatus width direction between the placement surface and the imaging portion in the apparatus upward and downward direction, an irradiation portion that is arranged on the center side of the placement surface in the apparatus width direction above the display portion in the apparatus upward and downward direction and irradiates the placement surface with light, and a pair of other irradiation portions that are respectively arranged on both sides of the irradiation
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventor: Takuya Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 11889034
    Abstract: Provided is an image reading apparatus including an apparatus main body including a reading portion that reads an image of a document being transported, and a main body supporting portion rotatably supporting the apparatus main body such that the apparatus main body is configured to take a plurality of postures, in which the apparatus main body includes at least one coupling portion to which a coupling target is coupled, and the coupling portion is provided on a side of the apparatus main body. The side intersects a rotation shaft line direction of the apparatus main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Noriyuki Koyanagi, Keiichiro Fukumasu
  • Patent number: 11889038
    Abstract: Provided is an image processing apparatus for extracting embedded information from a printed document, including: a first obtaining unit configured to obtain a printing method of the printed document; a second obtaining unit capable of obtaining first image data by reading the printed document while applying light to the printed document; a third obtaining unit capable of obtaining second image data by reading the printed document without applying light to the printed document; and an extraction unit configured to extract the embedded information by using at least one of the first image data and the second image data according to the printing method obtained by the first obtaining unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Kunieda, Akitoshi Yamada, Yoichi Kashibuchi
  • Patent number: 11882248
    Abstract: A reading device includes a carriage configured to move in a sub-scanning direction with reference to an object placed on a contact glass, an optical sensor attached to the carriage, the optical sensor being configured to scan the object placed on the contact glass to obtain an image of the object, and a reference scale used as a reference when a dimension of the object is computed based on the image obtained by the optical sensor. In the reading device, the reference scale extends in a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction with reference to the object, and is disposed outside a range of image acquisition in which the optical sensor scans the object to obtain the image of the object as the carriage moves and inside a maximum movement range in which the carriage is movable and the optical sensor obtains the image of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Ishida, Shogo Nakamoto, Takuya Okamoto, Hiroki Hamashoji
  • Patent number: 11870960
    Abstract: Before reading of a document, an image processing control portion makes an image reading portion perform pre-scanning operation, which is scanning operation performed with a document cover open without a document placed on a placement surface, and checks the incident condition of external disturbance light on the image sensor. If it is judged that the incident condition is a predetermined state, the image processing control portion makes a control device perform a countermeasure process to make the room dimmer than it currently is.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Toshimitsu Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 11863725
    Abstract: An image reading device that efficiently performs shading correction that flexibly responds to changes in the diffusion properties of reflected light on the surface of a reading target efficiently performing same as a result of including: controlling a plurality of light sources so as to cause only a specific light source among the light sources to be lit; obtaining the diffusion state of a first reflected light generated by the specific light source being lit, in a state in which general shading correction data not dependent on the image reading target is generated; obtaining a diffusion state for a second reflected light generated by light being irradiated on to the reading target by the specific light source; and generating dedicated shading correction data that relies on the reading target, based on the first reflected light diffusion state, the second reflected light diffusion state, and the general shading correction data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: NEC Platforms, Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoshi Komatsu
  • Patent number: 11863719
    Abstract: A scanner includes a reading unit, a reversing unit, a discharge unit, a mounting portion, and a pressing portion. The discharge unit discharges a document that is reversed by the reversing unit. On the mounting portion, the document discharged by the discharge unit is mounted. The pressing portion presses the document toward the mounting portion. The pressing portion has a moving member that is provided and configured to move toward the mounting portion, and an elastic member that applies an elastic force to the moving member so that the moving member comes into contact with the document on the mounting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yohei Miyagi, Yuhei Hamada, Keita Fuji
  • Patent number: 11856168
    Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus includes: a speed detection roller that detects a conveyance speed of a sheet by coming into contact with the sheet being conveyed and being driven to rotate; and a hardware processor that performs temperature control to make an ambient temperature of the speed detection roller a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Harumitsu Fujimori, Shota Igo, Naoto Sugaya, Kenji Tamaki
  • Patent number: 11856169
    Abstract: A display device includes a non-translucent cover, a light source provided inside the cover, and a translucent light display that is transmissive to light from the light source. The light display has a protrusion disposed in a through opening of the cover. The protrusion fitted into the through opening from the inside spans a first side surface and a second side surface of the cover, and protrudes outward from the outer surface of the cover to form a light guide. The light guide has a smaller thickness in a corner portion corresponding to a connection region between the first side surface and the second side surface than in other portions thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takenori Ohtoshi
  • Patent number: 11856160
    Abstract: An object is to save a user's trouble in a case of printing correction charts and stabilization charts and performing automatic tone correction with the correction charts among the printed charts. An image processing apparatus performs: control for printing correction chart images along with identification images for respectively identifying the correction chart images on print media in a one-to-one correspondence; and control for printing a stabilization chart image on a print medium before the control for printing the correction chart images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Keita Hidaka
  • Patent number: 11849090
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image former that forms, on an end surface of each layer of a layered printed matter or on a layered surface formed by layering cross sections of printed matter cut in the post-processing step, a layer image for expressing a predetermined image on each layer; and a hardware processor that corrects a printing position of the layer image on each layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventor: Keiki Katsumata
  • Patent number: 11843742
    Abstract: An operation unit is provided on a front side of the image forming apparatus. A document feeding portion feeds a document supported by a document supporting portion in a document feeding direction from a front side of the image forming apparatus toward the rear side of the image forming apparatus. A document discharge portion discharges the document in a document discharge direction from the rear side toward the front side. The operation unit is disposed on one side with respect to an apparatus center of the image forming apparatus in a left-right direction orthogonal to a direction from the front side to the rear side. A conveyance center of the document feeding portion in the left-right direction is disposed on the other side with respect to the apparatus center in the left-right direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Ono, Takayuki Fukushima, Kazuki Matsuo, Takuma Tachibana, Yuya Yasuda, Akiyuki Mitamura, Akira Matsumoto, Akira Urita, Norikazu Hishinuma, Takatsugu Nakamura, Yu Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 11838481
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a light emitter to irradiate a document with light, a first light guide to guide the light reflected by the document, an output device to output a readout signal obtained from the light reflected and guided by the first light guide, a base to correct shading in the readout signal, and circuitry to output a scanned image in which the shading of the document in the readout signal is corrected, based on correction data obtained from the readout signal of the base output from the output device, control a timing at which the light emitter emits the light and a timing at which the output device outputs a signal, and heat the first light guide with the light emitted from the light emitter before the output device outputs the readout signal of each of the document and the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Kurakata, Yuuki Nakada
  • Patent number: 11838469
    Abstract: An image forming system includes: an image forming device that is disposed at a first conveyance path and forms an image on a recording medium that is a continuous sheet or a long sheet; a first conveyor that conveys the recording medium on the first conveyance path in a conveyance direction; an image reader that reads the image formed on the recording medium at a second conveyance path on a downstream side of the first conveyance path in the conveyance direction; a second conveyor that conveys the recording medium on the second conveyance path; and a controller that controls a speed of a drive source of the first conveyor and controls a torque of a drive source of the second conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Hidenori Mine, Masayuki Watanabe, Harumitsu Fujimori, Takanobu Shiki
  • Patent number: 11831828
    Abstract: A printer includes: a board including a connector unit that includes at least a power supply connector into which a power cable is to be removably inserted; and a housing including: a housing main body that accommodates the board and includes a cable connection groove through which the power cable is inserted in an inserting and removing direction of the power cable; and a connector cover configured to cover the cable connection groove, wherein the connector cover includes: a cover main body including a power supply opening portion passing through the cover main body in the inserting and removing direction, and a first interface opening portion passing through the cover main body in the inserting and removing direction; and a first opening cover portion configured to cover at least a part of the first interface opening portion, wherein the first opening cover portion includes a first coupling portion configured to couple the first opening cover portion and the cover main body to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventor: Toshihiro Hirama
  • Patent number: 11831824
    Abstract: The image processing apparatus obtains scanned images of each page obtained by scanning business forms including a plurality of pages or business forms of different types collectively, manages a division method associated with feature information on each of previous scanned images and the previous scanned images, analyzes, based on the feature information, whether any of the previous scanned images similar to a scanned image of the first page of the obtained scanned images exists, and divides, in a case where any of the previous scanned images similar to the scanned image of the first page exists, the obtained scanned images by a division method associated with the previous scanned image similar to the scanned image of the first page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenta Inoue
  • Patent number: 11831840
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a storage device to store, for a plurality of sample media, for each of a plurality of applications, setting information relating to imaging of a medium or an image processing, and image information relating to a sample image generated according to the setting information, a communication device, and a processor to receive an input image from an image reading apparatus via the communication device, extract a predetermined number of sample media in a descending order of a similarity between a corresponding sample image and the input image, from among the plurality of sample media, based on the image information, identify the setting information for each of the plurality of applications for each of the extracted predetermined number of sample media, and output the identified setting information for each of the plurality of applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: PFU LIMITED
    Inventors: Yuki Morita, Sosuke Takeshita, Kaho Onoue
  • Patent number: 11831826
    Abstract: A scanner includes the following. A paper support guides an original document to a supplying port. An inverting unit inverts a front and a back of the original document fed through the supplying port. A reading unit reads the original document before being inverted. A discharging unit discharges the original document after being inverted. A portion of the original document is placed on a placement plate. A pressing unit presses the original document toward the placement plate at least at a downstream end portion in a discharging direction of the original document on the placement plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yohei Miyagi
  • Patent number: 11825058
    Abstract: A communication device, in a case where a changing request is inputted by a specific user under a situation where a memory stores a first password used by a plurality of users, send first information to each of a plurality of destinations, the changing request being for changing the first password to another password; and in a case where the first information is used in a first destination among the plurality of destinations and an instruction for changing the first password to the another password according to the changing request is provided by a first user after the first information has been sent to each of the plurality of destinations, store a second password in the memory instead of the first password.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Brother Koygo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Munehisa Matsuda
  • Patent number: 11820615
    Abstract: In a sheet conveyance apparatus a control unit controls lifting and lowering of a sheet supporting portion by a lifting unit and executes a mixed feeding in one of a plurality of modes including a first mode and a second mode. The mixed feeding is an operation in which a plurality of sheets having different lengths in a width direction orthogonal to a feed direction of a sheet feeding unit are fed by the feeding unit, wherein in the first mode, the control unit causes the lifting unit to move the supporting portion from the second position to the first position based on an instruction to start sheet feeding, and in the second mode, the control unit causes the lifting unit to move the supporting portion from the second position to the first position based on a detection of a sheet by the detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Junichi Suwa