Patents by Inventor Kazuhiko Hirooka

Kazuhiko Hirooka has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6462834
    Abstract: The color determination circuit 308 detects hue of the color image information, and the controller 205 decides a color component to be separated (separation color) in accordance with the detected hue. Output color by the printer 204 is set in correspondence with the separation color. The two-color-separating circuit 303 separates the color image information into image information on at least two color components in accordance with the decided separation colors. The separated image information on the each color is transmitted to the printer 204 via printer density correction circuits 304 and 305, and a buffer 306. Thereby it is possible to provide an image processing apparatus capable of setting and changing the separation color and the output color by automatic operation or by simple manual operation, thus the expression of the image forming can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahito Yamamoto, Hideki Adachi, Yoshiyuki Suzuki, Kazuhiko Hirooka, Hiroyuki Ichikawa, Tetsuya Nozaki
  • Patent number: 6397035
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a sheet support on which sheets are supported thereon, a sheet feeding unit for feeding the sheets from the sheet support, a first conveying unit for conveying the sheets fed by the sheet feeding unit to the vicinity of an image forming device for forming images on the sheets, a second conveying unit for feeding the sheets conveyed by the first conveying unit to the image forming device so as to be cable of forming images thereon, and a control for controlling the sheet conveying speed of the sheet feeding unit, the first conveying unit and the second conveying unit, and the control controls so that the sheet conveying speed may become higher in the order of the sheet feeding unit, the second conveying unit and the first conveying unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuhito Kataoka, Kazuhiko Hirooka, Yoshihiro Funamizu, Katsumi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6385406
    Abstract: There is provided a sheet detecting apparatus which detects the position of a sheet as it is conveyed through a conveying path and has reached a predetermined position. The surface condition and thickness of the sheet are also detected and a correction system is provided for correcting the position detecting result in accordance with the detected thickness and surface condition. Also provided is a conveying apparatus in which the conveyance of the sheet is controlled on the basis of the corrected sheet position detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Funamizu, Yoshiyuki Suzuki, Kazuhiko Hirooka, Michiharu Masuda, Masashi Oyumi, Hajime Kaji
  • Publication number: 20020018678
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with sheet supporting means on which sheets are supported thereon, sheet feeding means for feeding the sheets from the sheet supporting means, sheet conveying means for conveying the sheets fed by the sheet feeding means to the vicinity of image forming means for forming images on the sheets, image forming and conveying means for feeding the sheets conveyed by the sheet conveying means to the image forming means so as to be capable of forming images thereon, and control means for controlling the sheet conveying speed of the sheet feeding means, the sheet conveying means and the image forming and conveying means, and the control means controls so that the sheet conveying speed may become higher in the order of the sheet feeding means, the image forming and conveying means and the sheet conveying means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 1999
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Inventors: TATSUHITO KATAOKA, KAZUHIKO HIROOKA, YOSHIHIRO FUNAMIZU, KATSUMI TAKAHASHI
  • Patent number: 6311039
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus is provided with a sheet feeding device for feeding sheets from a sheet supporting device on which the sheets are supported, a first sheet conveying device, a second sheet conveying device and a third sheet conveying device successively disposed downstream of the sheet supporting device with respect to the feeding direction of the sheets for conveying the sheets, a sheet interval judging device for detecting the passage of the sheets between the second sheet conveying device and the third sheet conveying device, and judging whether the interval between the sheets is a predetermined interval, and control device for controlling the sheet feeding device, the first sheet conveying device and the second sheet conveying device so that the sheets can be conveyed at the predetermined interval on the basis of the judgement of the sheet interval judging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Funamizu, Kazuhiko Hirooka, Tatsuhito Kataoka, Katsumi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6134023
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus discriminates a color of an inputted color image for each pixel and generates a first color component and a second color component. The apparatus compares values of the first and the second color components, and selects and outputs the color component having a larger value. Meanwhile a color component which is not selected is diffused to neighboring pixels. When pixels neighboring a pixel of interest in a predetermined area are filled with one color component, the other color component is selected and outputted regardless of the values of the first and second color components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya Nozaki, Hideki Adachi, Yoshiyuki Suzuki, Kazuhiko Hirooka, Hiroyuki Ichikawa, Masahito Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 5905581
    Abstract: There is disclosed an image forming apparatus, such as a copying machine, capable of various image forming modes. The image forming mode can be selected by feeding a mode registration format sheet into the apparatus. The format sheet can be a marking sheet, on which the operator can designate the desired image forming mode, and can be printed by the image forming apparatus itself in response to an instruction by the operator, so that the format sheet need not be prepared elsewhere in advance. Also the content of the format sheet, printed by the image forming apparatus, is varied according to the available copying modes, depending on the connection status of external processing units such as document feeder and sorter to the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadashi Suzuki, Isamu Sato, Masatoshi Tanabe, Kazuhiko Hirooka, Yoshio Mizuno, Yoshihiko Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5734484
    Abstract: When an original image of a full color is reconstructed by two colors, it is intended to prevent that a part of the original image is not reconstructed. An image of a full color original is read by a CCD, thereby forming signals of R, G and B. In an image processing unit, the R, G, and B signals are converted into red and black signals. The red and black signals are sent to a printer unit and an image is formed in red and black.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahito Yamamoto, Hideki Adachi, Yoshiyuki Suzuki, Kazuhiko Hirooka, Hiroyuki Ichikawa, Tetsuya Nozaki
  • Patent number: 5710959
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a timer function includes a main switch for manually switching between supply and interruption of electric power to the apparatus, a detector for detecting whether the main switch is in a power-interruption state or in a power-supply state, a memory for storing a state indicating that the main switch is in a power-interruption state when it has been detected that the main switch is in a power-interruption state, a controller for placing the apparatus in a standby state in which an image can be formed or in a shutdown state in which an image cannot be formed during a preset time period, and a power supply for supplying power to the controller, wherein the apparatus is placed in a standby state even by a set shutdown time period in the case a power-interruption state is stored and wherein the apparatus is placed in a shutdown state during the set shutdown time period in the case the power-interruption state is not stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Hirooka, Yoshihiro Funamizu, Akihiko Satoh, Mitsuhiko Sato, Tetsuya Nozaki, Yoshihito Osari, Hajime Kaji
  • Patent number: 5699167
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus discriminates a color of an inputted color image for each pixel and generates a first color component and a second color component. The apparatus compares values of the first and the second color components, and selects and outputs the color component having a larger value. Meanwhile a color component which is not selected is diffused to neighboring pixels. When pixels neighboring a pixel of interest in a predetermined area are filled with one color component, the other color component is selected and outputted regardless of the values of the first and second color components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya Nozaki, Hideki Adachi, Yoshiyuki Suzuki, Kazuhiko Hirooka, Hiroyuki Ichikawa, Masahito Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 5638183
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus arranged to synthesize a plurality of images having different numbers of steps of tone representation, and thereafter form an image at different degrees of resolution corresponding to the respective numbers of steps of tone representation. According to one representative embodiment, an image forming apparatus inputs first and second image information to be synthesized with each other, the number of tone-levels of the second image information being less than the number of such levels of the first information. An image synthesizer, which is capable of changing an image forming resolution, forms a synthesized image from the first and second image information, and a controller controls the image forming resolution of the image synthesizer such that the first image information is formed at a first resolution and the second information is formed at a second resolution higher than the first resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kimiyoshi Hayashi, Kazuhiko Hirooka
  • Patent number: 5574563
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus connected with an image forming apparatus which forms an image at different degrees of resolution inputs image data from an external source and generates a control signal to control the degree of resolution at which the image forming apparatus forms the image from the image data. The control signal is a signal to control a driving power of the image forming apparatus. The image data input by the input means is output to the image forming apparatus, along with the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kimiyoshi Hayashi, Kazuhiko Hirooka
  • Patent number: 5488463
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming an image onto a transfer sheet a plurality of times includes an image forming unit for forming an image onto a sheet which is conveyed; first and second conveying units for conveying the sheet from the image forming unit to the image forming unit, wherein the second conveying unit stops the first sheet conveyed by the first conveying unit at a predetermined position and, after the second sheet which is conveyed subsequently to the first sheet conveyed by the first conveying unit was conveyed to a predetermined position on the first sheet, the second conveying unit conveys the first and second sheets in a partially overlapped state and separates the first sheet and supplies the separated first sheet to the image forming unit; and a sheet detecting sensor for detecting the front edge of the sheet which is conveyed by the first conveying unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1996
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsuo Nimura, Kazuhiko Hirooka, Shokyo Koh, Masao Watanabe
  • Patent number: 5473415
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus responsive to environmental conditions has an image forming device for forming a dot image on a recording member. The image forming device includes exposure apparatus for exposing the recording member. A detector detects a humidity condition of the apparatus, and control circuitry regulates the amount of light of the exposure apparatus in accordance with an output of the detector. The control circuitry is adapted, when the humidity detected by the detector is lower than a predetermined value, to select an amount of light of the exposure apparatus larger than that in the case where the humidity is higher than the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kimiyoshi Hayashi, Kenichi Suda, Kazuhiko Hirooka
  • Patent number: 5465163
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an input unit for inputting images, and storage units for storing the images input from the input unit. The storage units store a plurality of images having common partial images. The apparatus further includes a determination unit for determining positions of the respective overlapped common partial images of the plurality of images stored in the storage units, a synthesis unit for forming an image by synthesizing the plurality of images according to a result of the determination by the determination unit, and an output unit for outputting the image synthesized by the synthesis unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kunio Yoshihara, Kazuhiko Hirooka, Masanori Sakai, Keiju Kuboki, Mitsuo Nimura, Ritsushi Tanabe
  • Patent number: 5272544
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus having: an unit for receiving a digital multi-value pixel data; a D/A converter for converting the inputted multi-value pixel data into an analog signal; a generator for generating an analog pattern signal synchronously with an input of the digital multi-value pixel data; a sample/hold circuit for sampling and holding the analog signal converted by the D/A converter, synchronously with an input of the digital multi-value pixel data; and a binarizing circuit for generating a binarized pulse signal having a width corresponding to the value of the digital multi-value pixel data by comparing the analog signal held the said sample/hold circuit with the pattern signal generated by the pattern signal generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masanori Sakai, Kazuhiko Hirooka, Masao Watanabe
  • Patent number: 5253082
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus for forming an ordinary copy or a tonality image for an original image for a printing master, original image data is divided into a predetermined area, and pixel density within the area is subjected to a density conversion in accordance with screen half-toning information which will increase density information toward the approximate center of these pixels, by way of example. The original image data or the density-converted image data is converted into a binary-coded signal conforming to the density, and an output image is formed in accordance therewith. Preferably, a specific mark is supperimposed on the output image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kimiyoshi Hayashi, Hitoshi Arai, Kazuhiko Hirooka
  • Patent number: 5081528
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus for forming an ordinary copy or a tonality image for an original image for a printing press, original image data is divided into data within a predetermined area and that outside the area, and pixel density within the area is subjected to a density conversion in accordance with screen half-toning information which will increase density information toward the approximate center of these pixels, by way of example. The original image data or the density-converted image data is converted into a binary-coded signal conforming to the density, and an output image is formed in accordance therewith. Preferably, plural types of non-linear correction tables are provided and a tone-conversion is performed selecting an appropriate correction table for each pixel, or for each line, of the density-converted image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1992
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kimiyoshi Hayashi, Hitoshi Arai, Kazuhiko Hirooka, Toshio Honma, Kenichi Takeda
  • Patent number: 4989039
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus responsive to environmental conditions has an image forming device for forming a dot image on a recording member. The image forming device includes exposure apparatus for exposing the recording member. A detector detects a humidity condition of the apparatus, and control circuitry regulates the amount of light of the exposure apparatus in accordance with an output of the detector. The control circuitry is adapted, when the humidity detected by the detector is lower than a predetermined value, to select an amount of light of the exposure apparatus larger than that in the case where the humidity is higher than the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1991
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kimiyoshi Hayashi, Kenichi Suda, Kazuhiko Hirooka
  • Patent number: 4697915
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus wherein a plurality of developing devices are carried on a rotating body and the rotating body is rotated to thereby move desired one of the developing devices to a predetermined developing position and develop a latent image formed on a latent image bearing member in accordance with image information, an image forming operation is permitted only when all of the developing devices are carried on the rotating body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1987
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kimiyoshi Hayashi, Akio Ohno, Kazuhiko Hirooka, Yasushi Murayama