Patents by Inventor Muneaki IWATA

Muneaki IWATA 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: 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: 8610971
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus that forms an image includes: a photosensitive element; an optical scanning device that includes a light source, and scans a surface of the photosensitive element in a main scanning direction with light emitted from the light source to form a latent image; a developing unit that develops the latent image; a photosensitive element period detecting sensor that detects a rotation period of the photosensitive element; a density sensor that detects a density variation of an image developed by the developing unit, in a sub scanning direction; and a processing device that corrects a driving signal of the light source according to the image information, based on an output signal of the density sensor and an output signal of the photosensitive element period detecting sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Atsufumi Omori, Masaaki Ishida, Yasuhiro Nihei, Muneaki Iwata
  • Publication number: 20130302052
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a density detection unit that detects densities of an image developed by a developing unit at a plurality of positions in a main-scanning direction; a processing unit that obtains at least one of an amplitude and a phase of a first periodical density change of the image, of which cycle is a rotation cycle of a photosensitive drum, at the plurality of positions in the main-scanning direction on the basis of an output signal of the density detection unit, and corrects a drive signal for the light source so as to suppress the first periodical density change of the image at each position in the main-scanning direction on the basis of the rotation cycle of the photosensitive drum and at least one of the amplitude and the phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventors: Muneaki IWATA, Kazuhiro Akatsu, Masaaki Ishida, Atsufumi Omori, Hayato Fujita
  • Publication number: 20130243459
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed, including a light source; a drum; an optical scanning apparatus; and an endless belt. The image forming apparatus further includes a pattern forming unit which forms, on the endless belt along a conveying direction of the endless belt, a density fluctuation detecting pattern having a period; a density sensor which detects the density fluctuating detecting pattern and outputs a density signal including information on density fluctuations in the conveying direction of the endless belt; and a period detecting sensor which detects the period included in the density fluctuations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Inventors: Atsufumi OMORI, Masaaki Ishida, Kazuhiro Akatsu, Muneaki Iwata, Hayato Fujita
  • Publication number: 20120189328
    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: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Inventors: Seizo Suzuki, Masaaki Ishida, Atsufumi Omori, Kazuhiro Akatsu, Muneaki Iwata, Hayato Fujita
  • Publication number: 20120099165
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus that forms an image includes: a photosensitive element; an optical scanning device that includes a light source, and scans a surface of the photosensitive element in a main scanning direction with light emitted from the light source to form a latent image; a developing unit that develops the latent image; a photosensitive element period detecting sensor that detects a rotation period of the photosensitive element; a density sensor that detects a density variation of an image developed by the developing unit, in a sub scanning direction; and a processing device that corrects a driving signal of the light source according to the image information, based on an output signal of the density sensor and an output signal of the photosensitive element period detecting sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Inventors: Atsufumi OMORI, Masaaki ISHIDA, Yasuhiro NIHEI, Muneaki IWATA