Patents by Inventor Toshimitsu Ohara

Toshimitsu Ohara 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).

  • Publication number: 20230171357
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a scanner unit configured to read a document, a document feed unit provided above the scanner unit and configured to feed the document and read the fed document, a first substrate configured to control an operation of the scanner unit, and a second substrate configured to control an operation of the document feed unit, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate are provided in a substrate placement section of the document feed unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2022
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: Tatsuya FUKAYAMA, Toshimitsu OHARA, Tadashige YAMAGISHI, Masakazu ISHIHARA
  • Patent number: 9578204
    Abstract: A control unit performs a reading operation in a first mode in which a document on a document stand is read by moving a carriage which includes a reading portion, and in a second mode in which a document which is transported by a document transport unit is read using the carriage which is located at a reading position. The device includes a first white reference plate which is arranged in a first white reference reading position which is a standby position in the first mode, and a second white reference plate which is arranged on a side opposite to the first white reference plate by interposing a reading position in the second mode therebetween in the sub-scanning direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Soichiro Kii, Etsuo Tsuji, Toshimitsu Ohara
  • Publication number: 20160119501
    Abstract: A control unit performs a reading operation in a first mode in which a document on a document stand is read by moving a carriage which includes a reading portion, and in a second mode in which a document which is transported by a document transport unit is read using the carriage which is located at a reading position. The device includes a first white reference plate which is arranged in a first white reference reading position which is a standby position in the first mode, and a second white reference plate which is arranged on a side opposite to the first white reference plate by interposing a reading position in the second mode therebetween in the sub-scanning direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Soichiro KII, Etsuo TSUJI, Toshimitsu OHARA
  • Patent number: 9277073
    Abstract: A scanner identifies a document size on the basis of the intensity of light outputted in a photometric condition different from a first photometric condition, by photometric units provided to a position subject to determination that is a position excluding a position where light of an intensity not less than a first threshold value is received in the first photometric condition, among a plurality of positions to which the photometric units are provided. The first photometric condition is a condition where a document cover is open and a light-emitting unit is not emitting light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Hanamura, Toshimitsu Ohara
  • Patent number: 9185258
    Abstract: An image reader includes a reading carriage, on which a reading unit is mounted and which performs scanning along a document-sheet platen in a scanning direction, and an annular belt that draws the reading carriage. The belt includes a first side extending in the scanning direction to which the reading carriage is fixed, and a second side that is disposed to be spaced from the first side. The detection unit that detects a document sheet mounted on the document-sheet platen is disposed in a region between the first side and the second side of the belt in a direction intersecting with the scanning direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Toshimitsu Ohara
  • Publication number: 20150103385
    Abstract: An image reader includes a reading carriage, on which a reading unit is mounted and which performs scanning along a document-sheet platen in a scanning direction, and an annular belt that draws the reading carriage. The belt includes a first side extending in the scanning direction to which the reading carriage is fixed, and a second side that is disposed to be spaced from the first side. The detection unit that detects a document sheet mounted on the document-sheet platen is disposed in a region between the first side and the second side of the belt in a direction intersecting with the scanning direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventor: Toshimitsu OHARA
  • Publication number: 20150062664
    Abstract: A scanner identifies a document size on the basis of the intensity of light outputted in a photometric condition different from a first photometric condition, by photometric units provided to a position subject to determination that is a position excluding a position where light of an intensity not less than a first threshold value is received in the first photometric condition, among a plurality of positions to which the photometric units are provided. The first photometric condition is a condition where a document cover is open and a light-emitting unit is not emitting light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Osamu HANAMURA, Toshimitsu OHARA
  • Patent number: 8490962
    Abstract: A recording apparatus according to an aspect of the invention includes a sheet feeding cassette that can accommodate a stack of recording materials; a pick-up roller that comes into contact with the top recording material of the recording materials accommodated in the sheet feeding cassette to feed the recording material; a roller holder that is supported at a base end so as to be rotatable and has the pick-up roller at a tip, the pick-up roller being pressed against the recording material; and a lever that is supported at a base end so as to be rotatable and has a pressing portion at a tip, the pressing portion being pressed against the recording material. The lever is disposed on the roller holder and is supported coaxially with the roller holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: So Ishikawa, Toshimitsu Ohara
  • Publication number: 20110057379
    Abstract: A recording apparatus according to an aspect of the invention includes a sheet feeding cassette that can accommodate a stack of recording materials; a pick-up roller that comes into contact with the top recording material of the recording materials accommodated in the sheet feeding cassette to feed the recording material; a roller holder that is supported at a base end so as to be rotatable and has the pick-up roller at a tip, the pick-up roller being pressed against the recording material; and a lever that is supported at a base end so as to be rotatable and has a pressing portion at a tip, the pressing portion being pressed against the recording material. The lever is disposed on the roller holder and is supported coaxially with the roller holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: So ISHIKAWA, Toshimitsu OHARA
  • Patent number: 7869102
    Abstract: Provided is an image reader including: a transparent original mounting plate on which an original is mounted; a support which has an appearance larger than that of the original mounting plate and supports the original mounting plate; a reading unit which optically reads the original placed on the original mounting plate; a movement unit which moves the reading unit in a predetermined direction within a readable area; and a reference location specifying plate having a positioning hole and a reference mark hole, wherein the support has a positioning protrusion within the readable area, the reference location specifying plate is positioned and fixed with respect to the support by inserting the positioning protrusion into the positioning hole, and the reading unit optically detects the location of the reference mark hole and specifies a reference location of an original reading area from the detected location of the reference mark hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toshimitsu Ohara, Kensuke Tamai
  • Patent number: 7535602
    Abstract: A document platen supports a document. A sensor module has a first sensor reading the document and a second sensor disposed parallel to the first sensor and reading the document. An adjustment member adjusts an inclination of the sensor module to the document platen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Toshimitsu Ohara
  • Patent number: 7471428
    Abstract: A contact image sensor module includes: a first image sensor, having a first light receiving element set aligned in a straight line; a second image sensor, having a second light receiving element set aligned in parallel to the abovementioned first light receiving element set; a first lens unit, forming, on the abovementioned first light receiving element set, a clear image of a first object, which is positioned at a first distance from light receiving surfaces of the abovementioned first light receiving element set; and a second lens unit, forming, on the abovementioned second light receiving element set, a clear image of a second object, which is positioned at a second distance, differing from the above mentioned first distance, from the light receiving surfaces of the abovementioned first light receiving element set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toshimitsu Ohara, Kazuhiro Nakano
  • Publication number: 20080225357
    Abstract: Provided is an image reader including: a transparent original mounting plate on which an original is mounted; a support which has an appearance larger than that of the original mounting plate and supports the original mounting plate; a reading unit which optically reads the original placed on the original mounting plate; a movement unit which moves the reading unit in a predetermined direction within a readable area; and a reference location specifying plate having a positioning hole and a reference mark hole, wherein the support has a positioning protrusion within the readable area, the reference location specifying plate is positioned and fixed with respect to the support by inserting the positioning protrusion into the positioning hole, and the reading unit optically detects the location of the reference mark hole and specifies a reference location of an original reading area from the detected location of the reference mark hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toshimitsu Ohara, Kensuke Tamai
  • Patent number: 7403306
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a guide rod; a housing member having a guide part for abutting a document placed on a document table and positioning one side of the document on a table face of the document table and a first positioning part and a second positioning part projecting to the back side of the document table, when both end parts of the guide rod abut against the first positioning part and the second positioning part, the first positioning part and the second positioning part for positioning the guide rod at a position where the one side of the document positioned by the guide part and the longitudinal direction axis are parallel; a fix unit for pressing the guide rod against the first positioning part and the second positioning part; a carriage being fitted slidably into the guide rod; and a carriage drive section for moving the carriage along the guide rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Nakano, Toshimitsu Ohara
  • Patent number: 7391543
    Abstract: A document platen. A support member supports an end portion of the document platen from below in a sub scanning direction. A sensor module has a first protruding portion protruding in the sub scanning direction. The sensor module includes a first sensor, and a second sensor being shorter than the first sensor in length and being housed into the first protruding portion. A transport unit transports the sensor module in the sub scanning direction. When the sensor module is transported to an end part in the sub scanning direction, the support member is housed into a space disposed at a side of the first protruding portion in a main scanning direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Toshimitsu Ohara
  • Patent number: 7339150
    Abstract: A first light source is adapted to illuminate a first object with first light. A first sensor includes a first light receiving element adapted to detect the first light by way of the first object. A second sensor includes a second light receiving element adapted to detect a second light which is externally inputted by way of a second object. A transparent member is disposed on at least one of a first optical path extending from the first object to the first sensor through a first lens and a second optical path extending from the second object to the second sensor through a second lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Toshimitsu Ohara
  • Publication number: 20060179611
    Abstract: A hinge includes a tubular base part being attached to a main body or an open/closed body, a rotation body being attached to the main body or the open/closed body, which is not attached to the base part, and supported on side wall end parts of the base part opposed to each other for rotation, the rotation body having a cam part, a wedge body being reciprocatably housed in the base part and having a slope for coming in sliding contact with the cam part when the rotation body rotates, an elastic member being housed in the base part for urging the wedge body toward the side of the rotation body, a sliding contact face being formed on the side of the wedge body from a rotation axis of the rotation body on an inner wall of the base part and bent to a concave corresponding to a parallel move path of a line almost parallel with the rotation axis, and a sliding contact part being formed in the rotation body for coming in sliding contact with the sliding contact face when the rotation body rotates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Publication date: August 17, 2006
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toshimitsu Ohara, Yasushi Utsugi, So Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 7069622
    Abstract: A hinge includes a tubular base part being attached to a main body or an open/closed body, a rotation body being attached to the main body or the open/closed body, which is not attached to the base part, and supported on side wall end parts of the base part opposed to each other for rotation, the rotation body having a cam part, a wedge body being reciprocatably housed in the base part and having a slope for coming in sliding contact with the cam part when the rotation body rotates, an elastic member being housed in the base part for urging the wedge body toward the side of the rotation body, a sliding contact face being formed on the side of the wedge body from a rotation axis of the rotation body on an inner wall of the base part and bent to a concave corresponding to a parallel move path of a line almost parallel with the rotation axis, and a sliding contact part being formed in the rotation body for coming in sliding contact with the sliding contact face when the rotation body rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toshimitsu Ohara, Yasushi Utsugi, So Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20060097131
    Abstract: A first light source is adapted to illuminate a first object with first light. A first sensor includes a first light receiving element adapted to detect the first light by way of the first object. A second sensor includes a second light receiving element adapted to detect a second light which is externally inputted by way of a second object. A transparent member is disposed on at least one of a first optical path extending from the first object to the first sensor through a first lens and a second optical path extending from the second object to the second sensor through a second lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Publication date: May 11, 2006
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Toshimitsu Ohara
  • Patent number: D685411
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Tanaka, Yuichi Kitazawa, Mugio Kawasaki, Seiji Kawabata, Koji Hara, Toshimitsu Ohara, Yoji Nakano