With Medium For Receiving An Image Or Feeding Means Therefor Patents (Class 347/153)
  • Patent number: 11685172
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a conveyance path including a curving part, an inversion path for inverting a medium upside down, and a control unit, and the control unit includes a first mode for conveying the long medium at a first speed when a surface that faces inside when the long medium is rolled in a roll shape and a surface that faces inside when conveyed in a curved shape through the curving part are the same, and a second mode for conveying the long medium at a second speed lower than the first speed of the first mode when the surface that faces inside when the long medium is rolled in the roll shape and the surface that faces inside when conveyed in the curved shape through the curving part are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yasushi Yajima
  • Patent number: 11640373
    Abstract: A method includes, for files in a storage system requested in sequence by an application, identifying a pre-file and identifying a post-file requested after the pre-file. The method also includes incrementing a pre-read count for the pre-file in file attributes associated with the pre-file and incrementing a post-read count for the post-file in file attributes associated with the post-file. The method includes selecting a position in a save list for each file based on the pre-read and post-read counts and saving the files on tape media according to the relative positions of the files in the save list. A computer program product includes one or more computer readable storage media and program instructions collectively stored on the one or more computer readable storage media. The program instructions includes program instructions to perform foregoing method. A system includes a processor and logic configured to perform the foregoing method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Noriko Yamamoto, Tohru Hasegawa, Tsuyoshi Miyamura, Hiroshi Itagaki, Shinsuke Mitsuma, Sosuke Matsui
  • Patent number: 11212402
    Abstract: A medium transporting apparatus includes a feeding roller that rotates to transport a medium along a transportation path, an electrode installed downstream of the feeding roller on the transportation path and having conductivity, and an electric charge detecting circuit that outputs a signal having a magnitude corresponding to an amount of an electric charge, which moves from the medium to the electrode after the medium being transported along the transportation path comes into contact with the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yusuke Fukasawa, Hidetoshi Masuda, Yasunori Fukumitsu
  • Patent number: 10831143
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including a positioning portion provided upstream of a transfer portion in a transport direction of a recording medium. The positioning portion positions the medium using a leading end of the medium. Additionally included is a detector that is disposed downstream of the positioning portion in the transport direction, and that detects passage of the leading end of the medium; and a controller that controls a transport speed in a period from when the leading end of the medium passes through the detector to when the leading end of the medium passes through a target position situated downstream of the detector in the transport direction, in accordance with a time since transport of the medium is started from the positioning portion until the leading end of the medium passes through the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chihiro Iijima, Motohiro Tokairin
  • Patent number: 10384476
    Abstract: In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a printing system is described. The printing system includes multiple print engines to form printed marks on a substrate. Each print engine prints non-sequential pages of a print job. A sensor of the printing system detects, for each page, a trailing edge gap size and a leading edge gap size. A controller of the printing system, based on a difference between trailing edge gap sizes and leading edge gap sizes for a set of pages of a print job, adjusts a printing operation to equalize subsequent trailing edge gap sizes and leading edge gap sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: On Mashiach, Yoav Landau
  • Patent number: 10152001
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer, an intermediate transferor, a secondary transferor, a plurality of rotators including a secondary driving rotator, and a detector. The image bearer bears a detection image. The detection image is transferred from the image bearer to the intermediate transferor at a primary transfer position. The secondary transferor is looped around the plurality of rotators and disposed in contact with the intermediate transferor at a secondary transfer position where the detection image is transferred from the intermediate transferor to the secondary transferor. The secondary driving rotator drives the secondary transferor. The detector detects the detection image on the secondary transferor at a detection position. With this configuration, a distance from the secondary transfer position to the detection position on the secondary transferor is an integral multiple of a circumference of the secondary driving rotator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naohiro Kumagai, Seiichi Kogure, Junpei Fujita, Kazuki Yogosawa, Kenji Sugiura, Yuuji Wada
  • Patent number: 10040299
    Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises a print zone and a media handling system for advancing media through a media path and through the print zone, wherein the media handling system comprises a first media driving arrangement positioned downstream of the print zone in the direction of advance of the media, and a second media driving arrangement positioned downstream of the first arrangement, the second media driving arrangement being operable to cause the tension of the media in a deformation zone between the two driving arrangements to be lower than the tension of the media in the print zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Ismael Chanclón Fernández, Félix Ruíz Martínez, Javier González Bruno, Eduardo Martín Orue
  • Patent number: 9545799
    Abstract: A printing apparatus, including: a printing unit configured to print a plurality of images on a continuous sheet; and a cutting unit configured to cut the continuous sheet per each of the images, wherein, when printing images, information indicating a value obtained by counting the number of the cut sheets cut by the cutting unit is recorded in an area other than the image on the continuous sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Taketomo Naruse
  • Patent number: 8951614
    Abstract: A method for coating a laboratory print media with a photo-sensitive material may include generating, at a printer, a request to label a laboratory media. The laboratory media includes applying multiple coating layers to a laboratory print media to produce a human-readable and machine-readable label within a dedicated area of the print media. The multiple coating layers include at least a material based on photo-sensitive ink that is thermally-activated, and protected by a chemical and physical protective barrier/layer. The method may further include generating, using a printing mechanism, an image within the dedicated area of the print media. The image includes a laser-based image reflecting off of the photo-sensitive ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Vaporprint, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Andrew Collins, Charles W. Morrison
  • Publication number: 20150004378
    Abstract: There is provided a method for electrostatic printing comprising providing a print substrate having a layer comprising a polymeric material, the layer comprising a polymeric material having thereon a surface layer comprising an aminofunctional silane; carrying out an electrostatic printing process to transfer an ink onto the surface layer comprising the aminofunctional silane. Also disclosed herein are print substrates producible by the method, and print substrates for use in the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: Hewlett-Packard Indigo B.V.
    Inventors: Hannoch Ron, Inna Tzomik, Shani Maor, Eran Goldenberg
  • Patent number: 8899741
    Abstract: A printer includes a print engine to print on print media within a print zone, a print media path including a print path portion to direct the print media through the print zone in a first direction, a duplex media path including a duplexing path portion to redirect the print media to the print media path in a second direction opposite the first direction, and a media tray to hold a quantity of the print media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Kevin Lo, Wesley R. Schalk
  • Patent number: 8894175
    Abstract: A method of printing with an inkjet printer including a printhead, a star wheel located downstream from the printhead, and an adjustable biaser coupled to the star wheel. The method comprises analyzing print data to identify an area of printing to be printed on a sheet of print media that aligns with the star wheel; calculating the density of the printing in the identified area of printing; printing the identified area of printing; determining whether the calculated density exceeds a density criteria, and if so then using the adjustable biaser to lift the star wheel off of the sheet before the printed area of printing reaches the star wheel; advancing the printed area of printing past the star wheel; and using the adjustable biaser lowering the star wheel onto the sheet after the printed area of printing has advanced past the star wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Joseph Edwards, Robert W. Rumford
  • Patent number: 8870328
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet feed conveying unit having an outlet for a recording medium on one side; at least one image forming unit having an inlet for the recording medium on one side and an outlet for the recording medium on the other side; and a sheet eject conveying unit having an inlet for the recording medium on one side, wherein the sheet feed conveying unit, the image forming unit, and the sheet eject conveying unit are arranged along a conveying direction of the recording medium; the outlet of the sheet feed conveying unit matches the inlet of the image forming unit; the outlet of the image forming unit matches the inlet of the sheet eject conveying unit; and the sheet feed conveying unit, the image forming unit, and the sheet eject conveying unit are connected to each other in a separable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuuji Ohmura, Yasushi Hashimoto, Yoshikane Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8730513
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a storage unit for storing setting information including at least a size of a substitute recording medium, and a processing unit for executing a print instruction by automatically changing a size of a recording medium to be used to the size of the substitute recording medium based on the setting information stored in the storage means, when the size of the recording medium specified by the print instruction is not available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Nozomi Sawada
  • Patent number: 8633954
    Abstract: A scanning laser having a wavelength compatible with a coating binder so as to cure it as the laser scans and irradiates the coating on a moving web. A system and method for curing flakes by providing a scanning laser which scans across a moving coated substrate in a magnetic field allows images to be formed as magnetically aligned flakes are cured into a fixed position. The images have regions of cured aligned flakes. The scanning laser cures the magnetically aligned flakes within it region it irradiates. Alternatively an array of lasers can be used wherein individual lasers can be switched on and off to fix irradiated coating as a moving web is moved at a high speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: JDS Uniphase Corporation
    Inventors: Vladimir P. Raksha, Curtis R. Hruska, Neil Teitelbaum
  • Patent number: 8616671
    Abstract: A multi-channel image is printed on a web receiver by a plurality of printing modules. The receiver is entrained around a take-up roll on a movable transport. During printing, the transport moves past the printing modules while the take-up roll holds the receiver in position with respect to the transport, and then the transport comes to a stop and the take-up roll draws the receiver across the transport. A cutter downstream of the take-up roll cuts off the printed portion of the web receiver to provide a printed sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Joel Sherwood Lawther, David James Cornell
  • Patent number: 8456674
    Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided methods and systems that incorporate a model predictive controller (MPC) in an image reproduction machine with known disturbance information. The MPC uses the control action at a current time in order to minimize the impact of an impending disturbance as well as to maximize current control performance. The impending disturbance is used by the MPC to determine an incremental change that combines steady state and transient state impact on the image reproduction machine. Disturbance such as print media type, image content type, physical dimension of the print media, weight of the print media, and print job data can be employed. Further, control of the image reproduction machine is generated in real time over a receding horizon, for the purpose of minimizing a cost function indicative of image variation, energy consumption, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Faming Li, Eric Scott Hamby, Yongsoon Eun
  • Patent number: 8411124
    Abstract: A pixel information acquiring unit acquires multilevel pixel information in which one pixel is expressed in multilevel scales. A line pixel information storing unit stores the multilevel pixel information for each main scanning line. A light emission control unit optically exposes a photosensitive element by controlling a binary light source on the basis of the multilevel pixel information. The photosensitive element is exposed to the binary light source with a period corresponding to N-fold in a sub scanning direction resolution of the multilevel pixel information, wherein N is a positive integer, so that the N times exposures corresponds to an exposure for one pixel in an original resolution. The switch on/off statuses of the binary light source are controlled in the N times exposures for each pixel, on the basis of lighting rate information for converting the multilevel scales into a lighting rate in the N times exposures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Izumi Kinoshita, Kunihiro Komai, Tatsuya Miyadera, Yoshinori Shirasaki, Takuhei Yokoyama, Takeshi Shikama, Akinori Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8390658
    Abstract: A printing apparatus is provided. The printing apparatus includes an image forming unit to form an image on a sheet in a colorant, a first sheet feeder and a second sheet feeder to supply sheets to the image forming unit, a trial printing system, which conducts a trial printing process to print at least a part of images included in a print job on a sheet supplied from the second sheet feeder when the print job designates the first sheet feeder, a first receiving system, which receives an instruction to continue printing after completion of the trial printing process, and a main printing system, which conducts a main printing process to print the images included in the print job on a sheet supplied from the first sheet feeder when the first receiving system receives the instruction to continue printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomomi Arai
  • Patent number: 8379067
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transport part which includes a transport belt to transport a printing medium, an image forming part which transfers a toner to form a color image, and a controller which controls the image forming part to form a test image for color registration of the image forming part on the transport belt while an image is formed for a plurality of printing media. Thus, both a test image and a plurality of printed media are formed during a single printing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyoung-sik Park, Young-jin Park
  • Patent number: 8314944
    Abstract: An image forming device includes a main body casing, a cover configured to be openable and closable with respect to the main body casing, a sensing unit configured to sense an opening-closing operation of the cover, a forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet, a detecting unit configured to perform a detecting operation to detect a deviation of an image forming position of the image to be formed by the forming unit, an accepting unit configured to accept a print request, and a control unit configured to control the detecting unit to perform the detecting operation in response to the print request being accepted when the sensing unit senses an opening-closing operation of the cover after execution of a previous detecting operation, and thereafter to control the forming unit to form the image in the image forming position corrected to cancel the deviation detected in the detecting operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Kushida
  • Patent number: 8289530
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus for printing on at least one page of a print media is disclosed. The apparatus includes a removable media handling device that directs the printed media to a first location or a second location, the second location functions as a finishing stage to perform a finishing step on the print media. The removable media handling device includes a media diverter to direct the media to either the first or second location. The image forming apparatus also includes a housing, a print engine to fix an image representing data to the page of print media, a formatter to supply data to the print engine, the formatter being configured to supply a first set of data representing the side of the page to be printed and a second set of data to provide instructions on the output of the printed page, and print media supplier to supply pages of print media to the print engine from a stack of print media pages having leading edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Gustavo Miguel GuilleminFranco, Joel Tague, John Huffman
  • Patent number: 8231216
    Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises a conveyance belt configured to convey a printing medium while attracting the printing medium to a conveyance surface thereof using an electrostatic force, a printhead configured to discharge a printing material onto the printing medium conveyed by the conveyance belt, a blade configured to scrape the printing material adhering on the conveyance belt; a support unit configured to bring the blade into press contact with the conveyance belt, and a recovery unit configured to recover the printing material which is scraped by the blade and free-falls, wherein a pressure applied from the blade to the conveyance belt decreases from one end to the other end in an orthogonal direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the printing medium on the conveyance surface of the conveyance belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoki Yamamuro, Atsushi Sakamoto, Hitoshi Nishikori
  • Patent number: 8179559
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for forming images on recording media of different sizes are provided. The image forming procedure may include reading setting information which includes the size of a substitute recording medium for each user from a memory and, when the size of the recording medium specified by the print instruction is not available, executing a print instruction by automatically changing the size of a recording medium to be used to the size of the substitute recording medium based on the setting information. Additional computer-readable storage media storing image forming procedures are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Nozomi Sawada
  • Patent number: 8134723
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus which controls a host-based printer includes a determination portion which determines designation of feed from a feed unit or manual feed port, a display control portion which, when it is determined that feed from the manual feed port is designated, causes a display portion to display a display to prompt the operator to insert a print medium into the manual feed port, an identification portion which identifies compressed-image data transfer permission corresponding a user instruction, and a transfer portion which transfers compressed image data of one page to the host-based printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaaki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8042931
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet stacking unit that stacks and stores the sheet before printing, a first conveying path that conveys the sheet from this sheet stacking unit, a second conveying path that conveys the sheet from this first conveying path to a space between the recording head and a sheet guide member while reversing the sheet, a third conveying path that conveys the sheet from the first conveying path to a temporary storing unit in a state in which a front-to-rear direction of the sheet is maintained, a fourth conveying path that conveys the sheet from the temporary storing unit to the space in a state in which the front-to-rear direction of the sheet is maintained, a first switching mechanism that switches a conveying direction of the sheet, and a second switching mechanism that guides the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masashi Hiroki, Satoshi Kaiho
  • Patent number: 8040365
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transport part which includes a transport belt to transport a printing medium, an image forming part which transfers a toner to form a color image, and a controller which controls the image forming part to form a test image for color registration of the image forming part on the transport belt while an image is formed for a plurality of printing media. Thus, both a test image and a plurality of printed media are formed during a single printing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: SAMSUNG Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyoung-sik Park, Young-jin Park
  • Patent number: 8033648
    Abstract: A pattern forming apparatus which forms a pattern of an electroconductive liquid on a printing medium includes a pattern forming substrate having an insulating substrate, a plurality of electrodes arranged on the insulating substrate, and an insulating layer which covers the electrodes, an electric potential controller which selectively applies an electric potential to the electrodes, and a transferring mechanism which transfers the pattern by bringing the electroconductive liquid formed as a predetermined pattern on the insulating layer, in contact with the printing medium. Accordingly, it is possible to form a fine pattern at a low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroto Sugahara
  • Patent number: 7856340
    Abstract: A multi-functional sensor for deriving information on a recording sheet material comprising an impact-applying unit for applying an external mechanical force onto the recording sheet material, a signal-detecting unit for detecting a signal of response of the recording sheet material to the external mechanical force, a signal-processing unit for processing the signal, and a signal-judging unit for deriving a property of the recording sheet material by comparison of a signal from the signal-detecting unit or the signal processing unit with information memorized preliminarily, wherein the signal-processing unit comprises a separation section for separating the signal from the signal-detecting unit into output signals on the properties of the recording sheet material, and a processing section for deriving, by statistical treatment, a correlation equation showing a correlation between the separated output signal and the properties of the recording sheet material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Norio Kaneko, Takehiko Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 7715071
    Abstract: A white reference value and a corresponding transport speed are stored in memory. A black reference value and a corresponding imaging speed are also stored. Next, a printing operation is started and color values and a corresponding transport speed are stored. Accurately corrected color values are derived from the stored white reference value, transport speed, black reference value, imaging speed, color values and transport speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Takeda, Kazuki Fukui
  • Patent number: 7675534
    Abstract: A receiver medium transport system for a thermal printer, a method for operating a receiver medium transport system and a thermal printer are provided that enable the recording of at least a portion of a second superimposed image on a second receiver medium during the recording of a first superimposed image on a first receiver medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: William Y. Fowlkes
  • Patent number: 7636100
    Abstract: A structure for a transport path for a recording material within a transfer portion varies between a margin-less print mode and a normal print mode. A necessity of cleaning of a transfer member also varies between both modes. Thus, provided is an image forming apparatus in which the structure of the transfer portion is switched between the normal print and the margin-less print, and the margin-less print cannot be carried out with a structure of the transfer portion for the normal print. This is because, when the so-called margin-less print is carried out with the structure of the transfer portion for the normal print, there is a possibility that an image defect of a print image to be outputted is caused, or a stain of toner on a rear surface of the recording material is caused.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoichiro Maebashi
  • Patent number: 7499654
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus having a transport path of a recording material, and an image recording unit in the transport path which records an image in the recording material in the process of transporting the recording material in the transport path. It includes: a recording material detection unit which is provided in the transport path and detects the edge at a side end of the recording material transported in the transport path; an operation mode determination unit for discriminating whether or not incorrect detection can be performed in detecting the edge by the recording material detection unit, and determining an operation mode based on the discrimination result; and a control unit for controlling by the image recording unit an image recording process on the recording material in the operation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Suguru Mihara
  • Patent number: 7436379
    Abstract: Disclosed is a reversible image display medium which can be repeatedly used and can display high quality images, in which cells between the two substrates accommodate a dry developer containing at least two kinds of frictionally chargeable dry developing particles having different chargeable polarities and different optical reflection densities; images are displayed by forming an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image to be formed on one of the two substrates to drive the developing particles in an electrostatic field based on the electrostatic latent image; a developer-facing surface of one of the substrates has a surface resistivity of at least 1×1012 ohm/square; a developer-facing surface of the opposite substrate has a surface resistivity from 1×106 ohm/square to 1×1012 ohm/square; a developer-facing surface of one of the substrates has a surface average median roughness Ra of 0.2 ?m to 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Matsuura, Hiroshi Mizuno, Akihito Ikegawa, Masaharu Kanazawa, Keyaki Yogome, Takaji Kurita
  • Patent number: 7426062
    Abstract: A signal output apparatus comprises an impact applying unit applying an impact to a sheet from the outside thereof, and a detection unit outputting a signal by the impact. An apparatus for determining the type of sheet comprises an impact applying unit applying an impact to a sheet from the outside thereof, and a detection unit outputting a signal by the impact, wherein the type of the sheet is determined based on the signal from the detection unit. An image forming apparatus comprises an impact applying unit applying an impact to a sheet from the outside thereof, and a detection unit outputting a signal by the impact. A method for determining the type of sheet comprises the steps of applying an impact to a sheet from the outside thereof, outputting a signal from a detection unit by the applying step, and determining the type of sheet based on the signal. An apparatus carries out the method for determining the type of sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Nojiri, Masatake Akaike, Norio Kaneko, Takehiko Kawasaki, Koichiro Nakanishi, Naoyo Gemma, Toshitsugu Morimoto
  • Patent number: 7415239
    Abstract: A conveying apparatus which synchronously conveys a conveyed object includes a first conveyance roller disposed at a downstream side of a conveyance path for conveyance of the conveyed object and a second conveyance roller disposed at an upstream side of the conveyance path, a first driving unit and a second driving unit for independently driving the first conveyance roller and the second conveyance roller, respectively, and a control unit for performing feedback control of the first driving unit and the second driving unit on the basis of amounts of rotation of the first conveyance roller and the second conveyance roller, respectively. The control unit defines a setting of driving control for the second conveyance roller different from driving of the first conveyance roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Saito, Motoyuki Taguchi
  • Patent number: 7355763
    Abstract: Scanning errors and document feed errors are prevented by pressing originals, including thin originals and thick originals of greatly different thicknesses, to the scanning surface (1a) of an image sensor (1) with pressure appropriate for the respective original. A pressure-generating mechanism (50) is used to press the original against the scanning surface (1a) by selecting different elastic bodies with different spring forces to produce a different elastic force in accordance with the thickness of the original document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hideki Furihata
  • Patent number: 7312807
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for maintaining an edge of a print media against a printing drum, said drum comprising a surface on which a print media is wrapped for printing thereon, wherein said device comprises at least one holder which comprises an abutment portion against which an edge of the media abuts before or during wrapping of the media on the drum surface, the holder being adapted to bring an upstanding portion of the media into contact with the drum surface by performing a movement with respect to the drum surface between a media edge reception position and a media edge clamping position, the movement of the holder from said reception position to said clamping position being performed in such a way that as the holder approaches the clamping position the distance between the edge of the media and the abutment portion of the holder increases, or remains substantially the same, thereby allowing the media in its clamping position to be substantially flat on the drum surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Esteban Comas, Ismael Chanclón, Jorge Menendez
  • Patent number: 7199811
    Abstract: An image recording sheet used in electrophotographic imaging which comprises a paper sheet substrate coated with an image recording layer that takes on a probe penetration depth of 0.33 ?m or greater for a change in prove temperature from 50° to 150° C. when measuring the probe penetration depth on a scanning type thermal microscope having a thermal probe operative as both heater and position sensor that is made of a Pt alloy containing 10% of Rh and has a cantilever spring constant of 1 N/m, a diameter of 6 ?m and a curvature radius of 5 ?m at an extreme end thereof under a condition that the thermal prove is changed in temperature at a programming rate of 15° C./sec within a programmed range of from a room temperature to 200° C. under a load (weight)+20 nA in 4-split T-B (Top-Bottom) value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasutomo Goto, Shuji Kanayama, Kazuhito Miyake
  • Patent number: 7182427
    Abstract: A cut-processing apparatus generates tool move control data to reciprocate the tool, and sheet feed control data to feed the sheet; stores an amount of tool move loss due to backlash in the carriage gear train occurring at tool move direction shift, and an amount of sheet feed loss due to backlash in the sheet feed gear train occurring at sheet feed direction shift; and corrects the tool move control data based on the stored amount of tool move loss at tool move direction shift, and the sheet feed control data based on the stored amount of sheet feed loss at sheet feed direction shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akinori Tsuji, Masaji Takayama
  • Patent number: 7176951
    Abstract: A photographic printer removably holds a magazine for containing a roll of photographic paper is provided. The photographic paper is advanced and supplied to a transporting path. A large-width loading support is loaded with a large-width magazine removably. A small-width loading support is loaded with plural small-width magazines removably. The small-width magazines have a smaller width than the large-width magazine, and are arranged in a path crosswise direction that extends along a width of the transporting path. As viewed from the large width loading support, the small-width loading supports are arranged in a vertical direction that is perpendicular to the path crosswise direction. Furthermore, a cutter cuts the photographic paper to form a photographic paper sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Asakura
  • Patent number: 6965467
    Abstract: Provided are particles for use in a display device, in which particles cohesive force between the particles and a specific gravity are reduced, and an image display medium which can ensure a stable display image over a long period of time, and an image forming device. The particles for a display device are such that the cohesive force between the particles and the specific gravity are reduced. Further, the present invention can provide the image display medium, in which a driving voltage can be set to be low, and which can ensure a stable display image over a long period of time even if there are shocks from an exterior or static states over long periods and the image forming device utilizing this image display medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Yamamoto, Satoshi Hiraoka
  • Patent number: 6922204
    Abstract: The invention provides an image display medium comprising: a first transparent substrate disposed on an observation side; a second substrate disposed on a further side from the observation side than the first substrate; and a display layer formed between the first substrate and the second substrate and containing a plurality of developer particles; the first substrate including a color filter having at least one group of a plurality of light-transmitting filter films of different colors. The invention also provides an image recording apparatus including a recording head for recording an image on the medium and a positioning device for positioning the filter films of the color filter and the recording head. The invention further provides an image recording method comprising the steps of positioning the filter films of the medium and the recording head, and recording an image by the recording head on the medium having the filter films positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaharu Kanazawa, Keyaki Yogome, Akihito Ikegawa
  • Patent number: 6900789
    Abstract: Disclosed is a reversible image display medium which can be repeatedly used and can display high quality images, in which cells between the two substrates accommodate a dry developer containing at least two kinds of frictionally chargeable dry developing particles having different chargeable polarities and different optical reflection densities; images are displayed by forming an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image to be formed on one of the two substrates to drive the developing particles in an electrostatic field based on the electrostatic latent image; a developer-facing surface of one of the substrates has a surface resistivity of at least 1×1012 ohm/square; a developer-facing surface of the opposite substrate has a surface resistivity from 1×106 ohm/square to 1×1012 ohm/square; a developer-facing surface of one of the substrates has a surface average median roughness Ra of 0.2 ?m to 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Matsuura, Hiroshi Mizuno, Akihito Ikegawa, Masaharu Kanazawa, Keyaki Yogome, Takaji Kurita
  • Patent number: 6874419
    Abstract: The present invention features various systems and methods for providing an image on an organic product to provide a communication to the recipient or otherwise individualize the organic product. Notably, the present invention features an organic product printing system comprising at least one organic product; a support structure that secures one or more organic products therein for printing upon them, wherein the support structure comprises a stabilizer bar for supporting one or more printing assemblies; and at least one printing assembly supported within the support structure, wherein the printing assembly comprises a printing device that prints an image onto the organic product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Speaking Roses International, Inc.
    Inventors: Blaine Harris, Terrell Lassetter, Rene Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 6871949
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a recording apparatus for recording with a recording section including a feeding section for separately feeding recording paper sheet by sheet and a conveyance route extending substantially straight for conveying a recording medium having a high rigidity. A part of the feeding section is overlapped with the conveyance route in a vertical cross-sectional direction, but is not overlapped in a direction intersecting with the conveyance direction of the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuji Nakano, Toshiya Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 6871946
    Abstract: A recording apparatus effects recording on a recording material by a recorder. The apparatus includes a tray, mountable to the recording apparatus, for stacking a recording material, a portion to be detected, provided on the tray to permit detection of a position of the tray, and a tray position detecting portion for detecting the portion to be detected. A position of the recording material stacked on the tray is detected by detecting the position of the portion to be detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Haruyuki Yanagi, Kenji Kawazoe, Seiji Takahashi, Takao Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20040263605
    Abstract: A roll paper feeding device includes a paper feed roller, a flange holder, a flange pressing portion, a roll paper pressing lever, a housing containing these components therein, and a cover arranged above the housing. The flange holder has a recess having wide opening at an upper surface, and a shaft of the flange axially supporting the roll paper is placed in the recess. The flange pressing portion is provided on the cover, and when the cover is open, the flange pressing portion is moved toward the center of rotation of the cover, by means of a rotating member, a base member and a spring. Consequently, the flange supporting the roll paper on its shaft can easily be set in the flange holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventor: Hisahiro Kato
  • Publication number: 20040165203
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a printing device comprises a printer configured to print upon paper, a surface-engaging member associated with the printer and configured to physically engage a paper surface, the surface-engaging member comprising a flexure material body that is supported in a cantilevered disposition proximate a piece of paper to be printed upon by the printer, a reflective member joined with the surface-engaging member, one or more light sources in operable proximity to the reflective member and configured to project light energy toward the reflective member, and a position detector mounted in operable proximity to the reflective member and configured to receive light energy that is reflected from the reflective member, the surface-engaging member being configured for displacement by the paper's surface in accordance with variations in the roughness of the surface sufficiently so that light that is reflected by the reflective member and received by the position detector can be utilized to ascertain a me
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventor: Darin D. Lindig
  • Publication number: 20040151525
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a medium width detector and a controller that controls the medium width detector. The medium width detector detects a width of a page of print medium. The controller selects one of a plurality of medium cassettes and controls the medium width detector accordingly. When a predetermined condition is detected, the controller controls the medium width detector to detect the width of the page of print medium. The predetermined conditions include, for example, (1) when a printing operation is performed for the first time after power up of the apparatus; (2) when print data has not been received for a predetermined time length after a last reception of print data; (3) printing is performed for the first time after failure of transport of print medium occurs, a medium feeding mode is switched, and (4) when a print job is received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2004
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Applicant: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuo Noda