To Plural Photoconductive Members Patents (Class 399/179)
  • Patent number: 9204013
    Abstract: One embodiment of the disclosure relates to a method for creating a document print stream. The method includes receiving a first image in a first color model. The method includes generating a modified first image by extending original separation channels in the first image to include a fifth separation channel. The method includes generating a bitmap of the modified image. The method includes storing the modified image as a separation form. The method includes receiving a print job in the first color model. The method includes merging the separation form with the print job.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: David C. Robinson, Katherine Loj
  • Patent number: 8223390
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for correcting color registration errors in a printing device comprising a plurality of print engines driven by a single pixel frequency clock. In some embodiments, the print engines can include a reference print engine and one or more non-reference print engines. An adjusted resolution may be computed for color data sent to each non-reference engine to offset color registration errors attributable to the non-reference engine. The adjusted resolution is computed using calibration information for the non-reference print engines relative to the reference engine, and resolution information for color data processed by the first reference engine. The resolution of color data processed by each non-reference print engine is adjusted according to the computed adjusted resolution for the non-reference engine and sent to the print engines for printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Laboratory U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Johnston
  • Patent number: 8123368
    Abstract: An optical beam scanning device includes a polygon mirror 80 in which tilt angles with respect to a rotation axis of the polygon mirror 80 of respective plural reflecting surfaces are set to angles corresponding to photoconductive members associated with the respective reflecting surfaces, a post-deflection optical system A1 that guides light beams reflected and deflected by the respective plural reflecting surfaces in the polygon mirror 80 to the photoconductive surfaces of the photoconductive members corresponding to the respective reflecting surfaces, and a pre-deflection optical system 7a that shapes the light from the light source to be a light beam of a predetermined sectional shape and guides the light beam to the polygon mirror 80, the pre-deflection optical system 7a guiding the light from the light source to the polygon mirror 80 through an optical path that passes, in the main scanning direction, on an optical axis of the post-deflection optical system A1 and passes, in the sub-scanning direction,
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 8068764
    Abstract: An image forming includes a main body, an exposing unit, a process cartridge, and a positioning unit. The exposing unit is fixed to the main body and includes an exposing member. The process cartridge is attachable to an attaching portion provided on at least one of the main body and the exposing unit, and includes a photosensitive drum. The positioning unit positions the process cartridge with respect to the exposing unit so that the photosensitive drum faces the exposing member in a first direction when the process cartridge is attached to the attaching portion, allowing the photosensitive drum to be exposed by the exposing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masatoshi Sakaguchi, Isao Kishi
  • Patent number: 7997739
    Abstract: An optical beam scanning device includes a polygon mirror 80 in which tilt angles with respect to a rotation axis of the polygon mirror 80 of respective plural reflecting surfaces are set to angles corresponding to photoconductive members associated with the respective reflecting surfaces, a post-deflection optical system A1 that guides light beams reflected and deflected by the respective plural reflecting surfaces in the polygon mirror 80 to the photoconductive surfaces of the photoconductive members corresponding to the respective reflecting surfaces, and a pre-deflection optical system 7a that shapes the light from the light source to be a light beam of a predetermined sectional shape and guides the light beam to the polygon mirror 80, the pre-deflection optical system 7a guiding the light from the light source to the polygon mirror 80 through an optical path that passes, in the main scanning direction, on an optical axis of the post-deflection optical system A1 and passes, in the sub-scanning direction,
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 7835028
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image holding member, a toner image forming unit, a color forming information applying unit, a transfer unit, a fixing unit and a color forming unit, the color forming information applying unit exposing a toner image formed on a surface of the image holding member from a back surface side of the image holding member, light transmitted through the image holding member applying color forming information to the toner image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Isao Ito
  • Patent number: 7826771
    Abstract: An electrostatic latent image holder unit includes: first and second electrostatic latent image holders that have first and second functional layers, respectively, the first functional layer being different from the second functional layer in component ratio, and holds an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof; a contact type charging unit that is in contact with the first electrostatic latent image holder to charge a surface of the first electrostatic latent image holders at a predetermined electric potential level; a non-contact type charging unit that are spaced from the second electrostatic latent image holder, and charge a surface of the second electrostatic latent image holder at a predetermined electric potential level; an exposure unit that exposes the first and second electrostatic latent image holders to form an electrostatic latent image; and a development unit that develops the first and second electrostatic latent image with toner to form a toner image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Yamamoto, Katsuya Takenouchi, Yasutomo Ishii, Junichi Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 7822365
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus comprising: a plurality of image forming means; a first image forming means; a second image forming means; a belt member to be transferred with the toner image formed on each image forming means; and a plurality of suspending members, wherein said plurality of image forming means are arranged so as to face to a first belt surface between the suspending members; the first and second image forming means are arranged so as to face to a second belt surface different from the first belt surface; and a distance, between adjacent contact portions of the image forming means on the second belt surface side and said second belt surface, is greater than a distance, between adjacent contact portions of the image forming means on the first belt surface side and said first belt surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 7766491
    Abstract: An optical beam scanning device includes a polygon mirror 80 in which tilt angles with respect to a rotation axis of the polygon mirror 80 of respective plural reflecting surfaces are set to angles corresponding to photoconductive members associated with the respective reflecting surfaces, a post-deflection optical system A1 that guides light beams reflected and deflected by the respective plural reflecting surfaces in the polygon mirror 80 to the photoconductive surfaces of the photoconductive members corresponding to the respective reflecting surfaces, and a pre-deflection optical system 7a that shapes the light from the light source to be a light beam of a predetermined sectional shape and guides the light beam to the polygon mirror 80, the pre-deflection optical system 7a guiding the light from the light source to the polygon mirror 80 through an optical path that passes, in the main scanning direction, on an optical axis of the post-deflection optical system A1 and passes, in the sub-scanning direction,
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 7706725
    Abstract: In a full-color image forming apparatus including a light source for monochrome image formation that outputs light corresponding to monochrome image information and exposes a monochrome image forming photoreceptor and light sources for color image formation that output lights corresponding to color image information and expose photoreceptors for forming images of colors other than black, when the light source for monochrome image formation and the light sources for color image formation are caused to output the lights and a full-color image is formed, an optical output of the light source for monochrome image formation is set to become equal to or less than optical outputs of the light sources for color image formation, preferably, become less than the optical outputs of the light sources for color image formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiaki Fujisawa, Shigeyuki Wakada, Hitoshi Nagahama
  • Patent number: 7643190
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus that previously rotates a polygonal mirror drive motor before starting a job and forms a latent image by using an optical scanning unit including the polygonal mirror drive motor is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a control unit configured to perform control such that, in the determination of the presence or absence of each of color toners before a previous rotation is started, if it is determined that any one of the color toners is absent, only the polygonal mirror drive motor corresponding to a black toner is previously rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Fujimori, Kenji Kuroki, Hiroyuki Eda
  • Patent number: 7619642
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which a plurality of color component images of different colors, which include a reference color (e.g. black) serving as a reference and adjustment colors (e.g. cyan, magenta and yellow) to be adjusted, are formed on respective photosensitive drums and then transferred to a transfer belt. Respective positions of the color component images transferred to the transfer belt are detected by a CCD. Timing adjustment can be performed so that the difference between the detected position of each of the color component images and a prescribed position is not more than a predetermined value, based on the reference color image as the reference. In this case, the color component images are formed on the corresponding photosensitive drums with the same timing by utilizing a single polygon mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kengo Matsuyama, Norio Tomita, Yoshikazu Harada, Kenji Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7581803
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, an image forming unit includes a movable member that is rotationally driven by a driving unit. A moving distance or a moving speed of the movable member is detected. The driving unit is controlled based on a quantity of control. An occurrence of a detection error or a control error is determined based on the moving distance, the moving speed, or the quantity of control. A predetermined error process is executed if an error occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Tadashi Shinohara
  • Patent number: 7187890
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a movable member; a roller contacted to the movable member, the roller having an elastic layer contacted to the movable member, the elastic layer having an ion electroconductivity and having a hardness of not less than 20° and not more than 50°, wherein the hardness and a density of the elastic layer satisfy (hardness/density)?65, wherein the hardness is an Asker-C hardness of a material of the elastic layer cut out into a thickness of 4.0 mm under a weight of 500 g applied to the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoshi Nishida
  • Patent number: 7174125
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the invention at least includes: a transport control component for controlling a transporting component so that transporting of the continuous paper is stopped when a print job is finished, the continuous paper is back-transported to an image formation start position of the next print job, and after that, the continuous paper is transported again; and a control component that, when a print job is executed in the case where a pattern image exists in a back-transported area which is set after the continuous paper is back-transported, controls the image formation controlling component so as not to correct the image formation position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoya Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 7061637
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes first and second image carrying members, ejection trays, and a sheet transferring mechanism. The first image carrying member carries images in increasing order of corresponding sheet numbers. The second image carrying member carries an image transferred from the first image carrying member. The ejection trays include a first ejection tray, which stacks output sheets in a straight or forward orientation, and a second ejection tray, which stacks output sheets in a reversed orientation. The sheet transferring mechanism transfers a recording sheet to the first and second image carrying members. The first and second image carrying members transfer images onto both first and second surfaces of the recording sheet, at the same time, in response to a selection between the first and second ejection trays in a double-sided recording mode so that the first and second ejection trays stack the recording sheets in increasing order of page numbers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Mochimaru, Yasukuni Omata
  • Patent number: 7009629
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a photoreceptor having an image carrying surface, first and second exposing devices to expose the image carrying surface to form first and second latent images, and first and second developing devices to develop the first and second latent images to form first and second toner images on the image carrying surface. The first exposing device has a light source which emits a light beam, a deflector which deflects the light beam on the image carrying surface to form a scanning line, a first optical system to focus the light beam, and a first adjustor which adjusts an alignment between the first optical system and the image carrying surface for correcting variation of lateral magnification in the primary scanning direction of the optical system so that the first toner image and the second toner image are superposed on a recording sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Okugawa, Naoki Tajima, Masaaki Ikeda, Masahiro Shigetomi
  • Patent number: 6823158
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus in which multiple photoconductors for corresponding developers of different colors are disposed along a transfer belt or paper conveyance belt, the photoconductors are disposed at intervals that are each an integer multiple of the outer circumference length of the driving roller that drives the transfer belt or paper conveyance belt, and the distance between at least one pair of photoconductors is made different from the distances between the other pairs of photoconductors. As a result, in comparison with when all of the photoconductors are disposed at equal intervals, the degree of freedom in arranging the multiple image forming units that each include an photoconductor can be increased, while color shift among the developed images of the difference colors on the transfer belt or the like is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takanobu Yamada, Yuusuke Morikami, Kyoichi Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 6768886
    Abstract: A method of forming an image, including emitting a plurality of light beams from a plurality of vertically arranged light emitting devices; passing the plurality of light beams through corresponding slots of a vertical stay; receiving the plurality of light beams which have passed through the corresponding slots of the vertical stay by a plurality of photosensitive surfaces contained in a corresponding plurality of vertically arranged detachable cartridges, thereby forming a plurality of latent images; developing the plurality of latent images into a corresponding plurality of different colored toner images using different colored toner contained in the plurality of detachable cartridges; and transferring each of the plurality of different colored toner images onto a medium by moving the medium in a vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Nakazato, Kazuyuki Shimada, Tomohiro Nakajima
  • Publication number: 20020141784
    Abstract: An intermediate transfer member, which is used for a tandem color image forming device, is formed in an endless belt shape, and includes a polyimide resin as a main component. The planarity of the intermediate transfer member is less than or equal to 5 mm. Also, a method of fabricating the intermediate transfer member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Kusayanagi, Seiji Ogihara, Toshihiko Tomita, Kiichiro Matsushita, Tokio Fujita
  • Patent number: 6201944
    Abstract: The recording sheet supporting surface of the transport belt comes in contact with the photosensitive drums for cyan, magenta, yellow, and black in the color copy mode, and is separated from the photosensitive drums aside from the photosensitive drum used for forming a black image in the monochrome copy mode with the image forming units for cyan, magenta, and yellow not being activated. With this separating operation, the distance on the transportation path of the recording sheet measured from the synchronizing roller to the transfer position of the photosensitive drum used for forming a black image in the monochrome copy mode is longer than in the color copy mode. Thus, the start time of scanning the surface of the photosensitive drum used for forming the black image is delayed in the monochrome mode according to the difference in distances between the color and monochrome modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Onuki, Hirokazu Matsuo, Seiichi Munemori
  • Patent number: 6163327
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus forms a multicolor toner image by superposing a plurality of monochromatic toner images on a transfer material. The apparatus has: a plurality of toner image carriers on which monochromatic toner images of different colors are respectively formed; toner-image-carrier driver for driving all the toner carriers to rotate in a predetermined period; and a position-shift correction quantity detector for determining the position shift quantity of each monochromatic toner image in the multicolor toner image and outputting a position-shift correction quantity corresponding to the detected result. The toner-image-carrier driver controls the period of rotational driving of each toner image carrier in conformity with the position-shift correction quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirotaka Mori, Ryo Ando
  • Patent number: 6154628
    Abstract: As the speed of a photoconductor drum 1a can be independently varied by providing a rotational speed adjustment mechanism to the photoconductor drum 1a, an inclined angle in a diagonal direction can be varied and as a result, misregistration can be adjusted. Also, exposure device with the inclination of a scanning line with the photoconductor drum 1a provided and control over correcting the inclination of the scanning line on the photoconductor drum 1a is executed by control over varying the peripheral speed of the photoconductor drum 1a. Hereby, a multiple image formation device wherein the configuration of color misregistration correction device is simplified is provided as an image formation device used for the output device of a computer and others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuzo Kawano
  • Patent number: 6041205
    Abstract: A copier includes a reader for reading a document image, an orientation sensor for sensing orientation of characters in the document image that has entered from the reader, a size sensor for sensing the size of the document image that has entered from the reader, an image processor for zooming the document image at a magnification that conforms to results of sensing performed by the orientation sensor and size sensor, and laying out a plurality of document images as a single image, and a printer for printing the images laid out by the image processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Funada, Yukari Toda
  • Patent number: 5933184
    Abstract: A color image forming device that can certainly correct uniform velocity error associated with the characteristic of each optical system and can realize high-quality color image printing by performing a fine laser beam irradiating position control, in consideration of an error in surface accuracy of each mirror surface of a rotary polygon mirror. The color image forming device includes a storage unit for holding uniform velocity correction data previously created for each mirror surface of a rotary polygon mirror to correct a distortion in expansion or contraction of the electrostatic latent image in the main scanning direction due to the characteristic of an optical system, and an image clock generating unit for reading uniform velocity correction data on each mirror surface used in the rotary polygon mirror at a scanning time out of the storage unit and then generating image clock pulses for image signal creation with a period corresponding to the uniform velocity correction data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Masahide Ishigami, Shunji Kitagawa, Kouichi Takemura, Satoru Kobayashi, Jun Hirabayashi
  • Patent number: 5837408
    Abstract: Full process color imaging is provided with the use of two xerocolography engines in tandem. Each of the two xerocolography engines is capable of creating three perfectly registered latent images with subsequent development thereof in a spot next to spot manner. Each engine is provided with three developer housing structures containing five different color toners including the three subtractive primary colors of yellow, cyan and magenta. Two of the primary colors plus black are used with one of the engines. The third primary color is used with the second tandem engine which also uses one of the primary colors used with the first engine as well as a fifth color which may be a logo or a gamut extending color. The full process color imaging capability provided is effected without any constraints regarding the capability of the laser imaging device to image through previously developed components of a composite image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Delmer G. Parker, Gregory J. Kovacs