Machine Operation Patents (Class 399/75)
-
Patent number: 7970293Abstract: The invention describes an image forming apparatus having a cartridge configured to be removably attached to a main body. The cartridge has a rotational body positioned within the cartridge and an extension portion protruding outward from the rotational body in an axial direction. The device body has a main body, which has a driving member that rotates the rotational body and the extension portion, a detecting unit for detecting a movement of the extension portion, and a determining unit for determining a type of the developer cartridge using either a time elapsed between a time in which the driving member begins driving the rotational body and a time in which the detecting unit detects the movement of the extension portion, or a drive amount of the drive device occurring during an elapsed time.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2008Date of Patent: June 28, 2011Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Satoru Ishikawa, Yuki Fukusada
-
Patent number: 7920803Abstract: Option unit configuration information indicating a mounting method of option units mounted to an image forming apparatus is acquired. An availability of use of an option unit mounted to the image forming apparatus is determined based on the mounting method of option units indicated by the acquired option unit configuration information and rules for setting the availability of use of an option unit mountable to the image forming apparatus which is stored in a storage medium. In this case, the rules are for setting, based on a mounting order of a plurality of option units mountable to the image forming apparatus, the availability of use of the option unit, and the option unit configuration information further includes information indicating a mounting order of a plurality of option units mounted to the image forming apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2008Date of Patent: April 5, 2011Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hisashi Kato
-
Publication number: 20110020025Abstract: An image forming system is provided with an Image Forming Operation Unit, an Air Cleaning Operation Unit, a power source, and a Control Unit. The Control Unit has a coordinated OFF control function of coordinating a first power supply OFF control for turning off power supply from the power source to the Image Forming Operation Unit and a second power supply OFF control for turning off power supply from the power source to the Air Cleaning Operation Unit, and the coordinated OFF control function is configured to execute the second power supply OFF control when a preset time period elapses after executing the first power supply OFF control. Also, in the image forming system, an air cleaning operation of an air cleaning apparatus is stopped when an image forming apparatus is set to an a night mode or when a fixed time period elapses after the night mode is set. The air cleaning operation of the air cleaning apparatus is restarted when the image forming apparatus is resumed from the night mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2010Publication date: January 27, 2011Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shuhji Fujii, Kouji Miyake, Takateru Yamamoto, Takeshi Nakamura
-
Patent number: 7865089Abstract: In a method for monitoring hardware devices of the hardware devices network to detect failures, past logged jobs are analyzed to determine a pattern of past usage of hardware devices by users of the hardware devices network. A failure of a hardware device is inferred based on a deviation in usage of the hardware devices from the pattern of past usage. In some embodiments, a state model is constructed that assigns one of two or more available operational states to each hardware device of the hardware devices network based on a recent load of jobs logged to the hardware device and a stored history of logged jobs indicative of typical loading of the hardware devices. One or more failing hardware devices are identified based on the assigned operational states.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2006Date of Patent: January 4, 2011Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Jean-Marc Andreoli, Guillaume Bouchard, Victor Ciriza
-
Publication number: 20100329723Abstract: This invention provides an image forming apparatus which performs sleep control for a shift to the sleep mode for each function and provides a user-friendly operation system, and a method of controlling the same. To accomplish this, the image forming apparatus sets a shift time until a power state of the image forming apparatus shifts to the low-power state after execution of image formation; and performs control to shift the power state of the image forming apparatus to the low-power state, when the shift time is not more than the predetermined time, before an elapse of the shift time after execution of image formation by the printing function, while shifting the power state of the image forming apparatus to the low-power state, in response to an elapse of the shift time after execution of image formation by the copying function.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2010Publication date: December 30, 2010Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Keishi Inaba
-
Patent number: 7860421Abstract: A process unit is removably attached inside a main body of an image forming apparatus. The process unit includes a casing and a latent image carrier housed inside the casing. The latent image carrier can rotate in a forward direction and a reverse direction. An ID chip is provided in the process unit for storing various information. A communication unit arranged in the main body can communicate with the electronic-information storage unit to write information in or read information from the ID chip. A control unit provides control so that the communication unit does not communicate with the ID chip when the latent image carrier is rotating in the reverse direction.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2009Date of Patent: December 28, 2010Assignee: Ricoh Company, LimitedInventors: Mitsutoshi Kichise, Kazuo Mohri
-
Publication number: 20100322661Abstract: A system, a control apparatus, a control method and a computer program are provided which are configured to control a printing output in response to characteristics of a printing apparatus when a plurality of printing apparatuses has different characteristics. A host computer acquires apparatus information including characteristics information indicating the characteristics of a printer and thereby determines a priority order of printers in relation to the print data based on the characteristics information. The host computer then determines a printer to output the print data based on the determined priority order and outputs the print data to the determined printer.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2010Publication date: December 23, 2010Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Masaki Yamamichi
-
Publication number: 20100316405Abstract: An image forming apparatus, which has a plurality of operation modes with different power supply conditions, includes an electric-energy accumulating unit for calculating electric energy consumption in a current operation mode; a return-time calculating unit for calculating a return time taken for the image forming apparatus to return from an energy reduction mode, which is the operation mode in which part of the image forming apparatus is supplied with electric power, to a normal mode, which is the operation mode in which the whole image forming apparatus is supplied with electric power, on the basis of the calculated electric energy consumption and an upper limit of electric energy, which is predetermined as maximum electric energy consumption in a certain period of time; and a mode control unit for making the image forming apparatus return from the energy reduction mode to the normal mode on the basis of the calculated return time.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2010Publication date: December 16, 2010Inventor: Iwao SAEKI
-
Patent number: 7844193Abstract: A multifunctional machine includes a first component section that starts up taking a first time period, and a second component section that starts up taking a second time period shorter than the first time period. An operation start prediction information obtaining section is provided to obtain operation start prediction information predicting a time when a user starts the multifunctional machine. A start up control section is provided to start up the first component section in advance of the second component section. A power supply control section is provided to supply power from at least one external power source and drive the start up control section in accordance with the operation start prediction information.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2008Date of Patent: November 30, 2010Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Atsushi Takagi, Hiroyuki Asanuma, Naoto Takahashi
-
Patent number: 7839530Abstract: An image forming apparatus receives, from a server connected to a network, a notification that a module operating units composing the apparatus can be added. The apparatus requests distribution of a program including the module to the server. Further, when a function of the module can be realized from information of the module stored in each hierarchy composing the program of the apparatus acquired each predetermined period and information of main and option devices, the server transmits program distributing information including the module. The device stores the module in an area of a predetermined hierarchy on the basis of the program distributing information.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2007Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Akihiko Fujiwara
-
Patent number: 7826091Abstract: An image processing apparatus has a printing function. A preview original-image creation part creates an original image for preview based on print data. A preview parts-image creation part creates a parts image for preview peculiar to each equipment. A preview image synthesis part synthesizes a preview image from the original image for preview and the parts image for preview. A preview image retaining part retains the preview image.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2006Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Yoshimine Horiuchi
-
Patent number: 7817934Abstract: An image forming apparatus that includes: an image forming portion for forming an image in accordance with image data contained in an input command; and a controller for controlling the image forming portion, and is constructed such that the controller includes: a mode switch for switching the image forming portion from a standby mode in which image forming is instantly enabled into a power-saving mode in which power supply to the image forming portion is partially stopped when no subsequent command has been received after a predetermined period elapsed from when image forming portion was operated last; a mode restoring portion for restoring the image forming portion from power-saving mode to standby mode when a subsequent command is received; and an image quality controller for performing image quality control of the image every time a predetermined time elapsed from when the image forming portion was last operated, and the image quality controller starts execution of the image quality control before the modType: GrantFiled: June 9, 2008Date of Patent: October 19, 2010Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroo Naoi, Mitsuru Tokuyama, Kohichi Takenouchi, Kiyofumi Morimoto, Kazuma Hinoue
-
Patent number: 7796909Abstract: To prevent damages to a recording paper that is being transported and a jam of the recording paper within a device caused due to shift in the timings of communications through providing a communication control device that has a main body control unit 100 connected to each paper feeding control unit 200 via common communication lines, which transmits control instructions by using a unicast mode that individually transmits control data to each of the paper feeding control units 200 from the main body control unit 100 at different timings, and transmits executing instructions for the control instructions by using a broadcast mode that transmits control data simultaneously.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2008Date of Patent: September 14, 2010Assignee: Kyocera Mita CorporationInventor: Jun Nishimura
-
Patent number: 7783209Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying member, a development unit, a first driving unit, a second driving unit, and a cleaning blade. The image carrying member forms a latent image thereon. The development unit develops the latent image formed on the image carrying member. The first driving unit drives the image carrying member. The second driving unit drives the development unit. The cleaning blade, contactable against the image carrying member, removes materials including toner remaining on the image carrying member. When an agent-empty development unit is filled with a developing agent, the second driving unit is activated to start a driving of the development unit, and the first driving unit is activated to start a driving of the image carrying member after starting a developing agent filling operation to the development unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2008Date of Patent: August 24, 2010Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Mugijirou Uno, Sadayuki Iwai, Yuki Oshikawa
-
Patent number: 7773237Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a communicating unit (123) that performs communication with an external apparatus (200), a recording unit (97) that stores image information, an image processing unit (96) that performs image processing, and a control unit (91) that performs control to secure the image processing unit from the external apparatus via the communicating unit, when a request signal for performing processing of the image information is received, if the image processing unit can be secured, convert a file format by expanding the image information and compressing the image information again using the image processing unit secured and transfer the image information converted via the communicating unit, and, if the image processing unit cannot be secured, transmit an indication that the image processing unit cannot be secured and the image information before the conversion to the external apparatus via the communicating unit.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2007Date of Patent: August 10, 2010Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kazuya Takeuchi
-
Patent number: 7769312Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is provided with an image information storage unit, an image information processing unit, an actual image forming unit, an image information control unit that controls transfer of image information between each of the units, a power supply control unit, a cost information management unit that holds basic cost information prescribing power costs dependent on a usage time and calculates unit cost information, and an image processing time management unit that calculates a processing time required for image output jobs, wherein the image information control unit sets the execution timings of the image output jobs based on the basic cost information so that a total of image output costs of the image output jobs stored in the image information storage unit is lowest.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2007Date of Patent: August 3, 2010Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shinya Higashi
-
Patent number: 7760370Abstract: In one embodiment, an image forming apparatus: forms, on both sides of a reference chart sheet 10, reference positioning images which are determined in advance relative to reference positions on both sides of the reference chart sheet 10; reads reference images through the image readable area from a plurality of parts on both sides of the reference chart sheet 10 or from the folded reference chart sheet 10; and adjusts image forming positions on both sides of a paper according to read-out information obtained from the reference images. The image forming positions are corrected on both sides of the paper which is greater in size than the image readable area of the image reader 11 by reading the images from multiple parts of the reference chart sheet 10 or from the folded reference chart sheet 10.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2005Date of Patent: July 20, 2010Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Makoto Oki
-
Patent number: 7734220Abstract: A velocity correction device of an image forming apparatus capable of obtaining a high-quality image. The image forming apparatus includes a rotor, a motor, a motor control unit, and a velocity command memory. The velocity correction device includes a velocity measuring unit, an arithmetic unit, and an interface unit. The velocity correction device is attached to the image forming apparatus. The velocity measuring unit measures the rotational velocity of the rotor when the motor is rotating at a reference rotational velocity which is a fixed velocity. The arithmetic unit compares the measured velocity with a no-velocity-fluctuation velocity of the rotor calculated by the reference rotational velocity of the motor, extracts a velocity fluctuation component of the rotor, and generates the velocity command data to cancel the extracted velocity fluctuation component. The generated velocity command data are transmitted to the velocity command memory through the interface unit, and stored therein.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2007Date of Patent: June 8, 2010Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Shunichi Oohara
-
Publication number: 20100104311Abstract: An image forming apparatus is swung with a stopper which is swingable simultaneously with a switching member, and which allows rotation of an output gear by being disengaged from the output gear with a swinging movement of the switching member to an ON side, and which stops the rotation of the output gear by being engaged with the output gear with a swinging movement of the switching member to an OFF side. When the switching member is swung to the OFF side, the stopper is engaged with the output gear at the same time as the switching member is disengaged from the triggering member or before the switching member is disengaged from the triggering member. Accordingly, a descent of a pressing plate at the time of stopping the pressing plate is prevented without using a one-way clutch.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2009Publication date: April 29, 2010Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Tsugio OKAMOTO
-
Patent number: 7693449Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a processing unit which performs an image recording process for recording an image on a recording medium based on image data; a movement mechanism which moves the processing unit; a first control section which controls the image recording process performed by the processing unit; and a second control section which acquires a state of progress of the image recording process and controls the movement mechanism so as to move the processing unit to a position according to the progress state.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2007Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Atsushi Kaseno, Kenzoh Yoshida, Fumikazu Shimanuki, Kenji Shimanuki, legal representative, Seiko Shimanuki, legal representative, Naoki Saito, Takaaki Kuwabara, Kanji Mizusugi, Takashi Matsuda, Yukio Kanaoka
-
Patent number: 7689138Abstract: A printing control apparatus that succeeds in providing enhanced usability by giving a paper placement opportunity to users so that an operational burden can be reduced is provided. A printer control section controls a printing section to effect print standby with respect to one of a plurality of image-data pages that has been subjected to print-standby specification first by a standby specification command. After a sensor of a manual feeding tray in the printing section detects placement of a new sheet, the printing section is so controlled as not to effect print standby with respect to the remainder of the pages even if standby is specified by a standby specification command.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2005Date of Patent: March 30, 2010Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yoshiaki Tanaka
-
Patent number: 7686525Abstract: A print controlling method in a print controlling apparatus for controlling printing processing by using printing limitation information indicating printing limitation, including an obtaining step of obtaining printing limitation information; an identifying step of identifying printing setting set to the printing data; a deciding step of deciding the printing setting by which the printing setting is within the printing authority information by using the printing setting identified at the identifying step and the printing authority information; a determining step of determining whether the printing setting decided by the deciding unit is inconsistent with the other setting set to the printing data; and an executing unit for allowing the printing setting for the printing data outside the range of the printing authority information if it is determined as inconsistent at the determining step, is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2007Date of Patent: March 30, 2010Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tatsuro Uchida
-
Patent number: 7681965Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a print engine for printing on a print medium. A device is communicatively coupled with the print engine. The device is programmed to set a throughput rate for the print engine. A controller reads the device, and operates the print engine at the throughput rate designated by the device.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2007Date of Patent: March 23, 2010Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Daniel Brown, Michael Duane Donovan, Tommy Otis Lowe, Daniel Scott Powell
-
Patent number: 7668474Abstract: An image forming apparatus is supplied which is able to eliminate redundant item in checking and adjusting print quality before executing print process and only perform item check being really necessary so as to reduce waiting time of user. In the image forming apparatus, a non-operation time calculating section 14 sets an end of last print process as a start point and calculates a non-operation time; a print controlling section 15 controls an adjustment of print quality on the basis of an acquirement of the print quality corresponding to quality item previously set and an acquirement result of the print quality, according to a length of the non-operation time.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2008Date of Patent: February 23, 2010Assignee: Oki Data CorporationInventor: Nobuyuki Muranaka
-
Patent number: 7664419Abstract: An apparatus manages a usage amount associated with each of a plurality of functions included in a work flow. The work flow is executed after it is determined whether an operation of each step included in the work flow can be executed or not.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2007Date of Patent: February 16, 2010Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tatsuo Matoba
-
Publication number: 20100021197Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of toggling between image formation mode and energy conservation mode, the image formation mode allowing image formation on a recording medium, and the energy conservation mode having power consumption lower than that of the image formation mode, the image forming apparatus including: a constantly-energized portion that is energized both in the image formation mode and the energy conservation mode; a non-constantly-energized portion that is energized only in the image formation mode; and an opening/closing member capable of exposing an internal mechanism held inside a casing of the image forming apparatus, in which the constantly-energized portion toggles from the energy conservation mode to image formation mode when the opening/closing member is closed from an opened state in the energy conservation mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2009Publication date: January 28, 2010Inventor: Yasuhiro IWASHIMA
-
Patent number: 7643768Abstract: An image forming apparatus is capable of executing an auto paper selection function for automatically selecting a paper size corresponding to a paper size of an input document from a plurality of paper cassettes, and an auto magnification selection function for automatically magnifying an image of the input document to correspond to a defined paper size. The auto magnification selection function is selected for execution by the apparatus when there is only one size of paper to be selected in the apparatus, and the auto paper selection function is selected for execution by the apparatus when there are a plurality of sizes of paper to be selected in the apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2008Date of Patent: January 5, 2010Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yoshiaki Katahira
-
Publication number: 20090317118Abstract: A color printer of the invention is controlled to select DC motors needed to be newly activated according to a print mode when a print job occurs, determine an activation start time of each selected DC motor by sequentially going back activation times stored in relation to the selected DC motors from an image start reference time, activate one or ones of the DC motors to be activated according to the determined activation start times, measure an actual activation time of the activated DC motor and update a stored content about the activation time based on a measurement result of the actual activation time, and determine an activation start time of each DC motor based on the updated activation time. An image forming apparatus capable of preventing the motors from rotating more than necessary and effectively utilizing the life of components to be driven by the motors can be provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2009Publication date: December 24, 2009Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Katsuhide Sakai, Hiromichi Toda
-
Publication number: 20090290896Abstract: A print engine synchronization system apparatus enables the movement of a first print engine dielectric support member (DSM) having one or more image frames as well as the movement of a second print engine DSM having one or more image frames by monitoring a first frame signal from the moving first print engine DSM and a second frame signal from the moving second print engine DSM. An offset is determined for each of corresponding pairs of frames from the one or more image frames of the first and second print engine DSM and the determined offset for each corresponding pair of frames is compared to a target offset to maintain synchronization between the first and second print engines on a frame by frame basis by adjusting a second print engine DSM velocity based on the comparison of the determined offset and the target offset.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2008Publication date: November 26, 2009Inventors: Timothy J. Young, David J. Fuest, Michael T. Dobbertin, Christopher B. Liston
-
Publication number: 20090290895Abstract: A print engine synchronization method enables the movement of a first print engine dielectric support member (DSM) having one or more image frames as well as the movement of a second print engine DSM having one or more image frames by monitoring a first frame signal from the moving first print engine DSM and a second frame signal from the moving second print engine DSM. An offset is determined for each of corresponding pairs of frames from the one or more image frames of the first and second print engine DSM and the determined offset for each corresponding pair of frames is compared to a target offset to maintain synchronization between the first and second print engines on a frame by frame basis by adjusting a second print engine DSM velocity based on the comparison of the determined offset and the target offset.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2008Publication date: November 26, 2009Inventors: Timothy J. Young, David J. Fuest, Michael T. Dobbertin, Christopher B. Liston
-
Publication number: 20090285594Abstract: A process unit is removably attached inside a main body of an image forming apparatus. The process unit includes a casing and a latent image carrier housed inside the casing. The latent image carrier can rotate in a forward direction and a reverse direction. An ID chip is provided in the process unit for storing various information. A communication unit arranged in the main body can communicate with the electronic-information storage unit to write information in or read information from the ID chip. A control unit provides control so that the communication unit does not communicate with the ID chip when the latent image carrier is rotating in the reverse direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2009Publication date: November 19, 2009Inventors: Mitsutoshi Kichise, Kazuo Mohri
-
Patent number: 7596336Abstract: An image forming apparatus is operable with a first sheet processing device and a second sheet processing device connected to the image forming apparatus via a network. The image forming apparatus includes a memory configured to store a control program for the first and second sheet processing devices; and a controller configured to exercise control so that the control program stored in the memory is transmitted to the first sheet processing device or the second sheet processing device. When the first and second sheet processing devices are of the same type, the controller transmits the control program to either the first sheet processing device or the second sheet processing device, and after completion of the transmission, the controller causes the sheet processing device to which the control program has been transmitted to transmit the control program to the other sheet processing device.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2007Date of Patent: September 29, 2009Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takayuki Fujii, Manabu Yamauchi, Naoto Watanabe, Shunsuke Nishimura, Yushi Oka, Toshiyuki Miyake, Takashi Yokoya
-
Patent number: 7593660Abstract: An image forming system which makes clear the point in time at which initial information transmission for all peripheral devices connected to an image forming apparatus serving as the main device is complete, even when the peripheral devices are attached in various combinations, to thereby reduce the time until it is possible for a user to start operation to the lowest level possible, and to reduce waiting time for powering on. The image forming system such as a copying machine includes at least one peripheral device which can be serially connected to a main body of the copying machine, and communication means for performing communication with the most upstream peripheral device of the peripheral devices. When turned on or reset, the image forming system displays functions of the peripheral devices on an operating unit based on initial information delivered from the peripheral devices.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2007Date of Patent: September 22, 2009Assignee: Ricoh, Ltd.Inventor: Iida Junichi
-
Patent number: 7580651Abstract: A method of controlling an energy saving mode in an image forming apparatus having hardware resources used in an image forming process and programs for performing the image forming process includes a step of letting the image forming apparatus enter into an energy saving mode in a standby state in which the image forming apparatus is not used, and a step of recovering at least part of functions of the image forming apparatus in response to setting of a data carrier in the image forming apparatus, said data carrier being in a possession of an operator.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2005Date of Patent: August 25, 2009Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Yoshiyuki Namizuka, Hiroshi Hosaka, Keiichiroh Katoh, Mitsuhisa Kanaya, Yuji Takahashi, Fumio Kawamura, Jun Doi, Masayoshi Miyamoto, Tetsuya Kawaguchi, Hiroshi Soga
-
Patent number: 7570892Abstract: An image forming apparatus adapted for a smooth mounting/dismounting of a process unit and for the reduction of wasteful power consumption is provided. Unless a new image signal is applied after completion of an image forming operation, the apparatus starts a clocking operation by an internal timer (Step S101). If the apparatus is left standstill for a predetermined length of time (Step S102), a sleep process (Step S103) is executed to shift the apparatus to a power save mode to consume less power. When an outside cover is opened (Step S105), on the other hand, the apparatus is shifted to a replacement operation mode (Step S106) in which only the rotation of a development rotary is permitted. However, if the apparatus is left with the outside cover opened (Step S108), the sleep process is executed.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2008Date of Patent: August 4, 2009Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Hiroshi Nakazato, Ken Ikuma, Keiichi Taguchi
-
Patent number: 7566124Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a sheet feeding tray, a sheet discharge tray, an image recording portion including an ink jet recording head and a platen, a first roller portion, disposed between the sheet feeding tray and the image recording portion, and a second roller portion, disposed at a position across the image recording portion from the first roller portion, for feeding the recording material, and a guide, positioned between the sheet feeding roller and the first roller portion, for separating the recording material fed from the sheet feeding tray and that to be fed to the sheet discharge tray. After the recording material fed from the sheet feeding tray passes between the ink jet recording head and the platen and is nipped by the second roller portion, recording is carried out when the recording material is fed in an opposite direction between the ink jet recording head and the platen.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2005Date of Patent: July 28, 2009Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shoichi Kan, Tetsuya Saito, Noboru Shimoyama
-
Patent number: 7546053Abstract: An image forming apparatus for discharging a sheet from a discharge port to a sheet tray, includes a main unit provided with a discharge port and movably provided with a sheet tray to hold the sheet discharged from the discharge port, a drive unit to start movement of the sheet tray toward a position of the discharge port on the basis of an instruction of image forming start, and an image forming unit to compare sheet tray movement time which is time required for the sheet tray to reach the discharge port by the drive unit with image formation processing time which is time of an image forming process performed before discharging the sheet from the discharge port and when the sheet tray movement time does not exceed the image formation processing time, to start the image forming process.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2007Date of Patent: June 9, 2009Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Ayako Yamada
-
Patent number: 7542694Abstract: A band-like developer (toner) image is formed on an image bearing member by a developing member without performing a charging operation by a charger for electrically charging the image bearing member and then is removed by a cleaner. Thereafter, the charging operation is started after an area, in which the band-like developer image is removed by the cleaner, passes through an opposing portion between the image bearing member and the charger.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2007Date of Patent: June 2, 2009Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hisataka Hisakuni
-
Patent number: 7517078Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a sheet feeding tray, a sheet discharge tray, an image recording portion including an ink jet recording head and a platen, a sheet feeding roller, a first roller portion, disposed between the sheet feeding tray and the image recording portion, and a second roller portion, disposed at a position across the image recording portion from the first roller portion. After the recording material fed from the sheet feeding tray is passed between the ink jet recording head and the platen and is nipped by the first roller portion, recording is carried out when the recording material is fed in an opposite direction between the ink jet recording head and the platen.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2005Date of Patent: April 14, 2009Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shoichi Kan, Yasuyuki Asai, Tetsuya Saito
-
Patent number: 7509067Abstract: An image forming apparatus is capable of executing an auto paper selection function for automatically selecting a paper size corresponding to a paper size of an input document from a plurality of paper cassettes, and an auto magnification selection function for automatically magnifying an image of the input document to correspond to a defined paper size. The auto magnification selection function is selected for execution by the apparatus when there is only one size of paper to be selected in the apparatus, and the auto paper selection function is selected for execution by the apparatus when there are a plurality of sizes of paper to be selected in the apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2006Date of Patent: March 24, 2009Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yoshiaki Katahira
-
Patent number: 7505182Abstract: An image processing apparatus including an image reading portion operable to read an image on an original, to obtain image information, an image-information outputting portion operable to output the image information to an external device, an image recording portion operable to record an image on a recording medium, on the basis of the image information obtained by the image reading portion, an original-size specifying portion operable to specify a size of the original, a recording-medium-size obtaining portion operable to obtain a size of the, recording medium, and an image-reading-area setting portion operable to set an image reading area of the image reading portion, on the basis of the size of the original specified by the original-size specifying portion, upon operation of the image-information outputting portion, and to set the image reading area, on the basis of the size of the recording medium obtained by the recording-medium-size obtaining portion, upon operation of the image recording portion.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2003Date of Patent: March 17, 2009Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Makoto Suzuki, Yoshinari Okamoto
-
Publication number: 20090010670Abstract: It is judged whether a sufficient time for executing all of three correction processings (a high density correction processing, a halftone correction processing, and a registration correction processing) can be secured or not. When the sufficient time cannot be secured, the high density correction processing as an essential correction processing is executed. A history of the halftone correction processing and a history of the registration correction processing are compared with each other. A date of latest execution of the halftone correction processing and a date of latest execution of the registration correction processing are compared with each other to judge whether or not the execution of the halftone correction processing is earlier, and the registration correction processing and the halftone correction processing are executed, respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2008Publication date: January 8, 2009Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masayuki Otsuka, Katsuhiro Nagayama, Takashi Kitagawa
-
Publication number: 20090010662Abstract: An image forming apparatus that includes: an image forming portion for forming an image in accordance with image data contained in an input command; and a controller for controlling the image forming portion, and is constructed such that the controller includes: a mode switch for switching the image forming portion from a standby mode in which image forming is instantly enabled into a power-saving mode in which power supply to the image forming portion is partially stopped when no subsequent command has been received after a predetermined period elapsed from when image forming portion was operated last; a mode restoring portion for restoring the image forming portion from power-saving mode to standby mode when a subsequent command is received; and an image quality controller for performing image quality control of the image every time a predetermined time elapsed from when the image forming portion was last operated, and the image quality controller starts execution of the image quality control before the modType: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2008Publication date: January 8, 2009Inventors: Hiroo Naoi, Mitsuru Tokuyama, Kohichi Takenouchi, Kiyofumi Morimoto, Kazuma Hinoue
-
Publication number: 20090003869Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an opening-closing lid for opening and closing an opening portion formed in an apparatus main body; a detection unit for detecting an open state of the opening-closing lid; an execution unit for executing a specific operation; a main power source for supplying power to the execution unit; a retaining unit for retaining an open history indicating the open state of the opening-closing lid when the detection unit detects the open state of the opening-closing lid during a period of time when the main power source does not supply power to the execution unit; and a determining unit for determining whether the execution unit executes the specific operation according to the open history retained in the retaining unit when the main power source starts supplying power to the execution unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2008Publication date: January 1, 2009Inventor: Motoharu Takahashi
-
Publication number: 20080292351Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion element converts thermal energy of a user into electric power. A holding unit holds the electric power converted by the thermoelectric conversion element, and outputs the electric power. A switching unit switches between a first mode in which electric power is supplied to all units of an image forming apparatus and a second mode in which electric power is supplied to a part of units of the image forming apparatus. When the image forming apparatus is in the second mode, the switching unit switches from the second mode to the first mode upon receiving the electric power output from the holding unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2008Publication date: November 27, 2008Inventors: Yuji MATSUDA, Hiroyuki Takahashi, Hiroki Ohkubo, Yusuke Ozaki, Eiji Nemoto
-
Publication number: 20080285997Abstract: An image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a storage medium. The image forming apparatus includes a memory, a frame creator to create at least one rendering frame in the memory, a renderer to render rendering data on the at least one rendering frame based on print data, and a control device to arrange the rendering data according to a sequence of the print data in duplex printing.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2008Publication date: November 20, 2008Inventors: Takeshi Fujita, Hideaki Matsui, Kazuma Saito, Daisuke Okada
-
Patent number: 7454152Abstract: An image recording system is provided which includes two image recording apparatuses that can independently record images and can sequentially start up the two image recording apparatuses one by one rather than starting up at the same time. A bypass transporting path apparatus is disposed on a color image recording apparatus and a transporting path connecting apparatus is disposed between a front portion of a monochrome image recording apparatus and a rear portion of the color image recording apparatus. This system includes a start-up controlling portion that performs control such that after any one image recording apparatus is started up and put into a recordable state, the other image recording apparatus is started up and put into a recordable state.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2006Date of Patent: November 18, 2008Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Makoto Sekiya
-
Patent number: 7447456Abstract: An image forming apparatus that allows easy implementation of options or other extensions to a multi-functional peripheral or the like is provided, together with a function extension program for use in the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus reads a predetermined function program from a storage section storing at least one function program on which usage restrictions have previously been placed and enables the read function program. It is detected whether or not a cancellation device (2, 3 or 4) that cancels the usage restrictions on the at least one function program is connected to a hot-pluggable connecting terminal. Cancellation information is read from the cancellation device when the cancellation device is detected being connected to the connecting terminal. The usage restrictions on the at least one function program are canceled according to the read cancellation information.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2006Date of Patent: November 4, 2008Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Minoru Takemura
-
Patent number: 7436538Abstract: There is disclosed a dispersed input and output system adapted to instruct the execution of a dispersed divided input operation at a document input and output device, perform control to cause a plurality of document input and output devices other than the document input and output device to cooperatively carry out dispersed divided input operations, and register the operations as one job in a document handling function at the end.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2006Date of Patent: October 14, 2008Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Akihiko Fujiwara
-
Publication number: 20080205909Abstract: The image processing apparatus includes an acquiring unit that acquires information on disaster; and a switching unit that switches an operational mode of the image processing apparatus from a first operational mode in which image processing is not performed when there is lack of a part of consumables or failure of a part of functions to a second operational mode in which the image processing is performed by using other consumables that are available and other functions that do not fail even when there is the lack of a part of consumables or the failure of a part of functions, in response to the information on disaster acquired by the acquiring unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2007Publication date: August 28, 2008Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.Inventor: Masafumi KOAKUTSU