Operator Interface (e.g., Display Control Panel) Patents (Class 399/81)
  • Patent number: 8526838
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a document sensor to detect a width of a document stacked on an automatic document feeder (ADF), a sheet sensor to detect a width of a sheet stacked on a manual feed tray, memory to store, correspondingly to sheets of various sizes, print patterns based on which an entire area of a document image can be printed according to a document size, a controller which receives detection information from the sensors as input information, selects print patterns from the memory based on the input information, and displays the selected print patterns on a monitor, and a selector by which a user selects, from the print patterns displayed on the monitor, one pattern based on which a document image is printed on a sheet stacked on the ADF or the manual feed tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mitsuhiko Otaki
  • Patent number: 8526839
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus arranged to produce groups of printed sheets. Each group includes a plurality of sequential sheets. The image forming apparatus includes a plurality of storage units each configured to store the printed sheets produced by an image forming unit, a sorter unit configured to sort the printed sheets of a group into a plurality of portions, wherein the sheets in each portion are in sequential order, and to output each of the portions to a different storage unit, and a display unit configured to display an indication of the storage unit storing the portion including the first or the last sheet of the group such that a user is directed to collect the portion including the first or the last sheet of the group from the indicated storage unit first.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Seiya Fujinaga
  • Patent number: 8520227
    Abstract: A printing system according to this invention includes a display, a storage section, a determination section, and a control section. The display is capable of displaying an ECO mode recommending screen which recommends a plurality of ECO modes for selection. The storage section is configured to store therein a characteristic of a printing data item unsuited for ECO mode printing. The determination section is configured to determine whether or not a printing data item is suited for the ECO mode printing. The control section causes the display section to display the ECO mode recommending screen in response to a determination made by the determination section that the printing data item is suited for the ECO mode printing and then start a printing process in response to a printing instruction given by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoko Toizumi, Masanori Matsumoto, Tsutomu Yoshimoto
  • Publication number: 20130216253
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus determines whether or not supplementation of a consumable product is required, and whether or not an image corresponding to the consumable product procurement information including information related to the procurement of the consumable product is recorded by linkage with the consumable product. Then when the image forming apparatus determines that that supplementation of a consumable product is required, and that an image corresponding to the consumable product procurement information is recorded by linkage with the consumable product, a printing instruction screen for the image is displayed, and the printing of the image is performed in accordance with the printing instructions input through the printing instruction screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
  • Patent number: 8514442
    Abstract: A data management device displays, on a display screen thereof, an external-device image representing an external device and an application screen corresponding to each of applications in execution. The external-device image includes function areas that respectively represent functional units of the external device. The data management device is configured to determine in which, among the function areas, a first position specified on the display screen is included, determine in which, among display areas for the application screens and the external-device image, a second position specified on the display screen is included, and set data corresponding to a function represented by a function area in which the first position is determined to be included, as target data for a process corresponding to a display area in which the second position is determined to be included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Minoru Oishi
  • Patent number: 8514414
    Abstract: To provide enhanced operability to users incapable of setting complicated operations such as handicapped people, children, and old people. An operation panel section displays a plurality of settable functions to receive an input of the plurality of the settable functions. An input controller switches an input mode through an operation panel section between a standard mode in which any function can be set and a universal mode in which limited functions can be set with visibility higher than the standard mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Michiko Tashiro, Hiromi Sakata, Tetsuya Maeda, Miki Teshima, Dai Shigenobu
  • Patent number: 8508777
    Abstract: The present invention provides a printing system provided with a printing apparatus and a post-processing apparatus, and a control method thereof, wherein, when an instruction is given to execute an off-line job in which a post-process by the post-processing apparatus is performed without printing by the printing apparatus (S11), a screen for selecting an off-line job using the post-processing apparatus can be displayed by the second user interface of the post-processing apparatus and the off-line job can be selected (S12), and, in response to an instruction to start the off-line job from the first user interface of the printing apparatus (S16), the off-line process is executed (S17 and S18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Eiichi Sato
  • Patent number: 8508771
    Abstract: A job processing apparatus that is capable of recording an execution history of a job appropriately for each user even if a user does not spontaneously instruct a change of a user who operates an apparatus by a key operation etc. A receiving unit receives an operation of a user via an operation unit. A determining unit determines, when the receiving unit receives an operation, whether a user who performs the operation is identical to the user who has operated the operation, without inputting information for specifying the user. A control unit controls, when the determining unit determines that the user who performs the operation is not identical to the user who has operated the operation unit, so as not to keep an execution history of a job that is instructed to execute as an execution history of the user who has operated the operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toru Ushiku
  • Patent number: 8503000
    Abstract: To keep track of which process each process job currently exits and when it comes in own charge or which job must be processed, it is necessary to use a workflow system on a PC, and this necessitates to move back and force between the PC and the apparatus, thereby leading to the deterioration of the operational efficiency. An object of the invention is to provide a system in which the apparatus and the workflow server are connected, and by moving forward the processing by using the operation unit of the apparatus, the workflow of the operator in the centralized copy room and the print center of the company can be smoothly moved forward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshihiro Kadowaki
  • Patent number: 8502992
    Abstract: An image forming system, comprises: an image formation unit for forming an image on a paper; a first paper ejection unit for receiving the paper; a second paper ejection unit for receiving the paper as a sample paper in a state that the sample paper is visually checked when sample paper ejection is performed; a first control section for controlling a switching section to eject the sample paper by switching a paper sending destination from the first paper ejection unit to the second paper ejection unit at a time of the sample paper ejection; a second control section for controlling a display section to display thumbnail images; and wherein the first control section performs the sample paper ejection using the image for sample paper ejection selected by a selecting section for selecting the image for sample paper ejection from the thumbnail images displayed in the display section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Susumu Kurihara
  • Patent number: 8503899
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a display unit for displaying a program which can be executed in the apparatus so as to be identified is disclosed. The apparatus has: an input unit for inputting a program into the image forming apparatus; a display control unit for controlling a process for displaying select keys including a plurality of select keys to instruct a selection of a desired one of a plurality of programs stored in the image forming apparatus onto a display screen displayed on the display unit; and a discriminating unit for discriminating whether the select key to instruct a selection of the program inputted by the input unit can be further displayed onto the first display screen to display the select keys corresponding to the programs registered in the image forming apparatus in response to the input of the program from the input unit or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mamoru Osada
  • Patent number: 8494393
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes: a display unit that displays a screen including at least one operation target item constituting a target of an operation; a recording unit that records pieces of information depicting operations performed by a user on operation target items displayed on the display unit as pieces of operation history information; and a screen reproducing unit that reproduces screens displayed at points in time at which the respective operations were performed on the basis of the pieces of operation history information recoded in the recording unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kunihiko Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8493592
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus serving as one embodiment, a large-format display that has a display screen visible from a rear face or a side face is disposed on at least one side face of a case of the image forming apparatus, and is formed such that the large-format display and the image forming apparatus are separable. The large-format display is provided with a pair of legs disposed so as to have a predetermined space L between the legs, and this space between the legs is formed so as to be no more than the lateral width of the image forming apparatus, and no more than the depth-wise width of the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Nakai, Satoshi Machino, Osamu Ueda
  • Patent number: 8493631
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus having improved installability and operability. The image forming apparatus has an operation unit thereof disposed on an arm extending from the apparatus and pivotable around a support member in substantially the horizontal direction, and has sensors for detecting the pivot position of the operation unit. An initial-screen setting screen determined based on the pivot position of the operation unit detected by the sensors is displayed on the operation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinichi Takata, Takashi Fujimori, Hiroaki Tomiyasu, Yuichi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8477391
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a document reading and conveying unit, a pressing plate capable of moving to a position to press a document against a reading surface and to a position withdrawn from the reading surface, and a fixed reader configured to read a document fixed on the reading surface by moving a close-coupled image sensor relative to the document. The document reading and conveying unit includes a controller configured to perform pickup initialization of returning a pickup roller to an initial position after the completion of conveying one or more documents and is supported by the pressure plate. The controller includes a first timer configured to measure an elapsed time from the completion of reading performed by the fixed reader. The controller performs the pickup initialization after a measurement value measured by the first timer exceeds a first time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaya Shimmachi, Haruo Ishizuka, Kuniaki Sato
  • Patent number: 8472830
    Abstract: An image forming device including a first image forming unit, a second image forming unit, an assignment unit and a reporting unit is provided. The first image forming unit forms images on one face of a recording paper. The second image forming unit receives the recording paper from the first image forming unit and forms images on the other face of the received recording paper, and performs image formation of a type that differs from the image formation performed by the first image forming unit. The assignment unit assigns logical pages of image data of a printing target to the first image forming unit or the second image forming unit. The reporting unit reports image forming information indicating what type of image formation is to be performed on each of the assigned logical pages of the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hajime Fukasawa
  • Patent number: 8472053
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a display unit that displays operation information about a user's operation procedure; a communication unit that performs communication with a mobile terminal device; and a transmission unit that transmits, in case that a predetermined operation information is to be displayed on the display unit, image data for displaying the predetermined operation information to the mobile terminal device via the communication unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Aoki
  • Publication number: 20130156458
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a decolorizing apparatus includes a control section and a decolorizing section. The control section acquires information that distinguishes a first area, which is an area where an image is formed on a sheet, and the other areas. The decolorizing section decolorizes an image in the first area according to the information acquired by the control section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicants: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Katsunori Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8467094
    Abstract: This invention provides an image forming apparatus, control method therefor, and program for executing efficient image formation while ensuring user friendliness. To accomplish this, the image forming apparatus according to this invention permits changing an image forming condition during execution of an operation of forming an image while conveying a plurality of sheets each on which the image is to be formed at the first interval, and restricts changing the image forming condition during execution of the operation of forming an image while conveying the plurality of sheets at the second interval shorter than the first interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuyuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8462372
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus for outputting a document including a data group containing plural data items is disclosed that includes a storing part configured to store document definition data in which a document kind information is defined in correspondence with an output pattern information, the output pattern information including an output method data and an output condition data, a structured data fabricating part configured to fabricate structured data including the group of data according to the document kind information, an image data fabricating part configured to fabricate image data of the document according to the structured data, an identifying part configured to identify target document definition data among the document definition data that correspond to designated document kind information, and an outputting part configured to output the image data according to the output pattern information corresponding to the document kind information defined in the target document definition data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takafumi Shimmoto
  • Patent number: 8463151
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section which performs image formation according to execution of a job, a storage section which can store two or more jobs, a display section to perform display, and a control section by which the operations of the image forming section and the display section are controlled, and the job is stored and managed in the storage section, and which performs these two or more jobs in a prescribed order. According to the setting conditions and the operating state of each of jobs, before and after the job, in the execution order, this control section creates guidance and displays this guidance on the display section. According to, or referring to, the guidance, the user is guided to perform processes. Working efficiency is enhanced because the operator knows easily a process or timing required in order to operate without stopping print operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Takao Kurohata
  • Patent number: 8452194
    Abstract: A system having an image forming apparatus and an information processing apparatus includes setting whether the status of the image forming apparatus is immediately confirmed by a user, transmitting a file containing a status log based on the status change of the image forming apparatus from the image forming apparatus to an external file server, and displaying a list of the image forming apparatus to be contained in the system on a screen in the information processing apparatus, wherein with respect to the image forming apparatus as to which a setting is made to immediately confirm the status, a button to instruct confirmation of the status of the apparatus is displayed in the list, and wherein when an instruction to confirm the status is executed from the list, status of the image forming apparatus is displayed based on the status log to be contained in the file transmitted from the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Isamu Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 8446604
    Abstract: In an application management system for managing a plurality of applications that are installed in an image processing device, in the case where an instruction of execution start is received, if an application execution unit has already executed an incompatible application that would cause an unintended operation of the application whose execution is to be started if concurrently executed with another application, and a warning screen about the application execution start is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuya Sakai
  • Patent number: 8446600
    Abstract: A multi function peripheral with a plurality of functions includes a function selecting unit accepting therethrough an input to select a function to be executed from the plurality of functions, a display unit displaying thereon an information screen showing information on the function selected through the function selecting unit, and a display control unit controlling the display unit to, each time a function is selected through the function selecting unit, display thereon a first information screen showing information on the selected function. When a second information screen showing information on a function in execution has been displayed on the display unit, the display control unit controls the display unit to display thereon the first information screen concurrently with the second information screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noriko Misumi, Ayako Sakai, Takahiro Ikeno, Masaaki Wakizaka
  • Patent number: 8437012
    Abstract: When a maintenance agreement has been made based on a contract printing rate and the contract number of printed sheets, an image forming apparatus can determine before an image is actually formed, whether or not terms and conditions will be exceeded. When a user instructs to copy, after all images of original documents are scanned, it can be determined whether or not the number of remaining printable sheets exceeds a certain number, e.g., 100. When the number of remaining printable sheets is not more than 100, after calculating an average per/page printing rate of the scanned image data, the converted number of sheets, which is converted using the contract printing rate, is calculated from the average printing rate, the contract printing rate, and the number of printed sheets for one copy job, and a screen used in inquiring whether or not to print is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Murata Machinery, Ltd.
    Inventor: Toru Hiraoka
  • Patent number: 8437651
    Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus, which makes it possible to visually recognize a suitable time when an operator should stay at the machine side, even if a reserved job includes a job continuous implementation impeding factor. The image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section to implement the reserved job; an operating section to accept operations for inputting a plurality of reserved jobs; a controlling section to extract a specific reserved job, which includes the job continuous implementation impeding factor, from the plurality of reserved jobs inputted through the operating section, so as to set discrimination information representing the job continuous implementation impeding factor into the specific reserved job; and a displaying section to display the specific reserved job to which the discrimination information is set and other reserved jobs to which the discrimination information is not set, on the same screen in a synopsis manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Yoshihisa Kamata
  • Publication number: 20130108301
    Abstract: An input device of an image forming apparatus is provided with a panel portion, which has a display portion and by which input is carried out by a user touching the display portion, and in which at least one portion is displaced according to touch by the user, and at least one switch portion by which input is carried out by an operation according to displacement exceeding a preset displacement amount of the panel portion. Input by the input device includes a first input, which is input carried out using only the panel portion, and a second input, which is input carried out using the panel portion and the switch portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Inventors: Norihide MOMOSE, Kenji SUGIMURA
  • Patent number: 8432559
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus capable of outputting image data by a plurality of output methods includes storing image data, managing output restriction information corresponding to a predetermined region of the stored image data, executing output restriction processing of the image data corresponding to the predetermined region based on the output restriction information of one of the plurality of output methods, selecting one of the plurality of output methods when the image data is output, and outputting the image data on which the output restriction processing is executed by the selected output method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noriyuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8432562
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a new application management system. A platform provided in the image forming apparatus manages applications also provided in the image forming apparatus. An operation screen display application included in the application managed by the platform displays operation screens. Objects to be operated by the operation screens are the applications managed by the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Ando, Kunihiro Akiyoshi
  • Patent number: 8428484
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems, methods and devices for providing external accounting functions for a peripheral device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Boguslaw Ludwik Plewnia, Shinichi Yamamura, Hanzhong Zhang, David J. Lovat, Amarender Reddy Kethl Reddy, Roy K. Chrisop, Tanna Richardson, Uoc Nguyen, Joey Lum, Mark Liu Stevens
  • Patent number: 8422072
    Abstract: An image forming system capable of shortening the time required to process configuration information on an image forming system and shortening communication time. When any of sheet processing apparatuses is activated before activation of an image forming apparatus, a controller of a sheet processing apparatus acting as a sub-manager configures a sub-system consisting of sheet processing apparatuses connected to a communication network and creates configuration data on the sub-system. When recognizing that the image forming apparatus is newly connected to the network, the sub-manager apparatus notifies the image forming apparatus of the already created configuration data based on which a controller of the image forming apparatus creates configuration data on the system and stores it into a RAM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Okamoto, Takuya Hayakawa, Noriaki Matsui
  • Publication number: 20130089352
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a display unit for displaying a program which can be executed in the apparatus so as to be identified is disclosed. The apparatus has: an input unit for inputting a program into the image forming apparatus; a display control unit for controlling a process for displaying select keys including a plurality of select keys to instruct a selection of a desired one of a plurality of programs stored in the image forming apparatus onto a display screen displayed on the display unit; and a discriminating unit for discriminating whether the select key to instruct a selection of the program inputted by the input unit can be further displayed onto the first display screen to display the select keys corresponding to the programs registered in the image forming apparatus in response to the input of the program from the input unit or not.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
  • Patent number: 8405605
    Abstract: There is provided an electronic apparatus including: an input mechanism including a sheet-shaped base material having flexibility and a bending detector which detects an elastic bending deformation of the base material; a power supply device; a bending deformation judging mechanism judging whether or not a first bending deformation mode is generated in the base material; a controller; and a mode changing mechanism changing an operation mode of the electronic apparatus from a normal mode to a low power mode in which the electronic apparatus is operated in a power lower than the normal mode, when the first bending deformation mode is generated in the base material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroto Sugahara
  • Patent number: 8401415
    Abstract: An image forming device to receive set-up entry data of external image forming devices, includes an interface portion to relay communications with at least one external image forming device; a communication portion to request set-up entry data to the at least one external image forming device; and a central processing unit to execute a job according to the set-up entry data when the requested set-up entry data is received through the interface portion. The communication portion searches the external image forming devices using a broadcast scheme and requests the set-up entry data according to the search result. Accordingly, functions of the image forming device can be utilized with more convenience and efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: SAMSUNG Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hebbar Ananthesh
  • Patent number: 8395786
    Abstract: When a maintenance agreement has been made based on a contract printing rate and the contract number of printed sheets, an image forming apparatus can determine before an image is actually formed, whether or not terms and conditions will be exceeded. When a user instructs to copy, after all images of original documents are scanned, it can be determined whether or not the number of remaining printable sheets exceeds a certain number, e.g., 100. When the number of remaining printable sheets is not more than 100, after calculating an average per/page printing rate of the scanned image data, the converted number of sheets, which is converted using the contract printing rate, is calculated from the average printing rate, the contract printing rate, and the number of printed sheets for one copy job, and a screen used in inquiring whether or not to print is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Murata Machinery, Ltd.
    Inventor: Toru Hiraoka
  • Patent number: 8396381
    Abstract: Generally, an imaging device is capable of applying respective EP engine settings to different zones within a page of media. In an example embodiment, a method includes printing in first and second zones on a page of media using first and second EP engine settings that are respectively associated with the first and second zones. The imaging device prints in the first zone on the page of media based on a first EP engine setting that is associated with the first zone. The imaging device switches from the first zone on the page of media to the second zone on the page of media responsive to a size indicator. The imaging device prints in the second zone on the page of media based on a second EP engine setting that is associated with the second zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew D. Heid, Kevin Dean Schoedinger, David John Mickan
  • Patent number: 8391741
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuhji Fujii, Kouji Miyake, Takateru Yamamoto, Takeshi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8391731
    Abstract: An apparatus in which a plurality of consumable items are loadable to the apparatus. The apparatus includes a consumption status detecting unit to detect a respective consumption status of each of the consumable items, a consumption information output setting unit to set whether an exchange message for each of the consumable items is to be output, and a consumable item information output unit to output the exchange message, which is indicative of an exchange time of the respective consumable item, based on the respective consumption statuses detected by the consumption status detecting unit and the setting of the consumption information output setting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiya Inoue, Yasuyuki Igarashi, Takeshi Fujita, Yuka Saito, Toshio Kitazawa
  • Patent number: 8391740
    Abstract: A display device and an image forming apparatus capable of reducing discomfort of a worker during maintenance work and improving the work efficiency, are provided. In a copier, an orientation of a display screen of a display device is detected and when the display screen changes its orientation, an image appearing on the display screen changes accordingly. It is determined how the copier is viewed from a worker, and then screen display is performed so that an image appearing on the display device looks the same as the copier which the worker directly sees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenji Ogasawara
  • Patent number: 8386945
    Abstract: A system and method for managing production printing workflow is disclosed. The system includes workflow management software which manages and facilitates the procedural stages of the workflow including job origination, job preparation, job submission and job fulfillment. The workflow management software provides an integrated object oriented interface which visually reflects and interacts with the workflow. The software further provides functionality to create, manage and manipulate compound documents as ordered collections of documents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: David R. Hansen, Robert K. Holzwarth
  • Patent number: 8385753
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image based on image data, includes: a power source for supplying power to various sections of the apparatus; a display section for displaying; and a control section for executing a controlling regarding operations of the apparatus, wherein the control section is provided with a normal power supply mode representing a state of normal power supply, and a power supply mode for operator part replacement representing the state of power supply different from said normal power supply mode, the power supply mode for operator part replacement to which an operator changes the state of power supply on changing a part or a unit of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Arai
  • Patent number: 8381111
    Abstract: According to an instruction by a manager, information about the image forming apparatus to be monitored is set with the management server. A communication test is conducted between the management server and the image forming apparatus. The management server confirms an ID of the image forming apparatus. Subsequently, upon receiving a setting information request from the image forming apparatus, the management server responds with generated UI button information and access-destination information which can be extended by the UI button information to the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshimasa Kawana
  • Patent number: 8379239
    Abstract: It is set for one or more processes executable by a multi-function peripheral apparatus (101) whether or not permitting the multi-function peripheral apparatus (101) to perform, of the processes, a process, execution of which is requested by a multi-function peripheral apparatus (102) or client PC (103). Information about a process set to be permitted is transmitted to the multi-function peripheral apparatus (102) or client PC (103).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideo Asahara
  • Patent number: 8380099
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including applications and system side software for providing system side services to the applications is provided, in which the image forming apparatus includes: an authentication module for displaying an authentication screen on an operation panel of the image forming apparatus, wherein the authentication module allows the image forming apparatus to display a screen for using the image forming apparatus instead of the authentication screen if authentication data input from the authentication screen satisfies an authentication condition, and wherein the authentication module is provided in the image forming apparatus separately from the system side software.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shohhei Moroi
  • Patent number: 8373884
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a setting unit to set a printing condition of a job, the printing condition containing a condition indicating whether check print is to be executed or not; an image forming unit to execute image forming processing in accordance with the printing condition set by the setting unit; and a control unit to determine one or more pages to be subjected to the check print based on the printing condition and a predetermined determination condition if the printing condition set by the setting unit indicates that the check print is to be executed, and to cause the image forming unit to execute the image forming processing for the check print with respect to the determined one or more pages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Shoichi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8374522
    Abstract: A printing apparatus performs print processing on a plurality of sheets according to print data input by an input unit, and sets the printing unit to a first operation state in which monochromatic print processing is capable of being performed or to a second operation state in which color print processing is capable of being performed. The printing apparatus enables selection between a first print mode and a second print mode. In the first print mode, a sheet is conveyed at a defined speed in the monochromatic print processing and is conveyed at a speed lower than the defined speed in the color print processing. In the second print mode, a sheet is conveyed at a speed lower than the defined speed both in the monochromatic print processing and in the color print processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Nonaka
  • Patent number: 8368930
    Abstract: A job execution system includes a terminal apparatus and an image processing apparatus. The terminal apparatus includes an accepter that accepts a value set by a user for one or more than one setting item to execute a job by the image processing apparatus and a transmitter that transmits the job including the accepted value, to the image processing apparatus. In the image processing apparatus, a judger judges whether or not there exists a setting item for which the value “to be specified” is set in advance, among those included in the job received by a receiver, to execute the job. And if it judged that there exists, a job executor puts on hold execution of the job and a display portion displays a setting screen that allows a user to specify a value for the setting item for which the value “to be specified” is set in advance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Tsumoru Matsuura, Shin Ohba
  • Patent number: 8369732
    Abstract: An operation device of an image forming apparatus, a display method, and an image forming apparatus. A display unit displays a basic screen including a setting information display area to display setting information and a button display area in which an icon is displayed as a setting button screen. A touch panel detects a contact position on a display screen of the display unit. A display control unit displays, on the display unit, a selection screen including a plurality of options corresponding to a setting particular of the icon displayed in a position where a contact is detected by the touch panel, displays a result selected in the selection screen as new setting information in the setting information display area in the basic screen, and displays a triangular graphic which associates the icon with the setting information corresponding to the setting particular of the icon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuko Kimoto, Naoki Hoshino
  • Publication number: 20130028616
    Abstract: A printing control device of the present invention controls a printing device equipped with a consumable supply, and includes a display control section for causing a display section to display a printing setting screen via which printing conditions corresponding to functions of the printing device are set and entered into the printing device. The printing setting screen includes an ordering screen via which an order of the consumable supply equipped for the printing device is entered, and the ordering screen includes remaining-amount-of-consumable-supply information indicative of an index of a remaining amount of the consumable supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventors: Hisashi KUNIHIRO, Yasuyuki ISHIGURO, Hitoshi NAGAHAMA
  • Patent number: RE44280
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus that performs a plurality of functions includes: a display which displays a menu screen or a function instruction screen, the menu screen being used for selecting one of the plurality of functions, and the function instruction screen corresponding to each of the functions and being used for executing the corresponding function; an operating section which accepts an operation relating the selected function from a user; a detecting section which detects that an operation relating to the selected function has not been performed for a predetermined amount of time; and a controller which controls a screen transition to change the screen of the display to an initial screen of the function instruction screen corresponding to the selected function, when the detecting section detects that the operation has not been performed for the predetermined amount of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun Nagumo