Patents Assigned to Kyocera Mita Corporation
  • Powder supply device and image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 8351827
    Abstract: A powder supply device includes: first and second storage sections that store powder, first and second stirring sections arranged inside the first and second storage sections, a drive section that produces a forward direction rotational force and a reverse direction rotational force to apply a drive force to the first and second stirring sections, first and second transmission shafts that transmit the drive force to the first and second stirring sections, and a transmission switching section that transmits the drive force produced by the forward direction rotational force of the drive section to the first transmission shaft, and that transmits the drive force produced by the reverse direction rotational force of the drive section to the first transmission shaft and the second transmission shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuhiko Yoshii
  • Inkjet recording apparatus
    Patent number: 8348382
    Abstract: In a cap mode where a cap member covers a nozzle surface, a controller controls a second movement mechanism so that the cap member is disposed opposite to the nozzle surface. In an ejection recovery mode where ink is ejected from a plurality of nozzles and the ink adhered to the nozzle surface is wiped off by a wiping member, the controller controls a first movement mechanism and the second movement mechanism so that the nozzle surface, a wiping tray and the cap member are arranged downward in this order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Sou Takahashi, Kikunosuke Tsuji
  • Image forming apparatus with a determining section that makes a determination when the apparatus transitions to a power saving mode of whether an image can be formed
    Patent number: 8351801
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image forming station for forming an image and a display unit for displaying specified information. A mode changing section switches a mode of the image forming apparatus between a first mode for waiting on standby with a first power consumption and a second mode for waiting on standby with second power consumption lower, than the first power consumption. A determining section determines whether an image can be formed after the mode is switched from the second mode to the first mode and a starting section starts the display unit when the determining section determines that no image can be formed. A notifying section generates a display on the display unit of information indicating that no image can be formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Kentarou Naruse
  • Image compression apparatus and computer-readable recording medium recorded with image compression program
    Patent number: 8351693
    Abstract: A pattern data storage stores a plurality of different pattern data having the same data size as bit planes. An image compressing/decoding unit calculates code amounts of the respective encoded bit planes and successively adds the code amounts of the respective bit planes in decreasing order from that of the bit plane of the most significant bit to such an extent that the sum does not exceed a limited code amount. Then, the image compressing/decoding unit selects the bit planes with highest degrees of coincidence by comparing the bit planes other those whose code amounts were added to such an extent that the sum does not exceed the limited code amount and the respective pattern data stored in the pattern data storage and replaces the bit planes by the selected pattern data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Shinji Hayashi
  • Image forming apparatus with common support shaft
    Patent number: 8342504
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus (100) is equipped with a left-side cover (2), manual supply tray (10b), a carry guide (31) and a lift plate (33), and these are rotatably supported by a third shaft (35). The apparatus is reduced in size and a protrusion length L of the lift plate (33) is enlarged. The change in inclination angle of the lift plate (33) is reduced and a paper-sheet supply characteristic, even when the amount of paper sheets placed on the manual supply tray (10b) changes, is stabilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Kiyonori Yamamoto
  • Fixing unit and image forming apparatus comprising fixing unit
    Patent number: 8346145
    Abstract: A fixing unit for fixing a toner image onto paper has a member to be heated and a pressurizing member configured to press against the member to be heated and fix the toner image to the paper. At least one coil surface is disposed along one surface of the member to be heated and includes a coil to generate a magnetic field for inductively heating the member. A magnetism shielding member is disposed near the coil surface. A switch includes a first member to allow passage of the magnetic field and a second member to prevent passage of the magnetic field. The amount of heat for the member when the switch is in a first position where the second member is close to the magnetism shielding member is smaller than when the switch is in a second position where the second member is distanced from the magnetism shielding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Yuzuru Nanjo, Tamami Asari, Syoukou Gon
  • Sheet storage device
    Patent number: 8342513
    Abstract: When a sheet cassette (10a) is pulled out of the body of an image forming apparatus (100), winding pulleys (40a and 40b) are rotated by the weight of a lift plate. An idle gear (47) also is rotated by a predetermined amount, so that the engagement portion (47b) thereof engages with a second arm portion (50c) of a torsion spring (50). Since a force exerted by the torsion spring (50) is set greater than the force that rotates the idle gear (47) by downward movement of lift plate (30), rotation of the idle gear (47) and winding pulley (40a) is regulated, and thus the upper surface of lift plate (30) stops in a substantially constant position with respect to sheet supply opening portions (31a and 31b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Yamaguchi
  • Image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 8340535
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing unit fixing an unfixed toner image formed by an image forming unit and transferred by a transfer unit on a recording medium; a discharge unit provided above the fixing unit and discharging the recording medium; a fixing jam processing cover rotating with respect to an apparatus main body so as to open or close a part of a paper conveyance path from the fixing unit to the discharge unit; a conveyance guide member swingably provided on the fixing jam processing cover and guiding the recording medium to the discharge unit; and a supporting member having an inclined surface with which the conveyance guide member makes contact and along which, as the fixing jam processing cover is being opened, the conveyance guide member slides to become less inclined with respect to a horizontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Masakazu Uehara
  • Image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 8335462
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: an image bearing member configured to bear the toner image; a transfer element configured to transfer the toner image to the sheet; a first application element configured to apply a transfer voltage to the transfer element; a separator configured to separate the sheet from the image bearing member, the separator including a separation electrode configured to discharge an electrical current and the separation electrode including first and second separation electrodes aligned along the transfer element; and a partition configured to project between the transfer element and the separator so as to allow a current to flow from the transfer element to the first separation electrode while the partition suppresses a current flowing from the transfer element to the second separation electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Watanabe, Keisuke Ohba
  • Toner supplying device and image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 8335455
    Abstract: A toner supplying device is provided with a container body formed with a toner replenishment opening and adapted to contain toner, a shutter for opening and closing the toner replenishment opening, and an opening/closing structure for causing the shutter to perform opening and closing operations as the container body is mounted into and detached from the apparatus body. The opening/closing structure includes an arm projecting from the shutter in a mounting direction of the container body into the apparatus body and a locking portion attached to the arm. The locking portion includes a first locking claw engageable with and disengageable from a first engageable portion for locking formed at the guiding portion and a second locking claw engageable with and disengageable from a second engageable portion for locking formed at the container body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Masanobu Maeshima
  • Image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 8330986
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a printing unit for executing a single-sided print job and a double-sided print job. A storage unit stores print target data as backing sheet image data when a single-sided print job is executed. An image reading unit reads images on both sides of a document that is subjected to image processing. A backing sheet judgment unit judges whether there is an image that matches a backing sheet image among the images on both sides of the document by comparing the document image data read by the image reading unit with the backing sheet image data stored in the storage unit. An exclusion processing unit performs processing to exclude from the image processing targets an image judged by the backing sheet judgment unit to match the backing sheet image among the images on both sides of the document read by the image reading unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Ryuichi Okumura
  • Data compression device and image reading device
    Patent number: 8331702
    Abstract: A data compression device includes an encoding unit that generates encoded data by compressing image data in units of a band. Encoded data storage units have addresses for storing encoded data for each band and a settings receipt unit receives start address settings in the storage units. A control unit stores the data in the storage units every time encoded data for each band is generated. A start address acquisition unit acquires the start address of an empty area where encoded data is not stored. The control unit sets the start address of an empty area in a storage unit different from the storage unit where the encoded data that is being generated is to be stored. The encoding unit then starts to generate encoded data for a next band, and stores the generated data in the storage unit indicated by the start address set in the setting receipt unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Masaki Baba
  • Light scanning device and image forming apparatus provided with the same
    Patent number: 8325212
    Abstract: A light scanning device includes a light source emitting light, a polygon mirror reflecting the light while rotating, a mirror member having a mirror surface reflecting the light, reflected by the polygon mirror, toward an object to be scanned, a vibration preventing member attached to a portion of the mirror member excluding the mirror surface to prevent the mirror member from vibrating, and a housing supporting the polygon mirror and the mirror member. The mirror member extends in a predetermined direction in the housing, and the vibration preventing member is divided into a plurality of pieces that are so attached to the mirror member as to adjoin each other in the predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Tomioka
  • Image forming apparatus and computer-readable medium storing operation control program
    Patent number: 8320004
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a display unit that displays an image; a web browser that causes the display unit to display thereon a web page; and an operation setting unit that receives from a user and stores an input of operation settings relating to the operation of the image forming apparatus, and of web page display settings relating to web page display control by the web browser. Upon launching of the web browser, the operation setting unit outputs the web page display settings to the web browser. The web browser displays the web page on the display unit according to the web page display settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Dai Shigenobu, Yoshifumi Okabayashi, Takanori Miyamoto
  • Image forming apparatus that discriminates an operation of a service requested and constructs a job corresponding to the operation by selecting a job scenario prepared in advance
    Patent number: 8314962
    Abstract: An operation control program controls a computer provided in an image forming apparatus to serve as: a service section which discriminates an operation of a service requested by a user, and constructs a job corresponding to the operation by selecting one or a plurality of job scenarios prepared in advance as constituting element of the job and using the selected job scenario; and a job performing section for executing sequentially a processing indicated by each job scenario constituting the job constructed by the service section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Kanekawa, Toru Yasui, Tomonori Naota, Hiroyuki Takaishi, Takashi Toyoda, Takuya Tsuji, Katsuji Furushige, Kyoichiro Hayashi
  • Toner set, developer set, image forming apparatus and image forming method
    Patent number: 8313878
    Abstract: A toner set has toners used in an image forming method by forming a toner image with toners of several colors and fixing the toner image onto a recording medium. The toners include first and second toners of different colors. The first and second toners contain toner base particles including a binding resin, a colorant and a wax. The colorant of the first toner contains a quinacridone pigment. The wax includes a carnauba wax and a wax other than the carnauba wax. The base particles of the first toner have a mass % Wq1 of carnauba wax and Wo1 of the other wax and the base particles of the second toner have a mass % Wq2 of carnauba wax and Wo2 of the other wax. These mass % values are selected to satisfy the following: Wq1/(Wq1+Wq2)<Wo1/(Wo1+Wo2) 3?Wo1+Wo2<Wq1+Wq2?10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Kuramashi
  • Image forming apparatus with density correction function and density correction method
    Patent number: 8311428
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus with a correction function for correcting density of an image, including: an image bearing member configured to convey the image in a first direction; and a controller configured to perform a bias correction and a ? correction for the density, wherein the controller includes: a test patch generator configured to generate on the image bearing member a test patch including a first test patch and a second test patch; a first density sensor configured to detect density of the first test patch; a second density sensor configured to detect density of the second test patch; a selector configured to select one of a first detection signal from the first density sensor and a second detection signal from the second density sensor as a bias-correction detection signal and another detection signal as a ?-correction detection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Fuchimoto
  • Image reading device and image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 8305655
    Abstract: An image reading device includes: a foreign-matter image position detection unit that detects a predetermined foreign-matter image from the image read by a document reading unit when the document conveyed by a document conveying unit comes off from a document reading position and detects a main scanning direction position of the foreign-matter image in the main scanning direction; and a lighting control unit that lights up the light-emitting element group arranged in the main scanning direction and lights up the light-emitting elements within a predetermined range from the main scanning direction position of the foreign-matter image in a light emission mode that is different from a light emission mode of other light-emitting elements when the foreign-matter image is detected by the foreign-matter image position detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Harada
  • Belt device and image forming apparatus provided with the same
    Patent number: 8306456
    Abstract: A belt device is provided with an endless belt, a plurality of rollers on which the belt is mounted and including a drive roller connected to a specified drive source and rotating the belt and a belt meandering correction roller correcting the meandering of the belt in a width direction of the belt, a sensor detecting the position of an end surface of the belt in a sensor detection area divided into a plurality of zones adjacent in the belt width direction, a roller position adjusting mechanism adjusting the position of the belt meandering correction roller to correct the meandering of the belt, and a controller controlling the roller position adjusting mechanism based on the position detection of the belt end surface by the sensor, the controller controlling the roller position adjusting mechanism to keep the belt end surface in a specific one of the plurality of zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Satoru Yonemoto
  • Guide roller unit, guiding device, and image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 8301072
    Abstract: A guiding roller unit has a holder to be mounted on a mount, and a guiding roller rotatably supported by the holder. The holder includes a base, two bearings and widening preventing plates attached respectively to the bearing. The base, the bearings and the widening preventing parts are integral to each other. The base is mounted on the mount. The bearings stand from opposite ends of the base and rotatably support the roller. The widening preventing plates extend in directions opposite to facing directions of the bearings. The holder enables the roller to be attached and detached with leading ends of the bearings elastically widened with respect to base ends thereof connected with the base while being detached from the mount, whereas it prohibits widening of the leading ends of the bearings by contacting the mount in response to forces acting in widening directions while being mounted on the mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Fukunaga, Hironori Daigo