Patents Examined by Chad Dickerson
  • Patent number: 11310369
    Abstract: When a multifunction peripheral (MFP) that notifies guidance indicating how to resolve an abnormal state that occurs in itself detects the abnormal state, the MFP notifies a log-in user of the MFP of guidance according to the combination of the detected abnormal state and authority of the log-in user of the MFP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Tomonori Naota
  • Patent number: 11283960
    Abstract: A portable scanner includes a housing, a transmitting path, a scanning unit and a transmission module. The transmitting path longitudinally penetrates through two opposite sides of the housing. One side of the transmitting path forms a first channel, and the other side of the transmitting path forms a second channel. The scanning unit is arranged in the transmitting path and partially projects into the first channel. The transmission module is arranged in the transmitting path and partially projects into the first channel. The transmission module is in contact with the scanning unit. The transmission module includes a transmission roller. The scanning unit and the transmission roller are disposed to two facing sides of the transmitting path along an up-down direction. The scanning unit is disposed on and contacts with the transmission roller in the transmitting path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Foxlink Image Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuo Shing Wang, Pai Hsien Su
  • Patent number: 11283958
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an operation device coupled to the image forming apparatus and configured to accept an operation to the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a memory including a first memory area configured to store a set value to be used by the image forming apparatus or the operation device. The image forming apparatus further includes circuitry configured to: accept an operation of writing or reading the set value; determine a type of a process to be performed on the set value; and perform the process in accordance with a determination result by the circuitry, to encrypt the set value and store the encrypted set value in the first memory area of the memory, write the set value to a second memory area in the memory, or read the set value from the second memory area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Tatsuma Hirokawa
  • Patent number: 11283950
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a recording unit and a document reading unit. The recording unit includes a shaft, and the document reading unit includes a groove forming member. In the groove, an elastically deformable portion configured to make the width of the groove narrower than a maximum diameter of the shaft The shaft has a shape in which a radial dimension changes along a circumferential direction and is provided so as to rotate, and when the elastically deformable portion passes through the shaft in the process of opening the document reading unit from the closed state, the rotation of the shaft is regulated such that the radial dimension of the shaft with respect to the width of the groove is equal to or less than a first dimension smaller than the maximum dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shintaro Miyamoto, Sho Aruga, Yuka Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11283953
    Abstract: The image reading apparatus includes a separation roller, an imaging device to generate an input image, a conveyance roller to convey the medium separated by the separation roller to the imaging device, a first medium sensor located between the separation roller and the conveyance roller, a second medium sensor located between the conveyance roller and the imaging device, a processor to start imaging by the imaging device in response to detection of the medium by the first medium sensor and generate a cutout image from the input image in response to detection of the medium by the second medium sensor, and an output device to output the cutout image. The processor generates the cutout image based on a position imaged by a predetermined amount before a position imaged at a timing when the second medium sensor detects the medium, in the input image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: PFU LIMITED
    Inventors: Tomohiro Murakami, Hiroyuki Kitano
  • Patent number: 11277537
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a line sensor capable of reading a sheet being conveyed. A signal processing circuit generates, based on respective analog picture signals of pixels and in order of sequence of the pixels, detection signals each indicating whether or not a reflecting object has been read. A first counting circuit measures a duration time which is a time during which the detection signals maintain a level indicating that the reflecting object has been read. When the duration time reaches or exceeds a first specified time, the first counting circuit changes a level of a first detection result signal to a level indicating necessity of cleaning. A unit control circuit determines, based on the level of the first detection result signal, whether or not cleaning is necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Kohei Ishido
  • Patent number: 11265438
    Abstract: An example device includes a U-shaped body to be placed around a guide on which a scanner carriage is to be guided. A fixed leg of the U-shaped body is attached to a linearly translatable scanner carriage. A free leg of the U-shaped body is not attached to the scanner carriage and has inward facing ribs. The ribs on the free leg of the U-shaped body are positioned to come into contact with the guide to align the scanner carriage with the guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Da Peng Li, Zhi Wen Xing, Feng Chen
  • Patent number: 11258919
    Abstract: When a feeding apparatus of a first type is connected to a first mounting surface, a processor outputs, to the feeding apparatus of the first type via a first signal terminal, a control signal. When the feeding apparatus of the first type is connected to a second mounting surface, the control unit outputs, to a feeding apparatus of a second type via a second signal terminal, a control command for controlling the feeding apparatus of the first type. When the feeding apparatus of the first type is connected to the second mounting surface, the feeding apparatus of the second type outputs, to the feeding apparatus of the first type via another signal terminal, a control signal based on a control command for controlling the feeding apparatus of the first type outputted from an image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoki Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 11243724
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses methods and systems for printing an address directly on an output medium. The method is implemented at a multi-function device. The method includes providing a user interface for displaying an address print option; based on receiving a selection of the address print option, displaying, by a controller, an address form requiring address details on the user interface, wherein the user provides the address details via the user interface; receiving, by the controller, the address details to be printed on the output medium; and printing, by a printing engine, the address details on the output medium based on receiving a selection of a type of the output medium. The method enables the user to print the address on the output medium without requiring an external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Sakthivel Murugan, Hariprasad Thiruthamarai Seshamani, Murugesan Pandi, Muthukumar Periyasamy, Uma Mageswari Mariyappan
  • Patent number: 11237775
    Abstract: A communication device is configured to communicate with an information processing apparatus through a first communication interface using a first protocol, and communicate with an image processing apparatus having the image processing function through a second communication interface using a second protocol which is different from the first protocol. A controller of the communication device is configured to obtain particular information of the image processing apparatus from the image processing apparatus using the second protocol. When receiving a search request from the information processing apparatus, the controller responds to the search request based on the particular information as obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takafumi Kai
  • Patent number: 11233911
    Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus. A generating unit that generates preview image data representing a document read by a reading unit. A display controller that controls a display such that the display displays a partial image which is an image represented by the preview image data and is positioned in a specific area which is a predetermined partial area, as an upright image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Naoki Homma, Atsuya Baba
  • Patent number: 11223731
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus is capable of communicating with a server apparatus. In the image processing apparatus, an acceptance unit accepts input of a job, and an analysis unit analyzes content of a document included in the inputted job. A search unit searches a database of the server apparatus for relevant content that is related to the document analyzed by the analysis unit. A display control unit displays the relevant content on a display unit of the image processing apparatus based on a result of the search by the search unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ken Achiwa
  • Patent number: 11204728
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for handling print jobs. One embodiment is a system that includes a print server that serves a print shop having printers which exhibit different capabilities. The print server includes an interface that receives print jobs that each include content in the form of a Job Definition Format (JDF) job ticket and Portable Document Format (PDF) print data, a memory that stores the print jobs, and a controller. The controller schedules the print jobs for printing at the printers, and converts content of at least one of the print jobs to a different implementation, such that print jobs scheduled for printing at different printers include different implementations of content, based on the capabilities of the printer that they are scheduled for printing at.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Walter R. Albers, Linda Sue Liebelt, Jeffrey Alan Sikkink, Marquis G. Waller
  • Patent number: 11196890
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus including: a reading unit configured to read an image of an original in a main scanning direction; a housing configured to accommodate the reading unit; a guide member configured to guide a movement of the reading unit in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction; and a restricting member configured to restrict the movement of the reading unit in the sub-scanning direction and a movement of the reading unit in a vertical direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomofumi Sakuma
  • Patent number: 11172072
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a recording head, a loading unit, a feeding unit, a cover, a detection unit, and a determination unit. The feeding unit feeds a recording medium loaded on the loading unit to a recording position where the recording head performs the recording. The cover moves between an opening state and a closing state. The determination unit determines a size of the loaded recording medium based on a result of a width detection operation. The recording head records an image per a determination result. If the cover closing is detected before the recording is performed, the determination unit performs the width detection operation to determine the recording medium size loaded on the loading unit. If the cover opening is detected and the recording apparatus receives a recording instruction, the determination unit performs the width detection operation to determine the recording medium size loaded on the loading unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Izumi Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 11163506
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an extraction unit and a setting unit. When a job for a specific process is obtained, the extraction unit extracts any piece of multiple different predetermined pieces of first policy information. The setting unit sets the extracted first policy information as second policy information to an execution unit. The extracted first policy information is extracted by the extraction unit. The execution unit does the job on the basis of the second policy information. The second policy information is different from the first policy information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventor: Fumitake Yamanishi
  • Patent number: 11163505
    Abstract: A printing system in which a client device utilizing a web browser and a printer, that provides a share folder, are communicably connected, displays a screen on which a print file can be specified by a drop operation on the web browser, transmits the specified print file and share-folder specification information from the client device to the printer, and prints the print file using print settings linked to the share folder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihiko Iida, Yoshiji Kanamoto, Hiroya Igarashi
  • Patent number: 11153458
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a reading unit and a controller. The reading unit radiates light to a target from two directions with different angles and reads images of the target. The controller performs, when controlling the reading unit to acquire the two images of the target, control such that a resolution of the image read by radiating the light to the target from one of the two directions is lower than a resolution of the image read by radiating the light to the target from the other one of the two directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Horikawa, Ryosuke Yonesaka
  • Patent number: 11137952
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an operation device that is connected to the image forming apparatus and receives an operation to the image forming apparatus; a processing unit that performs a predetermined processing by a first application in the image forming apparatus or the operation device; an error detecting unit that detects the error in the processing by the first application; a control unit that starts up a second application to resolve the error upon the error is detected; a transmission unit that transmits error data formed based on the contents of the error from the first application to the second application; and a display unit that displays the operation screen of the second application based on the error data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuuya Nakao
  • Patent number: 11128772
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a scanner device and an image forming apparatus body to which the scanner device is attached. The scanner device has a document inlet and a document outlet respectively formed in mutually opposed surfaces thereof, and is configured to read an image of a document fed thereinto through the document inlet and discharge the document through the document outlet. The scanner device is detachably attached to a top surface of the image forming apparatus body. The top surface of the image forming apparatus body functions as a guide surface guiding the document when the scanner device is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Harada