Patents Examined by Charles H. Nolan, Jr.
  • Printer
    Patent number: 6629796
    Abstract: A printer including a cover state detector and a paper detector. The cover state detector detects whether a cover is opened with respect to a casing of a printer, whereas the paper detector detects whether paper is present within the casing. When the cover is opened, a detection result of the cover state detector is transmitted to a print controller prior to the time when a detection result of the paper detector is transmitted to the print controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Kawakami, Satoshi Iwaya, Naoki Kobayashi
  • Color-image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 6626101
    Abstract: A color-image forming apparatus minimizes displacement in toner images due to irregularities in the thickness of an inter-stage transfer belt. The pattern detector detects a registration reference pattern formed on the belt. Accepting information on displacement over one cycle of travel of the belt from the pattern detector, the displacement amount calculator detects information on displacement in a print range which the toner images formed in a plurality of image-forming stations are transferred thereto. The displacement amount calculator then calculates a mean value of displacement in the range. The central processing unit (CPU) controls the image-forming timing determined by a plurality of exposure units, according to the result calculated by the displacement amount calculator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Tadayuki Kajiwara, Junichi Tanizaki, Masaya Shimada
  • Synchronous control system having automatic cutting and printing registering functions
    Patent number: 6626102
    Abstract: The present invention is intended to automatically adjust cutting and printing registers based on the detection of predetermined mark for different colors in a rotary press using a paper web, thereby eliminating the need for skills and reducing time for adjusting cutting registers. A driving reference setting section, a feedback signal output section, a mark detecting section and a register correction value output section are provided, and a control section for controlling the driving section of the printing mechanism effects control so that the driving reference phase is synchronized with the feedback phase of the plate cylinder by each driving means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Tokyo Kikai Seisakusho, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shizurou Tokiwa
  • Printing service system
    Patent number: 6619868
    Abstract: At the time of placing an order for printing image data via a network, the order can be efficiently rerouted in the case where a printing service provider designated according to an agency specified by a user cannot process the order. A database in a service center stores a laboratory information table. The printing service provider registers with the laboratory information table in advance the printing services available thereat and rerouting information to automatically send order information representing processing that cannot be processed by the printing service provider, such as large-size printing and postcard printing, to another printing service provider. An order reception server judges the content of order information sent from the user and sends the order information to the printing service provider designated by the rerouting information in the laboratory information table if necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hironobu Ishida
  • Method and apparatus for setting register on a multicolor printing machine
    Patent number: 6615732
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for setting register on a multicolor printing machine (1) having color printing units (6, 6′, 6″, 6′″) assigned to various printing inks, at least one image cylinder (2, 2′, . . . ), image production equipment (3,3′, . . . ) for producing color separations (7, 7′, . . . ) on the at least one image cylinder (2, 2′, . . . ) and a carrier (4) for printing substrates (15). An assignment of the image production points (11, 11′, . . . ) on the at least one image cylinder (2, 2′, . . . ) is carried out in order to achieve coincidence of register between the color separations (7, 7′, . . . ) in the print, by both the production of the image starts (10) and the production of areas (10′, 10″, . . . , 10n) of the color separations (7, 7′, . . . ) set on the basis of the print and the evaluation of register marks (9, 9′, 9″, 9′″).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: NexPress Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Heiko Hunold, Patrick Metzler
  • Printing system for accommodating various substrate thicknesses
    Patent number: 6616355
    Abstract: A system for printing images on a substrate includes a multiplicity of print heads mounted in a carriage and positioned a distance from the substrate. A sensor detects the thickness of the substrate as the substrate moves through the system, and a control system receives the substrate thickness information detected by the sensor and transmits signals to a motor coupled to the carriage. These signals instruct the motor to adjust the position of the carriage to maintain a desired gap between the print heads and the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: VUTEK, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur L. Cleary, Joseph A. Lahut, Rainer Rall, Paul Duncanson
  • Color management method and apparatus for printing press
    Patent number: 6615727
    Abstract: In a color management method for a printing press, the first profile representing color reproduction characteristics of a first printing press is generated using color data of a number of patches printed by the first printing press and the dot area percent of each of a plurality of ink colors defined for each patch. The second profile representing color reproduction characteristics of a second printing press is generated using color data of a number of patches printed by the second printing press and the dot area percent of each of a plurality of ink colors defined for each patch. The dot area percent of each ink color to be used to print a printing product by the second printing press is obtained on the basis of the first and second profiles. A color management apparatus for a printing press is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Komori Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshinori Komori, Akihiro Inde
  • Method for controlling a thermal head to permit multicolor printing
    Patent number: 6616356
    Abstract: A thermal head control circuit and a thermal head control method according to the present invention are so configured as to set a state in which a limiting resistor is connected to a heating resistor element corresponding to data indicating color development in a lower temperature range, and set a state in which a limiting resistor is not connected to a heating resistor element corresponding to data indicating color development in a higher temperature range. Therefore, the calorific values of the heat resistor elements can be regulated even if the duration of electrification is kept constant and, where multicolor printing is to be accomplished, printing can be performed at constant speed all the time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Takeo Miyajima
  • Print control method and apparatus
    Patent number: 6616359
    Abstract: A spooler stores intermediate data and an output job setup file in a spool file, and when a stored job is selected, a previewer displays a list of jobs and previews of print images upon which a job including the selected page or a page included in the selected job is identifiably displayed in correspondence with the page or job.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Nakagiri, Satoshi Nishikawa, Yasuo Mori
  • Keyboard structure alteration method
    Patent number: 6616358
    Abstract: A changeable keyboard arrangement includes a database established in the memory of an electronic device, with a minimum of one or more keyboard layout code-page tables stored in the database such that the user can change to a different keyboard layout on the electronic device, and after selecting the key configuration of the keyboard to be changed from a keyboard layout set-up menu, the CPU of the electronic device reads numbers from the key code-page table stored beforehand in the memory; as such, when the user changes a keyboard layout and presses various keys, the CPU searches for the corresponding numbers in the code-page tables based on the first signal issued by the contacts of the keys within a unit interval and then executes the relevant processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Inventec Appliances Corporation
    Inventors: Kun-Huei Chen, Shun-Ping Wang
  • Method and apparatus for controlling rotary presses in power failure
    Patent number: 6615730
    Abstract: The apparatus for controlling, in a power failure, a rotary press that separately drives a printing section and a folding section with independent drive sources, pulls a printing material that is being braked in a paper feeding section at least by the folding section, brings a blanket cylinder of the printing section into contact with the printing material to produce printing impressions by changing over the braking of the printing material to a braking mode with a constant braking force upon interruption of power feeding due to a main power failure, detecting a voltage drop caused by the power failure to output a power failure signal, changing over to a battery power supply, separating a blanket cylinder that is at press from the printing material, and decelerating and bringing to a halt a printing material pulling mechanism at the folding section within a predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Tokyo Kikai Seisakusho, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shizurou Tokiwa
  • Printing press and printing press control method
    Patent number: 6615725
    Abstract: A printing press includes a blanket cleaning controller, automatic plate change unit, image exposing section, pre-inking controller, and CPU. The blanket cleaning controller cleans a blanket mounted on a blanket cylinder. The automatic plate change unit changes a printing plate mounted on a plate cylinder to a new printing plate. The image exposing section exposes an image on the printing plate mounted on the plate cylinder. The pre-inking controller forms, on an ink roller group, an ink film thickness distribution corresponding to an image to be exposed next. The CPU automatically drives the blanket cleaning controller, automatic plate change unit, image exposing section, and pre-inking controller in an operation order set by a start command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Komori Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Kurata, Hideki Saito
  • Printing press and printing press control method
    Patent number: 6615728
    Abstract: A printing press includes an ink roller group, image exposing section, pre-inking controller, and CPU. The ink roller group supplies ink stored in an ink fountain to a printing plate mounted on a plate cylinder. The image exposing section exposes an image on a printing plate before plate making which is mounted on the plate cylinder. The pre-inking controller forms an ink film thickness distribution corresponding to the image to be exposed on the printing plate on the ink roller group. The CPU performs image exposing and ink film thickness distribution formation concurrently at least partly by controlling the image exposing section and the pre-inking controller. A control method for a printing press is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Komori Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Kurata, Hideki Saito
  • Goods-wrapping apparatus including a printer
    Patent number: 6615714
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a goods-wrapping apparatus for wrapping a particular article of a plurality of articles, includes: a goods storing section operable to store the plurality of articles; a goods carrying in/out section operable to carry in the articles into the goods storing section and carry out the article from the goods storing section; a printer operable to print a printing content associated with the particular article onto a printing medium based on the particular article; and a wrapping section operable to wrap the particular article carried out from the goods carrying in/out section with the printing medium onto which the printing content associated with the particular article has been printed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takao Miyazaki
  • Printer, printer control method, and medium for storing the control method
    Patent number: 6612759
    Abstract: A printer for reporting a printer error state to a user using sound, a control method for the printer, and a data storage medium storing the control method as a computer-readable program use a printing unit (print head 208) that prints text or graphics, a detector (cover open sensor 251, no-paper sensor 252, temperature sensor 253) that detects specific printer error states, and settings memory (RAM 204) that stores a setting determining whether errors are reported using sound. A sound generator (buzzer 231) emits sound when a particular error state is detected by the detector and a setting instructing acoustic error state reports is stored in the settings memory (RAM 204).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuko Fukano, Tadashi Inakoshi, Toshiaki Koike
  • Method and device for controlling a transfer register in a sheet-fed rotary printing machine
    Patent number: 6609462
    Abstract: A method of avoiding register differences during the operation of a printing machine having a plurality of individual printing units includes counteracting, at least by circumferential register corrections, respective register differences in the individual printing units, determining the register differences for different printing speeds and storing them in a memory, and determining the various register differences at different printing speeds by an automatic register measuring and register control device and, in the event of changes in the printing speed, superimposing the previously determined magnitude of the register correction on the adjusted variable of the automatic register measuring and register control device; and a device for performing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Axel Hauck
  • Image processing system having image forming apparatus and printer apparatus
    Patent number: 6607315
    Abstract: An image processing system includes a printer driver converting input image data into a printing data, and a printer apparatus performing data output using the converted image data. The printer driver or the printer apparatus includes at least an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a data buffer storing an input printing data, a judgment portion for making judgment whether a define statement of a predetermined character is included in data stored in the data buffer; and a line screen value converting portion for converting a line screen definition for performing halftone printing of the predetermined character when a define statement of the predetermined character is contained in data stored in the data buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Ohtsuji, Toshiaki Nakamura
  • Printing apparatus
    Patent number: 6607317
    Abstract: There is provided a printing apparatus which is capable of increasing the printing speed by employing a multi-head structure while maintaining or enhancing print quality. The printing apparatus prints on a print medium by using N print heads, where N is an integer equal to or larger than 2, assuming that two axes orthogonal to each other on a two-dimensional rectangular coordinate system are set to an X axis and a Y axis, each of the print heads being capable of printing M dots in a direction along the Y axis simultaneously, where M is an integer equal to or larger than 3, and at the same capable of printing M dot lines each extending in a direction along the X axis, by relative scan on the print medium in the direction along the X axis, the M dot lines being arranged side by side in the direction along the Y axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuaki Morozumi, Kiyoshi Suyama, Nobutoshi Otsuka, Atsushi Yamazaki
  • Device for processing printing defects detected in a printing machine
    Patent number: 6606947
    Abstract: A device for processing of printing defects detected in a printing machine which in a first phase delivers a printed support. The printing defects (20, 21, 22) on the support (1) are detected in a detection station. A database connected to the detection station can simultaneously store information relating to each detected printing defect. The processing device connected to the database can, in a second phase, process the stored information in order to evaluate the quality of overall printing of the printed support and can use various possible scenarios, even before the support (1) is cut in a third phase, to define all those portions (23) of the support which should be removed in order to improve the final quality of the printed product within the limit of a restriction in the number of portions which it has been agreed to cut out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Bobst S.A.
    Inventors: Daniel Frossard, Nathan Stern
  • Sheet-fed rotary printing press
    Patent number: 6606949
    Abstract: A sheet-fed rotary printing press includes a feed unit, a printing unit, a delivery unit, and a printing quality control unit. The feed unit feeds sheet-like objects one by one. The printing unit performs printing on the sheet-like objects supplied from the feed unit. The delivery unit delivers the sheet-like objects printed by the printing unit. The printing quality control unit is provided on the delivery unit to adjust an amount of ink to be used for printing on the sheet-like objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Komori Corporation
    Inventor: Isao Funabashi