Patents Examined by Darryl V Dottin
  • Patent number: 10579314
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes one or more processors and a memory that stores a plurality of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the processors to: transmit user identification information identifying a user to a usable amount management server that manages a usable amount for each attribute to which a user belongs; in response to transmission of the user identification information, receive attribute identification information corresponding to the user identification information; and when the user belongs to a plurality of attributes, control a display to display a screen according to the received attribute identification information to receive setting of a consumption ratio. The usable amount is reduced by printing. The attribute identification information identifies the attribute to which the user belongs. The consumption ratio represents a ratio of a consumption amount of each of the attributes to a consumption amount consumed by printing by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoshi Sakemi
  • Patent number: 10574838
    Abstract: In accordance with an authenticated user designating a destination linked to self as a transmission destination, the transmission destination is set, and a transmission setting including the set transmission destination is registered together with first information indicating that the transmission destination was designated by designation of the destination linked to self. Also, in a case where another user is authenticated, and in accordance with a read instruction for the registered transmission setting, the transmission setting that is the target of the read instruction was registered together with the first information, as a transmission destination of the transmission setting a destination linked to the another user, who performed the read instruction, is set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyasu Morita
  • Patent number: 10560604
    Abstract: An example system includes a color engine to separate an image into a plurality of color components. The system also includes a halftone engine to generate a plurality of halftone images based on the plurality of color components and a plurality of halftone screens. For each halftone screen, the halftone cell centers for that halftone screen occur at regular or semi-regular distances relative to a dot pitch. The plurality of halftone screens forms a high frequency moire pattern when the halftone screens are overlaid on each other. Each of the halftone screens have a granularity metric less than a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: HP Indigo B.V.
    Inventors: Tal Frank, Oren Haik, Dror Kella, Ram Dagan, Marina Limonov
  • Patent number: 10549527
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a transfer member configured to cyclically pass through a formation area of an ink image and a transfer area where the ink image is transferred to a cut sheet, the transfer member including a plurality of areas that allow printing on a plurality of cut sheets in one rotation. A control unit controls a print head so as to use some areas of the transfer member for the formation of the ink image, and decides, in accordance with a use count of each of the plurality of areas for printing, an area on which an ink image based on print data is formed so as to use, for printing, an area having a use count that is lowest, among the plurality of areas of the transfer member, more often than other areas of the plurality of areas of the transfer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Murayama
  • Patent number: 10554858
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a reading unit and a correction information output unit. The reading unit acquires a saddle-stitched surface picture by reading a saddle-stitched surface of a saddle-stitched booklet formed through folding and stapling processes performed by a saddle-stitching device, and acquires a cover surface picture by reading a cover surface of the saddle-stitched booklet. The correction information output unit outputs correction information about a stapling position to the saddle-stitching device. The correction information is calculated on the basis of a difference between a cover-side fold line position on the cover surface picture, which is specified on the basis of a saddle stitch-side fold line position detected from the saddle-stitched surface picture, and a staple position detected from the cover surface picture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ryuji Fujiki
  • Patent number: 10540581
    Abstract: The disclosure discloses a printer comprising a feeder, a printing head, a printer RFID tag comprising a tag antenna and an IC circuit part, a communication antenna, and a control device. The control device being configured to execute an information acquisition process for acquiring access point information via a wired communication connecting part from the printer RFID tag, the access point information being acquired by the printer RFID tag by tag communication, a transmission and reception attempting process for attempting information transmission and reception with an access point, by means of the mutually recognized wireless communication, a data acquisition process for acquiring desired print data acquired by the mutually recognized wireless communication when information transmission and reception by the transmission and reception attempting process succeed, and a printing control process for controlling the feeder and the printing head so that printing is performed on a print-receiving medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Zhipeng Yu
  • Patent number: 10542163
    Abstract: An image forming device includes: a post processor that performs post processing for folding or forming crease on an adjustment sheet including a reference mark and an adjustment pattern filled in with black, across the adjustment pattern based on a predetermined reference position; an image reader that reads an image of the adjustment sheet under a condition that an orientation of the adjustment sheet is changed according to the post processing type or characteristics of the adjustment sheet which is placed on the platen so that the reference mark is in a predetermined direction; a position identifying unit that identifies a fold line or crease position based on the fold line or crease that appears in the adjustment sheet; and a position adjusting unit that adjusts a fold or crease position of the post processor based on a difference between the fold or crease position and the reference position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomohiro Tanigawa
  • Patent number: 10536587
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a document scanning apparatus which is composed of an automatic document feeding device and an image capturing device. The document scanning apparatus establishes a private area network between the automatic document feeding device and the image capturing device, and causes the automatic document feeding device to send a message to the image capturing device. When the message is received, said image capturing device performs corresponding operations in response to the message. Said operations may comprise, for example adjusting the relative position between the image capturing device and the automatic document feeding device or doing multi-documents scan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Foxlink Image Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chi Wen Chen, Chi Cheng Chuang, Hung Ming Chou, Lung Chen, Yao Shuo Chang
  • Patent number: 10536588
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sensor, an operation section, and a controller. The sensor detects a sensor target. The operation section receives an operation instruction. The controller executes a setting process for controlling the sensor. The setting process is a process to adjust a sensitivity of the sensor according to detection precision. The detection precision is a relationship in a first unit period between the number of times the sensor detects the sensor target and the number of times of the operation section receives the operation instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Yukihiro Shibata, Akira Ohashi, Koji Tagaki, Satoshi Sato, Yuki Yamamoto, Yusuke Okazaki
  • Patent number: 10529069
    Abstract: An image inspection apparatus includes: an image area signal generator that refers to information from an image forming apparatus to set lengths of turning on and off of a sub-scanning image area signal that determines turning on and off of reading, and generates the sub-scanning image area signal to indicate a start of image formation; a reader that reads an image; an inspector that compares a read image generated through reading with an expected-value image; and a controller that controls the image area signal generator, the reader, and the inspector, wherein, when a deviation equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value is detected at positions of sub-scanning on corresponding images during the comparison, the controller adjusts an OFF period of the sub-scanning image area signal to eliminate a positional deviation of sub-scanning on the corresponding images between the read image and the expected-value image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventor: Masao Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10511735
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image former, a conveyance path, a flipping conveyance path, a conveying mechanism and a hardware processor. The flipping conveyance path includes a side path connecting a first branch point in a downstream of the conveyance path to a junction in an upstream of the conveyance path and a re-feeding path connecting a second branch point in the side path to a re-feeding point in an upstream of the conveyance path. The hardware processor controls the conveying mechanism to perform (i) a conveyance operation to convey the sheet along the conveyance path, (ii) a draw-in operation to draw the sheet with the image into the side path, and (iii) a re-feeding operation to convey the sheet in a reverse direction to re-feed the flipped sheet from the re-feeding point to the conveyance path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Yoshiteru Kawakami, Yasuo Shiokawa, Takahiro Okubo
  • Patent number: 10506131
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus performs: acquiring target image data representing a target image including a plurality of pixels, the target image data including a plurality of sets of component image data representing respective ones of a plurality of component images; smoothing the plurality of component images to generate respective sets of a plurality of sets of smoothed component image data representing respective ones of a plurality of smoothed component images; enhancing an edge in each of the plurality of smoothed component images to generate corresponding one set of a plurality of sets of enhanced component image data; generating single-component image data including one type of component value corresponding to each of the plurality of pixels by using the plurality of sets of enhanced component image data; and specifying a plurality of edge pixels using the single-component image data, the plurality of edge pixels constituting an edge in the target image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ryuji Yamada
  • Patent number: 10491776
    Abstract: An exposure device includes a plate member, a plurality of light-emitting elements, and an optical system. The plate member extends in both a first direction and a second direction intersecting with the first direction. The light-emitting elements are disposed on the plate member side by side in the first direction. The light-emitting elements emit respective light beams in the second direction. The optical system is disposed on the plate member and faces the light-emitting elements in the second direction. The optical system performs imaging of the light beams emitted by the respective light-emitting elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Takuma Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 10469684
    Abstract: An electronic device for aligning orientations of scanning images includes a scanning module, a storage module, an identification module, a timing unit, an alignment module, and a control unit. The control unit controls the scanning module to scan N scanned objects at different times and to store N scanning images corresponding to the N scanned objects into the storage module. The control unit controls the identification module to identify orientations of the N scanning images. The control unit controls the timing unit to calculate time intervals among the N scanning images. The control unit determines whether to control the alignment module to align orientations of a second scanning image to an Nth scanning image of the N scanning images with orientation of a first scanning image of the N scanning images according to the time intervals among the N scanning images calculated by the timing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: AVISION INC.
    Inventor: Shao-Lan Sheng
  • Patent number: 10469685
    Abstract: A print control apparatus to communicate with a printing apparatus includes storage, display, setting, and selection units. The storage unit stores identification information of a plurality of sheets in association with stored adjustment values of a plurality of adjustment items. The display unit displays the stored identification information of the plurality of sheets. The setting unit sets, based on a user instruction, the adjustment values of the stored adjustment items. The selection unit selects, based on a user instruction, identification information of one sheet from among the identification information of the plurality of sheets displayed on the display unit. Based on a selection, the display unit displays, in addition to the displayed identification information of the plurality of sheets, at least one of the adjustment items of which set adjustment values are stored from among the adjustment values associated with the selected identification information of the one sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Aya Ito, Junichi Yamakawa, Yuzo Harano, Hideaki Ooba, Yusuke Kimura, Nobuhiro Kawamura
  • Patent number: 10449793
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an erasing apparatus has a scanner, an erasing unit, a plurality of sheet discharge trays, and a processor. The processor acquires, from image data of a sheet outputted by the scanner, attribute data of the sheet. The processor controls execution propriety of erasing processing by the erasing unit, and sorting processing to discharge the sheet to the plurality of sheet discharge trays, based on the attribute data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takanori Fukuhara
  • Patent number: 10455103
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a printer to form an image on a printing medium by using a color material and to output the printing medium on which the image is formed, a printing controller to control the printer and to store data relating to the printer, a power controller to control supply of power to the printer and the printing controller, and a main controller connected with the printing controller so as to be capable of communication. In accordance with a predetermined request, the power controller performs control so as to suspend supply of power to the printer, the main controller starts acquisition of the data stored by the printing controller, and the power controller performs control so as to suspend supply of power to the printing controller after the main controller completes acquisition of the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Atsushi Hikichi
  • Patent number: 10452327
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus execute: obtaining user identifying information identifying a user; specifying at least one program as a selected program from a plurality of to-be-uploaded program information identifying each of to-be-uploaded programs; storing, in a memory, the user identifying information in association with selected program identifying information indicating the selected program; in a case where at least one of the plurality of to-be-uploaded programs has been uploaded, as an uploaded program, to the server, receiving, from the server, uploaded program identifying information indicating the uploaded program; determining whether the uploaded program indicated by the uploaded program identifying information includes the selected program indicated by the selected program identifying information stored in the memory; and in a case where it is determined the uploaded program includes the selected program, displaying, on the display, a first display screen indicating the selected program has
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masayuki Ishibashi
  • Patent number: 10440204
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: a paper path; an image reader which reads a side of the sheet conveyed along the paper path in a reading position; a sheet support member located opposite to the image reader to support a rear surface opposite to a surface to be read of the sheet; a spectrophotometer which colorimetrically measures color of an image formed on the sheet; and an image reading housing which accommodates the image reader and the spectrophotometer. The image reader includes: a reading housing; and a drawer guide provided in the reading housing such that it can be drawn from the image reading housing, and maintains the distance between a light transmitting member housed in the reading housing and the sheet support member to be greater than a reading distance lower limit. The drawer guide transfers heat to the outside of the reading housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Kenji Kawatsu
  • Patent number: 10432805
    Abstract: Apparatus(es) and method(s) relating to operation of a multi-function printer panel are disclosed. In such a method, a main menu is displayed on a display screen of the multi-function printer panel. A plurality of primary image items of the main menu displayed on the display screen are navigated responsive to a first movement of a dial control. The dial control is pressed to select a primary image item of the plurality of primary image items. A plurality of secondary image items displayed on the display screen associated with the primary image item selected are navigated responsive to a second movement of the dial control. The dial control is pressed to select a secondary image item of the plurality of secondary image items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Dilinur Wushour, Jacek Joseph Matysiak