Patents Examined by Neil R. McLean
  • Patent number: 10430134
    Abstract: A printing system including a client device which generates a job including a pair of first image data and attachment data, and a printing apparatus which includes a paper accommodation unit accommodating paper, receives the job from the client device, converts the first image data into second image data for printing by RIP processing, and prints an image based on the second image data on paper, includes a job specification unit, an image generation unit, and an image display. The job specification unit specifies any job in a stage previous to the conversion into the second image data by the RIP processing. The image generation unit generates, based on the attachment data forming the job specified by the job specification unit, an image obtained by editing a thumbnail image based on the first image data to a printing layout. The display displays the image generated by the image generation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takeshi Fukui
  • Patent number: 10432810
    Abstract: A scanner has a controller configured to control a conveyer to convey original sheets one by one along a conveying passage, control an image sensor to optically read the original sheet, determine a detection position of the original sheet based on an output signal of the detection sensor, obtain target image data containing at least a partial image of the original sheet at a detection area including the detection position, determine whether the particular fixed object exists at the detection area of the original sheet by analyzing the target image data with use of particular image information, interrupt conveyance of the original sheet by the conveyer when the detection position is determined, based on an output signal of the detection sensor, to be an overlapped position and when it is detected, by analyzing the target image data, that the particular fixed object does not exist at the detection area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shingo Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 10416936
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a state control unit, a position information acquisition unit, and a power control determination unit. The state control unit controls the image forming apparatus in at least a normal state and a power saving state. The position information acquisition unit determines position information of a mobile terminal, based on a signal strength in wireless communication that is performed between the mobile terminal and a radio device disposed at a predetermined position. The power control determination unit determines whether or not to change a control state from the power saving state to the normal state, based on the position information of the mobile terminal that issues a printing instruction. The state control unit changes the control state from the power saving state to the normal state, according to a determination result of the power control determination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Miyoshi
  • Patent number: 10412249
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus that is capable of calculating an appropriate replacement guide value of a part even in a case where the image processing apparatus operates under different operating modes. The image processing apparatus is capable of operating in a plurality of operating modes of different image forming speeds and has a replacement guide default value showing a guide for replacement of a part for each of the operating modes. A degree of wear of the part for each of the operating modes is calculated based on the replacement guide default value. The calculated degree of wear is, in a case where the operating mode is changed, converted to a degree of wear for the operating mode after the change, and a replacement guide value of the part in the operating mode is calculated after the change based on the converted degree of wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nobuaki Miyahara
  • Patent number: 10412233
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus prints a template sheet. The template sheet includes a graphical code and operation boxes. The graphical code includes information corresponding to a storage location address that stores information about settings for one or more image forming apparatuses. A user indicates what information is desired or to be changed on the image forming apparatus, marks it on the template sheet and scans the template sheet. Based on the instructions on the template sheet, information for settings is retrieved for an apparatus in a network. Maintenance information for the image forming apparatus also is retrieved using the template sheet and operation boxes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Debashis Panda
  • Patent number: 10406732
    Abstract: A three-dimensional image data generation system includes: an editing unit configured to edit grayscale image data in which a density level for specifying an foaming height of a thermally expandable sheet is set for each coordinate in a planar direction; and a conversion unit configured to, when the editing unit changes a size in the planar direction of an image region included in the grayscale image data, convert the density level in correspondence with a ratio of the image region between before and after the change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Satoshi Kimura
  • Patent number: 10409529
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus, capable of being connected to an image processing apparatus including an image forming unit, includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire a judgment result as to whether a colorimetric value obtained as a result of measuring a color of a chart image formed by the image forming unit satisfies a predetermined criterion in terms of a difference between the colorimetric value and a target value, a notification unit configured to notify the image processing apparatus that the judgment result acquired by the acquisition unit does not satisfy the criterion, and an instruction unit configured to, before the notification unit issues the notification to the image processing apparatus, instruct the image processing apparatus to execute an adjustment process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takaaki Yano, Kosuke Tsujita, Makoto Anno, Yuuki Maeda, Hiroyuki Toriyabe
  • Patent number: 10402138
    Abstract: A method of controlling a communication terminal including a near-field communication unit includes setting, as operation settings of the communication terminal, whether to enable wireless communication functions by the near-field communication unit and controlling to display a predetermined notification before displaying a screen for performing a login request upon condition that a user operation to transition to a screen for performing a login request to an external device has been received, and that settings have not been made in the setting of the communication terminal at least to enable wireless communication functions by the near-field communication unit as operation settings of the communication terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasunori Kanai
  • Patent number: 10404878
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a pair of first detection sections disposed between first positions for the feeding rollers and the separation rollers for nipping and second positions for the transport roller pair for nipping, and a pair of second detection sections disposed between the first detection sections and the second positions in the medium transport direction. The second detection sections are disposed between the first detection sections in the medium width direction, and a controller determines whether to stop transporting the medium or continue transporting the medium based on the results of detection by the first detection sections and the second detection sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Takayuki Shiota
  • Patent number: 10402132
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a management system comprises a first information generation section, a second information generation section, a storage section and a determination section. The first information generation section generates first information indicating that a processing of forming an image on a sheet is executed at the time information instructing formation of the image is input. The second information generation section generates second information indicating that a processing of decolorizing the image formed on the sheet is executed at the time information instructing a processing of decolorizing the image is input. The storage section stores the first information and the second information. The determination section determines whether or not the processing of decolorizing the image formed on the sheet is executed on the sheet by a predetermined time point preset in the management system based on the first information and the second information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuuichi Akiyama
  • Patent number: 10394306
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium stores a cradle control program for executing steps on a CPU of a cradle apparatus. In an attachment determination step, it is determined whether or not a printer is attached to an attach/detach part. In an information acquisition step, connection identification information of the printer is acquired in the case that it is determined the printer is attached. In a connection establishing step, a communication connection with an operation terminal via the connection part is established after acquiring the connection identification information in the information acquisition step. In an information transmission step, the connection identification information acquired is transmitted to the operation terminal after establishing the communication connection in the connection establishing step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroko Mori
  • Patent number: 10397440
    Abstract: A method includes operating a computer of an image forming apparatus, using, as a target image, an adjustment image including a center image representing a center thereof in a width direction, to: perform test processing of generating a print image by superimposing an outline image on an adjustment image after further shifting the outline image in the width direction by a first distance, and then executing printing processing; and adjust a relative position such that each of a difference between the first distance and a length in the width direction of a margin region lying along one lateral edge of a sheet, and a spaced-apart distance between the center of the sheet in the width direction and the center of the adjustment image in the width direction, represented by the center image formed on the sheet, becomes 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Yuichiro Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 10397419
    Abstract: A hinge mechanism includes a first member, a second member, and a stopper mechanism. The stopper mechanism has a path and a moving member. The moving member is provided in the path. The path includes a first path part and a second path part. The first path part is located in the first member. The second path part is located in the second member. The first member and the second member are changeable between a first communication state, a non-communication state, and a second communication state depending on a turning angle of the second member relative to the first member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 10389894
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises: a first generation unit that generates approximate light pattern by adjusting spatial frequency of an input image, and generates a projection image data based on the approximate light pattern; and a second generation unit that generates a print image data based on the input image, wherein the second generation unit generates the print image data so that a difference between the input image and an image for observation obtained by superimposing projection light projected based on the projection image data onto a printed matter printed based on the print image data is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masanao Kurita, Shinya Oda, Masayoshi Sekine, Tetsuji Saito, Yasuo Suda
  • Patent number: 10379796
    Abstract: A condition acquiring device is for acquiring condition information including binding position information and image direction information. A dividing condition setting device is for specifying at least one dividing position and a dividing order of an original image, according to an image formation rule for deriving the at least one dividing position and the dividing order in response to a combination of what are designated by the image direction information and the binding position information. An image processing device is for dividing the original image at the at least one dividing position into a plurality of divided images. The print processing device is for forming the plurality of divided images respectively on a plurality of sheets sequentially conveyed by a conveying mechanism according to the dividing order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Tsukasa Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 10379793
    Abstract: A program for causing a communication terminal having a wireless communication function to save a first threshold set in common to a plurality of apparatuses and a second threshold set in association with each apparatus, the first and second thresholds being compared with an acquired intensity of an radio wave to determine whether or not an apparatus that has transmitted the radio wave and the communication terminal are in a predetermined proximity state. By comparing the obtained intensity of the radio wave with one of the saved first and second thresholds, it is determined whether or not the apparatus that has transmitted the radio wave and the communication terminal are in proximity to each other. In accordance with an update instruction, one of the saved first and second thresholds is updated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hirokazu Tokumoto
  • Patent number: 10382635
    Abstract: An image processing device capable of communicating with a remote terminal to apply image processing, comprising: a display; and a hardware processor that: communicates with the remote terminal and obtains an icon image of a file stored in the remote terminal; obtains a file subjected to the image processing; applies the image processing specified by a user to the obtained file; enables the display to display the unprocessed file before the image processing is applied or the processed file after the image processing is applied using the icon image; and processes the icon image displayed on the display based on the image processing specified by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenzo Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10372060
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a halftone processing unit configured to perform halftone processing on image data by a dither matrix that includes a plurality of submatrices and decide an exposure region of an image. In at least one of a first dither matrix corresponding to a first section, and a second dither matrix corresponding to a second section adjacent to the first dither matrix in the main scanning direction and corresponding to a second section different from the first section in tone value, at least a size of an exposure region of an image formed by using a first submatrix corresponding to a predetermined tone value in the dither matrix and a size of an exposure region of an image formed by using a second submatrix corresponding to the predetermined tone value are different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenichi Iida, Yusuke Shimizu, Jun Hara
  • Patent number: 10375258
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a controller. If images related to devices that have been identified are superimposed on one another, the controller causes information about one or plural cooperative functions that use functions of the devices to be displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kengo Tokuchi
  • Patent number: 10372393
    Abstract: A printing information management device includes a model storage that stores a plurality of product models each included in one file linked with information on a printing target and printing setting information used to control a recording device, a model selector that selects one product model from the plurality of product models, and an output that provides the printing setting information included in the selected product model to the recording device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: ROLAND DG CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeomi Ohta, Kazutoshi Funakoshi, Takeshi Tozuka, Hiroki Horiuchi