Patents Examined by R. L. Moses
  • Patent number: 5832331
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a backup memory for storing data on image forming in a memory. When the power supply of the apparatus is turned off due to a trouble, a controller reproduces a status just before the power supply is turned off according to the data stored in the backup device if a predetermined time passes after the power supply is turned on again. However, new image forming is started if a preparation operation for new image forming is detected within the predetermined time. Further, if the power supply is turned off while a document is read, the controller reproduces the status just before the power supply is turned off when the power supply is turned on again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiichi Yoshida, Yoichi Kawabuchi, Eiichiro Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 5832338
    Abstract: When any one of keys other than a start key on an operation panel is depressed after a printing operation according to a background job starts in a ready state, a system CPU for controlling all the parts of the machine sets a condition flag indicative of the start of a front job. By virtue of the flag, the CPU determines the front job is being executed, and even if any trouble occurs in the background job, the CPU instructs a message indicator to display the trouble occurrence message for only a predetermined short period of time, and then lets the front job operation continue. The CPU controls the message indicator to display the message of the occurrence of the trouble in the background job again when the front job operation has finished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Masato Kuga
  • Patent number: 5828442
    Abstract: An image recording medium, such as a photographic negative filmstrip, has recorded thereon a plurality of images. An index print includes a support sheet on which are recorded a plurality of positive images corresponding to the plurality of images recorded on the filmstrip. The support sheet is physically attached directly to the filmstrip, thereby inhibiting separation of the index print from its filmstrip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Raymond Eugene Wess
  • Patent number: 5828930
    Abstract: An electrostatic recording apparatus using an ion flow is constructed by: a recording paper inserting slot into which a recording paper as a recording medium is inserted; a humidistat for reducing a moisture content of the recording paper; a latent image forming unit for forming an electrostatic latent image onto the recording paper; a charge amount detecting unit for measuring a charge amount of the recording paper; developing units corresponding to respective colors; and a recording paper ejecting slot for ejecting the recording paper. Thus, an electrostatic latent image can be directly stably formed on a general paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shogo Matsumoto, Yasushi Kinoshita, Junichi Matsuno
  • Patent number: 5828929
    Abstract: A process cartridge is mountable to an image forming system and includes an image bearing member; a developing bias contact for applying a developing bias to a developing device; an earthing contact for earthing the image bearing member; and a charging bias contact for applying a charging bias to a charging device. The developing bias contact, the earthing contact, and the charging bias contact are arranged in an area corresponding to an end portion of the image bearing member in a longitudinal direction of the image bearing member, such that (i) the developing bias contact is arranged at a first side of the image bearing member in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the image bearing member, and (ii) the earthing contact and the charging bias contact are arranged at a second side of the image bearing member in the orthogonal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazushi Watanabe, Kazumi Sekine, Tadayuki Tsuda, Isao Ikemoto, Yoshimasu Yamaguchi, Yoshikazu Sasago, Shinya Noda, Kazunori Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5828441
    Abstract: A method of correcting the light amount irregularities for a photographic printer in which an image displayed on a two-dimensional display unit is exposed by transmitting or reflecting the light from a light source through or from the two-dimensional display unit is disclosed. An LED light source is turned on with a predetermined driving voltage applied to all the pixels of a liquid crystal panel. The image on the liquid crystal panel is exposed for a predetermined length of time by the light transmitted through the liquid crystal panel and developed thereby to produce a photographic print. The density at a point corresponding to each pixel of the liquid crystal panel is measured. The light transmittance correction amount for each pixel of the liquid crystal panel is determined in such a manner that the density measured at each point conforms to a predetermined reference density (a minimum value of density measurement, for example).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Narita, Hiroaki Nakamura, Kazuhiko Katakura, Yoshihito Nakaya
  • Patent number: 5828936
    Abstract: A developing device is provided with a magnetic member having a plurality of magnetic poles N and S within a developing sleeve that rotates to transport a developer to an image bearing member. The device also includes a regulating member, which is formed of magnetic material, and which is spaced from the developing sleeve in so that the surface of the regulating member that is located on the upstream side in the developer transport direction is positioned downstream in the developer transport direction from a point of peak perpendicular magnetic flux density of the opposing magnetic pole of a magnetic member near the position at which the regulating member faces the developing sleeve, and positioned upstream in the developer transport direction from a point of 1/2 the peak perpendicular magnetic flux density of the opposing magnetic pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tamotsu Shimizu, Eiji Gyotoku
  • Patent number: 5828924
    Abstract: In an optical detecting device, used for an image forming apparatus, for detecting an object to be detected, such as a paper, by an optical means including a light emitting means 20c, a photo sensing means 20d, a reflecting means 20b, and the like, there is provided at least one of a paper detecting devices in which conductive attracting means connected to a predetermined potential is disposed close to the optical means, the optical means is attached to a periodical replacing component of the image forming apparatus, a reflecting means 20b and a paper transporting path are oriented in different directions with respect to a photo sensing means 20d and a distance from the light emitting means 20c and the like to the reflecting means 20b is different from a distance from the light emitting means 20c and the like to the paper transporting path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Fukada, Nobuo Hyakutake, Kenji Tomizawa, Junichirou Sameshima, Mikio Kobayashi, Norio Hokari, Yukio Hayashi, Shuji Iseki, Ryoichi Tsuruoka
  • Patent number: 5825462
    Abstract: A film cartridge storage apparatus for storing a plurality of film cartridges 20 stacked one on another. The stored film cartridges 20 are extracted from the apparatus one after another from the lowermost cartridge in association with a pivotal member 83 of an individual feed mechanism 80; 18; 280 having a first arm portion 83a and a second arm portion 83b. The first arm portion 83a of the pivotal member 83 pivots between a first area and a second area to hold the lowermost film cartridge in the first area and also to feed the lowermost film cartridge in the second area. The second arm portion 83b of the pivotal member allows a film cartridge to fall toward the first arm portion in the first area and also prevents a film cartridge from falling toward the first arm portion in the second area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahisa Miyamori, Yoshiyuki Yamaji, Toru Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 5825468
    Abstract: A substrate is mounted on a stage of an exposure system, and an exposure light is converged on a material formed on the substrate to form a latent image. An auto-focusing light is emitted on the latent image, and the reflected light therefrom is detected. The focusing or defocusing state is judged on the basis of the detected result. When it is judged that the exposure light is defocused on the material formed on the substrate, the drive unit is driven for focus control so as to allow the exposure light to be focused on the material formed on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Ishimaru
  • Patent number: 5822046
    Abstract: An image recording device in which an image is exposed onto a photosensitive material, and an image forming solvent is applied thereto, and an image receiving material is superposed thereon, and then heat development transfer is carried out so as to obtain an image on the image receiving material, comprising: a fixed stage which holds the photosensitive material; an application unit which applies the image forming solvent to the photosensitive material; a superposing unit which superposes the image receiving material on the photosensitive material; a connecting tool which connects the application unit and the superposing unit such that the units are moved integrally with one of the units in front of the other; and a squeeze roller which is disposed between the application unit and the superposing unit and is moved in accordance with the integral movement thereof, wherein as the application unit and the superposing unit are moved such that the application unit is positioned in front of the superposing unit, th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kohda, Kohji Uchida, Atsuhiro Doi
  • Patent number: 5822043
    Abstract: An exposure method includes the steps of illuminating an original with exposure light having a size b with respect to a scan direction, and projecting a pattern of the illuminated original onto a substrate with a projection magnification N.sub.op, and scanning the original and the substrate In the scan direction at a speed ratio N.sub.st different from the projection magnification N.sub.op wherein the speed ratio N.sub.st corresponds to the ratio between the speed of the substrate and the speed of the original and, when the minimum linewidth of an image of the pattern with respect to the scan direction is denoted by .DELTA.l. a relation 0<.vertline.N.sub.op -N.sub.st .vertline..multidot.b<.DELTA.l is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryuichi Ebinuma
  • Patent number: 5822045
    Abstract: A filmstrip holding apparatus for supporting a filmstrip having image frames to be scanned with reduced transverse curl is disclosed. The filmstrip holding apparatus includes a base defining a channel, the channel including a bottom surface having an aperature and two opposed parallel sides to accomodate the filmstrip lengthwise past the aperture; and a clamp having two opposed elongated clamping members and a support frame extending between the clamping members to hold them in their opposed relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Gary Lee Erck
  • Patent number: 5822660
    Abstract: Disclosed is a copy protection method for identifying copied images that have been captured or generated in electronic form. The method generates information in electronic form for causing the printing of copy restrictive information as a plurality of contiguous pixels, of substantially yellow color onto the hard copy. The visibility of the yellow pixels is very low until a cyan illumination is applied to the protected image then the copy restrictive information becomes highly visible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Xin Wen
  • Patent number: 5822659
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; charging means for charging the image bearing member, the charging means including magnetic field generating means and magnetic particles contactable to the image bearing member at a charging position; developing means for developing with toner a electrostatic image formed on the image bearing member using the charging means; transferring means for transferring a toner image from the image bearing member onto a recording material; wherein the developing means is capable of collecting residual toner from the image bearing member; wherein magnetic confining force acting on the magnetic particle is larger than a magnetic confining force acting on the carrier under a magnetic field formed by the magnetic field generating means at the charging position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Harumi Ishiyama
  • Patent number: 5819149
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a movable image bearing member on which an unfixed image is formed, transfer device for transferring the unfixed image on the image bearing member onto a recording medium, fixing device for heating and fixing the unfixed image transferred by the transfer means on the recording medium. The fixing device has a driving rotatable member for conveying the recording medium. The recording medium during the transfer by the transfer device is conveyed by the driving rotatable member. The apparatus is provided with detecting device for detecting information regarding the peripheral velocity of the driving rotatable member, and control device for controlling the movement speed of the image bearing member on the basis of the result of the detection by the detecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasunari Watanabe, Yasumasa Otsuka, Hiroshi Hashimoto, Manabu Takano
  • Patent number: 5815243
    Abstract: A positive lithographic printing plate exposed by an imagesetter and suitable for mounting on a press cylinder comprising a photo-lithographic DTR material having a DTR processed RIP image to be printed lithographically and a DTR processed ink repelling region for mounting the printing plate on the press cylinder. The RIP image is exposed according to exposure commands which are sent to the imagesetter by the RIP and the DTR processed ink repelling region is exposed according to exposure commands generated by the imagesetter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Agfa Division, Bayer Corporation
    Inventors: Dwayne E. Bailey, Kenneth L. Langlais
  • Patent number: 5815770
    Abstract: When an interruption key is once depressed during a printing operation to instruct an interruption, an interruption flag is turned on to perform a delay interruption process. If the interruption key is depressed once again while the interruption flag is turned on (i.e. a delay interruption is awaited), an urgent interruption is determined and an interruption copying process is immediately performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Noboru Ogino
  • Patent number: 5815247
    Abstract: A system and method of avoiding pattern shortening without resorting to generating a mask with a bias solve the direction dependent differences in exposure behavior in photolithography processes in the manufacture of semiconductor devices. Instead of designing a biased mask to solve the exposure problem, the pattern shortening effect is avoided by influencing the exposure process itself. By using an off axis illumination technique, the exposure is separated into different directions. In one embodiment, off axis illumination is applied in combination with special dipole apertures (i.e., two openings). The exposure is done in two or more parts, whereby the aperture is twisted between exposures. In another embodiment, off axis illumination is used in combination with special polarizer apertures. As with the first embodiment, the exposure is done in two or more parts, but in this case with differently polarized light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Bernhard Poschenrieder, Takashi Sato, Tsukasa Azuma
  • Patent number: 5815788
    Abstract: A printing apparatus prints toner powder images on both sides of an image receiving support (e.g. paper). The apparatus includes an image recording medium for forming a toner powder image thereon; a transfer device for transferring a toner powder image from the image recording medium to the image receiving support; and fixing devices for fixing a transferred toner powder image on the image receiving support by pressure surfaces coming into contact with both sides of the image receiving support. The apparatus further includes image receiving support transport devices for transporting an image receiving support provided with a toner powder image on a first side back to the transfer device for transferring a toner powder image to a second side of the image receiving support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Inventor: Hubertus W. G. In't Zandt