Patents by Inventor Fujio Tabata

Fujio Tabata has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8876105
    Abstract: A remaining amount detector measures beforehand a distance H where there is one sheet. A motor displaces a lifting plate to a paper-feeding position upon storing paper in the feeding unit. The remaining amount detector measures a distance y1 to the lower face of a paper stack. Thereafter, upon transport of paper from the stack, a control unit causes the remaining amount detector to measure a distance y2 for every predetermined number n of fed sheets. A remaining sheet calculation unit calculates a displacement y1?y2=?y to the bottom of the paper stack S, and calculates the thickness of one sheet on the basis of the displacement ?y and the number n of fed sheets (t=?y/n). The remaining sheet calculation unit divides the thickness (H?y2) of the paper stack by the thickness t of one paper sheet, and calculates the number of remaining sheets m as (m=((H?y2)/t)+1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Akizou Ohtani, Fujio Tabata
  • Publication number: 20140008867
    Abstract: A remaining amount detector measures beforehand a distance H where there is one sheet. A motor displaces a lifting plate to a paper-feeding position upon storing paper in the feeding unit. The remaining amount detector measures a distance y1 to the lower face of a paper stack. Thereafter, upon transport of paper from the stack, a control unit causes the remaining amount detector to measure a distance y2 for every predetermined number n of fed sheets. A remaining sheet calculation unit calculates a displacement y1?y2=?y to the bottom of the paper stack S, and calculates the thickness of one sheet on the basis of the displacement ?y and the number n of fed sheets (t=?y/n). The remaining sheet calculation unit divides the thickness (H?y2) of the paper stack by the thickness t of one paper sheet, and calculates the number of remaining sheets m as (m=((H?y2)/t)+1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Akizou Ohtani, Fujio Tabata
  • Patent number: 8540236
    Abstract: A remaining amount detector measures beforehand a distance H where there is one sheet. A motor displaces a lifting plate to a paper-feeding position upon storing paper in the feeding unit. The remaining amount detector measures a distance y1 to the lower face of a paper stack. Thereafter, upon transport of paper from the stack, a control unit causes the remaining amount detector to measure a distance y2 for every predetermined number n of fed sheets. A remaining sheet calculation unit calculates a displacement y1?y2=?y to the bottom of the paper stack S, and calculates the thickness of one sheet on the basis of the displacement ?y and the number n of fed sheets (t=?y/n). The remaining sheet calculation unit divides the thickness (H?y2) of the paper stack by the thickness t of one paper sheet, and calculates the number of remaining sheets m as (m=((H?y2)/t)+1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Akizou Ohtani, Fujio Tabata
  • Publication number: 20120267844
    Abstract: A remaining amount detector measures beforehand a distance H where there is one sheet. A motor displaces a lifting plate to a paper-feeding position upon storing paper in the feeding unit. The remaining amount detector measures a distance y1 to the lower face of a paper stack. Thereafter, upon transport of paper from the stack, a control unit causes the remaining amount detector to measure a distance y2 for every predetermined number n of fed sheets. A remaining sheet calculation unit calculates a displacement y1?y2=?y to the bottom of the paper stack S, and calculates the thickness of one sheet on the basis of the displacement ?y and the number n of fed sheets (t=?y/n). The remaining sheet calculation unit divides the thickness (H?y2) of the paper stack by the thickness t of one paper sheet, and calculates the number of remaining sheets m as (m=((H?y2)/t)+1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: KYOCERA MITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akizou Ohtani, Fujio Tabata
  • Patent number: 8231124
    Abstract: A remaining amount detector measures beforehand a distance H where there is one sheet. A motor displaces a lifting plate to a paper-feeding position upon storing paper in the feeding unit. The remaining amount detector measures a distance y1 to the lower face of a paper stack. Thereafter, upon transport of paper from the stack, a control unit causes the remaining amount detector to measure a distance y2 for every predetermined number n of fed sheets. A remaining sheet calculation unit calculates a displacement y1?y2=?y to the bottom of the paper stack S, and calculates the thickness of one sheet on the basis of the displacement ?y and the number n of fed sheets (t=?y/n). The remaining sheet calculation unit divides the thickness (H?y2) of the paper stack by the thickness t of one paper sheet, and calculates the number of remaining sheets m as (m=((H?y2)/t)+1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Akizou Ohtani, Fujio Tabata
  • Patent number: 8121507
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of forming an image without transfer deviation or rumples by detecting the loop amount of the sheet material with a plurality of thresholds at multiple stages through a loop amount detecting portion detecting the loop amount of a sheet passing between conveyance guide members. The loop amount finely detected at the multiple stages through the loop amount detecting portion is reflected in a control and drive system, and, as a result, the sheet material can be conveyed while keeping the loop of the sheet material passing between the conveyance guide members at an appropriate amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Fujio Tabata
  • Patent number: 8011659
    Abstract: A sheet transport switching device include a rotary guide that is pivotal about an axis orthogonal to a sheet transport direction to align a guide passage with one of two discharge destinations. A stepping motor changes the posture of the rotary guide and a controller controls the stepping motor. A lead end in-timing acquirer acquires a timing when a lead end of the sheet enters the guide passage. The controller performs, in a state that the exit of the guide passage aligns with one of the two discharge destinations, an in-timing retaining operation of retaining a rotated position of the stepping motor by supplying an energizing current of a first current value to the stepping motor at the acquired lead end in-timing, and a pass timing retaining operation of reducing the energizing current to a second value when the lead end of the sheet passes the guide passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Fujio Tabata
  • Publication number: 20100322689
    Abstract: A remaining amount detector measures beforehand a distance H where there is one sheet. A motor displaces a lifting plate to a paper-feeding position upon storing paper in the feeding unit. The remaining amount detector measures a distance y1 to the lower face of a paper stack. Thereafter, upon transport of paper from the stack, a control unit causes the remaining amount detector to measure a distance y2 for every predetermined number n of fed sheets. A remaining sheet calculation unit calculates a displacement y1?y2=?y to the bottom of the paper stack S, and calculates the thickness of one sheet on the basis of the displacement ?y and the number n of fed sheets (t=?y/n). The remaining sheet calculation unit divides the thickness (H?y2) of the paper stack by the thickness t of one paper sheet, and calculates the number of remaining sheets m as (m=((H?y2)/t)+1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: KYOCERA MITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akizou Ohtani, Fujio Tabata
  • Patent number: 7653444
    Abstract: An electronic device which has a plurality of hardware which function as a predetermined model in accordance with model dependent data is disclosed which prevents easy modification of the model dependent data. An image forming device includes a plurality of control circuit boards, a plurality of memory units, and a main circuit board. The plurality of control circuit boards each control the operation of designated hardware. The plurality of memory units are readable and writable, and are each arranged in a plurality of locations which include the plurality of control circuit boards. The main circuit board writes the model dependent data to at least one of the plurality of memory units, reads the model dependent data upon startup, and identifies the model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Fujio Tabata
  • Publication number: 20090267291
    Abstract: A sheet transport switching device include a rotary guide that is pivotal about an axis orthogonal to a sheet transport direction to align a guide passage with one of two discharge destinations. A stepping motor changes the posture of the rotary guide and a controller controls the stepping motor. A lead end in-timing acquirer acquires a timing when a lead end of the sheet enters the guide passage. The controller performs, in a state that the exit of the guide passage aligns with one of the two discharge destinations, an in-timing retaining operation of retaining a rotated position of the stepping motor by supplying an energizing current of a first current value to the stepping motor at the acquired lead end in-timing, and a pass timing retaining operation of reducing the energizing current to a second value when the lead end of the sheet passes the guide passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Fujio TABATA
  • Publication number: 20090052926
    Abstract: To obtain an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image without transfer deviation or rumples, a function to detect the loop amount of the sheet material with a plurality of thresholds at multiple stages is given to a loop amount detecting portion detecting the loop amount of a sheet passing between conveyance guide members. The loop amount finely detected at the multiple stages through the loop amount detecting portion is reflected in a control and drive system, and, as a result, the sheet material can be conveyed while keeping the loop of the sheet material passing between the conveyance guide members at an appropriate amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: KYOCERA MITA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Fujio Tabata
  • Publication number: 20090041521
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of performing image formation without transfer deviations or rumples, including a loop amount sensor which includes a light emitting device irradiating a sheet material P passing between conveyance guide members with a light beam at a predetermined angle (?) with respect to an optical base level, a light receiving device is provided with a light receiving surface receiving the reflected light beam of the light emitting device having been reflected from the sheet material P and a loop amount calculating portion calculating a loop amount of the sheet material by a triangulation method based on an arrival point Q3 of the reflected light beam received by the light receiving device on the light receiving surface, and the sensor detects the loop amount of the sheet material P based on a calculation result of the loop amount calculating portion
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicant: KYOCERA MITA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Fujio Tabata
  • Publication number: 20070010980
    Abstract: An electronic device which has a plurality of hardware which function as a predetermined model in accordance with model dependent data is disclosed which prevents easy modification of the model dependent data. An image forming device includes a plurality of control circuit boards, a plurality of memory units, and a main circuit board. The plurality of control circuit boards each control the operation of designated hardware. The plurality of memory units are readable and writable, and are each arranged in a plurality of locations which include the plurality of control circuit boards. The main circuit board writes the model dependent data to at least one of the plurality of memory units, reads the model dependent data upon startup, and identifies the model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Publication date: January 11, 2007
    Applicant: KYOCERA MITA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Fujio Tabata
  • Publication number: 20060101344
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, which display units the information relating to the job of the selected function on a first display screen of a display unit 4 when one of different functions is selected; changes over the display unit 4 to a second display screen including a first display area and a second display area when the job of another function that is not selected is inputted; and display units the information relating to the job of the selected function on the first display area and the information relating to the inputted job of the function not selected on the second display area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Publication date: May 11, 2006
    Inventor: Fujio Tabata