Patents by Inventor Keiichi Taguchi
Keiichi Taguchi 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: 9849686Abstract: The invention relates to a method of charging for ink in an ink container consumed by a printing unit during printing. The method of charging includes obtaining information on an amount of the ink consumed; and implementing charging on the basis of the information. Before the amount of the ink in the ink container consumed reaches a predetermined value, first charging is implemented according to a charging basis in which usage-based charging is implemented on the basis of the amount of the ink consumed. After the amount of the ink consumed reaches the predetermined value, second charging is implemented according to a charging basis different from the charging basis applied to the first charging.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2016Date of Patent: December 26, 2017Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Yuki Kuwahara, Shigeru Tsuji, Takefumi Inui, Keiichi Taguchi
-
Publication number: 20170015105Abstract: The invention relates to a method of charging for ink in an ink container consumed by a printing unit during printing. The method of charging includes obtaining information on an amount of the ink consumed; and implementing charging on the basis of the information. Before the amount of the ink in the ink container consumed reaches a predetermined value, first charging is implemented according to a charging basis in which usage-based charging is implemented on the basis of the amount of the ink consumed. After the amount of the ink consumed reaches the predetermined value, second charging is implemented according to a charging basis different from the charging basis applied to the first charging.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2016Publication date: January 19, 2017Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Yuki KUWAHARA, Shigeru TSUJI, Takefumi INUI, Keiichi TAGUCHI
-
Patent number: 7951434Abstract: A polarizing plate is provided and is excellent in characteristics of optical compensation, small in a change of polarization performance over time and excellent in moisture and heat resistance. The polarizing plate contains a polarizing film and two transparent protective films provided one on each side of the polarizing film, in which at least one of the two protective films is an optical compensatory sheet containing a cellulose acylate film. The polarizing plate has specified single-plate transmittance and polarization degree P and has specified ranges of variations of the transmittance and the polarization degree P after a passage of a specified period of time under a high-temperature high-humidity atmosphere and a high-temperature low-humidity atmosphere. The liquid crystal display device of VA mode using the polarizing plate is provided.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2005Date of Patent: May 31, 2011Assignee: Fujifilm CorporationInventor: Keiichi Taguchi
-
Patent number: 7720400Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises: a latent image carrier which carries an electrostatic latent image; a developing unit which visualizes with toner the electrostatic latent image carried by the latent image carrier and forms a toner image; an intermediate transfer medium to which the toner image is transferred from the latent image carrier and which rotates and transports the toner image to a predetermined transfer position and transfers the toner image to a recording medium; a cleaner which abuts on the surface of the intermediate transfer medium and removes toner which adheres to the surface of the intermediate transfer medium after the transfer to the recording medium; and a controller which, assuming that the direction which is orthogonal to the travel direction in which the intermediate transfer medium moves is a width direction, executes toner accumulating processing during which predetermined toner images are formed as end patch images in end areas of the surface of the intermediate transfer mediumType: GrantFiled: June 27, 2006Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Keiichi Taguchi, Masahiro Maeda, Tatsuro Osawa
-
Patent number: 7680425Abstract: An image It is formed as a patch image which includes a header image portion Ih of a solid image having a length of a circumferential length of a developing roller or more, and a gradation image portion Ig progressively varied in the tone level thereof from the maximum level to the minimum level. The densities of the patch image on an intermediate transfer belt are sampled. However, the sampling results contain errors resulting from noises or variations and hence, are subjected to a noise removal process, a periodical variation correction process and a reverse correction process. The results detected on the intermediate transfer belt do not always coincide with image densities (OD values) on a recording material. Therefore, the detection results are converted into the OD values, based on which tone characteristics of an apparatus is estimated. Then a tone correction table is updated in a manner to compensate for the tone characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2004Date of Patent: March 16, 2010Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Takashi Hama, Hidetsugu Shimura, Keiichi Taguchi, Hiroshi Nakazato, Ken Ikuma, Hidenori Kin
-
Patent number: 7664412Abstract: An image forming apparatus and an image forming method, which are capable of forming images at stable image quality by executing adjustment of operating conditions at appropriate timings, are provided. When a Vsync count corresponding to an integrated value of a rotation count of an intermediate transfer belt reaches a predetermined value V1 or V2, a charging current Iw is increased by one level and an adjusting operation of a developing bias is executed (at a time t4 or t5), to thereby stabilize an image density. Further, when remaining service life of a developer reaches a predetermined value (50%) (at a time t6), if the Vsync count at that moment suggests that the time to change the charging current Iw is drawing near, the change thereof is executed ahead of the schedule, whereby the adjusting operation of the developing bias, which should otherwise be executed at the time t7, is omitted.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2005Date of Patent: February 16, 2010Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Keiichi Taguchi, Masahiro Maeda, Isao Inaba
-
Patent number: 7623801Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image corresponding to an image signal on a recording material, comprising: a signal processor which generates an image-formation control signal by subjecting the image signal to a signal processing process including a screening process selectively using one of plural types of different processing screens; an image forming unit which includes an intermediate transfer medium, and which forms the image by forming a toner image on the intermediate transfer medium corresponding to the image-formation control signal and transferring and fixing the toner image to a recording material; and a detector which detects a quantity of the toner carried on the intermediate transfer medium as the toner image, wherein the signal processing process performed by the signal processor includes a tone correction process for compensating for a gamma characteristics of the apparatus based on a detection result given by the detector detecting a toner image formed as a patch image by using theType: GrantFiled: March 15, 2006Date of Patent: November 24, 2009Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Hidenori Kin, Keiichi Taguchi, Hidetsugu Shimura, Shinsuke Yokote
-
Patent number: 7611760Abstract: A cellulose acylate film is provided and has an elasticity modulus of 4,800 MPa to 10,000 MPa in at least either a machine direction MD at film-formation time or a direction TD perpendicular to the machine direction.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2006Date of Patent: November 3, 2009Assignee: Fujifilm CorporationInventors: Hidenori Hayashi, Keiichi Taguchi, Kunihiro Atsumi, Yutaka Nozoe
-
Patent number: 7609403Abstract: An object of the present invention is to simplify management of the amount of recording agent used by multiple users, by allocating a recording agent cartridge to a user in advance. In a printing device of the present invention, a primary user and a secondary user are set as active user information for each of multiple recording agent cartridges in a printing device connected to a network. When a print job with user identification information is received via the network, the printing device specifies a cartridge of which the primary user is the user who sent the job, based on the user identification information and the active user information, and determines whether the residual amount in the specified cartridge is sufficient (S50).Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2005Date of Patent: October 27, 2009Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Osamu Ishibashi, Ken Yoshizuka, Keiichi Taguchi, Hiroshi Tanaka
-
Patent number: 7597316Abstract: An image-forming apparatus has a limitation pad 31c and a retard roller 34, which separately feed recording paper P on an elevation tray 31 in an MPT cover 30 by bringing the recording paper P against an outer peripheral surface 33a of the feeding roller 33. In this image-forming apparatus (paper feeder), when the feeding roller is stopped by passing recording paper to be separately fed to a pair of relay transport rollers, the elevation tray is lowered before stoppage of the feeding roller, thereby separating an extremity of the recording paper from the outer peripheral surface of the feeding roller.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2007Date of Patent: October 6, 2009Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Akinobu Nakahata, Keiichi Taguchi, Tomoyuki Shiiya
-
Patent number: 7587150Abstract: An image forming apparatus which includes: a plurality of developers each of which stores therein a toner of the same color and includes a toner carrier structured to rotate while carrying the toner on its surface; and a controller which executes an image forming operation using the developer in accordance with an image forming command, wherein the controller selects a developer from the plurality of developers based on a length of shutdown time from the end of use in the previous image forming operation and executes the image forming operation using the selected developer.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2006Date of Patent: September 8, 2009Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Keiichi Taguchi
-
Patent number: 7583399Abstract: The present invention provides a printing device whereby a recording agent cartridge that pertains to recording agent cartridge-related information can easily be identified. The printing device of the present invention stores cartridge identification information including user information on each user allocated to one of the multiple recording agent cartridges. When a print job with user identification information is received via the network (S10), the printing device identifies a recording agent cartridge corresponding to a user of the print job and sets the identified recording agent cartridge to an active recording agent cartridge for executing the print job (S20), based on the user identification information received with the print job and the user information.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2005Date of Patent: September 1, 2009Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Osamu Ishibashi, Ken Yoshizuka, Keiichi Taguchi, Hiroshi Tanaka
-
Patent number: 7570892Abstract: An image forming apparatus adapted for a smooth mounting/dismounting of a process unit and for the reduction of wasteful power consumption is provided. Unless a new image signal is applied after completion of an image forming operation, the apparatus starts a clocking operation by an internal timer (Step S101). If the apparatus is left standstill for a predetermined length of time (Step S102), a sleep process (Step S103) is executed to shift the apparatus to a power save mode to consume less power. When an outside cover is opened (Step S105), on the other hand, the apparatus is shifted to a replacement operation mode (Step S106) in which only the rotation of a development rotary is permitted. However, if the apparatus is left with the outside cover opened (Step S108), the sleep process is executed.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2008Date of Patent: August 4, 2009Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Hiroshi Nakazato, Ken Ikuma, Keiichi Taguchi
-
Publication number: 20090175639Abstract: An image forming apparatus and an image forming method, which are capable of forming images at stable image quality by executing adjustment of operating conditions at appropriate timings, are provided. When a Vsync count corresponding to an integrated value of a rotation count of an intermediate transfer belt reaches a predetermined value V1 or V2, a charging current Iw is increased by one level and an adjusting operation of a developing bias is executed (at a time t4 or t5), to thereby stabilize an image density. Further, when remaining service life of a developer reaches a predetermined value (50%) (at a time t6), if the Vsync count at that moment suggests that the time to change the charging current Iw is drawing near, the change thereof is executed ahead of the schedule, whereby the adjusting operation of the developing bias, which should otherwise be executed at the time t7, is omitted.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2005Publication date: July 9, 2009Inventors: Keiichi Taguchi, Masahiro Maeda, Isao Inaba
-
Publication number: 20090103013Abstract: A polarizing plate is provided and is excellent in characteristics of optical compensation, small in a change of polarization performance over time and excellent in moisture and heat resistance. The polarizing plate contains a polarizing film and two transparent protective films provided one on each side of the polarizing film, in which at least one of the two protective films is an optical compensatory sheet containing a cellulose acylate film. The polarizing plate has specified single-plate transmittance and polarization degree P and has specified ranges of variations of the transmittance and the polarization degree P after a passage of a specified period of time under a high-temperature high-humidity atmosphere and a high-temperature low-humidity atmosphere. The liquid crystal display device of VA mode using the polarizing plate is provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2005Publication date: April 23, 2009Applicant: FUJIFILM CorporationInventor: Keiichi Taguchi
-
Publication number: 20090074430Abstract: An image forming apparatus adapted for a smooth mounting/dismounting of a process unit and for the reduction of wasteful power consumption is provided. Unless a new image signal is applied after completion of an image forming operation, the apparatus starts a clocking operation by an internal timer (Step S101). If the apparatus is left standstill for a predetermined length of time (Step S102), a sleep process (Step S103) is executed to shift the apparatus to a power save mode to consume less power. When an outside cover is opened (Step S105), on the other hand, the apparatus is shifted to a replacement operation mode (Step S106) in which only the rotation of a development rotary is permitted. However, if the apparatus is left with the outside cover opened (Step S108), the sleep process is executed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2008Publication date: March 19, 2009Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Hiroshi Nakazato, Ken Ikuma, Keiichi Taguchi
-
Patent number: 7469110Abstract: An image forming apparatus adapted for a smooth mounting/dismounting of a process unit and for the reduction of wasteful power consumption is provided. Unless a new image signal is applied after completion of an image forming operation, the apparatus starts a clocking operation by an internal timer (Step S101). If the apparatus is left standstill for a predetermined length of time (Step S102), a sleep process (Step S103) is executed to shift the apparatus to a power save mode to consume less power. When an outside cover is opened (Step S105), on the other hand, the apparatus is shifted to a replacement operation mode (Step S106) in which only the rotation of a development rotary is permitted. However, if the apparatus is left with the outside cover opened (Step S108), the sleep process is executed.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2004Date of Patent: December 23, 2008Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Hiroshi Nakazato, Ken Ikuma, Keiichi Taguchi
-
Publication number: 20080292357Abstract: An image forming system, etc., which provides a user or the like with great convenience is achieved. For example, an image forming apparatus is usable as a color image forming apparatus for forming color images and is usable as a monochrome image forming apparatus for forming monochrome images, and by moving one developing unit among attached developing units to an attach/detach position, a developing unit becomes replaceable. A timing for moving the predetermined developing unit to the attach/detach position when an event occurs in which development cannot be performed with the predetermined developing unit is different for when the image forming apparatus is being used as a color image forming apparatus and for when the image forming apparatus is being used as a monochrome image forming apparatus. See FIG. 12, for example.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2005Publication date: November 27, 2008Inventors: Keiichi Taguchi, Ken Yoshizuka, Ken Ikuma
-
Publication number: 20080204644Abstract: A liquid crystal display device comprising first and second polarizing elements of which transmission axes are perpendicular to each other, and, disposed between the polarizing elements, a liquid crystal layer vertically aligned in a black state, and first and second optically anisotropic layer is disclosed. In the liquid crystal display device, the first optically anisotropic layer is a biaxial optically anisotropic layer of which in-plane retardation (Re) and thickness-direction retardation (Rth) are larger at a longer wavelength range within a range of from 400 nm to 700 nm, and the second optically anisotropic layer satisfies 0 nm<|Re(550)|<10 nm and |Rth(550)|/|Re(550)|>10 in which Re(550) is in-plane retardation (Re) at a wavelength of 550 nm and Rth(550) is thickness-direction retardation at the same wavelength.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2007Publication date: August 28, 2008Applicant: FUJIFILM CorporationInventors: Hirofumi Toyama, Kotaro Yasuda, Hajime Nakayama, Nobutaka Fukagawa, Keiichi Taguchi
-
Publication number: 20080198303Abstract: A polarizing plate comprising at least a polarizing film and an optical film is disclosed. The polarizing plate has a transmittance through a pair of crossed polarizing plates equal to or less than 0.3% at 700 nm and a transmittance through a pair of crossed polarizing plates equal to or less than 0.1% at 410 nm; and the optical film has at least one optical axis in the plane thereof, and its in-plane retardation Re decreases with a shorter wavelength within a visible light range or is constant with a wavelength within a visible light range.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2008Publication date: August 21, 2008Applicant: FUJIFILM CorporationInventor: Keiichi Taguchi