Patents by Inventor Kenji Totsuka

Kenji Totsuka 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: 7699305
    Abstract: A method and device disclosed herein controls the movement of media sheets within an image forming device using a pick mechanism that contacts and moves a media sheet from an input area into a media path. One embodiment controls the rotational speed of the pick mechanism based on a filtered combination of a pick mechanism signal and an encoder signal. An encoder roller positioned to contact the media sheets in the input area senses the movement of the media sheet to generate the encoder signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenji Totsuka, John Spicer, Delbert Lester Elliott
  • Patent number: 7503561
    Abstract: The present application is directed to methods and devices for determining the absence of media sheets within an image forming device. In one embodiment, a support section configured to hold a stack of media sheets is positioned in an input area of the image forming device. A pick mechanism is positioned to contact a top-most sheet in the support section. The pick mechanism may include a pick motor and a pick roller. A sensor roller may be positioned to contact the top-most media sheet at a position spaced away from the pick roller. A controller may determine the absence of a media sheet based on the movement of the sensor roller after a predetermined movement of the pick motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenji Totsuka, John Spicer, Franklin Joseph Palumbo
  • Publication number: 20080267639
    Abstract: The present application is dieted to methods and devices for determining the absence of media sheets within an image forming device. In one embodiment, a support section configured to hold a stack of media sheets is positioned in an input area of the image forming device. A pick mechanism is positioned to contact a top-most sheet in the support section. The pick mechanism may include a pick motor and a pick roller. A sensor roller may fee positioned to contact the top-most media sheet at a position spaced away from the pick roller. A controller may determine the absence of a media sheet based on the movement of the sensor roller after a predetermined movement of the pick motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Kenji Totsuka, John Spicer, Franklin Joseph Palumbo
  • Publication number: 20080237969
    Abstract: A method and device disclosed herein controls the movement of media sheets within an image forming device using a pick mechanism that contacts and moves a media sheet from an input area into a media path. One embodiment controls the rotational speed of the pick mechanism based on a filtered combination of a pick mechanism signal and an encoder signal. An encoder roller positioned to contact the media sheets in the input area senses the movement of the media sheet to generate the encoder signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Kenji Totsuka, John Spicer, Delbert Lester Elliott
  • Publication number: 20070246880
    Abstract: The present application is directed to methods and devices for determining a media level in an input area within an image forming device. In one embodiment, a support section configured to hold a stack of media sheets is positioned in the image forming device. A pick mechanism is positioned to contact a top-most media sheet of the stack of media sheets in the support section. The pick mechanism may include a pick motor and a pick roller. A sensor roller may be positioned separate from the pick roller and in contact with the top-most media sheet. A controller may determine the media level based on a movement of the sensor roller after the top-most media sheet has moved to a predetermined location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventors: Kenji Totsuka, John Spicer, Franklin Joseph Palumbo, Darin M. Gettelfinger, Paul Douglas Horrall, Christopher Kent Washing, Larry Steven Foster