Patents by Inventor Naoto Tokuma
Naoto Tokuma 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).
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Publication number: 20240064252Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes an image reading sensor, a transparent plate, a guiding member, a first roller pair, and a second roller pair provided upstream of the first roller pair with respect to a sheet feeding direction. The first roller pair and the second roller pair are disposed so as to nip a sheet in each of nips of the first roller pair and the second roller pair when a leading end of the sheet enters between the guiding member and the transparent plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2023Publication date: February 22, 2024Inventors: Akito Sekigawa, Naoto Tokuma, Eikou Mori
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Patent number: 11835901Abstract: A measuring device a measurement unit configured to measure an image on a sheet, the measurement unit including a light emitting portion configured to illuminate the sheet with light, and a detecting portion configured to detect light reflected by the sheet; a supporting unit supporting the measurement unit; and a driving unit configured to move the measurement unit supported by the supporting unit in a scanning direction. A size, in the scanning direction, of a detectable range of the detecting portion in which the detecting portion is capable of detecting the reflected light from the sheet is larger than a size, in a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the scanning direction and a normal direction of a surface of the sheet, of the detectable range of the detecting portion.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2021Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroyuki Takahashi, Naoto Tokuma
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Patent number: 11822278Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit forming a transfer nip portion, a fixing unit forming a fixing nip portion, and first and second belt suction conveyance units to suck a sheet onto a first belt and a second belt, respectively. The fixing nip portion is arranged at a position above the transfer nip portion. In a sheet conveyance direction, an upstream end portion of the first belt in the first belt suction conveyance unit is provided below the transfer nip portion, a downstream end portion of the first belt is provided above an upstream end portion of the second belt in the second belt suction conveyance unit, and a downstream end portion of the second belt is provided below the fixing nip portion. The first and second belts are inclined from a lower position to an upper position from upstream to downstream in the sheet conveyance direction.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2022Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Naoto Tokuma
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Publication number: 20230126638Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit forming a transfer nip portion, a fixing unit forming a fixing nip portion, and first and second belt suction conveyance units to suck a sheet onto a first belt and a second belt, respectively. The fixing nip portion is arranged at a position above the transfer nip portion. In a sheet conveyance direction, an upstream end portion of the first belt in the first belt suction conveyance unit is provided below the transfer nip portion, a downstream end portion of the first belt is provided above an upstream end portion of the second belt in the second belt suction conveyance unit, and a downstream end portion of the second belt is provided below the fixing nip portion. The first and second belts are inclined from a lower position to an upper position from upstream to downstream in the sheet conveyance direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2022Publication date: April 27, 2023Inventor: Naoto Tokuma
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Patent number: 11606473Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes an image reading sensor, a transparent plate, a guiding member, a first roller pair, and a second roller pair provided upstream of the first roller pair with respect to a sheet feeding direction. The first roller pair and the second roller pair are disposed so as to nip a sheet in each of nips of the first roller pair and the second roller pair when a leading end of the sheet enters between the guiding member and the transparent plate.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2021Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akito Sekigawa, Naoto Tokuma, Eikou Mori
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Patent number: 11526106Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet; a conveyance unit configured to convey the sheet having the image formed thereon along a conveyance path; a reading unit configured to read the image on the sheet conveyed to the conveyance path; and a controller configured to: receive a user-designated number of sheets as a condition for a timing at which the image forming unit forms a mark during a period in which a print job for forming a plurality of images on a plurality of sheets is being executed; control, when the print job is executed, the image forming unit to form the mark after the images are formed on sheets of a predetermined number smaller than a threshold number of sheets in a case in which the user-designated number of sheets is larger than the threshold number of sheets.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2022Date of Patent: December 13, 2022Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Eikou Mori, Naoto Tokuma
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Patent number: 11518634Abstract: A reading apparatus includes a first roller pair, a second roller pair provided downstream of the first roller pair, a light transmitting member, a reading portion and an opposing member. The transmitting member is disposed between the first and second roller pairs in a sheet feeding direction and on a first side in a vertical direction with respect to a nip line of the first roller pair. The opposing member is disposed on a second side opposite to the first side with respect to the transmitting member. As seen in a sheet widthwise direction, a surface of the second side of the transmitting member in the vertical direction is inclined, with respect to the nip line, to the second side toward downstream of the sheet feeding direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2021Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Naoto Tokuma
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Patent number: 11501124Abstract: A measuring device includes a first roller pair, a colorimetric unit, a second roller pair, a third roller pair, a motor, and a torque limiter. The third roller pair is driven at a first speed before a trailing end of the sheet with respect to a sheet feeding direction passes through the first roller pair and is driven at a second speed higher than the first speed after the trailing end of the sheet passes through the first roller pair. The first speed is set so as to be equal to the peripheral speed of the first roller pair. The second speed is set so as to be equal to a peripheral speed of the second roller pair in a state in which a slip of the torque limiter is not caused.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2021Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Eikou Mori, Naoto Tokuma, Akito Sekigawa
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Patent number: 11496640Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit to form an image onto a sheet based on an image forming condition, a conveyance roller to convey the sheet in a first conveyance path, a sheet discharger to discharge the sheet conveyed in the first conveyance path, and a sensor to read, in a second conveyance path branched from the first conveyance path, a test image formed on the sheet. In addition, a tray receives the sheet discharged via the second conveyance path, and a controller generates the image forming condition based on a reading result of the sensor. The controller executes first control of controlling the image forming unit to form a first test image and second control of controlling the image forming unit to form a second test image.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2021Date of Patent: November 8, 2022Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Naoto Tokuma
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Patent number: 11496641Abstract: An image reading apparatus connectable to an image forming apparatus includes a feeding roller pair configured to nip and feed a sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus, a contact image sensor configured to read an image on a first surface of the sheet fed by the feeding roller pair, a light-transmissive plate provided opposed to the contact image sensor and having a light-transmission property, a first roller opposing the light-transmissive plate with a gap therebetween on a side opposite from the contact image sensor with respect to the light-transmissive plat, and a second roller positioned upstream of the first roller with respect to a sheet feeding direction and opposing the light-transmissive plate with a gap therebetween on the same side as the first roller.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2021Date of Patent: November 8, 2022Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Naoto Tokuma, Eikou Mori, Akito Sekigawa
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Patent number: 11427422Abstract: A measurement apparatus including: a conveyance unit configured to convey a sheet in a conveyance direction; a measurement portion configured to measure an image formed on the sheet; a first movement unit configured to move the measurement portion in a predetermined direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction; a second movement unit configured to move the measurement portion to a first position and a second position farther apart from the sheet than the first position; and a first abutment member, a second abutment member, a third abutment member, and a fourth abutment member, which abut against the sheet when the measurement portion is located at the first position. When the measurement portion is moved from the second position to the first position, the third abutment member and the fourth abutment member are brought into abutment against the sheet earlier than the first abutment member and the second abutment member.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2020Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Naoto Tokuma
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Publication number: 20220244669Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet; a conveyance unit configured to convey the sheet having the image formed thereon along a conveyance path; a reading unit configured to read the image on the sheet conveyed to the conveyance path; and a controller configured to: receive a user-designated number of sheets as a condition for a timing at which the image forming unit forms a mark during a period in which a print job for forming a plurality of images on a plurality of sheets is being executed; control, when the print job is executed, the image forming unit to form the mark after the images are formed on sheets of a predetermined number smaller than a threshold number of sheets in a case in which the user-designated number of sheets is larger than the threshold number of sheets.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2022Publication date: August 4, 2022Inventors: Eikou Mori, Naoto Tokuma
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Publication number: 20220234850Abstract: A reading apparatus includes a first roller pair, a second roller pair provided downstream of the first roller pair, a light transmitting member, a reading portion and an opposing member. The transmitting member is disposed between the first and second roller pairs in a sheet feeding direction and on a first side in a vertical direction with respect to a nip line of the first roller pair. The opposing member is disposed on a second side opposite to the first side with respect to the transmitting member. As seen in a sheet widthwise direction, a surface of the second side of the transmitting member in the vertical direction is inclined, with respect to the nip line, to the second side toward downstream of the sheet feeding direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2021Publication date: July 28, 2022Inventor: Naoto Tokuma
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Publication number: 20210377416Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes an image reading sensor, a transparent plate, a guiding member, a first roller pair, and a second roller pair provided upstream of the first roller pair with respect to a sheet feeding direction. The first roller pair and the second roller pair are disposed so as to nip a sheet in each of nips of the first roller pair and the second roller pair when a leading end of the sheet enters between the guiding member and the transparent plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2021Publication date: December 2, 2021Inventors: Akito Sekigawa, Naoto Tokuma, Eikou Mori
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Publication number: 20210377412Abstract: An image reading apparatus connectable to an image forming apparatus includes a feeding roller pair configured to nip and feed a sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus, a contact image sensor configured to read an image on a first surface of the sheet fed by the feeding roller pair, a light-transmissive plate provided opposed to the contact image sensor and having a light-transmission property, a first roller opposing the light-transmissive plate with a gap therebetween on a side opposite from the contact image sensor with respect to the light-transmissive plat, and a second roller positioned upstream of the first roller with respect to a sheet feeding direction and opposing the light-transmissive plate with a gap therebetween on the same side as the first roller.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2021Publication date: December 2, 2021Inventors: Naoto Tokuma, Eikou Mori, Akito Sekigawa
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Publication number: 20210365752Abstract: A measuring device includes a first roller pair, a colorimetric unit, a second roller pair, a third roller pair, a motor, and a torque limiter. The third roller pair is driven at a first speed before a trailing end of the sheet with respect to a sheet feeding direction passes through the first roller pair and is driven at a second speed higher than the first speed after the trailing end of the sheet passes through the first roller pair. The first speed is set so as to be equal to the peripheral speed of the first roller pair. The second speed is set so as to be equal to a peripheral speed of the second roller pair in a state in which a slip of the torque limiter is not caused.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2021Publication date: November 25, 2021Inventors: Eikou Mori, Naoto Tokuma, Akito Sekigawa
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Publication number: 20210306497Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image onto a sheet based on an image forming condition, a conveyance roller configured to convey the sheet in a first conveyance path, a sheet discharger configured to discharge the sheet conveyed in the first conveyance path, a sensor configured to read, in a second conveyance path branched from the first conveyance path, a test image formed on the sheet, a tray on which the sheet is discharged via the second conveyance path, a controller configured to generate the image forming condition based on a reading result of the sensor. The controller is configured to execute first control of controlling the image forming unit to form a first test image and second control of controlling the image forming unit to form a second test image.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2021Publication date: September 30, 2021Inventor: Naoto Tokuma
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Publication number: 20210294257Abstract: A measuring device a measurement unit configured to measure an image on a sheet, the measurement unit including a light emitting portion configured to illuminate the sheet with light, and a detecting portion configured to detect light reflected by the sheet; a supporting unit supporting the measurement unit; and a driving unit configured to move the measurement unit supported by the supporting unit in a scanning direction. A size, in the scanning direction, of a detectable range of the detecting portion in which the detecting portion is capable of detecting the reflected light from the sheet is larger than a size, in a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the scanning direction and a normal direction of a surface of the sheet, of the detectable range of the detecting portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2021Publication date: September 23, 2021Inventors: Hiroyuki Takahashi, Naoto Tokuma
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Patent number: 11061351Abstract: A measuring device a measurement unit configured to measure an image on a sheet, the measurement unit including a light emitting portion configured to illuminate the sheet with light, and a detecting portion configured to detect light reflected by the sheet; a supporting unit supporting the measurement unit; and a driving unit configured to move the measurement unit supported by the supporting unit in a scanning direction. A size, in the scanning direction, of a detectable range of the detecting portion in which the detecting portion is capable of detecting the reflected light from the sheet is larger than a size, in a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the scanning direction and a normal direction of a surface of the sheet, of the detectable range of the detecting portion.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2020Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroyuki Takahashi, Naoto Tokuma
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Publication number: 20210139262Abstract: A measurement apparatus including: a conveyance unit configured to convey a sheet in a conveyance direction; a measurement portion configured to measure an image formed on the sheet; a first movement unit configured to move the measurement portion in a predetermined direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction; a second movement unit configured to move the measurement portion to a first position and a second position farther apart from the sheet than the first position; and a first abutment member, a second abutment member, a third abutment member, and a fourth abutment member, which abut against the sheet when the measurement portion is located at the first position. When the measurement portion is moved from the second position to the first position, the third abutment member and the fourth abutment member are brought into abutment against the sheet earlier than the first abutment member and the second abutment member.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2020Publication date: May 13, 2021Inventor: Naoto Tokuma