Patents by Inventor Riki Fukuhara

Riki Fukuhara 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: 11934121
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit, a fixing unit, a reading unit, a reference member, and a controller is described. The image forming unit forms an image and a detection image on a sheet. The detection image is used for detecting geometric characteristics of an image to be formed on a sheet by the image forming unit. The fixing unit fixes the image and the detection image formed by the image forming unit on the sheet. The reading unit reads the detection image on the sheet. The controller adjusts geometric characteristics of the image to be formed on a sheet based on a reading result of the detection image by the reading unit, and controls the reading unit to read the reference member and executes shading correction based on a reading result of the reference member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Yumoto, Takashi Yokoya, Toshifumi Oikawa, Yutaka Ando, Akinobu Nishikata, Riki Fukuhara, Yuichiro Oda
  • Publication number: 20230418199
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit configured to form an image on a recording medium based on an image forming condition, an image reader configured to read an image for adjustment of the image forming condition, which is formed on the recording medium; and a controller configured to: control the image forming unit to form images for adjustment; control the image reader to read the images for adjustment; determine a target data based on a reading result of a first image included in reading results of the images for adjustment; and adjust the image forming condition, during execution of a job in which the image forming unit forms a plurality of images on a plurality of recording mediums, based on the target data and a reading result of second image included in the reading results of the images for adjustment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Shin Iwasaki, Koji Yumoto, Riki Fukuhara
  • Patent number: 11841660
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image processor configured to convert image data based on a first conversion condition; an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet based on the image data converted by the image processor, the image forming unit having an image bearing member on which the image is to be formed, a transfer unit configured to transfer the image from the image bearing member onto the sheet, and a fixing unit configured to fix the image to the sheet; a conveyance roller configured to convey the sheet having the image fixed thereto; a reading unit configured to read a pattern image on the sheet conveyed by the conveyance roller; and a detector configured to detect a pattern image on the image bearing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sumito Tanaka, Sho Ikemoto, Tatsuomi Murayama, Yuko Kiyota, Hiroyuki Eda, Hiromi Shimura, Yuya Ohta, Shin Iwasaki, Rumi Konno, Yuga Yamauchi, Riki Fukuhara
  • Patent number: 11796949
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a recording medium based on an image forming condition; an image reader configured to read an image for adjustment of the image forming condition, the image for adjustment being formed on the recording medium; and a controller configured to control the image forming unit to form images for adjustment; control the image reader to read the images for adjustment; determine target data based on a reading result of a first image included in reading results of the images for adjustment; and adjust the image forming condition, during execution of a job in which the image forming unit forms a plurality of images on a plurality of recording mediums, based on the target data and a reading result of second image included in the reading results of the images for adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shin Iwasaki, Koji Yumoto, Riki Fukuhara
  • Patent number: 11704517
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on an image bearing member based on an image forming condition; a transfer unit configured to transfer the image formed on the image bearing member onto a sheet; a first reading sensor configured to read a first image for adjustment which has been formed on the sheet; a second reading sensor configured to read a second image for adjustment which has been formed on the image bearing member; and a controller configured to: generate the image forming condition based on reading results of the first image for adjustment on a plurality of sheets, which are obtained by the first reading sensor; and generate the image forming condition based on a reading result of the second image for adjustment, which is obtained by the second reading sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Riki Fukuhara, Koji Yumoto, Shin Iwasaki
  • Publication number: 20230120867
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image processor configured to convert image data based on a first conversion condition; an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet based on the image data converted by the image processor, the image forming unit having an image bearing member on which the image is to be formed, a transfer unit configured to transfer the image from the image bearing member onto the sheet, and a fixing unit configured to fix the image to the sheet; a conveyance roller configured to convey the sheet having the image fixed thereto; a reading unit configured to read a pattern image on the sheet conveyed by the conveyance roller; and a detector configured to detect a pattern image on the image bearing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Sumito Tanaka, Sho Ikemoto, Tatsuomi Murayama, Yuko Kiyota, Hiroyuki Eda, Hiromi Shimura, Yuya Ohta, Shin Iwasaki, Rumi Konno, Yuga Yamauchi, Riki Fukuhara
  • Patent number: 11567440
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image processor configured to convert image data based on a first conversion condition; an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet based on the image data converted by the image processor, the image forming unit having an image bearing member on which the image is to be formed, a transfer unit configured to transfer the image from the image bearing member onto the sheet, and a fixing unit configured to fix the image to the sheet; a conveyance roller configured to convey the sheet having the image fixed thereto; a reading unit configured to read a pattern image on the sheet conveyed by the conveyance roller; and a detector configured to detect a pattern image on the image bearing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sumito Tanaka, Sho Ikemoto, Tatsuomi Murayama, Yuko Kiyota, Hiroyuki Eda, Hiromi Shimura, Yuya Ohta, Shin Iwasaki, Rumi Konno, Yuga Yamauchi, Riki Fukuhara
  • Publication number: 20220382183
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet based on an image forming condition; an image reader configured to read an image for adjustment of the image forming condition, which is formed on the sheet; and a controller configured to: control, in a case of a job for which printing of the image for adjustment is set, the image forming unit to form the image for adjustment on the sheet, and generate a correction value for the image forming condition based on a reading result of the image for adjustment, which has been obtained by the image reader, to thereby adjust the image forming condition based on the correction value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Koji Yumoto, Riki Fukuhara, Shin Iwasaki
  • Publication number: 20220383056
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on an image bearing member based on an image forming condition; a transfer unit configured to transfer the image formed on the image bearing member onto a sheet; a first reading sensor configured to read a first image for adjustment which has been formed on the sheet; a second reading sensor configured to read a second image for adjustment which has been formed on the image bearing member; and a controller configured to: generate the image forming condition based on reading results of the first image for adjustment on a plurality of sheets, which are obtained by the first reading sensor; and generate the image forming condition based on a reading result of the second image for adjustment, which is obtained by the second reading sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Riki Fukuhara, Koji Yumoto, Shin Iwasaki
  • Publication number: 20220382202
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit configured to form an image on a recording medium based on an image forming condition; an image reader configured to read an image for adjustment of the image forming condition, which is formed on the recording medium; and a controller configured to: control the image forming unit to form images for adjustment; control the image reader to read the images for adjustment; determine a target data based on a reading result of a first image included in reading results of the images for adjustment; and adjust the image forming condition, during execution of a job in which the image forming unit forms a plurality of images on a plurality of recording mediums, based on the target data and a reading result of second image included in the reading results of the images for adjustment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Shin Iwasaki, Koji Yumoto, Riki Fukuhara
  • Patent number: 11470213
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the present disclosure includes an image forming unit configured to form an image based on an image forming condition; a reading unit configured to read a test image on a sheet; a controller configured to: control the image forming unit to form the test image; obtain read data related to the test image output from the reading unit is formed; and update the image forming condition based on the read data. The controller operates in a first mode and a second mode, the first mode is a mode in which, the controller controls the image forming unit to form the image for the second sheet after the image forming condition is updated based on the reading data related to the test image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Riki Fukuhara, Takashi Yokoya, Toshifumi Oikawa, Yutaka Ando, Akinobu Nishikata, Koji Yumoto, Yuichiro Oda
  • Patent number: 11448992
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus to which a sheet treating apparatus is to be connected includes a communication device, having a serial port used for serial communication with the sheet treating apparatus and a parallel port used for parallel communication with the sheet treating apparatus, to communicate with the sheet treating apparatus, and one or more processors. At least one of the one or more processors operates to determine a communication method to communicate with the sheet treating apparatus based on configuration information representing a connection configuration of the sheet treating apparatus, and switch an operation of the serial port such that the serial port of the communication device is used in the parallel communication in a case where a determined communication method is a method in which the parallel communication is performed and the serial communication is not performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuichiro Oda, Koji Yumoto, Riki Fukuhara, Yuko Kiyota
  • Patent number: 11435685
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to perform a first image forming process and a second image forming process to form an image and a test image on a sheet; a reader, arranged in a conveyance path along which the sheet is conveyed, configured to read the test image on the sheet, the test image being formed by the image forming unit; a member; a controller configured to obtain, from the reader, reading data related to the test image on the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akinobu Nishikata, Takashi Yokoya, Toshifumi Oikawa, Yutaka Ando, Koji Yumoto, Riki Fukuhara, Yuichiro Oda
  • Publication number: 20220244670
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image processor configured to convert image data based on a first conversion condition; an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet based on the image data converted by the image processor, the image forming unit having an image bearing member on which the image is to be formed, a transfer unit configured to transfer the image from the image bearing member onto the sheet, and a fixing unit configured to fix the image to the sheet; a conveyance roller configured to convey the sheet having the image fixed thereto; a reading unit configured to read a pattern image on the sheet conveyed by the conveyance roller; a detector configured to detect a pattern image on the image bearing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Sumito Tanaka, Sho Ikemoto, Tatsuomi Murayama, Yuko Kiyota, Hiroyuki Eda, Hiromi Shimura, Yuya Ohta, Shin Iwasaki, Rumi Konno, Yuga Yamauchi, Riki Fukuhara
  • Patent number: 11305955
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet being conveyed on a horizontal path and a double feed sensor configured to execute double feed detection processing of detecting a state in which a plurality of sheets being conveyed on the horizontal path are conveyed in a duplicate manner. The image forming apparatus includes a double feed detection function table, in which whether to enable or disable the double feed detection processing is set according to a type of a sheet. The image forming apparatus determines whether to execute the double feed detection processing at a time of image formation in accordance with sheet setting information including information on a characteristic of a sheet to be used for the image formation and setting information on whether to execute the double feed detection processing, and the double feed detection function table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Yokoya, Koji Yumoto, Riki Fukuhara, Akihiro Kawakita, Yutaka Ando
  • Publication number: 20210382421
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image and a detection image on a sheet, wherein the detection image is used for detecting a geometric characteristics of an image to be formed on a sheet by the image forming unit; a fixing unit configured to fix the image and the detection image formed by the image forming unit on the sheet; a reading unit configured to read the detection image on the sheet; a reference member; and a controller configured to: adjust geometric characteristics of an image to be formed on a sheet based on a reading result of the detection image by the reading unit; and control the reading unit to read the reference member to execute shading correction based on a reading result thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Koji Yumoto, Takashi Yokoya, Toshifumi Oikawa, Yutaka Ando, Akinobu Nishikata, Riki Fukuhara, Yuichiro Oda
  • Patent number: 11186104
    Abstract: An image forming system includes a first feeding portion to feed a recording sheet, a second feeding portion to feed an inserting sheet from one of a plurality of supporting portions, and a controller capable of executing a job. In a case of performing a feeding process on a current recording sheet subsequent to a preceding inserting sheet, the controller starts the feeding process of the current recording sheet at a predetermined timing in a state in which sheets of a first amount are supported on the first supporting portion, and starts the feeding process of the current recording sheet at a timing later than the predetermined timing in a state in which sheets of a second amount smaller than the first amount are supported on the first supporting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Yumoto, Toshiyuki Miyake, Takashi Yokoya, Yutaka Ando, Riki Fukuhara, Akihiro Kawakita
  • Publication number: 20210368055
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the present disclosure includes an image forming unit configured to form an image based on an image forming condition; a reading unit configured to read a test image on a sheet; a controller configured to: control the image forming unit to form the test image; obtain read data related to the test image output from the reading unit is formed; and update the image forming condition based on the read data. The controller operates in a first mode and a second mode, the first mode is a mode in which, the controller controls the image forming unit to form the image for the second sheet after the image forming condition is updated based on the reading data related to the test image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Riki Fukuhara, Takashi Yokoya, Toshifumi Oikawa, Yutaka Ando, Akinobu Nishikata, Koji Yumoto, Yuichiro Oda
  • Publication number: 20210356894
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to perform a first image forming process and a second image forming process to form an image and a test image on a sheet; a reader, arranged in a conveyance path along which the sheet is conveyed, configured to read the test image on the sheet, the test image being formed by the image forming unit; a member; a controller configured to obtain, from the reader, reading data related to the test image on the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: Akinobu Nishikata, Takashi Yokoya, Toshifumi Oikawa, Yutaka Ando, Koji Yumoto, Riki Fukuhara, Yuichiro Oda
  • Patent number: 11150586
    Abstract: An image forming system includes a first feeding portion configured to feed a recording sheet, a second feeding portion configured to feed an inserting sheet from one of a plurality of supporting portions, and a controller configured to execute a determination process of determining whether or not there is a supporting portion usable as a new feeding source other than a supporting portion serving as a current feeding source of an inserting sheet. The controller is capable of switching between first control and second control in which a feeding process of a recording sheet is executed respectively in a first mode and a second mode in a case where it has been determined in the determination process that there is no supporting portion usable as the new feeding source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Riki Fukuhara, Toshiyuki Miyake, Takashi Yokoya, Yutaka Ando, Koji Yumoto, Akihiro Kawakita