Patents by Inventor Shohichi Fukutome

Shohichi Fukutome 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).

  • Publication number: 20100208306
    Abstract: In one embodiment, image reading apparatuses 100a and 100b start reading an original image after a reading start time Ta has elapsed since detecting the transport timing of an original G on the upstream side in a transport direction Y1 relative to an original reading position R1, adjust the reading start time Ta based on a reading timing adjustment time T1a from when the transport timing of an adjustment sheet P is detected until when original reading portions 200a and 200b read a position considered to be a leading edge P? in a first mark Q1 on the adjustment sheet P, and correct the reading start timing of the original G based on a leading edge reading error correction time T2a stored in advance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Inventors: Shohichi Fukutome, Mitsuharu Yoshimoto, Norio Tomita, Takeshi Mutoh, Kazuma Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20100124439
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides an illuminating device that is disposed in an image-reading apparatus and image-forming equipment, comprising: a light-source portion on one side; a light-source portion on the other side; and a long translucent light-guiding member having a light-discharging face long in a longitudinal direction thereof, and guiding light derived from the one light-source portion from one end face in the longitudinal direction, and light derived from the other light-source portion from the other end face in the longitudinal direction so that the guided light is irradiated to an object through the long light-discharging face; wherein the one and the other light-source portions are arranged such that positions of optical axes thereof differ from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Inventors: Yasuhiro SUTO, Mitsuharu YOSHIMOTO, Tomohiko OKADA, Shohichi FUKUTOME, Hisashi YAMANAKA, Kenji NAKANISHI, Yoshihisa YAMADA
  • Patent number: 7688483
    Abstract: A document reading apparatus including: a first scanning section that moves in a scanning direction along a document surface, for supporting a first mirror to reflect an image of a document in a direction parallel to the scanning direction; an intermediate scanning section that moves synchronous with the first scanning section, for supporting an intermediate mirror to reflect the image of the document reflected by the first mirror in a direction opposite from an incident direction of the image; a reading section including an imaging sensor for reading the image of a scanned document and a focusing lens for focusing the image of the document reflected by the intermediate mirror on the imaging sensor; a driving wire for pulling the first scanning section in the scanning direction; a supporting pulley for supporting the driving wire at a starting side for scanning or at an ending side for scanning; a position adjustment section capable of adjusting a position of the supporting pulley in its axial direction; a co
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiko Okada, Yasuhiro Suto, Shohichi Fukutome, Kenji Tanaka, Mitsuharu Yoshimoto, Hisashi Yamanaka, Kenji Nakanishi, Noritomo Nakashima, Yoshikazu Fukuda, Hiroshi Sudoh, Yutaka Fukuda
  • Publication number: 20090290200
    Abstract: The document read apparatus according to the present invention has a light source unit that includes a linear first light and second light sources, both light sources aligned parallel to the sub scanning direction (moving direction). When the light source unit is scanning a book document in a second region shifted toward a side of the first light source from a center position for emitting light to the center of the document, a light quantity of the second light source becomes larger than a light quantity of the first light source. When the light source unit is scanning the book document in a third region shifted toward a side of the second light source from the center position, the light quantity of the first light source becomes larger than the light quantity of the second light source. A sum of both light quantities is controlled to be constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mitsuharu YOSHIMOTO, Yasuhiro SUTO, Tomohiko OKADA, Noritomo NAKASHIMA, Kenji TANAKA, Shohichi FUKUTOME
  • Patent number: 7589871
    Abstract: An original transport and reading apparatus includes an original transport apparatus having a transport path, a first image reading unit that reads an image of an original facing the original transport apparatus, and a second image reading unit that is arranged inside the original transport apparatus and reads an image of the original. The second image reading unit includes a light source, a turning mirror, a lens, an image sensor, and a rotation support shaft, and is accommodated and held by a unit casing. The rotation support shaft performs support so as to allow rotation of the second image reading unit centered on a rotational fulcrum that is arranged along a reading light path for reading an image at a second reading position. Furthermore, a curved original guide having a guiding surface that is curved is arranged in a position corresponding to the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsuharu Yoshimoto, Tomohiko Okada, Yasuhiro Suto, Kenji Nakanishi, Hisashi Yamanaka, Shohichi Fukutome
  • Patent number: 7589751
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises an adjusting mechanism that adjusts an interval between an LED head writing an optical image on a photoreceptor and a photoreceptor drum to a reference interval (A), and the adjusting mechanism includes a regulating member attached to the LED head. In the adjustment of the interval between the LED head and the photoreceptor drum, the LED head and the regulating member are integrally moved until the regulating member comes into contact with the photoreceptor drum. The interval between the LED head and the photoreceptor drum is (A-B) at this point. The LED head and the regulating member are moved in the direction opposite to the photoreceptor drum by a distance (B). As a result, the interval between the LED head and the photoreceptor drum is set to the reference interval (A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shohichi Fukutome, Ayumu Oda, Takaharu Motoyama, Tomohiko Okada
  • Publication number: 20090135457
    Abstract: An original transport and reading apparatus is provided with an original transport portion that transports an original, an original reading portion that reads the original transported by the original transport portion through a reading region of a reading glass, and a control portion that controls the original transport portion. The control portion executes foreign matter removal at the reading region of the reading glass by controlling the original transport portion so as to cause the original to advance in a reverse direction to a transport direction of when the original is being read and causes the original to contact at least the reading region of the reading glass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventors: Tomohiko OKADA, Yoshitaka Okahashi, Kenji Tanaka, Mitsuharu Yoshimoto, Shohichi Fukutome
  • Publication number: 20090034027
    Abstract: An original transport and reading apparatus includes an original transport apparatus having a transport path, a first image reading unit that reads an image of an original facing the original transport apparatus, and a second image reading unit that is arranged inside the original transport apparatus and reads an image of the original. The second image reading unit includes a light source, a turning mirror, a lens, an image sensor, and a rotation support shaft, and is accommodated and held by a unit casing. The rotation support shaft performs support so as to allow rotation of the second image reading unit centered on a rotational fulcrum that is arranged along a reading light path for reading an image at a second reading position. Furthermore, a curved original guide having a guiding surface that is curved is arranged in a position corresponding to the light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventors: Mitsuharu YOSHIMOTO, Tomohiko Okada, Yasuhiro Suto, Kenji Nakanishi, Hisashi Yamanaka, Shohichi Fukutome
  • Publication number: 20070242319
    Abstract: A document table is provided with a first chart portion and a second chart portion. In each of the first chart portion and the second chart portion, a reference chart is formed. The first chart portion is disposed at an upstream chart position, and the second chart portion is disposed at a downstream-side position located away in a sub-scanning direction from the upstream chart position. On the basis of respective chart images of the first chart portion and second chart portion obtained from respective reference charts of the first and second chart portions read by a document reading portion, the image processing portion obtains respective sharpening levels for respective image areas of a document image of a document read by the document reading portion and, based on the respective sharpening levels, processes the document image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2007
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiko Okada, Shohichi Fukutome, Yasuhiro Suto, Hisashi Yamanaka, Kenji Nakanishi, Mitsuharu Yoshimoto
  • Publication number: 20070126852
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises an adjusting mechanism that adjusts an interval between an LED head writing an optical image on a photoreceptor and a photoreceptor drum to a reference interval (A), and the adjusting mechanism includes a regulating member attached to the LED head. In the adjustment of the interval between the LED head and the photoreceptor drum, the LED head and the regulating member are integrally moved until the regulating member comes into contact with the photoreceptor drum. The interval between the LED head and the photoreceptor drum is (A-B) at this point. The LED head and the regulating member are moved in the direction opposite to the photoreceptor drum by a distance (B). As a result, the interval between the LED head and the photoreceptor drum is set to the reference interval (A).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Publication date: June 7, 2007
    Inventors: Shohichi Fukutome, Ayumu Oda, Takaharu Motoyama, Tomohiko Okada
  • Patent number: 7154525
    Abstract: Focus adjustment of an optical writing unit is performed based on an image of a test pattern formed on a paper sheet. The pattern includes bars of density levels associated with adjustment quantity information indicating numerical values corresponding to the numbers of rotation of adjustment motors and adjustment screws. The density levels decrease as the amount of displacement of the unit with respect to a photosensitive drum increases. A focus adjustment device accepts an input of the numerical values indicated beside the unprinted bars of the lowest density levels and causes the motors to turn by the numbers of rotation indicated by the input numerical values to move the unit to the position of correct focus. It is possible to perform focus adjustment of the unit with ease and high accuracy regardless of whether the unit is for forming binary or multi-valued images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ayumu Oda, Kyosuke Taka, Takaharu Motoyama, Norio Tomita, Shohichi Fukutome, Nobuo Manabe
  • Publication number: 20040008333
    Abstract: Focus adjustment of an optical writing unit is performed based on an image of a test pattern formed on a paper sheet. The pattern includes bars of density levels associated with adjustment quantity information indicating numerical values corresponding to the numbers of rotation of adjustment motors and adjustment screws. The density levels decrease as the amount of displacement of the unit with respect to a photosensitive drum increases. A focus adjustment device accepts an input of the numerical values indicated beside the unprinted bars of the lowest density levels and causes the motors to turn by the numbers of rotation indicated by the input numerical values to move the unit to the position of correct focus. It is possible to perform focus adjustment of the unit with ease and high accuracy regardless of whether the unit is for forming binary or multi-valued images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Inventors: Ayumu Oda, Kyosuke Taka, Takaharu Motoyama, Norio Tomita, Shohichi Fukutome, Nobuo Manabe