Patents by Inventor Tadashi Kitai

Tadashi Kitai 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: 20250104218
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes circuitry to cause a reading device to read a printed matter printed by a printing apparatus based on print data to generate a first image to be inspected, detect a defect on the printed matter based on a master image and the first image, the master image being generated from the print data of the printed matter, detect a defect on a second image to be inspected and a defect state of the defect, the second image being generated by the reading device without sheet passage, set a region including a position of the defect detected on the second image to an inspection exclusion region to be excluded from detection of a defect on the first image, and notify a user in a case that the defect state is determined to exceed a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2024
    Publication date: March 27, 2025
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kohta AOYAGI, Tohru MATSUMOTO, Tadashi KITAI, Daisuke ANAN
  • Publication number: 20240364820
    Abstract: A print inspection apparatus include circuitry that generates a difference image based on a comparison between a read image obtained by reading printed matter printed by a printer and a reference image, and inspects a defect of the printed matter using the difference image, a plurality of size thresholds, and a plurality of density thresholds corresponding to each of the plurality of size thresholds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2024
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Inventor: Tadashi KITAI
  • Patent number: 11934713
    Abstract: An image forming system includes circuitry. The circuitry reads an inspection target image from a printed matter. The circuitry generates a difference image between the inspection target image and a comparison target image. The circuitry performs processing on the difference image using a threshold value to perform determination as to whether a defect of the printed matter is present. The circuitry calculates a threshold value for show-through at which a show-through of the printed matter is not determined as the defect of the printed matter among multiple threshold values based on a result of the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tadashi Kitai
  • Publication number: 20230350615
    Abstract: An image forming system includes circuitry. The circuitry reads an inspection target image from a printed matter. The circuitry generates a difference image between the inspection target image and a comparison target image. The circuitry performs processing on the difference image using a threshold value to perform determination as to whether a defect of the printed matter is present. The circuitry calculates a threshold value for show-through at which a show-through of the printed matter is not determined as the defect of the printed matter among multiple threshold values based on a result of the determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tadashi Kitai
  • Patent number: 11645016
    Abstract: An image processing system includes an image forming device, a sensor, processing circuitry, and an ejection device. The image forming device forms an image based on print information, on a first conveyance medium. The sensor acquires information about the image formed on the first conveyance medium. The processing circuitry causes a second conveyance medium to be ejected in a case where the image formed on the first conveyance medium is a defective image, based on the acquired information. The ejection device stacks the first conveyance medium and the second conveyance medium. The processing circuitry controls display of identification information that distinguishes and associates each one of a plurality of first conveyance media having defective images, with a corresponding one of a plurality of second conveyance media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Tadashi Kitai
  • Patent number: 11606467
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes circuitry. The circuitry is configured to acquire read image data of an image formed on a recording medium. The circuitry is configured to acquire output target image data according to which the image is formed. The circuitry is configured to generate, based on the output target image data, inspection image data for inspection of the read image data. The circuitry is configured to compare the read image data corrected based on an amount of deviation caused by conveyance of the recording medium with the inspection image data generated, to detect an image abnormality. The circuitry is configured to highlight and output a position of a portion of the image abnormality in the read image data before correction, based on the amount of deviation caused by conveyance of the recording medium, in response to the image abnormality being detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yohta Mashiko, Tadashi Kitai, Akira Masuda, Takahiro Koyama, Kengo Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11470207
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes circuitry. The circuitry is configured to acquire an output target image to be formed and output. The circuitry is configured to generate an image for inspection from the output target image. The circuitry is configured to add a reference point image to an area of the image for inspection in a case in which the circuitry fails to set a reference point based on the image for inspection. The circuitry is configured to align the reference point added to the image for inspection and the reference point image of a read image of the output target image formed on a recording medium with the reference point image added in response to adding the reference point image to the image for inspection, to compare the image for inspection with the read image to perform inspection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Miyagawa, Tadashi Kitai
  • Publication number: 20220300219
    Abstract: An image processing system includes an image forming device, a sensor, processing circuitry, and an ejection device. The image forming device forms an image based on print information, on a first conveyance medium. The sensor acquires information about the image formed on the first conveyance medium. The processing circuitry causes a second conveyance medium to be ejected in a case where the image formed on the first conveyance medium is a defective image, based on the acquired information. The ejection device stacks the first conveyance medium and the second conveyance medium. The processing circuitry controls display of identification information that distinguishes and associates each one of a plurality of first conveyance media having defective images, with a corresponding one of a plurality of second conveyance media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventor: Tadashi KITAI
  • Publication number: 20220028047
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes circuitry. The circuitry is configured to acquire read image data of an image formed on a recording medium. The circuitry is configured to acquire output target image data according to which the image is formed. The circuitry is configured to generate, based on the output target image data, inspection image data for inspection of the read image data. The circuitry is configured to compare the read image data corrected based on an amount of deviation caused by conveyance of the recording medium with the inspection image data generated, to detect an image abnormality. The circuitry is configured to highlight and output a position of a portion of the image abnormality in the read image data before correction, based on the amount of deviation caused by conveyance of the recording medium, in response to the image abnormality being detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Yohta MASHIKO, Tadashi KITAI, Akira MASUDA, Takahiro KOYAMA, Kengo YAMAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20220014633
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes circuitry. The circuitry is configured to acquire an output target image to be formed and output. The circuitry is configured to generate an image for inspection from the output target image. The circuitry is configured to add a reference point image to an area of the image for inspection in a case in which the circuitry fails to set a reference point based on the image for inspection. The circuitry is configured to align the reference point added to the image for inspection and the reference point image of a read image of the output target image formed on a recording medium with the reference point image added in response to adding the reference point image to the image for inspection, to compare the image for inspection with the read image to perform inspection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventors: Hiromitsu MIYAGAWA, Tadashi KITAI
  • Patent number: 9898814
    Abstract: An image inspection apparatus for inspecting an output image on a recording medium by scanning the output image as a scanned image includes an inspection reference image generator to generate an inspection reference image using data of an output-target image; an image inspection unit to determine whether the scanned image includes a defect by comparing a difference between the inspection reference image and the scanned image with a given threshold; and a threshold determiner to determine the given threshold. The threshold determiner computes a difference between the inspection reference image and the scanned image. The threshold determiner determines the given threshold based on the difference between the scanned image and the inspection reference image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Kitai, Noritaka Masuda
  • Patent number: 9823884
    Abstract: An inspection system includes an inspection apparatus configured to examine, for each print, whether a defect has occurred on at least one print side of the print based on a read image of the at least one print side and an image that correspond to a read image, and configured to notify a printer of sheet identification information about a sheet on which an original image of a certain page is printed, the original image being out of original images for one or more pages including an original image formed on a print side on which the defect has occurred; and the printer configured to print, based on the notified sheet identification information and sheet identification information about a sheet on which a position notification image that indicates a positional relation with a print on which the original image of the certain page is formed, the position notification image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tadashi Kitai
  • Patent number: 9767546
    Abstract: An image inspection apparatus for checking an image printed on a recording medium includes: a reference pixel obtaining unit configured to generate a reference image and obtain a first pixel value from the reference image; a print pixel obtaining unit configured to extract an image printed area and obtain a second pixel value from the image; an offset processing unit configured to add a non-image-printed area; and an image checking unit configured to compute a difference between the first image pixel value and the second image pixel value and detect an error when the difference is higher than a predetermined threshold value, wherein the non-image-printed area contains a third pixel value that is different from the first pixel value or the second pixel value, and the image checking unit suspends a determination whether or not there is an error in the image printed area associated with the non-image-printed area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Keiji Kojima, Hiroyoshi Ishizaki, Tadashi Kitai, Hitomi Kaneko
  • Publication number: 20170031636
    Abstract: An inspection system includes an inspection apparatus configured to examine, for each print, whether a defect has occurred on at least one print side of the print based on a read image of the at least one print side and an image that correspond to a read image, and configured to notify a printer of sheet identification information about a sheet on which an original image of a certain page is printed, the original image being out of original images for one or more pages including an original image formed on a print side on which the defect has occurred; and the printer configured to print, based on the notified sheet identification information and sheet identification information about a sheet on which a position notification image that indicates a positional relation with a print on which the original image of the certain page is formed, the position notification image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tadashi Kitai
  • Patent number: 9536297
    Abstract: An image inspection apparatus for inspecting an image output on a recording medium. The image inspection apparatus includes processing circuitry that obtains data of an output-target image used by an image forming apparatus to conduct an image forming operation, generates read data from the data of the output-target image, and generates an inspection reference image from the data of the output-target image. The apparatus also performs position alignment between the read image and the inspection reference image, conducts an inspection which determines a defect in the read image based on the difference of the aligned read image and the inspection reference image, and determines whether a position alignment defect exists in the read image based on the defect detected during inspection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Ato Araki, Tadashi Kitai
  • Publication number: 20160335760
    Abstract: An image inspection apparatus for inspecting an image output on a recording medium. The image inspection apparatus includes processing circuitry that obtains data of an output-target image used by an image forming apparatus to conduct an image forming operation, generates read data from the data of the output-target image, and generates an inspection reference image from the data of the output-target image. The apparatus also performs position alignment between the read image and the inspection reference image, conducts an inspection which determines a defect in the read image based on the difference of the aligned read image and the inspection reference image, and determines whether a position alignment defect exists in the read image based on the defect detected during inspection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: Ato ARAKI, Tadashi KITAI
  • Publication number: 20160275664
    Abstract: An image inspection apparatus for inspecting an output image on a recording medium by scanning the output image as a scanned image includes an inspection reference image generator to generate an inspection reference image using data of an output-target image; an image inspection unit to determine whether the scanned image includes a defect by comparing a difference between the inspection reference image and the scanned image with a given threshold; and a threshold determiner to determine the given threshold. The threshold determiner computes a difference between the inspection reference image and the scanned image. The threshold determiner determines the given threshold based on the difference between the scanned image and the inspection reference image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventors: Tadashi KITAI, Noritaka MASUDA
  • Patent number: 9390493
    Abstract: An image inspection apparatus for inspecting an output image on a recording medium by scanning the output image as a scanned image includes an inspection reference image generator to generate an inspection reference image using data of an output-target image; an image inspection unit to determine whether the scanned image includes a defect by comparing a difference between the inspection reference image and the scanned image with a given threshold; and a threshold determiner to determine the given threshold. The threshold determiner computes a difference between the inspection reference image and the scanned image. The threshold determiner determines the given threshold based on the difference between the scanned image and the inspection reference image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Kitai, Noritaka Masuda
  • Patent number: 9342898
    Abstract: An image inspection system, an image inspection method, and an image inspection program acquires a read image obtained by reading an output image, generates an inspection image for inspecting the read image based on data of a to-be-output image, acquires an inspection result including a determination whether the read image is defective, based on a difference between the inspection image and the read image, acquires coloring-material usage data indicating extent of coloring-material usage in the output image, the coloring-material usage data being read when the read image is generated, generates coloring-material usage defect rate data indicating a defect rate in association with coloring-material usage, based on the inspection result and the coloring-material usage data, and obtains coloring-material usage of the to-be-output image, based on data of pixels forming the to-be-output image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tadashi Kitai
  • Patent number: 9317914
    Abstract: An image inspecting device includes: an image inspection unit that inspects a read image obtained by reading an image formed by an image formation output, based on threshold information including one or more types of thresholds and a difference image indicating a difference between the read image and a reference image generated based on print data of the image formation output, and specifies a defect portion; and a screen information generation unit that generates and outputs threshold adjustment screen information including a threshold image indicating each value of the thresholds and an inspection result image indicating an inspection result of the defect portion, and threshold adjustment result screen information including a threshold image and a reinspection result image using adjusted threshold information; and a threshold information changing unit that changes the threshold information to the adjusted threshold information based on a threshold information change input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventor: Tadashi Kitai