Patents by Inventor Takashi Awai

Takashi Awai 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: 7382506
    Abstract: An image reading and recording apparatus provided with an image reading portion for reading the image of a document, and an image recording portion for recording an image on a recording sheet is provided with a first stacking portion for stacking thereon a first sheet which is one of the document and the recording sheet, a first feeding device for feeding the first sheet stacked on the first stacking portion, a second stacking portion for stacking thereon a second sheet which is the other of the document and the recording sheet, a second feeding device having a cut-away portion formed by cutting away a portion of the peripheral surface thereof and for feeding the second sheet stacked on the second stacking portion, and a lower guide member extending from the first stacking portion to the second feeding device for guiding the first sheet fed by the first feeding device, and when the first sheet is to be fed by the first feeding device, the second feeding device is stopped in a state in which the cut-away porti
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Awai, Akio Okubo, Hideyuki Terashima, Yoshiaki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7290763
    Abstract: A first sheet feeding device and a second sheet feeding device for feeding sheets stacked on a first stacking portion and a second stacking portion, respectively, are driven by a driving force generated by a drive source. A controller controls the drive source so that the magnitude of the driving force may differ between a case where the first sheet feeding device is driven and a case where the second sheet feeding device is driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Suzuki, Akio Okubo, Takashi Awai, Hideyuki Terashima
  • Patent number: 7151622
    Abstract: An image reading and recording apparatus is provided with a carriage having the drive switching gear, which transmits driving power to a reading drive gear train only in a drive switching position. Then, when a reading command is issued, the carriage moves to this drive switching position. For this operation, a driving motor that serves as one driving source is arranged to transmit the driving power thereof to the recording drive gear train and the reading drive gear train. Also, there is no need for an original and a recording sheet to pass different passages of transportation by shearing a common passage of transportation for use by both of them, hence making it possible to materialize downsizing the apparatus, and reducing the cost of manufacture as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Suzuki, Akio Okubo, Takashi Awai, Takayuki Nishinohara
  • Publication number: 20060244194
    Abstract: In the image reading and recording apparatus, a separating and feeding unit, a paper end detecting unit, a reading unit, a conveying unit, and a recording unit are arranged in this order from the upstream of the conveying direction. The separating and feeding unit has a switching unit for selectively switching between a separating function of separating the uppermost one of stacked sheets and a feeding function of feeding each separated sheet at a predetermined speed. After a sheet is separated, switching from the separating function to the feeding function is carried out before the paper end detecting unit detects the top end of the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Publication date: November 2, 2006
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideyuki Terashima, Akio Okubo, Yoshiaki Suzuki, Takashi Awai
  • Publication number: 20060243932
    Abstract: Provided is an image reading/recording apparatus capable of actualizing downsizing and a decrease in cost of an apparatus body by commonizing components and functions of a document conveying system and a recording sheet conveying system, and enabling a user to readily clean a contaminated portion even when a reading surface of reading means and a white plate are contaminated. A separation feeding means 602, a reading means 28, conveying means 10, 16 and discharging means 17, 18 are disposed in this sequence from an upstream side in a conveying direction, wherein the reading means is provided to read an undersurface of a document 12 with a reading surface 22a directed upward, and a white plate 25 facing the reading surface of the reading means 26 is disposed in an openable/closable manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Publication date: November 2, 2006
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akio Okubo, Takashi Awai, Hideyuki Terashima, Yoshiaki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7077517
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an image reading and recording apparatus comprising: a driving source; a recording sheet feeding means for feeding a recording sheet; recording means for recording an image in a predetermined recording area on the recording sheet, supplied by the recording sheet feeding means, and movable to outside of the recording area; document feeding means for feeding a document; reading means movable between the reading position for reading an image on the document, fed by the document feeding means, and the stand by position withdrawn from the reading position; a document feeding force transmitting means for transmitting the driving force of the driving source to the document feeding means; and moving means for moving the reading means to the reading position by the driving force of the driving source at the time the recording means is moved to the outside of the recording area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Awai, Akio Okubo, Hideyuki Terashima, Yoshiaki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7079294
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus, wherein it comprises a conveying unit for conveying an original, a reading unit for optically reading the information recorded in the conveyed original at a predetermined reading location, an original pressing unit for pressing the original to the reading unit, and a color reference member used as a color reference a the time when the information is read by the reading unit, and wherein the color reference member is arranged between the reading unit and the original pressing unit and the pressing location of the original to the reading means by the original pressing unit is disposed at a location within the original conveying region and other than the reading location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daigo Nakagawa, Takashi Awai
  • Publication number: 20050285327
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a document loading unit in which a document sheet is loaded, a recording-sheet loading unit in which a recording sheet is loaded, a supply roller that supplies the document sheet or the recording sheet from the document loading unit or the recording-sheet loading unit, a separator that separates the document sheet or the recording sheet in cooperation with the supply roller, a feeding path through which both the document sheet and the recording sheet pass, a reading unit that reads an image on the document sheet, and a recording unit that records an image on the recording sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Publication date: December 29, 2005
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Suzuki, Hideyuki Terashima, Takashi Awai
  • Publication number: 20050286942
    Abstract: The typical configuration of an image processing apparatus includes a document stacking means on which documents are stacked, a recording medium stacking means on which recording medium are stacked, and a feeding roller for feeding documents or recording medium from the document stacking means or the recording medium stacking means. The feeding roller is located above the recording medium stacking means, and at least the lower end of the recording medium stacking means is movable in the direction approaching or moving away from the feeding roller. The document stacking means is attached above and substantially parallel to the recording medium stacking means, at a predetermined interval. Further, the document stacking means does not have a support portion at a location corresponding to the feeding roller, and is moved as the recording medium stacking means is moved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Publication date: December 29, 2005
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideyuki Terashima, Yoshiaki Suzuki, Takashi Awai
  • Publication number: 20050286943
    Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide an image processing apparatus capable of separating and supplying originals and recording materials by one set of separating/supplying mechanism, and capable of inexpensively and reliably detecting the original irrespective of presence or absence of the recording material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Publication date: December 29, 2005
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideyuki Terashima, Yoshiaki Suzuki, Takashi Awai
  • Publication number: 20040179045
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an image reading and recording apparatus comprising: a driving source; a recording sheet feeding means for feeding a recording sheet; recording means for recording an image in a predetermined recording area on the recording sheet, supplied by the recording sheet feeding means, and movable to outside of the recording area; document feeding means for feeding a document; reading means movable between the reading position for reading an image on the document, fed by the document feeding means, and the stand by position withdrawn from the reading position; a document feeding force transmitting means for transmitting the driving force of the driving source to the document feeding means; and moving means for moving the reading means to the reading position by the driving force of the driving source at the time the recording means is moved to the outside of the recording area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Awai, Akio Okubo, Hideyuki Terashima, Yoshiaki Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20040130089
    Abstract: A first sheet feeding device and a second sheet feeding device for feeding sheets stacked on a first stacking portion and a second stacking portion, respectively, are driven by a driving force generated by a drive source. A controller controls the drive source so that the magnitude of the driving force may differ between a case where the first sheet feeding device is driven and a case where the second sheet feeding device is driven.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Suzuki, Akio Okubo, Takashi Awai, Hideyuki Terashima
  • Publication number: 20040119996
    Abstract: An image reading and recording apparatus provided with an image reading portion for reading the image of a document, and an image recording portion for recording an image on a recording sheet is provided with a first stacking portion for stacking thereon a first sheet which is one of the document and the recording sheet, a first feeding device for feeding the first sheet stacked on the first stacking portion, a second stacking portion for stacking thereon a second sheet which is the other of the document and the recording sheet, a second feeding device having a cut-away portion formed by cutting away a portion of the peripheral surface thereof and for feeding the second sheet stacked on the second stacking portion, and a lower guide member extending from the first stacking portion to the second feeding device for guiding the first sheet fed by the first feeding device, and when the first sheet is to be fed by the first feeding device, the second feeding device is stopped in a state in which the cut-away porti
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Awai, Akio Okubo, Hideyuki Terashima, Yoshiaki Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20040105109
    Abstract: The present invention relates to n image forming and reading apparatus comprising: image forming means for forming an image on a fed recording sheet; and image reading means for reading the image of a fed document, wherein at least a portion of the feeding path of the recording sheet is common to at least a portion of the feeding path of the document, and the image reading means can be set to a first position evacuated from the common feeding path and to a second position at which the image of the document that is fed through the common feeding path is read, and a reading position at which the image is read by the image reading means is located downstream of the image forming means in a recording sheet feeding direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideyuki Terashima, Akio Okubo, Takashi Awai, Yoshiaki Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20030067619
    Abstract: An image reading and recording apparatus is provided with a carriage having the drive switching gear, which transmits driving power to a reading drive gear train only in a drive switching position. Then, when a reading command is issued, the carriage moves to this drive switching position. For this operation, a driving motor that serves as one driving source is arranged to transmit the driving power thereof to the recording drive gear train and the reading drive gear train. Also, there is no need for an original and a recording sheet to pass different passages of transportation by shearing a common passage of transportation for use by both of them, hence making it possible to materialize downsizing the apparatus, and reducing the cost of manufacture as well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Suzuki, Akio Okubo, Takashi Awai, Takayuki Nishinohara
  • Patent number: 6208828
    Abstract: The present invention provides a space-saving and compact high-operability image forming apparatus. The apparatus includes an original reading unit, a sheet supporting unit, an image forming unit and a sheet discharging unit. The original reading unit is adapted to hold an original placed on an original mount by a cover member, for reading an original image. The sheet supporting unit is placed under the original image reading unit, and supports a sheet on which an image is formed. The image forming unit is placed at the rear of the housing containing the original reading unit and the sheet supporting unit and is used to form an image on a sheet held by the sheet supporting unit. The sheet discharging unit discharges a sheet, on which an image has been formed by the image forming unit, towards and above the original reading unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Awai, Nobuo Matsuoka, Yasuhiro Matsumoto, Masahiko Yokota
  • Patent number: 6169560
    Abstract: There is disclosed a recording apparatus for recording an image by transferring the ink contained in an ink sheet onto a recording medium, wherein the apparatus comprises ink sheet driving unit for driving said ink sheet, recording medium conveying unit for conveying said recording medium, recording head for recording onto said recording medium by acting on said ink sheet, slackness removing device for removing the slackness of said ink sheet, and control unit for controlling said slackness removing device so as not to remove the slackness of said ink sheet, when it is impossible to record with said recording head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takehiro Yoshida, Makoto Kobayashi, Minoru Yokoyama, Takeshi Ono, Takashi Awai, Yasushi Ishida, Akihiro Tomoda, Tomoyuki Takeda, Masaya Kondo, Masakatsu Yamada
  • Patent number: 6069643
    Abstract: A thermal transfer recording apparatus for performing recording of data on a recording medium by transferring ink of an ink sheet on said recording medium comprises conveying means for conveying said ink sheet and recording medium, recording means for effecting said ink sheet to record image data on said recording medium, and control means for counting time after image recording by said recording means and driving said recording means when the next image recording is not performed in a predetermined time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takehiro Yoshida, Makoto Kobayashi, Hisao Terajima, Takeshi Ono, Satoshi Wada, Minoru Yokoyama, Akihiro Tomoda, Yasushi Ishida, Takashi Awai
  • Patent number: 5936654
    Abstract: An ink sheet reel capable,of being loaded into a recording apparatus has an ink sheet winding portion on which an ink sheet can be wound, and power transmission means provided so as to create an axial thrust in the ink sheet winding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Minoru Yokoyama, Takashi Awai, Yasushi Ishida, Akihiro Tomoda, Masakatsu Yamada
  • Patent number: 5798789
    Abstract: Thermal transfer recording apparatus for recording image on the recording medium by transferring ink of the ink sheet on the recording medium characterized by being provided with the ink sheet conveying means, the recording medium conveying means, recording means to record the image on the recording medium by being driven in accordance with the image data and working on the ink sheet and control means to drive the recording means with the energy smaller than that used at the time of ordinary recording utilizing the inverted data of the image data used in the preceding recording, the apparatus providing such advantage as the improvement of image quality, saving of consumption of ink sheet and saving of running cost, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Ono, Takehiro Yoshida, Makoto Kobayashi, Tomoyuki Takeda, Satoshi Wada, Minoru Yokoyama, Takashi Awai, Yasushi Ishida, Akihiro Tomoda, Masakatsu Yamada