Multicolor Patents (Class 347/115)
  • Patent number: 11805212
    Abstract: A multifunction apparatus includes a reading mechanism including a document discharge port configured to discharge a document, a recording mechanism including a medium discharge port configured to discharge a recording medium, and a control unit, and a path through which a leading end of the recording medium discharged from the medium discharge port passes and the document discharged from the document discharge port have such a positional relationship to intersect with each other at an intersecting position, and when the leading end of the recording medium is discharged from the medium discharge port in a stop state where the document discharged from the document discharge port blocks the path of the leading end of the recording medium discharged from the medium discharge port, the control unit performs a predetermined operation for canceling the stop state before causing the leading end of the recording medium to reach the intersecting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Naohiro Ueyama, Yasumichi Okuda, Masako Miyahara
  • Patent number: 11539860
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus is configured to perform information processing on a target. The information processing apparatus includes one or more processors; and one or more memories storing program instructions that cause the one or more processors to perform a plurality of processes, the plurality of processes including a first process of adding information to the target and a second process of obtaining the information; control each of the plurality of processes; and perform a correcting process of concurrently performing corrections with respect to the plurality of processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Ono, Yutaka Ohmiya, Hideki Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 11360422
    Abstract: A position detector includes a reading device, a position reference member having a mark opposite the reading device, and circuitry. The circuitry controls the reading device to detect the contour of the processing target and the position of the image pattern on the processing target and the position of the mark and corrects a processing position for the processing target to offset distortion of the reading device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Daisuke Nikaku, Masamoto Nakazawa, Ryohma Ikemoto, Osamu Inage, Tatsuya Ishii, Satoshi Iwanami, Hideyo Makino, Kimiharu Yamazaki, Kohta Aoyagi, Satoshi Nakayama
  • Patent number: 11300911
    Abstract: An image forming device includes: a transfer unit transferring a toner image to a sheet; a resistance measurement member disposed on the upstream side in a sheet carriage direction of the transfer unit and for measuring resistance of the sheet; a charge elimination member disposed between the transfer unit and the resistance measurement member in the sheet carriage direction; a first voltage applying unit applying voltage for resistance measurement to the resistance measurement member; and a second voltage applying unit applying voltage of reverse bias of the voltage for resistance measurement to the charge elimination member. The width of a charge elimination region by the charge elimination member is wider than that of a charged region by the resistance measurement member in a direction perpendicular to the sheet carriage direction. The absolute value of the voltage for charge elimination is smaller than that of the voltage for resistance measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Koide, Yoshihito Sasamoto, Makoto Shimazoe, Yuhei Tatsumoto
  • Patent number: 11179876
    Abstract: A transfer apparatus includes a rolled web mold installation part for installing a rolled web mold around which the mold is wound, a transfer roller for winding the mold fed out from the rolled web mold, a winding roll for winding up the mold, a winding roll installation part for installing the winding roll therein, and a mold installation assisting part for guiding the mold fed out from the rolled web mold up to the winding roll while suppressing an occurrence of wrinkles in the mold fed out from the rolled web mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: SHIBAURA MACHINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsunori Kokubo, Takato Baba, Toshiaki Goto
  • Patent number: 11182939
    Abstract: A method is provided for transforming message logs into images. The method comprises the step of receiving a message log comprising a plurality of messages. The method further comprises the step of selecting a content of at least one message. In addition, the method comprises the step of transforming the content block-wise into decimal numbers. Furthermore, the method comprises the step of associating each decimal number with a color value thereby translating each message into a sequence of symbols. Moreover, the method comprises the step of generating an image from the symbols of the plurality of messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Francesco Rossetto, Ghassen Benhadjsalah
  • Patent number: 11006011
    Abstract: In an example, a conditioner module may include a bridge to receive media from a media path of an imaging device and to deliver the media to a media input of a finisher module. The conditioner module may include a calender nip disposed at an output end of the bridge. The calender nip may compress the media and may feed the media into the media input of the finisher module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Kevin Lo, Jeffrey G Bingham, Bradley B Branham
  • Patent number: 10895821
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of photosensitive members; a scanner unit which includes light sources, a rotatable polygonal mirror, and a plurality of reflecting members; a fixing unit; and a discharge tray. The scanner unit is provided between the plurality of photosensitive members and the discharge tray with respect to a vertical direction, and a rotational axis of the rotatable polygonal mirror is inclined relative to the vertical direction. Selected ones of the laser beams emitted from the light sources are reflected toward a side with the fixing unit, and remaining ones of the laser beams are reflected toward an opposite side. Of the selected ones of the laser beams, the laser beam reflected toward the reflecting member provided at a position remotest from the rotatable polygonal mirror travels downward relative to a horizontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Jun Nagatoshi
  • Patent number: 10692263
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a terminal and a method of operating therefor. A terminal obtains an input for selecting at least one image, generates at least one collage wallpaper including a color area displaying at least a partial area of the entire area with single color and an image area displaying the at least one selected image on the remaining area of the entire area, and generates a collage wallpaper set including the generated at least one collage wallpaper. The terminal can display the at least one collage wallpaper included in the generated collage wallpaper set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jeongyun Heo, Shinhae Lee, Hyungtae Jang, Jumin Chi, Jaeyoung Chae
  • Patent number: 10684570
    Abstract: Provided is an optical scanning unit including a light source configured to emit a laser beam, a deflector configured to deflect the laser beam, a lens through which the laser beam is to pass, and a frame housing the deflector and the lens. The frame includes a laser transmissive portion allowing transmission of the laser beam for emission of the laser beam outward from the optical scanning unit and an adjacent portion adjacent to the laser transmissive portion. The laser transmissive portion and the adjacent portion are integrally formed of resin. The laser transmissive portion and the adjacent portion alternatively each include identical resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Wataru Sato
  • Patent number: 10578993
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes first and second photoconductive drums, and a laser scanning unit including a plurality of optical elements configured to direct a first scanning beam to the first photoconductive drum from a first side of, and at a first incidence angle with respect to, a first line passing through a center of the first photoconductive drum and a second scanning beam to the second photoconductive drum from a second side of, and at a second incidence angle with respect to, a second line passing through a center of the second photoconductive drum. Magnitudes of the first and second incidence angles are substantially the same, and a second side of the first line and a first side of the second line are each between the first side of the first line and the second side of the second line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshihisa Masuda
  • Patent number: 10363756
    Abstract: A printer uses a mechanical device to correct skew in substrates and uses an electronic lateral registration system to shift ink images to be placed on the de-skewed substrates to remove the need for mechanical components that laterally register de-skewed substrates. The removal of the mechanical lateral registration components enable the substrates to be printed more quickly than printers that use mechanical devices to both de-skew substrates and laterally register de-skewed substrates in a print zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Paul J. McConville, Chu-Heng Liu, Jason M. LeFevre, Douglas K. Herrmann, Seemit Praharaj
  • Patent number: 10336066
    Abstract: A printer including: a first printhead and a second printhead configured to eject ink to a print medium; a conveyance mechanism configured to convey the print medium; a camera configured to photograph the print medium; a carriage configured to carry and move the first printhead, the second printhead, and the camera; and a processor configured to print a third mark by the first printhead, photograph the third mark by the camera, adjust driving the conveyance mechanism and the carriage based on a result of the photograph, print a first mark and a second mark by the first printhead and the second printhead respectively, photograph the first mark and the second mark by the camera, and based on the result of the photograph, adjust the ink ejection timing of the second printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuo Tatsuda
  • Patent number: 10234788
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a third electrode, a first resistor, a second resistor, and an attachment/detachment detecting portion. The first electrode and the second electrode are separated from each other upon an attachment of a detachable member. The third electrode comes into contact with the first electrode upon the attachment of the detachable member. The first resistor is arranged on a conduction path that extends from a power supply to the first electrode. The second resistor is arranged on either a first conduction path or a second conduction path, the first conduction path extending from the second electrode to a ground, the second conduction path extending from the third electrode to the ground. The attachment/detachment detecting portion detects attachment state of the detachable member based on a voltage applied to the first electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Tadahiro Kiyosumi
  • Patent number: 10191424
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus capable of reducing a downtime for switching between a monochrome image forming mode and a color image forming mode. In the image forming apparatus, images formed by a plurality of image forming stations are transferred in superimposition onto a transfer member. Further, the image forming apparatus controls image formation in each of a first mode of performing image formation using only an image forming station located at the most downstream position in a moving direction of the transfer member among the plurality of image forming stations, and a second mode of performing image formation using the plurality of image forming stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiromi Shimura, Hiroto Nishihara, Keita Takahashi, Shinnosuke Iwadate, Teruhito Kai
  • Patent number: 10007220
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a correction unit configure to correct image data based on a correction condition; an image bearing member; an image forming unit configured to form an image on the image bearing member, based on the corrected image data; a transfer unit configured to transfer the image onto a recording material; a measurement unit configured to measure a measurement image formed on the image bearing member; and a converting unit configured to convert, based on a conversion condition, a measurement result of the measurement image measured by the measurement unit. A printer controller controls the image forming unit to form the measurement image, control the measurement unit to measure the measurement image, control the converting unit to convert the measurement result of the measurement image, and generate the correction condition based on the measurement result converted by the converting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nobuhiko Zaima
  • Patent number: 9977358
    Abstract: An image forming device continuously forming an image according to a job in a conveying direction of along continuous paper includes: an image formation section forming the image according to the job on the continuous paper; an interval setting section setting a job interval of the image according to the job, which is continuously formed by the image formation section, on the basis of an operation from a user; an image forming process switching section switching two states of a state where the image formation section forms a color image and a state where the image formation section forms a monochromic image; and a switching determination section determining whether or not the two states are switched on the basis of a comparison result between the job interval set by the interval setting section and a paper conveying distance according to a switching time required for switching the two states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Masaru Ohtsuka
  • Patent number: 9928805
    Abstract: A video output checker (23) is described. The video output checker is configured to receive incoming video data (20) for rendering an image on a display (17). The video data comprises pixel data which comprise, for each pixel (42), a set of color component values (57, 57 2, 57 3) for a given color model. The video output checker can be configured to compare each color component for a pixel in a selected area (24) of the image with a corresponding test range of values (5 1L, 5 1U, 5 2L, 5 2U, 5 3L, 5 3U) and, if a component value falls outside the range, to measure a deviation. The video 10 output checker can be configured to sum deviations for the selected area to provide an error value (58) for the selected area, and to compare the error value against a threshold number (59).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS EUROPE LIMITED
    Inventors: Peter Fiedler, Sven Grundmann, Tobyas Hennig
  • Patent number: 9460371
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a first processing unit for performing a first process according to a first request signal; a second processing unit for performing a second process according to a second request signal; and a control unit for controlling at least one of the first processing unit and the second processing unit to perform the first process or the second process at a low processing speed when the control unit detects the second request signal when the first processing unit performs the first process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: OKI DATA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tatsunori Nakai
  • Patent number: 9437461
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention include a semiconductor device that enables both solder-outflow prevention and inhibition of seizures coming from laser processing residues. A semiconductor device can include a semiconductor chip, a plurality of insulating substrates on each of which the semiconductor chip is fixed, a heat sink having a plurality of first grooves surrounding each one of more than one predetermined arrangement area. The plurality of insulating substrates can be arranged at each of the predetermined areas, and a plurality of second grooves surrounding the first groove, wherein the second grooves are shallower in depth than each of the first grooves, and solder filled between the insulating substrate and the arrangement area on the heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Makoto Higashidate
  • Patent number: 9423724
    Abstract: A pressing device includes a pressing member, a first lateral plate including a first connecting portion to support a first end of the pressing member, a second lateral plate including a second connecting portion to support a second end of the pressing member opposite to the first end, a first adjuster connected to the first lateral plate at the first connecting portion and to the second lateral plate at the second connecting portion, and a biasing member. The biasing member biases at least one of the first lateral plate, the second lateral plate, and the first adjuster to press the pressing member against the target in a pressing direction. The first adjuster is connected to the first lateral plate and the second lateral plate such that a relative position of the second connecting portion relative to the first connecting portion is changeable in the pressing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Ichikawa, Naohiro Kumagai, Seiichi Kogure, Junpei Fujita, Kazuki Yogosawa, Kenji Sugiura, Yuuji Wada, Yusuke Mitani
  • Patent number: 9350902
    Abstract: An image reading device includes: a reading unit in which light receiving elements are arranged in a line along a second direction; and a light source control section that controls emission of the light source members, the light source control section performing control such that light is emitted in a cycle order of the first, second, and third colors on the basis of a reference signal which is output at a preset time interval, and to make a time of emission of the light with the first color close to a time of start of emission of the light with the second color and to make a time of emission of the light with the third color close to a time of end of emission of the light with the second color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi Tai, Kazunori Sato, Yujin Ishi, Eiji Yoshiya
  • Patent number: 9310721
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image forming sections that form a toner image on a medium to be fed using a developer containing toner and non-volatile oil, and a heating unit that is arranged on a downstream side of an image forming section, which is arranged on an upstream side in a feeding direction of the medium, and on an upstream side of an image forming section, which is arranged on a downstream side in the feeding direction, among the plurality of image forming sections, wherein the heating unit heats the toner on the medium to a melting temperature of the toner or higher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuki Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 9235154
    Abstract: An image forming method includes: exposing a surface of an image carrier with a light based on an image pattern including an image portion and a non-image portion to form an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image pattern. The image portion is made up of a plurality of pixels. Some of the pixels that make up the image portion are exposed with light of a first output value that is higher than a prescribed optical output value when the entire pixels corresponding to the image portion are exposed over a prescribed time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Suhara, Hiroaki Tanaka, Kohji Sakai
  • Patent number: 9213285
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of increasing the speed of successively discharging printed printing media in order to increase the overall print speed and a control method thereof. The image forming apparatus includes a first discharge roller to feed printed printing medium rearward from a print unit disposed at an inner front portion of a main body, a reverse roller to reverse a moving direction of the printed printing medium fed from the first discharge roller from a rear to a front of the main body, a second discharge roller to discharge the printed printing medium whose moving direction is reversed outside, and an intermediate discharge roller unit which is provided between the first discharge roller and the reverse roller, the intermediate discharge roller unit including a main roller, a sub discharge roller and a sub supply roller which are in contact with the main roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Byeong Hwa Ahn, Bong Hwan Choi, Yong Kon Jo
  • Patent number: 9208417
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus configured to generate print data used for recording image data expressing halftone dots by an image forming apparatus includes an input unit configured to input image data expressing halftone dots, an obtaining unit configured to obtain color tone information indicating color tone for each pixel or for each area including a plurality of pixels in the image data, a conversion unit configured to perform multivalue conversion of the image data based on a degree of smoothing according to the color tone information, a color separation processing unit configured to perform color separation on the image data which has been multi-valued by the conversion unit, and a halftone processing unit configured to convert image data which has been color-separated by the color separation processing unit into print data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kyohei Kikuta
  • Patent number: 9174477
    Abstract: An article is printed based upon predetermined artwork. The artwork includes the specification of a palette of ink colors to be used in printing the article. Each of the colors is specified by a full tone color target and an undertone color target. Each ink formulation has a combined full tone L-C-H-a-b dE equal to or less than about 2, and a combined undertone dE less than or equal to about 3. The specification of ink colors may also include a light fastness value. The ink colors may be further specified by way of a proofing index value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Michael G. Ferrari
  • Patent number: 9171389
    Abstract: A method for displaying a plurality of individual digital images to be printed on a roll of media includes constructing a composed digital image representing the roll and including a plurality of representations of the individual digital images to be printed on the roll in a sequence order corresponding to the time sequence order of printing the plurality of individual digital images on the roll, constructing a time line along the composed digital image, the time line indicating a start time and/or a completion time and/or a time duration of the printing of an image of the plurality of individual digital images on the roll, and displaying at least a part of the composed digital image on the user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: OCE-TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventors: Valerie Roumier, Helene Danlos
  • Patent number: 9164414
    Abstract: An optical writing control device includes a light emission control unit that controls light emission of a light source to exposes a photosensitive element. The light emission control unit is configured to draw two patterns as patterns for correction used to correct a transfer position of a developer image obtained by developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive element, the two patterns including a narrow width pattern where a width of the pattern corresponds to a width of a detection area of a sensor that detects the patterns, in the main-scanning direction, and a wide width pattern having a wider width than the narrow width pattern, and control the light emission, after calculation of a correction value based on a detection signal of the wide width pattern is properly completed, in a manner where the narrow width pattern is drawn upon the calculation of the correction value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Masatoshi Murakami, Tatsuya Miyadera, Masayuki Hayashi, Yoshinori Shirasaki, Motohiro Kawanabe
  • Patent number: 9162478
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus, including: a first head for ejecting first liquid; a second head for ejecting second liquid; a second-liquid test-pattern recording command section configured to command recording of a test pattern of the second liquid on the recording medium; and an output controller configured to output recording data to the first head and/or the second head. When the second-liquid test-pattern recording command section does not command the recording of the test pattern of the second liquid, the output controller outputs recording data representative of an image to be recorded, to the first head and the second head. When the second-liquid test-pattern recording command section commands the recording of the test pattern of the second liquid, the output controller outputs the recording data representative of the test pattern of the second liquid, not to the first head but to the second head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Katsuaki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9134683
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive unit to form an visible image, a printing medium storage unit to store a printing medium, a pickup device to pick up the printing medium from the printing medium storage unit, a developing unit to develop the electrostatic latent image of the photosensitive unit into a visual image, an optical sensor to inspect the visual image, and a cleaning unit to clean a light window arranged at the optical sensor according to a control of the pickup device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jeong Hun Jang, Dong Hun Han
  • Patent number: 9122185
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a measuring unit, an adjustment image forming unit, a density value calculating unit, and a transfer parameter determining unit. The measuring unit measures colors of an image formed on a recording medium. The adjustment image forming unit forms an adjustment image including a combination color which is produced by superimposing colorants of two or more component colors. The density value calculating unit calculates, in accordance with a measurement result obtained by measuring the combination color included in the adjustment image by the measuring unit, a density value of a component color of a colorant that is formed in an uppermost layer on the recording medium among the two or more component colors. The transfer parameter determining unit determines a value of a transfer parameter in accordance with the calculated density value, the transfer parameter defining an operation condition used for performing transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobukazu Takahashi, Tomoshi Hara, Shuichi Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 9052643
    Abstract: The image forming method comprising: forming a toner image on an image carrier; transferring the toner image formed on the image carrier onto a recording medium; and transforming the toner image on the image carrier into a semi-film by applying a pressure. And the image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier; a toner image forming unit configured to form a toner image on the image carrier; a transfer unit configured to transfer the toner image formed on the image carrier onto a recording medium; and a toner image transforming unit configured to transfer the toner image on the image carrier into a semi-film by applying a pressure to the toner image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Takashi Bisaiji, Hiroomi Tamura, Hirokatsu Suzuki, Takamasa Ozeki, Satoru Ishikake
  • Patent number: 8902465
    Abstract: The present invention provides a mechanism that more appropriately evaluates an image defect caused by a specific process in an image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus of this invention performs colorimetry of a patch image at a spatial resolution corresponding to the spatial frequency of color unevenness caused by a specific process included in an image forming process. A statistic value based on the n-th (n is an integer of 2 or more) order central moment of a specific color component of a colorimetric value obtained by performing colorimetry at the spatial resolution is compared with a reference value, thereby detecting that the color unevenness caused by the specific process has occurred in the patch image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ken Yokoyama, Akihito Sonoda
  • Patent number: 8758965
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method of manufacturing a color filter adsorbing toner nano-particles by using electrostatic force. In the apparatus for manufacturing the color filter, a laser driver generates at least one laser control signal according to electrification data, at least one laser device forming a laser irradiation unit which irradiates a laser for a predetermined time according to the at least one laser control signal. According to the irradiated laser, electrostatic latent images are formed in positions of color filter cells having a predetermined resolution standard requirements in a glass substrate, and toner nano-particles are electrostatically adsorbed to the formed electrostatic latent images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tae Gyu Kim
  • Patent number: 8705124
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes recording heads for ejecting recording liquids of colors onto a recording medium. The apparatus includes a reference-patch forming unit that records a reference patch, the reference patch being formed by overlaying dot array patterns recorded with the recording liquids of different colors, the dot array patterns having no correlation therebetween; a detection-patch-group forming unit that records a detection patch group including detection patches, each of the detection patches being formed by overlaying dot array patterns recorded with the recording liquids of the different colors, the dot array patterns having a same cycle of regular dot array, the detection patches being allocated with different misregistration amounts of the dot array patterns; and a color-misregistration correcting unit that corrects color misregistration based on results of comparison between color tone of the reference patch and color tone of each of the detection patches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Masanori Hirano
  • Patent number: 8634109
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image carrier carrying an electrostatic latent image, a charging unit charging the surface of the image carrier, an exposure unit forming an electrostatic latent image by irradiating light onto the charged surface of the image carrier, a developing unit developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the image carrier using a developing material, and a transfer unit transferring a developer image onto a printing material. The apparatus has also an image correction unit correcting image data inputted to the exposure unit so as to compensate for deformation in the developer image originating in a form of the exposure unit, and a smoothing processing unit carrying out smoothing of an image by controlling the exposure unit so that dots of a size smaller than one pixel are filled with respect to a white image region of the corrected image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Komiya
  • Patent number: 8617776
    Abstract: A method and system for printing documents with one or more embedded security features is provided. Security features are embedded in the document by co-printing magnetic and non-magnetic toner on a receiver before fixation by a fixing station. The combination of magnetic and non-magnetic toners in the image results in image elements that easily show alteration or are undetectable by visual means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Jason Morgan, John F. Crichton, Raymond Rossborough, Timothy G. Armstrong, Matthias H. Regelsberger
  • Patent number: 8531683
    Abstract: A problem of the present invention is to provide an image forming device which can minimize density unevenness due to interpolation processing. For solving the above problem, an image forming device according to the present invention is an image forming device including printing unit for printing an image by scanning a photosensitive body comprising correcting unit for correcting a position in which the image is printed, wherein the correcting unit outputs one of a data of a line of interest, a data of a line adjacent to the line of interest, and a data of an intermediate value between the line of interest and the line adjacent to the line of interest in accordance with a pixel shift amount and a main scan pixel position, and the printing unit scans the photosensitive body based upon the outputted data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hirokazu Tamura
  • Patent number: 8498021
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a controller that causes an image forming unit to form an image so that a plurality of unit images are arranged in a first direction with a constant distance between adjacent unit images; an acquisition unit that acquires read image data indicating a position and a grey level value of each pixel constituting the image formed under control of the controller; and a calculation unit that calculates a misregistration with respect to the first direction of the image formed by the image forming unit, based on a convolution operation performed on the read image data acquired by the acquisition unit, the convolution operation using a reference periodic function whose variable is a position in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michio Kikuchi, Yasuyuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8477367
    Abstract: A system and related method for selectively printing color content of a page with a reduced color gamut are provided. The system includes a detection module, a printing mode module, and a conversion module. The detection module is configured to detect a color object in the page and the printing mode module exists in at least one mode. The conversion module can selectively convert the detected color object to a converted reduced-colorant object in accordance with the existence of the at least one mode of the printing mode module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Ramesh Nagarajan, Andrew Joseph Zipprich, Robert Eero Nuuja
  • Patent number: 8477376
    Abstract: A method for forming a variable data job includes a fixed original image provided by original image data in a first multiple channel color plane and content provided by variable image data in a second multiple channel color plane. The original image data is converted to fixed image data in a clear channel color plane. Raster image processing is performed on the fixed image data to translate the fixed image data into a first ready-to-print file. The ready-to-print file is saved in a memory as a post-RIP file. The variable image data is subsequently provided in at least the second multiple channel color plane. Image processing is performed on the variable image data to obtain a second ready-to-print file. The post-RIP file is merged with the second ready-to-print file for forming the variable data job. The variable data job is printed to render output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: David C. Robinson, Katherine Loj
  • Patent number: 8446597
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a direct-transfer control unit that causes a direct-transfer medium and a first image forming unit that forms a single-color image to transfer the single-color image onto either the direct-transfer medium or a transfer sheet; an indirect-transfer control unit that causes an intermediate transfer medium and a second image forming unit that forms a multi-color image to transfer the multi-color image onto the intermediate transfer medium; a secondary-transfer control unit that transfers the single-color image onto the intermediate transfer medium; a sensor that detects an image on the intermediate transfer medium; and a positional-alignment control unit that calculates, using the sensor, an amount of misalignment of the image and corrects, using a position of an image formed by the first image forming unit as a reference position, positions of images to be formed by the second image forming unit based on the calculated amount of misalignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Takashi Enami, Takahiro Kamekura, Nobuyuki Kobayashi, Shigeyuki Ishii, Jun Kosako, Natsuko Kawase, Takahiro Miyakawa, Miyo Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 8411324
    Abstract: Line width of images marked by an image marking device is adjusted by reading a calibration patch marked by the marking device, and then adjusting one or more settings of the marking device, such as exposure intensity or cleaning field intensity, independent of the digital control of the tone reproduction curve so that the line width of subsequently marked images becomes closer to a target value. A digital control may be implemented to compensate for the impact of the modification of the one or more settings on the tone reproduction curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Paul L. Jacobs, W. Bradford Willard, Brian R. Conrow
  • Patent number: 8379067
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transport part which includes a transport belt to transport a printing medium, an image forming part which transfers a toner to form a color image, and a controller which controls the image forming part to form a test image for color registration of the image forming part on the transport belt while an image is formed for a plurality of printing media. Thus, both a test image and a plurality of printed media are formed during a single printing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyoung-sik Park, Young-jin Park
  • Patent number: 8363265
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of printing at a POS of register receipts and marketing information in which the required network bandwidth and quantity of ink are both reduced. SVG files are used to specify communications, associated modified image objects are stored locally to the POS, and associated modified image objects are modified version of original objects in which color values are replaced with other color values that result in the same print image, but with printing of less ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Catalina Marketing Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Mount, Steve Greenfield, Mike Kavis
  • Patent number: 8339660
    Abstract: A tandem continuous paper printer includes: a first printer engine; a second printer engine; and a printer controller; and performing tandem printing by performing printing using the second printer engine on a paper that has been printed on by the first printer engine, the tandem continuous paper printer being arranged so that the first printer engine is made to print tandem check marks on the paper at check page intervals and the second printer engine is provided with a sensor detecting the tandem check marks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Kageyama, Muneyoshi Akai, Hiroshi Udo, Shinichi Kishi
  • Patent number: 8305631
    Abstract: A method is provided for processing an image to optimize print time of the image by a print apparatus based on the size of the image to be printed and the print pass thresholds of the print apparatus. A dimension of the image corresponding to the dimension along the sub-scanning axis of the image as it will be printed by the print apparatus is obtained, along with the corresponding number of print passes required to print the image. An analysis is performed to determine whether the size of the image could be reduced to require one less print pass by the print apparatus in printing the reduced image based on the proximity of the determined dimension to the range of dimensions that will result in one less print pass by the print apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Vistaprint Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Jay T. Moody, Koen J. M. Dijks, Jacob A. Hyman
  • Patent number: 8274701
    Abstract: High speed printing system for printing magnetic ink systems and associated methods are disclosed. A color of the magnetic ink may be designed to resemble one of the non-magnetic inks so that instead of ejecting the one non-magnetic ink, the printing system ejects the magnetic ink. Nozzles in a printhead may also be arranged to be adjacent to each other and may be appropriately spaced without causing the inks to be mixed in the printhead. Additionally, a color transform system may be provided to transform a sheet image in accordance with ejecting at least the magnetic and the non-magnetic ink from the printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Production Print Solutions LLC
    Inventor: John Seibt
  • Patent number: 8246140
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes: a control device that controls feeding of the conveyance belt so that a recording medium is conveyed at a pitch of a prescribed feeding amount in a feeding direction, and establishes an origin on the recording medium based on a detection of a starting point arranged on the conveyance belt, and controls driving of the inkjet head so that test dots of an amount equivalent to one round of the conveyance belt are printed on the recording medium at the pitch, from the origin; and a correction device that corrects the feeding amount of the conveyance belt to a corrected feeding amount corresponding to a feeding position of the conveyance belt based on the measurement results for an inputted printing space, wherein the control device causes an ink droplet to jet to the recording medium according to the corrected feeding amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Konica Minolta IJ Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Minoru Maekawara, Yasushi Niizeki, Masakazu Mori