Reproduction (e.g., Facsimile, Copier, Etc.) Patents (Class 347/3)
  • Patent number: 6963422
    Abstract: The present invention relates to image input/output apparatuses for outputting inputted image data, a control method of the image input/output apparatuses, an image input/output system and a storage medium thereof. According to the present invention, in case of receiving an image output request of outputting image data inputted by another image input/output apparatus using the another image input/output apparatus and an own image input/output apparatus, setting related to sheet size selection of the own image input/output apparatus is disabled, and data size of the image data transferred from the another image input/output apparatus is calculated. Then, output sheet size is selected on the basis of the calculated result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kouichi Unno
  • Patent number: 6951375
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing an image on a large surface area or walkway provides for imagewise marking of the surface with a color marking solution, to form a visible image on the surface during an image recording mode of a marking engine. The marking engine includes a scanner and the marking engine moves along the surface and operates the scanner to sense a crude image upon the surface and generates data signals representing the crude image or boundaries defined by the crude image scanned. In response to data signals the marking engine is operated to print an enhanced image of the crude image and/or to color the crude image so that the printing overlies the crude image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: David L. Patton, Loretta E. Allen, Dale F. McIntyre, Steven S. Chapman, Jacob L. Pietruszewski
  • Patent number: 6888644
    Abstract: A method for determining the amount of toner required to render a print job using a print engine at a printing location without prior information about the toner level thereof, comprising the steps of accumulating in a first register the toner values of all the pixels in a rasterized image prior to sending the print job to the printing location; decrementing the toner level register for the print engine at the printing location if the accumulated value is less than or equal to the toner level of the print engine; and sending the print job to the print engine at the printing location for rendering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Barry, Jack N. Bartholmae, Francis A. Rowe, E. Neal Tompkins, Peter A. Zuber
  • Patent number: 6889012
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided which includes a first image forming section for performing image formation based on monochromatic image data, and a second image forming section for performing image formation based on color image data. The first and second image forming sections are arranged in mutually different positions along a path for conveying recording paper. The image forming apparatus further includes an image processing section for outputting monochromatic image data and color image data, which have undergone image processing, to the first image forming section and the second image forming section respectively, at individual timings for forming images an either one or both sides of the recording paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenichi Morimoto
  • Patent number: 6883892
    Abstract: A printing component receives media, applies print imaging thereto, and delivers the media to a first location. The apparatus selectively applies at least one calibration mark as the print imaging. An imaging component receives the imaged media at a second location and produces scan data representative thereof. The apparatus selectively analyzes the at least one calibration mark and produces calibration data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Otto K. Sievert, Gregory D. Nelson, Robert D. Blanton, Shawn B. Nielson, Patrick Chase, Michael Hall, Padmanabhan Ramchandran, Joseph E. Powell, Steve T. Breidenbach
  • Patent number: 6871932
    Abstract: Quality of a hard copy recorder is assessed by generating a hard copy of a test image stored in digital form. Test values can be measured on the generated test image inside the recorder and an image quality report can be generated on the tested recorder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: AGFA-Gevaert
    Inventor: Jozef Snels
  • Patent number: 6863372
    Abstract: A method of printing an image with an inkjet printer system, said system comprising a printhead arranged to print swaths of image content parallel to a first axis on a print medium, said swaths having a width in a second axis substantially perpendicular to said first axis, said method comprising the steps of: determining the length of said image in said second axis; and, resizing said image such that said resized length of said image in said second axis is substantially an integer multiple of said swath width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Christian Barckhahn, Elizabeth Zapata
  • Patent number: 6839524
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus can form an image of a high-precision security information for anti-reproduction. A photosensitive material-coated area in a recording paper is exposed with an exposure unit to form an image of a high-precision security information. Since the image of the security information is thus formed by exposing the photosensitive material, it can be formed as an image incapable of reproduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoji Yamaguchi, Mario Fuse, Hideki Fukunaga, Tetsuya Kimura
  • Publication number: 20040212641
    Abstract: A recyclable, one-time use, print on demand, digital camera comprises an image sensor device for sensing an image. A processor processes the sensed image. A pagewidth printhead prints the sensed image. An ink supply arrangement supplies ink to the print head and the image is printed on print media from a supply of print media. The supply of print media is pre-marked with tokens designating that postage has been paid so that each image printed out on the print media has one such token associated with it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2004
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20040212642
    Abstract: A recyclable, one-time use, print on demand, digital camera comprises an image sensor device for sensing an image. A processor processes the sensed image. A pagewidth printhead prints the sensed image. An ink supply arrangement supplies ink to the print head and the image is printed on print media from a supply of print media. The printer prints tokens designating that postage has been paid so that each image printed out on the print media has one such token associated with it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2004
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 6799819
    Abstract: A replaceable printer component includes an array of fluid ejection elements. Each of the fluid ejection elements is configured to cause fluid to be ejected when the fluid ejection element is activated. The component includes optical activation means for activating the fluid ejection elements based on a received light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Mohammad M. Samii
  • Patent number: 6795114
    Abstract: A readily portable imaging system for use in the field and, more particularly to an electronic camera and electronic printer housed and readily connectable with respect to each other in the field, and wherein the electronic printer includes a film unit drive assembly that advances the film unit (self-developing type) past a stationary print head for emitting consecutive lines of image data on the film unit to effect progressive exposure on the film unit simultaneously as a fluid spread system spreads the processing fluid over the film unit to effect processing of exposed portions of the film unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Polaroid Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce K. Johnson, Magaret A. Obermiller, Unhyi Yang, Chin-Loo Lama
  • Publication number: 20040179046
    Abstract: When an image is sensed by a digital camera, image additional information as the image sensing conditions is stored together with the sensed image information. Also, information unique to that digital camera is stored together with the image additional information. The digital camera is connected to a printer by, e.g., an IEEE1394 I/F. The printer stores printing control information as various combinations of unique information such as its printing method, the types of ink, paper, and the like, print quality and print speed, and processing technique such as masking. In response to a print instruction, the printer reads the image information and image additional information from the digital camera, and selects the printing control information in accordance with the read information and the set printing mode. The printer prints an image using the selected printing control information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirowo Inoue, Hisashi Ishikawa, Hiroshi Tajika, Miyuki Fujita, Yuji Konno, Kenji Takahashi, Norihiro Kawatoko
  • Patent number: 6791710
    Abstract: This invention forms an image with the highest quality in an apparatus environment at that time by converting image data using an optimal luminance/density conversion table based on the read mode and the type of printhead. For this purpose, a conversion table used in copying is determined in accordance with the read mode (color read, gray scale read, or monochrome read) by a sheet scanner and the type of mounted printing cartridge, and an image is printed in accordance with density color image data converted based on the determined table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Bannai
  • Publication number: 20040145783
    Abstract: A printer apparatus includes a frame and a print/scan assembly. The print/scan assembly includes a carriage assembly movably mounted on the frame. The carriage assembly includes a printhead carriage and a scanner carriage. The printhead carriage is adapted to hold a printhead and the scanner carriage is adapted to hold a scanning assembly. The scanner carriage is joined to the printhead carriage for movement therewith as the carriage assembly moves relative to the frame. A printhead may be mounted on the printhead carriage for movement therewith. A scanning assembly may be mounted on the scanner carriage for movement therewith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Inventor: David K. Murray
  • Patent number: 6750290
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a curing epoxy resin composition permitting water repellent and ink repellent surface treatment. The epoxy resin composition contains (A) an alkylsiloxane-containing epoxy resin, (B) a cationic polymerization catalyst, and (C) a polyfunctional epoxy compound having a molecular weight of 300 or more, and a static viscosity of 1,000 cps or more at 25° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Isao Imamura, Hiromichi Noguchi, Akihiko Shimomura
  • Patent number: 6736476
    Abstract: When an image is sensed by a digital camera, image additional information as the image sensing conditions is stored together with the sensed image information. Also, information unique to that digital camera is stored together with the image additional information. The digital camera is connected to a printer by, e.g., an IEEE1394 I/F. The printer stores printing control information as various combinations of unique information such as its printing method, the types of ink, paper, and the like, print quality and print speed, and processing technique such as masking. In response to a print instruction, the printer reads the image information and image additional information from the digital camera, and selects the printing control information in accordance with the read information and the set printing mode. The printer prints an image using the selected printing control information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirowo Inoue, Hisashi Ishikawa, Hiroshi Tajika, Miyuki Fujita, Yuji Konno, Kenji Takahashi, Norihiro Kawatoko
  • Publication number: 20040090474
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an image reading recording apparatus comprising an image reading section for reading an image on an original document, an image recording section for recording an image on a recording medium and a control section for controlling the entire apparatus. The control section is disposed below the image reading section and above the image recording section and disposed on a rear side of an apparatus body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ogushi, Daigo Nakagawa, Noriyuki Aoki
  • Patent number: 6733105
    Abstract: The image recording method records an image of a still subject on a recording medium using a diffuse reflection image signal of the image representing the still subject under a state where illumination light is diffuse-reflected and a glossiness signal representing glossiness of the still subject. The method forms a diffuse reflection image of the still subject on the recording medium based on the diffuse reflection image signal and forms a gloss adjustment layer made of a transparent gloss adjustment material in each region in units of pixels of the diffuse reflection image formed on the recording medium based on signal values of the glossiness signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Setsuji Tatsumi
  • Publication number: 20040080550
    Abstract: A one-molding frame for a combination printer has a paper feed module frame, a print module frame, a scan module frame, all being integrally formed in a base frame. The one-molding frame is used in an inkjet combination printer having a pickup roller to separate stacked paper sheet by sheet and feed the separated paper, an inkjet head unit to form an image on paper fed from the pickup roller, and a scan part to read a document. The one-molding frame has a base frame with a conveyance path for the paper formed therein, a paper feed part protruding from one end of an upper surface of the base frame to define a stacker on which plural sheets of paper are stacked, and the paper feed part on which the pickup roller is disposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-Gyoo Lee, Yong-Hyun Lee
  • Publication number: 20040066423
    Abstract: A fluid ejection and scanning system includes a fluid ejection assembly. The assembly includes a first plurality of photosensors, and a first plurality of ejection elements. Each of the ejection elements is configured to cause fluid to be ejected when the ejection element is activated. Each one of the photosensors in the first plurality is coupled to a respective one of the ejection elements for activating the ejection element. A second plurality of photosensors captures image data to generate a digital image of a media. A first light source of the system emits a light beam. A control system scans the light beam across the printhead assembly and selectively illuminates the photosensors in the first plurality, thereby activating the ejection elements coupled to the illuminated photosensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Publication date: April 8, 2004
    Inventor: Mohammad M. Samii
  • Publication number: 20040061727
    Abstract: A combined flat bed scanner/printer machine having: a moving body; a scan module connected to the moving body to read a document; and a recording head connected to the moving body adjacent to the scan module, to print on a paper. The moving body is moved by a moving body transfer unit made up of a belt to which the moving body is secured, a guide rod to guide the moving body, and a motor to move the belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Sung-wook Kang, Seung-jae Lee
  • Patent number: 6705692
    Abstract: Provided is a recording head substrate on which are mounted energy generating elements that contribute to the formation of images by a recording head, and on which both light-receiving elements and light-emitting elements, or at least, light-receiving elements are mounted. In addition, provided is a recording head substrate on which are mounted energy generating elements that contribute to the formation of images by a recording head, and on which are mounted a plurality of head position detecting elements for detecting the position of the recording head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoichi Taneya, Hiroyuki Ishinaga
  • Patent number: 6676235
    Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-resolution printing device, which includes a base-frequency clock generator and a control unit. The base-frequency clock generator is to generate only one base-frequency clock. The control unit includes a logic processor, a first frequency divider, a second frequency divider, and an external selector. Divisors of the first and second dividers are determined by resolution of the base-frequency clock and that of the desired printing clocks. While remainders of the base-frequency clock resolution divided by the desired printing clock resolutions are not zero, divisors of first and second frequency dividers are set to be the quotient and the quotient plus one; otherwise, divisors of first and second frequency dividers are all set to be the same quotient. The resolution of desired printing clock is obtained by executing the above procedure excursively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Teco Image Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hsin-Pao Lo
  • Patent number: 6678493
    Abstract: The specification discloses an image forming apparatus which forms a visual image on a belt transfer member by at least one of image forming units and transfers the formed visual image onto a recording medium with the aid of the belt transfer member. In the image forming apparatus, the belt transfer member includes an endless belt wound on a plurality of tension rolls. A bending member, which bends the endless belt toward the inside of a tangential line connecting points on the outer circumferences of a couple of tension rolls, and locates the bent endless belt inside the tangential line, is additionally provided outside the endless belt located between at least the couple of adjacent tension rolls. An image forming unit may be additionally provided within an outside bending concave region of the endless belt, which is bent by the bending member and the tension rolls adjacent to the bending member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryuichiro Maeyama, Yoshikazu Okamoto
  • Patent number: 6669316
    Abstract: A document is reproduced by capturing an image of the document, generating a set of vector commands, and creating a duplicate document from the vector commands. The image is captured by scanning or other suitable means. The set of vector commands is generated by identifying vectors within the raster image and for each vector identified within the raster image, generating at least one vector command for replicating the identified vector. The duplicate document is created by executing the set of vector commands on an output device. The set of vector is either delivered directly to the output device or stored to a file and the file delivered to the output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Charles Eric Cantwell
  • Patent number: 6666534
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a photo album page. The apparatus includes a first supply of a media having a front and back side, a first print head located adjacent the front side of the media; a first transport mechanism for advancing the first supply of media in a first processing path; a second supply of a second media having a front and back side, the front side of the second media is such that digital images may be printed thereon; a second print head for providing images on the front side of the second media; a second first transport mechanism for advancing the first media along a first processing path, the first path and second path being positioned such that initially the paths are initially separated and later combined to form a single processing path such that the back sides of first media and second media will be co-extensive with each other; and a securing mechanism for bringing together and securing the first media and second media so as to form a substantially integral web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Dale F. McIntyre, Joseph A. Manico
  • Publication number: 20030231221
    Abstract: An activation element of a fluid ejection device includes an ejection element that causes fluid to be ejected from an associated nozzle chamber when activated. A photosensor is coupled to the ejection element. The photosensor is configured to cause the ejection element coupled to the photosensor to be activated when the photosensor is illuminated by a light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventor: Mohammad M. Samii
  • Patent number: 6659578
    Abstract: A compact optical sensing system is used in hardcopy devices for scanning and/or printing images, for instance, using inkjet printing technology in desktop printing or in photographic printers appearing in grocery and variety stores. Several light emitting diodes (“LEDs”) illuminate a sheet of print media, and one or more photodiodes receive light reflected from the sheet. The photodiode generates signals in response to the light received, and the hardcopy device uses these signals to adjust printing parameters for optimal print quality. Using a chip-on-board process, the bare silicon die for each component is wire bonded directly to a printed circuit board assembly, allowing at least four LEDs (blue, green, red and soft-orange) to be grouped closely together in a space smaller than that occupied by a factory-made, single-packaged LED. A calibrating system uses a white target covered for cleanliness by a windowed door which is opened/closed by a printhead carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Algird M. Gudaitis, Sam Sarmast, Tod S. Heiles, Dan Arquilevich
  • Patent number: 6655782
    Abstract: A method of printing an image with an inkjet printer system, said system comprising a printhead arranged to print swaths of image content parallel to a first axis on a print medium, said swaths having a width in a second axis substantially perpendicular to said first axis, said method comprising the steps of: determining the length of said image in said second axis; and, resizing said image such that said resized length of said image in said second axis is substantially an integer multiple of said swath width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, LP.
    Inventors: Christian Barckhahn, Elizabeth Zapata
  • Patent number: 6652051
    Abstract: In a sheet output system with a stacking tray for accumulating, registering, and stacking on top of preceding sheets in a superposed set stack the printed sheets sequentially individually outputted by a reproduction system; a low force sheet hole punching system integral the output stacking tray for punching holes through only one individual sheet at a time on top of the set stack, before the next sequential sheet is so registered and stacked, with all of the sheets having underlying commonly superposed sheet holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Kokkas
  • Patent number: 6644764
    Abstract: A document printing and verification system and method. The system includes a printing apparatus for printing an image on a print medium, and an inkjet printer apparatus for printing an invisible identification pattern such as a barcode on the print medium which is invisible to the naked eye under normal ambient illumination. A scanner apparatus is positioned for producing an image of the identification image for verification use. The scanner apparatus includes a light source for illuminating an imaging zone with light including nonvisible energy components and a camera sensitive to nonvisible light from the print medium to form an image of the nonvisible identification image. The inkjet printhead is a high resolution printhead adapted to provide inkjet barcode printing resolution at least as high as 600 dots per inch, improving edge acuity of the pattern, and permits very high density information to be imprinted on the document page. The inkjet ink includes a UV dye and an FR/IR dye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Ronald D. Stephens, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6618563
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for printing a code on a print medium. In one embodiment, the system includes a laser printing assembly within a printer for printing on a print medium. The system also includes an ink jet head assembly attached to a printer structure of the printer for printing a code or other information on the print medium. The ink jet head assembly may be immovably or adjustably attached to the printer structure. The ink jet head assembly may be immovably attached to the printer, for example, by affixing the ink jet head assembly directly to the printer structure or by using a bracket to mount the ink jet head assembly to the printer structure. There are also several alternatives that may be employed to adjustably attach the ink jet head assembly to the printer structure including, for example, a slide assembly, a telescopic assembly, or a swivel arm assembly as well as other suitable adjustable attaching approaches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Oakeson, Terry P. Mahoney
  • Patent number: 6618066
    Abstract: An image is printed on a substrate by means of a computer driven ink jet printer using heat activated dye, without activating the dye during the process of printing onto the substrate. The individual solid dye particles are present in a liquid ink, and are stabilized in the ink by an emulsifying enforcing agent that emulsifies the solid dye particles within the ink. The dye is subsequently activated by applying sufficient heat and pressure to the substrate to activate the dye and permanently bond the image to a final substrate. The resulting permanent image is resistant to laundering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Inventors: Nathan Hale, Ming Xu
  • Publication number: 20030138719
    Abstract: There are provided a thermal transfer film which can yield an image formed object possessing excellent fastness or resistance properties such as excellent abrasion resistance and lightfastness, has good sensitivity in transfer, and is free from blocking during storage in a roll form, a thermal transfer recording medium, and a method for image formation using them. The thermal transfer film comprises: a substrate; and one or a plurality of layers provided on one side of the substrate, the one or plurality of layers including at least a thermal transfer layer, the thermal transfer layer being located on the uppermost surface of the thermal transfer film, the thermal transfer layer comprising at least two polyester resins different from each other in number average molecular weigh.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Applicant: Dai Nippon Prtg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Aso, Yoshihiko Tamura
  • Patent number: 6588869
    Abstract: A printer includes a housing which has a user access surface. Attached to the housing is a printer which includes a paper path. The printer also includes a paper input tray and a paper output tray. Both the paper trays are accessible from the user access surface. The user access surface also has an access panel within the user access surface. The paper path is positioned within the housing so that it is accessible through the access panel. The printer cartridges which contain the material used to make an image on the paper, such as a toner cartridge for use with a laser printer or one or more ink wells for use with an ink jet printer, are also positioned within the housing of the printer so as to be near the user access surface. The printer cartridges are accessible through the access panel. Optionally, the printer cartridges could also be accessed through a special panel in the user access surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Gateway, Inc.
    Inventors: Sanjay Batra, Brian A. Bennett, Anton Poole
  • Patent number: 6587220
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus provided with: a stacking tray for stacking originals thereon; a feeding device for feeding the originals on the stacking tray one by one; a reading device for reading the information of the originals fed by the feeding device; a storing device for storing the read information thereon; an image forming device for forming an image on a sheet based on the read information; and a control device for effecting a control of reading and storing a plurality of originals corresponding to the storage capacity of the storing device, and forming an image on the sheet based on the storage of the storing device, and effecting a control of forming an image on a sheet each time the image of a remaining original is read by the reading device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shunji Sato, Satoshi Choho
  • Patent number: 6582039
    Abstract: An image-printing device includes a dual paper-picking device that has two independent means of pulling sheets of paper or other print medium from a supply and feeding the same to the image-printing device. With two paper-picking means operating independently, two different paper transport paths can be operated. One path includes a laser print engine and prints monochromatic pages. The other path includes an inkjet print engine and prints color pages. The image-printing device firmware determines whether each page is a color or monochromatic page and formats the page accordingly for the appropriate print path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Developement Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Bruce L. Johnson, Leonard T. Schroath, Bradley J. Anderson
  • Patent number: 6574013
    Abstract: A facsimile machine has a stacker to which printed pages are delivered, and a paper sensor that senses whether the stacker is empty. The facsimile machine clears an internal page count to zero when the stacker is empty, increments the page count as each printed page is delivered, suspends printing when the page count reaches a limit value, and resumes printing when the stacker is emptied. While printing is suspended, facsimile reception may continue in a memory mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Gen Koshi
  • Publication number: 20030095157
    Abstract: Printers, such as drop-on-demand printers with piezoelectric printheads, having Internet as well as Intranet connectivity capabilities are provided, resulting in numerous service, maintenance and cost efficiencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Inventors: Michael Comer, Robert Bison
  • Publication number: 20030043273
    Abstract: A printer-built-in image-sensing apparatus including a camera which performs image sensing with film exposure, and a printer which prints an image sensed by the camera. After a shutter button has been pressed and image sensing with strobe light emission has been performed, if printing is instructed by pressing of a print button, then electric charging a capacitor of a strobe circuit is made after the completion of the print operation. Otherwise, the charging of the capacitor is started immediately after the image sensing. In this case, even if printing is instructed during the electric charge, printing is started after completion of the electric charge. Thus, electric consumption upon print operation can be reduced and fluctuation of voltage can be suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventor: Etsurou Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6523920
    Abstract: A housing is configured for removable insertion into a reciprocable carriage of a printer. A thermal ink jet print assembly is mounted in the housing and includes a nozzle plate for forming a plurality of ink dots on a print media adjacent to the housing. A light source is mounted in the housing for illuminating the print media adjacent to the housing. A sensor is mounted in the housing for receiving light reflected from the print media and generating electrical signals representative thereof. The combination inkjet pen and optical scanner reduces the parts count, cost and complexity associated with optical document scanning by incorporating this capability into the pen of a thermal ink jet printer. It also permits the monitoring of dot position, dot size and/or spectral information in a thermal ink jet printer in order to make nozzle firing command corrections and improve print quality during printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: John M. Wade, Jaime E. Bohorquez
  • Patent number: 6520611
    Abstract: In a print head of this invention, electricity-to-heat converters and a driver circuit for driving these electricity-to-heat converters in accordance with print data are formed on a single board. The board further includes an input/output interface circuit for receiving print data from an external apparatus, a CPU for controlling a printer apparatus, a ROM, a RAM, an A/D converter, a D/A converter, a timer, and the like, and also includes an external element driver for driving a mechanism portion of the printer apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ishinaga, Junji Shimoda, Fumio Murooka, Tatsuo Furukawa, Hiroyuki Maru, Masaaki Izumida, Yoshinori Misumi
  • Patent number: 6519047
    Abstract: A multifunctional machine prevents contamination caused by the contact of a document and a printhead by placing the printhead to face a base frame supporting a printable mediumu, and by placing a scanner to face the base frame supporting the document. The multifunctional machine is also capable of simplifying the structure and reducing the manufacturing costs by sharing the base frame for supporting the printable medium and the document, and by moving the printhead and the scanner using one driving motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Byung-Sun Ahn
  • Patent number: 6511141
    Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus is provided with a recording function to record images on a sheet material by installing an ink jet recording head that discharges ink from the ink discharge ports, and also, with an image reading function to read images from a sheet material by installing an image reading head exchangeably. This apparatus includes the discharge port surface of the ink jet recording head having the ink discharge ports formed on it, the image reading surface of the image reading head to read images to this head from the image reading surface, and a member that abuts upon the ink discharge port surface arranged to be in contact with the ink discharge port surface of the ink jet recording head. This member is arranged so as not to be in contact with the image reading surface of the image reading head. Thus the image reading surface of the image reading head is prevented from being stained by ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koh Hasegawa, Toshihide Wada, Shinya Asano, Tadashi Hanabusa, Tetsuji Kurata, Tetsuyo Ohashi, Toshihiko Bekki
  • Patent number: 6496281
    Abstract: Image forming apparatus including a paper return device for feeding a sheet of paper ejected from a paper output port opening in a main body of the apparatus to its outside back to a paper feeding port also opening in the main body to its outside. For double-sided copying operation, the sheet of paper ejected from the paper output port carrying an image on one side only is returned to the paper feeding port and fed again to an image former from the paper feeding port so that it is not necessary to provide a dedicated paper path for re-feeding the paper. The apparatus includes a paper sensor which senses the paper inserted into the paper feeding port and outputs a paper sensing signal, a discriminator for judging whether the paper return device is in an operating condition, and a paper feed controller which controls a driver for driving a paper feeder such that the paper feeder initiates a paper feed operation when the paper sensing signal is output while the paper return device is in its operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Yamamoto, Tetsuro Tomoe, Yukihiro Itoh, Tadahiro Kiyosumi, Eijiro Masaki
  • Publication number: 20020171693
    Abstract: A handheld imaging apparatus includes an image acquisition device and an ink jet printing in an integral housing. The printing drive may include a single motor that drives both a print carriage and a paper drive member for printing images created by the imaging acquisition device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Inventor: Richard A. Murray
  • Patent number: 6464317
    Abstract: A CPU mounted on a printer according to the present invention decides whether at least one sheet can be printed based on a battery capacity detected from a battery controller through a battery check section before a printing operation in a DPOF mode is started, for example, stores, in print history information memory, print history information indicative of a printed frame number and the number of prints in a print scheduling frame number and the number of prints which are set to print control information if it is decided that one sheet cannot be printed due to an insufficient capacity and once interrupts the printing operation. Then, the battery is exchanged with a new battery or is charged. Thereafter, the CPU is operated to read the print history information and restart the printing operation from the number of non-prints corresponding to the print scheduling frame number interrupted based on the history information thus read.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Azuma Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 6425331
    Abstract: An image is printed on a substrate by means of a computer driven printer using heat activated dyes, without activating the dyes during the process of printing onto the substrate. The dyes are susequently activated by applying sufficient heat and pressure to the substrate to activate the dyes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Sawgrass Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ming Xu, Nathan Hale
  • Patent number: 6418279
    Abstract: A paper processing device for marking original documents including a document feeder having a document singulation section, a printer for printing user determinable annotations on the document, an inverter to turn the document onto its first side and a stacker to stack the printed documents in their original order wherein printing the annotation is controlled by a print control computer. Preferably, the device includes a justifier for bringing the documents to a standard edge on which the printing is performed. The device also optionally includes a second side detector and a second printer for marking the second side of documents processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: The Weinberger Group, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Weinberger, Stefan G. Golicz, William H. Webb, Jr.