Detail Of Medium Positioning (e.g., Movement To Or From Presentation Location Of Medium, Etc.) Patents (Class 358/1.12)
  • Patent number: 9001354
    Abstract: An image forming device transmits a transmission request data to a server on a network and receives content data from the server. The received content data is printed on a recording medium, and the transmission request data transmitted to the server is stored in a memory. When print error is detected before the received data was completely printed, the image forming device notifies a user of the print error. After the print error is resolved, the image forming device automatically retransmit the transmission request data to the server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsunori Enomoto, Yuji Sato, Masatoshi Kokubo
  • Publication number: 20150092207
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a controller configured to: determine whether a change of a signal from a sensor indicates a case where a recording medium is conveyed by a conveyance mechanism or a case where the recording medium is placed on a placement unit without conveying by the conveyance mechanism, based on whether the recording medium is conveyed by the conveyance mechanism; start, when the reading unit is operated to start reading the image within a first predetermined time after the signal from the sensor is changed, monitoring to determine whether the recording medium is placed on the placement unit without conveying by the conveyance mechanism; and store, when it is determined during the monitoring that the recording medium is placed on the placement unit without conveying by the conveyance mechanism, data indicating an irregularity reading in the storage unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventor: Masashi OHHASHI
  • Patent number: 8994964
    Abstract: An image reading device includes a document transport controller and an operation portion. The document transport controller controls to discharge a document in one of two sheet discharging modes including a first sheet discharging mode in which the document is turned over again after both sides of the document have been read, and a second sheet discharging mode in which the document is discharged without being turned over again. The operation portion accepts an instruction to select one of the first sheet discharging mode and the second sheet discharging mode to discharge the document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Toru Nakayama
  • Patent number: 8994963
    Abstract: A sheet conveyance unit including a sheet tray on which a stack of sheets is placed, a sheet feed member to feed sheets from the stack of sheets, a separation/feed unit to separate a topmost sheet from the rest of sheets fed by the sheet feed member and feed the topmost sheet to a predetermined position, and a pre-separation unit disposed between the sheet tray and the separation/feed unit. The pre-separation unit includes a downward sloped portion to guide a leading edge of each sheet diagonally downward, and an upward sloped portion provided downstream from the downward sloped portion in a conveyance direction of the sheets to guide the leading edge of each sheet diagonally upward. Both ends of the upward sloped portion in a lateral direction are sloped upward more gently than the center of the upward sloped portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yohei Osanai, Yasunobu Youda, Taku Kudoh, Takayuki Andoh, Koji Hatayama
  • Patent number: 8994971
    Abstract: A printing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of sheet feed trays, stores sheet information including property information indicating a property of a sheet and sheet feed tray information indicating a sheet feed tray to which the sheet is allowed to be assigned, and selects a sheet feed tray from the plurality of sheet feed trays based on a designation made by a user. The printing apparatus further displays a sheet allowed to be assigned to the selected sheet feed tray based on the stored sheet information and assigns, to the selected sheet feed tray, a sheet designated by the user from among the displayed sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shin Fukuda
  • Patent number: 8988717
    Abstract: A printing apparatus which makes it possible to reduce time and labor required by the operator for paper assignment and suppress occurrence of an operation error during execution of the paper assignment. The printing apparatus is provided with a plurality of paper feeders for containing papers. Information on types of papers to be contained in the respective paper feeders is set as a paper assignment configuration. The printing apparatus selects a specific paper assignment configuration, based on an instruction from the operator, from paper assignment configurations stored in a storage device. The selected specific paper assignment configuration is set as the current paper assignment configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shin Fukuda
  • Patent number: 8982365
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an input unit to receive printing data, a controller to determine a duplex printing mode to be applied to the printing data from among a plurality of duplex printing modes and an engine waiting time according to a feature of the input printing data and performance of the image forming apparatus, an image processor to perform image-processing of the input printing data, and an image former to print the image-processed printing data based on the determined duplex printing mode and the determined engine waiting time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-min Choi, Gun-ho Kim
  • Patent number: 8976406
    Abstract: A print control apparatus performs a print process for printing image data on a sheet, controls a binding process for binding a plurality of sheets without a staple, and adjusts the printing area of the image data to be printed when performance of the binding process is designated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takao Ikuno
  • Patent number: 8976410
    Abstract: According to one example, there is provided a method of controlling a printing system. The method comprises: obtaining a print job to print on a substrate; obtaining a value of a factor material to an undesirable condition occurring; determining a quantity of printing fluid to be deposited on a substrate when printing a portion of the print job; determining, based on the obtained value and the determined quantity of printing fluid to be deposited, whether the undesirable condition is likely to occur whilst printing the portion of the print job; and temporarily reducing the throughput of the printing system whilst printing the portion of the print job where it is determined that the undesirable condition is likely to occur whilst printing the portion of the print job.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Marina Cantero Lázaro, Joan Albert Jorba Closa, Antonio Gracia Verdugo
  • Patent number: 8978148
    Abstract: A communication apparatus may include a reception portion, a decision portion, and a transmission portion. The reception portion may receive a first data request transmitted through a first security level communication, and a second data request transmitted through a second security level communication, the second security level being more secure than the first security level. The decision portion may decide whether a specific data request is the first data request or the second data request. The transmission portion may transmit a specific data to an apparatus that is a transmission source of the specific data request if the specific data request is the second data request, and may transmit different data to the apparatus if the specific data request is the first data request. The different data contains display information for causing the apparatus to retransmit the specific data request through the second security level communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Munehisa Matsuda, Yohei Maekawa, Takeshi Miyake, Yuki Yada
  • Patent number: 8976371
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a pair of cursor members movable in a width direction, and guide grooves configured to guide the cursor member to move in the width direction. The cursor member includes a cursor base, a cursor rising portion being in contact with or in proximity to an end of the sheet, and a connecting portion. The cursor base has a cursor plane extending in parallel to a sheet loading face with a difference of step with respect to the sheet loading face. An edge in the width direction of the cursor base extends linearly. The connecting portion extends from the sheet loading face side to a reverse side via the guide groove at a portion in the feeding direction of the inside edge of the cursor base. The connecting portion has a face connecting portion which connects the sheet loading face with the cursor plane smoothly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Nobuhiro Fukuma
  • Patent number: 8976405
    Abstract: A printing apparatus comprising a storage unit having a driving unit, determines whether or not access to the storage device is required with reception of data; determines whether or not a predetermined period of time has elapsed after transition to a first operation state; in a case where the predetermined period of time has elapsed, obtains, as an estimation time, a period of time until next reception of data that requires access to the storage device based on history information; and causes the printing apparatus to transition from the first operation state to a second operation state in a case where the estimation time exceeds a threshold of a period of time decided based on an amount of power consumption for when the driving unit is driven, and maintain the printing apparatus in the first operation state in a case where the estimation time does not exceed the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takuhiro Ogushi
  • Publication number: 20150062604
    Abstract: A scanner of the present invention includes a transport section configured to transport a transport medium and a control section configured to carry out feedback control on the transport section according to a transport state of the transport medium. The control section is further configured to reduce a gain in the feedback control in a case where the transport medium is transported in a first region where a load on the transport medium varies compared to a case where the transport medium is transported in a second region which is on an upstream side of the first region or in a third region which is on a downstream side of the first region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Noritsuna ROKUHARA, Yasuo SUNAGA
  • Patent number: 8970854
    Abstract: A document management system includes a storage section, a reference electronic manuscript acquisition section, an edit part identification section and a document editing processing section. The storage section stores at least one of an electronic manuscript and an electronic document generated by combining plural electronic manuscripts. The reference electronic manuscript acquisition section acquires a reference electronic manuscript used for identifying a reference position of an edit part in an edit electronic document that is an electronic document to be edited and is read from the storage section. The edit part identification section identifies the edit part in the edit electronic document based on the reference electronic manuscript. The document editing processing section performs editing processing for the edit part identified by the edit part identification section, in units of electronic manuscripts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ken Kajikawa
  • Patent number: 8970855
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a sheet stacking portion on which sheets are to be stacked, a sheet conveyance path, a sheet feeding member, a driving unit, a stopper and an interlocking unit. The sheet is conveyed from the sheet stacking portion in a predetermined conveying direction in the sheet conveyance path. The sheet feeding member is arranged at an entrance side of the sheet conveyance path and conveys the sheet by being driven and rotated. The stopper is projectable into and retractable from the sheet conveyance path at a side upstream of the sheet feeding member in the conveying direction and prevents the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking portion from coming into contact with the sheet feeding member in a projecting state. The interlocking unit causes the stopper to project into and retract from the sheet conveyance path in accordance with rotational movements of the sheet feeding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Toshinori Muraoka
  • Patent number: 8970872
    Abstract: An image formation control apparatus includes a management unit, a communication unit, and a control unit. The management unit manages first image formation processing on a first face of a planar recording medium. The first image formation processing is performed by a first image formation apparatus. The communication unit communicates with a second image forming apparatus configured to perform image formation on a second face of the planar recording medium. The control unit performs control of transportation of the planar recording medium from the first image formation apparatus to the second image formation apparatus or from the second image formation apparatus. A first amount of time to start image formation from receiving an image formation instruction in the first image formation apparatus is smaller that a second amount of time to start image formation from receiving an image formation instruction in the second image formation apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kentaro Ikeda
  • Patent number: 8970916
    Abstract: Provided is an image processing apparatus including a periodicity determining unit that determines whether a determination area including a target defective pixel is a periodicity area, a first pixel value generating unit that generates a pixel value by a first supplementing method, a second pixel value generating unit that generates a pixel value by a pixel second supplementing method, a control unit that determines which of the first pixel value generating unit and the second pixel value generating unit is to be used based on the determination by the periodicity determining unit, a pixel value supplementing unit that inserts the pixel value generated by the pixel value generating unit determined to be adopted, and a pixel value updating unit that updates pixel values of neighboring pixels of the defective pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoshi Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20150055157
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus may be in a state where a foreign material detection process cannot be completed for all reading position candidates before a sheet arrives at a conveyance roller. In such a state, the image reading apparatus performs the foreign material detection process and a position determination process only on reading position candidates which are part of all reading position candidates. The image reading apparatus determines a reading position candidate with fewest foreign material images from among the reading position candidates for which the foreign material detection process has been completed, as a sheet reading position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventor: Shigemichi Hamano
  • Patent number: 8964197
    Abstract: A reading apparatus includes an image sensor, a movement mechanism including a motor that relatively moves between a document and the image sensor, an encoder that detects information about the relative movement, and a control unit that controls driving of the motor and reading by the image sensor based on the detection by the encoder, wherein when a read-suspension event occurs during the reading, the control unit performs control such that the reading is continued while decelerating the motor, a relative position of a last read pixel with respect to a read position by the image sensor is monitored based on the detection by the encoder, and the driving of the motor is stopped when the read position is determined to reach a stop position set within the last read pixel, and the motor is driven again to resume the reading with a pixel next to the last read pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Kawanishi, Takashi Awai, Tadashi Hanabusa, Akihiro Tomoda, Haruo Ishizuka
  • Patent number: 8964238
    Abstract: P recording heads are arranged a recording unit. The P recording heads are divided into N (groups in the sub-scanning direction. The N controllers respectively control the recording heads pertaining to corresponding groups. When it is determined that variable data straddles a boundary (M/S boundary line) of recording regions (a master recording region and a slave recording region) of the recording heads, which are controlled by different controllers, the feed quantity of the recording unit is adjusted to a feeding quantity such that the variable data do not straddle the M/S boundary line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hirotsuna Miura
  • Patent number: 8958104
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for multi-vendor printing including maintaining a data store that includes information about service level agreements with partner systems, wherein a partner system enables customers to order a plurality of customized print products, and wherein a service level agreement designates maximum delays for manufacturing customer print orders, and characteristics of print vendors, receiving a customer print order from one of the partner systems, the print order specifying a customized print product, determining a latest ship date for the customized print product, selecting one of the print vendors to manufacture the customized print product, and receiving updates from the selected print vendor and relaying the received updates to the partner system that issued the customer print order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Inventors: Samuel J Comstock, Gregory Gaskill Dent, Jianming Zhang, Christopher Cunningham, Marcus van Kempen
  • Patent number: 8953217
    Abstract: An apparatus for printing a banding strip for documents of value, which is preferably moved relative to the apparatus, having a print head by means of which, upon an activation, more than nine dots can be printed, a circuit actuatable by print signals, which, in response to print signals, activates the print head in accordance with the print signals, in order to print patterns specified by the print signals, and a current supply unit for providing current for the circuit and by means thereof for the print head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Giesecke & Devrient GmbH
    Inventors: Alfred Schmidt, Frank Werner, Horst Breitenfeld, Thomas Hildebrandt
  • Patent number: 8953179
    Abstract: When a user sets, through an operation unit, an inspection item of inspection processing which inspects a print state by reading image data by the image reading unit from a sheet output from a printer unit and conveyed by conveyance rollers, an inspection control unit of an inspection unit changes a sheet conveyance speed in the inspection unit and sheet feeding timing according to the inspection item. A print medium conveyance control unit controls drive of conveyance rollers according to the sheet conveyance speed and the sheet feeding timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuaki Sawano
  • Patent number: 8953228
    Abstract: Assigning attributes to an image includes determining a particular capturing device used to obtain the image and detecting attributes of the image based on image data, where an expected location and content of the image data varies according to a particular set of rules that is chosen based on the particular capturing device used and/or a type of document represented by the image. The capturing device may be a scanner, a facsimile device, or a camera. The image may have an expected form factor. Some of the attributes of the image may be fully recognized and some of the attributes may be partially recognized and, for at least some of the partially recognized attributes, a lookup table may be used to clarify unrecognized portions thereof. A user may be prompted to facilitate identifying partially recognized attributes. Partially recognized attributes may be indicated to a user with question marks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Evernote Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Damian Mehers
  • Patent number: 8953215
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a document reading section and an image forming section. The document reading section reads a document image placed on a paper placement table and generates image data. The image forming section forms an image on a sheet of paper on the basis of the image data, and includes a memory that stores test data representing a test image, which is to be formed on a sheet of paper having a size larger than the size of the table, a correction-amount calculation unit that calculates correction amounts on the basis of image data representing the test image which is formed on the sheet of paper and which has been read by repeating an operation, and a correction-amount memory that stores the correction amounts. The image forming section forms, on a sheet of paper, an image corrected on the basis of the correction amounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Goto, Tomohiro Tanigawa
  • Publication number: 20150036157
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a first motor for rotating a roller for transporting recording paper includes a second motor supplied with electric power from the same power line as the first motor, a driver circuit connected to the power line and generating driving electric power based on electric power from the power line to feed the driving electric power to the second motor, and a controller controlling, on detecting a jam of the recording paper and an open state of a cabinet cover, the driver circuit such that driving electric power is supplied from the power line to the second motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20150036156
    Abstract: In order for skew relative to the transport direction to be detected in a sheet which is transported to a recording unit, a carriage is initially moved in a scanning direction to a first position and the sheet is transported in this state. Then, when the front edge of the sheet in the transport direction is detected by a second sensor, the carriage is moved in a direction so that the second sensor is no longer able to locate the front edge to a second position, which is separated from the first position by a regulating movement distance. Furthermore, the sheet is transported to where the second sensor locates the front edge of the sheet in the transport direction at the second position and skew in the sheet is detected based on this transport distance and the regulating movement distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Manabu KONDO, Yasuhiko YOSHIHISA
  • Publication number: 20150036155
    Abstract: A printer includes a transport belt having an electrically non-conducting surface adapted to transport a receiver medium sheet along a transport path from an upstream position to a downstream position. A charging subsystem is configured to add charge to the transport belt or the receiver medium sheet, thereby providing an electrostatic holding force. An inking subsystem is positioned downstream of the charging subsystem and deposits a pattern of ink on the receiver medium sheet. The charging subsystem provides a non-uniform charge on the receiver medium sheet such that the electrostatic holding force is higher in a sub-region of the receiver medium sheet than it is for other portions of the receiver medium sheet, thereby enabling the receiver medium sheet to expand as a result of ink being deposited by the inking subsystem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventor: Alan Richard Priebe
  • Publication number: 20150036158
    Abstract: A printing apparatus has first and second sheet storage units, where a second sheet conveyance path is longer than a first sheet conveyance path, and includes a determining unit and a permitting unit. When a sheet stored in the first sheet storage unit is for printing of a Nth page included in a first job and a sheet stored in the second sheet storage unit is for printing of a N+1th page included in the same first job, the determining unit determines a feeding schedule in which the N+1th page sheet feeding is initiated before the Nth page sheet feeding is initiated. When an issued instruction is issued to perform a second job by interrupting the first job after determining the feeding schedule, the permitting unit permits printing of a page included in the second job before the printing of the N+1th page included in the first job.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventor: Jun Miyajima
  • Patent number: 8947681
    Abstract: An insertion system includes an enclosure supply device, an envelope supply device, an insertion device to insert an enclosure supplied from the enclosure supply device into the envelope supplied from the envelope supply device, a first input unit to input identification data of the enclosure inserted into the envelope in each of multiple insertion setting records, a second input unit to input identification data of the enclosure set in the enclosure container of the enclosure supply device, and a controller to determine whether the identification data of the enclosure to be inserted, input by the first input unit, matches the identification data of the enclosure set in the enclosure container, input by the second input unit, and to control supply of the envelope by the envelope supply device as well as supply of the enclosure by the enclosure supply device based on a result of the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shingo Matsushita, Takeshi Sasaki, Satoshi Saito, Ikuhisa Okamoto, Junichi Tokita, Akira Kunieda, Takahiro Watanabe, Jun Yamada
  • Publication number: 20150029525
    Abstract: A sheet supply apparatus includes: a tray on which a stack of sheets can be placed, an air blowing section that blows air towards the stack of sheets to float at least a topmost sheet, a sucking and conveying section, above the tray, that sucks said floating sheet(s) and conveys said sheet(s) in a prescribed direction, and a first light source that emits a first stripshaped slit light having a vertically extending component such that the slit light crosses at least a first edge of a first floating sheet and a second edge of a second floating sheet. An image capture section captures an image of the first slit light, a calculating section calculates a vertical clearance between the first and second sheets, and an air amount adjusting section adjusts an amount of air to be blown by the air blowing section based on the calculated vertical clearance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Atsuhiko SHIMOYAMA, Noboru OOMOTO, Hiroaki UMEMOTO, Hiroshi MIZUNO, Ryo OSHIMA
  • Patent number: 8941844
    Abstract: The invention provides a technique which allows high-quality printing. An image processing apparatus for forming an image by executing N printing scans for a single region on a printing medium, comprises: a readout unit configured to read out image data of a region corresponding to a k-th printing scan from input image data; a print data generation unit configured to generate print data from the image data by halftone processing; and an obtaining unit configured to obtain position fluctuation information of dots in a preceding printing scan, wherein the readout unit controls a readout position of the region corresponding to the k-th printing scan in accordance with the position fluctuation information at the time of the preceding printing scan obtained by the obtaining unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeo Kodama, Hisashi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 8941849
    Abstract: A sheet positioning device includes a sheet setting plate, first and second regulating members disposed facing each other to move in an orthogonal direction to a sheet conveyance direction to regulate positions of two facing ends of the sheet on the plate by contacting these ends, a driving mechanism to move the first regulating member in the orthogonal direction, first and second contact detectors mounted on the first and second regulating members to detect contact of the two facing ends, and a controller to stop the driving mechanism based on detection results obtained by the first and second contact detectors. The first and second regulating members are used to adjust a position of the sheet to a predetermined position. Respective contact surfaces of the first and second contact detectors with the sheet extend over an entire maximum loadable range in a sheet setting direction on the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Rie Ohtsuka, Satoshi Araaki, Jumpei Aoyama, Yosuke Eguchi
  • Patent number: 8941845
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus which allows a user to freely select a desired image quality is provided. The control unit 60 sets a of registration set value A1 for determining a color registration error suppression level and a dropout set value A2 for determining a dropout occurrence suppression level. Also, the control unit 60 sets a differential circumferential speed which is the difference between the circumferential speed of photoreceptor drums 1Y to 1K and the circumferential speed of an intermediate transfer belt 6 on the basis of the color registration set value A1 and the dropout set value A2. Then, the control unit 60 controls the belt drive motor 61 and the drum drive motor 62 on the basis of the differential circumferential speed which is set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Tadayuki Ueda, Yoshihito Sasamoto, Toru Kasamatsu, Eiji Nishikawa, Satoshi Miyajima, Takanobu Shiki
  • Publication number: 20150022834
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for implementing selectable roll positioning for web printing in devices, including post processing devices, for advanced image forming systems. A selectable drive system for continuous feed or web material image receiving medium substrate can “with the flip of a switch” transition the drive system from a tensioned web (transport) pulling system in a downstream device to a slack web nip-drive system as may be dictated by other system and/or operating characteristics. The selection of a particular drive method is based on a constitution of the continuous feed or web material image receiving media; a composition of a marking material deposited on the continuous feed or web material image receiving media; or a post-processing technique that the continuous feed or image receiving media, as marked, may undergo in the production of an output document.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Joseph M. FERRARA, Joseph J. FERRARA, Paul M. FROMM
  • Publication number: 20150022835
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus may include a scanner configured to read a document, a feeder configured to feed a sheet, a printer configured to print an image on the sheet, a processor, and memory storing instructions. The instructions, when executed by the processor, may cause the image forming apparatus to control the scanner to read the document to generate read data, determine whether the read data provides an image while the scanner is reading the document, and control the feeder to start feeding the sheet to the printer in response to determining that the read data provides the image. Determining whether the read data provides the image may include determining whether a substantially blank sheet would be printed based on the read data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventor: Kosuke Mori
  • Publication number: 20150022836
    Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes a conveyance member in which a reflection characteristics irregular part having light reflection characteristics different from those of a surrounding surface part is formed, a measurement unit configured to perform an detection operation including irradiating the conveyance member with irradiation light and detecting reflection light, a controller configured to perform a current detection operation, and perform a next detection operation after a surface of the conveyance member is moved by a distance longer than a reflection characteristics irregular part length that is a length of the reflection characteristics irregular part in a movement direction of the conveyance member surface, and a correction unit configured to perform correction for image formation on the basis of detection results of the current detection operation and the next detection operation by the measurement unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventor: Hideki SHINYAMA
  • Patent number: 8934119
    Abstract: A computer architecture that integrates desktop productivity applications with various visualization engines and various output engines allowing visualization, modification and formatting of the ultimate output from the application. Methods for accomplishing content visualization, editing and formatting in light of one or more printing option are also provided. Methods and apparatus are also provided for environmentally-friendly printing in booklet form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark McCuen, Toby Weiss, John Henze
  • Patent number: 8934139
    Abstract: A label creation system includes: a tape printing unit which prints a reference mark as an indicator of unit length onto a tape and thus creates a reference label; an image pickup unit which picks up an image of the reference label arranged along a pasting surface forming a planned pasting area, together with the planned pasting area; an image processing unit having a dimension detection unit which compares the reference mark and the planned pasting area in a picked-up image and detects a length of the planned pasting area that is in a direction of length of the fixed-length label; and a label length setting unit which sets a label length of the fixed-length label based on the length of the planned pasting area that is detected; wherein the tape printing unit prints on the tape and creates the fixed-length label based on the label length that is set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Eiji Nakaya
  • Publication number: 20150009515
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a document feeding unit, a document reading unit, a first set-document direction accepting key, an automatic determination mode setting accepting key, a set-document direction determining unit, and an image processor. The set-document direction determining unit is configured to determine, on a per-page basis, a set-document direction of documents set on the document feeding unit, based on original image data read by the document reading unit. The image processor is configured to perform a rotation process on original image data read by the document reading unit, based on the determination result by the set-document direction determining unit, and to perform a rotation process based on the first set-document direction accepted by the first set-document direction accepting key for a page for which the determination by the set document direction determining unit fails.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventor: Masaki Baba
  • Patent number: 8928898
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transport guide member, and a detection mechanism. The transport guide member guides a recording medium. The detection mechanism detects presence or absence of the recording medium. An actuator portion of the detection mechanism includes a shaft portion and a detection portion configured to swing about the shaft portion when abutting the recording medium. A first guide rib of the transport guide member is provided with a notch portion through which the shaft portion penetrates. The shaft portion is provided with a second guide rib configured to close an opening of the notch portion viewed from an axis direction of the shaft portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Yuzo Onishi
  • Publication number: 20150002869
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a discharge mechanism including a drive roller rotatable in a normal direction to discharge a medium and in a reverse direction reversed to the normal direction, and a driven roller in contact with the drive roller and configured to be rotated by the rotation of the drive roller. The apparatus also includes a stacker on which the medium discharged from the discharge mechanism is to be stacked. The driven roller is movable in position depending on the rotation of the drive roller in the normal direction or the reverse direction, such that the driven roller is located at a first position in the vicinity of the stacker when the drive roller is rotating in the normal direction, and the driven roller is located at a second position further away from the stacker than the first position when the drive roller is rotating in the reverse direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventor: Koji OSAKI
  • Publication number: 20140376014
    Abstract: A sheet loading device including a document feeder, an image reading unit, an image forming, a discharge member, and a combined tray. The combined tray functions as a document feeding tray which loads the document to feed to the image reading unit when the combined tray is opened, and the combined tray functions as the discharge tray which loads the recording medium when the combined tray is closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Koji HATAYAMA, Shohei SHINKAWA, Yasunobu YOUDA
  • Publication number: 20140376015
    Abstract: A printing apparatus, when a sheet is fed from a sheet feeding unit in a state where size information indicating the size of sheets stacked in the sheet feeding unit is not stored in a storage unit, detects and stores the size of the sheet during conveyance. The printing apparatus controls the execution of the print processing, without using size information in a case where a print instruction is received in a state where the size information is not stored, and using the size information in a case where the print instruction is received in a state where the size information is stored. Furthermore, the printing apparatus clears the size information stored in the storage unit when a particular key is operated in a state where the size information is stored while print processing is not being executed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventor: Hiroshi Oya
  • Publication number: 20140376016
    Abstract: In case of supplying sheets to a sheet holding unit, information concerning a depository of the sheet to be supplied is registered. Thus, it is possible to efficiently make a transition of work to supply work by reducing a load of the supply work to be performed by various users.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Naoyuki Yanagi, Hitomi Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20140376013
    Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming system, including: a conveying unit configured to convey recording paper; an image forming unit configured to print an image on the recording paper; an image reading unit configured to optically read the recording paper and to obtain a read image; and a correction control unit configured to control an execution of a test operation in which a test pattern including one or more thin lines are printed on the recording paper by the image forming unit and in which the test pattern is read by the image reading unit, to collect information indicting operation state of each unit in the execution of the test operation, to evaluate the thin lines in the read image obtained in the test operation in consideration of the collected information and to carry out a correction relating to printing of a specified thin line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Toru KAWABE, Makoto IKEDA, Mieko OHKAWA, Daisuke GENDA
  • Patent number: 8917416
    Abstract: An apparatus that controls a display unit to display, as a preview image, an image to be printed on a print medium by a printing apparatus that includes a function for adjusting a conveyance amount to convey a print medium in a conveyance direction by increasing or decreasing the conveyance amount as compared to a reference conveyance amount when an image of a designated size is printed acquires an adjustment amount of the conveyance amount and changes a size of the preview image with respect to the conveyance direction according to the acquired adjustment amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideyuki Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20140368848
    Abstract: A relay transport apparatus (400) includes a first transport path, a plurality of first transport sections (63), a plurality of driving sections (64), and a drive transmission section (65). The first transport path is formed so as to couple a carry-in port and a carry-out port. The first transport path includes a plurality of segments (S2a and S2b). The plurality of first transport sections (63) are disposed along the first transport path. The first transport sections are configured to transport the paper sheet carried in from the carry-in port to the carry-out port along the first transport path. The plurality of driving sections (64) correspond to the respective segments. The plurality of driving sections (64) are configured to drive the first transport section in the corresponding segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Sohichi Takata
  • Publication number: 20140368847
    Abstract: The present invention is characterized by requesting a user to login if the user has not been authenticated when executing sheet processing on a sheet with a post-processing apparatus without performing printing by a printing apparatus, authenticating the user in accordance with acquired user information, and, when authentication is successful, causing the post-processing apparatus to execute the sheet processing on the sheet, and recording an execution history of the sheet processing by the sheet processing apparatus as an execution history of the authenticated user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventor: Shinichi Kanematsu
  • Patent number: 8913291
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a display and a display controller that controls the display to display thereon a page. When a first processing is currently performed on the page, the page includes: a first part, on which the first processing has not yet been performed; and a second part, on which the first processing has already been performed. When a second processing is currently performed on the page, the page includes: a third part, on which the second processing has not yet been performed; and a fourth part, on which the second processing has already been performed. The display controller controls the display to display the first part and the second part in different display modes. The display controller controls the display to display the third part and the fourth part in different display modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideki Arimoto