Formation Of Color Separation Images Patents (Class 399/178)
  • Patent number: 11606467
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes circuitry. The circuitry is configured to acquire read image data of an image formed on a recording medium. The circuitry is configured to acquire output target image data according to which the image is formed. The circuitry is configured to generate, based on the output target image data, inspection image data for inspection of the read image data. The circuitry is configured to compare the read image data corrected based on an amount of deviation caused by conveyance of the recording medium with the inspection image data generated, to detect an image abnormality. The circuitry is configured to highlight and output a position of a portion of the image abnormality in the read image data before correction, based on the amount of deviation caused by conveyance of the recording medium, in response to the image abnormality being detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yohta Mashiko, Tadashi Kitai, Akira Masuda, Takahiro Koyama, Kengo Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11604422
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store pattern information and a generation unit configured to generate a drive signal for driving an exposure unit. The pattern information indicates a plurality of exposure patterns for a first pixel, the plurality of exposure patterns are selected such that whether exposure patterns that are identical to each other among the plurality of exposure patterns are adjacent to each other, or two exposure patterns that are different from each other among the plurality of exposure patterns are adjacent to each other in the main scanning direction, the non-exposure regions are not consecutively present between the two exposure patterns, and in a case where the plurality of exposure patterns are consecutively used in the main scanning direction, the generation unit randomly selects an exposure pattern to be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Go Araki
  • Patent number: 10372058
    Abstract: A controller which causes a light emitting element to continuously perform minute emission for a plurality of dots in a level in which toner is not attached to a non-image section on an image bearing member is provided. The controller controls a first driving current for an image section and controls a second driving current used to perform the minute emission by the light emitting element in the non-image section several times in one job. In the image section, a driving current obtained by adding the first driving current to the second driving current is supplied so that the light emitting element emits light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kiyoto Toyoizumi, Masaru Shimura, Shinsuke Kobayashi, Hideo Nanataki, Shinji Katagiri, Yasunari Watanabe, Hideaki Hasegawa, Masahiro Tambo
  • Patent number: 10331056
    Abstract: In certain examples, a liquid electrophotographic printer has a charge erasing element and a charging element. The charge erasing element at least partially discharges a charged photo imaging plate and a charged layer of liquid toner and the charging element at least partially recharges the layer of liquid toner and the photo imaging plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: HP Indigo B.V.
    Inventors: Asaf Anufa, Shmuel Borenstain, Maty Verner
  • Patent number: 9285751
    Abstract: A decurler is operable to remove curl from a recording medium and includes a first roller, a second roller, a casing, a roller drive section, a casing rotary drive section, a housing, and a pair of cam members. The casing includes first and second supporting portions rotatably supporting the first and second rollers, respectively, with the first and second rollers pressed into engagement against each other movably away from each other. Each of the pair of cam members is mounted to the casing rotatably about a rotational axis of the casing independently of the casing and includes a circular hole. The circular hole in the cam member includes first to third recesses formed at circumferentially different portions of an inner periphery thereof so that an outer periphery of the first supporting portion is engageable with the first to third different recesses depending upon the rotation of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Kazuhisa Kondo
  • Patent number: 8896880
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing extensions to an LCDS imaging data stream. An LCDS imaging data stream is modified utilizing existing constructs of the imaging data stream in order to provide extensions to the imaging data stream for full-color rendering capabilities without re-writing or converting the imaging data stream into another format. Modifying an LCDS imaging data stream generally includes modifying one or more palettes associated with the imaging data stream to include a full color standardized approach to specifying colors, configuring one or more ink values associated with the imaging data stream with a full color palette, configuring a convenience specification associated with the imaging data stream to include at least one full-color space, and providing a variable color form capability for the imaging data stream in place of a palette syntax associated with the imaging data stream in order to provide a convenience feature for a user of the imaging data stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: George Kenneth Hartupee, Jr., Hayley H. Yau
  • Patent number: 8643910
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an acquiring unit that acquires image data expressing an image region included in an image with a first value and a background region included in the image with a second value; a segmenting unit that segments the image region into multiple segments arranged in a fast scanning direction; a converting unit that converts a value of at least one of the segments into the second value; an output unit that generates an image signal on the basis of the image data and outputs the image signal; an exposure unit that exposes a charged image bearing member to light according to the output image signal by scanning the light thereto in the fast scanning direction so as to form a latent image; and a developing unit that forms the image by developing the latent image using an invisible toner that absorbs infrared light or ultraviolet light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junichi Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 8351074
    Abstract: This invention provides a color print control method of acquiring an optimum profile by a simple profile acquisition process in consideration of the clustering configuration. According to the color print control method of this invention, a printer manager (15) manages a combination of color printers as a virtual printer. A color setting manager (17) manages a color profile used for color matching in association with the virtual printer and output paper. A job controller (11) controls to accept a print job, whose destination is the managed virtual printer and which contains color matching settings, cause a rendering unit (18) to render the print job, acquire a profile for each virtual printer, and cause a color management processor (16) to perform color matching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kikuo Naito, Kensuke Nozaki, Hayato Kubo, Natsuki Uemura
  • Patent number: 8279491
    Abstract: In a color misalignment detection method, an alignment pattern is obtained by designating a plurality of lines having line width and line intervals formed by superposing a line image of a black color as a reference color and a line image of a color other than the reference color, for example, a cyan line image, as one patch, and continuously forming these patches by shifting the relative position between the line images of the two colors by an optional quantity. An alignment pattern detection sensor has a light emitting diode and a photodiode. These elements are arranged along the scanning direction of the alignment pattern such that the photodiode can only receive diffused reflected light of reflected light from the alignment pattern. A spot shape of the light emitting diode and a spot shape of the photodiode are both formed in a square shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Hitoshi Ishibashi
  • Patent number: 8208171
    Abstract: The present invention aims to prevent a problem that an image on a document sheet is erased due to misdetection of a line-shaped noise. A copy machine 1 compares RGB values of a target pixel with averaged RGB values (Step S103). If only one of the RGB values has a difference that is greater than a prescribed value Ref2 (Step S103: YES), the copy machine 1 extracts the target pixel as a line-shaped noise pixel, and moves to a line-shaped noise correction (Step S108) while holding the address of the target pixel in a line-shaped noise address storing area 49b. If two of the RGB values have differences (Step S103: NO, Step S104: YES) and a difference between these two of the RGB values is no greater than a prescribed value Ref3 (Step S105: YES), the copy machine 1 extracts the target pixel as a line-shaped noise pixel, and moves to the line-shaped noise correction (Step S108) while holding the address of the target pixel in the line-shaped noise address storing area 49b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kubo, Nobuhiro Mishima
  • Patent number: 8190062
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus that includes an image carrier, a charging unit, a latent-image forming unit that forms a latent image for each color by exposing the surface of the image carrier charged by the charging unit, and a plurality of developing units that sequentially develops latent images formed on the image carrier with toners of different colors including at least cyan, yellow, and magenta, to form a color toner image on a single unit of the image carrier, the developing units further develops the latent images with toners of blue, green, and red, such that the toner images of different colors are not superimposed on a same position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Hitoshi Maruyama, Kenichiroh Saisho
  • Patent number: 8179568
    Abstract: What is disclosed is a novel system and method for minimizing dot visibility in color marking devices capable of dot-on-dot printing. The present method achieves minimum dot visibility for a given dispersed-dot screen by performing a CMYK to CMYKRGB conversion which uses less visible dots as much as possible before more visible dots are introduced. The output color dot coverages are calculated sequentially to minimize the coverage of more visible dots in a decreasing order of brightness. Resulting images have noticeably reduced halftone graininess, particularly in the mid to darker tone areas. The present method is also computationally efficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Zhen He
  • Patent number: 8149456
    Abstract: Restriction information on a total colorant amount for a medium is obtained. Patches at grid points in a color space corresponding to a plurality of colorants at which the total colorant amount falls within a restriction represented by the restriction information, and a patch at a point surrounded by the patches are generated. Color values are obtained by measuring the colors of the patches printed on the medium. It is determined based on a color prediction value between the grid points whether the measured color values are appropriate, and if so, a color value at a grid point at which the total colorant amount exceeds the restriction is estimated based on the measured color values. A color separation table is created based on the measured color values and the estimated value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yingying Fan, Kazuhiro Saito, Takayuki Ogasahara
  • Patent number: 8139266
    Abstract: The color printing control device outputs color material reduction processed data generated by applying a color material reduction process to each pixel of bitmaps converted to color material colors to be used in printing, when it is judged that the color material reduction printing mode is specified. The color material reduction process includes chroma conversion that reduces chroma and under-color removal/black generation that replaces at least a portion of achromatic components generated by overlaying of a plurality of color materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Masaru Iida
  • Patent number: 7940421
    Abstract: A tandem type color image forming apparatus, which can continuously form color images each containing two or more colors, including: a signal creating section having, for each color, two or more image area setting counters for generating an image valid area signal to set a starting position and a width of an image formation area in a sub-scanning direction; and a control section for executing color image formation control on a predetermined face of paper, based on an image top signal for controlling writing of an image on an image carrier and the image valid area signal for each color, wherein the control section sets each of the outputs of the image area setting counters independently according to a preset image formation mode, and selects and controls one of the image area setting counters for each image formation of each color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Kouichi Takaki
  • Patent number: 7835028
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image holding member, a toner image forming unit, a color forming information applying unit, a transfer unit, a fixing unit and a color forming unit, the color forming information applying unit exposing a toner image formed on a surface of the image holding member from a back surface side of the image holding member, light transmitted through the image holding member applying color forming information to the toner image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Isao Ito
  • Patent number: 7706725
    Abstract: In a full-color image forming apparatus including a light source for monochrome image formation that outputs light corresponding to monochrome image information and exposes a monochrome image forming photoreceptor and light sources for color image formation that output lights corresponding to color image information and expose photoreceptors for forming images of colors other than black, when the light source for monochrome image formation and the light sources for color image formation are caused to output the lights and a full-color image is formed, an optical output of the light source for monochrome image formation is set to become equal to or less than optical outputs of the light sources for color image formation, preferably, become less than the optical outputs of the light sources for color image formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiaki Fujisawa, Shigeyuki Wakada, Hitoshi Nagahama
  • Patent number: 7375853
    Abstract: A separating unit determines, for an image data, whether there exists black data, and generates density data from the black data when the black data exists, and generates color data from data other than the black data. A multinarizing unit converts the color data into multinary data. A magnification varying unit varies the density data and the color data multinarized, using a cubic function convolution method. A binarizing unit binarizes the color data varied, based on a predetermined threshold. An image forming unit prints the color data binarized and the density data varied, onto a recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Yukari Nozaki
  • Publication number: 20080056767
    Abstract: When forming an image by developing a color development layer that reacts to a light, the image formation processes (color development, color erasure, and/or fixing) that can be performed simultaneously with information recording are performed in the same period as that of the information recording to reduce the time required for image formation. An image formation device that forms an image by developing a color development layer reacting to a light comprises a color development unit that develops colors by focusing a light on the color development layer, color erasure units that selectively erase the developed colors by focusing a light on the developed color development layer, and a fixing unit that fixes an image formed by the color erasure wherein the color development unit and/or the fixing unit performs processing in a period in which information is recorded on the recording medium on which the color development layer is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Applicant: CITIZEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fumihisa HORI, Chikashi OSAKAMA, Hiroyuki MURAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20080025759
    Abstract: An optical scanning device includes a light source having light emitting points for emitting light beams, a coupling optical element that couples the light beams, a deflecting unit that deflects and scans the light beams, and a scanning optical system that focus the light beams to form an image. The optical scanning device satisfies the following condition: F tan(?/2)+A<D/0.7 where A is the maximum distance between the light emitting points and an optical axis of the coupling optical element, ? is a divergence angle (full-width half-maximum) of the light beams, F is a focal length of the coupling optical element, and D is an effective radius of the coupling optical element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventors: Daisuke Ichii, Yoshinori Hayashi, Takeshi Ueda, Kohji Sakai, Kenichiro Saisho
  • Patent number: 7251445
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a latent image carrier for holding an electrostatic latent image, and an intermediate transfer member for temporally holding an image formed by visualizing the electrostatic latent image formed on the latent image carrier. The image forming apparatus performs image formation by superimposing a plurality of images on the intermediate transfer member so as to form a superimposing image, and transferring the superimposing image on a recording medium. The intermediate transfer member has a latent image holding property for holding the electrostatic latent image. An image formed by visualizing an electrostatic latent image formed on the intermediate transfer member is superimposed with the electrostatic latent image formed on the latent image carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masashi Hirai
  • Patent number: 7233749
    Abstract: An image forming device, has an image carrier on which a latent image is formed, and a development device to which a plurality of development units for containing developer with the same color are detachably installed, and development is performed by attaching the developer of the development unit on the latent image of the image carrier. And the image forming device further has calibration control unit for forming the latent image of a predetermined patch pattern on the image carrier, developing the image by the developer of the development unit, detecting the developed patch pattern and deciding control parameters, and the calibration control unit performs calibration by only apart of the development units or by one development unit out of the plurality of development units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Ken Yoshizuka, Keiichi Taguchi, Hiroshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6977022
    Abstract: A charge roller that includes a metal core, an elastic member configured wrapped around the metal core, and film members is disclosed. Each of the film members is wrapped around each end of the elastic member in a circumferential direction of the metal core such that at least a part of each of the film members exists at every position around the ends of the elastic member in an axial direction of the metal core. Portions of the film members do not overlap each other in an radial direction of the metal core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masumi Sato, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Yukiko Iwasaki, Hitoshi Ishibashi, Takatsugu Fujishiro, Masami Hiramatsu, Hiroko Hirano
  • Patent number: 6768886
    Abstract: A method of forming an image, including emitting a plurality of light beams from a plurality of vertically arranged light emitting devices; passing the plurality of light beams through corresponding slots of a vertical stay; receiving the plurality of light beams which have passed through the corresponding slots of the vertical stay by a plurality of photosensitive surfaces contained in a corresponding plurality of vertically arranged detachable cartridges, thereby forming a plurality of latent images; developing the plurality of latent images into a corresponding plurality of different colored toner images using different colored toner contained in the plurality of detachable cartridges; and transferring each of the plurality of different colored toner images onto a medium by moving the medium in a vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Nakazato, Kazuyuki Shimada, Tomohiro Nakajima
  • Patent number: 6724410
    Abstract: A multicolor image forming apparatus comprises a first image forming unit, and a second image forming unit, having respectively an image forming member, an intermediate transfer member, and a secondary transfer section for transferring the toner image from the intermediate transfer member onto a recording material, wherein there are provided a priority mode setting section for setting a multicolor priority mode or a monochrome priority mode, and a controller to control in such a way that in an idling condition and in a waiting condition, when the multicolor priority mode is set, all of the image forming members are in press-contact with the intermediate transfer member, and when the monochrome priority mode is set, only the image forming member of the first image forming unit is in press-contact with the intermediate transfer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Arai
  • Patent number: 6421522
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for setting registration in a multicolor printing machine having a number of exposure devices for the digital production of color separations, the actions of setting up and combining the color separations being controlled, in order to set the registration, in such a way that accurate registered prints are achieved. According to the invention, in the event of a change in the toner profile, the influence of the toner profile on the registration is taken into account, by available influencing variables directly as the change is implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: NexPress Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Henderson, Christopher Liston, Patrick Metzler, Karlheinz Walter Peter
  • Patent number: 6352806
    Abstract: A low toner pile height color image reproduction machine is disclosed for forming full-gamut toner images approximating a “look and feel” of offset lithographic images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Edul N. Dalal
  • Patent number: 6339460
    Abstract: A vertical alignment liquid crystal display device capable of a complete contrast compensation, particularly by performing an optical compensation using an optically uniaxial anisotropic sheet and an optically biaxial anisotropic sheet. A retardation of the optically uniaxial anisotropic sheet should have an opposite sign to the retardation of a liquid crystal layer, and absolute value of the retardation of the optically uniaxial anisotropic sheet should be within the range of 75 to 100% of the retardation of the liquid crystal layer. The optically uniaxial anisotropic sheet may be united with a polarizing plate. The optically biaxial anisotropic sheet should have a retardation axis which is parallel to a transmitting axis of any one of the polarizing plates. The optically biaxial anisotropic sheet should exhibit an in-plane retardation of 190 to 390 nm, and exhibit a retardation of 0.28 to 0.67 in its thickness direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corp.
    Inventor: Yukito Saitoh
  • Patent number: 6336019
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that improve the registration between the color separation images. The systems and methods control the output of the image data for one or more of the color separation images and the velocity of an image-carrying member to remove or reduce registration offsets based on determined position and velocity of the image-carrying member. A position-determining sensor on an image-carrying member device module is used to determine the process-direction position of the image-carrying member to provide real time motion information by simultaneously sensing a plurality of position-determining marks. A position-determining controller determines the process-direction position of the image-carrying member by detecting the plurality of position-determining marks using the position-determining sensor and averaging or correlating the detected data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Vittorio Castelli, Barry Wolf, Robert Lofthus, Harold Anderson
  • Patent number: 6266122
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes: a first substrate and a second substrate; and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The first substrate includes a polymer wall formed of transparent resin, the liquid crystal layer includes a plurality of liquid crystal regions partitioned by the polymer wall, and liquid crystal molecules in the plurality of liquid crystal regions are aligned in axial symmetry, with respect to an axis in a direction substantially perpendicular to a surface of the first substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignees: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Kishimoto, Kenji Hamada, Masato Imai
  • Patent number: 6205311
    Abstract: A method for multicolor electrophotographic printing includes a photoconductive layer system having surface elements or surface regions that are provided with an initial negative potential, then are exposed to varying degrees and developed with negatively charged toner particles of a color. A uniform light source is arranged closed to the photoconductive layer system and then the surface elements are developed with a second color toner. In particular, the image being printed has image elements of different colors which correspond to different surface elements of the photoconductor. These surface elements are differently illuminated to achieve different potentials and are developed by color particles by depositing the color particles on the respective surface elements. The charge potential of ones of the surface elements is increased and then surface elements not covered by color particles are illuminated to reduce the charge potential there prior to subsequent development of further surface elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Océ Printing Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Volkhard Maess, Martin Schleusener
  • Patent number: 6144817
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, charging means, exposure means, developing means, and an image holding member, where the exposure means is adapted, in exposing the photosensitive member according to an image signal, to expose a pixel not exposed in accordance with the image signal with a faint light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiko Takeuchi, Toshiaki Miyashiro
  • Patent number: 6094551
    Abstract: In the formation of a multicolor image for generating a color print by repeating operation for transferring on an intermediate transfer member every color after one color toner image is formed on a photoreceptor drum, when an image of each color is written on the photoconductor, the image writing start position of each color is differentiated in a process direction of the photoconductor on the basis of a position reference mark on the intermediate transfer member detected by a sensor. This prevents a defect on the photoconductor from being enlarged and visually conspicuous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuhide Nakamura, MasahiKo Hozumi
  • Patent number: 6041204
    Abstract: In a color image forming apparatus provided with a photoreceptor having a rotatable peripheral surface; plural sets of a charging device, an imagewise exposure device, and a developing device, each set of the plural sets is provided separately from other sets around the peripheral surface of the photoreceptor so that plural color component images are formed one after another by the plural sets and are superimposed so as to form a color image on the peripheral surface during a single rotation of the peripheral surface. The developing device has a casing and the imagewise exposure device and the developing device of each set are arranged such that a portion on the peripheral surface locating at an imagewise exposing position moves into the casing of the developing device before the electric potential V1 of the portion is lowered to the half of V1 (V1/2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Haneda, Hiroyuki Tokimatsu, Masahiro Onodera, Shuta Hamada
  • Patent number: 6022653
    Abstract: In a color image recording system, a color image is recorded on a photosensitive material by causing red, green and blue light beams modulated according to a color image signal to scan the photosensitive material one after another in the order of the red, green and blue light beams, respectively. A photodetector detects only the red light beam, and the red, green and blue light beams are caused to start recording the colorings at respective predetermined times T1, T2 and T3 (T1<T2<T3) after the photodetector detects the red light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshinori Morimoto
  • Patent number: 6009296
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to obtain a multicolor image formation device wherein the defect of an image caused in switching developing machines and others can be prevented. A yellow latent image is formed by scanning a light beam on a photoconductor drum and developing is started by a developing machine for yellow. A developed yellow toner image is transferred on an intermediate transfer belt. Even if the transfer of the yellow toner image is finished, the developing machine for yellow is held a state opposite to the photoconductor drum. The developing machine for yellow is switched to a developing machine for magenta immediately before the scanning of a light beam corresponding to next magenta is started. Therefore, the defect of an image due to the effect of oscillation in switching the developing machines can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeki Nishimura
  • Patent number: 5983045
    Abstract: The present invention aims to improve image quality in an image forming apparatus in which plural color toner images are formed on a photosensitive member and the toner images are collectively transferred onto a transfer material, and provides such an image forming apparatus that includes a first charge member for charging the photosensitive member, a digital optical system for exposing image information on the photosensitive member, a first developing device for inversion-developing a first latent image formed on the photosensitive member with first toner, a second charge member for charging the photosensitive member developed by the first developing member, a second developing member for developing a second latent image formed on the photosensitive member by exposing second image information onto the charged photosensitive member, with second toner, and a transfer means for collectively transferring first and second toner images formed on the photosensitive member onto a transfer material, and wherein an ex
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuo Suzuki, Takao Honda, Yoshito Mizoguchi, Nobuaki Itakura
  • Patent number: 5983057
    Abstract: In the information recording an reproducing method and apparatus according to the present invention, a piece of picture image information is recorded as an analog quantity or a digital quantity an information carrying medium in a planar manner at a high density, charge potential is read for outputting electric signals to correspond to the recorded picture image information and then the outputted signals are printed out by means of various display unit or output device, with high quality and high resolution as well as ease processing of the information. The information carrying medium provides a long period of storage of information and enables stored picture image information to be repeatedly reproduced with a picture quality according to need.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co. Ltd
    Inventors: Makoto Matsuo, Minoru Utsumi, Chihaya Ogusu, Shunsuke Mukasa, Yoshiaki Kudo, Hiroyuki Obata, Takashi Aono, Hiroshi Mohri, Masato Koike, Hideaki Amano, Norikazu Saito
  • Patent number: 5978628
    Abstract: REaD electrophotographic printing using additive color toners. Toners that are non-transmissive to exposing light are developed using inhibited image-on-image printing. Then, the photoreceptor is exposed to produce a latent image for a toner that transmits the exposing light. Finally, the latent image for a toner that transmits the exposing light is developed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: James D. Rees
  • Patent number: 5916718
    Abstract: Apparatus and method in which a multi-color image, such as a standard four color image, is assembled on a medium, such as paper or film. Liquid ink contains conventional "solid" colored toner particles and also contains transparent counter ions. The conventional "solid" colored toner particles in plate to the surface of the photoreceptor while the transparent counter ions plate in the opposite direction, i.e., the transparent counter ions plate to the surface of photoreceptor in areas which are not discharged. Conventional "solid" colored toner particles plate to electrode in areas where the photoreceptor has not been discharged while transparent counter ions plate to electrode in areas discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Truman F. Kellie, James A. Baker
  • Patent number: 5774760
    Abstract: The improved method of color correction control is capable of assuring the desired amounts of color correction at all times, thereby reproducing a high-quality image of good color balance even from an original image that is so much upset in color balance as to require that color filters for three primary colors be inserted into the optical path in greatly varying amounts. Seven tables are preliminarily constructed for each of the three primary colors that represent the relationships between the amounts of insertion of color filter into the optical path and the amounts of resulting color correction, three tables for the insertion of three single color filters, three for the insertion of any two filters and one for the insertion of the three filters in combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kanji Nagashima
  • Patent number: 5773818
    Abstract: A monochromatic scanning system includes an illumination system, a document staging system, an optical lens system, a photosensing system to convert light to electrical signals and a color drop-out filter. The illumination system illuminates an original image to be scanned in the document staging system and the optical lens system directs light reflected from the original image to be scanned onto the photosensing system. The color drop-out filter is located in an optical path between the original image to be scanned and the photosensing system such that the color drop-out filter allows a predetermined range of wavelengths to pass therethrough and a range of wavelengths associated with infrared radiation to pass therethrough. this enables the monochromatic scanning system to have drop-out capability by merely substituting the color drop-out filter without further modifications to the scanning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Robert P. Herloski
  • Patent number: 5716744
    Abstract: An electrophotographic printer produces a multi-color image on a moving photoconductor (OPC) and includes a laser/scanner arrangement for producing first and second beams to expose the OPC at spaced-apart exposure stations. The OPC is charged to a reference state prior to exposure. First and second developer stations are positioned between the first and second beam exposure stations and third and fourth developer stations are positioned after the second beam exposure station in the direction of movement of the OPC. A controller modulates the laser, during each scan, in accordance with subpixel color data from a pair of color planes to achieve a tri-level charge state (including the reference state) on the OPC. The first and second developer stations apply charged toners, selectively, in accord with the tri-level charge state produced by the scan of the first beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: Robin P. Yergenson
  • Patent number: 5708934
    Abstract: A color image forming apparatus such as a copier or a printer for forming a multicolor toner image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Hisayoshi Nagase, Shuta Hamada, Hiroyuki Tokimatsu, Satoshi Haneda
  • Patent number: 5659855
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus uses an endless belt image member having a magnetic strip along one or more edges. A linear printhead is flashed in response to a magnetic encoder signal in the magnetic strip. Preferably, the apparatus has first and second linear writers and the magnetic encoding signal is created in the magnetic strip in conjunction with creation of a writing signal for the first writer with the second writer using the magnetic encoding signal to register its writing with the first writing. Preferably, an auxiliary signal is placed in the strip indicative of variable characteristics of either the image member or the image forming apparatus. This in turn is read by the apparatus and a charging, exposing or toning station controlled in response to the auxiliary signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Eric C. Stelter, Joseph A. Pavlisko
  • Patent number: 5649269
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus is designed to decrease the size of an exposure unit, thereby allowing the exposure unit to move within a narrow space between an original document and a photosensitive material, to facilitate color adjustment and density adjustment, to provide a high resolution at low costs, and to prevent light fogging. The exposure unit is moved between a stage and a document table which hold a photosensitive material and an original document, respectively, so as to copy the image of the original document onto the photosensitive material by scanning exposure. An LED light source comprises three groups of light emitting elements which respectively emit blue, green and red colors, and a light beam from the LED light source is irradiated such that the light beam extends in a direction parallel to the original document and perpendicular to the direction of movement of the exposure unit (the forward and backward direction of the stage).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuhiro Doi, Hiroyuki Kohda, Kohji Uchida
  • Patent number: 5640652
    Abstract: A color image forming apparatus includes a plurality of chargers each provided in a periphery of an image forming body for charging the image forming body; at least two of a plurality of imagewise exposure devices each equally spaced with respect to the image forming body, for imagewise exposing a charged image forming body to form a latent image; and a plurality of developing devices each provided in the periphery of the image forming body to develop the latent image to form a toner image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Hisayoshi Nagase, Shuta Hamada, Satoshi Haneda
  • Patent number: 5615002
    Abstract: A color image forming apparatus provided with plural charging devices, plural image exposure devices, and plural developing devices which are arranged around the outer circumference of a photoreceptor so that a color image is formed during a single rotation of the photoreceptor. The apparatus comprises a supporting cylinder for enclosing the photoreceptor and for supporting the plural image exposure devices thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Haneda, Hisayoshi Nagase, Hiroyuki Tokimatsu, Shuta Hamada, Masakazu Fukuchi, Tadayoshi Ikeda
  • Patent number: 5604578
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a reading section for fetching first color image data subjected to color separation, a circuit for converting the first color image data into second color image data, a unit for forming a duplicate image of the first color image data by using recording materials of different types based on the second color image data, a unit for calculating the consumptions of the recording materials used for image formation in the image forming unit, and a unit for calculating a charge value for image formation based on the consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1997
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kunihiro Shibuya, Hiroki Kanno