Color Patents (Class 399/184)
  • Patent number: 11297202
    Abstract: Provided is a printing apparatus including a cassette configured to be capable of managing a stored paper-sheet by using paper-sheet size information and paper-sheet attribute data, in which an adjustment value of a print position is registered to copied paper-sheet attribute data if an event in which the adjustment value is registered to paper-sheet attribute data in which the paper-sheet size information is not set occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Kasuya, Yoshitake Mizuno
  • Patent number: 10908700
    Abstract: The invention discloses an electronic handwriting apparatus and a handwriting display system of the electronic handwriting apparatus. The electronic handwriting apparatus is electrically connected to an electronic display apparatus, and comprises: at least one color setting button, each outputting a color setting signal; a first control unit electrically connected to each of the color setting buttons, receiving an output color setting signal and outputting a color selection signal according to the output color setting signal; the electronic display apparatus storing a plurality of color display information, selecting, according to the color selection signal, color display information corresponding to the color selection signal from the plurality of color display information, and setting the display information as current handwriting color when the handwriting apparatus performs handwriting input on the display apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: BEIJING DIANSHIJINGWEI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zengfeng Wang, Yunhai Jia
  • Patent number: 10725416
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, includes: an image former that forms an image on a recording medium; an ejector to which a recording medium is ejected; a notifier that visually notifies a predetermined operation state of the image forming apparatus using a light source; and a hardware processor that controls image forming operation of the image former, ejecting operation of the ejector, and notifying operation of the notifier, wherein the hardware processor executes, using the notifier that serves multiple functions, a first notification function of notifying that the image forming operation is in progress at a time when the image forming operation is executed, and a second notification function of notifying that the image formation is complete and the recording medium having been subject to the image formation is ejected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventor: Hisataka Funakawa
  • Patent number: 10042303
    Abstract: Provided is an image processing apparatus to form an image on a sheet of paper, including a main body and a submodule detachably disposed on the main body. The main body includes an asynchronous serial bus and a master control unit. The submodule includes a slave control unit. An interactive asynchronous serial communication is performed between the master control unit and slave control unit. The master control unit includes a detection timing changing unit. The detection timing changing unit changes a scheduled timing to detect a second signal. The slave control unit includes a transmission signal changing unit. The transmission signal changing unit changes a state of the second signal from a first state detectable by the master control unit at a first timing to a second state detectable by the master control unit at a second timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Takayuki Okumura
  • Patent number: 9871936
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a reading unit, an image forming unit, and a controller. The reading unit is configured to acquire image data by reading an image on a first sheet. The image forming unit is configure to form an image from the image data on a second sheet using a first color material and a second color material. The controller is configured to perform text recognition on the image data, cause the image forming unit to form text from the image data on the second sheet using the second color material, and cause the image forming unit to form portions of the image data other than the text on the second sheet using the first color material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Makoto Hibino
  • Patent number: 9292774
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a printing unit that performs a double-sided print for a plurality of pages and a deletion unit that deletes data of a page that the printing unit prints. The deletion unit, in a case where a page printed last by the printing unit out of the plurality of pages is an odd page counting from the first page in a print order, does not delete but stores data of the page printed last.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Junichi Mori
  • Patent number: 8617776
    Abstract: A method and system for printing documents with one or more embedded security features is provided. Security features are embedded in the document by co-printing magnetic and non-magnetic toner on a receiver before fixation by a fixing station. The combination of magnetic and non-magnetic toners in the image results in image elements that easily show alteration or are undetectable by visual means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Jason Morgan, John F. Crichton, Raymond Rossborough, Timothy G. Armstrong, Matthias H. Regelsberger
  • Patent number: 8582179
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises: an image forming section that forms an image on a sheet; a density sensor that measures the image formed on the sheet and outputs a measured value corresponding to a density of the image; a conversion data storing section that stores plural conversion data showing relationship between the measured value outputted from the density sensor and the image density, for each sheet type and each screen for an image; a conversion data selection section that selects at least one conversion data from the plural conversion data stored in the conversion data storing section; and a density adjustment section that adjusts a density for an image formed by the image forming section based on a measured value acquired by measuring a prescribed image formed on a sheet and on the conversion data selected by the conversion data selection section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Takashi Yamashita
  • Patent number: 8379279
    Abstract: According to this invention, the image attribute is determined by determining whether the image of each color component of color image data having undergone a screen process is a continuous tone image, and whether the image of each color component is a pattern image. Whether to perform an interpolation process is determined for each color component based on the attribute determination result of each color component. If it is determined that the images of all the color components are pattern images, interpolation determination results do not coincide with each other, and there is a color component determined to represent a continuous tone image, the interpolation determination result of this color component is overwritten with the interpolation determination result of the remaining color components. The interpolation process is executed in accordance with the interpolation determination result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoko Ido
  • Patent number: 8290307
    Abstract: The maximum number of scaled images formed for one document and the scaling ratio set for each of scaled images are accepted by an operation panel, the basic scaling ratio is read from a table defining the scaled image arrangement information and the like, the scaling ratio of the original image data obtained by an image reading section is changed, and scaled images laid out on one sheet are generated. The generated plurality of scaled images are arranged according to the arrangement information defined by the table, and image formation is performed by an image forming section, thereby obtaining a multi-shot copy in which a plurality of images of different scaling ratio are laid out on one sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomohito Yamashita
  • 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: 8116582
    Abstract: Techniques for positioning images in an electronic document. The images may encode information that can be decoded by devices configured to read the images. An area within the electronic document for positioning the image and a set of one or more colors to be used for the image are determined. The determined area and set of colors are such that the image when positioned in the electronic document blends in with the contents of the electronic document while still being clearly visible for reading by reader devices that are configured read and decode the information encoded by the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Berna Erol
  • Patent number: 8101326
    Abstract: A method and system for printing documents with one or more embedded security features is provided. Security features are embedded in the document by co-printing magnetic and non-magnetic toner on a receiver before fixation by a fixing station. The combination of magnetic and non-magnetic toners in the image results in image elements that easily show alteration or are undetectable by visual means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Jason Morgan, John F. Crichton, Raymond Rossborough, Timothy G. Armstrong, Matthias H. Regelsberger
  • Publication number: 20090017394
    Abstract: Hollow toner and a process of preparing the same are provided. The hollow toner has a hollow sphere shape, wherein an outer layer surrounding the hollow sphere includes a polymer, a wax and a pigment. The hollow toner has excellent fixing properties under low energy and low pressure, and can be efficiently used at high-speed fixing. Also, a small amount of the hollow toner is consumed. Thus, the hollow toner can be efficiently applied to various apparatuses of forming an image such as a two-component low-temperature printer and super high-speed printer, and the hollow toner can be prepared by using a relatively simple process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventors: Kyeong Pang, Chang-shin Park, Kyung-yol Yon, Min-young Cheong, Hong-chul Shin
  • Publication number: 20080317504
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus which has a plurality of image forming stations arranged in parallel, each of the image forming stations having a photosensitive drum, and which forms a desired image by combining toner images formed on the photosensitive drums. A laser scanning optical system deflects and scans a plurality of laser beams concurrently with a single polygon mirror to irradiate the photosensitive drums. In a monochromatic mode, the rotation speed of the photosensitive drum for forming a black image is changed higher, and synchronization of writing in a main scanning direction is performed by using one of the laser beams irradiating the other photosensitive drums of which rotation speeds are not changed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Takatoshi HAMADA, Makoto Obayashi, Masayuki IIjima, Yoshikazu Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20080193166
    Abstract: A method of controlling a color image forming apparatus, the method including: reducing the C, M, and Y channels from the boundary area of the composite black text, thereby allowing only the K channel to be left on the outermost boundary of the composite black text; and compensating for the K channel by the density of the reduced C, M, and Y areas, so that image distortion generated at the boundary of the composite black text is compensated for, resulting in increased image quality of the printed image of the composite black text.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang Youn SHIN
  • 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: 20080069588
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus including a photoconductor, a charging unit configured to charge the photoconductor, a writing unit configured to form a latent electrostatic image, a toner image forming unit configured to form a toner image by developing the latent electrostatic image, the toner image forming unit having a plurality of developing devices housing a plurality of color developers for each color, a transfer unit configured to transfer the toner image formed on the photoconductor onto a transfer material, and a fixing unit configured to fix the transferred toner image on the transfer material, wherein the time spent by an arbitrary point on the photoconductor in moving from a position in which to face the writing unit to a position in which to face the developing unit is shorter than 50 ms and longer than the transit time of the photoconductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventors: Yoshinori Inaba, Tatsuya Niimi
  • Patent number: 7248822
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus comprising: an exposing means and a developing means. The developing means comprises a plurality of developing devices, a rotating member rotatable while supporting the plurality of the developing devices, and a driving means for the rotation drive of the rotating member for selectively moving the plurality of the developing devices to the developing position such that the driving means transmits driving force to the rotating member via a gear at a drive transmitting position. An angle ?e(°) formed by a straight line linking the rotation center of the rotating member and the drive transmitting position and the tangent of the image bearing member at an exposing position in the image bearing member moving direction satisfies the following relationship with the premise that an pressure angle of the gear is ?(°) and the image bearing member rotating direction is positive: ????e??.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiko Yokota, Tetsuya Nagase, Hiroshi Nakahata, Toshihiko Kudo, Yukihiro Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 7215446
    Abstract: In an image processing apparatus including an image reading section, an image processing section to distinguish an area where a document exists from an area where the document does not exist according to an output of the image reading section on the basis of an area recognition threshold value, and a document erasure device to erase an output image for an area on a recording material corresponding to the area where the document does not exist, a selector automatically selects either a rectangle erasure function in which an area inside a minimum quadrilateral including the document is made a document area or an oblique angle erasure function in which the document area is formed by both edges of each primary scanning line of the document read by the image reading section, on the basis of a rectangle erasing threshold value and a document background level value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventor: Mieko Ohkawa
  • Patent number: 6957029
    Abstract: A method and system for verifying and altering an area of an image to be photocopied prior to producing a copy. According to one embodiment of the present invention, an image capturing device is used to capture an image of items to be copied. A representation of this captured image is then displayed on a screen to be previewed by a user prior to producing a copy. A control unit of the present embodiment allows the user to alter the representation displayed on the display screen and to control the form and content of the copy produced. Alterations to the representation include, but are not limited to, elimination of certain portions (cropping), selection of certain portions for copying, rearranging by cutting and pasting, identifying areas to be copied in color, identifying areas to be copied as shaded and identifying areas to be copied in a different size. Further, the control unit will allow the user to edit the representation on the display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur H. Ozaki
  • Patent number: 6535706
    Abstract: An image forming system has a color scanner; an image processing part for processing image data obtained by reading a document by use of the color scanner; and an image forming part for forming an image on the basis of image data processed by the image processing part, wherein the color scanner reads a first original which includes a portion of a character or diagram having a first color, and a portion which is marked in a second color different from the first color so as to cover information of the character or diagram, and the image processing part edits image data of the marked portion of image data of the read first original. The editing process includes a process for rectangularizing the marked portion, and a process for connecting the rectangularized regions when the rectangularized regions are close to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Miki Konno
  • 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: 6166394
    Abstract: A dual mode document aperture imaging prevention system and document edge location system, using the same digital document imager, for imaging different sizes of moving document sheets, some of which may have punched notebook or binder holes or other apertures. Both a black or substantially light absorbing imaging background surface area and a white or substantially light reflective imaging background surface area are automatically selectably provided in the same document imaging station as document backing surfaces for the two respective functions. The dark imaging background is automatically provided to be illuminated and imaged for document edge detection, and the light imaging background may be selected to be automatically provided for illuminating and imaging the body of the document to prevent imaging any apertures of any apertured document sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Robert F. Rubscha
  • Patent number: 6025862
    Abstract: Image forming apparatus makes at least a two color image from an original having some color. The apparatus includes a color scanner which scans the original area-by-area for color content and picks an accent color from available accent colors in the apparatus from the color content analysis. A typical output would be a print in which an original is reproduced in a combination of black and a color picked which color is closest to one of the predominant colors in the original.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: John R. Thompson
  • Patent number: 5777750
    Abstract: Image data is separated into two colors to obtain two-color image data to form a two-color image. The two-color image data is reversed to obtain reversed two-color image data, which is output to an image forming device which forms an image of two colors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Takiyama, Ryosuke Miyamoto, Hideaki Shimizu, Hiroyuki Yaguchi, Tadashi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 5751437
    Abstract: Full color, single pass and two-pass imaging processes using black, magenta, cyan and yellow toners and Non-interactive Development without fringe field development. Corona discharge is utilized for voltage leveling certain developed images prior to their passage through DAD developer housings. A Raster Output Scanner (ROS) used for creating the latent electrostatic images is also used for voltage leveling of images developed on the first pass of the two pass imaging process in order to remove certain other images for eliminating fringe field images as well as other undesired images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Delmer G. Parker, Gregory J. Kovacs
  • Patent number: 5671429
    Abstract: A document processing system which, in response to a simple instruction given by a user, is able to change and modify automatically the design of an input document. The document processing system includes target area instructor for instructing an area serving as an edit target to a document image stored in document image holding unit, target area extraction unit for extracting the instructed edit target area out of the document image, design instruction unit for instructing a desired document design to an output document, design parameter decision unit, responsive to the instruction from the design instruction unit, for deciding a parameter value relating to the document design of the target area, and output image generation unit for processing the document image of the edit target area on the basis of the decided parameter value to thereby generate an output image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Tanaka