Having Detection Of Size Patents (Class 399/376)
  • Patent number: 11973908
    Abstract: A system is provided for processing documents. In particular, the system is incorporates a feeder for feeding documents to a device for further processing of the documents. For instance, the system finds particular application in the field of document imaging in which a variety of documents of varying sizes and orientation are to be fed to an imaging system, such as a document scanner. The system may provide an input mechanism for easily identifying a characteristic of one of the documents and the system may include features for handling packets of documents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: OPEX Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Sullivan, John Allen, David Helmlinger, Robert DeWitt, Michael York, Robert Esche, Kerry D. O'Mara, Gary Miller
  • Patent number: 11878893
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a paper-length detection device includes: a moving mechanism and an angle sensor. The moving mechanism supports a magnet. The moving mechanism causes a first regulatory member to move closer to or further from a second regulatory member in accordance with movement of the first regulatory member. The moving mechanism further causes the magnet to rotate in accordance with the movement of the first regulatory member closer to or further from the second regulatory member. The angle sensor faces the magnet and outputs a signal corresponding to an absolute angle with the magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Sho Koike
  • Patent number: 11856165
    Abstract: A control portion controls a reading portion and a discharge portion, and when a document is placed in a document placement portion, a transport path transports the document, and the reading portion reads an image of the document. When the discharge portion discharges the document for which reading is completed by the reading portion, a document receiving portion receives the document discharged by the discharge portion. The document receiving portion has a first region that overlaps the document placement portion when seen in a vertical direction, and a second region that does not overlap the document placement portion when seen in the vertical direction, and the discharge portion discharges the document so that at least part of the document is placed on the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Nakata
  • Patent number: 11582354
    Abstract: A controller of an image reading device performs search for an edge candidate position inward from an edge portion in a main scanning direction of analysis image data in an extraction process of extracting a document region from read image data. When the retrieved edge candidate position corresponds to a dirt position, the search is continued whereas when the retrieved edge candidate position does not correspond to the dirt position, the document region is extracted from the read image data at the retrieved edge candidate position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Ryoichi Hirayama
  • Patent number: 11363152
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion configured to form an image on a sheet; a plurality of trays on which insert sheets are to be stacked; a setting unit configured to set, when an insert sheet is not stacked on a first tray specified by a print job among the plurality of trays, to perform an automatic feed changeover for feeding an insert sheet from a second tray on which the insert sheet is stacked among the plurality of trays; and a controller configured to disable, even when it is set to perform the automatic feed changeover, the automatic feed changeover when an insert sheet is not stacked on the first tray at a time of feeding a first insert sheet from a start of the print job.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toru Wakana
  • Patent number: 11279573
    Abstract: A sheet holder includes a regulator, a rotary body, a detection target, a rotational position detector, and a biasing body. The regulator moves in directions to approach and separate from an end portion of a sheet. The rotary body has a contact portion and rotates according to movement of the regulator. The detection target is attached to the rotary body, has a contact target portion, and rotates together with the rotary body by contacting of the contact portion of the rotary body with the contact target portion of the detection target in a rotational direction of the rotary body. The rotational position detector detects a rotational position of the detection target. The biasing body applies a biasing force between the rotary body and the detection target to maintain a contact state of the contact portion of the rotary body and the contact target portion of the detection target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Rie Ohtsuka
  • Patent number: 11250526
    Abstract: System, method, and a computer program product that generate a dynamic digital contract are provided. A category that is included in the digital contract is selected using a graphical user interface of an application executing on a client device. A template associated with the category is retrieved from memory storage. The template is also associated with a plurality of options that specify the layout of the digital contract, display text of the digital contract and receive additional input. Data associated with the template is retrieved. The digital contract is generated by incorporating the data into the plurality of options. The digital contract is then formatted using parameters of the client device. Once generated, the digital contract is displayed on the display screen of the client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: LEAP, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Charles Stencil, Jr., Thomas James Bury, III, Patrick Michael Fingles
  • Patent number: 11112742
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a stack portion, a regulation portion, a detection unit, and a control unit. The regulation portion regulates a position of an edge of recording material stacked on the stack portion. The detection unit detects the position of the edge of the stacked and regulated recording material, and outputs a detection signal per the recording material edge detected position. Where the position of the recording material edge is detected, the control unit obtains a first width of the recording material stacked on the stack portion, calculates a second width of the recording material based on the detection signal output from the detection unit, and obtains a third width of the recording material by correcting a width of the recording material based on difference information between the second width of the recording material and the first width of the recording material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinichiro Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 9561921
    Abstract: An attachably/detachably sheet feeding unit includes a main body part, a pair of side cursors, a pair of cursor racks, a pinion and a holding member. On the main body part having a bottom plate, a sheet is placed. The side cursors are supported by the bottom plate to slide in a width direction of the sheet to restrict a position of the sheet in the width direction. The cursor racks respectively extend from the side cursors in opposing directions in the width direction. The pinion is engaged with the cursor racks. The holding member has a shaft support part rotatably supporting the pinion, is attachable/detachable to/from the bottom plate, and then, is supported to the bottom plate to move in the width direction while the pinion is engaged with the cursor racks, and is fixed to the bottom plate in an optional position in the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Takai
  • Patent number: 9538033
    Abstract: A sheet size determining portion determines, upon start of execution of a print job, whether or not a sheet size corresponding to raster image data to be printed in the print job matches a sheet size of a sheet conveyed in the print job. A size error detecting portion determines, in a case where the sheet size corresponding to the raster image data does not match the sheet size of the sheet, whether or not a print pixel to be printed exists in an excess region of the raster image data that is outside the sheet size of the sheet. A printing portion continues execution of the print job in a case where no print pixel exists in the excess region and stops the print job in a case where the print pixel exists in the excess region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Takenori Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9434560
    Abstract: A holding member of a sheet feeder includes a locking member engageable with a part of a pinion gear and holds the pinion gear and a sensor member. The holding member is detachably attachable to the sheet storage portion. The pinion gear and a pair of rack members are meshed with the holding member attached to a sheet storage portion. The holding member holds the pinion gear movably in an axial direction of the rotary shaft so that the pinion gear is displaceable between a first position where the rotation of the pinion gear is regulated and a second position where the pinion gear is rotatable. The pinion gear is located at the first position with the holding member detached from the sheet storage portion and located at the second position with the holding member attached to the sheet storage portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Seiji Okada, Keiji Okumura
  • Patent number: 9126796
    Abstract: There is a disclosure of a system which controls a folding unit performing folding processing to one set of sheets supplied by a print unit. The one set of sheets includes sheets of a first size and/or a second size which is smaller than the first size. The system includes a first controller and second controller. When the one set of sheets includes a sheet of the first size, the first controller inhibits the folding processing to a sheet of the second size. When the one set of sheets does not include a sheet of the first size but includes a sheet of the second size, the second controller permits the folding processing to a sheet of the second size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9108820
    Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus is disclosed, including a conveying roller pair; first and second folding roller pairs; first and second sheet detecting units; first and second sheet guiding members, a sheet conveyed from the conveying roller pair is guided to the first or second folding roller pair, a sheet edge is detected by the first or second sheet detecting unit, a sheet conveying direction and a sheet conveying distance are controlled based on the detected result, timings of an operation of the first or second sheet guiding member and conveying of the sheet by the first and second folding roller pair are aligned, and the sheet is folded while being placed by the first or second folding roller pair therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, LTD.
    Inventor: Toshiaki Tobishima
  • Patent number: 9085426
    Abstract: A feeding device includes a paper feed tray, a detector on an image forming apparatus main body, a control member rotatably supported by the paper feed tray, and spacers. The detector includes movable pieces and contact points corresponding to the movable piece, and switches each contact point by the position of the corresponding movable piece. The control member includes a control surface formed on its outer circumferential surface with projecting and recessed portions. The projecting and recessed portions are disposed in a pattern corresponding to rotation angles in an area of the control surface facing the movable pieces. Controlling the positions of the movable pieces according to the pattern encodes paper size. Each movable piece is lined in the circumferential direction facing the control surface. The outer circumferential surface of the projecting portions is formed in a cylindrical surface shape centering around the rotational axis of the control member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Ikuo Fujii, Toshio Matsuyama, Ippei Kimura, Mizuna Tanaka, Hirofumi Horita, Takamitsu Ikematsu, Kaoru Tada
  • Patent number: 9013735
    Abstract: A system includes a receiving unit configured to receive an operation input concerning an imposition setting, a generation unit configured to generate a first image in which images from a plurality of pages are virtually imposed in one page based on the imposition setting, and an output unit configured to output the first image regardless of a pre-set imposition setting restriction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kouya Okabe
  • 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: 8967611
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a processor-readable medium stores code representing instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to receive sheet length data for two paper sheets of a same standard dimension passing consecutively through a printing device. The processor calculates a length difference between the two paper sheets, and when the length difference exceeds a two-sheet threshold, it initiates an alignment correction cycle in a paper finishing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Indigo B.V.
    Inventors: Lior Joseph, Avihay Menashe, Itzik Kent
  • Patent number: 8953216
    Abstract: An original reader capable of being downsized without requiring a large-capacity image memory. A conveying path conveys an original. Sensors are arranged on the conveying path, for detecting the conveyed original. CCD line sensors read the conveyed original. A CPU of the image reader decides the size of the conveyed original based on the results of detection by the sensors. An image memory stores image data output from the line sensors. The CPU transmits the decided original size and the stored image data to a controller. When the CPU cannot decide the original size at a predetermined timing, it transmits one of original size candidates to the controller, as a provisional original size. When the size of the original decided afterwards is different from the provisional original size, the CPU retransmits the decided size of the original.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Morita, Yohei Katto, Satoshi Seki, Akiko Kanno, Hidenori Sunada, Asahiro Nakayoshi
  • Patent number: 8948681
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit forming an image on a recording sheet; a transport unit transporting the recording sheet; a support surface supporting the recording sheet; a rotating member having an outer peripheral surface pressed against the support surface and rotationally following the recording sheet when the recording sheet passes through between the support surface and the outer peripheral surface; an ascertaining unit ascertaining a length of the recording sheet on the basis of an amount of rotation of the rotating member; and a restricting unit restricting a movement of the rotating member that moves toward the support surface after the recording sheet passes through between the support surface and the outer peripheral surface, the restricting unit preventing the outer peripheral surface, which comes into contact with the recording sheet, and the support surface from coming into contact with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Furuya, Yoshinari Iwaki, Minoru Ohshima
  • Patent number: 8947746
    Abstract: An image reading device includes a platen glass, a document feeder, a light source, a light receiving section, a first opening/closing detection sensor, a second opening/closing detection sensor, and a document size determination section. The document size determination section determines a size of an original document on the basis of a measurement result from the light receiving section. Where the first opening/closing detection sensor indicates the open state, while the second opening/closing detection sensor indicates no open state when the original document is placed on the platen glass, the document size determination section determines a size of the original document in a main scanning direction on the basis of full lighting-up determination data obtained with all of plural light emitting elements lighted up and partial lighting-up determination data obtained with some of the plural light emitting elements lighted up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Sota Nanbu
  • Patent number: 8810865
    Abstract: A method for image processing in which an area of a platen on which a document is placed is read and the platen image is processed includes extracting an object included in the platen image, detecting an area of the object and inclination of the area of the object with respect to the platen image, determining the minimum rectangular area which includes the area of the object, and is surrounded with four sides parallel to four sides of the platen image respectively, comparing an extent to which a pixel group constituting an edge of each area includes pixels constituting an edge of the platen image between the area of the object and the minimum rectangular area, and determining a minimum rectangular area as the area of the document if a pixel group includes a larger number of pixels based on the comparing or if the inclination is small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobukazu Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8798489
    Abstract: An effective image area can be properly corrected in accordance with the quantity of light from an irradiation unit by selecting, as the effective image area, pixels having light quantities more than or equal to a threshold value that allows accurate acquisition of a surface image of a recording medium, on the basis of a light quantity distribution of the light from the irradiation unit. This reduces the influence of mounting accuracy of the irradiation unit, and allows the recording medium to be identified accurately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsutomu Ishida, Shunichi Ebihara, Norio Matsui, Shoichi Koyama
  • Patent number: 8767221
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus connected to an image forming apparatus includes: a size detecting unit that detects a size of each page of a document to be printed; an orientation detecting unit that detects orientation of each page of the document; a receiving unit that receives a setting of post processing that is to be performed on a printed sheet on which the document is printed; a determining unit that determines whether pages of different sizes, both having one side of the same length and other sides of different lengths, are detected in the document; a rotation control unit that, when the determining unit determines that the pages of the different sizes have been detected, rotates pages so that sides of the same length are aligned on the basis of the setting of the post processing; and an output unit that outputs the document with the pages rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Mochizuki, Shizhong Zhu
  • Patent number: 8632070
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus for performing image formation on a fed sheet includes a feeding unit, a detecting unit, a conveying control unit, and a first, second, and third determining unit. The feeding unit feeds a sheet of an irregular size onto a conveyance path. The detecting unit detects timings at which a leading edge and trailing edge of the fed sheet pass through a conveyance path predetermined position. The first determining unit determines a length of the sheet in a width direction. The conveying control unit discharges the sheet to a discharge destination without performing image formation on the sheet. The second determining unit determines a length of the sheet in the conveyance direction. The third determining unit determines a sheet size of the sheet of the irregular size from the length of the sheet in the width direction and the length of the sheet in the conveyance direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Nonaka
  • Patent number: 8498025
    Abstract: An image reader reads an image on a document while transporting it along a transport path. The image reader includes an image-reading unit, a document guide member and a size detector. The image-reading unit reads the image in a predetermined line width and generates image data based on the image. The document guide member is disposed along the document path and has a first mark thereon. The first mark extends in a main scanning direction of the image-reading unit and has a width greater than or equal to the predetermined line width. The size detector detects the size of the document based on image data read by the image-reading unit at a size detection position where the document overlaps with the first mark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Ryuji Fukasawa
  • Patent number: 8493611
    Abstract: There is provided a print job control apparatus including an acquiring unit configured to acquire post-processing function information of a digital printing apparatus, a determination unit configured to reference the post-processing function information and the print job, and determine to use either a post-processing function of the digital printing apparatus or a post-processing apparatus for post-processing, a first generating unit configured to generate a print job to be executed using the post-processing function of the digital printing apparatus, a second generating unit configured to generate a print job to be executed using a post-processing apparatus, and a sending unit configured to send the print jobs generated by the first or second generating units to the digital printing apparatus and the post-processing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Saito
  • Patent number: 8482789
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a feeder, a first reading unit, a first memory which stores image data of the surface of the document read by the first reading unit, a second reading unit located at an upstream side of the first reading position, a second memory which stores image data of the document read by the second reading unit and a controller configured to control the feeder, the first reading unit and the second reading unit. The controller controls to execute pre-scanning the document by the second reading unit over a predetermined range shorter than a separation distance between the first reading position and the second reading position in a transporting direction from a leading edge of the document when the document reaches the second reading position. The controller further controls to execute storing obtained pre-scanned image data into the second memory and measuring the size of the document based on the pre-scanned image data stored in the second memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masayoshi Oosaki
  • Patent number: 8467110
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus of the present invention includes a document placing unit on which a document is placed, a light source unit in which light sources are arrayed in a depth direction, a light source drive unit that drives the light sources, and a light source control unit that controls so that the light sources are divided into a plurality of groups to be driven. An image sensor is provided at a position capable of receiving light emitted from the light sources and reflected by the document on the document placing unit. Further, the document size is detected through detection of a position of an edge of the document from an output signal from the image sensor. Then, the light source drive unit is controlled so that, when the image is to be read, the light sources are activated to illuminate the document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Yoko Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8441674
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a first image obtaining portion which obtains an image of a medium as a first image, a second image obtaining portion which can continuously obtain each image of a plurality of originals as a second image, and an image output section which outputs the image has: an input portion which inputs composition instruction information for instructing composition of first image and each second image; a control portion which makes said first and said second image obtaining portions operative when the composition instruction information is inputted; and an image composing portion which forms each composite image by composing each of the second images sequentially obtained by the second image obtaining portion to the first image obtained by said first image obtaining portion. The image output section outputs the composite images formed by the image composing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuya Hosoi
  • Patent number: 8416448
    Abstract: A printing apparatus is disclosed, which includes: a printing unit including print sheets having different sizes, the printing unit being able to print selectively on any of the print sheets; an original document size determining unit to determine the size of an original document; a scanning unit to scan the original document; a region recognizing unit to recognize a region to be printed in the original document; a deciding unit to decide a print sheet size being larger than the region to be printed and smaller than the size of the original document by comparing the sizes of the print sheets with the size of the original document and the size of the region to be printed; and a controlling unit to cause printing of the image of the region to be printed at 100% magnification on the print sheet of the decided size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Riso Kagaku Corporation
    Inventor: Daisuke Saito
  • Patent number: 8401408
    Abstract: A light scanning device and an image forming apparatus including the light scanning device are provided. The light scanning device includes: a light emitting unit which emits a light beam; a light deflecting unit which deflects the light beam to scan in a scanning direction; a scanning lens which focuses the light beam deflected and scanned by the light deflecting unit on a photosensitive body; and a light detecting unit which detects the light beam directed to outside areas of an image formation area in the scanning direction, wherein an optical path length of the light beam directed to one of the outside areas, from the light deflecting unit to the light detecting unit is different from an optical path length of the light beam directed to the other one of the outside areas, from the light deflecting unit to the light detecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Junichi Yokoi
  • Patent number: 8300277
    Abstract: In a method for reading a document set on a document positioning plate to output image data, an edge area of an image of an entire reading area is extracted to form a first rectangle area including the extracted edge area. If a position of an apex of the first rectangle area farthest from a reading reference position and a size of the first rectangle area satisfy predetermined conditions, image data corresponding to a second rectangle area including the first rectangle area and the reading reference position are output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yusuke Hattori
  • Patent number: 8285191
    Abstract: A sheet size detecting apparatus having a first arm moved by a moving sheet contacting therewith, a second arm moved by the moving sheet contacting therewith, the second arm being disposed at a location differing from that of the first arm in a direction orthogonal to the movement direction of the sheet, and a sensor, wherein the output level of the sensor when only one of the first arm and the second arm has been moved is the same as the output level thereof when neither of the first arm and the second arm is moved, and the output level of the sensor when both of the first arm and the second arm have been moved differs from the output level thereof when neither of the first arm and the second arm is not moved. Thereby, the cost can be suppressed and yet, the wrong detection of the sheet size can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinsuke Kobayashi, Jun Agata
  • Patent number: 8248655
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus which has a double-side copying function, including: at least either one of an original document detection section that detects a size of an original document, and an original document size setting section that sets a size of the original document as required; an original document top position setting section that sets a top position of the original document as required; a binding direction setting section that sets a binding direction of the original document and a binding direction of an output sheet as required; an output size setting section that sets a size of the output sheet as required; a print magnification ratio setting section that sets a print magnification ratio as required; and a copy region determination section that sets a copy region with reference to a top left corner of the original document, the top left corner being identified when the original document is placed such that the top position thereof is upward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Masaki Baba
  • Patent number: 8179573
    Abstract: In one implementation, a method scans a media to provide a first image and a second image. The method further subtracts the first image from the second image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Kevin Bokelman, Glenn W. Gaarder, Otto K. Sievert
  • Patent number: 8159729
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a first image generation unit configured to scan a document set with one edge aligned with a reference position of a document positioning plate to generate a first image, a second image generation unit configured to scan the document set with a second edge, side opposite to the first edge, aligned with the reference position of the document positioning plate to generate a second image, a detection unit configured to perform matching processing to match image data of the first image with image data of the second image to detect an offset between the first image and the second image, and a determination unit configured to determine a size of the document based on the offset detected by the detection unit. The second edge may be opposite the first. Alternatively, corners may be used instead of edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuya Imafuku
  • Patent number: 8139245
    Abstract: An approach is provided for managing the processing of print data at a printing device based upon available consumable resources. A printing device includes a print process configured to determine consumable resources that are currently available at the printing device. The print process is further configured to determine which print data is to be processed based upon the consumable resources currently available at the printing device and the consumable resources required to completely process each of the print data. Print data that can be completely processed using the currently available consumable resources are selected for processing. The print process may also be configured to cause a notification to be provided to a client device to indicate the consumable resources currently available at a printing device and/or that insufficient consumable resources were available to process particular print data and to recommend other consumable resources to process the particular print data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Lifen Tian
  • Patent number: 8130423
    Abstract: An image scanning device for scanning an image on a document comprises a document table on which a document to be scanned is placed, a scanning unit which is installed in the document table for scanning an image on a document by projecting light from a light source onto the document in a time-sharing manner and detecting reflected light from the document, a moving unit which moves at least one of the document and the scanning unit to let them move relatively with each other, and a document type judgment unit which judges the type of the document in regard to transmission of light through the document based on a non-lighting period image signal which is outputted by the scanning unit by scanning the document for one line in a main scanning direction in a non-lighting period of the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keiichi Nakano, Takahiro Ikeno
  • Patent number: 8130424
    Abstract: An aspect of the invention provides an image scanner which can continuously transfer image data of one surface to an external device (image forming apparatus) without performing control such as interruption and resumption of an original scanning operation. The image scanner includes a size detection unit which detects an original size and a determination unit which determines whether or not the image data relating to an original of the size detected by the size detection unit can be stored in a storage unit. The image scanner also includes a control unit. The control unit is configured to set operation in a first mode when the determination unit determines that image data relating to the original can be stored in the storage unit, and the control unit is configured to set operation in a second mode when the determination unit determines that image data relating to the original cannot be stored in the storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuhiro Ishido
  • Patent number: 8102575
    Abstract: In a method for reading a document set on a document positioning plate to output image data, an edge area of an image of an entire reading area is extracted to form a first rectangle area including the extracted edge area. If a position of an apex of the first rectangle area farthest from a reading reference position and a size of the first rectangle area satisfy predetermined conditions, image data corresponding to a second rectangle area including the first rectangle area and the reading reference position are output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yusuke Hattori
  • Patent number: 8102578
    Abstract: An image scanning apparatus includes a reversal tray on which printable media are temporarily stacked, and a reverse roller installed inside a main body immediately before the reversal tray at a junction between the reversal tray and an end of a second moving path, which is driven in both clockwise and anti-clockwise directions by power transmitted via a discharge roller to guide one of the printable media towards and away from the reversal tray along a second moving path, wherein a feeder, a pick-up roller, a scanning unit, a discharge tray, and transport rollers are installed on a first moving path in order to scan images from one side of the printable medium, and the reversal tray and the reverse roller are installed on the second moving path in order to scan images from the other side of the printable medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jin-kyu Oh
  • Patent number: 8099036
    Abstract: A disclosed image processing apparatus is capable of shifting an illegal copy preventing pattern so that an image reading device can recognize the pattern printed at the edge end of the printing range on a paper even when the printing range on the paper is changed by, for example, trimming and user settings. The apparatus includes an image output unit outputting an image to a prescribed region; an output position setting unit acquiring output region information, comparing the output region information with the illegal copy preventing pattern; and determining an output position of the illegal copy preventing pattern based on the comparison result, and a combining unit combining the illegal copy preventing pattern and image data based on the output position determined by the output position setting unit. The image output unit outputs the image combined by the combining unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kouichi Morishita
  • Patent number: 8095062
    Abstract: The present application is directed to sensors and methods of use to determine a width of a media sheet moving along a media path. In one embodiment, the sensor includes a shaft that extends at least partially across the media path. First and second paddles may extend outward from the shaft and into the media path. The paddles may be axially spaced apart along a length of the shaft, and the first paddle may be positioned upstream along the media path from the second paddle. A flag may extend outward from the shaft. A detector may be positioned in proximity to the shaft. In use, the shaft may rotate during contact between the media sheets and the paddles to move the flag. The detector may be able to differentiate between a first amount of rotation due to contact with a wide media sheet and a second amount of rotation with a narrow media sheet to determine a width of the media sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Paul Maddux, Clark Edwin Jarnagin, Daniel P. Cahill
  • Patent number: 8009319
    Abstract: There is provided an image formation device including: a receiving section, which receives content information of a printing object from a content recording server via a network; a judgement section, which judges a category of the received content information; a specification section, which specifies a printing method and printing parameter in accordance with the judged category; and a printing section, which prints the printing object with the printing method in accordance with the specified printing parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takahiro Sato
  • Publication number: 20110188912
    Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments there is provided a printing system such as a printer, a copier, and a facsimile machine having an automatic print media size determining apparatus. At least one side guide is coupled with a linear encoder and an external sensor to determine the size of media received on a support surface. According to one implementation, the support surface is provided by a paper tray. The paper tray includes a support surface configured to receive media, at least one side guide, and an encoder that moves with the side guide. The side guide is movably supported for continuously adjustable positioning relative to the tray to conform dimensionally with print media received in the tray. The print media size determining apparatus includes an external position-detecting sensor associated with the encoder and the side guide that is operative to generate a unique electrical pattern corresponding with a detected position of the side relative to the tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Martin Richard WALSH
  • Patent number: 7969607
    Abstract: The invention provides a print control apparatus, a print control method, and a print control program, in which in the case of Z-folding a sheet which has been print-outputted by using an N-up function for allocating a plurality of logic pages onto one sheet, it is possible to make layout adjustment such that the logic pages printed onto the output sheet in the Z-folding state can be easily confirmed, and also provides a memory medium in which such a program has been stored. For this purpose, layout designation to designate a mode to print the plurality of logic pages onto one of print surfaces of the sheet which is outputted by a printing apparatus is made. Further, when the sheet is Z-folded, the layout of the plurality of logic pages is adjusted so that the whole area of at least one logic page is displayed onto an exposing surface of the Z-folded sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazunori Masaki
  • Patent number: 7924481
    Abstract: An image reading device and an image forming apparatus and methods thereof can achieve a duplex scanning operation and enable a user to easily arrange the scanned documents after being discharged. The image reading device may include a supply path coupled to a document supply port, a simplex document feeding path coupled to the supply path to first guide the document to the scan unit, a duplex document feeding path coupled to the supply path to second guide the document to the scan unit to scan a first surface of the document, and a duplex document circulating path to communicate with the duplex document feeding path and guide a second surface of the first surface scanned document to the scan unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hong Seong Kim
  • Patent number: 7813010
    Abstract: A driving unit drives an illuminating light. An image pick-up device reads a document in a main-scanning direction. An optical unit projects an image of the document onto the image pick-up device. An extracting unit extracts image signals at a plurality of points in the main-scanning direction of a first position and a second position in a sub-scanning direction. A document detecting unit creates binary data indicating a presence of the document at each of the points based on the image signals extracted. A size detecting unit determines a size of the document in the main-scanning direction based on a distribution of presence and absence of the document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Norio Michiie, Hiroshi Arai, Sachiko Nishikino
  • Patent number: 7800795
    Abstract: An original comprises a first page and a second page as disposed face-down on the platen surface of an image-processing device. The platen is scanned to form a platen image. The positions of two diagonally-opposite corners of the original are determined based on a fixed platen reference point. An original image is formed by cropping the platen image based on the positions of the two original corners. The size and position of either one selected page or both pages are determined based on the two original corner positions. When the image of only one selected page is desired, the image of the selected page is formed by cropping the original image based on the size and position of the selected page. When the images of both pages are desired, the images of both pages are formed by cropping the original image based on the sizes and positions of both pages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Nancy R Kelly, Paul R Conlon