Control Of Electrophotography Process Patents (Class 399/38)
  • Patent number: 5963757
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for locating and cutting individual images from a web containing a plurality of images, the web having a magnetic media capable of retaining magnetically recorded data. The apparatus comprising a reader for reading magnetically recorded data contained on the magnetic media which provides information relating to the location of the images thereon; and a mechanism responsive to the information read by the reader and for performing an operation to the web in accordance with the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Ronda Ellen Factor
  • Patent number: 5960248
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a capability to reliably perform stapling, using a simple operation, at a desired position that takes into consideration the image on the recording sheet.The present invention that attains said object provides an image forming apparatus that records an original document image on a sheet of recording medium, having a designating device that designates a stapling position with reference to the original document image, and a stapling device that binds the recording sheets at a position on them that corresponds to the stapling position designated by means of said designating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshinori Ohno
  • Patent number: 5950037
    Abstract: There is disclosed an image forming apparatus using electrophotography including an interface unit allowing the image forming apparatus to be in continual electrical communication with an external data input system; a photodetector for sensing the level of brightness in a room in which the apparatus is located, and generating a signal corresponding thereto; a printing unit having driving mechanisms for paper conveyance and printing, and carrying out a power conservation mode and printing operations; and a controller for controlling the overall operations of the image forming apparatus, electrically communicating with the external data input system by way of the interface unit, and establishing a power conservation mode in which power consumption is lower than that of a standby mode, on receiving a signal reporting that the level of brightness in the room is lower than a standard brightness preset in the system, from the photodetector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: SamSung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chang-Kyung Ko
  • Patent number: 5950040
    Abstract: A feedback control system controls developability of a xerographic imaging device that uses optical sensors for measuring development values based upon a target value. The feedback control system includes a controller device and a feedforward device. The controller device includes an input summing node, a gain device, an integrator and a nominal summing node which are serially connected in communication with each other. The input summing node, the gain device and the integrator are operative in combination with each other to receive and process the measured value and the target value to provide an new corrected actuator value to the integrator summing node. The feedforward device is connected to the nominal summing node and receives and responds to the target value to output a nominal actuator value to the nominal summing node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Lingappa K. Mestha, Meera Sampath, Yao Rong Wang
  • Patent number: 5881352
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is mounted in a copying machine or a printer and is adapted to serve the purpose of bundling and stapling a plurality of copied or printed sheets, automatically encasing the stapled bundle of sheets with a cover specially designed for enclosure, and binding the cover. The apparatus has an image memory, an image signal processing part, an image producing part, a sheet accumulating part, a cover storing part, a cover delivering part, a cover supporting part, a sheet delivering and inserting part, a heating part, and a CPU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Kobayashi, Ryo Hirano
  • Patent number: 5854957
    Abstract: In an image formation apparatus, the control temperature of a heat fixing device includes an operation temperature and a standby temperature that is relatively lower than the operation temperature. When an instruction is designated to start an image formation operation, data associated with the start timing of the first image formation operation is calculated. Control of raising the temperature of a roller for heat fixing from the standby temperature to the operation temperature is initiated so that the heat fixing roller attains the operation temperature at the start timing of an image formation operation. As a result, the time of initiating control to raise the temperature to the operation temperature level is optimized to reduce power consumption without increasing the standby time for an image formation operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Morikawa
  • Patent number: 5835820
    Abstract: A print media sheet tray control system for use with a printing system having a controller is provided. The control system includes a print media sheet tray which is configurable, through use of the controller, in a selected one of a first operational mode and a second operational mode. The configurable print media sheet tray is characterized by a print media attribute set having a selected state which can be either a first state or a second state. If the configurable print media sheet tray is configured in the first operational mode, then the controller prohibits printing system operation if the selected state has been altered from the first state to the second state. On the other hand, if the configurable print media sheet tray is configured in the second operational mode, then operation of the printing system is permitted provided the alteration was achieved pursuant to a preselected alteration process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew T. Martin, John W. Daughton, John (Jack) F. Gauronski, David B. Heinzelman, Susan B. Layer, James F. Matysek
  • Patent number: 5832331
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a backup memory for storing data on image forming in a memory. When the power supply of the apparatus is turned off due to a trouble, a controller reproduces a status just before the power supply is turned off according to the data stored in the backup device if a predetermined time passes after the power supply is turned on again. However, new image forming is started if a preparation operation for new image forming is detected within the predetermined time. Further, if the power supply is turned off while a document is read, the controller reproduces the status just before the power supply is turned off when the power supply is turned on again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiichi Yoshida, Yoichi Kawabuchi, Eiichiro Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 5822077
    Abstract: A determination unit is used for a functional apparatus, for determining whether or not an external object will use the functional apparatus. The determining unit comprises a detecting unit, a determining sub-unit, a service providing unit. The detecting unit detects movement of an external object. The determining sub-unit determines, based on the result of the detection by the detection unit, whether or not the external object will use the functional apparatus. The service providing unit provides a service which is appropriate based on the determination performed by the determining sub-unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiichi Sasaki, Fumio Kishi, Mitsuhisa Kanaya, Yoshinori Arai, Kouji Ichimiya, Kenji Namie
  • Patent number: 5809392
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus which forms identical images both on a sheet of a first type (overhead projector sheet) and on a sheet of a second type (normal paper sheet). One-side image formation is performed to form images on front sides of OHP sheets which are then discharged into a non-sort bin. Two-side image formation is performed to form images on the both sides of normal paper sheets which are then sorted and discharged into sort bins. Thus, sets of document sheets for presentation can be prepared in a sorted state. Since images are formed on both sides of the normal paper sheets, the normal sheets can be economized and saved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Mita Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidehiro Tabuchi, Yoshiki Yoshioka, Junichi Oura, Koji Maeda
  • Patent number: 5790924
    Abstract: An electrophotographic printer device for both-sided printing of a tape-shaped, narrow recording medium (10) and for single-sided printing of a wide recording medium or a plurality of parallel, narrow recording media (10/1,10/2,10/3) contains a printer module that is designed for printing recording media differing in width. A delivery module and a turn-over module (28) are removably arranged in the printer module, the narrow recording medium (10) being turned over after the printing of the front side and being reconducted through the printer module for printing the back side via said delivery module and turn-over module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Siemens Nixdorf Informationssystem Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Edmund Creutzmann, Walter Kopp, Helmut Reichl
  • Patent number: 5774761
    Abstract: A method of setting up an electrostatographic printing machine having image quality attributes and parameters that control the attributes using multivariate modeling and multiobjective optimization. The method includes providing a discrete number of parameter settings and printing test patterns based upon the parameter settings. The test patterns are scanned to produce a set of image quality values. Using a multivariate adaptive regression splines technique, a model of the printing machine image quality is provided in response to the parameter settings and the image quality values. Optimum parameter settings for the printing machine are then determined from the discrete number of parameter settings to produce consistent image quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Sudhendu Rai
  • Patent number: 5761575
    Abstract: Time data required for an exposing lamp to reach to a standby temperature value from the starting of the exposing lamp heater with a rated current, and time data required for a heat roller to reach to the standby temperature from the starting of the heater lamp of the fixing apparatus with a rated current are retained in a ROM. The temperature of the heat roller and of the exposing lamp is detected when the power-save mode releasing has been instructed by the key. The start beginning timing of the exposing lamp heater and of the heater lamp is controlled so that the temperature of the exposing lamp and of the heat roller may become a standby state at substantially the same time from the time data retained based on the detected temperature value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Taizo Kimoto
  • Patent number: 5740497
    Abstract: In an image processing apparatus, determination is made whether an interruptive print wait state is attained during interruptive printing. When determination is made that the apparatus is in an interruptive print wait state, an interruption recover process is effected. Then, the apparatus returns to the normal mode prior to interruption. Thus, an image processing apparatus is provided that can have the waiting time caused by an interruption in the normal job reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsutoshi Yamada, Takeshi Morikawa, Hiroharu Tanaka, Tomoyuki Atsumi, Hidenobu Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5737003
    Abstract: A system for registration of color separation images on a photoconductor belt in an imaging system operates to detect a position of an edge of the photoconductor belt. The registration system detects the position with the same laser scanner used for forming latent images on the photoconductor belt. The registration system includes a belt steering control system that steers the photoconductor belt based on the detected position to reduce deviation of the belt from a continuous transport path. The registration system also may include a scan control system that, based on the detected position, controls the modulation of laser beams scanned to form latent images on the photoconductor belt. By controlling belt steering and laser beam scanning, the registration system maintains the image quality of a final multi-color image upon transfer of registered color separation images to an output substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Edward J. Moe, William D. Edwards, Truman F. Kellie, Michael R. Bury
  • Patent number: 5724641
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the present invention contains an original set tray on which originals are set, image reading system for reading an image on the original, image forming system for forming an image on a sheet on the basis of the image on the original read by the image reading system, an original discharge tray onto which the originals from which the images have been respectively read are discharged, an automatic document feeder for leading the originals set on the original set tray to the position of the image reading system one original at a time, and then discharging the original onto the original discharge tray, a plurality of sheet discharge trays onto which the sheets respectively having the images formed thereon are discharged, distributing system for distributing the sheets respectively having the images formed thereon among the plurality of sheet discharge trays, and a stapler relatively movable in the positions of the original discharge tray and the plurality of sheet discharge
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Shojo, Shizuo Yuge, Keichi Kinoshita, Yoshio Sakagawa
  • Patent number: 5713061
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus for performing a one-side image formation to form an image of a designated page on a recording sheet is disclosed. Selected from a plurality of pages each carrying an image to be formed, a page can be designated by an operation section. Image formation on one side of a recording sheet carrying an image of the designated page formed on the other side thereof is prohibited. Thus, the recording sheet carries the image of the designated page formed only on one side thereof. Where images on two-sided document original sheets are copied to prepare a set of document copies, for example, one-side image formation is performed to copy an image on a cover sheet or on an inter-sheet for chaptering, while two-side image formation is performed to copy images of the other pages on normal sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Mita Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiki Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 5708913
    Abstract: A coating apparatus for coating liquid-form material to be solidified as an elastomer on a coated member in order to form a seal member for preventing toner leakage, includes an injection member for injecting the liquid-form material on the coated member, a holder for holding the coated member, a driver for causing relative movement between the injection member and the holder, and a controller for controlling the driver to change the relative movement between the injection member and the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masateru Yasuhara, Tadayuki Tsuda, Akira Higeta, Hiroshi Koyama
  • Patent number: 5701547
    Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a guiding path for guiding a sheet, a detector for detecting the presence/absence of the sheet in the guiding path, a power-supply switch for turning on and off a power supply, and a determination device for determining whether the sheet comprises a rolled sheet or a cut sheet according to whether the detector detects or does not detect the sheet, respectively, when the power-supply switch has been turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masakatsu Yamada, Minoru Yokoyama, Takeshi Kohno
  • Patent number: 5694637
    Abstract: A method for controlling an image forming apparatus which has a photoreceptor and a writing system to write a latent image on the photoreceptor with plural laser beams. The method includes the steps of: correcting positional deviations among the plural laser beams; conducting at least one of maximum density correction and gradation correction for image forming operation of the image forming apparatus by providing at least one standard density pattern on the photoreceptor with the plural laser beams; and repeating the correcting step of positional deviations among the plurality of laser beam. All of the steps are conducted when the image forming apparatus is in a warm-up state in succession to a turn-on operation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Kunihisa Yoshino, Hiroyuki Yamamoto, Jun Yokobori, Shizuo Kayano
  • Patent number: 5682573
    Abstract: When a status transition occurs, case data are collected and a new control rule is generated based on those case data. A control rule memory can store a plurality of control rules. A plurality of control rules are selectively read out from the control rule memory, and combined in accordance with their adaptabilities into an application control rule. An error between a target value and a measured control quantity is applied to the application control rule, to thereby calculate a correction value of an operation quantity. An operation part of an image forming apparatus main body is controlled based on the correction value so that the control quantity becomes the target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyotaka Ishikawa, Kunio Yamada
  • Patent number: 5648843
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit for forming an image on an image receiving medium which has first and second surfaces, a roller for conveying the image receiving medium on which the image was formed on the first surface to the image forming unit again, the roller contacts at least the first surface of the image receiving medium, and a driving mechanism for driving the roller. The apparatus further includes a detector for detecting the density of the image formed on the first surface of the image receiving medium. The driving condition of the roller by the driving mechanism is adjusted according to the image density detected by the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Takeshi Eguchi
  • Patent number: 5630194
    Abstract: An image forming machine equipped with a transfer belt unit includes a safety detecting means for detecting the completion of setting of an opening/closing member constituting the image forming machine, and a controlling means for controlling the operation of a driving means for a driving roller on the basis of a signal from the safety detecting means. When the safety detecting means signals the completion of the setting after signaling the incompletion of the setting, the controlling means controls the driving means so as to perform a reverse driving, thereby driving the driving roller reversely by a predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Mita Industrial Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeo Fujita, Ryuji Wataki, Noritaka Okazaki, Michio Uchida, Yuzuru Nanjo, Yuki Ito
  • Patent number: 5572330
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus for processing gradation images which includes a pattern forming circuit for forming a predetermined pattern on a medium. A detecting device detects the predetermined pattern on the medium and generates a detection signal. A processing circuit processes the input image signal in accordance with the detection signal and outputs a reproduction signal. A setting device manually sets an image signal processing condition of the processing circuit, thereby accomplishing optimization of the image processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuatsu Sasanuma