In Registration With Image Patents (Class 399/394)
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Publication number: 20090274503Abstract: In a color marking assembly, a series or plurality of ROS-imaging station units are aligned above an endless image transfer belt. Since there are a plurality of units, image alignment between the several station units is important. To accomplish this, skewing of each of the stations is necessary. The present invention involves a fixed ROS unit and a movable or skewable imaging station. This imaging station is movable on at least three spheres, one sphere below the imaging station and on its inboard side, the other spheres are located on a track below the imaging station and on its outboard side. This arrangement reduces vibration of these stations while at the same time providing an easily skewable xerographic imaging station.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2008Publication date: November 5, 2009Applicant: XEROX CORPORATIONInventors: James P. Calamita, Mark A. Atwood
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Publication number: 20090269113Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit including an image carrier carrying a developer image to form an image by transferring the developer image onto a recording sheet at an image forming position, a recording sheet accommodating unit, a feeding path, a conveyance roller provided in the feeding path for conveying the recording sheet to the image forming position, a discharge path that guides the recording sheet to an outside, a discharge roller being rotatable normally and reversely and discharging the recording sheet to the outside by rotating normally, and a reverse feeding path, by which the recording sheet is guided when the discharge roller reversely rotates, and which reverses the recording sheet so as to guide the recording sheet to be joined again with the feeding path. The reverse feeding path is joined with the feeding path between the image carrier and the conveyance roller.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2009Publication date: October 29, 2009Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Daisuke OGAWA
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Patent number: 7603073Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image supporting member; a belt; a belt drive unit for rotating the belt; an acceleration and deceleration information storage unit; and a belt speed control unit. The belt speed control unit determines a difference between a first moving amount corresponding to rotations of the image supporting member from a stationary state thereof to a specific speed and a second moving amount corresponding to rotations of the belt from a stationary state thereof to the specific speed. The belt speed control unit controls the belt drive unit, so that a third moving amount corresponding to rotations of the belt from the specific speed to the stationary state thereof becomes larger than a fourth moving amount corresponding to rotations of the image supporting member from the specific speed to the stationary state thereof according to the difference.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2007Date of Patent: October 13, 2009Assignee: Oki Data CorporationInventor: Tomoyuki Kojima
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Patent number: 7602513Abstract: A paper conveying apparatus, having a simple structure, in which variation in a load imposed on paper is reduced to suppress printing irregularities, and also a printer are provided. A pair of rollers of a second conveying apparatus, arranged at a predetermined interval away from a first conveying apparatus, are composed of a rotationally-driven driving roller and a driven roller which is trailingly rotated, with paper being gripped between the driving roller and the driven roller. The pairs of rollers of the second conveying apparatus are arranged in different positions along the paper conveying direction. The paper gripping pressure of the pair of driving rollers arranged on the upstream side along the paper conveying direction is set to be lower than that of the other pairs of driving rollers.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2003Date of Patent: October 13, 2009Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hideo Uwagaki, Ryoichi Kawai, Shigeo Miyamoto
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Patent number: 7593656Abstract: A device and a method using a printing device and system for printing sheets whereby, for each sheet, at least one register mark per color printing unit of the multi-color printing machine is produced, assigned to said sheet and defined with respect to its position, so that in duplex printing register marks are applied to each side. The position of each mark is determined by analyzing the position of the mark assigned to the appropriate previous recto or verso sheet.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2007Date of Patent: September 22, 2009Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Jan D. Boness, Ingo K. Dreher, Heiko Hunold, Karlheinz Peter, Stefan Schrader
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Patent number: 7587165Abstract: An image forming apparatus carries out an image processing with respect to a sheet size and image information based on a print request to obtain a write image on a photoreceptor. On the basis of a printing ratio of the write image, the apparatus predicts occurrence of an image elongation. If the apparatus predicts that the image elongation occurs, the apparatus calculates a bending amount of a bended portion based on the difference between peripheral velocities of a photoreceptor and the idle roller, and the apparatus variably controls the peripheral velocity of an idle roller so that the bending amount is adjusted so as not to cause a slip phenomenon. It is possible to avoid the occurrence of a phenomenon of slipping of a sheet with respect to the photoreceptor without lowering image quality, and to surely secure a blank space formed at a rear edge portion of the sheet.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2006Date of Patent: September 8, 2009Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshiki Takiguchi, Tatsuya Inoue, Kouji Wakamoto, Tsutomu Yoshimoto, Syoichiro Yoshiura
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Patent number: 7561830Abstract: A rotation device includes a rotation member, rotation driving source, transmission mechanism, rotation pulse generation mechanism, target value arrangement mechanism, correction value computation mechanism, and control mechanism. The transmission mechanism decreases the rotation speed at a non-integer gear ratio. The target value arrangement mechanism includes a rotation unevenness provision mechanism to impart a plurality of kinds of sine-wave unevenness to the rotation speed target value.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2007Date of Patent: July 14, 2009Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Tatsuya Watahiki
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Patent number: 7561843Abstract: A registration and measurement system for a printing machine includes two drive rollers and two opposing idler rollers. Each drive roller and idle roller combination respectively form a drive nip. A single servo or stepper motor is operably connected to the drive rollers through a gear train, allowing the motor to drive the sheet feeding nips. A rotary encoder is attached to each idler roller. Optical sensors are provided above a desired sheet path. The optical sensors and the rotary encoders are connected to a controller and are operable to deliver output signals to the controller. The controller is operable to determine the length of a sheet passing through the nips based upon the signals received from the optical sensors and the rotary encoders.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2005Date of Patent: July 14, 2009Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Joannes N. M. deJong, Lloyd A. Williams
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Patent number: 7548326Abstract: A printer processor prints out two sheets of test prints by printing a test pattern on two recording sheets of different lengths. The test pattern consists of eight straight-linear lines that are parallel to a main scan direction or a sub scan direction of an exposure section. Dimensions of designated portions of the test pattern are measured on each of the test prints, to detect skew characteristics of the recording sheets, deviations of print starting positions in the main and sub scan directions and fluctuations in transport speed of the recording sheets. Based on the detected values, a skew correcting section, the exposure section and a conveyer device for the recording sheets are controlled to correct skew of the recording sheets, the print starting positions in the main and sub scan directions and the transport speed.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2005Date of Patent: June 16, 2009Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventor: Kimitake Fukushima
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Patent number: 7539455Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention carries out an image processing with respect to image information which is to be printed. The image forming apparatus predicts the occurrence of an image elongation which may occur due to slippage of a recording material with respect to the electrostatic image drum, and specifies an image elongation occurring area on the basis of a printing ratio of the image information. If the occurrence of slippage, and thus image elongation is predicted, the amount of the image elongation occurring area to be shortened is calculated. The image information is then modified to obtain write image information that is shortened based on the calculated shortening amount. This write image information is then used to form the electrostatic latent image that is developed and transferred to a recording material. Thus, even slippage does occur, it is possible to accurately form the desired image on the recording material.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2006Date of Patent: May 26, 2009Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshiki Takiguchi, Kouji Wakamoto, Tatsuya Inoue, Hiroshi Ishii
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Patent number: 7532852Abstract: A registration device includes a feed roller which presses one surface of a sheet to feed the sheet. A cartridge unit is placed opposite to the feed roller and includes a follower roller to support the other surface of the sheet. An image forming unit forms an image on the sheet and a regulating element rotates the cartridge unit relative to the feed roller so that an arranged sheet can be fed into the image forming unit. The registration device can regulate the parallel degree between the cartridge unit and the feed roller in the process of assembling the image forming apparatus to prevent the skew of the sheet.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2005Date of Patent: May 12, 2009Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Karp-Sik Youn
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Patent number: 7512377Abstract: A system and method for registering a sheet transported along a sheet path of a printing system, including receiving a sheet at a first location, transporting the sheet along the sheet path from the first location in a downstream direction at a first speed. The speed at which the sheet is transported is decreased from the first speed to a second speed. The transported sheet is received at a second location downstream from the first location and registered at the second location, including correcting at least one of lateral position of the sheet, skew of the sheet, and timing error in a downstream direction.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2005Date of Patent: March 31, 2009Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Injae Choi, Michael J. Linder, Lloyd A. Williams, Joannes N. M. deJong
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Patent number: 7509082Abstract: A pattern image for registration correction is formed in a reference color and an arbitrary color to be corrected. The pattern image for registration correction is formed a number or times n1 or a number of times n2. If the total number of image forming sections is S; the length of sheets is L; the sheet-to-sheet distance is d; and the belt conveying distance corresponding to one revolution of a drive roller is A, n1 satisfies ((L+d)×(S?1)/A)×n1=N1 (where n1 is an integer and N1 is an approximate integer), and n2 satisfies ((L+d)/A)×n2=N2 (where n2 is an integer, and N2 is an approximate integer).Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2006Date of Patent: March 24, 2009Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tatsuya Goto
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Publication number: 20090060608Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image transfer unit, a straight conveying path including a lateral registration correcting unit, a feeding unit, a feeding path, and a reversing unit. The feeding path links to a junction in the straight conveying path, and conveys a recording medium from a feeding unit to the junction. The feeding path is arranged on an inner side of the image forming apparatus than an end of an upstream side of the straight conveying path in the conveying direction is.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2008Publication date: March 5, 2009Inventors: Yutaka Shoji, Junji Shirakawa, Takayuki Muneyasu
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Patent number: 7477869Abstract: In an electrophotographic printing apparatus for printing an image to an image transfer sheet medium by producing a latent image on a photosensitive unit and transferring the latent image to the image transfer sheet medium, a width-directional position of the image transfer sheet medium is detected before the latent image is produced and the same after the latent image is produced on the photosensitive unit by the width-directional positional sensor, and the detection results are compared with one another; and it is determined from the comparison result whether or not printing operation is continued.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2005Date of Patent: January 13, 2009Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Yoshinori Kawaai, Sadanori Kobashi, Kazutoshi Obara, Kiyoshi Suzuki
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Patent number: 7457574Abstract: This disclosure provides a printing apparatus and method including a media sheet registration system, a fuser roll assembly and a fuser roll RDS (registration distribution system). The media sheet registration system steers media sheets to alternative target positions to smooth fuser roll edge wear area profiles associated with the RDS and media sheets passing through the fuser roll assembly.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2006Date of Patent: November 25, 2008Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: James J. Spence, Steven M. Russel
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Patent number: 7444114Abstract: An image forming apparatus that conveys a long belt-like recording sheet on a conveyance path and forms an image on the recording sheet when the recording sheet passes through an image forming section, the image forming apparatus comprising: a recording medium drive component that is disposed downstream of the image forming section in a conveyance direction on the conveyance path and conveys the recording medium; a tension imparting component that is disposed upstream of the image forming section in the conveyance direction on the conveyance path and imparts tension to the recording medium; and a control unit which, when a printing operation for forming an image is started, drives the tension imparting component to impart tension to the recording medium between the recording medium drive component and the tension imparting component, and starts the recording medium conveyance operation.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2005Date of Patent: October 28, 2008Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.Inventor: Takeshi Tanimoto
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Publication number: 20080260444Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of setting a plurality of image forming speeds includes a transfer unit configured to transfer an image formed on an image carrier onto a sheet, a paper feed unit configured to feed the sheet, and a control unit configured to control the conveyance speed of the sheet to accelerate and decelerate without stopping the sheet in a section between the paper feed unit and the transfer unit to synchronize the sheet with the image formed on the image carrier. The control unit changes paper feed timing from the paper feed unit according to the image forming speed if the image forming speed is predetermined.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2008Publication date: October 23, 2008Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Yoshimichi Ikeda
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Publication number: 20080260445Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method of automatically controlling feeding and transporting print media sheets through plural electrostatic print engines having seamed photoreceptor belts for duplex printing. In one embodiment the second photoreceptor belt is driven at a variable speed to maintain a constant phase relationship between the respective seams of the belts. The print image magnification on the front side of the printed sheet is matched by varying the speed of the scanner (ROS) in the second engine. In another embodiment. the first and second photoreceptor belts are both driven at a constant speed and the seam phase allowed to float. Sensors provide a timing signal upon passage of the seam in each belt respectively; and, the position of the belt seams thus determined. The system then calculates a release time for each sheet from the feeder to insure the sheet avoids the seam on both belts.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2007Publication date: October 23, 2008Inventors: Daniel W. Costanza, Alex Brougham
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Patent number: 7398047Abstract: An image-to-sheet closed loop registration system tracking the image drum position and/or velocity and coordinating movement of the sheet into the transfer nip based on such information.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2005Date of Patent: July 8, 2008Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Martin Krucinski, Joannes N. M. DeJong, Lloyd A. Williams
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Publication number: 20080095560Abstract: Embodiments of adjusting a line of an image using a determined skew of a sheet are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2006Publication date: April 24, 2008Inventors: Bradley R. Larson, Wei Hu Cheng
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Patent number: 7357584Abstract: Disclosed is a sheet transport device having: a registration roller to transport a sheet after correcting a skew of the sheet; a drive source to drive the registration roller; a frame body; and a rotation resisting body which is connected to the registration roller on one side and is connected to the frame body on the other side, to create a resisting force against a rotation of the registration roller in a sheet transport direction.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2004Date of Patent: April 15, 2008Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Tomoo Suzuki, Susumu Okui, Kazuyoshi Kimura, Hideo Isohara, Masakazu Nakamura
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Patent number: 7324237Abstract: This invention relates to an image recording apparatus provided with a transporting unit transporting an image recording material whose shape has at a least one side in a predetermined transporting direction; an image recording position detecting unit detecting a position of the at least one side along the predetermined transporting direction, an image recording position correcting unit correcting the image recording position for the image recording material based on result of detection of the at least one side by said image recording position detecting unit; and an image forming unit forming a predesired image on the image recording material at the corrected image recording position.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2001Date of Patent: January 29, 2008Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventor: Koichi Okada
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Patent number: 7319842Abstract: To provide a sheet conveying apparatus capable of enhancing an accuracy of correcting a skew of a sheet, and of preventing position shift of a sheet. The present invention provides a sheet conveying apparatus for conveying a sheet by a sheet conveying unit disposed along a sheet conveying path, including: a skew detection sensor for detecting a skew of the sheet with respect to a sheet conveying direction by a plurality of detection sensors disposed in a direction intersecting perpendicularly the sheet conveying direction; and a skew correction roller adapted to be pivotally moved in a direction of correction of a skew of the sheet in a state with the skewed sheet being held on the basis of a detection signal from the skew detection sensor, in which one of the plurality of detection sensors of the skew detection sensor is disposed nearly on an extension line from a pivotal movement center of the skew correction roller in the sheet conveying direction.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2004Date of Patent: January 15, 2008Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Noriaki Koyanagi, Takeshi Suga
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Patent number: 7315701Abstract: An apparatus is provided for reducing transfer deletions in an electrostatographic machine. The apparatus includes a registration controller for driving a print substrate at a registration velocity and feeding the print substrate to an image-retentive member. The apparatus also includes a system controller operably associated with the registration mechanism controller. The system controller monitors at least one operating parameter of an image forming apparatus and generates a control signal in response to the monitored operating parameter(s). The registration controller is responsive to the control signal and is configured to adjust the registration velocity in accordance with the control signal as the image-retentive member is driven at a preselected velocity.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2005Date of Patent: January 1, 2008Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Michael Nicholas Soures, Robert Arnold Gross, David Kenneth Ahl
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Patent number: 7308227Abstract: Provided are a paper arranging apparatus and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The paper arranging apparatus of an electrographic image forming apparatus has a driving roller and an idle roller facing closely to each other and forming a nip therebetween. A shutter arranges a sheet of paper by contacting a front edge portion of the paper before the front edge portion of the paper enters the nip and rotates after being pushed by the front edge portion of the paper to not interrupt the movement of the paper along the conveyance path. A flag is connected to a rotary shaft of the shutter to rotate in a same direction and at a same rotating angle as the shutter. A sensor senses position variations of the rotating flag and generates a signal representing a position of the paper that is being conveyed.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2005Date of Patent: December 11, 2007Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Byung-Sun Ahn
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Publication number: 20070280764Abstract: One embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus in which registration rollers are arranged immediately before an electrostatic latent bearing member and, after a carried paper is caused to temporarily stop by the registration rollers, carrying of the paper recommences with a timing enabling a leading edge of image information visualized on the electrostatic latent bearing member and a leading edge of the paper that has been stopped by the registration rollers to correspond, wherein, at a time of successive printing of multiple sheets, a carrying recommencement timing of an immediately subsequent paper is determined using information of a carrying recommencement timing of an immediately preceding carried paper.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2007Publication date: December 6, 2007Inventors: Shinji Nakazawa, Yoshiharu Yoneda
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Publication number: 20070280763Abstract: In an image forming apparatus having a registration roller that aligns the leading edge of the sheet and feeds it to the image forming section, a plurality of loop forming rollers that convey the sheet, and a loop forming space for forming a loop in the sheet are placed on the upstream side of the registration roller, and a plurality of loop amount detecting sensors that detect the amount of loop are provided, and the image forming apparatus has the feature that it is provided with a mechanism and a control device for varying the rotational speeds of said plurality of loop forming rollers individually and separately, wherein the loop amounts in a cross-section of the sheet along the sub-scanning direction are adjusted to be at a prescribed value.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2007Publication date: December 6, 2007Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Tomoo Suzuki
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IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING METHOD, SHEET CONVEYING APPARATUS, AND SHEET CONVEYING METHOD
Publication number: 20070237558Abstract: An image forming apparatus which make it possible to acquire phase information related to phases of a recording sheet being conveyed using an inexpensive structure without increases in size. An image on a recording sheet P being conveyed is formed. The recording sheet P is irradiated with a laser beam. A speckle generated by the irradiation of the recording sheet P with the laser beam is scanned. Phase information about the recording sheet P is acquired based on a speckle 500 read this time and a speckle 600 read after a lapse of t seconds. Position of the image to be formed is adjusted based on the acquired phase information.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2007Publication date: October 11, 2007Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Takashi NAKANISHI -
Patent number: 7277669Abstract: Systems and methods of registering a sheet in an image reproduction, e.g., a xerographic, device use sheet parameters regardless of the tray or bin with which the sheets are associated, separate tallies of sheet registration correction factors for both sides of a sheet, and use registration errors detected on a first side of a sheet to generate correction factors concerning proper registration of the second side of that sheet. In embodiments, the systems and methods average registration errors for one particular side of a plurality of sheets to obtain a dampened error signal that is taken into account for registration of subsequent sheets on each respective sheet side. In embodiments, the systems and methods determine variations between actual and target system performance to affect subsequent sheet flow and registration.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2005Date of Patent: October 2, 2007Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventor: Richard L. Howe
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Patent number: 7274901Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for generating positionally-accurate print images on a carrier material with the aid of an electrophotographic printer or copier. A positioning error of the position of the carrier material with respect to a toner image present on the toner image carrier is determined, which error occurs during the contacting of a carrier material to be printed. Dependent on the positioning error determined, for every subsequent contacting of the carrier material to be printed with the toner image carrier, the position of the carrier material with respect to the toner image is adapted before the contacting such that the carrier material and the toner image are arranged with respect to one another substantially free of positioning errors.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2004Date of Patent: September 25, 2007Assignee: Oce Printing Systems GmbHInventors: Hans Winter, Johann Bartosch, Holger Hofmann, Heinrich Lay, Günther Gassner, Frank Freudenberg
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Patent number: 7272334Abstract: A method is provided for aligning images on media produced by one or more print engines in an integrated print system. The method includes printing a first pattern of first symbols on a first region of a print medium with a first print engine and printing a second pattern of second symbols on a second region of the print medium with at least a second print engine in a manner to superpose the second pattern on the first pattern. The method further includes measuring a first deviation of the second pattern of second symbols relative to the first pattern of first symbols, recording the first deviation as a first offset distance relative to the first print engine, reporting the first offset distance to a controller of the second print engine, and, using the first offset distance for aligning at least the second print engine relative to the first print engine.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2005Date of Patent: September 18, 2007Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Steven R. Moore, Stan Alan Spencer
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Patent number: 7252445Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus for forming an image on printing paper by rolling up the printing paper around a cylindrical or column-shaped member without any fixture, that can measure with a high accuracy the length of the printing paper during transport thereof. The image forming apparatus of the present invention forms an image on printing paper in a state in which the printing paper is rolled up around an outer circumferential surface of a cylindrical or column-shaped member, and includes a sensor for detecting a front end or a rear end of the printing paper on the outer circumferential surface and a controller for calculating a length of the printing paper. The sensor, after having detected the rear end with the printing paper completely rolled up around the member, detects the front end along with rotation of the member.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2005Date of Patent: August 7, 2007Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.Inventor: Shuji Sakai
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Patent number: 7212780Abstract: Preparing substrates for one-sided or two-sided printing in an electrophotograpically operated digital printing apparatus, in which process substrates are fed out of a supply unit or several supply units onto a conveyor operation sequence and are transferred, preferably in the course of the conveyor operation sequence, onto a conveyor belt that runs through a printing unit, with the least possible space between successive substrates. An acceleration time related to the type of substrate stock, of which the substrate is composed, is selected for feeding a substrate from a supply unit or from the supply unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2003Date of Patent: May 1, 2007Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Uwe Weinlich, Eckhard Bauer, Jörg Leyser
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Patent number: 7184700Abstract: Color register and/or register errors are detected in a printing machine by using triangles serving as register marks. A first triangle is printed onto a sheet near the leading edge and a second triangle is printed onto a sheet near its trailing edge. The first triangle and the second triangle are detected by a sensor and a displacement of the sheet at right angles to the travel direction of the sheet and/or an angular displacement of the sheet is/are determined.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2006Date of Patent: February 27, 2007Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AGInventors: Rolf Johannes Spilz, Volker Otto
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Patent number: 7177586Abstract: A CPU drives a transportation system driving motor and turns on a paper feed clutch after an exposure unit starts forming an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive member of a photosensitive member unit, whereby a paper feed roller is driven into rotations and feeding of a transfer paper onto a transfer paper transportation path is started.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2005Date of Patent: February 13, 2007Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Ken Yoshizuka
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Patent number: 7177585Abstract: An image forming apparatus registers both sides of sheets with great precision in a sheet transportation direction in both-side image formation. The image forming apparatus includes: photoconductive drums holding toner images; an intermediate transfer belt temporarily holding the toner images; a secondary transfer roll that transfers the toner images to a sheet in a transfer unit; a registration roll rotating toward the transfer unit being in sheet feeding timing; a fixing unit fixing the toner images transferred to a first side of the sheet; reversion transportation paths reversing the sheet and again transporting the sheet to the transfer unit; a first sensor detecting the image of the first side of the sheet; and a second sensor that detects the toner images held in the intermediate transfer belt.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2003Date of Patent: February 13, 2007Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.Inventors: Satoshi Matsuzaka, Keiji Yamamoto, Satoru Torimaru, Takashi Kawabata, Masaaki Takahashi, Yoko Miyamoto, Kiyotoshi Kaneyama, Katsunori Kikuchihara
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Patent number: 7167673Abstract: A device and method for applying images to continuous media stock, such as rolls of paper, blank labels, etc., using a cut-sheet image forming device. While the continuous media stock moves along a media path in the cut-sheet image forming device, one or more sensors in the cut-sheet image forming device detect inter-sheet holes disposed along the continuous media stock. Based on the detected inter-sheet holes, the cut-sheet image forming device tracks the position of the continuous media stock. By tracking the position of the continuous media stock, the cut-sheet image forming device can identify specific sections of the continuous media stock as image areas appropriate for image transfer.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2004Date of Patent: January 23, 2007Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Daniel P. Cahill, Curtis D. Woodson, David Anthony Schneider
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Patent number: 7162956Abstract: A method and control device for determining a register error, whereby at least one register mark is printed and at least one sensor records the register mark, whereby the sheet edge of the sheet is recorded by the sensor, and the register error is determined from the sensor data and the target data.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2003Date of Patent: January 16, 2007Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Dieter Karl-Heinz Dobberstein, Walter Dworschak, Christian Friedrich Engeln, Heiko Hunold, Patrick Metzler, Karlheinz Walter Peter, Rolf Johannes Spilz, Stefan Theden
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Patent number: 7162184Abstract: A laser printer includes a guide member for guiding a paper. The guide member includes an outer guide and an inner guide, and a top surface of the outer guide serves as a portion of a bottom surface of an accommodating space where a process cartridge is accommodated. If a paper jam occurs in a transport path defined between the outer guide and the inner guide, then a user opens a front cover and removes the process cartridge from the accommodating space. Then, the user grabs and pulls the jammed paper out of the casing. While the paper bends at an acute angle at the end of the guide member, rollers provided at the end of the guide member enable the paper to be pulled out without being torn.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2004Date of Patent: January 9, 2007Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shusaku Tsusaka
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Patent number: 7158751Abstract: Systems and methods of registering a sheet in an image reproduction, e.g., a xerographic, device use sheet parameters regardless of the tray or bin with which the sheets are associated, separate tallies of sheet registration correction factors for both sides of a sheet, and use registration errors detected on a first side of a sheet to generate correction factors concerning proper registration of the second side of that sheet. In embodiments, the systems and methods average registration errors for one particular side of a plurality of sheets to obtain a damped error signal that is taken into account for registration of subsequent sheets on each respective sheet side. In embodiments, the systems and methods determine variations between actual and target system performance to affect subsequent sheet flow and registration.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2005Date of Patent: January 2, 2007Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventor: Richard L. Howe
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Patent number: 7130573Abstract: In an image forming apparatus that judges the type of sheet by using an image pickup device, it is possible to read an image which does not blur and is excellent in precision even if the shutter period of time of the image pickup device is made long, and even in the case of providing a plurality of sheet feeding parts, it is possible to judge the type of sheet more inexpensively. An image read sensor, which is disposed downstream of a junction of a deck and a recording material tray and upstream of a pair of registration rollers on the transport path for the recording material, reads the image within a light irradiated region of the recording material by irradiating a light onto the surface of the recording material when the recording material which is fed to the transport path stops, and sets an image formation condition in accordance with a read output.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2003Date of Patent: October 31, 2006Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tomohiro Nakamori
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Patent number: 7016642Abstract: A frame image (210) with 5-mm wide margins is formed on a paper sheet on the basis of the leading end and widthwise end positions of the paper sheet (107) detected by a contact image sensor (CIS) (204) in an adjustment mode. After that, this paper sheet (107) is circulated to a feed position via a circulating path (206) and paper convey path (205), and the CIS (204) detects the frame image position formed on the circulated paper sheet and its paper end portion so as to detect errors from the 5-mm wide margins. Correction values which can cancel these errors are stored in a correction parameter storage unit (71), and forming start timing control is made using these correction values upon forming an image in an actual job. In this way, an image forming apparatus which can detect the paper feed timing with high precision, can eliminate deterioration of the image position precision due to mounting errors and durability of components, and can always precisely adjust the image position is provided.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2005Date of Patent: March 21, 2006Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tetsuya Morita
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Patent number: 7003258Abstract: A transfer device for transferring an object to be transferred in a predetermined direction has a drive mechanism unit, a transfer direction displacement information acquiring unit, a skew direction displacement information acquiring unit, and a transfer processing unit. The drive mechanism unit also has roll parts which cause the object to be transferred to move in the direction with a rotational force. The transfer direction displacement information acquiring unit and the skew direction displacement information acquiring unit radiate a predetermined measuring wave toward the object, so that the units acquire the displacement information in each of the directions. Based on the displacement information, the transfer processing unit performs a predetermined processing.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2004Date of Patent: February 21, 2006Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.Inventors: Koji Adachi, Kaoru Yasukawa, Norikazu Yamada, Eigo Nakagawa, Koki Uwatoko, Tetsuichi Satonaga
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Method for setting rotational speed of register rollers and image forming apparatus using the method
Patent number: 6999713Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which the rotational speed of register rollers is calculated at first to fourth stations at a transfer belt drive system, and transfer feedback control for varying the speed of a transfer drive motor is carried out on the transfer drive motor so that the speed of movement of a transfer belt is maintained at a predetermined value. The transfer feedback control is carried out on the image forming apparatus so as to vary the speed of the transfer drive motor so that the speed of movement of the transfer belt is maintained at a predetermined value or so as not to vary the speed of the transfer drive motor as a result of not carrying out the transfer feedback control.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2005Date of Patent: February 14, 2006Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Kazuhiko Kobayashi -
Patent number: 6993275Abstract: In an electrophotographic recording device, a multicolor toner image is formed by images in each color superimposed on one another. In order to detect image misalignment, image-forming units form a color registration detection pattern, and sensors detect the pattern and output detection signals. A control unit detects the position of the patterns based on only portions of the detection signals corresponding to leading edges of the patterns.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2004Date of Patent: January 31, 2006Assignee: Ricoh Printing Systems, Ltd.Inventors: Teruaki Mitsuya, Hiroyuki Mabuchi, Toru Miyasaka, Mieko Ishii
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Patent number: 6988725Abstract: A method of registering a sheet in a duplex copier to alleviate the misalignment between the images copied on the front and back of the same sheet and to compensate for paper cut tolerances. The error angle of skew between a target angle, e.g. 90°, and the trailing edge of the sheet is measured and stored during a first pass. When the same sheet is fed through a second pass, the error angle is retrieved and the target angle is adjusted to compensate for the skew error of the first pass so that any misalignment between front and back images is substantially improved over systems that register images to the sheet without any knowledge of the location of the opposite side image.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2003Date of Patent: January 24, 2006Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: Alan E. Rapkin
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Patent number: 6980766Abstract: In a laser printer capable of printing on both sides of a sheet, alignment or skew of the sheet is corrected with register rollers before printing is performed first on a side of the sheet. The sheet with an image having been formed by a process unit is fed to a re-circulation path for printing on the other side of the sheet. The sheet alignment or skew is corrected in the re-circulation path by a guide plate while the sheet is fed by re-circulation feed rollers. The sheet fed back to the register rollers is fed toward the process unit without being temporarily stopped at the register rollers before printing on the other side of the sheet.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2004Date of Patent: December 27, 2005Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Sakae Ito
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Method for setting rotational speed of register rollers and image forming apparatus using the method
Patent number: 6952557Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which the rotational speed of register rollers is calculated at first to fourth stations at a transfer belt drive system, and transfer feedback control for varying the speed of a transfer drive motor is carried out on the transfer drive motor so that the speed of movement of a transfer belt is maintained at a predetermined value. The transfer feedback control is carried out on the image forming apparatus so as to vary the speed of the transfer drive motor so that the speed of movement of the transfer belt is maintained at a predetermined value or so as not to vary the speed of the transfer drive motor as a result of not carrying out the transfer feedback control.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2004Date of Patent: October 4, 2005Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Kazuhiko Kobayashi -
Patent number: 6934504Abstract: A frame image (210) with 5-mm wide margins is formed on a paper sheet on the basis of the leading end and widthwise end positions of the paper sheet (107) detected by a contact image sensor (CIS) (204) in an adjustment mode. After that, this paper sheet (107) is circulated to a feed position via a circulating path (206) and paper convey path (205), and the CIS (204) detects the frame image position formed on the circulated paper sheet and its paper end portion so as to detect errors from the 5-mm wide margins. Correction values which can cancel these errors are stored in a correction parameter storage unit (71), and forming start timing control is made using these correction values upon forming an image in an actual job. In this way, an image forming apparatus which can detect the paper feed timing with high precision, can eliminate deterioration of the image position precision due to mounting errors and durability of components, and can always precisely adjust the image position is provided.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2004Date of Patent: August 23, 2005Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tetsuya Morita