In Registration With Image Patents (Class 399/394)
  • Patent number: 6931229
    Abstract: A CPU 111 drives a transportation system driving motor 84 and turns on a paper feed clutch 85 after an exposure unit 50 starts forming an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive member of a photosensitive member unit 10, whereby a paper feed roller is driven into rotations and feeding of a transfer paper onto a transfer paper transportation path is started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Ken Yoshizuka
  • Patent number: 6920307
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Richard L. Howe
  • Patent number: 6920292
    Abstract: A method and a control device for prevention of registration errors. In the current state of the art, a control circuit of a control device eliminates registration errors. A first sensor detects a sheet before a printing module and a second sensor detects the sheet after the printing module, an actual number of pulses is counted between the detection of the sheet by the first sensor and by the second sensor and this actual number of pulses is fed into a closed-loop control system as an actual parameter, the actual number of pulses is compared with a reference number of pulses, which represents a reference parameter of the closed-loop control system, a control signal of the closed-loop control system is determined from this comparison, and a number of pulses is conducted into a controlled process of the closed-loop control system, which number of pulses is in direct relation to the current sheet to be printed in the printing module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Patrick Metzler
  • Patent number: 6907222
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to control an image input and a recording-medium supply of an image forming apparatus. An aspect of the method comprises periodically generating synchronized demand of an image input into the exposure unit and supplying of a recording medium to the transfer unit, and inputting an image into the exposure unit according to the synchronized demand on image input and supplying a recording medium to the transfer unit according to the synchronized demand on recording-medium supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., LTD
    Inventors: Beom-ro Lee, Cheol-ju Yang, Jun-bae Jeon
  • Patent number: 6873820
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus and an image forming method, a paper position aberration detecting sensor including a light emitting element and a light receiving element is disposed in the paper conveying path of the image forming apparatus. The amount of paper position aberration in paper conveyance is detected by a counter, and on the basis of the result of the detection, a CPU controls the writing start position of a printed image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsugu Tanaka, Eiichiro Teshima, Takuya Mukaibara, Tadashi Okanishi
  • Patent number: 6862427
    Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus of the type that a toner image, which is transferred onto an intermediate transfer member, onto a sheet material, is transferred onto a sheet material, which is capable of reducing the possibility of leading end misalignment even if there is a delay in conveyance of the sheet material. An image forming device forms an image on a photosensitive member. An image carrier carries an image. A first transfer device transfers the image carried by the image carrier onto a sheet. A second transfer device transfers the image transferred onto the image carrier onto a sheet. A feeding device feeds the sheet. A conveying device conveys the sheet fed by the feeding device to the second transfer device. A controller controls the conveying device to cause the sheet to be temporarily stopped at a first location and a second location between the feeding device and the second transfer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsuhiko Sato, Hidenori Sunada, Hideyuki Ikegami, Satoru Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6836627
    Abstract: A printing apparatus places multiple images on a sheet 10, at least once on one side, and at least once on an opposite side. After the first printing, the sheet 10 is inverted by an inverter 50 and sent to a duplex path 42. Sensors 20, 40, both in a feed path 22 and the duplex path 42 detect the side edge of the sheet 10 to register the position of the sheet 10 to an image rendering device 14. A user has the option to input preferences at a user interface 26, the preferences including running average and registration options. More specifically, the user has the option to choose a number of sheets 10 used to calculate a running average for registration of both the simplexed and duplexed sheets 10. The user also has the option to select between image to image registration, and image to page registration for duplex printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Deborah M. Kretschmann, Nicholas M. Lamendola, Dean Thomas, William D. Milillo
  • Patent number: 6834166
    Abstract: An image forming section forms images, which are transferred onto a primary medium. A medium cassette holds a stack of print medium. A remaining-medium detector detects the number of pages of remaining print medium held in the medium cassette. The image on the primary medium are transferred onto a print medium fed from the medium cassette. A controller changes a timing at which the image forming section forms the images, the timing being changed in accordance with the number of pages of remaining print medium. The timing is changed in such a way that the images are formed at greater distance intervals on the primary medium when the number of pages of the medium cassette in the medium cassette is equal to or less than a reference value than when the number of pages of the medium cassette in the medium cassette is more than the reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Shuichi Fujikura
  • Patent number: 6834178
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device has a sheet-position detection sensor which has CCDs or CISs and which is attached in an inclined manner such that a vertical distance from the sheet-position detection sensor to a sheet-conveying path or to a sheet conveyed along the sheet-conveying path differs between the proximal edge and the distal edge of the sheet-position detection sensor in a direction perpendicular to the sheet-conveying path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shohei Takeda
  • Patent number: 6826384
    Abstract: An image-production system includes a marking engine. The image-forming production system may also include an inserter. The marking engine includes a marking engine controller, a speed adjust system and a registration system. The registration system aligns sheets going to an imaging unit. The speed adjust system controller includes a speed adjust system controller. When at least one sheet approaches the speed adjust system, the marking engine controller transmits a synch pulse signal to the speed adjust system controller. The speed adjust system transmits a signal to the speed adjust system controller of the arrival time of the at least one sheet. The speed adjust system compares the measured arrival time with the synch pulse signal to adjust a speed and timing of the sheet before the sheet is transferred to the registration system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Michael T. Dobbertin, Alan E. Rapkin, Thomas K. Sciurba
  • Patent number: 6813451
    Abstract: A method of aligning and registering duplex images using an imaging device, such as a printer including the steps of applying a first image to a first side of a media, modifying one or more imaging parameters of the imaging device after the first image is applied, and applying a second image to a second side of the media using the modified imaging parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Mark J. Wibbels
  • Patent number: 6804473
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an abnormality detecting device for detecting the abnormality of the sheet, an abnormal sheet containing portion for containing therein the sheet of which the abnormality has been detected, a normal sheet containing portion for temporarily containing therein a normal sheet of which the abnormality has not been detected, and a controlling portion for controlling the image forming portion so that the abnormal sheet is contained in the abnormal sheet containing portion, and that an image formed on the abnormal sheet may be formed on a predetermined subsequent sheet subsequent to the abnormal sheet. The normal sheet between the abnormal sheet and the predetermined subsequent sheet is contained in the normal sheet containing portion after the abnormal sheet is contained in the abnormal sheet containing portion, and the normal sheet contained in the normal sheet containing portion is delivered after the predetermined subsequent sheet has been delivered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomokazu Nakamura, Masaaki Inoo, Shinsuke Ubayashi, Yusuke Obuchi, Yoshiyuki Nakajima, Atsuteru Oikawa, Hitoshi Kato
  • Publication number: 20040184853
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Matsuzaka, Keiji Yamamoto, Satoru Torimaru, Takashi Kawabata, Masaaki Takahashi, Yoko Miyamoto, Kiyotoshi Kaneyama, Katsunori Kikuchihara
  • Patent number: 6788322
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a CIS disposed in an area where a sheet passes in such a fashion that read pixels of the CIS are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the sheet. A part of the read pixels (e.g., 1000 pixels) that corresponds to {fraction (1/7)} of all the read pixels are repeatedly read with a short period (TS) to detect the position of the leading edge of the sheet being fed. After waiting a predetermined period of time after the timing of detection of the leading edge position of the sheet, a laser beam is irradiated onto a photosensitive drum to start writing an image in the subscanning direction. Further, read pixels (e.g., 6000 pixels) that corresponds to {fraction (6/7)} of all the read pixels are repeatedly read with a long period (TL) to detect the position of the side edge of the fed sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tetsuya Morita
  • Patent number: 6785480
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image forming devices for forming respective monochromatic images in accordance with input image signals. The apparatus is operable in a first mode for forming a multi-color image by the plurality of image forming devices at a first image formation speed and in a second mode for forming a multi-color image by the plurality of image forming devices at a second image formation speed. The apparatus also includes an execution device for executing, for respective image formation speeds, calibrating operations for correcting image density levels of output images formed by the image forming devices in response to image density levels of the input image signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuichiro Toyohara, Ken-ichiro Kitajima
  • Publication number: 20040165915
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, an image forming unit, an intermediate transfer belt, a circuit of a drive motor which outputs information on a moving distance, a registration roller, a CPU which calculates the predetermined timing on the basis of the information on the moving distance output by the circuit of the drive motor at the time when a rotation speed of the intermediate transfer belt is switched from a first process speed to a second process speed, and a memory storing the information on the predetermined timing calculated by the CPU, wherein the CPU controls the registration roller so as to start the conveyance of the recording material at the predetermined timing stored in the memory. Consequently, a positional relation between a leading end of the recording material and a leading end of the image formed on the recording material can be set as a desired positional relation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahide Hirai, Akihiro Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 6771928
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus forms a latent image on the basis of a signal outputted at a constant time interval, and develops the latent image on a sheet in an image forming section. A resist roller pair arranged upstream of the image forming section and able to change a conveying speed re-feeds the sheet after the sheet is stopped for a predetermined time. A controller starts the conveyance of the sheet at a speed higher than an image forming speed, controls the speed of the resist roller pair so as to be equal to the image forming speed at a position before a predetermined distance from the image forming section and sets the conveying speed at a high speed conveying time in the resist roller pair so as to be equal to the image forming speed at the position before the predetermined distance from the image forming section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Fujita
  • Publication number: 20040131407
    Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus of the type that a toner image, which is transferred onto an intermediate transfer member, onto a sheet material, is transferred onto a sheet material, which is capable of reducing the possibility of leading end misalignment even if there is a delay in conveyance of the sheet material. An image forming device forms an image on a photosensitive member. An image carrier carries an image. A first transfer device transfers the image carried by the image carrier onto a sheet. A second transfer device transfers the image transferred onto the image carrier onto a sheet. A feeding device feeds the sheet. A conveying device conveys the sheet fed by the feeding device to the second transfer device. A controller controls the conveying device to cause the sheet to be temporarily stopped at a first location and a second location between the feeding device and the second transfer device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Inventors: Mitsuhiko Sato, Hidenori Sunada, Hideyuki Ikegami, Satoru Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20040120743
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to control an image input and a recording-medium supply of an image forming apparatus. An aspect of the method comprises periodically generating synchronized demand of an image input into the exposure unit and supplying of a recording medium to the transfer unit, and inputting an image into the exposure unit according to the synchronized demand on image input and supplying a recording medium to the transfer unit according to the synchronized demand on recording-medium supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co.,Ltd.
    Inventors: Beom-ro Lee, Cheol-ju Yang, Jun-bae Jeon
  • Publication number: 20040109714
    Abstract: A method and a control device for prevention of registration errors. In the current state of the art, a control circuit of a control device eliminates registration errors. A first sensor detects a sheet before a printing module and a second sensor detects the sheet after the printing module, an actual number of pulses is counted between the detection of the sheet by the first sensor and by the second sensor and this actual number of pulses is fed into a closed-loop control system as an actual parameter, the actual number of pulses is compared with a reference number of pulses, which represents a reference parameter of the closed-loop control system, a control signal of the closed-loop control system is determined from this comparison, and a number of pulses is conducted into a controlled process of the closed-loop control system, which number of pulses is in direct relation to the current sheet to be printed in the printing module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventor: Patrick Metzler
  • Patent number: 6748187
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus has exposing device, conveying device, and sheet detecting device for detecting the sheet conveyed by the conveying device, which is disposed between the transferring portion and the conveying device, and control device for judging whether or not it is possible to start exposure by the exposing device before the leading edge of the sheet conveyed by the conveying device reaches the sheet detecting device after the leading edge of the sheet passes through the conveying device and for controlling so that causing the sheet conveyed by the conveying device is stopped in front of the sheet detecting device until it is determined that it is possible to start exposure by the exposing device. In the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus starts to form a latent image by the exposing device based on the detection of the sheet by the sheet detecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Ishiwata
  • Patent number: 6731887
    Abstract: A method of aligning and registering duplex images in the process direction using an imaging device, such as a printer including the steps of applying a first image to a first side of a media, modifying one or more imaging parameters of the imaging device after the first image is applied, and applying a second image to a second side of the media using the modified imaging parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Mark J. Wibbels, Kenneth E. Heath
  • Publication number: 20040062582
    Abstract: An image-production system includes a marking engine. The image-forming production system may also include an inserter. The marking engine includes a marking engine controller, a speed adjust system and a registration system. The registration system aligns sheets going to an imaging unit. The speed adjust system controller includes a speed adjust system controller. When at least one sheet approaches the speed adjust system, the marking engine controller transmits a synch pulse signal to the speed adjust system controller. The speed adjust system transmits a signal to the speed adjust system controller of the arrival time of the at least one sheet. The speed adjust system compares the measured arrival time with the synch pulse signal to adjust a speed and timing of the sheet before the sheet is transferred to the registration system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Michael T. Dobbertin, Alan E. Rapkin, Thomas K. Sciurba
  • Patent number: 6714758
    Abstract: A second print device prints images on a rear surface of a web with no sprockets after a first print device prints images on a front surface of the web. A CPF-OFF signal is generated at a time of when an irradiating unit of the second print device completes irradiating for a last page. The second print device calculates, based on a web transport speed at the generation timing of the CPF-OFF signal, a time duration required for the web to reach a predetermined waiting position after the CPF-OFF signal was generated, and starts counting a clock when the time duration elapses from when the CPF-OFF signal was generated. After a last-page image is completely transferred from a photosensitive drum onto the web, the web is transported in a reverse direction by a distance corresponding to the count value, thereby positioning the web at a predetermined waiting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi Printing Solutions, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Miyamoto, Souichi Nakazawa, Masahiro Mizuno
  • Publication number: 20040047661
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventors: Uwe Weinlich, Eckhard Bauer, Jorg Leyser
  • Patent number: 6694110
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, an electrifying member for electrifying the image bearing member; an image forming member for forming an image on the image bearing member electrified by the electrifying member; a conveying member for making a recording material, which has been conveyed from a recording material receiving portion held in waiting and waiting then conveying the image on the image bearing member to a transfer portion for transferring the image onto the recording material; and a control member controls a start timing of electrification by the electrifying member in accordance with a start timing of a conveyance of the recording material by the conveying member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazukiyo Akashi, Takeo Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20040028437
    Abstract: A CPU 111 drives a transportation system driving motor 84 and turns on a paper feed clutch 85 after an exposure unit 50 starts forming an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive member of a photosensitive member unit 10, whereby a paper feed roller is driven into rotations and feeding of a transfer paper onto a transfer paper transportation path is started.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ken Yoshizuka
  • Publication number: 20030215274
    Abstract: A paper sensing apparatus of an office machine has a sensor actuator disposed to pivot with respect to a pivot center of a conveying roller by a printing paper when the printing paper is conveyed, and a sensing unit generating a paper sensing signal in accordance with a rotation of the sensor actuator. Accordingly, the paper sensing apparatus is capable of accurately sensing a leading end of the printing paper, and thus a top margin of the printing paper can be effectively controlled as the paper sensing apparatus is installed to be operated with respect to a rotation center of the conveying roller so that an error generated during sensing a paper top position due to a lengthened distance between the conveying roller and a transferring roller can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: SAMSUNG Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Byung-Sun Ahn
  • Patent number: 6633740
    Abstract: The present invention is an improved compact media web electrophotographic printer including photographic full-color, and an automatic web feeding and cutting registration apparatus and method for media web and closely spaced short printouts. This apparatus comprises an improved media web-handling unit for feeding from a recording roll, and an improved sensing system for sensing a buckle and for precisely cutting the short printout at a desired controlled length, and includes an automatic setup prior to each print cycle. In addition a color serial printer having equiangularly arranged process cartridge units movable along guide rails and which is parallel to a common transfer roll which is also seperately movable along guide rails is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Inventor: David Allen Estabrooks
  • Patent number: 6608991
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a sheet material conveying system for conveying the sheet material to an image forming device and has an image formation driving source for driving the image forming device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideaki Takada
  • Publication number: 20030133732
    Abstract: A stalled roll registration system includes a mechanism that allows for pivoting deskew action in a pre-registration nip. A ball-on-roll pre-registration transport is used in combination with a stalled roll registration nip. Any initial buckle is depleted rapidly as the body of a sheet straightens out at the registration nip under the influence of the ball-on-belt transport.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Lisbeth S. Quesnel
  • Publication number: 20030113150
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus forms a latent image on the basis of a signal outputted at a constant time interval, and also forms the image on a sheet by developing the latent image in an image forming section. In the image forming apparatus, a resist roller pair arranged on the upstream side of the image forming section and able to change a conveying speed re-feeds the sheet after the sheet is stopped for a predetermined time. A controller starts the conveyance of the sheet re-fed by the resist roller pair where a speed higher than an image forming speed in the image forming section, and controls the speed of the resist roller pair so as to be equal to the image forming speed at a position before a predetermined distance from the image forming section. The controller sets the conveying speed at a high speed conveying time in the resist roller pair so as to be equal to the image forming speed at the position before the predetermined distance from the image forming section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Fujita
  • Publication number: 20030113149
    Abstract: A sheet media position sensor device is disclosed which incorporates a pair of opposed nipped rollers positioned laterally across a sheet media transport path. One roller is electrically conductive while the opposed roller has an electrically conductive resilient coating. The coated roller is insulated at its mid point to divide the coating on the roller into two halves. A DC voltage is applied to the electrical conductive roller with current passing equally through each half of the adjacent coated roller. As sheet media is passed along the transport path and between the two nipped rollers, the sheet media acts as an insulator to reduce the actual contact area and therefore, the current flow between the conductive roller and the coated halves of the nipped roller. This reduced current flow is directly proportionate to the remaining contact area for each half of the roller which specifically identifies the lateral position of the sheet media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventor: Robert W. Jewell
  • Publication number: 20030108372
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a sheet-position detection sensor which has CCDs or CIS and which is attached in an inclined manner such that a vertical distance from the sheet-position detection sensor to a sheet-conveying path or to a sheet conveyed along the sheet-conveying path differs between the proximal edge and the distal edge of the sheet-position detection sensor in a direction perpendicular to the sheet-conveying path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shohei Takeda
  • Patent number: 6560376
    Abstract: A method for automatically cropping, rotating, and scaling a scanned image to ensure that a printed copy of the scanned image is the same size as the original, when possible. The method attempts to honor the default or operator designated orientation of the printed image, but will automatically rotate the image if that will eliminate unnecessary image reduction. Optimal orientation and scaling factors are automatically determined based on the target page size and the size and shape of the information of interest in the original image (not the boundaries of the original document). The operator selects a desired printed orientation (or accepts a default orientation) and selects a desired printed paper size (or accepts a default printed paper size). If an image will fit within the printable margins without rotation or cropping, the image is simply printed without modification. If the image will fit without rotation by cropping white space, then white space is cropped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Benjamin D. Kimbell, Dan L. Dalton, Michael L. Rudd
  • Patent number: 6553206
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided in which a misregistration of an image forming-position due to a tension, acting on a continuous recording medium, and a fluctuation thereof, is corrected with a low-cost construction to provide an image of high quality. A pair of recording medium speed detection devices are provided upstream and downstream of an image forming section, respectively, and a misregistration correction amount is calculated from a detected recording medium feed speed so as to correct the image forming position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Printing Solutions, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Asuwa, Kazutaka Sato, Shigeru Obata, Yasushi Kinoshita, Akitomo Kuwabara, Tetsuya Ooba
  • Publication number: 20030068181
    Abstract: A sheet feeding unit is provided with a feeding path, on which a cut sheet serving as an image forming medium having a predetermined size is fed. A sheet edge sensor has sensor elements separately arranged at portions, at which the edge of the cut sheet serving as the image forming medium having the predetermined size can be detected, along a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the cut sheet serving as the image forming medium on the feeding path in the sheet feeding unit. An image forming unit forms a predetermined image on the cut sheet serving as the image forming medium to be fed by the sheet feeding unit. An image formation correcting unit corrects image formation according to lateral misalignment of the cut sheet serving as the image forming medium based on a detection result transmitted from the sheet edge sensor when a predetermined image is formed on the cut sheet serving as the image forming medium by the image forming unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Applicant: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shungo Miyata, Kazumasa Yasui
  • Patent number: 6539199
    Abstract: A sheet feeding unit is provided with a feeding path, on which a cut sheet having a predetermined size is fed. A sheet edge sensor has sensor elements separately arranged at portions, at which the edge of the cut sheet can be detected, along a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the cut sheet. An image forming unit forms a predetermined image on the cut sheet. An image formation correcting unit corrects image formation according to lateral misalignment of the cut sheet based on a detection result transmitted from the sheet edge sensor when a predetermined image is formed on the cut sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shungo Miyata, Kazumasa Yasui
  • Patent number: 6522843
    Abstract: When it is judged that a sheet S is not an ordinary paper but a thick paper or an OHP film sheet, or that the arrival of the sheet S at a pair of timing rollers 48 is delayed due to a slip for example beyond an allowable period of time, a controller 70 judges that a condition for transferring or fixing an image on the sheet S is not met. As a result, a secondary transfer roller 34 and a cleaner 38 are retreated from an intermediate transfer belt 12, and in this state, the intermediate transfer belt 12 carrying a toner image I thereon is made idle at least about one revolution without transferring the image I.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takanobu Yamada, Seiichi Munemori, Yuusuke Morikami
  • Patent number: 6519443
    Abstract: A method for calculating a print medium pick time for an imaging apparatus that transports media at variable speeds along a media path, includes the steps of providing a staging process for varying a transport velocity of a media sheet before transferring an image to the media sheet at the image transfer location, the staging process being used for positioning a top writing line margin of the media sheet in relation to the image at the image transfer location; determining a time period t1 corresponding to a time when a pick motor is started to pick the media sheet to a time when the staging process is started; determining a derived time period t2 representative of a normalized time from when the staging process is started to a time when a media path sensor senses the media sheet; and determining a compensated calculated pick time for the media sheet by summing the time period t1 with the time period t2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Christopher Coriale, Christopher Edward Rhoads
  • Patent number: 6516180
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus such as a printer and a copier has rotating devices such as a drum and a press roller to print an image on a paper sheet while rotating and a paper-transporting mechanism having guide rollers and timing rollers for transporting a paper sheet to these rotary devices, controlled by a control device such that irregularities in the printed images due to fluctuations in the speed of transportation of the paper sheets. The guide rollers may be operated to transport the paper sheet at a faster speed than the paper sheet is transported by the rotary devices such that the paper sheet becomes bent before being delivered to the rotary devices to be printed on. The control may be such that the guide rollers transport the paper sheet while the timing rollers downstream is released from the transportation of paper sheets. The control device may also operate so as to stop the guide rollers when the paper sheet comes to a position where the rotary devices can start transporting it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignees: Riso Kagaku Corporation, OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Miyaki, Hideyuki Sekiguchi, Akira Yasuda, Atsushi Kubota, Kazuyuki Yoshida, Kouji Matsuura, Shigenori Kurokawa, Takeshi Kakinuma
  • Patent number: 6511239
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a printing apparatus including a marking device, the marking device being capable of placing an image on a sheet fed therein, and outputting the sheet; a feed path, by which sheets are fed from a sheet supply to the marking device; a duplex path, by which sheets output from the marking device are re-fed to the marking device; a first sensor, outputting a first position signal relating to a location of a side edge as each sheet passes through the feed path; a second sensor, outputting a second position signal relating to a location of a side edge as each sheet passes through the duplex path; and an image placement controller associated with the marking device, the image placement controller retaining first position signals for a plurality of sheets passing through the feed path and second position signals for a plurality of sheets passing through the duplex path, and calculating new average paper positions for each sheet in response to at least one of the first positi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Deborah M. Kretschmann, Dean Thomas, Ming Yang, Robert Brutovski
  • Patent number: 6496678
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for setting registration in a multicolor printing machine (1), the print results on print substrates (4) being registered and used to control the production of color separations (3, 3′, . . . ) such that in-register prints are achieved. A change L? in the dimensions (7, 8, 7′, 8′) of the printing substrates (4) is determined by the print, in order to take this change into account such that coincidence can be achieved between a recto print and verso print. This is achieved by the changes in the dimensions (7, 8, 7′, 8′) of the recto print (6) being determined and being used to control the digital production of the color separations (3, 3′, . . . ) for the verso print (5) such that after being printed, it coincides with the recto print (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: NexPress Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Metzler, Karlheinz Walter Peter
  • Publication number: 20020176725
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus which has a primary sheet feeder, a secondary sheet feeder for conveying a recording sheet which is fed from the primary sheet feeder to an image forming position in timed relationship with image formation, and a controller for controlling the primary sheet feeder and the secondary sheet feeder, the controller selects long and short two kind of sheet feed intervals according to a detection signal of a recording sheet detector provided upstream of the secondary sheet feeder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Sato, Ken Nonaka
  • Publication number: 20020159783
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided which includes an image bearing member, an electrifying member for electrifying the image bearing member; an image forming member for forming an image on the image bearing member electrified by the electrifying member; a conveying member for making a recording material, which has been conveyed from a recording material receiving portion, wait and then conveying the image on the image bearing member to a transfer portion for transferring the image onto the recording material; and a control member for controlling electrification start timing by the electrifying member in accordance with start timing of conveyance of the recording material by the conveying member. With the above structure, consumption power necessary for electrification of the image bearing member can be reduced as much as possible, and further, the service life of the image bearing member can be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2002
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazukiyo Akashi, Takeo Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20020150407
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus has exposing device, conveying device, and sheet detecting device for detecting the sheet conveyed by the conveying device, which is disposed between the transferring portion and the conveying device, and control device for judging whether or not it is possible to start exposure by the exposing device before the leading edge of the sheet conveyed by the conveying device reaches the sheet detecting device after the leading edge of the sheet passes through the conveying device and for controlling so that causing the sheet conveyed by the conveying device is stopped in front of the sheet detecting device until it is determined that it is possible to start exposure by the exposing device. In the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus starts to form a latent image by the exposing device based on the detection of the sheet by the sheet detecting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Ishiwata
  • Patent number: 6452147
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a function for correcting a condition for an image formation in accordance with a detection result given by a detecting unit which detects a toner pattern formed on a transfer medium by an image holding component. A deviation obtaining unit obtains a deviation in the main scanning direction between a detecting position on the transfer medium and a predetermined point of the toner pattern to be formed on the transfer medium, the detecting position being a position where the detecting unit detects the toner pattern. An adjusting unit adjusts, in accordance with the deviation obtained by the deviation obtaining unit, a positional relation in the main scanning direction between the detecting position and the predetermined point to reduce the deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Inada
  • Patent number: 6438351
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of sheet feed units each for feeding a sheet, a single pair of registration rollers provided at the upstream side of the image formation site where an image is formed on the sheet with respect to the direction of sheet conveyance, for conveying the sheet in accordance with the timing of forming the image on the sheet, and a plurality pair of loop forming rollers provided in correspondence with the plurality of sheet feed units respectively at the upstream side of the pair of registration rollers with respect to the direction of sheet conveyance. Each of the plurality pair of loop forming rollers is controlled in a manner such that a loop is formed between each of the plurality pair of loop forming rollers and the pair of registration rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Kunihiro Kawachi, Kyoichi Mizuno
  • Patent number: 6397035
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a sheet support on which sheets are supported thereon, a sheet feeding unit for feeding the sheets from the sheet support, a first conveying unit for conveying the sheets fed by the sheet feeding unit to the vicinity of an image forming device for forming images on the sheets, a second conveying unit for feeding the sheets conveyed by the first conveying unit to the image forming device so as to be cable of forming images thereon, and a control for controlling the sheet conveying speed of the sheet feeding unit, the first conveying unit and the second conveying unit, and the control controls so that the sheet conveying speed may become higher in the order of the sheet feeding unit, the second conveying unit and the first conveying unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuhito Kataoka, Kazuhiko Hirooka, Yoshihiro Funamizu, Katsumi Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20020051647
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a transferring member for transferring a toner image from the image bearing member onto a recording material at a transfer portion; voltage applying means for applying a voltage to the transferring member; wherein the voltage applying means is capable of applying to the transferring member a first voltage, a second voltage higher than the first voltage and a third voltage higher than the second voltage; wherein the voltage applying means applies the first voltage to the transferring member, then the second voltage prior to the recording material reaching the transfer portion, and then the third voltage after the recording material reaching the transfer portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Publication date: May 2, 2002
    Inventor: Hironori Kato