Responsive To Copy Media Characteristic Patents (Class 399/45)
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Patent number: 9239973Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section that receives print data and forms an image on a sheet; a stacking section that stacks the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming section; and a notification section that issues notification prompting the user to change orientation of the sheet stacked on the stacking section in the case where an output mode, by which the sheet with the image formed thereon by the image forming section is outputted onto the stacking section, is changed between the sheet and a next sheet, wherein the notification section determines a change of the output mode based on any one of a sheet output orientation that is an orientation in outputting the sheet, on which the image is formed, onto the stacking section and a printing orientation that is an orientation in forming the image on the sheet.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2015Date of Patent: January 19, 2016Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.Inventor: Yusaku Kurihara
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Patent number: 9235155Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus that includes a first image forming section configured to form an auxiliary layer, a second image forming section configured to form an image layer, and a controller. The first and the second image forming sections each include an image supporting member configured to support a latent image on a surface thereof and a developer supporting member configured to support, on a surface thereof, a developer. The controller is configured to control the first and the second image forming sections to allow a first velocity and a second velocity to be different from each other. The first velocity is a traveling velocity of the surface of the developer supporting member in the first image forming section, and the second velocity is a traveling velocity of the surface of the developer supporting member in the second image forming section.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2015Date of Patent: January 12, 2016Assignee: Oki Data CorporationInventor: Takeshi Ishii
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Patent number: 9229386Abstract: In an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit configured to transfer a developing agent to a sheet for image forming and a plurality of fixing units each configured to perform a heat-fixing process on the developing agent transferred to the sheet by the image forming unit, whether the sheet is of a type for which a plurality of fixing units are to be used for performing a heat-fixing process is determined. It is controlled so as to electrify one fixing unit of the fixing units and not to electrify the other fixing units not to be used until the number of sheets having undergone the heat-fixing process by using the one fixing unit is equal to a predetermined number if the determining determines that the sheet is of a type for which a plurality of fixing units are to be used for performing a heat-fixing process.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2014Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tsuyoshi Yokomizo
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Patent number: 9223279Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device forming an image, a fixing device for heat-fixing the image on a sheet, a belt for conveying the sheet toward the fixing device, a sensor, and a control device configured to control the image forming device to form marks bridging over the belt and the sheet having passed through the fixing device at both ends of the sheet, obtain a length between remaining marks left on the belt after the sheet having the marks formed thereon is conveyed to a downstream side of the belt, on the basis of an output signal of a sensor which output is changed depending on whether there are the marks, and adjust a printing magnification of an image to be formed on the sheet on the basis of the length between the remaining marks.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2015Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Yuji Goto
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Patent number: 9216589Abstract: An image processing device has an image forming portion, a heating portion and a supplying portion. The image forming portion forms an image on a sheet. The heating portion heats the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming portion at a predetermined temperature, to thereby fix the image on the sheet. The supplying portion supplies the sheet on which an image is fixed previously. Further, the heating portion heats the sheet on which the image is fixed and which is supplied from the supplying portion at a temperature higher than the predetermined temperature to thereby remove the image.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2013Date of Patent: December 22, 2015Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Isao Yahata, Ken Iguchi, Takahiro Kawaguchi, Hiroyuki Taguchi, Hiroyuki Tsuchihashi, Hiroyuki Taki
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Patent number: 9207589Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless belt or a fixing belt; a pressure member to contact an outer circumferential surface of the fixing belt; a nip forming member disposed at an interior side of the fixing belt and contacting the pressure member via the fixing belt; a heat source disposed at an interior side of the fixing belt to heat the fixing belt with radiant heat, a plurality of shielding members disposed between the heat source and the fixing belt and movable between a shielding position where the shielding member shields a non-sheet passing area on the fixing belt from the radiant heat from the heat source and a retracted position; and a controller to move the plurality of shielding members between the shielding position and the retracted position at a predetermined time.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2014Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Yuji Arai, Takayuki Seki, Ryuuichi Mimbu, Shuntaro Tamaki, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Kazuya Saito, Hiroshi Yoshinaga
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Patent number: 9201338Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit and a controller. The image forming unit forms an image on each medium with a metallic toner. The controller controls the image forming unit such that, in the formation of an image on each medium of plural media different in reflectance, the metallic toner has a toner weight according to the medium.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2014Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.Inventors: Masahiko Kubo, Jun Koyatsu, Keiichi Okada, Yosuke Tashiro
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Patent number: 9201372Abstract: By providing a step in a pressing member for pressing a recording material P to a reading surface of an image-pickup unit, surface images in a tight contact area and a non-tight-contact area are picked up. By identifying the type of the recording material P based on the two surface images, the accuracy of identifying the recording material is improved without using a plurality of sensors.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2014Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tsutomu Ishida, Shoichi Koyama, Tomoharu Nakamura, Shun-ichi Ebihara, Norio Matsui
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Patent number: 9204010Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a document reading section, a recording medium size selecting section, a large-size document identifying section, and an image forming area setting section. The recording medium size selecting section is configured to select a size of recording media for use in forming images from image data sets of original documents. The large-size document identifying section is configured to identify an image data set greater in document size than a predetermined document size. The image forming area setting section is configured to, for the image data set of greater document size, set an entire imagable area of a recording medium to an image forming area and, for the image data set of the predetermined document size, set one half of the imagable area of a recording medium to an image forming area in a layout for booklet printing.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2013Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.Inventor: Koji Minakuchi
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Patent number: 9188530Abstract: A sensor is configured to include an optical sensor including a light source and a plurality of light receivers which receive light emitted from the light source and light regularly reflected and diffusely reflected by an object, a database including output data regarding multiple objects of known and different types from the plurality of light receivers when an incident direction of light emitted from the light source forms a first direction to the object and when the incident direction of light emitted from the light source forms a second direction which is orthogonal to the first direction, and a processor which controls the light emitted from the light source to illuminate an object of unknown type and specifies the type of the object by matching the output data of the plurality of light receivers to the database.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2014Date of Patent: November 17, 2015Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Fumikazu Hoshi, Satoru Sugawara, Toshihiro Ishii, Yoshihiro Ohba
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Patent number: 9186906Abstract: An effective image area can be properly corrected in accordance with the quantity of light from an irradiation unit by selecting, as the effective image area, pixels having light quantities more than or equal to a threshold value that allows accurate acquisition of a surface image of a recording medium, on the basis of a light quantity distribution of the light from the irradiation unit. This reduces the influence of mounting accuracy of the irradiation unit, and allows the recording medium to be identified accurately.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2014Date of Patent: November 17, 2015Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tsutomu Ishida, Shunichi Ebihara, Norio Matsui, Shoichi Koyama
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Patent number: 9189676Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an adaptive and intelligent fingerprint scanning device and approach for a multi-sided card. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention utilize DC resistive image scanning to reduce overall scanning time and energy consumption (e.g., by identifying a targeted scanning area). In a typical embodiment, a scanning device will be provided that includes a scanning area comprised of a set (e.g., at least one) of imaging pixel electrodes (e.g., arranged adjacent to one another in a grid-like or other fashion). As a user presses his/her finger against the scanning area, a first portion of the finger will contact a first electrode while a second portion of the finger will contact a second electrode. When this occurs, a voltage source of the device will apply an initial voltage across the first and second finger portions. A meter of the device will take an electrical measurement (e.g., resistance and/or charged skin voltage) across the two finger portions.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2014Date of Patent: November 17, 2015Inventor: Moon J. Kim
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Patent number: 9182708Abstract: A high-voltage generation apparatus raises, when switching from a state where a voltage having a predetermined polarity is output to a state where a voltage having a polarity opposite to the predetermined polarity is output, the voltage having the predetermined polarity in change amounts corresponding to the voltage having the predetermined polarity and a target voltage having the opposite polarity in a transient-state period elapsed until the voltage reaches the target voltage.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2011Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Takuya Mukaibara
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Patent number: 9176438Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device to form a toner image on a recording medium under a prescribed image forming condition, a fixing device to fix the toner image borne on the recording medium thereonto by heating the recording medium based on target fixing temperature, and a detector to detect a type of recording medium. The type is used in setting at least one of the image forming condition and the target fixing temperature. The inequality Tb>Ta is established when Ta represents a time period needed to reach a setting of fixing temperature allocated to the recording medium with its tip detected by the detector after detection of the tip and Tb represents a time period needed for the recording medium with its tip detected by the detector to reach the fixing device after detection of the tip.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2014Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Ryota Yamashina, Takumi Waida, Hiroshi Seo, Takashi Seto
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Patent number: 9170544Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image on each of recording media includes an optical sensor to irradiate each of the recording media with light to detect smoothness of each of the recording media according to a strength of specularly reflected light of the light with which each of the recording media is irradiated, and a processor to compare the smoothness of the recording media to determine whether a normal image can be formed on one of the recording media having a smoothness detected last.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2014Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Ryota Yamashina, Hiroshi Seo, Arinobu Yoshiura, Takumi Waida
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Patent number: 9164463Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion, a first paper output tray, and a second paper output tray. The image forming portion forms toner images and fixes toner images on sheets. The first paper output tray includes a first receiving portion positioned on its upper surface and configured to receive a sheet with a fixed toner image thereon. The second paper output tray is positioned over the first receiving portion. The second paper output tray includes a second receiving portion positioned on its upper surface and configured to receive a sheet thereon. The second paper output tray includes an accommodation space therein. The accommodation space accommodates cooling air for cooling the sheets.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2013Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.Inventor: Noriko Masuta
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Patent number: 9158248Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body and a heater disposed opposite and heating the fixing rotary body. A nip formation assembly presses against an opposed body via the fixing rotary body to form a fixing nip between the fixing rotary body and the opposed body, through which a recording medium is conveyed. A movable heat shield movable in a circumferential direction of the fixing rotary body is interposed between the heater and the fixing rotary body to shield the fixing rotary body from the heater in a variable axial span of the fixing rotary body. A stationary heat shield, interposed between the heater and the fixing rotary body to shield the fixing rotary body from the heater, is disposed outboard from a lateral edge of a heat generator of the heater in an axial direction of the fixing rotary body.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2014Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Yuji Arai, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Takayuki Seki, Takeshi Yamamoto, Ryuuichi Mimbu, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Takuya Seshita, Shuntaro Tamaki, Hajime Gotoh, Takahiro Imada, Kazuya Saito, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Kensuke Yamaji, Akira Suzuki, Hiroshi Yoshinaga
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Patent number: 9152070Abstract: A transfer device including an image carrier; a transfer member disposed facing the image carrier; a transfer electrical field generator including a direct-current (DC) power source to generate a DC voltage and an alternating current (AC) power source to generate an AC voltage; and a controller. The transfer electrical field generator forms the transfer electrical field between the image carrier and the transfer member using the DC voltage and the AC voltage, to transfer the toner image on the image carrier, charged to a predetermined polarity, onto the recording medium. The controller controls the AC voltage source so that, the AC voltage output from the AC voltage source when a leading edge of the recording medium is positioned in the transfer electrical field is set larger than the AC voltage when the portion of the recording medium other than the leading edge is positioned in the transfer electrical field.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2012Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hiromi Ogiyama, Tomokazu Takeuchi, Yasunobu Shimizu, Kenji Sengoku, Hiroyoshi Haga
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Patent number: 9141044Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a fixing portion which comes into contact with a sheet and fixes a toner image on the sheet, a magnetic flux generating portion which generates a magnetic flux so as to heat the fixing portion by electromagnetic induction, a magnetic flux shielding portion which shields a magnetic flux generated from the magnetic flux generating portion between the fixing portion and the magnetic flux generating portion, a support portion which supports the magnetic flux shielding portion, a moving portion which moves the support portion in a width direction perpendicular to a sheet conveying direction, a controller which controls the moving portion so as to move the magnetic flux shielding portion to a position based on a sheet size in the width direction, and a sheet guide portion which is supported on the support portion and guides the sheet to the fixing portion.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2013Date of Patent: September 22, 2015Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yoshiyasu Satomi
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Patent number: 9137855Abstract: When a partial pressure exceeding a Zener voltage of a Zener diode is applied to a first limiting circuit by a positive voltage applied to input terminals by an AC power supply, the first limiting circuit allows a current such that a photo transistor of the first detection circuit is turned on. When a partial pressure exceeding a total value of Zener voltages of Zener diodes is applied to a second limiting circuit by a negative voltage applied to the input terminals, the second limiting circuit allows a current such that a photo transistor of a second detection circuit is turned on. Therefore, it is possible to detect a voltage input from the AC power supply by turning on and off the photo transistors and to detect a voltage input from the AC power supply using a simpler circuit configuration.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2013Date of Patent: September 15, 2015Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Atsushi Umeda
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Patent number: 9126435Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a conveying device that conveys a recording medium; a droplets ejecting device that ejects droplets onto the recording medium being conveyed by the conveying device; a drying unit that dries the droplets that have been ejected on the recording medium being conveyed by the conveying device; and a varying unit that varies a conveyance path length from the droplets ejecting device to the drying unit in accordance with at least one of a conveyance speed of the recording medium and an ejected droplets permeation characteristic of the recording medium.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2014Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masahiko Sekimoto, Toshinobu Hamazaki, Satoshi Hasebe, Hirotake Sasaki, Motoharu Nakao
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Patent number: 9110401Abstract: An interval guarantee member including: a first image bearing member side sliding portion in sliding-contact with the image bearing member; a first developing side sliding portion in sliding-contact with the developer bearing member; a second image bearing member side sliding contact portion in sliding-contact with the image bearing member; and a second developing side sliding contact portion in sliding-contact with the developer bearing member, wherein the distance between the first image bearing member side sliding contact portion and the first developing side sliding contact portion is longer than that between the second image bearing member side sliding contact portion and the second developing side sliding contact portion, and the first image bearing member side sliding contact portion and the first developer side sliding contact portion come into contact with the image bearing member and the developer bearing member.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2014Date of Patent: August 18, 2015Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tomonori Mori, Hiroki Ogino
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Patent number: 9098042Abstract: A recording material detection apparatus having a detecting device configured to detect a surface state of a recording material on the basis of reflected light from a surface of the recording material includes a reference surface to be irradiated with light from a light source, the detecting device includes a light-shielding portion configured to control conditions for detecting information relating to the surface state of the recording material on the basis of the reflected surface from the reference surface, and cover a portion of the reference panel other than the reference surface so as to prevent the light from the light source from being reflected from the portion of the reference panel other than the reference surface and being received by the light-receiving unit.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2014Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Norio Matsui, Shoichi Koyama, Tsutomu Ishida, Shun-ichi Ebihara
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Patent number: 9082006Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section configured to form an image on a sheet and a control section configured to control image formation at the image forming section and is connectable to a reading apparatus and a sheet processing apparatus. The control section includes a function to compare image data for image formation at the time of forming an image on the sheet at the image forming section with read-out image data produced from an image read out from the sheet at the reading apparatus; a function to detect an image abnormality from a comparison result; and a function to change a control state of an image forming action in accordance with sheet processing executed at the sheet processing apparatus at the time of having detected the image abnormality.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2014Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventor: Tomohiro Kiriyama
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Patent number: 9081350Abstract: An image decolorizing device according to an embodiment comprises a heating unit configured to generate heat and apply the heat to a recording medium, and a pressure roller that forms a nip with the heating unit. The image decolorizing device further comprises a first contact part positioned in contact with the heating unit at a first position upstream of the nip in a rotation direction of the heating unit and fixed in the rotating direction, and a second contact part positioned in contact with the heating unit at a second position upstream of the nip in the rotation direction and fixed in the rotating direction. In the image decolorizing device, the first and second contact parts are configured to apply a voltage to the heating unit causing the heating unit to generate heat over a heating area between the first and second positions.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Yasunobu Terao
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Patent number: 9075365Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable fuser member, a rotatable pressure member, a heater, and a controller. The rotatable fuser member is subjected to heating. The rotatable pressure member is disposed opposite the fuser member. The pressure member presses against the fuser member to form a fixing nip therebetween, through which multiple recording media, each spaced apart from each other by an interval distance in a conveyance direction, are sequentially conveyed at a conveyance speed. The heater is disposed adjacent to the fuser member to heat the fuser member. The controller is operatively connected to the heater to control power supply to the heater through a series of on-off switching control cycles, each including an on-time during which the heater power supply is on, and an off-time during which the heater power supply is off, in synchronization with conveyance of the recording medium.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2013Date of Patent: July 7, 2015Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Seo, Ippei Fujimoto, Ryota Yamashina, Takumi Waida
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Patent number: 9057996Abstract: An image forming device includes a power supply for transfer for applying a voltage for transfer for transferring the toner image on the image carrier onto the recording paper sheet to the transfer member, and a recording paper sheet feed device for feeding the recording paper sheet into the pressing nip, and the method for controlling a power supply for transfer. The power supply for transfer is turned on and the output voltage of the power supply for transfer is set to 0 V before the transfer member is pressed against the image carrier, and the output voltage of the power supply for transfer is switched from 0 V to a high voltage for transfer after the transfer member is pressed against the image carrier.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2011Date of Patent: June 16, 2015Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Takafumi Tanaka, Takashi Watanabe
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Patent number: 9058000Abstract: A recording material determination device includes an ultrasonic wave transmission unit configured to transmit an ultrasonic wave to a recording material based on a driving signal, an ultrasonic wave receiving unit configured to receive the ultrasonic wave, a light exposure unit configured to expose the recording material to light, a light receiving unit configured to receive light, an amplification unit configured to amplify an ultrasonic wave received by the ultrasonic wave receiving unit to a first output value, and after the amplification unit amplifies the ultrasonic wave received by the ultrasonic wave receiving unit to the first output value, a control unit performs control so as to obtain the second output value by the light exposure unit and the light receiving unit during a period of time after the amplification of the ultrasonic wave is stopped and before the next ultrasonic wave comes to be transmittable.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2011Date of Patent: June 16, 2015Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shun-ichi Ebihara, Norio Matsui, Shoichi Koyama, Tsutomu Ishida, Tomoharu Nakamura
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Patent number: 9052664Abstract: A recording material determination apparatus includes a first detection unit configured to detect a characteristic corresponding to a surface condition of a recording material based on a captured image of a surface of the recording material, a second detection unit configured to detect a characteristic corresponding to a grammage of the recording material based on an ultrasonic wave detected via the recording material by irradiating the recording material with an ultrasonic wave, and a conveyance unit configured to convey the recording material. The first detection unit and the second detection unit are located opposite each other with respect to the conveyance unit.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2013Date of Patent: June 9, 2015Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshimi Kuramochi, Shoji Maruyama, Tsutomu Ishida, Shunichi Ebihara
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Patent number: 9046842Abstract: A fixing device includes a heat source, a fixing roller, a pressure roller, an elastic layer, a pressing portion, a restricting portion and a driving unit. The fixing roller is heated by the heat source. The pressure roller is held in contact with the fixing roller and forms a fixing nip portion through which a sheet is to be passed. The elastic layer is formed on an inner layer of the fixing roller. The pressing portion presses one roller of the fixing roller and the pressure roller against the other roller while compressing the elastic layer. The restricting portion restricts a compression amount of the elastic layer lest the compression amount should exceed a preset compression amount when the pressing portion presses the roller. The driving unit drives and rotates one of the fixing roller and the pressure roller in a state where the compression amount is restricted.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2013Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.Inventor: Masaru Takagi
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Patent number: 9046829Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes a primary transfer unit configured to transfer a developer image from an image carrier to an intermediate transfer body, a secondary transfer unit configured to transfer the developer image to a recording medium, a voltage application unit configured to apply a voltage to the secondary transfer unit, a voltage controller configured to control the voltage to be applied to the secondary transfer unit by the voltage application unit, a recording medium type detector configured to detect a type of the recording medium, and a recording medium width detector configured to detect a width of the recording medium in a direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction of the intermediate transfer body. The voltage controller controls the voltage to be applied to the secondary transfer unit, based on the detected recording medium type and the detected recording medium width.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2013Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignee: Oki Data CorporationInventor: Hiroshi Miura
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Patent number: 9046839Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation, a heater disposed opposite the fixing rotator to heat the fixing rotator, and an opposed rotator contacting an outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotator. A heat shield interposed between the heater and the fixing rotator shields the fixing rotator from the heater. A support supports the heat shield. The heat shield includes a first section supported by the support and having a decreased thermal conductivity and a second section abutting the first section in an axial direction of the heat shield and having an increased thermal conductivity greater than the decreased thermal conductivity of the first section.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2014Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Yuji Arai, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Takayuki Seki, Takeshi Yamamoto, Ryuuichi Mimbu, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Takuya Seshita, Shuntaro Tamaki, Hajime Gotoh, Takahiro Imada, Kazuya Saito, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Kensuke Yamaji, Akira Suzuki, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Yoshio Hattori
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Patent number: 9046847Abstract: A recording material detection apparatus having a detecting device configured to detect a surface state of a recording material on the basis of reflected light from a surface of the recording material includes a reference surface to be irradiated with light from a light source, the detecting device includes a light-shielding portion configured to control conditions for detecting information relating to the surface state of the recording material on the basis of the reflected surface from the reference surface, and cover a portion of the reference panel other than the reference surface so as to prevent the light from the light source from being reflected from the portion of the reference panel other than the reference surface and being received by the light-receiving unit.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2014Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Norio Matsui, Shoichi Koyama, Tsutomu Ishida, Shun-ichi Ebihara
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Patent number: 9037013Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an input unit, a display unit, an image forming unit, a storage unit, a first-page print execution information setting unit, and a print control unit. The first-page print execution information setting unit stores information in the storage unit. The information relates to execution of printing the first page of a job on a sheet on a manual feed tray. If printing on a long nonstandard-size sheet is selected, the print control unit causes the display unit to display an indication prompting a user to identify the sheet size and requests the image forming unit to start printing the sheet on the manual feed tray after a print start instruction. If the information is stored in the storage unit, the print control unit skips the step of displaying the indication and requests the image forming unit to start the printing on the sheet on the manual feed tray.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2013Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.Inventor: Daijiro Kitamoto
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Patent number: 9037015Abstract: Methods, systems, computer readable media and other means for generating a profile for a particular type of media are provided. The profile represents a set of preferred printing parameters to be used to achieve a target print quality for a reference printing device. The profile may be used by other non-reference printing devices in order to optimize printing for that type of media. For each non-reference printing device, an offset may be established that represents the differences between the non-reference and the reference printing devices. A processor of the non-reference printing device may identify the type of media and the profile for that media and then adjust the printing parameters for the non-reference printing device based on the profile and the offset in order to optimize the print quality. The profile may also include a parameter that is based on a temperature coefficient associated with the type of printer.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2014Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: ZIH Corp.Inventor: Max Kielland
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Patent number: 9037014Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier; an intermediate transfer body; a second-transfer member; a support mechanism that supports the second-transfer member in a second-transfer region; a surface-positioning member that is disposed upstream of the second-transfer member in a transport direction; a determination device that determines whether or not a recording medium is a thin medium; and a controller that, in a case where it is determined that the recording medium is a thin medium, controls the support mechanism so as to move the second-transfer member more upstream in the transport direction than in other cases and controls the position of the surface-positioning member so as to move the second-transfer member in a direction such that an angle between the intermediate transfer body and the second-transfer member on the upstream side becomes larger than in other cases.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2013Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.Inventor: Tomoaki Yoshioka
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Patent number: 9031429Abstract: A sheet of paper is set on a paper-supplying portion of a top surface gloss processing apparatus while its top surface is faced upward. A gloss level sensor measures gloss level of the top surface of the sheet of paper. Data of this measurement is compared with a previously set threshold value. Based on this comparison, it is determined whether or not the gloss processing has been performed on the top surface thereof. When determining that the gloss processing has been already performed, a warning message such that the gloss processing has been already performed on the top surface of the sheet, of paper is displayed on a screen. On the other hand, when determining that the gloss processing has not performed, the top surface gloss processing apparatus performs the gloss processing on the top surface thereof.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2013Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventors: Teruo Shimao, Toshie Shimao, Katsunori Takahashi, Kenji Tamaki, Kenichi Hayashi, Yumiko Izumiya, Kazutoshi Yoshimura
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Patent number: 9025982Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a control unit that executes a long grain feed mode of conveying a long grain recording sheet whose grain direction is in parallel with a conveying direction of the recording sheet and a short grain feed mode of conveying a short grain recording sheet whose grain direction is orthogonal to the conveying direction of the recording sheet, the control unit changing, in accordance to the long grain feed mode and the short grain feed mode, temperature of a first rotating body set by the heating unit and setting of at least either one changeable setting among settings of a pressure-contact mechanism and a driving mechanism configured such that the setting of at least one of them is changeable.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2013Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Seiichiro Kameda
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Patent number: 9025978Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image holding body on which a toner image is formed; a transfer unit that functions to transfer the toner image formed on the image holding body onto a recording medium; and an adjusting unit that adjusts a gap between the transfer unit and the image holding body based on the rigidity of the recording medium, the recording medium being conveyed through the gap with respect to the image holding body.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2012Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Yuuji Ohmura
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Publication number: 20150117925Abstract: According to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus has an image forming unit, a transfer unit, a fixing unit, a first conveying path, a second conveying path, and a control unit. The image forming unit forms a toner image. The control unit controls execution of a print-less sheet passing processing in which, in a state where a toner image forming operation of the image forming unit is stopped, the first conveying path and the second conveying path convey a sheet to the transfer unit again through the transfer unit and the fixing unit. The control unit controls the execution of the toner image forming operation to the sheet subjected to the print-less sheet passing processing.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2014Publication date: April 30, 2015Inventor: Hiroyuki FUSE
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Publication number: 20150116718Abstract: An optical sensor includes a light-emitting unit to emit light onto a measuring object, a regular reflection light receiver to receive regular reflection light from the measuring object out of the light emitted by the light-emitting unit, and a diffuse reflection light receiver to receive diffuse reflection light from the measuring object out of the light emitted by the light-emitting unit. An angle of incidence of the light emitted onto a surface of the measuring object is not smaller than 75° and not larger than 85°. The diffuse reflection light receiver receives, out of the diffuse reflection light from the measuring object, diffuse reflection light having an angle of reflection with respect to a perpendicular to the surface of the measuring object larger than 0° and smaller than an angle of reflection of the regular reflection light with respect to the perpendicular to the surface of the measuring object.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2014Publication date: April 30, 2015Inventors: Terumichi OCHI, Takumi WAIDA, Shinji KATO, Toshihiro ISHII, Shuji HIRAI, Takashi FUJITA, Shinichi NAMEKATA, Ryota YAMASHINA, Arinobu YOSHIURA, Motoyoshi YAMANO
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Patent number: 9014580Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, multiple toners are superimposed, formed and layered, on a recording medium and a toner image is made. The toner that superimposed lastly on the recording medium, that is, a top layer of toner, has a toner fixing characteristic value that causes the top layer of toner to be fixed on the recording medium by lower temperature than one or all of the other multiple toners. This provides for a better fixing quality.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2012Date of Patent: April 21, 2015Assignee: Ricoh Company, LimitedInventors: Tadashi Kasai, Shinya Kobayashi, Yoshihiro Sonohara, Masakazu Terao, Yoichi Sakurai
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Patent number: 9008525Abstract: According to embodiments, an image forming apparatus has a sensor that scans a sheet to detect an identifier on the sheet, which indicates the presence, and orientation, of a form on the sheet, a memory that holds a reference pattern of the identifier, a control section that is configured to compare the identifier detected by the sensor and the reference pattern and determine the orientation of the form, and an image forming unit that form an image on the sheet. The image forming unit is configured to form the image so that the orientation of the image conforms to the orientation of the form.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2013Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba TEC Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Ryota Kashiwagi
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Patent number: 9004674Abstract: A printing system for indicating print media quality to printer users includes a printing assembly configured to route print media along a pathway for printing. In an example, the system includes, but is not limited to, a thermal printer having a thermal print head for printing onto paper. The system also includes a light meter configured to detect light reflected from the print media, such as the paper. The light meter also measures a characteristic of the detected light. An indicator is coupled to the light meter, and configured to present a quality level of the print media to a user based on the measured characteristic of the detected light.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2012Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Joseph Kuczynski, Hye S. Makley, Melissa K. Miller, Heidi D. Williams, Jing Zhang
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Patent number: 8994994Abstract: A controller for use in a printing apparatus ejecting a metallic ink is configured to, on a user interface screen, display a reception portion that receives an item desired by a user with respect to a metallic texture, and a display portion that displays a printing-medium type suitable for the item.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2013Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Yoshio Okumura
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Patent number: 8995854Abstract: A recording material determination apparatus includes a transmission unit configured to transmit an ultrasonic wave, a reception unit configured to receive an ultrasonic wave transmitted from the transmission unit and then via a recording material, and a control unit configured to cause the transmission unit to transmit an ultrasonic wave a plurality of times under different conditions, measure an output value a plurality of times, and determine the recording material based on the output values measured a plurality of times.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2012Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tsutomu Ishida
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Patent number: 8995011Abstract: An image formation apparatus performs calibration to maintain image quality. An adding unit performs addition processing to add an arbitrary type of printing medium different from a printing medium designated in advance as a printing medium usable for the calibration. A storage unit stores characteristic information indicating characteristics of each of a plurality of arbitrary types of printing media added by the adding unit. A determination unit determines an arbitrary type of printing medium relatively approximate to the characteristics of the printing medium designated in advance by comparing the characteristic information of each of the plurality of arbitrary types of printing media with the characteristics of the printing medium designated in advance. A calibration performing unit performs the calibration using the printing medium determined by the determination unit.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2010Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Sumito Tanaka
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Patent number: 8989631Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes an image unit that forms an image using a white toner and a color toner and a fixing unit that fixes the image to a medium with heat. The toner mass per unit area of the white toner ? (g/m2) in an image of the color toner superimposed on the white toner formed on paper used as the medium satisfies: 0.03+1.31×Rw?0.47×Rc+0.02×Gw?0.07×Gc???0.05+1.06×Rw+0.42×Rc?0.02×Gw+0.05×Gc where Rw is the average particle diameter (?m) of the white toner, Rc is the average particle diameter (?m) of the color toner, Gw is the storage modulus (kPa) of the white toner at 120° C., and Gc is the storage modulus (kPa) of the color toner at 120° C.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2014Date of Patent: March 24, 2015Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takayuki Yamashita, Sakon Takahashi, Yutaka Kiuchi, Masayo Higashimura, Kunihiko Sato
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Publication number: 20150078770Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes paper trays to contain and feed a recording sheet on which a toner image is transferred; status sensors to detect a storage status of the recording sheet contained in the paper trays; a sheet sensor to detect a smoothness of the recording sheet; a memory to store detection values of the smoothness detected by the sheet sensor; a fixing device to heat and press the toner image transferred onto the recording sheet and fix it onto the recording sheet; and a control circuit to determine a target fixing temperature of the fixing device based on the detection values stored in the memory. The control circuit determines the target fixing temperature for successive recording sheets depending on the detected smoothness, and resets the detection values stored in the memory to zero when the status sensors detect a change in the storage status of the paper trays.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2014Publication date: March 19, 2015Inventors: Motoyoshi YAMANO, Shinichi Namekata, Ryota Yamashina, Takumi Waida, Shinji Kato, Shuji Hirai, Terumichi Ochi
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Publication number: 20150078772Abstract: A recording material detection apparatus having a detecting device configured to detect a surface state of a recording material on the basis of reflected light from a surface of the recording material includes a reference surface to be irradiated with light from a light source, the detecting device includes a light-shielding portion configured to control conditions for detecting information relating to the surface state of the recording material on the basis of the reflected surface from the reference surface, and cover a portion of the reference panel other than the reference surface so as to prevent the light from the light source from being reflected from the portion of the reference panel other than the reference surface and being received by the light-receiving unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2014Publication date: March 19, 2015Inventors: Norio Matsui, Shoichi Koyama, Tsutomu Ishida, Shun-ichi Ebihara