Responsive To Copy Media Characteristic Patents (Class 399/45)
  • Patent number: 8521075
    Abstract: A control apparatus configured to control an image forming system, in forming a transparent toner on a sheet having color toners formed and fixed thereon, applies a transparent toner on an area on which an image can be formed and which is other than an area that a user desires to reduce the glossiness thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Motohide Shiozawa
  • Publication number: 20130216247
    Abstract: An optical sensor is disclosed. The optical sensor includes an irradiating system which irradiates a linearly polarized light; a first photodetecting system including a first photodetector which is arranged on an optical path of a light which is specularly reflected from a subject; a second photodetecting system including an optical element which is arranged on an optical path of a light which is diffuse reflected from the subject within an incident face in the subject and which separates a linearly polarized component in a second polarizing direction which is orthogonal to a first polarizing direction and a second photodetector which receives a light separated by the optical element, wherein an angle of taking in the light in the first photodetector and an angle of taking in the light in the second photodetector are mutually different.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro OBA, Satoru SUGAWARA, Toshihiro ISHII, Fumikazu HOSHI
  • Publication number: 20130216245
    Abstract: An optical sensor is disclosed, including an irradiating system; a first photodetecting system including a first photodetector which is arranged on an optical path of a light which is specularly reflected from a subject; a second photodetecting system including an optical element which is arranged on an optical path of a light which is diffuse reflected from the subject within an incident face in the subject and which separates a linearly polarized component in a second polarizing direction which is orthogonal to a first polarizing direction and a second photodetector which receives a light separated by the optical element; and a restricting member which is arranged on an optical path of an incident light with respect to at least one of the first photodetector and the second photodetector and which restricts a light receiving range in the at least one photodetector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Fumikazu Hoshi, Satoru Sugawara, Toshihiro Ishii, Yoshihiro Oba
  • Publication number: 20130216246
    Abstract: An optical sensor is disclosed. The optical sensor includes a light source in which a semiconductor laser having multiple light-emitting units is sealed with one resin member; a light source driving unit which causes the multiple light-emitting units to emit light; and at least one photodetector which detects a light amount of a light which is emitted from the multiple light-emitting units and is reflected from a subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Fumikazu Hoshi, Satoru Sugawara, Toshihior Ishii, Yoshihiro Oba
  • Patent number: 8515327
    Abstract: The invention provides an image forming apparatus capable of preventing a ripple or curling of the sheet and stabilizing feedability or loadability of the sheet. The image forming apparatus includes an aqueous solution applying portion that applies the aqueous solution containing the deliquescent material for hindering evaporation of moisture to the sheet where the toner image has been thermally fixed by the fixing portion, and a controller that controls so that a concentration of the deliquescent material of the aqueous solution applied to the sheet using the aqueous solution applying portion is changed depending on the basis weight of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazunari Hatazaki
  • Patent number: 8509641
    Abstract: An electrophotographic printing device includes a fixing unit; and a temperature sensor. The fixing unit includes: a fixing member; a pressing member pressed against the fixing member; and a heater which heats at least the fixing member of the fixing member and the pressing member, the fixing unit fixing a toner image on a recording material to the recording material while carrying the recording material through a fixing nip formed between the fixing member and the pressing member. The temperature sensor is attached to a recording material supplying unit, and detects a temperature of a recording material stored in the recording material supplying unit, and a fixing temperature is controlled based on the detected temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Takashi Kagami
  • Patent number: 8508800
    Abstract: A length L of the test pattern string is determined so as to satisfy a condition L?{P?(Q1+Q2)}×V, where a time Q is a total time of a time Q1 for which the test pattern string is transferred from an exposure position of the test pattern string to a sensor and a time Q2 from when the test pattern is detected by the sensor until a color misregistration correction value calculated on the basis of a result of detecting is reflected in image formation; a time P is a time from a timing of starting to write the test pattern string to a timing of starting to write an image in which the correction value should be reflected; and a driving speed of a second image carrier is V.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Abe
  • Publication number: 20130195482
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes a sheet conveying unit that conveys a sheet; a conveying amount measuring unit that measures a conveying amount of the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying unit; a first detection unit that detects the sheet downstream of the sheet conveying unit in a conveying direction of the sheet; a second detection unit that detects the sheet upstream of the sheet conveying unit in the conveying direction of the sheet; and a conveying distance calculation unit that calculates a conveying distance of the sheet based on the measured result by the conveying amount measuring unit and the detected results detected by the first detection unit and the second detection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Inventors: Makoto NAKURA, Takuro Kamiya, Shingo Takai, Naoto Ueda, Satoshi Ueda, Akira Kobashi, Koichi Kudo
  • Publication number: 20130195483
    Abstract: A transfer device includes a transfer bias power source, a switching device, and a sheet dependent condition setting device. The transfer bias power source applies to a transfer member, based on sheet dependent conditions for a recording medium onto which a toner image is transferred, one of a DC transfer bias and a superimposed transfer bias including an alternating current (AC) component superimposed on a DC component. The switching device switches a transfer mode between a DC transfer mode in which the DC transfer bias is applied to the transfer device and a superimposed-bias transfer mode in which the superimposed transfer bias is applied to the transfer device. The sheet dependent condition setting device sets arbitrarily at least one of the sheet dependent conditions for the recording medium at the superimposed-bias transfer mode. The sheet dependent conditions include a DC component value and an AC component value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Inventors: Yasunobu Shimizu, Shinya Tanaka, Hiromi Ogiyama, Hirokazu Ishii, Keigo Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8494427
    Abstract: A disclosed fixing device applying a bubble-like fixing liquid to resin-containing particles adhered to a medium so that the resin-containing particles are fixed to the medium, the bubble-like fixing liquid being formed by transforming a fixing liquid into foam that dissolves or swells at least a part of the resin, includes a control device that, based on a difference between a moisture content included in the medium after fixing and a target value of the moisture content, adjusts an application amount of the fixing liquid for a next medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Nagao, Takuma Nakamura, Yuichi Aoyama, Masafumi Yamada, Shunichi Abe, Tetsurou Sasamoto, Takanori Inadome
  • Patent number: 8494384
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a forming section that forms an image on a side of paper; a fixing section that applies heat to fix the image onto the side of the paper; a paper reversing section that reverses a front and back of the paper having the image fixed onto a first side in the fixing section; a first measuring section that is provided between a registration roller and the forming section to measure a first moisture content of the paper before an image is formed on the first side, and a second moisture content of the paper before an image is formed on a second side, after the image is fixed on the first side; and a calculating section that calculates amount of change of the size of the paper on the basis of the difference between the first moisture content and the second moisture content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Furuya, Yoshinari Iwaki, Seigo Makida, Takashi Ogino, Kiyoshi Hosoi, Katsumi Sakamaki
  • Patent number: 8482786
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus acquires a print target image, scans an image on a sheet, recognizes reuse information in the image scanned from the sheet, generates reuse information after printing the print target image from the recognized reuse information and the acquired print target image, selects an area where the reuse information can be printed, in the acquired print target image, combines the reuse information with the selected area in the print target image, deletes the image on the sheet from which the image is scanned, and forms the combined image on the sheet from which the image is deleted, with a erasable image forming material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shogo Ozawa
  • Publication number: 20130170848
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has rotatable members for rotatably retaining respective ones of flanges mounted to opposite ends of a roll sheet, and placement stages on which the roll sheet is to be placed and on which respective ones of the rotatable members are mounted. Racks are mounted to respective ones of the placement stages for undergoing movement to move the placement stages relative one another to vary a distance between the placement stages. A pinion is arranged between the racks for undergoing rotation to move the racks, and a potentiometer whose resistance value varies in accordance with a distance between the placement stages undergoing movement with rotation of the pinion is provided. An A/D converter outputs a value based on a resistance value of the potentiometer. A calculation device calculates a width of the roll sheet based on the value output from the A/D converter. A memory stores the calculated width of the roll sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: Seiko Infotech Inc..
    Inventor: Kiyohito Hirota
  • Patent number: 8478145
    Abstract: A printer is provided for forming a durable combination of printed receivers having a printer controller cooperating with a print engine, a receiver transport system, an overlap positioning system and a fuser to cause a first toner image on a first side of a first receiver with toner in an overlap area proximate to a first edge of the first receiver to overlap the first edge of the first receiver with a second edge of the second receiver having a thickness and to fuse the overlapped first receiver and second receiver to cause the toner in the overlap area to bond to the receivers. A toner edge shield forms a first end confronting a second edge that extends from a first side of the first receiver to at least about 50% of the thickness and that has a deflection surface that slopes toward a second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Gary P. Lawniczak, Donald S. Rimai
  • Patent number: 8478147
    Abstract: A toner image on a photosensitive drum exposed with an LED light beam radiated from an LED section and developed by an image-forming unit is transferred by an image-forming apparatus to a printing paper when the printing paper, which is fed from a paper feed tray or a manual feed tray and which is transported by a transport mechanism by a feeder section, passes through a process section. A control unit of the image-forming apparatus determines an exposure timing at which the LED section starts the exposure, depending on a supply source of the printing paper sheet to be subjected to the transfer by the process section. Therefore, the error of the photosensitive member arrival time, which is caused by the change of the transport route, is absorbed, and the deviation of the transfer start position, which results from the error, is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 8478184
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit configured to transfer a toner image based on image data onto a recording medium, a fixing device configured to thermally fix the toner image transferred onto the recording medium, a stack tray configured to stack a recording medium conveyed from the fixing device, and a controller configured to calculate based on the image data an amount of a toner on a top surface of the recording media stacked on the stack tray and an amount of a toner on a bottom surface of the recording media to be subsequently conveyed and discharged onto the stack tray and to control a recording medium discharge interval based on a result of calculating the amounts of the toners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryo Hanashi, Masahiro Komoto, Hiroaki Tomiyasu
  • Patent number: 8478148
    Abstract: A fixing unit includes: a support member; an endless-belt-like fixing member which is wound on the support member; a pressure member which rotates in a fixed rotation direction while being pressed onto the fixing member; a fixing portion in which the fixing member and the pressure member abut against each other to perform fixation on a recording medium; a separation unit which is provided in a space between the support member and the fixing member on a downstream side of the fixing member in a rotation direction of the fixing member and for separating the recording medium from the fixing member; a separation portion which is provided in the separation unit to press the fixing member onto the pressure member and guide the fixing member to leave the pressure member; and an adjustment unit as defined herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaya Nakatsuhara, Sho Watanabe, Yuichi Fukuda, Chikara Ando, Toshiyuki Miyata
  • Publication number: 20130164015
    Abstract: A fixing device includes: a rotatable fixing member configured to fix at a nip a toner image formed on recording paper; a rotatable pressing member configured to form the nip between itself and the rotatable fixing member; and a controller configured to control a temperature of the rotatable pressing member depending on smoothness of the recording paper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
  • Patent number: 8472820
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, comprises an image forming section, a transfer section to transfer the toner image onto a recording material; and a fixing device to fix the toner image onto the recording material; wherein the image forming section includes a plurality of color image forming sections and a transparent image forming section, and the plurality of color image forming sections and the transparent image forming section are arranged such that the transparent image is transferred so as to form a transparent image layer on an outer surface of the color image on the recording material at a fixing time by the fixing device, and wherein an amount of wax contained in the transparent toner is larger than an amount of wax contained in each color toner of the plurality of color toners and smaller than an amount of base resin contained in the transparent toner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8472831
    Abstract: A method may include the steps of providing a printing assembly that includes a plurality of printing modules that each include a specific toner color, wherein a first printing module is failing and at least one second printing module is functioning; determining a toner use demand for the plurality of printing modules; and swapping the first printing module with the at least one second printing module to facilitate reducing a downtime of the printing apparatus, wherein the first printing module has a toner use demand that is substantially greater than the toner use demand of the at least one second printing module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: David E. Bettiol
  • Publication number: 20130148986
    Abstract: A print device with a surface identifying function includes a feed roller assembly, a print assembly, and a printed surface identifying assembly. The feed roller assembly feeds the paper into the print device when receiving a printing task. The printed surface identifying assembly identifies whether one or both surfaces of a sheet of paper have already been printed, generates and sends a result to a processing unit. The processing unit determines whether the paper is available for printing according to the result, and control the print assembly not to perform the printing task and the feed roller assembly to take the paper out of the print device when the paper is unavailable for printing. A printing method is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD.
    Inventor: LIN LIU
  • Publication number: 20130148990
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
  • Patent number: 8457538
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that is rotatable; a transfer member that is rotatably disposed so as to face the image carrier, the transfer member transferring an image carried by the image carrier to a sheet; a leading end gripping member that is attached to the transfer member, the leading end gripping member gripping a leading end of the sheet in the transport direction on an outer peripheral surface of the transfer member; a trailing end holding member that holds a trailing end of the sheet in the transport direction between the trailing end holding member and the outer peripheral surface of the transfer member; and a controller that changes a distance between the leading end gripping member and the trailing end holding member when holding the sheet on the basis of a length of the sheet in the transport direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuji Okamoto, Masahiro Sato, Atsushi Ogihara, Junichi Murakami, Koichi Watanabe, Shuichi Nishide, Atsuyuki Kitamura
  • Publication number: 20130136468
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member to bear a toner image on a surface thereof, a transfer device to transfer the toner image onto a recording medium, and a transfer bias power source to apply to the transfer device a superimposed transfer bias in which an alternating current (AC) component is superimposed on a direct current (DC) component in a superimposed transfer mode to transfer the toner image. The superimposed transfer bias has a waveform in which a first polarity in a direction of transferring the toner image onto the recording medium and a second polarity opposite the first polarity switch alternately. The superimposed transfer bias is output such that a standard value of each of the DC component and the AC component is multiplied by a respective correction ratio, and the correction ratio of the DC component is different from that of the AC component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Inventors: Yasunobu SHIMIZU, Hiromi Ogiyama, Hirokazu Ishii, Shinya Tanaka, Keigo Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8447202
    Abstract: The present invention provides a printing without margins-enabled image forming apparatus that forms toner image matched to the size and position of the conveyed printing material and suppresses waste toner generation. To accomplish this, the present image forming apparatus includes a printing material detection unit that detects orthogonal direction length, conveying direction length, orthogonal direction position, and conveying direction position associated with the conveyed printing material when a printing without margins is selected by the selection unit. In addition, the present image forming apparatus includes a matching unit which, based on the detected length and conveying position, matches the size of the toner image formed on the printing material to the size of the printing material and matches the formation position of the toner image to the position of the printing material conveyed along the conveying path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masayoshi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8447196
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image forming unit and a feeding unit for feeding a recording material at a predetermined speed to the image forming unit. A reflective type sensor reads irradiated light reflected off of the recording material and an image reading unit reads the light so as to obtain a surface image of the recording material so that a feed control unit can control the feeding of the recording medium so that a moving distance is shorter and in the case of feeding it at a predetermined speed while the recording material is read by the image reading unit. In the image forming apparatus a reflective type determination unit determines a predetermined attribute of the recording material using the surface image of the recording material read by the image reading unit so that the image forming apparatus can determine a kind of recording material based on the attribute obtain so as to form the image on the recording material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kengo Umeda, Tomoyuki Okada, Satoshi Akiyama, Osamu Koyama
  • Publication number: 20130121712
    Abstract: When a heater is turned off before passing of a rear end of a sheet through a fixing device, a poor image such as a poor fixing occurs and it is difficult to reduce power consumption. A stop timing of the heater is controlled according to a temperature state of the fixing device, an installation environment of the apparatus, a kind of the sheet, or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
  • Patent number: 8441668
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method can include receiving a transient printing policy and enforcing the transient printing policy. Enforcement of the transient printing policy can include receiving a request to print a document and, based on the transient printing policy, providing a printing recommendation for the document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Eric J. Shrader, Victoria Mary Elizabeth Bellotti
  • Patent number: 8442408
    Abstract: A sensor system includes an LED configured to emit light to a recording medium and a light-receiving sensor configured to receive a transmitted light that has passed through the recording medium after having been emitted from the LED to the recording medium. An emitting optical axis of the LED is away from a perpendicular receiving optical axis of the light-receiving sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Shiba, Yoshitaka Kukubo, Masanori Akita, Tomoyuki Okada, Kengo Umeda
  • Patent number: 8437047
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus which reads an original to generate monochrome image data, comprises a determination unit configured to determine which of a first instruction to read the original using RGB sensors or a second instruction to read the original using a BW sensor is input; a reading unit configured to read the original using the RGB sensors when the determination unit determined that the first instruction is input, and read the original using the BW sensor when the determination unit determined that the second instruction is input; and a generation unit configured to generate monochrome image data by reading the original by the reading unit using the respective sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaaki Muraishi
  • Publication number: 20130108291
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a discrimination unit discriminates the type of printing medium conveyed to an image forming unit. A comparator compares the type of a printing medium that has been designated and the type of a printing medium that has been discriminated. A setting unit sets a second image forming condition in the image forming unit if it has been determined not to add identification information to image information in accordance with the type of printing medium designated and, moreover, the type of printing medium designated and the type of printing medium discriminated by the discrimination unit do not match. The second image forming condition is different from a first image forming condition that conforms to the type of printing medium discriminated by the discrimination unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
  • Patent number: 8433228
    Abstract: Apparatuses useful for printing and methods of stripping media from surfaces in apparatuses useful for printing are provided. An exemplary embodiment of an apparatus useful for printing comprises a first roll; a belt including an inner surface and an outer surface, the first roll and the outer surface of the belt forming a nip; and a stripping member located internal to the belt. The stripping member includes at least a first stripping surface and a second stripping surface having a smaller curvature than the first stripping surface. The stripping member is rotatable to selectively position one of the first stripping surface and the second stripping surface in contact with the inner surface of the belt. The one of the first stripping surface and the second stripping surface facilitates stripping of a medium fed to the nip from the outer surface of the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Inventors: Christine A. Keenan, Augusto E. Barton, Anthony S. Condello
  • Patent number: 8433235
    Abstract: A fixing device, in which an unfixed image carried by a recording medium is passed through a fixing nip part being pressed by a fixing rotative body and a pressuring rotative body, and is fixed to the recording medium, is disclosed, including: a pressing part, and control part. The pressing part applies a pressure to the fixing nip part. The control part controls the pressure to be applied to the fixing nip part by the pressing part, to be lower than a case in which the recording medium passes through a curl correcting part for correcting a curl of the recording medium, when the recording medium does not pass through the curl correcting part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takamasa Hase
  • Patent number: 8433212
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a device for forming a toner image on a sheet; a heater contacting and heating the toner image on the sheet; a detector for detecting a temperature of the heater a controller for controlling the heater to maintain the temperature of the heater at a target temperature based on an output of the detector; a selector for selecting a first mode continuously forming images on thin sheets, a second mode continuously forming images on thick sheets, and a third mode continuously forming images on the thin sheet and the thick sheet; and a setter for setting the target temperature based on the selected mode, wherein the target temperature in the second mode is higher than the target temperature in the first mode, and the target temperature in the third mode is higher than the target temperature in the second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuaki Ono
  • Publication number: 20130101303
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Inventors: Tadashi KASAI, Shinya KOBAYASHI, Yoshihiro SONOHARA, Masakazu TERAO, Yoichi SAKURAI
  • Patent number: 8428478
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a selector for selecting a first mode in which a transparent toner image is partly formed on a surface of a recording material and a second mode in which the transparent toner image is formed so that whole surface of the recording material is coated with a transparent toner; and a controller for controlling execution so that execution of the first and second image forming modes are permitted when information indicates that the recording material has not been subjected to image formation before the recording material is placed to a placing portion and so that execution of the second mode is permitted but execution of the first mode is forbidden when the information indicates that the recording material has already been subjected to image formation before the recording material is placed to the placing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Motohide Shiozawa
  • Publication number: 20130094870
    Abstract: An image transfer device includes an image bearing member, a pair of opposed transfer members, a media separator, and an electrical bias applicator. The image bearing member defines an image bearing surface on which a toner image is created. The pair of opposed transfer members is disposed opposite each other via the image bearing member to form a transfer nip therebetween through which a recording medium is passed. One of the transfer members defines a first electrode to which a first electrical bias is applied. The media separator defines a second electrode downstream from the transfer nip to which a second electrical bias is applied. The electrical bias applicator includes a power supply connectable with each of the first and second electrodes to supply the first electrical bias to the first electrode and the second electrical bias to the second electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Inventors: Yasunobu SHIMIZU, Tomokazu TAKEUCHI, Hiroyoshi HAGA, Hiromi OGIYAMA, Kenji SENGOKU
  • Patent number: 8422902
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus forming an image by fixing a developer on a recording medium with heat includes a fixing member, a pressure member, a drive unit, a heat unit, a temperature detection unit, a control unit, and a temperature record storing unit. The fixing member is rotatably supported and heats the recording medium. The pressure member presses against the fixing member. The drive unit rotationally drives the fixing member. The heat unit heats the fixing member. The temperature detection unit detects temperature of the fixing member. The control unit controls the heat unit and the drive unit. The temperature record storing unit stores a temperature record of the temperature detection unit. The control unit controls, based on the temperature record of the temperature record storing unit, a rotation drive of the drive unit in a case of non-fixing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiki Sato
  • Patent number: 8417167
    Abstract: A fixing device includes: a fixing rotating member; a pressing rotating member pressed to the fixing surface of the fixing rotating member; a displacing mechanism that can displace the pressing rotating member at least at a first setting position that the pressing rotating member pressed to the fixing surface is located in a first position relative to the fixing rotating member and at a second setting position the pressing rotating member pressed to the fixing surface is in a second position shifted from the first position in the downstream or upstream side of a passing direction of the recording medium at the fixing process part; a guide member having a guide part that guides the recording medium to an introducing portion of the fixing process part; an adjusting mechanism that can adjust the position of the guide member in accordance with the displacement of the pressing rotating member to the first setting position or the second setting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiichirou Arikawa, Shigeru Watanabe, Yasutaka Gotoh, Hiroko Furukata
  • Publication number: 20130084088
    Abstract: A fixation device includes a first roller, a second roller facing the first roller, a stretch member configured to travel to pass between the first roller and the second roller, a press member configured to press the stretch member against the first roller, a heater member configured to heat the stretch member, a movement mechanism configured to move at least one of the first roller and the second roller in such directions that the first roller and the second roller come close to each other and are spaced away from each other, and a controller configured, depending on a type of a medium, to change a contact state between the first roller and the second roller by driving the movement mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: OKI DATA CORPORATION
    Inventor: OKI DATA CORPORATION
  • Patent number: 8412062
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: ZIH Corp.
    Inventor: Max Kielland
  • Patent number: 8412055
    Abstract: Methods and systems herein provide for calibration of a production printing system that accommodates a plurality of different print paper types, including new paper types with no ICC profiles or optical density curves on file. One exemplary method includes printing test patches of primary colors on a first print medium, measuring colors of the test patches printed on the first print medium to determine an optical density of the first print medium, and comparing the optical density of the first print medium to a plurality of optical density curves to identify a comparable optical density curve of a different print medium. The comparable optical density curve is one of a plurality of optical density curves installed on the production printing system. The method further includes automatically selecting the comparable optical density curve to calibrate the production printing system to the different print medium for use in printing to the first print medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Production Print Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Kartheek Chandu, Mikel J. Stanich
  • Patent number: 8412064
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable photosensitive member, a charging member, an applying device, an irradiation device, and a controller. The charging member contacts the photosensitive member to charge the photosensitive member. The applying device applies a direct-current voltage to the charging member. The irradiation device irradiates with light an upstream charging gap located upstream of a contact portion between the photosensitive member and the charging member in a rotation direction of the photosensitive member. The controller controls the irradiation device to irradiate with a first light amount when the photosensitive member rotates at a first speed, and to irradiate with a second light amount that is larger than the first light amount when the photosensitive member rotates at a second speed that is lower than the first speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenichi Shibuya
  • Patent number: 8405869
    Abstract: A color conversion device includes an acquisition section and a correction section. The acquisition section acquires first color information of an image to be printed on a specific position in a first side of a recording paper and second color information of an image to be printed on a position corresponding to the specific position in a second side of the recording paper. The correction section corrects the first color information and second color information acquired by the acquisition section, based on combination information on color combination of images on the corresponding positions of the first side and the second side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jungo Harigai
  • Patent number: 8398353
    Abstract: A print server checks a job ticket for a print job to be processed. When a method of printing set in the printing attributes of the job ticket is case binding, a first thickness of a bookblock is calculated using the paper type set in the printing attributes. The print server calculates a second thickness of a bookblock using the paper type after a change. The print server changes the paper type set in the job ticket when the difference between the first thickness and the second thickness is within a permissible range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuo Mori
  • Patent number: 8396384
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sheet type determination apparatus includes a tray, light source, detection unit, database, and operation unit. The tray is configured to hold a sheet bundle formed by stacked sheets. The light source emits illumination light to a first region. The detection unit detects a light intensity distribution of transmitted light emerging from a second region. The transmitted light is generated as the illumination light passes through the sheet bundle, and the second region is different from the first region. The database stores a table describing a relation between reference attenuation rates and types. The operation unit is configured to calculate an attenuation rate of the transmitted light based on the light intensity distribution, and determine a type of the sheets by comparing the attenuation rate with the reference attenuation rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiromichi Hayashihara, Masataka Shiratsuchi, Takeshi Morino, Hiroshi Ohno
  • Patent number: 8391735
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshimi Kuramochi, Shoji Maruyama, Tsutomu Ishida, Shunichi Ebihara
  • Patent number: 8391734
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image bearing members, a developing unit, an intermediate transfer belt, a secondary transfer body, and a registration roller. A linear speed difference between the intermediate transfer belt and the secondary transfer body is variably set based on a basis weight of a recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryuuichi Minbu
  • Patent number: 8391749
    Abstract: Electric charge remaining on a photoreceptor after transfer causes image deterioration. According to one conventional method widely used in view of this problem, erase light is emitted onto a photoreceptor after the transfer to remove the electric charge remaining on the photoreceptor. However, such a method poses the following problem: emission of erase light leads to light-induced fatigue of the photoreceptor, and as a result, the photoreceptor which has deteriorated from the light-induced fatigue wears down due to abrasion and the like with a cleaner blade, resulting in a shorter lifetime of the photoreceptor. Thus, the thickness of the photosensitive layer is detected to acquire the amount of thickness decrease, and the amount of the erase light is reduced according to the acquired amount of thickness decrease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Keisuke Inoue
  • Patent number: RE44152
    Abstract: To provide a recording-material type determination apparatus and recording-material type determination method which can determine the type of recording material using simple calculations as well as to provide an image forming apparatus capable of obtaining stable image quality independent of the type of recording material using the apparatus and method. Based on data read by a read unit which reads surface images of recording material, a first calculation unit calculates the depth of irregularities in the surface of recording material and stores the results of calculation in a register A while a second calculation unit calculates the spacing of irregularities on the surface of the recording material and stores the results of calculation in a register B. Based on the values in the registers A and B, the type of recording material such as gloss paper, plain paper, rough paper or OHT is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shoji Maruyama, Masanori Akita