Having Mode Change Patents (Class 399/85)
  • Patent number: 8320004
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a display unit that displays an image; a web browser that causes the display unit to display thereon a web page; and an operation setting unit that receives from a user and stores an input of operation settings relating to the operation of the image forming apparatus, and of web page display settings relating to web page display control by the web browser. Upon launching of the web browser, the operation setting unit outputs the web page display settings to the web browser. The web browser displays the web page on the display unit according to the web page display settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Dai Shigenobu, Yoshifumi Okabayashi, Takanori Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 8320783
    Abstract: A first mode to form a toner image of single color where a pressure contact release section T changes a primary transfer section 7 to be in a pressure contact state, and a second mode to form an overlapped toner image where the pressure contact device T changes a plurality of the primary transfer sections 7 to be in the pressure contact state can be executed, wherein a speed difference D1 between an image carrier 1 and an intermediate transfer belt 6 in the first mode is controlled to be greater than a speed difference D2 between the image carrier 1 and the intermediate transfer belt 6 in the second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Ogata, Atsushi Takahashi, Jun Onishi
  • Patent number: 8300248
    Abstract: A printing control system includes a host interface, a user interface, a printing unit, and a controller. The host interface communicates with a host device that submits a print job. The user interface communicates with a user. The printing unit executes the print job. The controller suspends operation at the printing unit in response to a suspend request received at one of the host interface and user interface. The controller measures an elapsed time since the suspension, and transmits one of first and second commands upon determining that the elapsed time exceeds a given reference time. The first command causes the printing unit to automatically resume the suspended operation. The second command causes the host interface to send a notification of the suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Hiroya Uruta, Toshio Kitazawa, Tsuyoshi Sakuma, Yuka Saito
  • Patent number: 8300240
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus receives a job, analyzes the received job, generates a saved job that includes an image and output settings information and saves the generated saved job in a storage unit. The saved job that has been saved in the storage unit is output in response to a prescribed output operation. The image processing apparatus acquires a restriction on processing at the time of output and incorporates restriction information, which is indicative of the acquired restriction, in the output settings information. Processing for outputting such a saved job is restricted based upon the restriction information contained in the output settings information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tetsuya Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 8289532
    Abstract: A printer controlling device capable of operating in a collate mode includes a transmitting unit configured to transmit print data representing the entire document to be printed on printing sheets and a copy command representing only one copy of the entire document is made, and adjudging unit configured to judge whether the number of sheets necessary for printing one copy of the entire document is one or more than one after the transmitting unit transmits the print data representing the entire document to be printed and the copy command representing only one copy of the entire document. The transmitting unit further transmits the print data and the copy command in different manners depending on whether the judging unit judges that the number of sheets necessary for printing one copy of the document is one or more than one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Daisuke Asai
  • Patent number: 8274692
    Abstract: In order to control printing of at least one of a plurality of digital images, zero or no value is set as a default value for a number of print copy of every one of the digital images. If any, an instruction for setting the number of print copy of at least one of the digital images is received. An instruction for printing the at least one of the digital images is received, under a condition that an identifier associated with one of the digital images is designated in a display. It is judged whether the at least one of the digital images includes at least one digital image to which one or more is set as the number of print copy, upon receipt of the instruction for printing. The at least one of the digital images is printed in accordance with the set number of print copy when it is judged the at least one of the digital images includes at least one digital image to which one or more is set as the number of print copy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Fujimori
  • Patent number: 8270001
    Abstract: A printing apparatus that has received a request for canceling a print job determines whether the print job can be canceled, and transmits the determined result to a user of a print service before the print job is canceled. The print job is canceled in a process other than the process that has received the request for canceling the print job. After the print job has been canceled, the printing apparatus notifies a predetermined destination of the completion of canceling the print job.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinichi Uchikawa
  • Patent number: 8248623
    Abstract: A printing apparatus, comprising: a printing unit that prints an image on a recording medium in a color mode or a monochrome mode based on a first job; a switching unit that performs a switching operation to switch between the color mode upon printing a color page and the monochrome mode upon printing a monochrome page; a first computing unit that computes, based on a switching time required for the switching operation, the maximum number of switching actions at which a printing turnaround time from a printing start time to a printing stop time is not more than a first time limit from the printing start time to a predetermined time limit; and a first limiting unit that restricts the switching operation based on a number of switching actions determined by the first computing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kana Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 8243311
    Abstract: An image output apparatus including: an image processing section for processing an image; a printing section that prints the image; a display section that displays the image; an instruction section that allows a user to instruct execution of a print job, and execution of a display job; and a job control section that controls the jobs to start the execution of the print job or the display job in response to the instruction, wherein when the job control section receives instructions to start print jobs and/or display jobs, the job control section controls the jobs to register the print jobs and/or the display jobs in a queue and start these jobs in the order, and when an instruction for a display job in the queue is again received from the instruction section, the job control section controls the jobs to move the display job to the forefront of the queue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Sohichi Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 8229315
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus which is capable of avoiding unnecessary switching operation to switch between a one-sided printing and a two-sided printing to improve print productivity. A printing mode is switched between a two-sided printing mode to continuously form images on first sides of a predetermined number of sheets and to alternately form images on second sides of sheets conveyed along a sheet re-feeding conveyance path and on the first sides of sheets fed from a sheet feeding unit, and a one-sided printing mode without using the sheet re-feeding conveyance path. It is determined that, when a one-sided print job is performed between a two-sided print jobs, whether the one-sided print job is performed in the two-sided printing mode as-is or in the one-sided printing mode, depending on whether the number of sheets continuously printed by the one-sided print job is more than a predetermined number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akihiko Sakai
  • Patent number: 8208150
    Abstract: A printing apparatus is supplied, which receives print job; generates print data from the print job; prints the print data; and has an error eliminating method for easily eliminating error when error occurred. In the printing apparatus, a non-support function detecting section detects instruction for requesting to use non-support function which does not exist in the printing apparatus; a calculating section calculates a time number of detection regarding the instruction detected by the non-support function detecting section; and a print allowance/disallowance judging section judges whether a print of the print data is allowance or is disallowance on the basis of a calculation result of the time number calculated by the calculating section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Yamada
  • Patent number: 8194293
    Abstract: A compact scanner apparatus is provided that is suitable for constituting an information display system by being stored in a pedestal which supports a display apparatus. The scanner apparatus is composed of an upper unit provided with an automatic document feeder and a lower unit provided with an image reading device, wherein a width guide rack mechanism having a function of detecting an original size is independent from a paper feed tray and disposed above the paper feed tray. Thereby, it is possible to store the paper feed tray and the whole of the width guide rack mechanism within the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Suto
  • Patent number: 8189207
    Abstract: A color image forming apparatus that automatically switches a printing mode between a single color printing mode and a color printing mode according to requested image data stores, when capturing of image data of a print job is started, the image data in an image memory unit, starts image formation of the image data in the color printing mode as an initial state, and maintains a color printing mode regardless of the image data until the number of printed copies reach a first number of copies for operation switching determination X1. When the number of printed copies reaches X1, the color image forming apparatus compares, in a comparing unit, the number of remaining pages of the print job and a second number of copies for operation switching determination X2 stored in a number-of-pages storing unit 36 and controls the printing mode on the basis of a result of the comparison and information concerning whether the remaining image data is color image data or single color image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kei Kobashigawa
  • Patent number: 8184345
    Abstract: In a first mode, an original is read with a first and a second carriages stopped. In a second mode, the original is read with the first and the second carriages moving in a sub-scanning direction with a distance between the original and an optical reading element kept constant. A control unit causes, if a predetermined condition is satisfied after reading the original in the first mode, the first and the second carriages to standby at a reading position of the first mode while keeping the light source turned on, and if a next read request is issued within a predetermined time, causes the first and the second carriages to move to a next reading operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Osamu Inage
  • Patent number: 8175468
    Abstract: A printing apparatus, method and storage medium therefor for executing trial printings. The apparatus includes a printing unit, a setting unit, an inputting unit, and first and second controlling and accepting units. The first controlling unit controls to execute first trial printing according to inputted image data and a set printing condition. The first accepting unit can accept a changing instruction for changing the printing condition. The second accepting unit can accept an execution instruction for executing a second trial printing. The second controlling unit controls to execute the second trial printing according to the inputted image data and the changed printing condition. When the first accepting unit accepts a changing instruction, the second accepting unit can accept an executing instruction. When the first accepting unit does not accept a changing instruction, the second accepting unit cannot accept an executing instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keiju Kuboki
  • Patent number: 8134755
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus according to an aspect of the invention includes a first reading unit which reads a surface of a document and a second reading unit which reads the other surface of the document. The first and second reading units include off-axial imaging units respectively. The off-axial imaging unit includes plural imaging mirrors in which off-axial reflecting surfaces having curvatures are formed. In the off-axial imaging unit, an incident direction and an outgoing direction of a reference axis light beam are different from each other. The off-axial imaging units are provided such that vertical directions of the first and second reading units become identical while an incident side of the light beam is located below an outgoing side with respect to the imaging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takayuki Suga
  • Publication number: 20120045242
    Abstract: A printing device is provided with a printing unit configured to print images on sheets, a plurality of discharge trays configured to receive printed sheets, a detection unit configured to detect a switching instruction to switch among the plurality of discharge trays, and a discharge control unit. The discharge control unit stops a currently executed print job, selects one of following print jobs which does not designate a currently used discharge tray, and switches the discharge trays such that a discharge tray other than the currently used discharge tray as a selected discharge tray to be used, starts the selected one of following print job using the selected discharge tray, when the detection unit detects the switching instruction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akihiro YAMADA
  • Patent number: 8120792
    Abstract: When a user enters control information for controlling a printing device, the information is stored in a user information storage unit. All combinations of items of the control information capable of being set by the user and values of items incapable of being set by the user, these having been selected so as to be the optimum values for the combinations, are stored as preset values in a combined information storage unit. An information storage unit compares a value in the user information storage unit with a value in the combined information storage unit. If a combination for which agreement is achieved is found in the combined information storage unit, this value is stored in a printing information storage unit and transmitted to the printing device. Thus, an optimum value can be selected and sent to the printing device even with regard to an item incapable of being selected by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Moro, Koji Yamada
  • Patent number: 8090303
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, forming a color image by successively superposing color images, formed on image carriers of corresponding image forming parts arranged along a rotational direction of an endless moving member, onto the endless moving member or a recording medium conveyed thereby, includes a first part causing a color registration pattern to be created on the endless moving member or the recording medium; a second part obtaining a color registration pattern signal by detecting the color registration pattern; a third part changing image formation timing in the image forming parts based on the color registration pattern signal; and a fourth part causing the endless moving member to rotate in forward and reverse directions after the creation of the color registration pattern. The second part obtains the color registration pattern signal by detecting the color registration pattern during each of the forward and reverse rotations of the endless moving member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Hayashi, Toshikane Nishii, Kohta Sakaya, Makoto Matsushita, Yoshitaka Sekiguchi, Shunsuke Hamahashi
  • Patent number: 8078077
    Abstract: Toners of the same color but with different characteristics are stored in the toner cartridges. For example, toners for high image quality (High Grade) with small particle diameter are stored in some toner cartridges and toners for low image quality (Low Grade) are stored in other toner cartridges. In this case, case, the mode of forming images using small particle diameter toner for high image quality using an image forming engine and the mode of forming images using a toner for low image quality using another image forming engine are executed by the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Ohmura, Akihiro Nakamura, Makoto Furuichi, Hayato Konishi
  • Patent number: 8035827
    Abstract: In an application management system for managing a plurality of applications that are installed in an image processing device, in the case where an instruction of execution start is received, if an application execution unit has already executed an incompatible application that would cause an unintended operation of the application whose execution is to be started if concurrently executed with another application, and a warning screen about the application execution start is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuya Sakai
  • Publication number: 20110229183
    Abstract: An image processing device processes jobs to be executed by an image forming device incorporating a fixing unit. The image processing device receives a plurality of jobs. Based on an attribute of each of the plurality of jobs, the image processing device determines, out of the plurality of jobs, at least one job for which fixing can be performed after heating of the fixing unit is stopped and for which fixing is performed after fixing for another job is finished. The image processing device reorders the processing of the plurality of jobs so that fixing is performed for the at least one job after the fixing for the other job is finished. In this way, an image processing device and a method of controlling an image processing device can be provided where power consumption can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hirotada SEKI, Yoshiki KATAYAMA, Satoru SASAKI, Natsuyo HIGASHI, Hiroaki TAKATSU
  • Publication number: 20110222893
    Abstract: To provide an image forming apparatus and a control method for the same, with which an adjustment for satisfying an image quality is performed without fail while an execution frequency of the adjustment can be changed, for example, an unnecessary adjustment can be skipped. The image forming apparatus includes: a controller for issuing a plurality of commands; an engine for executing image formation according to the command; a control portion for holding a condition status indicating an internal condition of the engine and a factor status indicating a factor of the condition status, or the factor status and notifying, in response to the command, the condition status and the factor status, or the factor status; and a judgement unit for judging whether to adjust an image formation condition of the engine or not according to the condition status and the factor status, or the factor status.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takuro MITA
  • Patent number: 8018606
    Abstract: There is provided a color page printer including a print engine operable by a color mode for executing color printing and a monochrome mode for executing monochrome printing, and a control unit for controlling the print engine to generate a printed paper having a content corresponding to received print data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Osamu Azami
  • Patent number: 8006198
    Abstract: A technique is provided, which can help the user to know well that process modes have been switched among them, thereby enabling the user to work more efficiently. A display control device is provided, which comprises: a selection information acquisition unit 201 that acquires selection information representing which process mode has been selected from a plurality of process modes in which different processes are performed; and a control unit 202 that displays display objects corresponding to set items related to the process mode selected, in a first display region on a screen, and display objects corresponding to any process mode not selected, in a second display region narrower than the first display region on the screen, on the basis of the selection information acquired by the selection information acquisition unit 201.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yumiko Okuma, Mahina Nakamura, Maki Sato, Tsunehiro Motegi, Yasutsugu Sasaki
  • Patent number: 7995932
    Abstract: A printing apparatus, printing method and storage medium therefor for executing a plurality of trial printings. The apparatus includes a printing unit, a setting unit to set a printing condition, an inputting unit to input image data, first and second controlling units, and first and second accepting units. The first controlling unit controls the printing unit to execute first trial printing according to the inputted image data and the set printing condition. The first accepting unit accepts a changing instruction for changing the printing condition. The second accepting unit accepts an execution instruction for executing a second trial printing, and the second controlling unit controls the printing unit to execute the second trial printing according to the inputted image data and the changed printing condition. In a case where the first accepting unit does not accept the changing instruction, the second accepting unit cannot accept the executing instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keiju Kuboki
  • Publication number: 20110164894
    Abstract: A method of increasing productivity in a reproduction apparatus includes providing a first print engine and a second print engine. The engines are coupled by an inverter so that each sheet of a plurality of receiver sheets is selectively printed in an invert mode or a non-invert mode. A difference of a travel time of a first receiver sheet in an invert path through the inverter in the invert mode as compared to a travel time of a second receiver sheet in a non-invert path through the inverter in the non-invert mode is adjusted so that the difference is an integral multiple of a period between the receiver sheets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventors: Michael T. Dobbertin, Timothy J. Young
  • Patent number: 7961336
    Abstract: Recording of time information and function information of each image forming process for which processing has been completed in a recording portion 64 (S1), judgment (S6) of whether or not a switching time that has been set is 0 for processing in which the elapsed time from completion to the present time is within a predetermined time for processing among the information in the recording portion (64), calculation (S7) of a time (T) in which the switching time is added to the completion time of each image forming process, comparison (S8) of the time (T) and a time information (Tmax), and update (S9) of the time information (Tmax) by the time (T) when the calculated time (T) is later than the time information (Tmax) are repeatedly executed, and the latest time is set to the time information (Tmax). Switching is made to a power-saving mode when a counter (66) has timed the time information (Tmax).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuya Iwabayashi, Yusuke Nagano
  • Patent number: 7962058
    Abstract: A sheet-size decision table indicative of a correspondence of a plurality of sheet sizes and an image size printable on each sheet size is prepared in advance. An acquiring unit acquires image data, and an extracting unit extracts an image size of the image data. A searching unit searches the sheet-size decision table for a sheet size corresponding to the image size. If the searching unit cannot find a sheet size corresponding to the image size, a selecting unit selects a sheet size that can accommodate the image data when printed. Finally, a printing unit prints the image data on a print sheet corresponding to the sheet size selected by the selecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Tomoaki Okamura
  • Patent number: 7952731
    Abstract: A printing system includes a receive controller that enables by using a user interface unit an input of an instruction during performing of first print processing with a print apparatus, and an operation controller that enables the print apparatus to perform check processing before completion of the first print processing in the case where the instruction is input, the check processing being second print processing by using print data which is used in the first print processing, the operation controller enabling the print apparatus to continue the first print processing after the second print processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Utsunomiya, Kazuhiko Ushiyama, Takeshi Tarumi
  • Patent number: 7933032
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a printing unit that performs a printing operation; a printing possibility determination unit that determines whether printing is possible, at the time of starting the printing operation; a printing stop unit that stops the printing operation, when the printing possibility determination unit determines that printing is impossible; a notification unit that notifies an error, when the printing operation is stopped; a notification time counting unit that counts a period in which an error is notified; a notification release unit that releases error notification, when the period in which an error is notified by the notification unit is counted for a predetermined time; and a stopped state reset unit that returns a stopped state of the printing unit whose printing operation is stopped, to a standby state before the printing unit performs the printing operation, when notification of an error is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Funahashi
  • Patent number: 7922288
    Abstract: A printing system includes a first image applying component configured for applying one or more primary colorants to print media for rendering an image. A second image applying component is configured for applying a second colorant, such as black colorant, to print media for rendering an image. A first pathway conveys print media between the first image applying component and the second image applying component. A second pathway bypasses the first image applying component for conveying print media which is printed by the second image applying component. Where an image is to be rendered with the primary colorants and optionally also black, the print media is directed on the first pathway to both the first and second image applying components. Where an image is to be rendered only with black colorant, the print media may be directed to the second image applying component via the bypass pathway. In this way, during black printing, the first image applying component can be placed in a standby mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: David A. Mueller
  • Patent number: 7920290
    Abstract: When a user enters control information for controlling a printing device, the information is stored in a user information storage unit. All combinations of items of the control information capable of being set by the user and values of items incapable of being set by the user, these having been selected so as to be the optimum values for the combinations, are stored as preset values in a combined information storage unit. An information storage unit compares a value in the user information storage unit with a value in the combined information storage unit. If a combination for which agreement is achieved is found in the combined information storage unit, this value is stored in a printing information storage unit and transmitted to the printing device. Thus, an optimum value can be selected and sent to the printing device even with regard to an item incapable of being selected by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Moro, Koiji Yamada
  • Patent number: 7912396
    Abstract: A printer, including a printing unit to print print data on print medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Young-kook Park
  • Patent number: 7898676
    Abstract: An image forming device comprises a tray parameter table in which tray IDs for identifying one or trays of the image forming device and tray parameters for the respective tray IDs are stored in a mutually associated manner. A replacing unit receives an input tray ID and an input tray change parameter specified by an externally supplied printer control protocol, and replaces a tray parameter contained in the tray parameter table and corresponding to a tray ID which is the same as the input tray ID, by the input tray change parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Igarashi, Akira Ogawa
  • Patent number: 7865105
    Abstract: A duplex printing instruction is accepted. When duplex printing is performed in accordance with the single-side printing and duplex printing is performed for a job of one page is decided in accordance with a condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koichi Abe
  • Patent number: 7865089
    Abstract: In a method for monitoring hardware devices of the hardware devices network to detect failures, past logged jobs are analyzed to determine a pattern of past usage of hardware devices by users of the hardware devices network. A failure of a hardware device is inferred based on a deviation in usage of the hardware devices from the pattern of past usage. In some embodiments, a state model is constructed that assigns one of two or more available operational states to each hardware device of the hardware devices network based on a recent load of jobs logged to the hardware device and a stored history of logged jobs indicative of typical loading of the hardware devices. One or more failing hardware devices are identified based on the assigned operational states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Andreoli, Guillaume Bouchard, Victor Ciriza
  • Patent number: 7856202
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided that can improve the interest of the user in the ecology. The apparatus includes an image input portion that inputs image data, a printing portion that prints onto a recording sheet an image indicated by the image data inputted by the image input portion, a condition setting portion that sets printing conditions for executing printing by the printing portion, a displaying portion that displays the printing conditions that the condition setting portion has set, a used amount calculating portion that calculates the used amount of paper from the size of and the number of recording sheets used by executing printing by the printing portion based on the printing conditions set by the condition setting portion, and a display controlling portion that controls the displaying portion to display the used amount calculated by the used amount calculating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuki Mizobuchi, Takao Fukuda
  • Patent number: 7855471
    Abstract: A voltage converting unit converts a first voltage of an auxiliary power supply unit into a second voltage. A voltage determining unit determines whether the second voltage exceeds a predetermined threshold. A first switch, which is arranged between the voltage converting unit and a load, switches on and off a supply of an electric power of the second voltage to the load. When it is determined that the second voltage exceeds the predetermined threshold, a voltage-conversion control unit controls the voltage converting unit to stop converting the voltage, and then a switching control unit controls the first switch to supply the electric power of the second voltage to the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masae Sugawara
  • Publication number: 20100310268
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an information acquisition section configured to acquire the number of pages of sheets to be printed and information indicating whether printing in a color mode is performed or printing in a monocolor mode is performed for each page, a printing order creation section configured to create a plurality of sets of page printing orders, in which printed sheets are outputted in a job reception order, based on the acquired number of pages and the number of sheets which can be simultaneously conveyed, a switching number calculation section configured to calculate the number of times of switching between the color mode and the monocolor mode for each of the plurality of created sets of page printing orders, and a printing order selection section configured to select one set of page printing order having the smallest calculated number of times of switching.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi Obata
  • Publication number: 20100296831
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus which is capable of avoiding unnecessary switching operation to switch between a one-sided printing and a two-sided printing to improve print productivity. A printing mode is switched between a two-sided printing mode to continuously form images on first sides of a predetermined number of sheets and to alternately form images on second sides of sheets conveyed along a sheet re-feeding conveyance path and on the first sides of sheets fed from a sheet feeding unit, and a one-sided printing mode without using the sheet re-feeding conveyance path. It is determined that, when a one-sided print job is performed between a two-sided print jobs, whether the one-sided print job is performed in the two-sided printing mode as-is or in the one-sided printing mode, depending on whether the number of sheets continuously printed by the one-sided print job is more than a predetermined number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akihiko Sakai
  • Patent number: 7839544
    Abstract: A facsimile apparatus is provided with a receiver that receives facsimile data, a storage unit including a data memory region that stores therein the facsimile data, a printing unit that prints an image based on the facsimile data, and a printing controller that controls the printing unit, during receipt of the facsimile data, to alternately operate in a standby mode in which a printing action is suspended and allowing the facsimile data corresponding to a plurality of pages to be stored in the storage unit, and in a continuous mode in which the facsimile data corresponding to the plurality of pages stored in the storage unit is continuously printed out by the printing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Motonobu Ando
  • Publication number: 20100290801
    Abstract: The present invention includes a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected to a network, and a server which controls the operation state of the image forming apparatuses via the network. The image forming apparatuses are operable in a normal operation mode and in one of plural power-saving modes with different power consumption. The server individually sets the operation mode of the image forming apparatuses in accordance with a preset power-saving operation policy, and controls the image forming apparatuses so that each of the image forming apparatuses operates in the preset operation mode in each predetermined time band.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takefumi Nosaki
  • Patent number: 7826091
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus has a printing function. A preview original-image creation part creates an original image for preview based on print data. A preview parts-image creation part creates a parts image for preview peculiar to each equipment. A preview image synthesis part synthesizes a preview image from the original image for preview and the parts image for preview. A preview image retaining part retains the preview image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshimine Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 7809299
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus which, when switching operation from color image forming operation to monochromatic image forming operation, forms a monochromatic image on each of a prescribed number of sheets by stopping a part of the functions of yellow, magenta and cyan image forming sections of the color image forming operation, and thereafter, forms a monochromatic image only with a black-only image forming section, thereby permitting extension of service life of the image forming sections, while improving the productivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Yamamoto, Eiichi Motoyama, Shokyo Koh, Mitsuhiko Sato, Takashi Fujimori, Hidenori Sunada
  • Patent number: 7809571
    Abstract: In order to prevent or reduce setting errors, a speech output of information concerning the contents of settings is produced so that important setting information can be output as speech to users. The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for outputting setting information via speech, the apparatus and method including changing a plurality of preset setting values based on user input, detecting changes in the setting values, determining a priority according to which setting information is to be output as speech according to the detected changes, and producing a speech output of the setting information according to the priority.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiaki Fukada, Michio Aizawa
  • Patent number: 7808684
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus including: a circulating transport path for transporting an original document to circulate; plural reading sections for reading a single image plane on a same single face of the original document at plural times at plural positions in the circulating transport path, and for generating plural image data sets for the single image plane; and an image processing section for processing the plural image data sets generated by the plural reading sections, and creating one image data set for the single image plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Shiokawa, Mitsuru Nagoshi
  • Patent number: 7792455
    Abstract: An image forming system is given, in advance, unique setting as a behavior to be performed when an error occurs regarding postprocessing. In a case where the postprocessing becomes inexecutable during the operation of the system, the system either cancels the postprocessing to continue printing (Steps S20, S22) or stops printing to generate an error (Step S18), based on the unique setting. A user arbitrarily decides the unique setting, which enables optimum control of the operation that the system should perform when the postprocessing becomes inexecutable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Kozo Tao, Kyoichiro Hayashi, Naoki Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 7783222
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a latent image bearing member and a developing portion having a plurality of developing devices provided facing the latent image bearing member, as well as an inputting portion for inputting an image signal, an auto-discriminating portion for automatically discriminating the kind of image input, and a control portion for changing between a first mode for executing monochrome image formation, a second mode for executing color image formation, and an auto-selecting mode for changing over between the first mode and the second-mode according to the discrimination of the auto-discriminating portion. In the auto-selecting mode, movement of a predetermined developing device to a predetermined position is started before the auto-discriminating portion makes the discrimination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toru Ono
  • Patent number: 7751099
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus including: a paper supply section; a transporting path for transporting a document supplied from the paper supply section; a first sensor which reads an image on a first surface of the document from one side of the transporting path; a second sensor which reads an image on a second surface of the document from the other side of the transporting path; and an image processing section which is constituted so as to correspond to a first reading mode in which two sides of the document are read using the first sensor plural times, and a second reading mode in which two sides of the document are read using the first sensor and the second sensor, and which makes a registration position and direction of an output image in both the first and second reading mode the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Mizuhashi, Yasuhisa Mizuta, Yoshitake Matsubara, Ayumi Onishi, Minoru Sodeura, Sadao Furuoya, Masato Saito