Document Handling Patents (Class 399/16)
  • Patent number: 11947291
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a wireless tag communication device configured to communicate with a wireless tag attached to a sheet, a fixing device configured to fix a toner image on the sheet, and a processor configured to: upon receipt of a print job, control the communication device to read from the wireless tag a first fixing temperature that has previously been used to fix a toner image on the sheet, determine a second fixing temperature to be used by the fixing device based on the first fixing temperature, and execute the print job by controlling the fixing device to fix a toner image on the sheet at the second fixing temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideaki Fukaya
  • Patent number: 11700339
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus a display unit includes a reception unit configured to receive a user operation, a setting unit configured to set, as a default language, a language selected by a plurality of operations, a changing unit configured to change, from the default language to a language different from the default language, a language to be displayed by a single operation, and a control unit configured to perform control in such a manner that in a case where the setting unit does not change the default language and the changing unit changes the language to be displayed to the language different from the default language, the language to be displayed is changed to the default language, whereas in a case where the setting unit changes the default language to another language, the language to be displayed is not changed from the other language.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuichi Kondo
  • Patent number: 11628677
    Abstract: In sensor determination processing, each of a transmission-type optical sensor and a reflection-type optical sensor detects a label position, and first transport for transporting the printing medium is executed so that a first label position, which is detected by a first sensor succeeding in detecting the label position first, arrives at a printing position. When the first transport is terminated before a second sensor being another sensor succeeds in detecting a label position during the first transport, a first sensor is determined as a sensor to be used for detecting a label position. When the second sensor succeeds in detecting a label position during the first transport, a sensor succeeding in detecting the first label position or a second label position detected by the second sensor, which is closer to the printing position, is determined as the sensor to be used for detecting a label position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Motoyama
  • Patent number: 11442394
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a casing having a front end and a rear end, a first tray, a first print engine, a second tray, a second print engine and a controller. The controller configured to perform: receiving first image data representing the first image and second image data representing the second image; executing a first process including a first conveying process and a first recording process; executing a second process including a second conveying process and a second recording process; determining whether an error has occurred in the second process; and in a case where the error has occurred in the second process, stopping the second process while continuing the first process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Miyase, Yoshinori Osakabe, Tsuyoshi Kuwayama, Yasuo Ono, Yuto Chiba, Jun Morikawa, Haruka Azechi
  • Patent number: 11418663
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus a display unit includes a reception unit configured to receive a user operation, a setting unit configured to set, as a default language, a language selected by a plurality of operations, a changing unit configured to change, from the default language to a language different from the default language, a language to be displayed by a single operation, and a control unit configured to perform control in such a manner that in a case where the setting unit does not change the default language and the changing unit changes the language to be displayed to the language different from the default language, the language to be displayed is changed to the default language, whereas in a case where the setting unit changes the default language to another language, the language to be displayed is not changed from the other language.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuichi Kondo
  • Patent number: 11404978
    Abstract: A breaking circuit applied to a motor comprises an actuator, an anti-reverse component and a limiting resistor. The actuator comprises a first electricity transmission terminal, a second electricity transmission terminal and a controlled terminal, with the controlled terminal configured to be connected with a power supply port, and the first electricity transmission terminal configured to be electrically connected with a power input terminal of the motor. The anti-reverse component is electrically connected between the controlled terminal and the first electricity transmission terminal of the actuator. The limiting resistor is electrically and serially connected with the first electricity transmission terminal or the second electricity transmission terminal of the actuator. When power supplied from the power supply port to the power input terminal is stopped, the actuator is conducted to form a discharge path from the power input terminal through the limiting resistor to a low electric potential end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: AVISION INC.
    Inventors: Wei-Chin Cheng, Liu-Liang Lin
  • Patent number: 11186103
    Abstract: A printing management apparatus includes a memory; and a processor that is connected to the memory, in which, in a case where a printing apparatus, which performs printing on continuous form paper, processes plural jobs with respect to the continuous form paper in one-time printing, the processor calculates a length, which is acquired by excluding a part used to print the plural jobs from a length determined by a transport start spot, at which transport of the continuous form paper starts and a transport end spot at which the transport of the continuous form paper ends, as an amount of waste paper indicative of a part which becomes a loss of the continuous form paper, and outputs an amount of waste paper for each job of plurality of jobs, which is acquired by allocating the calculated amount of waste paper to the plural jobs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Hisao Komazawa, Kentaro Ikeda, Kodai Suzuki, Takashi Betsuyaku
  • Patent number: 11048987
    Abstract: A control unit determines as a sheet center actual position a center position of a print sheet, and adjusts a center position of the image to be printed on the basis of a difference from the sheet center actual position. Further, the control unit prints a main scale image along a primary scanning direction on one face of a print sheet for a test chart, prints a vernier scale image along the primary scanning direction on the other face of the print sheet, determines a deviation between a reference center position of the print engine and a reference center position of the line sensor on the basis of a scale mark of the main scale image that agrees with a scale mark of the vernier scale image, and moves a center position of the image to be printed so as to reduce the determined deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Inventor: Takenori Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11032440
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a medium mounting portion configured to mount a medium; a feeding means configured to feed a medium from the medium mounting portion; at least one edge guide each configured to regulate a corresponding one of at least one medium width direction edge of the medium having been mounted on the medium mounting portion; a reading means configured to read the medium and disposed on a further downstream side than the at least one edge guide in the medium feeding direction; and at least one medium detection means configured to detect the medium and disposed on a further downstream side than the at least one edge guide in the medium feeding direction and further outside in the medium width direction than at least one edge regulation position for the edge regulation by the at least one edge guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuya Yoshikaie, Kazuhiko Arimori
  • Patent number: 10852669
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a transport path that transports an image forming medium in a top-bottom direction; a first image forming unit including a first intermediate transfer belt, which is disposed so as to face the transport path, to which toner images formed in multiple first toner-image forming units are transferred, and from which the toner images are transferred to the medium transported along the transport path; a second image forming unit including a second intermediate transfer belt, which is disposed upstream of the first image forming unit in a medium transport direction so as to face the transport path, to which toner images formed in multiple second toner-image forming units are transferred, and from which the toner images are transferred to the medium transported along the transport path; and a ventilation path formed between the first image forming unit and the second image forming unit, which are spaced apart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Goda, Yukihiro Ichiki, Akira Shimodaira, Keita Hashimoto, Masaki Suto
  • Patent number: 10831144
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a transfer portion configured to transfer an image borne on the image bearing member to a sheet, a current detection portion configured to detect a current flowing through the transfer portion, a conveyance portion configured to convey the sheet to the transfer portion, a driving portion configured to drive the conveyance portion, and a controller configured to acquire an arrival timing at which a leading edge of a preceding sheet has arrived at the transfer portion based on a detection result of the current detection portion, and control the driving portion in response to the arrival timing in a state where a succeeding sheet that follows the preceding sheet is conveyed by the conveyance portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kota Shibata
  • Patent number: 10739716
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image former which forms one or more images on at least one sheet fed from each of a plurality of feed trays; a first adjuster which adjusts positions of the images formed on the sheet by the image former such that the positions of the images match on both sides of the sheet fed from each of the feed trays; and a second adjuster which further adjusts the positions of the images on the sheet, the positions having been adjusted by the first adjuster, such that the positions of the images match between the sheets fed from the feed trays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Tomohiro Kiriyama
  • Patent number: 10715691
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus of an internal ejection type in which a sheet ejection space is provided between an image reader and an image former, the image forming apparatus includes: an illuminator provided on a wall surface partitioning the sheet ejection space; a detector that detects a position of a work target enabled to move in pulling-out and storing directions within the sheet ejection space; and a controller that performs on/off control of the illuminator depending on a detection position of the detector, wherein in a case where it is detected that the work target is in a work position for performing human work, the controller performs on/off control of the illuminator to illuminate a work target portion that faces an interior of the sheet ejection space of the work target and is subjected to the human work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Tsutomu Ohata
  • Patent number: 10675101
    Abstract: A system may include a controller configured to determine a user interface status, wherein the user interface status includes user interaction of a user interface. The controller may also be configured to determine a drive mechanism location relative to a first limit and a second limit and select a clutching location based on the user interface status and drive mechanism location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Auris Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean Paul Walker, June Park
  • Patent number: 10659640
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus capable of detecting a type of a sheet accommodated in a sheet feeding tray in advance. The image forming apparatus includes a conveyor, an image former, a fixer, a detector, and a processor. The conveyor conveys the sheet accommodated in the sheet feeding tray along a conveying path. The image former forms an image on the sheet. The fixer fixes the image onto the sheet. The detector is arranged on the conveying path and detects the type of the sheet. The processor executes a sheet type detection mode which is a mode for causing the detector to detect the type of the sheet conveyed by the conveyor before executing an image forming mode which is a mode for causing the image former to form the image and causing the fixer to fix the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Dong Wei
  • Patent number: 10623597
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a pair of first detection sections disposed between first positions for the feeding rollers and the separation rollers for nipping and second positions for the transport roller pair for nipping, and a pair of second detection sections disposed between the first detection sections and the second positions in the medium transport direction. The second detection sections are disposed between the first detection sections in the medium width direction, and a controller determines whether to stop transporting the medium or continue transporting the medium based on the results of detection by the first detection sections and the second detection sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Takayuki Shiota
  • Patent number: 10574845
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer section that transfers an image onto a sheet, a sheet conveying member that is provided upstream of the transfer section in a sheet conveyance direction and conveys the sheet, and a hardware processor that controls displacement of the sheet conveying member in such a way that the sheet is displaced along the width direction of the sheet. The hardware processor performs first displacement control in which the sheet conveying member is displaced in a direction which is specified in advance with respect to the sheet and in which an edge of the sheet in the width direction is directed toward a target position and second displacement control in which the sheet conveying member is displaced in the direction opposite the direction of the first displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Yasuo Shiokawa, Yoshiteru Kawakami, Takahiro Okubo
  • Patent number: 10421295
    Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a recording unit, a plurality of rollers, and a notice control unit. The recording unit records an image on a sheet by causing a carriage mounted with a recording head to scan. The plurality of rollers presses the sheet. The notice control unit controls an error notice. In a case an error occurs in the recording unit, the notice control unit controls the error notice based on a relative position of the sheet with respect to the plurality of rollers at a time of occurrence of the error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akira Ito
  • Patent number: 10404878
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a pair of first detection sections disposed between first positions for the feeding rollers and the separation rollers for nipping and second positions for the transport roller pair for nipping, and a pair of second detection sections disposed between the first detection sections and the second positions in the medium transport direction. The second detection sections are disposed between the first detection sections in the medium width direction, and a controller determines whether to stop transporting the medium or continue transporting the medium based on the results of detection by the first detection sections and the second detection sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Takayuki Shiota
  • Patent number: 10384895
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus to which a first feeding device which does not notify abnormal sheet feeding or a second feeding device which notifies the abnormal sheet feeding is connectable includes a sheet receiving portion, a sheet detector, an image forming unit, and a controller. In a case that the first feeding device is connected to the image forming apparatus, the controller discriminates that the abnormal sheet feeding occurs in the first feeding device when the detector does not detect the sheet at first timing. In a case that the second feeding device is connected to the image forming apparatus, the controller discriminates that the abnormal sheet feeding occurs at the sheet receiving portion when the detector does not detect the sheet at second timing and notification of the abnormal sheet feeding is not provided from the second feeding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Yokoya, Akinobu Nishikata, Satoru Yamamoto, Koji Yumoto, Akihiro Kawakita
  • Patent number: 10386742
    Abstract: A muffling member for an image forming apparatus includes a thermoplastic member disposed in a photoconductor drum and having a substantially hollow cylindrical shape. The thermoplastic member has a slit-shaped opening at a certain position in a circumferential direction of the thermoplastic member. The thermoplastic member also has a second opening at least at a certain position along the slit-shaped opening, the second opening having an opening width greater than an opening width of the slit-shaped opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Hayasaka, Hiroshi No, Masahiro Mori, Shinya Makiura, Shuhei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 10331985
    Abstract: A method, system, and recording medium are disclosed for verifying a type of print media within trays of an image forming apparatus. The method includes feeding a sheet of a print media from a tray of the image forming apparatus to an in-line spectrophotometer; measuring characteristics of the print media with the in-line spectrophotometer, the measured characteristics of the print media including at least one of brightness, whiteness, or color; and determining if the measured characteristics of the print media matches a type of print media identified in a tray database for the tray of the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Laboratory U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventors: Ann Qiongying Feng, Randy Cruz Soriano, Kenneth Huang Young
  • Patent number: 10268150
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a developing apparatus, a toner supply portion, a toner density detection portion, an intermediate transfer body, a secondary transfer body, an image density detection unit, and a control unit. The control unit sets a transfer condition of at least either a primary transfer portion or a secondary transfer portion based on an image density being detected by the image density detection unit in a state where a target toner density set based on the image density being detected reaches a limit value of a predetermined setting range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shozo Aiba
  • Patent number: 10203641
    Abstract: A sheet discriminator, which can be included in an image forming apparatus, includes an optical information detector, a sheet distinguisher, and a sheet thickness detector. The optical information detector includes a light emitter to emit light to a recording medium and a light receiver to receive the light and detects information of the recording medium. The sheet distinguisher distinguishes a type of the recording medium based on the information detected by the optical information detector. The sheet thickness detector includes a displacement gauge to sandwich the recording medium with an opposing member disposed facing the displacement gauge and to move from an initial position thereof and a displacement detector to detect an amount of displacement of the displacement gauge. The sheet thickness detector detects a thickness of the recording medium based on detection results obtained by the displacement detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriaki Takenaga, Tohru Matsumoto, Tetsuya Ofuchi, Takayuki Nishimura, Yukifumi Kobayashi, Hideyo Makino, Satoshi Nakayama
  • Patent number: 10175648
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body, a fan configured to discharge air inside the main body out of the main body, and a paper sensor arranged between a conveyance path of a paper that has passed through a fusing unit and the fan to sense the paper passing through the fusing unit, wherein a light sensing area of the paper sensing unit is open toward the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: HP PRINTING KOREA CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jeong-yong Ju
  • Patent number: 10118420
    Abstract: A conveyance apparatus performs single-sided printing, and double-sided printing, using a re-conveyance unit. If a first print medium is a print medium to be used for single-sided printing and a re-conveyed print medium is located within a predetermined distance from a region where the first print medium is located, an interval between the region where the first print medium is located and a region where a second print medium is located is controlled to be a first interval. If the first print medium is a print medium to be used for single-sided printing and a re-conveyed print medium is not located within the predetermined distance from the region where the first print medium is located, the interval between the region where the first print medium is located and the region where the second print medium is located is controlled to be a second interval shorter than the first interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuuki Arisawa
  • Patent number: 10120322
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a transfer member, a power source, a detection unit, and a fixing unit. The transfer member transfers a toner image to a transfer material from the image bearing member. The detection unit detects electric current flowing in the transfer member when the power source applies voltage to the transfer member. The fixing unit fixes a toner image to a transfer material by heat. The heat to the fixing unit is controlled where a subsequent transfer material conveyance stops after the transfer material is discharged from the fixing unit, in a case where a second current value, detected when voltage is applied to the transfer member contacting the fixing unit and the transfer member, is greater than a first current value detected when voltage is applied to the transfer member before the transfer material reaches the fixing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaru Ohno, Kenji Watanabe, Takao Kume, Marehiko Hirajima
  • Patent number: 10101701
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling and adjusting marker timing for a marking system comprises receiving data from a plurality of sensors in a marking system, evaluating a performance of each of the sensors in the marking system determining a marker timing offset for the marking system according to the performance of the sensor, updating marker timing of the marking system according to the marker timing offset, and marking media with the marking system according to the marker timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michael N. Soures
  • Patent number: 10088792
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming part that forms an image on a paper sheet; a first conveyance path that conveys the paper sheet on which the image is formed and that includes a primary conveyance path; a second conveyance path that reverses the paper sheet and includes a reverse conveyance path; a connecting conveyance path that connects the second conveyance path to the first conveyance path, and, before reversal at a time of conveyance to the second conveyance path, sends the paper sheet to the first conveyance path, starting from one edge of the paper sheet; and a return conveyance path that connects the second conveyance path to the first conveyance path, and, after the reversal at a time of conveyance to the second conveyance path, sends the paper sheet to the first conveyance path, starting from the other edge of the paper sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventor: Yasuo Shiokawa
  • Patent number: 10054894
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus that controls to cut off exciting currents supplied to a plurality of motors to drive conveyance roller pairs after a leading end of a paper sheet is brought in contact with a registration roller pair, and, when cutting off the exciting currents, cut off the exciting current for at least one of the motors at a different timing from the other motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Hidenori Mine, Kenji Izumiya, Satoshi Ogata, Kenji Tamaki, Hirokatsu Kodama
  • Patent number: 10007219
    Abstract: An insertion device which inserts a second recording medium into a conveyance path to convey a plurality of first recording media fed from a feeding device includes: a loading unit in which the second recording medium is loaded; a separating unit which separates the second recording medium, which is loaded in the loading unit; a detection unit which detects time of separation of the second recording medium performed by the separating unit; a calculation unit which calculates first feed timing to feed a following first recording medium, which is conveyed in the conveyance path after the second recording medium, to the conveyance path; a notification unit which notifies the first feed timing to the feeding device; and an inserting unit which conveys the second recording medium separated by the separating unit to a converging point in the conveyance path and to insert the second recording medium into the conveyance path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Kenichi Yamada
  • Patent number: 9939762
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly; an image forming portion for forming an image on a sheet; an openable member rotatably supported by the main assembly; a first feeding guide provided on the openable member; a second feeding guide provided in the main assembly, wherein when the openable member is closed, a sheet feeding path for feeding the sheet is formed by the first and second feeding guides; a hole provided in the first feeding guide; and an illumination device, provided on the openable member, for illuminating at least a part of the second feeding guide through the hole when the openable member is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaki Kakitani, Kenichi Manabe
  • Patent number: 9908726
    Abstract: An object of this invention is to provide a job processing method for a convenient printing system applicable not only to the office environment but also to the POD environment, a storage medium, a program, a printing system, and a printing apparatus. To accomplish this, according to a job processing method for a printing system in which print media detected by a multi feed detection unit for detecting occurrence of multi feed of overlapping print media can be used as print media necessary for a job to be processed by a printing apparatus, when multi feed occurs, the printing system can execute a recovery operation for an unprinted job without outputting multi-fed print media to a print medium discharge destination necessary for the unprinted job in the printing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiro Mutsuno
  • Patent number: 9846380
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a detection unit configured to detect a test pattern formed on an image carrier by image forming units; and an adjustment unit configured to control the image forming units to form the test pattern, and adjust relative positions of images based on a detection result of the test pattern. The adjustment unit is further configured to control the image forming units to form the test pattern after the image forming units have formed on the image carrier an image to be transferred to a sheet with a basis weight less than a threshold, and before the image forming units form on the image carrier an image to be transferred to a sheet with a basis weight greater than the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Tajiri, Takehiro Kishi, Hirotoshi Tajima
  • Patent number: 9721798
    Abstract: Provided is a method and apparatus for depositing an amorphous silicon film. The method includes supplying a source gas and an atmospheric gas onto a substrate in a state where the substrate is loaded in a chamber to deposit the amorphous silicon film on the substrate. The atmospheric gas includes at least one of hydrogen and helium. The source gas includes at least one of silane (SiH2), disilane (Si2H6), and dichlorosilane (SiCl2H2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: EUGENE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seung-Woo Shin, Hai-Won Kim, Woo-Duck Jung, Sung-Kil Cho, Wan-Suk Oh, Ho-Min Choi, Koon-Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 9667822
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a setting section on which it is possible to set a medium, a recording section that is capable of recording a recording image on a set medium, which is the medium that is set in the setting section on the basis of image data, a designation section that is capable of designating a recording position of the recording image on the set medium, and a control section that causes the recording image to be recorded on the set medium on the basis of the recording position that is designated by the designation section. In a recording apparatus with such a configuration, it is possible to suppress recording position shift of the recording image arises in accordance with setting position shift of a medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Teruaki Kaieda
  • Patent number: 9667832
    Abstract: In an image processing apparatus, a specific local gradation pattern detecting unit detects a specific local gradation pattern in a density distribution of a pixel array in a secondary scanning direction at each one of plural sampling positions along a primary scanning direction in a document image. A crease detecting unit detects a crease on the basis of positions in the primary scanning direction and positions in the secondary scanning direction of plural specific local gradation patterns detected for the plural sampling positions along the primary scanning direction. A crease removing unit removes the detected crease. The specific local gradation pattern has a density distribution that monotonically increases from a background density to a local peak density and monotonically decreases from the local peak density to the background density in the secondary scanning direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Kanamaru
  • Patent number: 9618883
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit, a fixing unit, and a control unit. The transfer unit transfers a toner image onto a sheet. The fixing unit fixes the toner image onto the sheet and includes a roller. The control unit controls a roller rotational speed. Where both a first loop amount of the sheet at one side in a width direction orthogonal to a sheet conveyance direction and a second loop amount of the sheet at the other side in a width direction are within a predetermined range, the control unit switches a roller rotational speed for controlling a loop amount of the sheet between the transfer unit and the fixing unit. Where either the first or second loop amount is not within the predetermined range, the control unit sets the roller rotational speed into a predetermined speed without switching the roller rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Takagi, Keita Nakajima
  • Patent number: 9581927
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a primary transfer unit, a secondary transfer unit, a registration roller pair placed upstream of the secondary transfer unit in a sheet transport direction, and a drive unit driving the registration roller pair. In addition, a detection sensor unit is placed on a sheet transport path downstream of the secondary transfer unit and detects a sheet transported after a toner image is secondary transferred by the secondary transfer unit, and a transport unit transports the sheet after the secondary transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tadashi Iwakawa, Keitaro Taoka
  • Patent number: 9555643
    Abstract: The present invention is to eliminate loosening of a transfer film on a rear end side of a card caused due to collision of a front end of the card against a conveying roller pair provided downstream of a transfer roller to prevent wrinkles from occurring in a transferred image. A rotation amount of a card conveying motor SMr and a wind amount of a transfer film 46 (conveying amount of the transfer film) are compared after a front end of a card K rushes into a conveying roller pair 37 during transfer processing for the card K to thereby detect a slip amount of the card K. A card conveying speed and a transfer film feed speed are controlled in accordance with the detected slip amount so as to eliminate loosening of the transfer film 46.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: NISCA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuichi Aihara
  • Patent number: 9551967
    Abstract: A sheet discriminator, which can be included in an image forming apparatus, includes an optical information detector, a sheet distinguisher, and a sheet thickness detector. The optical information detector includes a light emitter to emit light to a recording medium and a light receiver to receive the light and detects information of the recording medium. The sheet distinguisher distinguishes a type of the recording medium based on the information detected by the optical information detector. The sheet thickness detector includes a displacement gauge to sandwich the recording medium with an opposing member disposed facing the displacement gauge and to move from an initial position thereof and a displacement detector to detect an amount of displacement of the displacement gauge. The sheet thickness detector detects a thickness of the recording medium based on detection results obtained by the displacement detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriaki Takenaga, Tohru Matsumoto, Tetsuya Ofuchi, Takayuki Nishimura, Yukifumi Kobayashi, Hideyo Makino, Satoshi Nakayama
  • Patent number: 9507288
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive member configured to be rotated; scanning means for scanning, by light corresponding to image data, the photosensitive member that is charged, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member; and a contacting member in contact with the photosensitive member to form a nip portion. In a correction mode in which a shift of an image is corrected based on a detection result obtained by detecting, at the nip portion, an electrostatic latent image for correction formed on the photosensitive member by the scanning means, a width of the electrostatic latent image for correction is equal to or more than a width of the nip portion in a rotation direction of the photosensitive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kentaro Yamashita, Yasuo Yoda, Akinobu Hirayama, Takateru Ohkubo, Kenji Watanabe, Hiromitsu Kumada, Yoshiko Kubo, Hiroshi Hagiwara, Shuhei Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9488587
    Abstract: A system for detecting double-feed flat item conveyed in a mail processing machine, including a detection for directing a beam of radiant energy toward the moving flat items, scanning them with the beam and receiving at least a portion of the beam of radiation reflected from them. The detector includes a triangulation sensor for providing an output proportional to the position at which the reflected portion of the beam is received, and means for determining from the output, the distance (d) between the radiation source and the point of reflection of the beam on the moving flat items, and providing a signal (S) representative of said distance; and a controller configured to receive the signal (S) and generate an output signal (V) indicative of a flat item profile and a double-feed condition when it detects a significant break point or slope change of the signal from a first direction to a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: NEOPOST TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventor: David Audeon
  • Patent number: 9457603
    Abstract: An apparatus for cooling media sheets in a printer includes a number of cooling units, a conveyor having a first conveyor path adapted to feed the media sheets successively through the cooling units, and a switch adapted to deflect selected ones of the media sheets into a second conveyor path. The switch is disposed upstream of a last one of the cooling units and downstream of a first one of the cooling units. The second conveyor path bypasses the last one of the cooling units. The conveyor includes a decelerating mechanism configured to decelerate the sheets in the first conveyor path between the first one of the cooling units and the last one of the cooling units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: OCE-TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventors: Wilhelmus J. Aerts, Peter G. La Vos
  • Patent number: 9454120
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus for driving a cassette pickup roller (17) and a registration roller (18) by using the same driving source, in which a conveyance control portion (221) starts conveyance speed control for a subsequent sheet, which is fed from a sheet feeding position subsequently to a preceding sheet fed therefrom earlier, when it is determined that a trailing edge of the preceding sheet has passed through the registration roller (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Kanno, Tadashi Fukumuro
  • Patent number: 9377738
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising: an image bearing member which bears a toner image; a first driving portion which drives the image bearing member; a transfer portion which nips a sheet with the image bearing member and transfers the toner image to the sheet from the image bearing member; a sheet conveying portion which conveys the sheet with the toner image transferred by the transfer portion; a second driving portion which drives the sheet conveying portion; a sheet detector which detects the sheet between the transfer portion and the sheet conveying portion; and a controller which controls the second driving portion to drive the sheet conveying portion to convey the sheet after the first driving portion is stopped, so that the sheet detector can detect the sheet nipped between the image bearing member and the transfer portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shotaro Ishihara
  • Patent number: 9350886
    Abstract: A control apparatus includes a receiving unit, a display unit, a storing unit, and a notification unit. The receiving unit receives a job. The display unit displays the job received by the receiving unit. The storing unit stores attribute information of a sheet held in a sheet holding unit. The notification unit performs, after the receiving unit has received a job and in response to change in attribute information, stored in the storing unit, of the sheet held in the sheet holding unit specified by the job, notification of the change in the attribute information of the sheet held in the sheet holding unit in an identifiable manner, in association with the job displayed on the display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshiji Kanamoto
  • Patent number: 9341998
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus has a fixing unit which heats an image formed on a recording medium at a fixing temperature, to fix the image on the recording medium. When a heating temperature of the fixing unit becomes a temperature higher than the fixing temperature, the image forming apparatus switches image forming, from image forming by a first mode using a discolorable coloring material, to image forming by a second mode using a non-discolorable coloring material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Junichi Katayama
  • Patent number: 9329550
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an operation panel including a display section that displays buttons, a touch panel section, and piezoelectric elements. The image forming apparatus also includes a vibration control section and a determination section. The vibration control section outputs a drive signal to the piezoelectric elements that causes vibration of the piezoelectric elements and the touch panel section. The determination section determines for each maintenance target whether the maintenance target is an inspection target that preferably undergoes maintenance within a preset period of a current time. Upon operation of a button while no inspection target is present, the vibration control section causes the touch panel and the piezoelectric elements to vibrate under a normal vibration condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Yoko Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9283796
    Abstract: To execute a saddle stitch bookbinding process to prints including an insert paper, there is provided a control method for controlling a sheet processing apparatus, comprising: inserting the insert sheet from a second sheet holder in a plurality of sheets from a first sheet holder, and causing a saddle stitch bookbinder to execute the saddle stitch bookbinding process to the plurality of sheets in which the insert sheet has been inserted; determining whether or not the insert sheet is a sheet of a type to which the saddle stitch bookbinding process can be executed; and, in a case where it is determined that the insert sheet is not the sheet of the type to which the saddle stitch bookbinding process can be executed, controlling the saddle stitch bookbinder not to execute the saddle stitch bookbinding process to the plurality of sheets in which the insert sheet has been inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masahiro Mutsuno