Patents Examined by David M. Gray
  • Patent number: 10416591
    Abstract: In one example, a toner cartridge for a printer includes interconnected interior upper and lower toner supply chambers surrounding an exterior opening defined in part by diverging sidewalls and a sloping ceiling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Richard L. Swantner, Robin P. Yergenson, Dean J. Richtsmeier
  • Patent number: 10416588
    Abstract: A charging member includes an electro-conductive substrate, an elastic layer, and a surface layer provided in this order. The elastic layer has, on an outer surface thereof, concave portions that are independent of each other, and hold insulating particles. The insulating particle is exposed to the surface of the elastic layer. A site in which an outer edge of the projection image derived from each of the insulating particles and an outer edge of a projection image derived from each of the concave portions are separated, exists. The charging member has convex portions derived from the insulating particles exposed to the surface of the elastic layer, and concave portions derived from the concave portions of the elastic layer. The surface layer has a volume resistivity of 1.0×1015 ?cm or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroki Masu, Kazuhiro Yamauchi, Yuichi Kikuchi, Masaki Tsunoda, Takumi Furukawa
  • Patent number: 10418844
    Abstract: Systems and methods to wirelessly transmit power are provided. A power delivery system may include a central controller assembly and a transmit assembly. The central controller assembly can form transmit coils in the transmit assembly. The central controller assembly can also receive information from devices coupled to the transmit assembly and optimize the transmit coils based on the received information and on information about the transmit assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC
    Inventor: Kevin S. Fine
  • Patent number: 10409194
    Abstract: A developer container includes a container, a transporting member, and a passage portion. The container holds a developer. The transporting member includes a shaft, rotatably supported by the container, and a transporting portion that is supported by the shaft and that transports the developer in the container when the shaft rotates. The passage portion is formed in the transporting portion and allows air to pass therethrough in an axial direction of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Taichiro Okuno
  • Patent number: 10412243
    Abstract: An image formation device for executing a printing job to form a toner image on a record sheet includes: an operation panel configured to move between a first position at which the operation panel protrudes from a front of a device body and a second position at which the operation panel is retracted to a device body side with respect to the first position. The device further includes an acquisition device configured to obtain state information indicating a state of the device body; and a hardware processor configured to determine, based on the obtained state information, whether the state of the device body is a state requiring a user access to the device body or a state of accessing to the device body. The device retracts the operation panel to the second position when a determination result is positive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Masahiro Kamiya, Naoto Sugaya, Chao Ye
  • Patent number: 10409214
    Abstract: A development cartridge detachable from a main body of an image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive unit including a photosensitive drum and a developing unit including a developing roller. The developing unit is coupled to the photosensitive unit such that the developing unit is movable to a development position where a development nip forms by contact between the developing roller and the photosensitive drum and movable to a release position where the development nip is released. The development cartridge further includes a pressurizing unit movable to a first position where the pressurizing unit applies an elastic force to the developing unit in a direction such that the developing unit is maintained in the development position, and movable to a second position where the pressurizing unit applies an elastic force to the developing unit in a direction such that the developing unit is maintained in the release position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: HP PRINTING KOREA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang-Hoon Lee, Joon-Hee Kim
  • Patent number: 10409215
    Abstract: An image bearing member unit includes an image bearing member for bearing a toner image; a bearing portion which rotatably supports the image bearing member and is coaxial with a rotational axis of the image bearing member and which includes an arcuate portion for forming a circumferential part of a circle large larger than the image bearing member; a holding portion, capable of permitting insertion of the bearing portion in a rotational axis direction of the image bearing member, for holding the bearing portion, and a passing portion, provided in the holding portion, for permitting passage of the arcuate portion therethrough in the rotational axis direction. The passing portion is provided so that a phase of the arcuate portion when the bearing portion is mounted at a normal position and a phase of the passing portion are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro Kobayashi, Hiromasa Katayama
  • Patent number: 10401412
    Abstract: In described examples, a time-domain analyzer is arranged to generate an indication of a number of high-frequency events of an electrical monitor signal that includes a fundamental periodic frequency. The high-frequency events include frequencies higher than the fundamental periodic frequency. A frequency-domain analyzer is arranged to generate frequency band information in response to frequencies of the electrical monitor signal that are higher than the fundamental periodic frequency. A fault detector is arranged to monitor the indication of the number of high-frequency events and the generated frequency band information, and to generate a fault flag in response to the monitored indication of the number of high-frequency events and the generated frequency band information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Prasanna U Rajagopal, Kallikuppa M Sreenivasa, Amit G Kumbasi
  • Patent number: 10401754
    Abstract: An exposing unit includes a holding member, an abutting pin protruding on both sides in the vertical direction at the rear side of the holding member, a second support portion provided further to the rear side than the holding member, and a movement mechanism that causes the holding member to move between an exposure position and a retracted position. The second support portion has a gap formed where the rear side of the holding member moves in the vertical direction, and this gap restricts movement of the holding member in the left-and-right direction. The holding member that is moved from the retracted position toward the exposure position by the movement mechanism is guided by the gap formed in the second support portion so that the abutting pin abuts a fitting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Saimon Gokyu, Yasuaki Otoguro, Yuta Okada, Daisuke Aruga, Hitoshi Iwai, Shinichiro Hosoi, Yuichiro Imai, Toshiki Momoka, Yoshitaka Otsubo, Takehiro Ishidate
  • Patent number: 10401762
    Abstract: A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes a cartridge frame formed of a resin material; a plurality of resin members molded on the cartridge frame by injection molding of a resin material different from that of the cartridge frame; a plurality of contact surfaces, provided on the cartridge frame, to which metal molds corresponding to the resin members are to be contacted from the same side when the resin members are molded; and a plurality of resin material inlet ports, provided in an opposite side of said cartridge frame from a side where the contact surfaces are provided. The resin material has been flowed into the cartridge frame when the resin members are molded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuharu Hoshi, Akira Suzuki, Hiroshi Takarada, Toshiteru Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 10401756
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearing member and a rotatable developer bearing member. The image bearing member, configured to carry a toner image, includes first recess portions provided at intervals substantially equal to a first pitch Pdr (mm) in a rotation direction of the image bearing member. The developer bearing member, configured to carry developer comprising toner and carrier and to form the toner image on the image bearing member, includes second recess portions provided at intervals substantially equal to a second pitch Ps (mm) in a rotation direction of the developer bearing member. The following relationship is satisfied Vs/Vdr<Ws/Pdr where Vdr represents a movement speed (mm/sec) of the first recess portions, Vs represents a movement speed (mm/sec) of the second recess portions, and Ws represents a length (mm) of each of the second recess portions in the rotation direction of the developer bearing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Sakamaki
  • Patent number: 10403486
    Abstract: A data acquisition system for a TOF mass spectrometer comprises a processing module and a data collection module. The processing module generates a stream of data comprising, for each respective transient of a first scan, a set of time-intensity related parameter pairs. For each new set of data, the data collection module reads out a previous set of data from a previous memory bank, merges that previous set of data with the new set of data, and writes that latest merged set of data into a memory bank other than the previous memory bank. The data acquisition system provides a convenient way to merge sequential sets of time-intensity related parameter pairs for respective transients as a stream of data for a first scan is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: MICROMASS UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Garry Michael Scott, David Darrell Williams, Peter Gerard Spreadbury, Martin Raymond Green, Anthony James Gilbert, Keith George Richardson, Jason Lee Wildgoose
  • Patent number: 10401780
    Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a frame having a first side plate provided at one end, and a second side plate provided at another end, and a holder, for holding a heater, provided in an inside space of a rotatable member. With respect to a longitudinal direction, a length of the holder is greater than a distance between the first side plate and the second side plate. The holder has a positioning portion for positioning the holder in the longitudinal direction, and the positioning portion engages with the first side plate. In addition, with respect to the longitudinal direction, the positioning portion is provided at a position corresponding to the first side plate and is not provided at a position corresponding to the second side plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noriaki Tanaka, Yoshinori Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 10394684
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus related to determining one or more user habits for a user. A group of one or more past user activity occurrences of a user may be determined based on similarity between the past user activity occurrences of the group. A user habit may be determined based on the past user activity occurrences of the group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Erwin Can Sar, Timothy Youngjin Sohn, Andrew Tomkins
  • Patent number: 10390478
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for determining corrected population based on a meter drive signal. Systems, methods, and apparatus are additionally provided for determining a stability metric based on a meter drive signal. A method for monitoring a seed application rate of a seed planter includes measuring a rotation of a seed disc of a seed meter, measuring a performance value corresponding to the seed meter, and calculating the population value based on the rotation and the meter performance value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Precision Planting LLC
    Inventors: Derek Sauder, Phil Baurer, Ryan Allgaier
  • Patent number: 10394165
    Abstract: A developing device includes a rotatable liquid developer carrying member, a developer container, an electrode opposed to the developer carrying member with a predetermined gap therebetween to form an electric field, and an urging roller provided downstream of the electrode and upstream of a developing position to urge the developer carrying member. An amount of toner on the developer carrying member per unit area in a region downstream of the urging roller and upstream of the developing position with respect to the rotational moving direction is not less than 50% of an amount of the toner on the developer carrying member per unit area in a region interposed between the electrode and the developer carrying member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Motohiro Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 10397386
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments associated with debugging a device-under-test are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes sensing and recording a screen image produced by a device-under-test as the device-under-test is being operated. The sensing and recording of the screen image are performed by an apparatus. The method also includes sensing and recording coordinates and durations of gestures impinged upon the apparatus while operating the device-under-test. The sensing and recording of the coordinates and durations are performed by the apparatus. The apparatus is configured to physically conform to the device-under-test to allow functionality of the device-under-test through the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Haoxiang Zhang, Keren He
  • Patent number: 10394169
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a tubular rotator and a first heater disposed inside the tubular rotator and extended in a longitudinal direction of the first heater. The first heater heats the tubular rotator. A second heater is disposed inside the tubular rotator and extended in a longitudinal direction of the second heater. The second heater heats the tubular rotator. A heating adjuster is interposed between the first heater and the second heater. The heating adjuster adjusts heat conduction from the first heater to the second heater. A joint combines the heating adjuster with the second heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Fumihiro Hirose, Keisuke Kubota, Masami Okamoto, Jun Ogino, Kensuke Yamaji, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Yuuta Kanda
  • Patent number: 10393900
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for characterizing the evolution of a reservoir by determining a seismic wavelet which links observed seismic data to a sequence of reflectivities. The method comprises obtaining seismic data (200) representing seismic changes which have occurred between a first time and a second time, said seismic data comprising a plurality of seismic traces; and performing an optimization operation simultaneously (230) on the seismic traces so as to optimize for said seismic wavelet. The optimization operation may be performed without using known reflectivity data as an input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Total S.A.
    Inventors: Thomas David Blanchard, Pierre Daniel Thore, Christian Hubans
  • Patent number: 10386763
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an electrophotographic member having an elastic layer containing graphite particles dispersed in a silicone rubber and having a high thermal conductivity in the thickness direction. The electrophotographic member includes a substrate and an elastic layer on the substrate, the elastic layer containing a cured product of an addition-curable liquid silicone rubber mixture including an addition-curable liquid silicone rubber and graphite particles, and the graphite particles having a DBP oil absorption number of 40 cm3/100 g or more and lower than 80 cm3/100 g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuya Abe, Katsuhisa Matsunaka