Patents Examined by Hoan H. Tran
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Patent number: 11768456Abstract: An image forming apparatus controls the number of rotations of a photosensitive drum based on information related to the use of the photosensitive drum and a suspension time in a rotation operation of rotating the photosensitive drum after a lapse of the suspension time between a first image forming operation of forming an image on a transfer material and a second image forming operation performed after the first image forming operation.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2022Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shinsuke Kobayashi, Ai Suzuki, Kensuke Umeda, Kazuhiro Funatani
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Patent number: 11768450Abstract: A drum member includes: a substantially cylindrical drum body having a hollow part extending in an axial direction; a sheet member wound on the drum body; an adjusting mechanism configured to adjust tension in the sheet member, the adjusting mechanism including a moving member that holds an end of the sheet member in a circumferential direction and moves in a depth direction of the hollow part, and a fixing member that fixes the moving member to the drum body; and one or more positioning members that position the moving member such that the moving member does not move in the circumferential direction of the drum body when the moving member is fixed with the fixing member.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2022Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.Inventors: Kazuki Kishi, Koichiro Yuasa, Kazuyoshi Hagiwara, Kei Tanaka, Tomoaki Yoshioka, Toshiaki Baba, Yoko Miyamoto, Hirotaka Tanaka
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Patent number: 11762306Abstract: An electroconductive roll includes a core member, a rubber base material disposed around the core member, and a surface layer disposed around the rubber base material. The arithmetic mean peak curvature Spc of a surface of the surface layer is equal to or greater than 1,880 (1/mm), and is equal to or less than 14,024 (1/mm).Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2019Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Inventors: Kousuke Oura, Shogo Suzuki, Satoshi Fukuoka, Kenji Sasaki
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Patent number: 11762311Abstract: A drum unit detachably attachable to an image forming apparatus includes: a frame; a photosensitive drum; a toner cartridge including a toner casing and a toner memory; a connector electrically connected to the image forming apparatus; and a relay board electrically relaying the toner memory and the connector. The toner memory performs communication according to a standard that sets a value of data on a basis of a voltage for data communication at a timing when a prescribed period of time has elapsed since the voltage has made a prescribed change. The toner memory consists of three terminals as electrical contacts. The three terminals are a power supply terminal for supplying a supply voltage to the toner memory, a ground terminal, and a data terminal for communication of data to be written into the toner memory and data to be read from the toner memory.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2022Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masaaki Wakizaka, Shinta Sugiura, Shunsuke Aiba, Keita Inoue
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Patent number: 11754951Abstract: A heat generating member includes a plurality of heat generating portions configured to generate heat and including a first heat generating portion having a meandering shape, and a plurality of second heat generating portions between two of which the first heat generating portion is disposed.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2022Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Osamu Takagi
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Patent number: 11754960Abstract: Parameters particular to the consumable item and that affect calculation of an estimated remaining life of the consumable item when used in the printing device for printing are received. A payload is constructed based on the parameters. The printing device is to use the parameters when calculating the estimated remaining life of the consumable item during usage of the consumable item for printing.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2022Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Gabriel Scott McDaniel, Jeffrey H. Luke, Paul L. Jeran
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Patent number: 11747757Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including a temperature sensing circuit to which a temperature sensing element is electrically connected, wherein a surface of a heater on a side where the temperature sensing element is provided is in contact with the inner surface of a film, a heating element is provided in a primary side circuit which is electrically connected to a commercial power supply, and the temperature sensing circuit is electrically insulated from both of the primary side circuit and a secondary side circuit which is electrically insulated from the primary side circuit.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2022Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yasuhiro Shimura, Yusuke Saito, Ryota Ogura
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Patent number: 11747752Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developer that forms a toner image on an endless belt that is suspended over outer portions of a plurality of rollers, a driver that rotates at least one driving roller out of the plurality of rollers, a position adjustment mechanism that corrects relative positions of the plurality of rollers relative to one another, and a hardware processor, wherein the hardware processor controls the position adjustment mechanism to correct a relative position between the belt and the driving roller with tension applied to the belt being a second tension smaller than a first tension that is applied in a developing state in which a toner image is formed on the belt by the developer.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2022Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Hidetoshi Noguchi, Kazuki Shimizu
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Patent number: 11747747Abstract: An image forming portion applies a bias voltage in which an AC component is superimposed on a DC component between a first carrying member and a second carrying member, and transfers toner from the first carrying member to the second carrying member to form an image on the second carrying member. An AC setting processing portion performs AC calibration to set a magnitude of the AC component of the bias voltage. A potential measurement processing portion measures a surface potential of the first carrying member or the second carrying member based on a target current flowing between the first carrying member and the second carrying member. A drive processing portion executes the AC calibration before measurement of the surface potential in a case where, when measuring the surface potential, an activation condition is satisfied.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2022Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventors: Tamotsu Shimizu, Yoshihiro Yamagishi, Kazunori Tanaka
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Patent number: 11747764Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first unit movable to a first inside position of a main assembly and a second unit movable to a second inside position of the main assembly. The first unit includes a first shutter that is rotatable from a first position in which the first shutter opposes a surface of an image bearing member and covers a part of the surface of the image bearing member to a second position in which the first shutter opens the part of the surface of the image bearing member. The second unit includes a second shutter provided with a second contacting portion, with the second shutter being rotatable from a third position in which the second shutter opposes a surface of a developing member and covers a part of the surface of the developing member to a fourth position in which the second shutter opens the part of the surface of the developing member.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2022Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Ken Kikuchi
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Patent number: 11733622Abstract: An imaging system includes a belt roller extending in an axial direction, an endless belt to rotate about the belt roller, a steering roller located inside the endless belt and extending in the axial direction, a steering roller actuator located at an end portion of the belt roller in the axial direction to contact the endless belt, and a support. The steering roller actuator is displaceable in the axial direction in response to a shifting of the endless belt so as to tilt the steering roller with respect to the axial direction. The support supports the endless belt in a gap formed between the belt roller and the steering roller actuator when the steering roller actuator is displaced in the axial direction.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2020Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company L.P.Inventors: Kensuke Nakajima, Satoru Hori, Yuji Aoshima
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Patent number: 11724524Abstract: A detection device includes a transport passage along which a medium is transported and a detection unit that detects a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion of the medium in the transport passage while transportation of the medium is stopped and while the medium is pulled in a pulling direction along the transport passage.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2022Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.Inventors: Hiroyuki Suzuki, Naohito Otsuki, Takehiko Koizumi, Yuta Chino
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Patent number: 11720051Abstract: A cartridge includes: a housing; a storage medium having an electrical contact surface; and a holder movable relative to the housing. The holder includes a first holder member and a second holder member movable relative to the first holder member. The first holder member includes at least one pawl and holds the electrical contact surface at one end surface of the first holder member in a first direction crossing the electrical contact surface. The second holder member includes at least one corner part engageable with the at least one pawl to provide an engaging portion therebetween. The second holder member has a through-hole that is open at another end face of the second holder member in the first direction. The engaging portion is accessible from an outside of the holder through the through-hole.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2021Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kenta Tosuji, Nao Itabashi, Kazuya Kamikawa
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Patent number: 11714367Abstract: A transfer unit includes first and second rollers, first and second bearing members, a roller holder, first and second urging members, a switching cam, and a driving mechanism. The switching cam includes first and second guide holes with which first and second engaging portions formed on the first and second bearing members engage. The first and second guide holes are formed, each in an approximately arcuate shape, at positions at different distances from the rotation center of the switching cam. By rotating the roller holder, one of the first and second rollers is arranged opposite an image carrying member and, by rotating the switching cam, the first or second roller arranged opposite the image carrying member is arranged selectively either at a reference position where the first or second roller is in pressed contact with the image carrying member or at a released position.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2022Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.Inventor: Masaru Takagi
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Patent number: 11714920Abstract: A security object management system may include a management module including a device processor and a non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions stored thereon, and executable by the processor, for performing the following steps: accessing a database having stored therein data regarding a plurality of security objects, wherein the data includes ownership data regarding the assignment of rights associated with the security objects; and receiving user input to certify the accuracy of data associated with at least one of the security objects; wherein the computer readable medium further includes instructions for, in response to a change in data associated with a security object, executing a write back function whereby the change in the data is stored in a database that is accessible by a third party having access rights exclusive of ownership and administrator rights of the security object in the database.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2021Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)Inventors: Martin Christopher Palmer, Paul Joseph Oncale, III, Tammy Sue O'Neal, Maria Carmelite Langley
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Patent number: 11709456Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body housing, a drawer, a drum cartridge and a toner cartridge. The drawer is movable in a first direction between an inner position at which the drawer is located inside the main body housing and an outer position at which the drawer is located outside the main body housing. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum. The drum cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the drawer. The toner cartridge accommodates toner. When the drum cartridge is attached to the drawer and the drawer is at the inner position, the toner conveyor conveys toner from the toner cartridge to the drum cartridge.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2022Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yasumasa Fujii, Shougo Sato
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Patent number: 11709454Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a body casing, a pressing member, a process cartridge, and a drawer. The body casing includes a positioning member. The pressing member is disposed inside the body casing. The process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum. The drawer is configured to support the process cartridge and to move, in a sliding direction orthogonal to an axis direction of the photosensitive drum, between an inside position that is a position inside the body casing and an outside position that is a position outside the body casing. The process cartridge includes an engagement portion and a spring. The engagement portion is configured to be positioned by the positioning member. The spring is configured to be pressed by the pressing member such that the engagement portion is pressed toward the positioning member.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2022Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Shougo Sato
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Patent number: 11709458Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductive drum, a developing roller, a humidity sensor configured to detect a humidity, and a controller configured to execute a single-side printing, a first-double-side printing and a second double-side printing. The controller is configured to execute the first double-side printing in which images are printed at a first developing-bias voltage on both the first surface and the second surface of the sheet when the humidity detected by the humidity sensor is greater than a threshold value. The controller is configured to execute the second double-side printing in which an image is printed at a second developing-bias voltage, which is less than the first developing-bias voltage, on the second surface of the sheet when the humidity detected by the humidity sensor is equal to or less than the threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2022Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Keita Suzuki, Shota Iriyama
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Patent number: 11703773Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member that is excellent in image smearing resistance and low torque while maintaining its electrophotographic characteristic. The electrophotographic photosensitive member is an electrophotographic photosensitive member including, in this order: a support; a photosensitive layer; and a protection layer as a surface layer, wherein the protection layer has a surface having a developed area ratio Sdr of 1.0% to 40.0%, and wherein an A value represented by the following formula (1) is 0.10 to 0.27: A=S1/S2 . . . formula (1), where, in the formula (1), S1 represents a peak area based on C?C stretching vibration of an aromatic ring by attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and S2 represents a peak area based on C?O stretching vibration of an ester group by the same method.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2022Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tsutomu Nishida, Yuka Ishiduka, Tatsuya Ohsawa
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Patent number: 11698597Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit to form an image on a sheet, a conveyance unit to convey the sheet having the image formed thereon to a conveyance path and a reading unit to read a test image of a sheet conveyed to the conveyance path. In addition, a controller determines an adjustment value for adjusting a geometric characteristic of an image to be formed by the image forming unit based on a reading result of the reading unit, controls the image forming unit to form the test image, controls the reading unit to read the sheet having the test image formed thereon, and determines an adjustment value for adjusting a geometric characteristic of an image to be formed by the image forming unit based on a reading result of the reading unit.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2022Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Eikou Mori