Patents Examined by Joan Pendegrass
  • Patent number: 6694109
    Abstract: A method and system having real-time control of tone reproduction curves. The machine comprises: a moving photoreceptor; a means for storing a target tone reproduction curve; and, a means for updating a current tone reproduction curve LUT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Patricia J. Donaldson, Thomas F. Shane
  • Patent number: 6690905
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including at least one latent image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image, at least one developing device that develops the electrostatic latent image with developer to form a toner image on the at least one latent image carrier, and an intermediate transfer element including an elastic layer that carries the toner image transferred from the at least one latent image carrier. The image forming apparatus further includes a primary transfer device that transfers the toner image on the at least one latent image carrier onto the intermediate transfer element, and a secondary transfer device that transfers the toner image carried by the intermediate transfer element onto a transfer material. The developer includes toner and magnetic carrier, and a weight average particle diameter of the magnetic carrier is in a range of 10 &mgr;m to 80 &mgr;m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuru Takahashi, Tetsuroh Miura
  • Patent number: 6690902
    Abstract: A mounting and demounting mechanism for a process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the process cartridge including an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a process device actable on the electrophotographic photosensitive member. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus include a transfer roller for transferring an image onto a recording material. The mounting and demounting mechanism includes an opening through which the process cartridge is mounted and demounted; a cartridge mounting member; and a mounting member holder for movably holding the cartridge mounting member at a first position in which the process cartridge is detachably mountable and a second position in which the process cartridge is capable of performing an image forming operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinya Noda, Hideki Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 6690404
    Abstract: An optical system for an image forming apparatus which a first light source for selectably emitting a plurality of image forming light beams based upon control signals and a second light source for emitting image forming light beams of a number of less than that of said first light source. The first light source of the optical system selectably emitting multiple light beams and a single beam, e.g. selectably emits two beams and a single beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Shimada, Tomohiro Nakajima
  • Patent number: 6690908
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is directed to a print media coating device that includes a web supply, a web take-up, a fuser, and a web cooler downstream in the media path from the fuser. A coating material web runs from the web supply, along the media path through the fuser and the cooler, to the web take-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Maximo Gayoso
  • Patent number: 6687472
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a plurality of image forming units for forming images in various colors, and transfers images formed by these image forming units onto a transfer belt an overlapping manner. The image forming apparatus includes a control unit for outputting a predetermined control signal in order to form a color-shift detecting pattern with respect to the transfer belt by employing a plurality of these image forming units, and a pattern detecting sensor for reading the color-shift detecting pattern formed on the transfer belt by this control unit. Under normal operation, the control unit controls forming operation of color-shift detecting patterns by using only commonly-used color image forming units, while the control unit does not form a color-shift detecting pattern by using a specific-color image forming unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Udaka, Kozo Tagawa, Ryo Ando
  • Patent number: 6686941
    Abstract: A public presentation system is presented comprising a display system that can be remotely changed, so that multiple different images are successively displayed with minimal interruption. The system utilizes ionography techniques for non-contact printing and imaging for display. Thus by exploiting electrostatic imaging techniques, an advertisement can be displayed promptly by transferring a toner image onto an imaging belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Vary Frame Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Yosef Kamir, Alex Weiss, Serge Steinblatt
  • Patent number: 6686940
    Abstract: A reversible image display medium accommodates a dry developer in each cell formed between two substrates. The developer contains at least two kinds of frictionally chargeable dry developing particles having different chargeable polarities and different optical reflection densities. An image display can be achieved by forming an electrostatic latent image on one of the substrates to drive the developing particles in an electric field based on the electrostatic latent image. The developing particles are set to an average charge quantity of 1.0 &mgr;C/g to 10 &mgr;C/g to achieve good image display. Optionally at least one kind of the developing particles are magnetic developing particles having a coercive force of 50 oersteds to 250 oersteds, and optionally having an optical reflection density of 1.0 or more. An amount of small-size developing particles and/or an addition of a third component may be adjusted and volume average particle size ratio of developing particles may be controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Matsuura, Hiroshi Mizuno, Akihito Ikegawa, Masaharu Kanazawa, Keyaki Yogome, Takaji Kurita
  • Patent number: 6686942
    Abstract: When a user changes a density adjusting value (developing contrast), and even when variations in the usage state of process characteristics (of the photosensitive body and the developing device) of the cartridge change, the amount of recording agent consumed can be suppressed to be low, and a sharp line image can be recorded. An image forming apparatus of this invention includes an edge detecting portion for detecting an edge of image data, an image data correcting portion for correcting image data inside the edge so as to decrease its density, a laser driving circuit for forming an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive body, and a correction value determining table for acquiring an instruction value for giving an instruction to correct a density contrast, wherein a correction condition for image data changes in accordance with an instruction value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keiji Okano, Gaku Konishi, Akira Domon
  • Patent number: 6686943
    Abstract: An image formation apparatus for keeping secularly stable image quality for all image patterns if change in the charge amount of a developer caused by environment variation or over time or change in the photoconductor characteristic occurs in electrophotographic record apparatus. A test patch image formed on a photoconductor by a parallel electric field is detected by an image density sensor, the developing bias and the photoconductor surface potential are controlled so that the density detected by the image density sensor becomes constant, a test patch image formed on the photoconductor by a peripheral electric field is detected by the image density sensor with the control condition of the image density sensor maintained, and the light application amount in which an image area of a several-dot width adjacent a blank paper part is exposed to light is controlled so that the density detected by the image density sensor becomes constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignees: Hitachi Printing Solutions, Ltd., Hitachi Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayoshi Ishii, Keisuke Kubota, Teruaki Mitsuya, Shintaro Yamada
  • Patent number: 6683634
    Abstract: A 4-series tandem type full color copying machine is described. This system can perform successive high-speed delay processes by receiving a delay amount control signal from an engine portion and controlling the delay amount. The system can easily correct differences between delay amounts caused by distances between photosensitive drums due to registration in a high-speed processing system in which first and second pages are successively input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba TEC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoya Murakami
  • Patent number: 6684039
    Abstract: A remanufactured and reassembled laser printing device process or toner cartridge and method of manufacture in which a recharged and reassembled process cartridge is ultrasonically resealed, without the use of replacement energy director elements, by ultrasonic welding at the location of the original manufacturing ultrasonic weld using residual material from the original energy director elements. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Wazana Brothers International, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoel Wazana, Joda Paulus
  • Patent number: 6684043
    Abstract: Apparatus for charging a substrate, comprising: an elongated charging member having a crowned surface; an elongated pressure member having, the pressure member being supported for pressure engagement with the charging member to form a nip therebetween adapted to receive the substrate. There is also disclose a method for making the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Michael F. Zona, John S. Facci, Michael J. Levy, Rachael L. McGrath
  • Patent number: 6684050
    Abstract: An image fixing apparatus includes a fixing roller, a sheet-like-shaped member, a sheet supporter, and a stopper. The fixing roller includes a heater and is rotated to forward a recording sheet having a toner image. The sheet-like-shaped member contacts the fixing roller to form a nip area with the fixing roller. The sheet supporter supports the sheet-like-shaped member at an upstream side of a bottom surface of the sheet-like-shaped member in a sheet transfer direction. The stopper stops a free side of the sheet-like-shaped member so that the free side of the sheet-like-shaped member is not lowered below a predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Osamu Kiuchi
  • Patent number: 6681095
    Abstract: A transparent coat layer forming apparatus of the present invention includes: a heat-fixing device provided with a fixing belt; a particle layer forming apparatus for forming a particle layer made of transparent toner on the fixing belt of the heat-fixing device; plural rollers including a transfer roller for stretching a transfer region of the fixing belt to which the particle layer is transferred from the particle layer forming apparatus in a plane shape; and a retract mechanism for retracting the fixing belt stretched inaplane shapeby the plural rollers including the transfer roller from the particle layer forming apparatus, wherein the particle layer is formed on the fixing belt by the particle layer forming apparatus, and the particle layer formed on the fixing belt of the heat-fixing device is overlapped with a transfer material with an image transferred thereto in a fixing nip portion, followed by heating and pressurizing, whereby a transparent coat layer made of the particle layer is formed on the tra
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yu Tsuda
  • Patent number: 6681088
    Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, includes a first frame; a second frame coupled with the first frame for rotation about a shaft; an electrophotographic photosensitive drum provided in the first frame; a developing member, provided in the second frame, for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum with a developer; a developing member, provided in the second frame, for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum with a developer; an elastic member for applying an elastic force between the first frame and the second frame to urge the developing member to the photosensitive drum; a force receiving portion, provided downstream of the shaft with respect to a mounting direction in which the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, for receiving a force from the main assembly of the image forming apparatus to keep the developing member
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kanno, Kojiro Yasui, Tadashi Horikawa, Susumu Nittani, Tatsuya Suzuki, Koji Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 6681084
    Abstract: A method for determining an humidity in a xerographic printing machine with a corona generating device having a grid, a coronode, and a power supply for supply power to said grid and coronode, comprising: measuring a first temperature in a xerographic printing machine; setting the grid at a predefined voltage with the power supply; applying a charge output voltage and a charge output current to the coronode with the power supply; monitoring the charge output voltage and the charge output current to the coronode from the power supply until a predefined charge output voltage is reached; changing the first temperature in a xerographic printing machine to a second temperature; repeating said setting, said applying, and said monitoring for a second temperature; correlating the charge output current when said predefined charge output voltage is reached at said first temperature to the charge output current when said predefined charge output voltage is reached at said second temperature to an humidity value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Harry J. M. Reijnders
  • Patent number: 6678496
    Abstract: A fuser apparatus having a pair of rollers in nip relation to transport a receiver member therebetween to permanently fix a marking particle image to such receiver member, and a skive mechanism for stripping a receiver member adhering to a fuser apparatus roller from the said roller. The skive mechanism includes a frame located in spaced relation with one of the rollers of the pair of fuser apparatus rollers. A plurality of skive assemblies, mounted on the frame, each include a skive finger and a support body for supporting such skive finger in operative relation to such one of the rollers. The skive fingers are elongated, thin, flexible members to substantially prevent damage to such associated fuser apparatus roller. Further, an air plenum is provided in operative relation to the other of the pair of rollers of the fuser apparatus rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Nexpress Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Muhammed Aslam, Tsutomu Miura, Fangsheng Wu
  • Patent number: 6678493
    Abstract: The specification discloses an image forming apparatus which forms a visual image on a belt transfer member by at least one of image forming units and transfers the formed visual image onto a recording medium with the aid of the belt transfer member. In the image forming apparatus, the belt transfer member includes an endless belt wound on a plurality of tension rolls. A bending member, which bends the endless belt toward the inside of a tangential line connecting points on the outer circumferences of a couple of tension rolls, and locates the bent endless belt inside the tangential line, is additionally provided outside the endless belt located between at least the couple of adjacent tension rolls. An image forming unit may be additionally provided within an outside bending concave region of the endless belt, which is bent by the bending member and the tension rolls adjacent to the bending member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryuichiro Maeyama, Yoshikazu Okamoto
  • Patent number: 6674982
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a plurality of components that form image forming means and should be mounted or dismounted in a preselected order. Following one of the components with respect to the preselected order cannot be dismounted from the apparatus until preceding one of the same has been dismounted. The components are mounted to the apparatus in the reverse order. The components unremovable from the apparatus and positioned above the removable components in a preselected dismounting direction are retractable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Saitoh, Nekka Matsuura, Nobuyuki Yanagawa