Application Member (e.g., Roller, Belt) Patents (Class 399/239)
  • Patent number: 11868073
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is to supply paper sheets on which images are formed to a post-processing apparatus to pressure-bind binding areas of paper sheets bundled. The image forming apparatus includes a conveyor, an image forming device, and a controller. The conveyor conveys a paper sheet. The image forming device discharges liquid ink to the paper sheet conveyed by the conveyor. The controller repeatedly executes a process of: causing the conveyor to convey the paper sheet to a position facing the image forming device; causing the image forming device to discharge the liquid ink to form an image on the paper sheet; and causing the conveyor to convey the paper sheet on which the image has been formed toward the post-processing apparatus. The controller further causes the image forming device to apply the liquid ink to a binding area of at least one of the paper sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kei Sasaki, Kazuki Seto
  • Patent number: 11353806
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive drum; a developing roller; a separation mechanism for moving the developing roller between a contacting position contacting the photosensitive drum and a separated position separated from the photosensitive drum; a first tray; a first sheet feed mechanism for feeding a sheet from the first tray toward the photosensitive drum; a first sheet sensor for detecting passage of the sheet at a prescribed position; and a controller. The controller of the image forming apparatus is configured to perform: when a printing operation is performed onto the sheet ted from the first tray, feeding the sheet in the first tray to the prescribed position and maintain the sheet; moving, on or after the first sheet sensor detects the sheet, the developing roller to the contacting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shintaro Sakaguchi, Toshiyuki Sano, Masahito Saeki
  • Patent number: 11340536
    Abstract: In one example of the disclosure, a developer system includes a housing and a developer roller. A first electrode and a second electrode are disposed in the housing, the first and second electrodes to create an electrical charge to cause transfer of printing fluid to a developer roller surface. The developer roller is rotatably connected to the housing. The developer includes a surface, a bearing to support and enable rotation of an axle attached to the developer roller, and a plurality of stop pins. The plurality of stop pins are connected to the housing. The stop pins are to support the bearings and to establish target distances between the developer roller surface and the first electrode and second electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Shachar Berger, Sagie Shanun, Roman Katz, Shai Rahamim, Hay Arbeli, Eyal Elbaz, Alon Froom, Lavi Cohen
  • Patent number: 10928753
    Abstract: A printing fluid developer that includes a developer roller; a cleaner roller forming a nip with the developer roller and held by a number of bearings at each end that are free to move within a slot towards and away from the developer roller; and at least one spring biased to force the bearings towards one side of the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: HP Indigo B.V.
    Inventors: David Sabo, John W. Godden, Alex DeRegules
  • Patent number: 10488785
    Abstract: A developing unit includes a developer bearing member, a container, an end seal, a sheet, and a backup member. The container contains a developer. The container has an opening for supplying the developer to the developer bearing member. The end seal is disposed between the developer bearing member and the developer container. The end seal is disposed at an area of the container outside a longitudinal end of the opening. The sheet seals a gap between the developer bearing member and the container. One widthwise end of the sheet is fixed to the container. The other widthwise end is in contact with the developer bearing member. A longitudinal end of the sheet includes a sandwiched portion between the end seal and the developer bearing member. The backup member is provided in an area facing a surface of the sheet opposite to a surface in contact with the developer bearing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Kakuta, Yuuki Nakamura, Shota Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10261445
    Abstract: Examples of printing devices are described. Such printing devices may include an end cap having an engaging portion and a hook portion, a roller, and a latch unit to hold the roller in contact with the end cap when the latch unit is in a closed position. The latch unit may include a latch having a protrusion to engage with the engaging portion of the end cap, and a spring attached to the end cap and to the latch. In one example, the hook portion of the end cap is to hold the latch in a closed position in counteraction to a force provided by the spring under a tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: HP Indigo B.V.
    Inventors: David Sabo, John W. Godden
  • Patent number: 9891556
    Abstract: A wet type developing device including a developing roller and an anilox roller, the wet type developing device includes: a dual purpose roller being opposite to the surface of the anilox roller, leaving a gap therebetween, upstream of a region of contact between the surfaces of the anilox roller and the developing roller and being in contact with the surface of the developing roller upstream of the region of contact between the surfaces of the anilox roller and the developing roller and being rotationally driven. A surface part of the dual purpose roller is made of a porous member that has flexibility and elasticity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: MIYAKOSHI PRINTING MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideo Izawa, Kenji Takahashi, Hidenori Kosaka
  • Patent number: 9841696
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including a first holding member that is rotated and holds a liquid developer including a volatile carrier liquid, a first cleaning member that is able to come into contact with or separated from the first holding member and cleans a surface of the first holding member by being in contact with the first holding member, a supplying device that supplies a volatile washing liquid to the first holding member at an upstream side of the first cleaning member in a rotation direction of the first holding member, and a switching mechanism that switches a first state in which the first cleaning member is in contact with the first holding member that is rotated to a second state in which the first cleaning member is separated from the first holding member that is rotated to apply the washing liquid to the first holding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Taijyu Gan, Toshihiko Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9776344
    Abstract: Provided is a structure forming apparatus, including: a roller provided to be rotatable, having a length in an axial direction of the rotation, and capable of transmitting an energy beam; a retaining member arranged to face the roller such that a slit region having a length in the axial direction is formed between the retaining member and the roller, and capable of retaining a material to be cured by energy of the energy beam at least in the slit region; an irradiation unit configured to selectively radiate the energy beam to the slit region through the roller to cure the material so that a sheet-like structure is formed; and a take-up reel configured to take up the sheet-like structure thus formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Yasukochi
  • Patent number: 9529307
    Abstract: A system comprises an electro-wetting subsystem, a transfer subsystem, an imaging member, and an inking subsystem. The electro-wetting subsystem comprises a photo-responsive photoreceptor, a charging mechanism, an image definition material reservoir, a charge erase mechanism, and an exposure subsystem, such as a light source and rotating polygon forming a raster output scanner (ROS) disposed for exposure of the photoreceptor through the image definition material reservoir. The imaging member comprises a reimageable surface having certain properties, such as having a low surface energy to promote ink release onto a substrate. In operation, the photoreceptor is charged areawise. An exposure pattern is formed by the exposure subsystem on the surface of the charged photoreceptor, which is developed with image definition material. The image definition material pattern is transferred to the reimageable surface. The pattern is developed with ink. The inked image may be transferred to a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Janos Veres, David K. Biegelsen
  • Patent number: 9405231
    Abstract: Apparatus is described which, in use, applies a thin film of a wetting agent, such as water or a water-based solution, onto paper or other print medium before applying a liquid toner. The wetting agent is applied at a predetermined distance from an image transfer area. The wetting agent acts to promote adhesion of the liquid toner to the print medium. The adhesion of the liquid toner to the print medium is further improved by supplying the wetting agent at a temperature higher than room temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Indigo B.V.
    Inventors: Peter Nedelin, Mark Sandler, Shai Lior
  • Patent number: 9395653
    Abstract: The present wet-type developing device includes: a developer carrier for carrying a wet-type developer, which contains a charged toner particle and carrier liquid, and supplying the wet-type developer to an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; a charge neutralizing unit for neutralizing a charge of the toner particle contained in the wet-type developer remaining on the developer carrier after supplying the wet-type developer to the image carrier; a dispersing unit for dispersing the toner particle in the carrier liquid by acting on the toner particle contained in the wet-type developer neutralized in charge by the charge neutralizing unit; and a removing unit for removing, from the developer carrier, the wet-type developer containing the toner particle dispersed by the dispersing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Takeshi Maeyama, Kunitomo Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9354546
    Abstract: In a method to operate a printer or copier to print to a printing substrate, or in such a printer or copier, toner concentrate is extracted from a toner concentrate reservoir and carrier fluid is extracted from a carrier fluid reservoir. The extracted toner concentrate and carrier fluid are supplied to a mixer where mixing occurs to form a developer mixture. The developer mixture is applied to a developer roller with aid of an electrical field. Given an exchange of least one of the toner concentration reservoir and the carrier fluid reservoir, a strength of the electrical field is modified such that a predetermined desired inking of the printing substrate is maintained even given a change of a toner concentration in the developer mixture due to the exchange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Oce Printing Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Berg, Franz Kastner, Gunnar Raschke
  • Patent number: 9316952
    Abstract: A liquid supply device includes a rotating supply member that holds a liquid developer in concave portions formed on an outer peripheral surface, and supplies the liquid developer to a target supply member, a regulating member that regulates a liquid developer holding amount of the outer peripheral surface of the rotating supply member by contacting with the outer peripheral surface of the rotating supply member, and a movement unit that moves the regulating member to a retract position which is separated from the outer peripheral surface of the rotating supply member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Taijyu Gan, Toshihiko Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9244356
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a metal mesh structure and a method of fabrication thereof. The metal mesh structure includes a metal mesh formed on a substrate. The metal mesh is a 2D or 3D pattern of lines. The lines in the first and second set are characterized by a linewidth that is less than 2 microns. Such metal mesh structures are fabricated through rolling mask lithography. This abstract is provided to comply with 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: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Rolith, Inc.
    Inventors: Boris Kobrin, Ian McMackin
  • Patent number: 8874006
    Abstract: Liquid marking agent development assemblies, hard imaging devices, and liquid marking agent hard imaging methods are described. According to one aspect, a liquid marking agent development assembly includes a developer member having an outer surface, a marking agent delivery system to supply a liquid marking agent comprising a plurality of ink particles to a first location of the outer surface of the developer member, and a development system to adhere a plurality of the ink particles to the outer surface of the developer member, and wherein the development system is to adhere the adhered ink particles at a second location of the outer surface of the developer member which is upstream from the first location with respect to a direction of movement of the outer surface of the developer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Eric G. Nelson, Thomas Anthony, David Sabo, Derek Patton
  • Publication number: 20140212176
    Abstract: A digital printer has at least one print group with a station to generate charge images of images to be printed on a charge image carrier, the station having a developer station to ink the charge images using liquid carrier having toner and carrier fluid. The developer station comprises a rotating application unit that transports the liquid developer to the charge image carrier. The feed system feeds the liquid developer to the application unit. The dosing unit adjacent to the application unit and after the feed system comprises a dosing roller and an elastic unit acting on the dosing roller, the elastic unit exerting an adjustable contact pressure force on the dosing roller in a direction of the application unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventor: Martin Berg
  • Patent number: 8731421
    Abstract: In a method or apparatus to optimize transfer of a developer fluid having toner embedded in a carrier fluid in an electrophoretic printing apparatus, charge images of print images are generated on an intermediate image carrier. The print images are inked into toner images by means of a developer station with the developer fluid. The toner images are transfer printed onto a printing substrate in a transfer printing zone by a transfer unit. The toner embedded in the carrier fluid is thus transported from the developer station to the intermediate image carrier in a first transport path segment and from the transfer unit to the printing substrate in a second transport path segment. A temperature acting on the carrier fluid in the first transport path segment is above a melting point of the carrier fluid, and a temperature acting on the carrier fluid in the second transport path segment is below the melting point of the carrier fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Océ Printing Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Pohlt, Martin Berg, Gunnar Raschke
  • Patent number: 8682223
    Abstract: An image forming device includes a development member carrying a developer for forming a toner image at an image carrier, a cleaning member abutting against the development member for removing the developer remaining on the development member, a transportation member provided in contact with the development member for transporting the developer supplied to the development member, and a driving unit controlling driving of at least one of the transportation member and the development member. The driving unit executes preliminary driving of the development member and transportation member for a given time under a state where supply of the developer to the transportation member is stopped, prior to main driving in image formation. Consumption and/or degradation of the developer in preliminary driving is suppressed while strain at the development member or transportation member formed of a resilient member is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Keiko Momotani
  • Publication number: 20140023400
    Abstract: In an example, rollers are disclosed, wherein one of the rollers has a resilient outer layer, and one of the rollers comprises a coned portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventors: Shachar Berger, Zvika Cohen, Oran Levintant
  • Publication number: 20130336678
    Abstract: A liquid development apparatus uses a developer to develop electrostatic latent images included in a plurality of image portion regions formed successively on an image carrier with an inter-image region being interposed. The liquid development apparatus includes a developer carrier and a control unit. Only a single developer carrier is provided so as to establish one-to-one relation with a single image carrier, it transports the developer to a development position opposed to the image carrier, and it develops the electrostatic latent image while it abuts to the image carrier. The control unit carries out prescribed control such that an amount of the developer supplied from the developer carrier to the inter-image region on the image carrier is reduced or set to zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventor: Kunitomo SASAKI
  • Patent number: 8606150
    Abstract: A toner bearer including an electroconductive substrate; an insulating layer located on the electroconductive substrate; multiple electrodes located on the insulating layer at regular intervals; an outermost layer located on the multiple electrodes; and a voltage applicator to apply a voltage between the electroconductive substrate and the multiple electrodes to form a periodically reversed electric field therebetween so that toner particles on the outermost layer hop, thereby forming a toner cloud above the outermost layer. The insulating layer includes a crosslinked material having a unit obtained from a fluorine-containing resin and a crosslinking agent. The fluorine-containing resin is selected from the group consisting of copolymers having a unit obtained from fluoroethylene having at least three fluorine atoms and a unit obtained from a vinyl ether monomer and copolymers including a unit obtained from tetrafluoroethylene and a unit obtained from a vinyl monomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Yamashita, Ryohichi Kitajima, Shohei Gohda
  • Patent number: 8594535
    Abstract: A roller comprises an exterior layer including one or more polymers, carbon black and an ionic salt soluble in a low molecular weight hydrocarbon oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Benjamin W. C. Garcia
  • Patent number: 8586277
    Abstract: A system comprises an electro-wetting subsystem, a transfer subsystem, an imaging member, and an inking subsystem. The electro-wetting subsystem comprises a photo-responsive photoreceptor, a charging mechanism, an image definition material reservoir, a charge erase mechanism, and an exposure subsystem, such as a light source and rotating polygon forming a raster output scanner (ROS) disposed for exposure of the photoreceptor through the image definition material reservoir. The imaging member comprises a reimageable surface having certain properties, such as having a low surface energy to promote ink release onto a substrate. In operation, the photoreceptor is charged areawise. An exposure pattern is formed by the exposure subsystem on the surface of the charged photoreceptor, which is developed with image definition material. The image definition material pattern is transferred to the reimageable surface. The pattern is developed with ink. The inked image may be transferred to a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Janos Veres, David K. Biegelsen
  • Patent number: 8588655
    Abstract: In a device or method to develop potential images of images to be printed, the potential images being generated on an intermediate image carrier using developer fluid having a charged toner and carrier fluid, developing with an applicator device the potential images, the applicator device directing the developer fluid across the intermediate image carrier. With the feed device the developer fluid is supplied to the applicator device, the feed device discharging excess developer fluid depleted of toner and that is not transferred to the applicator device. With a conditioning device the carrier fluid is taken from the applicator device and the taken up carrier fluid is discharged. With a cleaning device residual developer fluid remaining after development of the potential images is cleaned off of the applicator device and the residual developer fluid is supplied to a chamber arranged in the cleaning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Océ Printing Systems, GmbH
    Inventor: Martin Berg
  • Patent number: 8538299
    Abstract: A wet type developing apparatus includes a set charger positioned opposite to a surface of the developing roller, a liquid developer applying device disposed at one of a position opposite to a surface of the developing roller and a position opposite to a surface of the cleaning roller, a first cleaning blade disposed in contact with a surface of the cleaning roller downstream of the area of rotational contact of the cleaning roller with the developing roller in the rotation direction of the cleaning roller, and a second cleaning blade disposed in contact with a surface of the developing roller downstream of the area of rotational contact of the cleaning roller with the developing roller in the rotation direction of the developing roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Miyakoshi Printing Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Izawa, Junichi Setoyama, Kotaro Harada
  • Publication number: 20130223888
    Abstract: An apparatus to receive a developer roller for a printing device. The apparatus comprises a base assembly including end caps at opposing ends. The base assembly includes a receptacle for a developer roller having rotary bearings. Each end cap includes first and second datum pins and a clamp containing a spring member. Each clamp, when locked in place in part by action of the spring member, is to push against a corresponding rotary bearing when the developer roller is installed in the base assembly. The rotary bearing being forced by the clamp into contact with the first and second datum pins to position the developer roller in the base assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Inventors: Christopher S. Tanner, David Sabo, Eric G. Nelson
  • Patent number: 8508804
    Abstract: When at least one of first image data and second image data is captured, according to a moving speed of an object while an image sensor is capturing an image, exposure time for capturing the image is controlled to decrease a difference between object blur widths in a direction in which the object moves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Taichi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8509656
    Abstract: In a device or method to develop charge images generated on a charge image carrier, a rotating applicator moves developer fluid having charged toner particles charged to a predetermined charge and carrier fluid past the charge image carrier. The developer fluid is moved into a developer gap between the applicator and a counter-electrode where it is exposed to an electrical field between the counter-electrode and the applicator. The toner particles of the predetermined charge are moved in a direction of the applicator depending on their charge, uncharged toner particles remaining unaffected and toner particles of opposite charge being repelled. Via a separation electrode protruding into the developer gap, the developer fluid in the developer gap is divided at an exit of the developer gap into a first partial flow adjacent to the application electrode and into a second partial flow adjacent to the counter-electrode where it is discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Océ Printing Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Christian Kopp
  • Patent number: 8503912
    Abstract: An electrophoretic printing system is provided comprising a transfer printing station for transfer printing charge images developed with liquid toner comprising a carrier fluid and toner and wherein the developed charge images are transferred to a recording medium. A wetting unit provided adjacent to the recording medium before the transfer printing station as viewed in a movement direction of the recording medium wets the recording medium with a fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Océ Printing Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Pohlt
  • Patent number: 8428496
    Abstract: A wet type developing apparatus in which liquid developer is fed onto a developing roller from a liquid developer supply roller immersed in the developing liquid within a liquid developer tank and an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoconductor drum and developed into a toner image by the developing roller is improved to enable the liquid developer to be fed an appropriate amount of feed from the liquid developer supply roller onto the developing roller without residual air in the surface region of the liquid developer supply roller, where a partition plate is disposed generally under the liquid developer supply roller within the liquid developer tank for partitioning the liquid developer tank in the rotational direction of the liquid developer supply roller, the partition plate having its upper end juxtaposed with a peripheral surface of the liquid developer supply roller over its total axial length across a gap spacing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Miyakoshi Printing Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Izawa, Junichi Setoyama
  • Patent number: 8396397
    Abstract: In a method and printing apparatus to print a continuous printing substrate, a liquid film with toner and courier fluid is transported to a charge image carrier to develop charge images into toner images. Transport pairs are used comprising rotating transport members in the transport of the liquid film to the charge image carrier and from the charge image carrier to the printing substrate. Given a changing print speed of the printing apparatus at least one of the respective transport pairs is adjusted to provide a respective separation of the transport members from one another so that a substantially same quantity of the liquid film is always conveyed by the respective transport pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Océ Printing Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Pohlt, Jean Philippe Hulin
  • Patent number: 8396399
    Abstract: A toner bearing member is provided which includes a conductive support, an insulation layer provided on the conductive support, multiple electrodes arranged at regular intervals on the insulation layer, a surface layer covering the multiple electrodes, comprising a polymerized compound having a specific unit, and a voltage applicator that applies a voltage between the conductive support and the multiple electrodes while periodically reversing an electric field generated therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Yamashita, Keiko Osaka, Ryoichi Kitajima
  • Patent number: 8369755
    Abstract: The developing device includes a developer charging member configured to charge a toner serving as a one developer; and a developer bearing member configured to bear and feed the charged toner while forming an electric field so that the toner hops. The developer bearing member includes an insulating substrate; plural electrodes arranged on the insulating substrate in a developer feeding direction to form the electric field; and an outermost layer covering the plural electrodes. The toner has a softening point of from 115 to 130° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiko Osaka, Yasuyuki Yamashita, Ryoichi Kitajima
  • Publication number: 20130011162
    Abstract: A developer flows ink from the ink inlet chamber along a first side of a first electrode, through a gap between the first electrode and a developer roller and back to the inlet chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2010
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: Hewlett-Packard Development Company L.P.
    Inventors: Eric G. Nelson, David E. Sabo, Evgeny Korol, Daniel P. Fradl
  • Patent number: 8279491
    Abstract: In a color misalignment detection method, an alignment pattern is obtained by designating a plurality of lines having line width and line intervals formed by superposing a line image of a black color as a reference color and a line image of a color other than the reference color, for example, a cyan line image, as one patch, and continuously forming these patches by shifting the relative position between the line images of the two colors by an optional quantity. An alignment pattern detection sensor has a light emitting diode and a photodiode. These elements are arranged along the scanning direction of the alignment pattern such that the photodiode can only receive diffused reflected light of reflected light from the alignment pattern. A spot shape of the light emitting diode and a spot shape of the photodiode are both formed in a square shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Hitoshi Ishibashi
  • Patent number: 8251498
    Abstract: A processing liquid applying apparatus includes a processing liquid transfer roller which transfers a processing liquid to a transfer medium while rotating in a predetermined direction; a processing liquid applying section which applies the processing liquid to a surface of the processing liquid transfer roller; a downstream wall which is positioned on a downstream side in a rotating direction of the processing liquid transfer roller with respect to the processing liquid applying section; and a downstream wall moving mechanism which moves the downstream wall between a downstream wall first position at which the downstream wall is positioned when the processing liquid is transferred to the transfer medium and a downstream wall second position at which the downstream wall is positioned when the surface of the processing liquid transfer roller is washed with the processing liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoichiro Shimizu, Masahiro Nishizaki, Yoshitsugu Morita, Tomoyuki Kubo
  • Patent number: 8229324
    Abstract: A coupling unit includes two constant velocity joints arranged in series in the shaft direction. The coupling unit couples a driven shaft and a drive shaft. Each constant velocity joint includes a ball non-retaining member and a ball retaining member. The ball non-retaining member has an annular space with one opened end and a plurality of track grooves extending in the shaft direction on an external wall surface of the annular space at a constant interval in a circumferential direction. The ball retaining member has a portion that engages with the annular space of the ball non-retaining member, and that retains a ball that slides along each of the track grooves formed in the ball non-retaining member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignees: Ricoh Company, Limited, NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Junya Takigawa, Takuro Kamiya, Hideaki Sugata, Yoshimi Asayama
  • Patent number: 8208841
    Abstract: A developing device develops an electrostatic latent image on an image bearing body, and includes first, second and third rollers, a developing belt and a developer supply member. The developing belt, which is entrained about the first, second and third rollers, is opposed to the image bearing body between the first and second rollers, and is in contact with the developer supply member between the first and third rollers. The developer supply member supplies a developer to the developing belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuya Uehashi
  • Patent number: 8185019
    Abstract: An image forming device with a liquid developer containing a developing agent and a liquid carrier is provided. The image-forming device includes a casing, an accumulation unit, a supply inlet, a cover, and a support part. The accumulation unit is provided in the casing for accumulating therein the liquid developer and the liquid carrier. The supply inlet is in communication with the accumulation unit and fluidly connectable with a replenishing container containing the liquid developer and the liquid carrier. The cover is configured to selectively provide an open phase and a closed phase with respect to the casing, and configured to expose the supply inlet at the open phase. The support part is provided on the cover and configured to detachably mount thereon the replenishing container at the open phase in an orientation capable of discharging the liquid developer and liquid carrier into the accumulation unit through the supply inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Atsushi Kato
  • Patent number: 8139983
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer storage portion that stores a liquid developer including toner and carrier liquid. A first coating member rotates and coats the liquid developer stored in the developer storage portion. A second coating member contacts the first coating member and rotates in a direction opposite to that of the first coating member. A developer supporting body contacts the second coating member and rotates in the same direction as that of the second coating member. A contact member contacts the liquid developer coated on the second coating member by the first coating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tsutomu Sasaki, Kazuma Miyazawa, Masahiro Fukazawa
  • Patent number: 8064808
    Abstract: A developing roller has a surface layer which can effectively inhibit the bleeding of a low-molecular-weight component from an elastic layer, and can efficiently impart a high electric charge to a negatively chargeable toner, and is excellent in toner-releasing properties. The developing roller has a mandrel, at least one layer of an elastic layer provided on the mandrel and a surface layer provided on the elastic layer, carries and conveys a toner, and develops an electrostatic latent image on an opposing photosensitive member with the toner. The surface layer comprises a silicon compound film containing Si, N, C and H having specific total amounts of the existing elements Si, N, C and H, and specific ratios N/Si, C/Si, and H/Si.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Genya Anan, Kenichi Yamauchi
  • Publication number: 20110274466
    Abstract: A wet type developing apparatus comprises a set charger positioned opposite to a surface of the developing roller, a liquid developer applying means disposed at one of a position is opposite to a surface of the developing roller and a position opposite to a surface of the cleaning roller, a first cleaning blade disposed in contact with a surface of the cleaning roller downstream the area of rotational contact of the cleaning roller with the developing roller in the rotation direction of the cleaning roller and a second cleaning blade disposed in contact with a surface of the developing roller downstream of the area of rotational contact of the cleaning roller with the developing roller in the rotation direction of the developing roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: MIYAKOSHI PRINTING MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideo Izawa, Junichi Setoyama, Kotaro Harada
  • Patent number: 8055159
    Abstract: Provided are a liquid developing apparatus and an image forming apparatus, wherein a high-viscosity liquid developer layer is transferred sequentially from a developer supply member to a developer coating member and to the developer carrying member among rollers, and the developer supply width of the developer supply member is made smaller than the width of the developer coating member and greater than the width of the developer carrying member, whereby an occurrence of the area, at the end portions of the developer carrying member, where the volume of developer is uneven is reduced, and the liquid developer is prevented from wrapping around the end faces of the developer coating member, without making the apparatus complicated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Atsuto Hirai
  • Patent number: 8023847
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that is electrically charged and exposed to light to form a latent image that is developed by liquid developer. A first squeezing roller that is held in contact with the image carrier carrying a developed image bears bias voltage Vs1. A second squeezing roller that is held in contact with the image carrier squeezed by the first squeezing roller bears bias voltage Vs2. The image is transferred to a transfer member that is held in contact with the image carrier squeezed by the second squeezing roller. The absolute values of the bias voltages Vs1 and Vs2 have a relationship of |Vs1|>|Vs2|.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Toyama, Ken Ikuma
  • Patent number: 7995953
    Abstract: A high speed electrostatic printing machine has a toner supply of a high viscosity highly concentrated liquid toner to a pick-up roller and then a metering roller. A doctor blade bears against the metering roller which bears against a development member with an interference fit. An image forming stage comprising an image carrying member having a surface adapted to retain an electrostatic latent image thereon with the development member engaging against the image carrying member with an interference fit to give a selected contact time therebetween. Then there is a development stage and a transfer stage. A carrier liquid displacement device acts upon the thin layer of toner on the development member to push toner particles in the thin layer towards the surface of the roller and to leave a carrier liquid rich layer on the outside of the thin toner layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Xeikon IP B.V.
    Inventor: Alexander Borisovich Ozerov
  • Publication number: 20110170909
    Abstract: A roller (33) includes an exterior layer (39) including one or more polymers, carbon black and an ionic salt soluble in a low molecular weight hydrocarbon oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventor: Benjamin W.C. Garcia
  • Patent number: 7943282
    Abstract: A liquid developer includes: an insulating liquid having dispersed therein toner particles, the insulating liquid containing a fatty acid monoester that is an ester of a fatty acid and a monohydric alcohol, and the insulating liquid having an aniline point of from 5 to 80° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Akioka, Takashi Teshima, Satoru Miura, Shunichiro Yamanaka, Ken Ikuma
  • Patent number: 7937026
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid developing electrographic device roller suppressed in volumetric variation caused by a carrier. As a means for solving the problems, the present invention provides a liquid developing electrophotographic device roller including a shaft and an elastic material layer provided around the outer peripheral side of the shaft, wherein the elastic material layer is formed by using a polyurethane obtained by reacting a polyester polyol with a difunctional isocyanate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Bando Chemical Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Harushi Nagami, Hiroshi Sanda, Takayuki Nagase, Sadaharu Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20110091245
    Abstract: An image forming method including electrostatic image forming step, developing step, transferring step, fixing step and oil application step for applying an oil to a fixing member, wherein the toner includes a binder resin, a colorant and a wax, and the relationship (A2/A1)×100<200 is satisfied, wherein A1 represents the area of the oil dropped on a pellet of the toner measured 30 seconds after dropping the oil, and A2 represents the area of the dropped oil measured 24 hours after dropping the oil. Alternatively, the relationships (X1?X2)<0.5 atomic percent, X1>1.0 atomic percent, and X2>1.0 atomic percent, are satisfied, wherein X1 and X2 represent amounts of Si atoms of the silicone oil measured by subjecting the toner image to X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy at times 5 minutes and 24 hours, respectively, after fixing the toner image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Inventors: Yasutada SHITARA, Minoru Masuda, Yasuaki Iwamoto, Hyo Shu