Roller Patents (Class 399/279)
  • Patent number: 11880160
    Abstract: A filter holding device includes an opening portion and a filter. The opening portion communicates an inside of the filter holding device with an outside of the filter holding device. The filter includes a first side and a second side. The first side faces the inside of the filter holding device. The second side faces the outside of the filter holding device. The filter has a lower weight density per unit volume at the first side than at the second side. At least a side face of the first side of the filter is covered with an air-impermeable member. The side face is a lateral face of the filter at the first side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hotaru Hashikawa, Tatsuya Kubo, Kazuki Yogosawa, Yuta Yabuta, Takuya Suganuma
  • Patent number: 11782383
    Abstract: Provided is a process cartridge where a developing unit includes a coupling member that receives driving force, a driving transmission member that transmits the driving force from the coupling member to a driving roller, and a support member that rotatably supports the coupling member and is movable with respect to a developing frame in a direction intersecting with a rotational axis of the developing roller. The developing frame and the driving transmission member are configured to be movable with respect to a drum frame of a drum unit in the direction intersecting the rotational axis. In this process cartridge, an urging member that engages with both the support member and the drum frame is included such that an urging force is applied in a direction in which a positioned portion of the support member and a positioning portion of the drum frame contact each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Matsumaru, Yu Akiba
  • Patent number: 11693356
    Abstract: A cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a development roller, a cartridge side gear, a movable member and a restricting portion. The cartridge is constituted such that when the cartridge side gear and a drive transmission member of a main assembly of an image forming apparatus are engaged with each other, the drive transmission member and a cover covering the drive transmission member is accommodated in a space surrounded by the restricting portion, the movable member and the cartridge side gear. the space includes, in a range downstream of the restricting portion and upstream of the cartridge side gear, a region in which a distance from the axis of the photosensitive drum exceeds Ra which is a distance from the axis of the photosensitive drum to the restricting portion. The cartridge is structured to accommodate the cover in the region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Goshi Ozaki, Ryota Shibuya
  • Patent number: 11624991
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developing container having a first stirring chamber and a second stirring chamber that are arranged in juxtaposition with each other and a developer carrier that carries toner in the second stirring chamber. The developing container includes a duct, an air suction port, a first filter, and a second filter. The duct is arranged adjacently to the second stirring chamber and allows air in the second stirring chamber to flow out to an exterior. The air suction port is open along a longitudinal direction of the second stirring chamber and allows communication between inside the second stirring chamber and inside the duct. The first filter covers the air suction port. The second filter is arranged on a downstream side of the first filter in an air circulation direction in the duct and covers an air circulation path in the duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Yuzo Harada
  • Patent number: 11377317
    Abstract: Disclosed is a paper-sheet-feeding/conveying roller having a shaft, and a bi-layer roller material which is formed of an inner layer provided on the shaft and an outer layer. The inner layer provided on the shaft is a foamed elastic layer. The outer layer provided on the foamed elastic layer is a non-foamed elastic layer. The foamed elastic layer is formed of a foamed elastic body of silicone-modified EPDM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: SYNZTEC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroki Nagai, Yuichi Shibata
  • Patent number: 11256210
    Abstract: A processing cartridge is provided. The processing cartridge can be detachably mounted in an electronic imaging device including a driving component for transmitting rotating force. The processing cartridge includes a housing and a force receiving element. The force receiving element including force receiving parts is disposed at one side of the housing and is rotatably supported by the housing. The force receiving parts are disposed at an end portion of the force receiving element along a circumferential direction of the force receiving element and protrude in a direction of a rotation axis of the force receiving element. When the processing cartridge is mounted in the electronic imaging device along a predetermined mounting direction, the force receiving parts and the driving component are engaged with each other to transmit the force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: NINESTAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Qin Luo, Gerning Ding, Likun Zeng, Hui Cao, Miaoling Yang, Lianjun Wu, Shuchun Dai
  • Patent number: 11243483
    Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a sleeve for carrying a developer including toner and magnetic carrier, the sleeve having a plurality of grooves extending in a longitudinal direction; a magnet provided inside the sleeve, a non-magnetic regulating member, provided spaced from the sleeve, wherein an amount M/S (mg/mm2) of the developer carried on a unit area of the sleeve after passing by the regulating member, a gap SB (mm) between a free end of the regulating member and the sleeve, a density G (mg/mm3) of the developer, and a groove ratio ? which is a ratio of the grooves in the surface of the sleeve satisfy, 0.1?M/S (mg/mm2)?0.5, 0.2?SB (mm), and m/S (mg/mm2)×¼??×{SB (mm)+D (mm)}×G (mg/mm3)<M/S (mg/mm2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Sakamaki, Mitsuhiro Furukawa
  • Patent number: 11231663
    Abstract: A toner cartridge include a convex portion and a conveyance drive gear. There is a protrusion which protrudes from the center of the conveyance drive gear. Further, there is a hole at a rear side of the convex portion. The protrusion is to be inserted into the hole which is at the rear side of the convex portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Kubota, Naoki Nakatake, Yoshiyuki Shimizu, Shoh Tsuritani, Manabu Hamada, Masato Tsuji, Masanari Fujita
  • Patent number: 11163259
    Abstract: With a structure in which a coupling member includes a sphere providing a center of inclination (pivoting), a rotational force transmitted member has an opening have a diameter smaller than that of the sphere, and the coupling member is prevented from disengaging from rotational force transmitted member by contact of inner edge of the opening to the sphere, the inner edge of the opening may limit an inclinable (pivotable) angle range of the coupling member. In a state that a pin that is a shaft portion is inserted in a hole that is a through-hole provided in a coupling member, opposite end portions of the pin are supported by a driving side flange, which is a rotational force transmitted member. The coupling member, the driving side flange, and the pin are connected in this manner, and the pin contacts the inside of the hole without limiting the inclinable angle range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuya Kawakami, Noriyuki Komatsu, Sho Shirakata, Isao Koishi
  • Patent number: 11137707
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes an endless belt, and a pressing member including a base body and an elastic layer formed on the base body. A plurality of pore portions connected to each other are provided in the elastic layer. In a case where a binary image is generated from a three-dimensional image of the elastic layer, a threshold value X ?m corresponding to opening processing with which a number of pores derived from the pore portions takes a maximum value is obtained, and then pores derived from the pore portions in the elastic layer are extracted by performing opening processing with a threshold value of 2X ?m, an average value of angles ? is 120° or larger and smaller than 150°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akeshi Asaka, Naoki Akiyama, Hiroto Sugimoto, Hiroki Muramatsu, Yasuhiro Miyahara, Noriaki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10996617
    Abstract: A developing cartridge mountable to a development rotary of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a coupling member for transmitting a rotational force from a main assembly engaging portion to a developing roller, the coupling member being engageable and disengageable relative to the engaging portion with rotation of the rotary, the coupling member being movable among a rotational force transmitting angular position, a pre-engagement angular position in which the coupling member is inclined relative to that in the transmitting angular position to engage with the engaging portion, and a disengaging angular position for disengaging therefrom; and an inclination regulating member movable between a regulating position for positioning the coupling member to the pre-engagement position and a retracted position, the inclination regulating member being movable from the retracted position to the regulating position by being abutted by a function member of the rotary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideto Chino
  • Patent number: 10642216
    Abstract: A developing cartridge mountable to a development rotary of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a coupling member for transmitting a rotational force from a main assembly engaging portion to a developing roller, the coupling member being engageable and disengageable relative to the engaging portion with rotation of the rotary, the coupling member being movable among a rotational force transmitting angular positio, a pre-engagement angular position in which the coupling member is inclined relative to that in the transmitting angular position to engage with the engaging portion, and a disengaging angular position for disengaging therefrom; and an inclination regulating member movable between a regulating position for positioning the coupling member to the pre-engagement position and a retracted position, the inclination regulating member being movable from the retracted position to the regulating position by being abutted by a function member of the rotary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideto Chino
  • Patent number: 10591844
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developer carrying body to transfer developer to a photosensitive body. The developer carrying body has an outer circumference and grooves spaced apart along the outer circumference. The grooves occupy 27% or more of the outer circumference. The developing carrying body is rotatable in a rotational direction that imparts the developing carrying body with a direction of movement that is opposite to a direction of movement of the photosensitive body, at a position between the developer carrying body and the photosensitive body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY L.P.
    Inventor: Yuya Kato
  • Patent number: 10527934
    Abstract: New photoresist compositions are provided that comprise a component that comprises a radiation-insensitive ionic compound. Preferred photoresists of the invention may comprise a resin with photoacid-labile groups; a photoacid generator compound; and a radiation-insensitive ionic compound that can function to decrease undesired photogenerated-acid diffusion out of unexposed regions of a photoresist coating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials LLC
    Inventors: Gerhard Pohlers, Cong Liu, Cheng-Bai Xu, Chunyi Wu
  • Patent number: 10503102
    Abstract: A drive transmitting device, which is included in an image forming apparatus, includes a drive source, a drive transmitting body, and a rotary shaft. The drive transmitting body has a press-in target portion. The rotary shaft includes a press-in portion mounted on one end of the rotary shaft in an axial direction of the rotary shaft to be pressed into the press-in target portion of the drive transmitting body. The press-in portion includes a flat face and a plurality of circular arc faces having different distances from an axial center of the rotary shaft and being disposed at a same position as at least a portion of the flat face in the axial direction of the rotary shaft. A radius of curvature of one of the plurality of circular arc faces is greater than a radius of curvature of another of the plurality of circular arc faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Tomita
  • Patent number: 10488789
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes a control unit configured to perform a first collection operation in which toner that has passed a position at which the charging unit and the intermediate transfer member are in contact with each other is moved from the intermediate transfer member to the image bearing member. The control unit is also configured to perform a second collection operation in which toner having been moved from the charging unit to the intermediate transfer member is moved from the intermediate transfer member to the image bearing member. The control unit controls rotation speed of the image bearing member in such a manner that the rotation speed of the image bearing member in the second collection operation is slower than the rotation speed of the image bearing member in the first collection operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Funatani, Takamitsu Soda
  • Patent number: 10452016
    Abstract: A drum unit usable with a process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum having an axis L1; and a coupling member having an axis L2 and connected to an end portion of the photosensitive drum, the coupling member being provided with a projection extending toward an end portion of the coupling member, wherein the coupling member is movable along the axis L2 between a first position, and a second position in which the projection is closer to the photosensitive drum than in the first position, wherein the projection is provided with a force receiving portion for receiving a rotational force and an outer surface facing away from the axis L2, and wherein at least a part of the outer surface is more distant from the axis L2 as is further from the photosensitive drum in a direction of the axis L1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigemi Kamoshida, Yu Fukasawa
  • Patent number: 10444702
    Abstract: A cartridge includes a coupling member, a transmitted member, and a rotary member. The transmitted member includes an accommodating portion configured to accommodate the coupling member, and a protruded portion integrally formed with an inner wall of the accommodating portion and protruding from the inner wall toward an inside of the accommodating portion. The coupling member includes a free end portion having a rotational force receiving portion that receives a rotational force, a connected portion connected to the transmitted member in such a manner that at least a part of the connected portion can be accommodated in the accommodating portion, and a recessed portion provided at the connected portion so that the protruded portion can enter. An inclination angle of a rotation axis of the coupling member relative to a rotation axis of the transmitted member is variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kensuke Sato, Tetsushi Uneme, Toshiki Fujino
  • Patent number: 10295955
    Abstract: A cartridge drive gear assembly for holding a drum coupling includes a drive gear having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface including inner projections which extend into the interior of the drive gear and includes at least two voids disposed on opposing sides of the inner projections, and at least one slot disposed in the inner surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Static Control Components, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald R. Huck, Lawrence Dale Lewis, William L. London, III
  • Patent number: 10241462
    Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a latent image bearer to rotate and bear a latent image, a charging device to charge the a latent image bearer, a developing device to develop the latent image with developer including toner and use a developing voltage including an AC component, and a lubricant applicator to apply lubricant onto a surface of the latent image bearer. An amount of the lubricant applied by the lubricant applicator onto the latent image bearer per centimeter in an axial direction of the latent image bearer is equal to or greater than 0.845 mg for a running distance of 1.0 kilometer of the latent image bearer, and a difference between a largest value and a smallest value of the developing voltage is in a range of 200 V to 400 V.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayoshi Nakayama, Takuma Higa, Masaki Sukesako, Masashi Tachi, Kazuaki Kamihara, Yuichi Aizawa, Tomohide Takenaka, Kohei Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 10088771
    Abstract: A developing device includes a storage container that stores a developer, a developer carrier that holds a developer and rotates to develop an image held on an image carrier, a transporting member that transports a developer, an outlet flow path that allows air inside the storage container to be discharged therethrough, and a partition disposed between an air inlet of the outlet flow path and the developer carrier, the partition having an end located at a level of or below a lower end of the developer carrier in a direction of gravity and above an upper end of the transporting member in the direction of gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shinichi Kuramoto
  • Patent number: 9983504
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including an image carrier on which a latent image is developed, a developing roller that is provided to face the image carrier to perform development for the latent image on the image carrier, an urging unit that urges the image carrier and the developing roller so that the image carrier and the developing roller approach each other, and a distance regulating unit that includes a viscoelastic body that is deformed according to a change of a distance between the image carrier and the developing roller, and regulates at least one of a maximum value of the distance between the image carrier and the developing roller and a minimum value of the distance between the image carrier and the developing roller so that the distance between the image carrier and the developing roller falls within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shota Makita, Shinichi Oba, Mutsumi Kikuchi, Nao Kato, Iori Togu
  • Patent number: 9952532
    Abstract: The developing apparatus includes: a developing roller rotatable in a first rotation direction; and a developer regulating member, wherein the developing roller includes: a substrate; an electro-conductive elastic layer on the substrate; and insulating domains on the electro-conductive elastic layer, wherein the electro-conductive elastic layer has a certain Martens hardness, the developing roller has a surface including surfaces of the insulating domains and a surface of the electro-conductive elastic layer, which is uncovered with the insulating domains at a certain area ratio, wherein the developer regulating member comprises: an abutting portion which is in contact with the surface of the developing roller, and a certain projection portion extending to an upstream side from the abutting portion in the first rotation direction, the developing apparatus has a certain gap between a side of the projection portion facing to the developing roller, and the surface of the developing roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryo Sugiyama, Yuji Sakurai, Yoshinobu Ogawa, Kazutoshi Ishida, Mitsuru Okuda
  • Patent number: 9217958
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first transfer unit that transfers a first image formed by first liquid containing a toner to a medium, a first supplier that has a first concave-convex pattern, has a first rotation axis, and rotates to supply the first liquid containing the toner to the first transfer unit, a second transfer unit that transfers a second image formed by second liquid containing a toner of which a color is the same as a color of the toner used in the first liquid to superimpose the second image on the first image transferred to the medium, and a second supplier that has a second concave-convex pattern, has a second rotation axis, and rotates to supply the second liquid containing the toner to the second transfer unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shigeki Washino
  • Patent number: 9091999
    Abstract: A cleaning device includes a supporting member; a first cleaning roller that contacts a member to be cleaned and that rotates, separates any matter to be removed that is stuck on the member to be cleaned from the member to be cleaned, and causes the matter to be removed to adhere to the first cleaning roller; a second cleaning roller that contacts the first cleaning roller and rotates, separates the matter to be removed that is stuck on the first cleaning roller from the first cleaning roller, and causes the matter to be removed to adhere to the second cleaning roller; a pair of first bearing members that rotatably support respective ends of the first cleaning roller, and are supported by the supporting member; and a pair of second bearing members that rotatably support respective ends of the second cleaning roller, and are supported by the first bearing members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiichiro Arikawa, Masahiro Ishino, Hiroko Furukata, Junichi Uchiyama
  • Publication number: 20150139701
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a casing; a developer carrier; and a receiving member. The casing includes a support portion. The receiving member receives a drive force from an external drive source to transmit the drive force to the developer carrier. The receiving member has a cylindrical configuration. The support portion rotatably supports the receiving member. The receiving member includes: a receiving portion; a transmission portion; and a fitting portion. The receiving portion has an outer edge in a radial direction of the receiving member. The transmission portion defines an outer circumferential edge of the receiving member. The fitting portion is positioned inward of the transmission portion in the radial direction and fitted with the support portion. The outer edge of the receiving portion is positioned inward of the transmission portion in the radial direction and outward of the fitting portion in the radial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Ryuji Noda, Takashi Shimizu, Keita Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20150117910
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a transmission mechanism transmitting a driving force in a transmission direction from a driving source to an output unit, the transmission mechanism including a movable gear configured to move between a transmission position where, when the driving source generates the driving force in a first rotational direction, and a clutch is in a rotating state, the movable gear is allowed to rotate without contacting a lock member, and a restriction position where, when the driving source generates the driving force in a second rotational direction, the clutch is in an idling state, the movable gear is restricted from rotating by contact with the lock member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro SUZUKI, Yohei HASHIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20150104223
    Abstract: The developer cartridge includes a developing roller, a supply roller, a gear, a first intermediate gear, a second intermediate gear, a developing roller gear, and a supply roller gear. The supply roller is in contact with the developing roller. The gear is configured to receive a drive force from an outside. The first intermediate gear is provided to a supply roller shaft such that the first intermediate gear is rotatable relative to the supply roller shaft. The developing roller gear is provided to a developing roller shaft such that the developing roller gear is unrotatable relative to the developing roller shaft. The developing roller gear is engaged with the second intermediate gear. The supply roller gear is provided to the supply roller shaft such that the supply roller gear is unrotatable relative to the supply roller shaft. The supply roller gear is engaged with the second intermediate gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Yasushi Okabe, Hideshi Nishiyama, Fumikazu Sato
  • Publication number: 20150104222
    Abstract: Aspects described herein relate to a cap for a toner cartridge. In one example, the cap may be configured to close a toner supply opening of the toner cartridge. According to one or more aspects, the cap may include a sealing or covering portion configured to cover the toner supply opening and a shaft portion for rotatably supporting a to-be-detected rotary member. The to-be-detected rotary member 56 is rotatably supported around and fitted onto the shaft portion. Therefore, even if a toner supply opening of a cartridge is provided in a sidewall of the housing on a side where the to-be-detected rotary member is provided, e.g., a left sidewall, the toner supply opening and the to-be-detected rotary member can be provided in such a manner as to overlap each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Motoaki Mushika, Tsutomu Suzuki, Yasuo Fukamachi, Fumikazu Sato, Hikaru Yoshizumi, Takahiro Nishimoto
  • Publication number: 20150055987
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearer and a regulation member. The developer bearer bears developer on a surface thereof. The developer bearer is rotatable forward and in reverse. The regulation member is disposed in contact or non-contact with the surface of the developer bearer to regulate amount of the developer on the developer bearer. In a non-development period, when the developer bearer rotates in a direction of reverse rotation opposite to a direction of forward rotation in which the developer bearer rotates in a development period, the developer bearer stops a series of rotating operations after the developer bearer rotates in the direction of forward rotation as a last rotating operation. A total rotation amount of forward rotation is set to be greater than a total rotation amount of reverse rotation in the series of rotating operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Yoshio SAKAGAWA, Shin Murayama, Yasuhide Matsuno
  • Patent number: 8942603
    Abstract: A developing device includes a static latent image supporting member having a photosensitive layer and being arranged to be rotatable; a developer supporting member arranged to be rotatable for developing a static latent image formed on the static latent image supporting member using developer to form an image; a developer supplying member arranged to contact with the developer supporting member and be rotatable for supplying developer; and a drive transmission unit disposed on a side of same end portions of the developer supporting member and the developer supplying member for rotating the developer supporting member and the developer supplying member in a same rotational direction. The developer supplying member is formed so that an outer diameter thereof on a side of the drive transmission unit becomes smaller than an outer diameter thereof on an opposite side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiharu Sato
  • Publication number: 20150016848
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer carrier that has a cylindrical shape and that rotates while carrying developer to supply the developer to an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, a container that contains the developer carrier, and a discharge-path forming member that is provided along an outer peripheral surface of the developer carrier, that covers a top portion of a path along which the outer peripheral surface moves, the top portion being located at an uppermost position of the path, and that forms a discharge path, through which air is discharged from inside of the container to outside of the container, between the discharge-path forming member and an inner wall surface of the container, the discharge path having an outlet located closer to the developer carrier than the top portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasutomo ISHII, Shinichi KURAMOTO, Hiroaki OKUMA, Ryota TOMISHI, Shinji OKUYAMA, Kiyohito HORII, Daisuke NAKAI, Ryo FUKUNO, Toshiaki SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20150016849
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a housing having first and second sidewalls through which respective end portions of a developing roller shaft are rotatably inserted; a developing gear, which is arranged outside of the first sidewall, and which is fixed to the end portion of the developing roller shaft; a transmission gear, which is arranged outside of the first sidewall, and which transmits driving force to the developing gear; a first cover member, which is attached to the first sidewall, and which covers the transmission gear; and a second cover member, which is attached to the first sidewall, and which covers the developing gear from an outer side in the axis line direction. The second cover member is formed separately from the first cover member and is arranged side by side with the first cover member outside of the first sidewall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Handa, Hiroki Mori
  • Publication number: 20150016850
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a housing having first and second sidewalls through which respective end portions of a developing roller shaft are rotatably inserted; a developing gear, which is arranged outside of the first sidewall, and which is fixed to the end portion of the developing roller shaft; a transmission gear, which is arranged outside of the first sidewall, and which transmits driving force to the developing gear; a first cover member, which is attached to the first sidewall, and which covers the transmission gear; and a second cover member, which is attached to the first sidewall, and which covers the developing gear from an outer side in the axis line direction. The second cover member is formed separately from the first cover member and is arranged side by side with the first cover member outside of the first sidewall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Handa, Hiroki Mori
  • Patent number: 8929782
    Abstract: A development device includes a developer bearer to carry by rotation developer to a development range facing a latent image bearer, and a developer regulator to adjust an amount of developer transported to the development range by the developer bearer. Multiple projections are formed in a surface of the developer bearer, and, in a direction in which the developer bearer rotates, a downstream end of each of the multiple projections is higher than an upstream end of the projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Endou, Yasuyuki Ishii, Tetsuro Hirota, Yoshiko Ogawa, Atsushi Kurokawa, Yuuji Ishikura, Hideyasu Seki
  • Patent number: 8923716
    Abstract: A transfer device includes an image carrier that carries a toner image; a nip forming member that forms a transfer nip between the nip forming member and the image carrier by contacting with a front surface of the image carrier; and a transfer bias applying unit that applies a transfer bias, thereby transferring the toner image carried on the image carrier to a recording material at a position of the transfer nip. The transfer bias applying unit applies the transfer bias in which an AC component and a DC component are superimposed and in which a peak-to-peak voltage of the AC component is larger than 6 times an absolute value of a voltage of the DC component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Keigo Nakamura, Haruo Iimura, Shinji Aoki, Yasuhiko Ogino
  • Patent number: 8923735
    Abstract: A toner hearing member includes: an electric conductive support; an insulating layer provided on the electric conductive support; a plurality of electrodes located on the insulating layer so that each electrode is separated from one another with a certain space; and a surface layer covering the insulating layer and the electrodes, wherein the surface layer contains a crosslink reaction product of a fluororesin, or a crosslink reaction product of a (meth)acrylate compound, or both thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Yamashita, Shohei Gohda
  • Patent number: 8923736
    Abstract: A developing unit includes a toner storage portion containing toner and including a toner supply member, a development portion disposed above the toner storage portion and containing the toner supplied from the toner storage portion by the toner supply member, and including a developing roller and a supply roller to supply the toner to the developing roller, and a partition wall to divide the toner storage portion and the development portion, and including an opening portion disposed under the lowest portion of the supply roller and forming a path of the toner supplied from the toner storage portion to the development portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-hong Kim, Joo-hwan Noh, Young-su Lee, Yun-kyu Sim
  • Patent number: 8923723
    Abstract: The developing device of the present disclosure comprises a developing container, toner carrier, developer carrier, regulating member, and air outflow channel. The developing container accommodates a two-component developer. The toner carrier supplies toner to an image carrier. The developer carrier rotates so that a surface facing the toner carrier moves in the opposite direction of the toner carrier, and a toner layer is formed on the toner carrier. The regulating member regulates the amount of developer carried on the developer carrier. The air outflow channel communicates an airflow outlet formed in the top end of the developing container facing the toner carrier with the interior of a duct placed above the developing container, and the air outflow channel is inclined downstream in the rotational direction of the toner carrier relative to a straight line passing through the rotational axis center of the toner carrier and the airflow outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Hirakawa, Eiji Tatsumi, Kenshi Matsui
  • Patent number: 8913928
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer supporting member having an elastic layer and a surface layer covering the elastic layer for supporting developer; and a developer layer regulating member arranged to abut against the surface layer for regulating a layer thickness of the developer on the surface layer. The surface layer contains at least carbon black. The developer supporting member is configured so that the following equation (1) is satisfied when the surface layer has a dynamic friction coefficient ? between 0.4 and 0.9 (0.4???0.9) and a ten-point average roughness Rz (?m) between 2 ?m and 6 ?m (2?Rz?6): 2?C?0.5×Rz+3??(1) where C is a content of the carbon black (weight parts relative to the surface layer of 100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: OKI Data Corporation
    Inventor: Junichi Kawashima
  • Patent number: 8892010
    Abstract: A developing device includes two developer-transporting members, a container, and four gap retainers. The container contains a developer and rotatably supports rotation shafts of the developer-transporting members using side walls located on both end portions. The gap retainers are supported at end portions of the developer-transporting members and are brought into contact with a subjected-to-development member or a supporter to maintain a gap between the subjected-to-development member and each developer-transporting member. A force with which the two developer-transporting members are pressed toward the subjected-to-development member is applied to the container and all the gap retainers are brought into contact with the subjected-to-development member or the supporter, while axes of rotation of the two developer-transporting members are allowed to become non-parallel with an axis of rotation of the subjected-to-development member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Okoshi, Keisuke Kubo
  • Publication number: 20140334852
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive body unit including a photosensitive body, at least one developing unit including a developing roller that is configured to contact the photosensitive body or to be separated from the photosensitive body, and a press device to press the developing unit in order to contact or separate the photosensitive body and the developing roller to/from each other. The press device includes at least one lever configured to rotate about an end portion thereof and press the developing unit by rotation, and at least one cam configured to allow the lever to rotate by rotation thereof. Since the lever gradually rotates by rotation of the cam, force applied to the developing unit through the lever is also gradually and smoothly increased or decreased. Accordingly, shock, which may occur by rough movement of the developing unit, is remarkably reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Min Keun SONG
  • Publication number: 20140314444
    Abstract: An interval securing member configured to maintain a distance between an image bearing member and a developer bearing member includes a first image bearing member side contact portion that contacts with the image bearing member upstream in a rotation direction of the image bearing member from a nearest position where the distance between the image bearing member and the developer bearing member becomes the smallest, a first developing side contact portion that contacts with the developer bearing member upstream from the nearest position in a rotation direction of the developer bearing member, a second image bearing member side contact portion that contacts with the image bearing member downstream from the nearest position in the rotation direction of the image bearing member, and a second developing side contact portion that contacts with the developer bearing member downstream from the nearest position in the rotation direction of the developer bearing member
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroki Ogino
  • Publication number: 20140314452
    Abstract: An interval guarantee member including: a first image bearing member side sliding portion in sliding-contact with the image bearing member; a first developing side sliding portion in sliding-contact with the developer bearing member; a second image bearing member side sliding contact portion in sliding-contact with the image bearing member; and a second developing side sliding contact portion in sliding-contact with the developer bearing member, wherein the distance between the first image bearing member side sliding contact portion and the first developing side sliding contact portion is longer than that between the second image bearing member side sliding contact portion and the second developing side sliding contact portion, and the first image bearing member side sliding contact portion and the first developer side sliding contact portion come into contact with the image bearing member and the developer bearing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomonori Mori, Hiroki Ogino
  • Patent number: 8851139
    Abstract: A paper stripping member is removably supported by a supporting member disposed facing a circumferential surface of a photoreceptor drum, and strips a paper sheet off the circumferential surface. The paper stripping member includes an acute-shaped stripping nail, a holding member and a cover member. The holding member is configured removably from the supporting member, and holds the stripping nail in such a manner that the stripping nail extends toward the circumferential surface. The cover member is configured removably from the holding member, and covers at least part of the stripping nail in the extending direction of the stripping nail in a state where the cover member is attached to the holding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hirokazu Yamauchi
  • Publication number: 20140294441
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus may include a photosensitive member, a developing device including a developing roller, pressing members configured to engage with the developing device and springs configured to urge the pressing members. In some examples, each of the pressing members may be configured to contact and move the developing device between various positions based on the urging of the springs. Additionally or alternatively, various ends of a contact surface of the developing roller configured to contact developer may be disposed relative to an axis line of the developing roller and pressing surfaces of the pressing members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoh Nishimura, Shougo Sato
  • Publication number: 20140294433
    Abstract: A developing roller configured to carry developer and extending in an axial direction includes: a first rotation shaft; a second rotation shaft; a rubber body portion; a first cylindrical rubber portion; and a second cylindrical rubber portion. The body portion has a first side and a second side opposite to the first side in the axial direction. The first cylindrical rubber portion is disposed on the first side. The first rotation shaft is configured to be fitted with the first cylindrical rubber portion. The second cylindrical rubber portion is disposed on the second side. The second rotation shaft is configured to be fitted with the second cylindrical rubber portion. The rubber body portion is configured to be deformable more than the first cylindrical rubber portion and the second cylindrical rubber portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masashi IMAI, Marika OGISO
  • Publication number: 20140294434
    Abstract: A developing roller configured to carry developer and extending in an axial direction includes: a hollow cylindrical rubber portion; and a shaft. The hollow cylindrical rubber portion has axial end faces. The shaft extends through the hollow cylindrical rubber portion and has a shaft portion positioned inward of the axial end faces of the hollow cylindrical rubber portion in the axial direction. The shaft portion has an axially middle portion and axial end portions positioned outward of the axially middle portion in the axial direction. The axially middle portion has an outer diameter smaller than that of each of the axial end portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masashi IMAI, Marika OGISO
  • Publication number: 20140294450
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a developing roller main body; a developing roller shaft, which is arranged along a central axis line of the developing roller main body, and which protrudes from both end portions of the developing roller main body along the central axis line, wherein the developing roller shaft includes a small diameter part located at a first end portion in the axis line direction, the small diameter part having an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of a second end portion opposite to the first end portion; and a developing gear that is fixed to the first end portion of the developing roller shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi HANDA, Hiroki MORI
  • Patent number: 8831474
    Abstract: A developing roller including a housing containing toner; and a developing roller installed in the housing and supplies the toner to an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoconductor, the developing roller including a cylindrical unit in the form of a hollow pipe and a power transmission unit connected to one end of the cylindrical unit and connected to a power transmission member for rotating the developing roller. Both ends of the cylindrical unit are supported by the housing and the power transmission unit is not restricted by the housing. Both ends of the cylindrical unit are supported by the housing and the power transmission unit is not restricted by the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong-hwa Joo, In-cheol Jeon, Woong-yong Choi, Ki-jae Do, Jun-ho Kim, Sang-jin Park, Jong-uk Kim