Having Filtering (e.g., Ozone Removal) Patents (Class 399/93)
  • Publication number: 20140294427
    Abstract: A toner collector includes a housing, an inlet port, a fan, a discharge port, a first upstream side filter, and a downstream side filter. The inlet port is opened in the housing. The fan is disposed in the housing, and intakes and discharges the airflow having flowed in through the inlet port. The discharge port is provided to the fan. The first upstream side filter is disposed on an upstream side of the fan in a direction of the airflow, and captures the toner and allows passage of the airflow. The downstream side filter is disposed on a downstream side of the discharge port in the direction of the airflow, and allows passage of the airflow discharged from the discharge port and captures the toner. The downstream side filter has a larger cross-sectional area of a cross section perpendicular to the direction of the airflow than the discharge port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Goda, Hiroshi Inui, Koji Izumi, Naoki Mizutani
  • Publication number: 20140241750
    Abstract: A filter on top output bin of a printer is consisted of a box wherein a chamber inside of a box, filtering exit on the top of the box, sealing strips sealed along the edge of the filtering exit, filtering entrance under the box, anti-paper jam strips bored on two literal side of the filtering entrance, and an opening bored on a literal side of the box, a filtering net inside of the box is surrounded by frames, and electrostatic filter attached on the top of the filtering net. The filter can be placed on the top output bin on the printer, or be supported the box by having flexible holder adapted to a variety printer. The output papers won't be impacted into the filtering net by having anti-paper jam strips therefore filter can absorb toner emissions and odor so as to clear the air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventor: Ruei-Ching Teng
  • Patent number: 8811851
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing, an image forming section, an air passage that is disposed so as to be movable between a first position and a second position, the air passage having an interior through which air is allowed to flow while the air passage is in the first position, a trapping member that is mountably and dismountably disposed in the interior of the air passage, the trapping member trapping an object contained in the air flowing through the interior of the air passage, and a mounting system that mounts the trapping member, which is not completely mounted in the interior of the air passage, in the interior of the air passage by an operation of moving the air passage from the second position to the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Otsuka, Hajime Yoshii, Masayuki Yamamiya, Teruyo Ryuzaki
  • Patent number: 8798494
    Abstract: A filter on top output bin of a printer is consisted of a box wherein a chamber inside of a box, filtering exit on the top of the box, sealing strips sealed along the edge of the filtering exit, filtering entrance under the box, anti-paper jam strips bored on two literal side of the filtering entrance, and an opening bored on a literal side of the box, a filtering net inside of the box is surrounded by frames, and electrostatic filter attached on the top of the filtering net. The filter can be placed on the top output bin on the printer, or be supported the box by having flexible holder adapted to a variety printer. The output papers won't be impacted into the filtering net by having anti-paper jam strips therefore filter can absorb toner emissions and odor so as to clear the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Inventor: Ruei-Ching Teng
  • Patent number: 8787787
    Abstract: A charger according to an embodiment includes: a discharge member which faces an image carrier; a case which supports the discharge member and comprises an air hole in a first surface; a cleaner which contacts with the discharge member; and a cleaner support member which comprises an inlet port and an outlet port connecting with the air hole and a ventilation unit, supports the cleaner, and slides in relation to the case on the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20140186069
    Abstract: A charging device includes a discharging electrode, grid electrode, pair of shielding electrodes, frame, airflow-generating electrode, and impurity-removing member. The discharging electrode produces a corona discharge to charge a surface of photosensitive member. A first voltage is applied to the grid electrode. The discharging electrode is positioned between the shielding electrodes. The frame includes a pair of side walls confronting with each other in the moving direction. The discharging electrode and the pair of shielding electrodes are positioned between the side walls. The airflow-generating electrode is disposed at a position opposite to the discharging electrode with respect to the grid electrode. The airflow-generating electrode is applied with a second voltage lower than the first voltage. The impurity-removing member is provided on an inner surface of the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hidekazu Nogami, Masato Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20140161482
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section, a paper supply section, a housing member and an ion generating unit. The housing member is disposed at least below the image forming section, and gives the same shape in plane view as the image forming section and the paper supply section. The ion generating unit is contained in the housing member. The ion generating unit includes a duct forming a pathway of flow to guide the air that is sucked in from outside of the housing member again to outside of the housing member, an ion generating device disposed inside the duct, and a fan for generating an air current in the duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: YUHI AKAGAWA, SHINJI SUGITA
  • Publication number: 20140147162
    Abstract: A collecting member that collects suspended particles vaporized from wax includes a flow path and a space, where gas passes along the flow path. The space is connected to the flow path through an opening formed in the flow path. The space extends upstream with respect to a direction of travel of the gas that passes along the flow path. By virtue of this structure, dew condensation in a fixing unit is suppressed while efficiently collecting the suspended particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Atsushi Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 8687998
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section, a paper supply section, a housing member and an ion generating unit. The housing member is disposed at least below the image forming section, and gives the same shape in plane view as the image forming section and the paper supply section. The ion generating unit is contained in the housing member. The ion generating unit includes a duct forming a pathway of flow to guide the air that is sucked in from outside of the housing member again to outside of the housing member, an ion generating device disposed inside the duct, and a fan for generating an air current in the duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuhi Akagawa, Shinji Sugita
  • Patent number: 8682202
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a photo conductor; a charging unit; a plurality of fans; an information acquiring unit acquiring at least any one of print process information, which is information on a print process, or apparatus information, which is information on the internal environment of the apparatus; a reference determining unit that determines whether the print process or the internal environment of the apparatus satisfies the reference by using the print process information or the apparatus information; and an operation control unit including a first control mode that operates and stops the fans and the fixing device when the reference determining unit determines that the reference is not satisfied, and a second control mode that is performed before the first control mode is performed and stops the fixing device while driving the fans, when the reference determining unit determines that the reference is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasunari Miyazaki, Tomoyuki Kato
  • Patent number: 8660458
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first air flow duct for guiding air including flying toner particles created in the image forming apparatus, a second air flow duct having a fan for exhausting cleaned air to an exterior of the image forming apparatus, and a toner particle collecting unit arranged between the first air flow duct and the second air flow duct. The toner particle collecting unit includes a cyclone separator including a cyclone main body, an air flow inlet, and an outlet tube. The cyclone separator centrifuges the toner particles from the air including toner particles and exhausts the cleaned air through the outlet tube. The apparatus further includes a toner particle collection box, mounted under the cyclone separator, and an air channel section for guiding the cleaned air from the outlet tube to the second air flow duct. The toner particle collecting unit is detachable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Osamu Akiyama
  • Patent number: 8639149
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an exhaust fan, an exhaust duct, and a filter. The exhaust duct is configured to discharge a gas in an apparatus body to the outside thereof by using an airflow generated by the rotation of the exhaust fan. The filter is provided in a pathway of an airflow flowing through the exhaust duct, arranged substantially parallel to a ventilation direction of the exhaust duct, and configured to reduce chemical substances contained in the gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Gakushi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8611779
    Abstract: A smell dilution unit includes: a blower fan; a duct which guides an external air introduced from the blower fan; and a deodorization unit which contains a smell masking agent and allows an odor of the smell masking agent to be mixed with the external air introduced from the blower fan. Since the deodorization unit containing the smell masking agent, which is replaceable, is installed in the duct, the smell dilution unit may dilute an unpleasant smell generated during printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong-kyun Jung, Heung-suo Park, Taek-yong Jung, Chang-woo Jung
  • Publication number: 20130322914
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section, a paper supply section, a housing member and an ion generating unit. The housing member is disposed at least below the image forming section, and gives the same shape in plane view as the image forming section and the paper supply section. The ion generating unit is contained in the housing member. The ion generating unit includes a duct forming a pathway of flow to guide the air that is sucked in from outside of the housing member again to outside of the housing member, an ion generating device disposed inside the duct, and a fan for generating an air current in the duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: YUHI AKAGAWA, SHINJI SUGITA
  • Patent number: 8571436
    Abstract: A gas transfer unit includes a transfer path forming member; a gas transferring member; and a gas purifying member as defined herein, and in a case where exhaustion is performed through the first exhaust port, the transfer vanes are rotated at a first rotation number, and, in a case where exhaustion is performed through the second exhaust port, the transfer vanes are rotated at a second rotation number which is higher than the first rotation number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Yamamiya
  • Patent number: 8554104
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing member for fixing an image onto a sheet in pressure contact with an outer surface thereof; and a heating source for heating the fixing member. A duct is provided in a position facing the fixing member with respect to a width direction perpendicular to a circumferential direction of the fixing member and which has an inlet for taking in fine particles generated from the fixing member. A filter member is provided inside the duct and which can trap the fine particles which flow through the duct. An exhaust fan is provided in the duct upstream or downstream from the filter member for generating an air flow going from the inlet to an outlet of the duct. A control section controls the operation of the exhaust fan according to initial burst conditions under which the fine particles are emitted from the fixing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Atsuhiko Shimoyama, Shoichi Yoshikawa, Shigeru Tashiro, Noboru Oomoto, Yoshiyuki Toso, Tou Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 8554103
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cylindrical or annular fixing member, an outer surface of which is brought into pressure contact with a conveyed sheet to fix an image onto the sheet; and a heating source for heating the fixing member to a specified target temperature. The fixing member includes a cylindrical or annular base material, a rubber layer with elasticity, and an outer layer for aiding release of the sheet. An end portion of the rubber layer and an end portion of the outer layer are each positioned inner than an end portion of the base material with respect to a width direction perpendicular to a circumferential direction on the base material. A filter member capable of trapping ultra fine particles generated from the rubber layer is provided on the base material in a position facing the end portion of the rubber layer along the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Noboru Oomoto, Shoichi Yoshikawa, Shigeru Tashiro, Atsuhiko Shimoyama, Yoshiyuki Toso, Tou Matsunaga
  • Publication number: 20130243471
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus having; a fusing unit that heats and presses a recording medium with an image transferred thereto, thereby fixing the image thereon; a first duct section in which air that contains emissions generated by the fusing unit flows; an ion generation unit provided away from the first duct section to generate ions; a second duct section in which air that contains the ions generated by the ion generation unit flows; a third duct section connected to the first and second duct sections, such that air flows in from the first and second duct sections, whereby the emissions are charged by the ions; a filter unit provided in the third duct section to trap the charged emissions; and a blowing unit that generates air flows from the connections with the first and second duct sections in the third duct section toward the filter unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Tomofumi IKEDA, Shoichi Yoshikawa, Kuniya Matsuura, Masayuki Satou, Ryo Oshima, Noboru Oomoto
  • Patent number: 8509647
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section, a paper supply section, a housing member and an ion generating unit. The housing member is disposed at least below the image forming section, and has the same shape in plane view as the image forming section and the paper supply section. The ion generating unit is contained in the housing member. The ion generating unit includes a duct forming a pathway that guides a flow of air that is sucked in from outside of the housing member, and that is discharged back outside of the housing member. An ion generating device is disposed inside the duct, along with a fan for generating an air current in the duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuhi Akagawa, Shinji Sugita
  • Patent number: 8509646
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus such as a color printer including a fixing device and air supply and exhaust members, capable of effectively exhausting hot, moist air and preventing condensation from forming in and around a sheet conveyance path. The image forming apparatus includes an exhaust fan mounted at a predetermined angle to the sheet conveyance path above the fixing device, with an exhaust airflow path of the exhaust fan narrowing toward a downstream side in the air exhaust direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Keisuke Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8498550
    Abstract: A copier comprises a housing, an image reading section, an image forming section, a paper discharge section, a paper supply section and an ion generating unit. The ion generating unit is disposed below the paper discharge section and above the paper supply section. The ion generating unit includes a duct that defines a path of flow guiding air sucked from outside of the housing to outside of the housing again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuhi Akagawa
  • Patent number: 8494401
    Abstract: An Active Ozone Scrubber includes a low profile thick film device. The low profile thick film device is composed of films layered upon each other and built on a ceramic substrate. Each layer is screened upon the next with the active elements strategically placed in order to develop corona when energized. When activated, the corona developed within the channels of the upper layer creates heat and accelerates the chemical reaction with the ozone, thereby reducing the amount of ozone generated by a conventional charge/discharge system before it is exhausted by a machine into the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A Doody, Gerald F Daloia, Heiko Rommelmann
  • Patent number: 8488989
    Abstract: An image forming device includes a main casing, a process unit, a fixing unit, and a duct. The duct is disposed between the process unit and the fixing unit with respect to a direction in which a recording medium is conveyed. The duct defines an exhaust channel for exhausting air out of the main casing. The duct includes at least two partitioning walls extending in a second direction intersecting with the first direction, and is formed with at least three inlet ports partitioned by the partitioning walls in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masamitsu Ukai
  • Patent number: 8478156
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing member having a cylindrical or annular shape for fixing an image onto a sheet which is in pressure contact with an outer surface thereof; and a heating source for heating the fixing member to a fixing temperature. A duct is provided in a position facing the fixing member with respect to a width direction perpendicular to a circumferential direction of the fixing member and which has an inlet for taking in fine particles generated from the fixing member. An exhaust fan is provided inside the duct or in an outlet of the duct for generating an air flow going from the inlet to the outlet of the duct. A first filter member is provided upstream or downstream from the exhaust fan inside the duct and the first filter can trap the fine particles which flow through the duct getting on the air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc
    Inventors: Atsuhiko Shimoyama, Tooru Watanabe, Shigeru Tashiro, Noboru Oomoto, Yoshiyuki Toso, Tou Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 8447206
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a recording medium, wherein a first gas is generated during image formation, and a fixing unit configured to fix the image onto the recording medium by heat, wherein a second gas is generated during image fixing by heat. A body includes a chamber and an opening through which the first gas and the second gas are guided into the chamber to be mixed into a gas mixture. A fan discharges the gas mixture from the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koyo Yamamoto, Hidekazu Nogami
  • Publication number: 20130101311
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing, an image forming section, an air passage that is disposed so as to be movable between a first position and a second position, the air passage having an interior through which air is allowed to flow while the air passage is in the first position, a trapping member that is mountably and dismountably disposed in the interior of the air passage, the trapping member trapping an object contained in the air flowing through the interior of the air passage, and a mounting system that mounts the trapping member, which is not completely mounted in the interior of the air passage, in the interior of the air passage by an operation of moving the air passage from the second position to the first position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuji OTSUKA, Hajime YOSHII, Masayuki YAMAMIYA, Teruyo RYUZAKI
  • Patent number: 8422906
    Abstract: An image formation device includes an image carrier that holds developed images, a transfer body that transfers the developed images held by the image carrier to a recording medium, a cleaning unit that cleans developer on the transfer body, a developer container in which the developer removed by the cleaning unit is deposited, and a sucking unit that sucks the developer leaking from the developer container, the transfer body having at least a rotating member of which both ends are rotatably supported, and the sucking unit having a suction hole opening at least at one end of the rotating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Komiyama, Masaaki Takahashi, Kazuyuki Kouda, Kazutoshi Sugitani
  • Patent number: 8406650
    Abstract: A developing device is disclosed which includes a developing tank, a developing roller, a carrying member, and a filter. Rotation of the developing roller causes a first airflow directed from the outside of the developing tank through an air path to the inside of the developing tank. Rotation of the carrying member causes a second airflow directed from below in an upward direction inside the developing tank. Collision between the first airflow and the second airflow causes a third airflow directed from the inside of the developing tank through the filter to the outside of the developing tank and further from the outside through the filter back to the inside of the developing tank. This arrangement prevents not only filter clogging but also a toner leak to the outside of the developing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hisashi Kunihiro, Jun Yamaguchi, Shuichi Akedo, Koichi Mihara
  • Publication number: 20130064567
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an imaging unit, a ventilator unit, and an electrical conductor. The imaging unit incorporates electrically powered equipment to which power is supplied from an external voltage source. The ventilator unit is connectable with the imaging unit to ventilate the imaging unit. The ventilator unit includes a fan and an air duct. The fan generates an airflow. The air duct extends from the fan to direct the airflow between the fan and the imaging unit. The electrical conductor is disposed within the air duct to electrically connect the imaging unit and the voltage source upon connection of the ventilator unit with the imaging unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shiro AKAMA, Yuki SATO, Nobuhiro SHIMA
  • Publication number: 20130058677
    Abstract: An Active Ozone Scrubber includes a low profile thick film device. The low profile thick film device is composed of films layered upon each other and built on a ceramic substrate. Each layer is screened upon the next with the active elements strategically placed in order to develop corona when energized. When activated, the corona developed within the channels of the upper layer creates heat and accelerates the chemical reaction with the ozone, thereby reducing the amount of Ozone ozone generated by a conventional charge/discharge system before it is exhausted by a machine into the environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael A Doody, Gerald F. Daloia, Heiko Rommelmann
  • Publication number: 20130051836
    Abstract: A charger according to an embodiment includes: a discharge member which faces an image carrier; a case which supports the discharge member and comprises an air hole in a first surface; a cleaner which contacts with the discharge member; and a cleaner support member which comprises an inlet port and an outlet port connecting with the air hole and a ventilation unit, supports the cleaner, and slides in relation to the case on the first surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicants: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Yoshiaki TANAKA
  • Patent number: 8369747
    Abstract: A charging device is provided. A charging device includes a charging section and a discharge product adsorption removal section. The charging section includes a shield case having a shield opening, a discharge electrode, and a rotation shaft which is parallel to a rotation axis of a photoreceptor. The discharge product adsorption removal section has an adsorption layer that adsorbs a discharge product and is disposed downward in a vertical direction of the photoreceptor. The charging section is displaceable about an axial line of the rotation shaft from a position where the shield opening opposes to the photoreceptor to a position where the shield opening opposes to the discharge product adsorption removal section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaki Ueji, Hiroo Naoi, Toshiaki Ino, Katsuya Takano, Yasuhiro Nishimura
  • Patent number: 8351815
    Abstract: An apparatus for reducing vapor emissions from a printer may include a treatment chamber having an inlet and an outlet. While the printer is operating, vapor-laden air may enter the treatment chamber via the inlet and treated air may exit the treatment chamber via the outlet. While the printer is idle, the inlet and outlet can be sealed to prevent vapors located in the treatment chamber from being emitted to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Boaz Eden, Danny Gerstenfeld, Moshe Peles, Peter Nedelin
  • Patent number: 8351816
    Abstract: An ion generating unit comprises a duct, an ion generating device, a mounting plate and a fan. The duct is configured so as to have an air intake port at a first end and so as to have an exhaust port at a second end. The ion generating device is disposed inside the duct. The mounting plate is configured so as to serve to attach the duct to the housing. The mounting plate has an opening aperture communicating with the duct, and is configured so as to be attachable to the housing and so as to function as a part of the housing when it is attached to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuhi Akagawa
  • Publication number: 20120243899
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a duct, a fan, a filter, and a guide duct. Air flows through the duct from an intake port in a front face of an apparatus body toward a first exhaust port in a rear face of the apparatus body. The fan takes in and exhausts the air via the intake port and the first exhaust port. The filter removes a foreign object from the air. The guide duct is provided at the rear face and covers one of the first exhaust port and a second exhaust port from which exhaust air containing an odorous component is exhausted. The second exhaust port is provided at the rear face. The guide duct guides the exhaust air from one of the exhaust ports upward in a vertical direction while keeping the exhaust air separated from a passage of the exhaust air from the other exhaust port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Teruyo RYUZAKI
  • Patent number: 8238779
    Abstract: A color multifunction printer of the present invention includes a volatile chemical substance catching device, provided in an exhaust duct provided above a fixing unit, which generates an electric field in an atmosphere with use of an electric-field generating and catching member, which attracts volatile chemical substances contained in the atmosphere to a surface of the electric-field generating and catching member by the action of the electric field, and which catches the volatile chemical substances. This makes it possible to realize a volatile chemical substance catching device and an electronic apparatus that hardly suffer from aged deterioration in performance and can catch volatile chemical compounds such as VOCs and odors over a long period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Doshoda, Toshiaki Kagawa
  • Patent number: 8228513
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording-medium stacking portion, a recording-medium ejection portion and a suctioning/exhausting unit. The recording-medium stacking portion is provided in a body portion or an upper portion of the image forming apparatus. The recording-medium stacking portion stacks recording media on which respective images are formed thereon. The recording-medium ejection portion ejects the recording medium in a recording-medium ejection direction to the recording-medium stacking portion. The suctioning/exhausting unit is located with respect to the recording-medium stacking portion in a direction, which is perpendicular to the recording-medium ejection direction and parallel to a surface of the recording medium staked on the recording-medium stacking portion. The suctioning/exhausting unit suctions air emitted from the recording medium, which is ejected from the recording-medium ejection portion onto the recording-medium stacking portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasunori Saito
  • Publication number: 20120177397
    Abstract: A method for removing contaminants generated by an electrophotographic apparatus includes placing a uniform charge on a photoconductor; writing an image on the charged photoconductor; developing the image with toner; transferring the toned image to a receiver; fusing the image to the receiver; and removing airborne contaminants from the electrophotographic apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Pitas, Gary P. Lawniczak, Matthias H. Regelsberger
  • Publication number: 20120177396
    Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus includes a photoconductor; a charging device for placing a uniform charge on the photoconductor; an image writer for writing an image on the charged photoconductor; a developer station for developing the image with toner; a transfer station for transferring the toned image to a receiver; a fixing unit for fusing the image to the receiver; environmental control system for removing airborne contaminants from the electrophotographic apparatus; the environmental control system includes a catalytic filter; and ozone is added prior to the catalytic filter when the contaminant is formaldehyde.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Pitas, Gary P. Lawniczak, Matthias H. Regelsberger
  • Patent number: 8218157
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording-medium stacking portion, a recording-medium ejection portion and a suctioning/exhausting unit. The recording-medium stacking portion is provided in a body portion or an upper portion of the image forming apparatus. The recording-medium stacking portion stacks recording media on which respective images are formed thereon. The recording-medium ejection portion ejects the recording medium in a recording-medium ejection direction to the recording-medium stacking portion. The suctioning/exhausting unit is located with respect to the recording-medium stacking portion in a direction, which is perpendicular to the recording-medium ejection direction and parallel to a surface of the recording medium stacked on the recording-medium stacking portion. The suctioning/exhausting unit suctions air emitted from the recording medium, which is ejected from the recording-medium ejection portion onto the recording-medium stacking portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasunori Saito
  • Patent number: 8180245
    Abstract: This is a toner control system for use in a cleaning station of a xerographic marking apparatus. A sensor is located in the air conduits of the system to measure airflow throughout the system. The sensor is in contact with a controller that is configured to adjust the blower speed to normal conditions (i.e. sea level and clean filter conditions) as the flow rate is reduced due to normal apparatus use. The system has an air blower(s), a filter(s), air conduits, a sensor(s) and a controller(s) in communication with the sensor(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Ali R Dergham, Francesco Zirilli, Glenn Bennett, Jorge Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 8170432
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearing member on which a toner image is to be formed; a transferring device for transferring the toner image onto a transfer material at a transfer position; a separating member, disposed downstream of the transfer position with respect to a rotational direction of the image bearing member so as to contact the image bearing member, for separating the transfer material from the image bearing member; a density detecting device, disposed downstream of the transfer position with respect to the rotational direction of the image bearing member, for detecting a density of an image for density detection formed on the image bearing member; and an air moving device for moving air in the image forming apparatus in a direction of a rotation shaft of the image bearing member; wherein the density detecting device is disposed upstream of the separating member with respect to a direction of air movement by the air moving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasushi Takeuchi
  • Publication number: 20120070182
    Abstract: A smell dilution unit includes: a blower fan; a duct which guides an external air introduced from the blower fan; and a deodorization unit which contains a smell masking agent and allows an odor of the smell masking agent to be mixed with the external air introduced from the blower fan. Since the deodorization unit containing the smell masking agent, which is replaceable, is installed in the duct, the smell dilution unit may dilute an unpleasant smell generated during printing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yong-kyun Jung, Heung-sup Park, Taek-yong Jung, Chang-woo Jung
  • Patent number: 8139995
    Abstract: To remove also VOC gas generated from the discharged sheets, an image forming apparatus comprises an image forming unit which forms an image on a sheet; a tray on which sheets on which images are formed by the image forming unit are stacked; a suction device which sucks air from the surrounding space of sheets stacked up on the tray; and a VOC removing unit which removes VOC contained in the air sucked by the sucking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Fujita, Hiromasa Katayama, Koji Nojima, Kiyoshi Oyama
  • Patent number: 8116654
    Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a heating rotor which heats a toner image while nipping and conveying a recording material on which the toner image is borne, a fan which cools the heating rotor, a blowing port which is arranged facing the heating rotor and through which blowing air passes from the fan toward the heating rotor, and a shutter which is movable in the longitudinal direction of the heating rotor so as to change opening area of the blowing port, wherein the shutter is moved in the longitudinal direction while rotating the fan after heating operation of the heating rotor to the toner image is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryo Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8090286
    Abstract: In a toner supply container, an air blowing mechanism includes an air blowing fan, an air blowing tube, and an air inlet coupling member. The air inlet coupling member is in close contact with a side wall of the toner container around an air inlet, and includes a skirt made of elastic silicone rubber that covers a joint part of the air blowing tube and the air inlet. An exhaust mechanism includes an exhaust outlet coupling member, an exhaust tube, and an air cleaning filter. The exhaust outlet coupling member is in close contact with an upper wall of the toner container around an exhaust outlet, and includes a skirt made of elastic silicone rubber that covers a joint part of the exhaust tube and the air outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiaki Ino, Shinya Mimura, Yasuhiro Nishimura, Masahiro Seki
  • Patent number: 8052781
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a device that can include a waste collector, a system that transports waste stream of particle matter from a housing, a system that transports a waste stream of effluent and particle matter from the housing, and a separator that receives the waste streams and collects the particle matter into the waste collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan B. Hunter, Keith M. Wasula, James J. Spence
  • Publication number: 20110262174
    Abstract: A developing device includes: a developing roller that faces an image carrier at a development position; a housing that supports the developing roller, supplies a developer to the developing roller and includes an opening portion formed in a wall surface of the housing; and a pipe that communicates with the opening portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicants: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Eiji GUMBE
  • Patent number: 8023855
    Abstract: A development device includes a developer carrier configured to carry developer and disposed in a development case, partly exposed from an opening of the development case facing an image carrier, a developer-transporting member configured to transport the developer to the developer carrier, and a discharging member housing a discharging space including a communicating path connecting to an area where the developer carrier faces the developer-transporting member, from which air is discharged into the discharging space, and a discharging port that opens in a longitudinal direction of the developer-transporting member, from which air is discharged from the discharging space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
    Inventors: Yoshio Hattori, Keiichi Yoshida, Hiroyuki Uenishi
  • Publication number: 20110217066
    Abstract: An image forming device includes a main casing, a process unit, a fixing unit, and a duct. The duct is disposed between the process unit and the fixing unit with respect to a direction in which a recording medium is conveyed. The duct defines an exhaust channel for exhausting air out of the main casing. The duct includes at least two partitioning walls extending in a second direction intersecting with the first direction, and is formed with at least three inlet ports partitioned by the partitioning walls in the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masamitsu UKAI