Humidity Patents (Class 399/97)
  • Patent number: 9986121
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image reading unit, a fixing unit, a time setting unit, and a control unit. The image reading unit moves a running body having an onboard optical system. The fixing unit heats toner transferred onto the print medium and applies pressure on the heated toner with respect to the print medium to fix the toner. The time setting unit sets an estimated time when use of the image forming apparatus starts. The control unit controls the image reading unit, the fixing unit, and the time setting unit. The control unit, prior to the set estimated start-of-use time by a predetermined period set in advance, activates the image reading unit to detect whether condensation has occurred in the optical system, heats the fixing unit in response to a detection of occurrence of condensation, and stops the heating before the estimated start-of-use time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Shinya Matsui
  • Patent number: 9213309
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a casing, a cover unit, and a liquid channel. The cover unit is disposed above an image forming unit. The cover unit includes a first member, a second member, and a neighboring portion positioned between the first member and the second member. The liquid channel is configured to guide liquid and includes a first channel and a second channel. The first channel is disposed between the neighboring portion and the image forming unit. The first channel includes a recess part and a liquid outlet. The recess part is disposed below the neighboring portion and extending toward the frame in an extending direction. The liquid outlet is positioned at an end portion of the recess part in the extending direction. The second channel is disposed at the frame. The second channel is configured to allow liquid to pass through the frame in the extending direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masato Makino, Kouji Watanabe, Nobuyuki Futatsuki
  • Patent number: 9042751
    Abstract: A high voltage power supply includes a developer carrier, an image carrier, a developing control unit, a load detection unit, a variation detection unit, and a voltage correction unit. The developing control unit applies a developing bias voltage to the developer carrier and thereby supplies the developer to the image carrier and develops an electrostatic latent image. The variation detection unit detects the variation in capacitance between the developer carrier and the image carrier detected by the load detection unit. The voltage correction unit corrects the developing bias voltage by decreasing the developing bias voltage as the variation increases, and increasing the developing bias voltage as the variation decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Masanori Okada
  • Patent number: 9025991
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a manual operating unit, at least a part of which being exposed to an outside of the apparatus body and a part of which included inside the apparatus body being exposed to the outside by manually operating from the outside, a condensation part to which moist air in the apparatus body contacts to dew-condense to a water droplet, and a recovery container part containing the water droplet generated by the condensation part and being disposed on an inner surface of the manual operating unit included inside the apparatus body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Namba, Toshikane Nishii, Mitsutaka Nakamura, Haruyuki Honda
  • Publication number: 20150110508
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, provided is an image forming apparatus including a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, and a control unit. The control unit determines whether an environment of the apparatus is a dew condensation environment, based on a temperature of the apparatus detected by the temperature sensor and humidity in the apparatus detected by the humidity sensor. The control unit turns ON a dew condensation preventing heater when determining that the environment of the apparatus is the dew condensation environment in a case where a main power source of the apparatus is in an OFF state or the apparatus is in a power saving mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventor: Takayuki NISHI
  • Patent number: 9008535
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a fixing unit including a heating rotational body, and configured to perform heat-fixing by putting a sheet having an unfixed-image formed thereon in contact with the heating rotational body; and a mechanism including a plate-like water droplet guiding member and a condensation collection container, and configured to receive water droplets at an upper surface of the water droplet guiding member, guide the water droplets towards the condensation collection container, and collect the water droplets at the condensation collection container, the water droplets generated above the fixing unit by condensation of water vapor that rises from the sheet during the heat-fixing and falling therefrom. When viewing the image forming apparatus from above in a vertical direction, the condensation collection container is disposed outside a sheet passing region in a sheet width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Masahide Wakayama, Naoichi Asakura, Yasuaki Tomoda
  • Patent number: 8989617
    Abstract: In one example, a climate control system for a printer includes: an air flow path from an intake for receiving warmer, dirtier aft from a printing area of the printer to an exhaust for returning cooler, cleaner air to the printing area of the printer; a first heat exchanger in the flow path for exchanging heat between warmer air coming from the intake and cooler air going to the exhaust; and a second heat exchanger in the flow path for receiving warmer, dirtier air from the first heat exchanger and passing cooler, cleaner air to the first heat exchanger. The second heat exchanger is configured to cool the air to a predetermined dew point temperature corresponding to a desired level of a contaminant in the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Indigo B.V.
    Inventors: Nadav Shalem, Moshe Peles, Michael Melnik
  • Patent number: 8931412
    Abstract: In a method or system for printing of a recording medium, potential images of images to be printed are generated on a potential image carrier. The potential images are developed into an image film comprising image regions and non-image regions on the potential image carrier via application of a liquid developer comprising a polymerizable carrier fluid with dye particles suspended therein. The image film is transferred onto the recording medium. The image film is fixed on the recording medium via a cross-linking reaction of the carrier fluid such that the dye particles of the image regions are embedded in a fixed polymer matrix and the carrier fluid hardens into a transparent film that permanently bonds with the recording medium. The cross-linking reaction of the carrier fluid is started, accelerated, or extended by at least one component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Océ Printing Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Astrid Bernsdorf, Claudia Schäfle, Martin Berg
  • Patent number: 8929794
    Abstract: A sheet cooling device includes a fixing device for heat fixing an unfixed image formed on a sheet; and a cooling device for cooling the sheet heated by the fixing device, the cooling device including, a rotatable endless belt contactable with the sheet heated by the fixing device and traveling above the fixing device; and a cooling member for cooling the endless belt to condense water vapor produced by a fixing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazunari Hatazaki
  • Patent number: 8913940
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a solid or hollow cylindrical heating member that heats a recording medium and has recesses or projections provided at axial ends thereof, over the entire outer circumferences; ring-shaped heat insulating members to be fitted to the axial ends of the heating member, the ring-shaped heat insulating members having, in the inner circumferences thereof, projections or recesses that fit into or receive the recesses or projections provided on the heating member; and bearings that rotatably support the axial ends of the heating member via the heat insulating members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun Sawamura
  • Patent number: 8913932
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: image-forming units of multiple colors that form images on an image carrier in such a manner that the images are overlaid on one another, and a determination unit that determines necessity of position alignment correction of an image of each color accompanying image formation in accordance with a degree of change of image formation environment from when correction was executed in the past and a combination of colors used for the image formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Hidenori Akamatsu
  • Patent number: 8886077
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form a toner image on a recording material, a fixing unit configured to fix the toner image on the recording material by heat, a cooling air generating unit configured to generate a cooling air, and an air supplying unit configured to supply the cooling air toward the image forming unit. In addition, a primary water absorbing portion is configured to absorb water generated by the cooling air generating unit, and a secondary water absorbing portion is disposed at a position lower than the primary water absorbing portion in a gravitational direction and configured to absorb the water supplied through the primary water absorbing portion. An air blowing unit blows air warmed by the fixing unit toward the primary and secondary water absorbing portions to evaporate the water absorbed in the first and secondary water absorbing portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiro Nishino, Kenji Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20140321879
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a condensation removal unit configured to perform condensation removal absorbing condensation with toner in the image forming apparatus, and a setting unit configured to set an amount of toner to be used for the condensation removal, wherein the condensation removal unit performs the condensation removal by using the mount of toner set by the setting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventor: Hirochika Sato
  • Patent number: 8862017
    Abstract: An acoustic cavity conditions the air flowing from a blower to reduce noise in the airflow. The air flowing directly out of the blower exhibits pulses produced by each impeller blade or fan blade. The airflow noise is thereby induced at certain frequencies. Printing operations inside a printer can also occur at specific frequencies. Introducing the airflow directly into certain areas of a printer can result in the noise frequencies and printing frequencies to combine and produce noticeable printing artifacts. An acoustic cavity tuned to dampen the airflow noise can condition the airflow and eradicate the printing artifacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Jorge Rodriguez, Glenn Batchelor, Francisco Zirilli, Ali Dergham
  • Patent number: 8843017
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes, a sheet feeding unit including a dehumidification heater, a humidity sensing element for sensing humidity, a dehumidification heater switching unit, a control unit for bringing the dehumidification heater switching unit into an ON state when a recognized humidity is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference value and bringing the dehumidification heater switching unit into an OFF state when the recognized humidity fails below the predetermined reference value, and a power supply unit for temporarily resuming the supply of power to the control unit in a power saving mode, in a longer cycle, after the supply of power to the control unit was stopped based on a predetermined large difference between the humidity recognized by the control unit and the predetermined reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Hitoshi Asaka
  • Patent number: 8837967
    Abstract: A device and method for determining and applying a transfer voltage in an imaging apparatus is provided. A servo voltage is determined based in part upon a change in an environmental condition. A determination is made whether or not to perform a new transfer servo operation based upon at least one of an amount of time passing since the last transfer servo operation was performed and a comparison of the determined servo voltage and a servo voltage used in a prior transfer servo operation. A transfer servo operation includes charging a photoconductive drum to a charge corresponding to a printing voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Stirling Campbell, Brandon Alden Kemp, Peter Brown Pickett
  • Publication number: 20140233979
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a manual operating unit, at least a part of which being exposed to an outside of the apparatus body and a part of which included inside the apparatus body being exposed to the outside by manually operating from the outside, a condensation part to which moist air in the apparatus body contacts to dew-condense to a water droplet, and a recovery container part containing the water droplet generated by the condensation part and being disposed on an inner surface of the manual operating unit included inside the apparatus body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Masanori NAMBA, Toshikane NISHII, Mitsutaka NAKAMURA, Haruyuki HONDA
  • Patent number: 8787791
    Abstract: A packaging arrangement of an image formation apparatus and a process cartridge includes a main body formed with an accommodation chamber configured to accommodate a process cartridge containing toner used for image formation. The main body is formed with an opening through which the process cartridge is detachably attached. The image formation apparatus is configured to be packaged with the process cartridge attached in the accommodation chamber. An openable cover configured to openably cover the opening is provided, and a drying agent is detachably arranged in a clearance formed between an inner face of the accommodation chamber and the process cartridge attached in the accommodation chamber. A part of the drying agent is exposed to outside through the opening of the clearance when the cover is opened, while the process cartridge and the drying agent are covered when the cover is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasunori Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8736886
    Abstract: A group of printing conditions, which have at least one condition item in common except for environmental condition items concerning a temperature and humidity environment for printing, is selected from among a plurality of printing conditions. A list image, which represents a line-up of visible information concerning the temperature and humidity environment depending on the environmental condition items, and which is included in the printing conditions of the selected group, is generated and displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Eiji Teraue
  • Publication number: 20140105621
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a charging member, a voltage applying part, a current measuring part and a controlling part. The image carrier carries a toner image. The charging member electrically charges the image carrier. The voltage applying part applies voltage to the charging member. The current measuring part measures current flowing into the charging member. The controlling part controls applied voltage of the voltage applying part. The controlling part decides, when a predetermined voltage is applied to the charging member for a predetermined time by the voltage applying part, if an increase quantity of the current measured by the current measuring part exceeds a predetermined threshold value, that at least one of the image carrier and the charging member is in an abnormal state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka IMANAKA, Masahiro TSUTSUMI
  • Publication number: 20140029970
    Abstract: In one example, a climate control system for a printer includes: an air flow path from an intake for receiving warmer, dirtier aft from a printing area of the printer to an exhaust for returning cooler, cleaner air to the printing area of the printer; a first heat exchanger in the flow path for exchanging heat between warmer air coming from the intake and cooler air going to the exhaust; and a second heat exchanger in the flow path for receiving warmer, dirtier air from the first heat exchanger and passing cooler, cleaner air to the first heat exchanger. The second heat exchanger is configured to cool the air to a predetermined dew point temperature corresponding to a desired level of a contaminant in the air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Inventors: Nadav Shalem, Moshe Peles, Michael Melnik
  • Publication number: 20130272744
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising: a fixing unit comprising a heating rotational body, and configured to perform heat-fixing by putting a sheet having an unfixed-image formed thereon in contact with the heating rotational body; and a mechanism comprising a plate-like water droplet guiding member and a condensation collection container, and configured to receive water droplets at an upper surface of the water droplet guiding member, guide the water droplets towards the condensation collection container, and collect the water droplets at the condensation collection container, the water droplets generated above the fixing unit by condensation of water vapor that rises from the sheet during the heat-fixing and falling therefrom. When viewing the image forming apparatus from above in a vertical direction, the condensation collection container is disposed outside a sheet passing region in a sheet width direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Masahide WAKAYAMA, Naoichi ASAKURA, Yasuaki TOMODA
  • Patent number: 8559834
    Abstract: As set forth herein, computer-implemented methods and systems facilitate adjusting an HFSI counter increment as a function of local relative humidity in order to adjust corona device lifespan. Adjustment factors are set for a plurality of GOM levels and an adjustment factor to be applied to the HFSI counter increment is assigned to or set for each GOM level. A curve is determined or calculated that approximates the adjustment factor, and a quadratic equation defining the curve is determined. Humidity measurement data is received from an environmental sensor coupled to the printer device, and depending on the relative humidity in the local environment of the printer, and an adjustment factor derived from the quadratic equation is applied to the HFSI counter increment to adjust for dry or humid conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Paul F. Sawicki, Robert S. Pozniakas
  • Patent number: 8554113
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a corona charger having an opening, a shutter configured to open and close the opening of the corona charger, a humidity sensor configured to detect humidity, and a control unit configured to control the so that time from ending an image forming process to closing the opening using the shutter is reduced when the humidity detected by the humidity sensor increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kidaka
  • Patent number: 8537432
    Abstract: In an image reader, the first reading unit outputs first image data corresponding to the image of the first surface of the original document. The second image reading unit outputs second image data corresponding to the image of the second surface of the original document. The image process circuit acquires at least one of a part of the first image data and a part of the second image data from the storing unit, and performs an image process on the image data acquired from the storing unit. When the image process circuit finishes performing the image process on either the first image data or the second image data, the initialization instruction unit instructs initializing either the first setting or the second setting corresponding to the either the first image data or the second image data and the image process circuit initializes the either the first setting or the second setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Atsushi Yokochi
  • Patent number: 8521054
    Abstract: The present invention provides a charging device which can suppress the deterioration of a photosensitive member and the occurrence of an image deletion phenomenon on an electrophotographic image due to an electric discharge product having deposited on a charger shutter, even when having been used for a long period of time. The charging device has an image bearing member which bears an image thereon, a charging member which charges the image bearing member, and a shielding member which shields the charging member from the image bearing member, wherein the shielding member includes a specific material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kidaka
  • Patent number: 8515298
    Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a recording medium; a fixing unit configured to fix the image onto the recording medium by applying heat and pressure; a re-transport unit configured to re-transport the recording medium which has passed through the fixing unit, to the image forming unit along a re-transport path; a cooling unit provided between the fixing unit and the image forming unit along the re-transport path and configured to cool the recording medium transported by the re-transport unit; a parameter signal output unit configured to output a signal corresponding to a parameter for controlling the cooling unit; and a controller configured to control the cooling unit according to the signal output from the parameter signal output unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kensuke Miyahara, Katsuyuki Yokoi, Toshio Furukawa
  • Publication number: 20130195500
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main body casing; a fixing unit accommodated in the casing and including a heating member and a pressing member; a first wall provided inside the casing at a position above the heating member and the pressing member and extending diagonally downward and forward; an uneven portion provided on the first wall at a position rearward of front end portion of the pressing member to restrain a dew droplet condensed on the first wall from running down along the first wall; a sheet ejection opening formed in the casing such that the recording sheet conveyed out from the fixing unit is ejected outside the casing through the sheet ejection opening; and an exhaust opening formed in the casing at a position rearward of the heating member such that air heated in the fixing unit is discharged outside the casing through the exhaust opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahito Saeki, Hidekazu Nogami, Koyo Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8444246
    Abstract: An apparatus includes: a drying unit to dry a printing medium on which an image was printed using an inkjet head; a humidification unit to humidify the printing medium that was dried by the drying unit so that the moisture content of the printing medium becomes the equilibrium state in the ambient environment; a colorimetric unit to perform colorimetry on the printing medium that was humidified by the humidification unit; and a calibration unit to calibrate printing properties on the basis of the result of colorimetry by the colorimetric unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kentarou Muro, Susumu Hirosawa, Yutaka Kano, Shigeyasu Nagoshi, Minoru Teshigawara, Yoshiaki Murayama, Takeshi Murase, Satoshi Azuma, Masao Kato, Minako Kato
  • Patent number: 8442407
    Abstract: Disclosed are printing methods, apparatus and systems for developing a latent image recorded on a surface, for example, a photoreceptor with developer material. According to an exemplary embodiment, the development method applies a development field voltage between a development station donor member and a development station transport member as a function of a humidity measurement associated with the developer material, the humidity measurement providing a surrogate tribo measurement of the developer material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: W. Bradford Willard, Kimberly Anne Stoll, David R. Stookey, Paul L. Jacobs, Robert W. Phelps, Jyothsna Ram
  • Patent number: 8335450
    Abstract: A thick film charging device is used to simultaneously heat a photoreceptor as it is being charged in order to mitigate image quality defects associated with the photoreceptor in high humidity conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Gerald F Daloia, Michael A Doody, Edward C Savage
  • Patent number: 8326173
    Abstract: Hard imaging devices, humidity control systems and hard imaging methods are described. According to one arrangement, a hard imaging device includes an imaging member comprising a surface and a writing assembly configured to form latent images upon the surface of the imaging member. The hard imaging device also includes a development assembly configured to provide a marking agent to the surface of the imaging member to develop the latent images to form developed images, a transfer assembly configured to transfer the developed images from the surface of the imaging member to media to form a plurality of hard images, and a humidity control system configured to control humidity within a region of the hard imaging device which is adjacent to the surface of the imaging member during the forming and the development of the latent images. Other structure and methods are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Seongsik Chang, Viet Hung Phan, Michael H. Lee, Omer Gila
  • Patent number: 8320787
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: plural sheet supplying sections which accommodate a recording sheet and feed out the recording sheet; an image forming section which forms an image on the recording sheet, fed out from the sheet supplying section, based on a printing job; a memory section which stores information of the printing job, including information of the recording sheet; and a control section which determines a sheet supplying section, based on the information of the recording sheet, included in the printing job stored in the memory section, and displays an event using a time axis provided on a vertical axis or a horizontal axis on a display section, the event is generated by a schedule for using the sheet supplying section determined above, and is generated when the sheet supplying section is switched to another sheet-supplying section, or the event is generated at a predetermined time cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenichi Hosoi
  • Publication number: 20120219312
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation to radiate infrared rays; a pressing rotary body, rotatable in a direction counter to the direction of rotation of the fixing rotary body, pressed against the fixing rotary body to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed; a heater disposed opposite the fixing rotary body to heat the fixing rotary body; a temperature detector spaced apart from the fixing rotary body to detect a temperature of the fixing rotary body based on the infrared rays from the fixing rotary body and disposed below the fixing nip in a vertical direction; and a tube disposed between the fixing rotary body and the temperature detector, the tube through which the infrared rays from the fixing rotary body enter the temperature detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Inventors: Shuutaroh YUASA, Masanao EHARA, Tadashi OGAWA, Satoshi UENO, Hiroshi SEO, Teppei KAWATA, Shuntaroh TAMAKI, Takamasa HASE, Kazuya SAITO, Kensuke YAMAJI
  • Publication number: 20120134708
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes, a sheet feeding unit including a dehumidification heater, a humidity sensing element for sensing humidity, a dehumidification heater switching unit, a control unit for bringing the dehumidification heater switching unit into an ON state when a recognized humidity is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference value and bringing the dehumidification heater switching unit into an OFF state when the recognized humidity falls below the predetermined reference value, and a power supply unit for temporarily resuming power supply to the control unit in a power saving mode in a longer cycle after the power supply to the control unit is stopped as a difference between the humidity recognized by the control unit and the predetermined reference value is larger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: KYOCERA MITA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hitoshi Asaka
  • Patent number: 8172377
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a transporter for transporting a sheet; an image forming section for forming an image on the sheet being transported by the transporter with an ink; a liquid absorbent member; a cleaning liquid feeding section for feeding a cleaning liquid to the transporter via the liquid absorbent member to clean the transporter adhered with ink residues; and a cleaning liquid feeding controlling section for controlling the cleaning liquid feeding section to perform the cleaning liquid feeding operation, based on a condition of the image forming apparatus relating to evaporation of the cleaning liquid. This arrangement enables to properly clean a transport belt in an inkjet image forming apparatus, while preventing waste of the cleaning liquid and securing stable driving of the transport belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Okumura, Akihiro Takami
  • Patent number: 8165490
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit, a fixing unit, a discharging unit, and multiple guide members. The transfer unit transfers an image onto a transfer sheet. The fixing unit fixes the image to the transfer sheet by application of heat and conveys the fixed transfer sheet to a further downstream portion of the image forming apparatus. The discharging unit discharges the transfer sheet to an external portion of the image forming apparatus. The multiple guide members form a sheet conveyance path that has first and second paths including a hollow portion defined by the multiple guide members to enable an air current generated during image forming to pass therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Yamazoe
  • Patent number: 8126342
    Abstract: A system for tailoring a transfer nip electric field includes a transfer roll, a backup roll forming a transfer nip with the transfer roll, and a pre-nip roll positioned upstream from the transfer and backup rolls and the transfer nip such that a toner image-supporting transfer belt moving past the pre-nip, transfer and backup rolls separately makes contact with, wraps partially around, and rotates each of the rolls as a media sheet is fed into the transfer nip after first passing through a gap defined between the pre-nip and transfer rolls such that by presetting the position, geometry and charge of the pre-nip roll relative to the transfer and backup rolls and the transfer belt an electrical field at the transfer nip can be tailored for enhanced toner transfer from the transfer belt to the media sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Fenley Gibson, Brandon Alden Kemp, Brad Edward Mattingly, Michael Todd Phillips, Peter Brown Pickett, Gregory Lawrence Ream, Christopher Michael Smith, Julie Ann Gordon Whitney
  • Patent number: 8068760
    Abstract: A sheet feeder which feeds a sheet in a sheet storage case includes a sheet storage case in which a sheet is stored, a dehumidifier which dehumidifies air, an air tank in which air dehumidified by the dehumidifier is stored, shutters and which bring the air tank and the sheet storage case into communication and out of communication, and fans and which send air between the air tank and the sheet storage case. The shutters and the fans are operated in accordance with humidity in the sheet storage case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tetsuro Fukusaka
  • Patent number: 8045867
    Abstract: Embodiments of an image forming apparatus, developer supplying apparatus and methods thereof may control a developer conveying speed in accordance with image print conditions, environmental status and/or developer amount to substantially maintain a stable amount or supply amount of developer. The developer may include bi-component developer having toner and carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jong-hyun Park
  • Patent number: 8045879
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method of controlling moisture in an electrophotographic apparatus having a fuser assembly, and corresponding electrophotographic apparatus. The method includes measuring a cavity temperature of an inner portion of the electophotographic apparatus, measuring a cavity relative humidity of an inner portion of the electophotographic apparatus, calculating a cavity dewpoint temperature using the measured cavity temperature and the measured cavity relative humidity, determining a difference between the cavity temperature and the cavity dewpoint temperature, and if the difference between the cavity temperature and the cavity dewpoint temperature drops below a predetermined threshold, turning on a heater device in the fuser assembly to control moisture in the electrophotographic apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Corpoation
    Inventor: Douglas Bisset
  • Publication number: 20110222898
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a corona charger having an opening, a shutter configured to open and close the opening of the corona charger, a humidity sensor configured to detect humidity, and a control unit configured to control the so that time from ending an image forming process to closing the opening using the shutter is reduced when the humidity detected by the humidity sensor increases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kidaka
  • Publication number: 20110182609
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a compressed air generator, a nozzle, a tube, a cooling device, and a drain discharging portion. The compressed air generator generates and injects compressed air onto at least one of a recording medium and components in the image forming apparatus. The compressed air is injected from the nozzle. The tube connects the compressed air generator and the nozzle, and the compressed air passes through the tube. The cooling device cools at least a portion of the tube. The drain discharging portion discharges drain generated in the tube during cooling by the cooling device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventors: Kenichi HASEGAWA, Takeshi Yamamoto, Takashi Seto, Fumihiro Hirose
  • Patent number: 7965954
    Abstract: A control unit controls a device that executes an image forming process, compares changes of each toner adhesion amount in an image-density-detection pattern image when a developing-bias control condition is changed, with respect to a toner adhesion amount in an image-density-detection pattern image in a normal status, performs a malfunction-occurrence prediction process according to the degree of each change of the densities, and displays the result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Shiori, Toshihiro Sugiyama, Atsushi Tano, Tadashi Kasai, Yutaka Takahashi, Takehide Mizutani
  • Publication number: 20110069987
    Abstract: Hard imaging devices, humidity control systems and hard imaging methods are described. According to one arrangement, a hard imaging device includes an imaging member comprising a surface and a writing assembly configured to form latent images upon the surface of the imaging member. The hard imaging device also includes a development assembly configured to provide a marking agent to the surface of the imaging member to develop the latent images to form developed images, a transfer assembly configured to transfer the developed images from the surface of the imaging member to media to form a plurality of hard images, and a humidity control system configured to control humidity within a region of the hard imaging device which is adjacent to the surface of the imaging member during the forming and the development of the latent images. Other structure and methods are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Inventors: Seongsik Chang, Viet Hung Phan, Michael H. Lee, Omer Gila
  • Patent number: 7899346
    Abstract: The humidity detecting device includes a detection unit and a controller. The detection unit includes a humidity sensor for producing a humidity detection signal by detecting a humidity, a temperature sensor for producing a temperature detection signal by detecting a temperature surrounding the humidity sensor, and a common power supply line connected to the humidity sensor and the temperature sensor. The controller includes an application circuit for applying a power supply voltage to the humidity sensor and the temperature sensor through the common power supply line, a read circuit for producing a read-out humidity value corresponding to the humidity detection signal and a read-out temperature value corresponding to the temperature detection signal, and a correction circuit for correcting the read-out humidity value based on the read-out temperature value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Isao Kubo, Kenichi Dan
  • Patent number: 7890003
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit having an image carrier, a developing agent container for holding a developing agent, and a developing agent supplier for supplying the developing agent from the developing agent container to the image carrier. A controller determines the amount of use of the image forming unit. A shaking mechanism shakes the image forming unit from time to time, at intervals determined by the controller according to the amount of use of the image forming unit. The shaking loosens the developing agent so as to maintain its fluidity, thereby avoiding faint image formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Junichi Ito
  • Publication number: 20110013924
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: plural sheet supplying sections which accommodate a recording sheet and feed out the recording sheet; an image forming section which forms an image on the recording sheet, fed out from the sheet supplying section, based on a printing job; a memory section which stores information of the printing job, including information of the recording sheet; and a control section which determines a sheet supplying section, based on the information of the recording sheet, included in the printing job stored in the memory section, and displays an event using a time axis provided on a vertical axis or a horizontal axis on a display section, the event is generated by a schedule for using the sheet supplying section determined above, and is generated when the sheet supplying section is switched to another sheet-supplying section, or the event is generated at a predetermined time cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Kenichi Hosoi
  • Patent number: 7700895
    Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus including a stacking portion for stacking a plurality of sheets thereon, a sheet feeding portion for feeding the sheets stacked on the stacking portion, a fan for sending air to the sheets to loosen the sheets stacked on the stacking portion, a heater for warming the air sent by the fan, a temperature detecting portion for detecting the temperature of the heater, and a control portion for starting the driving of the fan in conformity with the temperature detecting portion having detected a predetermined temperature after temperature control for adjusting the heater to a target temperature has been started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shunichi Komatsu, Kunio Tsuruno, Yuzo Matsumoto, Yasuo Fukatsu
  • Patent number: 7680428
    Abstract: A grid wire cleaning mechanism is provided to prevent a reduction in image quality due to the surface of the electrostatic latent image carrier not being uniformly charged as a result of corona products adhering unevenly to the surface of the grid wires to extend the life of the grid wires and grid wire contact member. A first abrading member 71 abrades grid wires 224. A movement device 73 moves the first abrading member 71 in the same direction as the direction of extension of the grid wires 224. A humidity measurement unit 741 measures the humidity near the grid wires 224. The operation control unit 743 operates the movement device 73 when cleaning the grid wires 224, but does not operate the movement device 73 when the humidity measured by the humidity measurement unit 741 exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Shingo Sakato, Eiji Nimura, Hirohisa Endou, Toyotsune Inoue