Patents Examined by Andrew V Do
  • Patent number: 10996156
    Abstract: A high throughput rheology machine measures transient response to a material subject to the decaying oscillation to determine nonlinear characteristics of the material with a single test cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Melih Eriten, Utku Boz
  • Patent number: 10996094
    Abstract: A mica water level gauge glass includes a steam tee fitting, a balance pipe, a water tee fitting, a steam connecting pipe, a water connecting pipe, a condensation tank, a longitudinal vertical gauge body, and a mica assembly. The gauge body includes a thermal compensation cavity, a steam-water cavity, an auxiliary heat confluence device, and a horizontal steam cavity. The exit points of the thermal compensation cavity arranged in the gauge body is lower than the point of the steam-water cavity exiting from the gauge body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: QINHUANGDAO HUADIAN MEASUREMENT & CONTROL EQUIPMENT CO., LTD
    Inventors: Mingsi Cui, Shaobin Dong, Jichuan Liu, Hai Qu, Xueying Qu
  • Patent number: 10975686
    Abstract: A detection system to detect an object in a blowout prevention system of a production system includes a sensor coupled to the blowout prevention system and configured to send an ultrasonic pulse toward the object. The sensor is further configured to receive a signal including the ultrasonic pulse and noise after the ultrasonic pulse interacts with the object. The detection system also includes a controller coupled to the sensor and configured to identify the ultrasonic pulse in the signal using a first cancellation signal at a first time and a second cancellation signal at a second time. The controller is further configured to determine that the first cancellation signal corresponds to the noise in the signal at the first time, and determine that the second cancellation signal corresponds to the noise in the signal at the second time. The controller is configured to determine a characteristic of the object based on the ultrasonic pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Edward James Nieters, Emad Andarawis Andarawis, Dayu Huang, Jayakrishnan Unnikrishnan
  • Patent number: 10969264
    Abstract: A capacitive level sensor (10) for measuring the level of a medium (14) in a container (12) is provided having a probe (16) for immersion into the medium (14) that has at least one measurement electrode (26) for a capacitance measurement and having a measurement and evaluation unit (20) that is configured to determine a capacitance at the measurement electrode (26) and to calculate a level from it. In this respect, the probe (16) has at least one reference electrode (28) for a capacitance measurement independent of the level to thus compensate environmental influences on the capacitance measurement at the measurement electrode (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventor: Marc Ihle
  • Patent number: 10969739
    Abstract: A developing device including a developing roller mounted in a developing chamber is provided. In the developing device, the developing roller is partially exposed to an environment outside the developing chamber through an opening portion of the developing chamber, an air inlet is provided between an upstream boundary of the opening portion in a rotational direction of the developing roller and an outercircumference of the developing roller, wherein air may pass into the developing chamber through the air inlet, and an air outlet may be formed near the upstream boundary of the opening portion and communicatively connected to the developing chamber so as to discharge the air in the developing chamber. The air outlet is located outside an effective image area in a length direction of the developing roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jong Hyun Park, Mitsuru Oikawa, Jong Hwa Park
  • Patent number: 10948841
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section, a driving unit and an operation unit. The image forming section includes one or more image forming units. The driving unit generates driving force. The operation unit selectively performs a first operation and a second operation. The first operation is an operation to change over from a coupled state of the one or more image forming units and the driving unit, which the driving force is transmitted to the one or more image forming units, to a released state of the one or more image forming unit and the driving unit, which the driving force from the driving unit is not transmitted to the one or more image forming units. When the second operation is performed, the released state is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Kohei Otomo
  • Patent number: 10934833
    Abstract: A method and apparatuses for testing the blowout preventer (BOP) piping system on a drilling rig for leaks. The method and apparatuses can be used in conjunction with a pressure or volumetric method to more accurately test the BOP for integrity and to shorten the total time of testing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Vista Precision Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph W. Maresca, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10928761
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a resistive heat generator and a power control device that controls power supplied to the resistive heat generator. The power control device supplies the power at a predetermined power duty cycle for adjustment to the resistive heat generator. The power control device adjusts a power duty cycle when the resistive heat generator is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoya Adachi, Yuusuke Furuichi, Yukimichi Someya, Masahiro Samei
  • Patent number: 10928764
    Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a cylindrical rotatable member, an exciting coil, a magnetic core, and a resin material layer provided between the exciting coil and the magnetic core. The exciting coil is a metal wire coated with heat-resistant resin. The resin material layer is provided between the exciting coil and the magnetic core and is a layer that is different from the heat-resistant resin of the metal wire. The resin material layer is provided on a surface of the magnetic core in a helical shape along the exciting coil. As viewed in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the rotatable member, the exciting coil enters the resin material layer in a radial direction of the exciting coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Obata, Kazuhiko Shinoda, Mitsugu Owada
  • Patent number: 10908531
    Abstract: Provided is a powder container having a new structure capable of stable discharge and transport of a powder contained in a container by enabling the powder to be reliably discharged to the outside of the package while preventing the powder from spilling and flying out of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Junichi Matsumoto, Tsukuru Kai, Hiroshi Hosokawa, Makoto Komatsu, Tadashi Hayakawa, Yuzuru Ozawa
  • Patent number: 10908536
    Abstract: A transfer device having a structure for preventing the meandering of a transfer belt, an image forming apparatus including a structure for preventing the meandering of a transfer belt, and a method for preventing meandering of the transfer belt. The image forming apparatus including a main body. The main body including an image forming member and a transfer device which transfers an image formed through the image forming member to a printing medium. The transfer device includes a frame, a driving roller, a backup roller being rotatably supported to the frame, a transfer belt to travel between the driving roller and the backup roller; and meandering prevention members located at both end portions of the backup roller to independently rotate. The meandering prevention members being driven by contact with the transfer belt to control tension of the transfer belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Jin-ho Lee, Ho-Gun You, Jun-Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 10901342
    Abstract: A developing device includes an agitating transport device, a density detecting device, and an attracting device. The agitating transport device has a transport path and transports developer including a magnetic carrier while agitating the developer. The density detecting device detects density of the developer in the transport path of the agitating transport device. The attracting device is provided in the agitating transport device and has magnetic poles of one and another polarities exposed to the transport path facing the density detecting device so as to attract the developer by a magnetic force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Sako, Eriko Kokubun
  • Patent number: 10890857
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a casing having an outer surface, a developing roller, a first electrode, and a boss. The developing roller is movable together with the casing and includes a developing roller shaft extending along a first axis extending in a first direction. The developing roller is rotatable about the first axis. The first electrode is positioned at one end portion in the first direction of the developing roller shaft, and electrically connected to the developing roller shaft. The boss is positioned at one end portion in the first direction of the outer surface. The boss extends in the first direction and is engageable with the drum unit. A part of the first electrode is configured to contact with a second electrode of the drum unit as a result of pivotal movement of the developing cartridge about the boss relative to the drum unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuwen Wang, Junichi Hashimoto, Isao Kishi, Kazuaki Ooka
  • Patent number: 10890298
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods of detecting and providing an alert regarding the presence of liquid contamination in a pneumatic supply line and/or in a pneumatic instrument are described. A liquid detection device configured to be coupled to the pneumatic supply includes an electronic liquid sensor configured to detect the presence of liquid in the pneumatic supply and a wireless communicator configured to transmit data from the electronic liquid sensor to a wireless communication node. The liquid detection device may be installed at different locations along a pneumatic supply in a plant. The plant network can forward the transmitted message from the communication node onto a plant computer, where and alert or other message may be provided to an operator or other computer system when water or other liquid is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventor: Bruce F. Grumstrup
  • Patent number: 10877415
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a drive device including a first drive transmission passage through which a driving force of a drive source is transmitted to a developer bearer via a first joint and a second drive transmission passage through which the driving force is transmitted to a rotary body via a second joint. The first drive transmission passage and the second drive transmission passage are defined such that one of a first drive transmission ratio to the first joint of the first drive transmission passage and a second drive transmission ratio to the second joint of the second drive transmission passage is an integral multiple of the other of the first drive transmission ratio from the drive source to the first joint of the first drive transmission passage and the second drive transmission ratio from the drive source to the second joint of the second drive transmission passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Takagi, Kimiharu Yamazaki, Naoyuki Suido
  • Patent number: 10866556
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including a process cartridge and a main body with an opening and a cover, is provided. The process cartridge includes a drum cartridge, a toner cartridge, and a switching member. The switching member switches states in the process cartridge between a first state, wherein the toner cartridge is restricted from being detached, and a second state, wherein the toner cartridge is released from the restriction. The process cartridge is movable between an attached position to be placed entirely inside the main body and a detached position to be entirely outside the main body. The main body includes a restrictor to restrict the process cartridge from moving from an intermediate position toward the detached position. While the process cartridge is restricted by the restrictor, a supportive part in the cover supports the process cartridge with the switching member being at least partly placed outside the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Yasuo Fukamachi, Motoaki Mushika, Kazuna Taguchi
  • Patent number: 10845727
    Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus includes a first light source, a second light source, a first driving element, a second driving element, a rotatable polygonal mirror, a first scanning optical portion, a second scanning optical portion, a detecting element, and a circuit board. The first light source, the first driving element and the detecting element are arranged in a named order on the circuit board. The following relationship is satisfied: ?1>?2, where ?1 is an angle formed by a direction of the first laser light and a first direction, and ?2 is an angle formed by a direction of the second laser light and a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Obara
  • Patent number: 10824095
    Abstract: A transporting member includes a rotating shaft and plural helical blades that helically extend around the rotating shaft and that transport a transport object in a direction of the rotating shaft as the rotating shaft rotates, each helical blade including a downstream side surface at a downstream side in a transporting direction and an upstream side surface at a side opposite to the downstream side surface. A portion of at least one of the helical blades has a gap that enables the transport object to move in the direction of the rotating shaft, and the at least one of the helical blades includes an upstream section that extends upstream in a rotating-shaft rotation direction, in which the rotating shaft rotates, from the gap. The upstream section includes a portion in which an inclination angle of the downstream side surface is less than an inclination angle of the upstream side surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Nakajima
  • Patent number: 10816926
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including a conveying device, a detecting member, an image forming unit, a first discharge tray, a fan, and an airflow unit. The conveying device conveys a sheet. The detecting member detects a sheet. The image forming unit forms an image on a sheet. The sheet on which an image has been formed by the image forming unit is discharged to the first discharge tray. The fan sucks the air around the first discharge tray. The airflow unit forms an airflow path through which the air sucked by the fan flows. The detecting member detects the presence or absence of the sheet by switching the posture thereof between a first posture and a second posture. When the posture of the detecting member is switched, the airflow path is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Atsuhiro Wakimoto
  • Patent number: 10816915
    Abstract: An image forming device that forms an image through exposure of any one of a plurality of photosensitive members to light, image developing, and image transfer. The image forming device includes a holder, a conveyance unit, a first developer unit, and a second developer unit. The holder holds one or more containers of developer and causes the developer to flow out from a container selected from the held containers. The conveyance unit conveys the developer from the container to a destination and can switch the destination between at least the first developer unit and the second developer unit. The first developer unit uses the developer to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on a first photosensitive member. The second developer unit uses the developer to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on a second photosensitive member. The image is the same color regardless of which developer unit is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Takumi Michibata