Patents Examined by Benjamin Schmitt
-
Patent number: 9791816Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an accommodation unit and a display unit. The accommodation unit accommodates a sheet having an image formed thereon. The display unit displays a selection screen that prompts a user to select information concerning a user who has given instructions to the accommodation unit to accommodate a sheet. The display unit displays a predetermined screen that represents a state or function of the image forming apparatus, and switches the predetermined screen to the selection screen on condition that the instructions have been received.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2014Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yohei Suzuki, Masayoshi Fukatsu, Hiroharu Tsuji, Genki Takahashi
-
Patent number: 9791813Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt formed into a loop rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and a pressure roller disposed opposite the fixing belt. The pressure roller includes a shaft fixedly positioned and a deformable elastic layer. A fixing pad is disposed inside the loop formed by the fixing belt and separably pressed against the pressure roller via the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the fixing belt and the pressure roller, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A biasing member biases the fixing pad and the fixing belt against the pressure roller. A stopper restricts motion of the fixing pad biased by the biasing member. The stopper contacts the fixing pad while the recording medium bearing the toner image is conveyed through the fixing nip.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2016Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukuhata, Yuusuke Furuichi, Tomohiko Fujii
-
Patent number: 9785099Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first forming unit that forms a first image with a substantially flat toner containing a substantially flat metal pigment on a moving movable body; a second forming unit that forms a second image with a substantially non-flat toner on the movable body; a transfer unit that forms a nip with the movable body while circulating and transfers the first image and the second image on a medium transported to the nip; a removing unit that includes a rotational body and removes the toners adhering to the transfer unit, the rotational body having an axis and being configured to rotate around the axis; and a controller that, if the controller causes the first forming unit to form the first image, stops the rotation of the rotational body around the axis.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2015Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.Inventors: Masaaki Takahashi, Yoshiyuki Tominaga
-
Patent number: 9778130Abstract: Certain implementations of the disclosed technology include a differential pressure transducer and method of assembly. The differential pressure transducer includes: a housing having a first pressure port and a second pressure port; a header welded to the housing; a cap welded to the header; a sensor module disposed in the header and in communication with first pressure port and the second pressure port. The sensor module includes a diaphragm having a first side and a second side. The first side is configured to receive a first pressure by the first pressure port, and the second side is adapted to receive a second pressure by the second pressure port. The differential pressure transducer also includes a reference tube configured to communicate the second pressure from the second pressure port to the diaphragm second side. The reference tube is welded to a portion of the header with an inspectable weld.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2015Date of Patent: October 3, 2017Assignee: Kulite Semiconductor Products, Inc.Inventors: Lou DeRosa, Steven Kleiber
-
Patent number: 9778125Abstract: An optical pressure sensor is disclosed having a pressure sensing optical cavity. A temperature sensing optical cavity at the sensing head is used by an interrogator to correct a pressure signal for effects of temperature. The optical cavities may be, for example, Fabry Perot cavities in the sensor head.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2017Date of Patent: October 3, 2017Assignee: Oxsensis LimitedInventors: Ralf-Dieter Pechstedt, Fabrice F. M. Maillaud
-
Patent number: 9766571Abstract: A developing device configured to develop a latent image formed on an image bearing member includes a rotatable developing-agent bearing member configured to bear developing agent, a developing container configured to form a developing-agent storage chamber that stores the developing agent, a developing-agent regulating portion provided in the developing container to regulate an amount of the developing agent born on the developing-agent bearing member, a support portion configured to support the developing-agent bearing member movably relative to the developing-agent regulating portion, and a pressurizing member configured to pressurize the developing-agent bearing member toward the developing-agent regulating portion. A contact portion of the developing-agent regulating portion with the developing-agent bearing member is fixed to the developing container without forming a gap from the developing container on a downstream side in a pressurizing direction of the pressurizing member.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2015Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Daisuke Baba, Makoto Tokudome, Masao Uyama, Yuichiro Hirata, Kodai Hayashi, Keisuke Mochizuki, Norihito Naito
-
Patent number: 9766214Abstract: A supercritical fluid chromatograph includes a supercritical flow path, a mobile phase supply section for supplying a mobile phase containing liquid carbon dioxide, a sample introduction section, a sample separation section, a detector, and a pressure control valve. A valve post-stage flow path is connected to a fluid outlet of the pressure control valve, and the inside of the valve post-stage flow path is maintained by pressure maintaining means at a pressure by which a mobile phase from the fluid outlet of the pressure control valve is not vaporized.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2012Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATIONInventors: Hiroomi Goto, Tsunehiro Inoue, Takahiro Mori, Hirohisa Abe
-
Patent number: 9753398Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: an image formation unit including an accumulation unit accumulating toner, and forms an image based on image data using the accumulated toner; a measurement unit measures toner density of an developer in the accumulation unit; a replenishment unit replenishes toner to the accumulation unit from an attached container; a first determination unit determines a first value based on the image data; a second determination unit determines a second value based on the measurement result of the measurement result; a third determination unit determines a third value by accumulating the second value; and a controller controls the replenishment unit based on the first value, the second value, and the third value, wherein in a case where the container has been replaced, the third determination unit changes the third value into a predetermined value before the difference is determined by the second determination unit.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2014Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shusuke Miura, Jiro Shirakata, Takayuki Iikura
-
Patent number: 9746794Abstract: An optical scanning device is provided with a housing, a plurality of laser light sources, and a substrate. The laser light sources are attached to a side wall of the housing in a state wherein three terminals are protruding outward. The substrate is disposed to face an outer surface of the side wall of the housing. The laser light sources include: a first laser light source having a predetermined angle with respect to the substrate; and a second laser light source having a symmetrical angle to the angle of the first laser light source with respect to the substrate. In the first laser light source, only one of the three terminals is bent in the direction to be separated from other two terminals, and the second laser light source is disposed by inverting 180° a laser light source having a configuration same as that of the first laser light source.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2015Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventor: Hiroki Takahashi
-
Patent number: 9739706Abstract: A method for detecting of components in a fluid includes emitting a modulated light beam from a modulated light source to the fluid in a chamber, wherein the fluid comprises a liquid and a component in the liquid. The method includes producing an acoustic signal in response to the emitted modulated light beam and detecting the acoustic signal via a pressure sensor disposed in the chamber. The method in one example also includes transmitting the acoustic signal from the pressure sensor to a processor based module and determining at least one of a component and a concentration of the component in the fluid via the processor based module, based on the acoustic signal.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2014Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Sandip Maity, Nagapriya Kavoori Sethumadhavan, Niloy Choudhury
-
Patent number: 9732611Abstract: Methods and systems for improving operations of a formation tester are disclosed. The formation tester (400) is placed in a wellbore at a location of interest. The formation tester comprises a first isolation pad (402) coupled to a pad carrier (410) and a second isolation pad (404). The first isolation is extendable to substantially seal a probe of the formation tester against a wellbore wall. The first isolation pad is then replaced with the second isolation pad if it is determined that the first isolation pad should be replaced with the second isolation pad.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2012Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventor: Lizheng Zhang
-
Patent number: 9733173Abstract: The invention relates to a method for selecting a viscoelastic plastic interlayer including two outer layers and a central layer that can be incorporated between two glass sheets of a glazing unit, the method includes providing first and second components that constitute respectively the central layer and the outer layers, measuring the shear modulus G? of the first and second components, selecting the material of the second component only if G??3×107 Pa at 20° C. and between 100 Hz and 240 Hz, and setting the thickness h of the first component so that h is between 0.31 mm and 1.20 mm and so that g=G?/h is between 5.58×108 Pa/m and 2.37×109 Pa/m at 20° C. and between 100 Hz and 240 Hz.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2015Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCEInventors: Marc Rehfeld, David Fournier
-
Patent number: 9726682Abstract: An apparatus for use in tube feeding has a cylindrical body provided with first opening and second openings connected by a flow channel. The body has a reagent, for determining a characteristic of fluid disposed in the body and a transparent window to view the reagent. In use, a first end of an internal feeding tube releasably engages with the first opening. The second, distal end of the feeding tube is disposed inside a patient. A second feeding tube engages with the second opening. The second feeding tube connects the apparatus to a bi-directional pump operable: to pump internal fluid from a reservoir, through the apparatus and into the internal feeding tube; and to pump fluid from the patient into the body of the apparatus. This allows a user to pump fluid from the patient into the body of the apparatus to react with the reagent.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2013Date of Patent: August 8, 2017Assignee: CME UK (HOLDINGS) LIMITEDInventors: Stephen Thorpe, Anat Barak
-
Patent number: 9719816Abstract: A fitting for positioning a probe in a hot gas path within a casing of a gas turbine engine is disclosed herein. The fitting includes a main body attachable to the casing opposite the hot gas path. The main body includes an internal bore and one or more cooling holes in communication with the internal bore. A compliant seal is positionable within the internal bore. In addition, a follower is positionable within the internal bore adjacent to the compliant seal. Moreover, the fitting includes a fastener configured to mate with the main body. In this manner, the follower deforms the compliant seal about the probe within the main body to secure and seal the probe within the main body.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2014Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Kurt Kramer Schleif, Zachary John Snider
-
Patent number: 9720355Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer, a transfer member, and a power source. The image bearer includes a plurality of layers. The transfer member forms a transfer nip between the image bearer and the transfer member. The power source outputs a transfer bias to transfer a toner image from the image bearer onto a recording sheet in the transfer nip. The transfer bias alternates between a transfer-side bias that causes the toner image to move from the image bearer to the recording sheet, and an opposite-side bias different from the transfer-side bias. A duty ratio of a time period, during which the opposite-side bias is output, relative to one cycle of a waveform, is greater than 50%.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2016Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Tatsuya Ohsugi, Kenji Sugiura, Jyunya Sakuraba, Hirokazu Ishii, Toshitaka Yamaguchi, Hiroyoshi Haga, Naohiro Kumagai, Seiichi Kogure, Junpei Fujita, Yuuji Wada, Kazuki Yogosawa, Shinya Tanaka, Masayoshi Nakayama
-
Patent number: 9715190Abstract: A toner conveyance roller for an image forming apparatus including a toner image forming mechanism including a developing roller and the toner conveyance roller which is arranged opposite to the developing roller and used for supplying and scraping toner, wherein the toner conveyance roller has a roller part and a shaft part, the roller part includes a substantially cylindrical elastic layer composed of an elastic foaming body on a surface of the roller part, and a density of the elastic layer is higher in a longitudinal center part of the roller part than in both longitudinal end parts thereof, and a method for manufacturing the toner conveyance roller including a step of heat-pressing the crown-shaped elastic foaming body, and thereby, forming the elastic layer.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2014Date of Patent: July 25, 2017Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATIONInventor: Toru Masuyama
-
Patent number: 9715196Abstract: A method of controlling an image forming apparatus, an image forming apparatus and image forming system are described, with which banner paper can be processed by appropriately detecting the banner paper in the fixing position when the conveyance of the banner paper is halted. The image forming apparatus comprises a paper conveying unit for conveying banner paper, an image forming unit for transferring an image to the banner paper, a fixing unit for fixing the image to the banner paper in a fixing nip by heating and pressing the banner paper conveyed along a conveying route, and a control unit. This control unit identifies information about the paper position which coincides with the fixing nip when the conveyance of the banner paper is halted and information about the amount of paper deformation of the banner paper in the paper position, and outputs the information which is identified.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2015Date of Patent: July 25, 2017Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Kazuteru Ishizuka, Tetsuya Ishikawa, Hiroshi Morimoto, Kei Okamura
-
Patent number: 9709466Abstract: Systems and methods for ignition source testing with a flammable foam are disclosed. Flammable foam systems and methods for testing use a flammable foam that includes fuel and oxidant. Flammable foam is applied to a test article and an energy discharge is applied to the test article. Methods include determining whether the flammable foam ignited in response to the energy discharge.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2014Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Eddie Kwon, Jason S. Damazo
-
Patent number: 9703233Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus may include an imaging cartridge and a toner cartridge that are detachably attached to a main body, a first optical sensor that is mounted in the imaging cartridge and detects a toner level in a development chamber, and a second optical sensor that is mounted in the toner cartridge and detects a toner level in the development chamber.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2016Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: S-PRINTING SOLUTION CO., LTD.Inventors: Seong-ho Jeong, Sang-jin Park, Byeong-no Jeong, Jong-won Han
-
Patent number: 9696126Abstract: A signal is injected into a wired series of detonators to obtain a reflected signal which represents a validated status of the system. The reflected signal is compared to a second reflected signal, generated in a similar way, some time later; to detect factors which affect the validated status of the system.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2014Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: DETNET SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTDInventor: Riaan Lingenfelder Van Wyk