Patents Examined by C. Pham
  • Patent number: 9217948
    Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus includes, a deflection unit configured to deflect first and second light fluxes in a main scanning direction by a same deflection surface, an incident optical system configured to cause the first and second light fluxes to enter the deflection surface, and an imaging optical system configured to converge the first and second light fluxes deflected by the deflection unit to first and second surfaces to be scanned, respectively. The imaging optical system includes first imaging optical element having an output surface including first and second curves that the first and second light fluxes respectively enter, and among light rays included in the first and second light fluxes, the light rays that are reflected by the first and second curves, intersect each other in a sub-scanning cross section perpendicular to the main scanning direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Jun Igarashi
  • Patent number: 9217946
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus includes: a substrate that has a light emitting element mounted on a front surface of the substrate; a casing to which the substrate and an optical element are fixed so as to allow the substrate to face the optical element that focuses light emitted from the light emitting element; a sealing material that seals a fitting portion between the substrate and the casing from a rear surface side of the substrate; and a conductive component that is mounted on a ground terminal formed on the rear surface of the substrate and has a height from the rear surface higher than a height of the sealing material at an end portion on a central portion side of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sachiya Okazaki
  • Patent number: 9207559
    Abstract: A structure in which a shutter is moved in a first direction by a motor, an opening is provided in the shutter, and the shutter is moved in a second direction using an elastic force of a spring connected to an upper cover of a light scanning device and an inside wall at the opening of the shutter increases the size of the structure of the shutter and the structure of the light scanning device due to the position of the spring. Therefore, a recess 218b is provided in an opposing surface 218g of a cover 218 opposing a shutter 300, and a spring 310 for sliding the shutter 300 is connected to a connection portion 218e provided at the recess 218b. The recess 218b is provided at a side opposite to the light source units with a polygon mirror 203 being interposed therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Daisuke Aruga
  • Patent number: 9207629
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body including positioning faces; a detachably attachable unit including receiving parts and contact parts; and a biasing member to press the receiving parts of the detachably attachable unit to the positioning faces disposed on the apparatus body. The biasing member is rotatably disposed to the apparatus body, contacts the contact parts disposed on the detachably attachable unit, presses the receiving parts against the positioning faces, and is elastically deformable in a direction separating from a rotary supporting point of the biasing member; and when the biasing member is rotated to a locked state from a release state, the biasing member is hooked to the contact parts, so that the receiving parts are pressed toward the positioning faces by the biasing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Sakaue, Hiroshi Johno
  • Patent number: 9205691
    Abstract: A three-dimensional object printer compensates for variations in ejected material drop volumes by adjusting firing signal parameters. The printer includes an optical sensor that generates height measurement data of columns of material in a test pattern. Differences between the height of columns of material in the test pattern formed by the ejectors in the printhead and the expected height of the columns are compared to a predetermined range to detect drop variations that are out of tolerance. The modification of the firing signal parameter adjust the operation of the ejectors to bring the volume of the drops ejected by the ejector within tolerance range to reduce the ink drop velocities of the ejected drops within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy J. Jones, James D. Padgett, Cory D. Luth, Lisa M. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9205689
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an image printing apparatus, image printing method, and image processing apparatus. The image printing apparatus and image printing method print images by controlling the connectivity of dots by using mask patterns having different numbers of print permitting pixels in accordance with the attributes of the images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takayuki Ushiyama, Yoshitomo Marumoto, Hitoshi Tsuboi
  • Patent number: 9205669
    Abstract: Each data line includes base parts covering contact holes and line parts extending in an array direction of pixel circuits and connecting adjacent base parts to each other. The line parts have a smaller width in a direction perpendicular to the array direction than the base parts and are connected to the base parts while being offset in the direction perpendicular to the array direction from each other on both sides of at least two base parts that include first and second base parts. A connection position of the first base part with the line part on one side among both sides of the base units is located on the pixel circuit side with respect to the other side, and a connection position of the second base part on the one side is located on an opposite side to the pixel circuit side with respect to the other side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kouji Ikeda, Masami Iseki
  • Patent number: 9201383
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes: plural photosensitive members; plural exposing units opposed to the photosensitive members, respectively, each of the exposing units including a plurality of light emitting elements arranged in a first direction; and a body frame which is provided at both sides of the exposing units in the first direction. Each of the exposing units includes: a gap maintaining member which abuts a respective one of the photosensitive members to define a distance between the exposing unit and the photosensitive member; a first-direction positioning portion which abuts the body frame in the first direction to position the exposing unit in the first direction; and a second-direction positioning portion which abuts the body frame in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and an exposing direction of the light emitting elements, to position the exposing unit in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junichi Yokoi, Yosuke Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 9195162
    Abstract: A cover member to be attached to a housing including a bottom portion and a side wall, the cover member including: a closing surface configured to close an opening surrounded by the side wall; at least three protruding portions protruding from the closing surface so as to be located on an inside of the housing; and a protection portion configured to protect a circuit board fixed to the side wall, the protection portion having: a first opposed portion opposed to the circuit board and provided to stand on the closing surface; a second opposed portion opposed to the circuit board and protruding with respect to the first opposed portion away from the circuit board; and a connecting portion configured to connect the first opposed portion and the second opposed portion, wherein a length of the at least three protruding portions is larger than a length of the first opposed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuaki Otoguro, Takehiro Ishidate
  • Patent number: 9195161
    Abstract: An angle formed between a first beam light ray D1 and a second beam light ray D2 is ?12, an angle formed between the second beam light ray D2 and a third beam light ray D3 is ?23, and an angle formed between the third beam light ray D3 and a fourth beam light ray D4 is ?34, where the first, second, third, and fourth beam light rays D1, D2, D3, and D4 have been reflected by a reflective surface of a rotating polygon mirror, ?23 is the smallest, of the three angles, that is, ?12, ?23, and ?34.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Takayuki Kurihara, Masato Onishi
  • Patent number: 9193176
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for printing indicia on latex are presented. A system for printing includes a latex surface supported by a mold on a rotary mount, a printer, a base plate supporting print heads, a rotational drive system for selectively rotating the mold during printing, and a printer engine programmed to print indicia onto a substantially contiguous area of the latex surface, from an intermediate border to and including a distal end. In a system with multiple molds moving along a path, the system may include a chassis for supporting the base plate, printer, and/or rotational drive system, and a motion controller for moving the chassis near the molds. Latex articles may be imprinted with indicia that is decorative and/or informative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Condomnation LLC
    Inventors: Clive Kohrs, Brandon Kohrs
  • Patent number: 9188900
    Abstract: A light beam emitting apparatus including: a light source having plural light emitting points emitting beams; and a holding member configured to hold the source and having first, second, and third abutment portions, an emission direction of the beams being regulated by the abutment portions in abutment with the source, wherein as viewed along an optical path of the beams, an angle formed by a first line connecting two farthest light emitting points with a second line connecting the first and second abutment portions is smaller than angles formed by the first line with a third line connecting the second and third abutment portions and formed by the first line with a fourth line connecting the third and first abutment portions, and a distance between the first and second abutment portions is larger than distances between the second and third abutment portions and between the third and first abutment portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 9186907
    Abstract: A laser marking system including a laser apparatus to supply a laser beam having a non-Gaussian irradiance distribution over a beam cross-section, the non-Gaussian irradiance distribution of the laser beam has a substantially uniform irradiance distribution over the beam cross-section, a spatial light modulator coupled to receive the laser beam, the spatial light modulator is controlled to generate an output laser beam including an optical pattern across the beam cross-section to mark a target object with the data code matrix, and an optical amplifier coupled to the spatial modulator to receive the laser beam output from the spatial light modulator and generate an amplified laser beam containing the same optical pattern as generated by the spatial light modulator, the amplified laser beam from the optical amplifier having a substantially uniform amplification across the cross-section of the beam, the amplified beam maintaining the substantially uniform irradiance distribution over its beam cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: VARDEX LASER SOLUTIONS, LLC
    Inventor: Farzan Ghauri
  • Patent number: 9188922
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet, a sensor unit assembly including a sensor unit and a holder attached to the sensor unit, and a cover member attached to the sensor unit assembly. The sensor unit includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element. The cover member includes a light transmission portion covering a light emitting side of the light emitting element and a light receiving side of the light receiving element and an engaging portion sandwiched between the sensor unit and the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kentaro Murayama
  • Patent number: 9180697
    Abstract: The recording device includes recording unit for recording on a recording medium, conveying unit for conveying a recording medium upstream of the recording unit in the downstream direction, and an ejection unit for ejecting the recording medium which is downstream of the recording unit and which has undergone recording. The ejection unit has a drive roller and a driven roller urged toward the drive roller, the driven roller is capable of switching between a state of being urged by a first load and a state of being urged by a second load that is lower than the first load, the driven roller is set to the first-load selected state at least during rear end recording in which recording is performed on a rear end region of the recording medium, and the driven roller is set to the second-load selected state during ejection when the recording medium is ejected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yuki Moriya, Yoshitaka Shimada, Kazuma Ozaki
  • Patent number: 9176417
    Abstract: A surface-emitting laser device includes a transparent dielectric layer provided in an emitting region and configured to cause a reflectance at a peripheral part to be different from a reflectance at a central part in the emitting region. In the surface-emitting laser device, the thickness of a contact layer is different between a region having a relatively high reflectance and a region having a relatively low reflectance in the emitting region. The contact layer is provided on the high refractive index layer of an upper multilayer film reflecting mirror, and the total optical thickness of the high refractive index layer and the contact layer in the region having the relatively low reflectance is deviated from an odd number multiple of a one quarter oscillation wavelength of laser light emitted from the emitting region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Harasaka, Shunichi Sato, Masahiro Hayashi, Akihiro Itoh, Katsunari Hanaoka
  • Patent number: 9177993
    Abstract: Cathodes of a first group of plural transfer thyristors are connected with a first transfer signal line, and also connected with a first reception terminal through a first current limiting resistance. A first transfer signal is transmitted to the first reception terminal. Cathodes of a second group of the plural transfer thyristors are connected with a second transfer signal line, and also connected with a second reception terminal through a second current limiting resistance. A second transfer signal is transmitted to the second reception terminal. The plural transfer thyristors each have an anode, a cathode, a first gate, and a second gate. A three-terminal switch element and a resistance are connected between a second gate of a former transfer thyristor and a first gate of a later transfer thyristor, the former and later transfer thyristors being closely arranged upstream and downstream transfer thyristors among the plural transfer thyristors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Seiji Ono
  • Patent number: 9177231
    Abstract: In a predetermined mask pattern, recording permitted pixels are disposed such that the average of the numbers of the recording permitted pixels in a unit in a first area is smaller than the number of the recording permitted pixels in a unit in a second area that is located toward an end side as compared to the first area in a direction corresponding to an array direction of nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takayuki Ushiyama, Yoshitomo Marumoto
  • Patent number: 9176322
    Abstract: A light scanning device include a housing and an f? lens. The housing includes a bottom plate and a sidewall disposed upright at the bottom plate. The rotating polyhedron and the f? lens are each installed at the bottom plate of the housing. The rotating polyhedron is configured to deflect and scan light beam. Light beam deflected and scanned by the rotating polyhedron transmits the f? lens. The bottom plate of the housing includes a stepped portion at a part corresponding to a peripheral area of the f? lens. The stepped portion is formed lower than a top surface of the bottom plate. The stepped portion has a ridge line in a concavo-convex shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Ryoutarou Todokoro
  • Patent number: 9170523
    Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus for optically scanning at least one scanning target surface, the optical scanning apparatus including: a light source; a light-flux dividing unit disposed on a main optical path of a main light flux emitted from the light source, and the light-flux dividing unit configured to spatially divide the main light flux; an optical deflector disposed on a divided optical path of the divided light flux, and the optical deflector configured to deflect the divided optical path; an optical path opening/closing switch unit disposed on the divided optical path between the light-flux dividing unit and the optical deflector, and the optical path opening/closing switch unit configured to interrupt or pass at least one of the divided optical path; and a controller configured to control operation of interrupting or passing the at least one of the divided optical path by the optical path opening/closing switch unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Hiroshi Johno, Keiichi Serizawa, Daisuke Yoshida, Kazunori Watanabe