Patents Examined by Francis Gray
  • Patent number: 9703238
    Abstract: An image forming system includes: an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet; one or more sheet carrying devices successively disposed on the downstream side of the image forming apparatus; and a control device that controls the image forming apparatus and the one or more sheet carrying devices based on a job that designates a page configuration containing a page order and sheet types, wherein the sheet carrying device includes a bypass conveyance path along which the sheet output from an upstream device is conveyed toward a downstream device, and a sheet tray unit that temporarily stores the sheet output from the upstream device and discharges the sheet toward the bypass conveyance path, and the control device divides the job into sheet types and determines a printing order of the divided sheet types and sheet types to be stored in the sheet carrying device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Kenji Izumiya, Kiyoto Kojima, Satoshi Ogata, Hirokatsu Kodama
  • Patent number: 9696684
    Abstract: A process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum; a developing roller; a developer supplying roller, provided in contact with the developing roller; a driving force receiving portion provided at a shaft end of the supplying roller; a first driving force transmitting portion; a second driving force transmitting portion; flexible sheets provided adjacent to an engaging portion between the first portion and the second portion to intermittently contact the second portion with rotation of the second portion, wherein a rotational direction of the roller is opposite to that of the roller, and a peripheral speed of the roller is larger than that of the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Maeshima, Kuniaki Hirukawa, Shuichi Gofuku, Yoshihiro Mitsui
  • Patent number: 9696194
    Abstract: An apparatus (400) for a vibratory meter (100) having one or more flow tubes (101, 102) adapted to vibrate is provided. The apparatus (400) comprising two or more brace bars (203, 204) adapted to couple to the one or more flow tubes (101, 102), and an isolation bar (402) coupled to the two or more brace bars (203, 204).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher A Werbach, Gregory Treat Lanham
  • Patent number: 9696248
    Abstract: Mechanical, electronic, algorithmic, and computer network facets are combined to create a highly integrated advanced sensor that monitors the gas density, state-of-repair, and events associated with switchgear. Measurements of gas pressure, atmospheric pressure, gas temperature, are used with models of the non-ideal behavior of a particular gas to realistically estimate gas density. A hierarchical system of signal processing optimizes measurements working within high-frequency, real-time, short-term, medium-term, diurnal, long-term, and historical timeframes and overcomes measurement errors present in real-world applications. The time at which a condition such as gas density will reach a particular level is calculated. Events such as threshold attainments and switchgear operation are detected. A large memory stores all raw data values allowing flexible re-processing and verification at any future time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Solon Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Karl Frederick Scheucher
  • Patent number: 9698609
    Abstract: A system includes a testing device, a current clamp, and circuitry for converting an electrical current. The testing device is configured to measure a characteristic relating to electrical equipment and to transmit data representing the measured characteristic to a remote computing device. The electrical equipment includes an electrical conductor carrying an electric current. The current clamp forms a current transformer. The current clamp is configured to be clamped around the electrical conductor and the current transformer is configured to induce an electric current from the electrical conductor. The circuitry is configured to convert the induced electric current to a direct current that is usable to power the testing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventors: John M. Gilbert, Clark N. Huber
  • Patent number: 9696191
    Abstract: A thermal, flow measuring device for determining and/or monitoring a mass flow of a measured medium through a measuring tube, comprising a sensor having a first heatable resistance thermometer and at least a second heatable resistance thermometer, wherein the sensor has a longitudinal axis and an end face, which is divided into at least two adjoining segments, wherein a surface normal vector of at least a first segment forms with the longitudinal axis of the sensor an angle of at least 5°; and use of a thermal, flow measuring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Axel Pfau, Panagiotis Papathanasiou, Stephan Gaberthuel, Tobias Baur, Hanno Schultheis
  • Patent number: 9690236
    Abstract: A transfer device includes a transfer unit including an image carrier that carries a toner image to be transferred to a transfer surface of a recording medium, a transfer member disposed on a non-transfer-surface side of the recording medium, and an opposing member disposed opposite the transfer member with the image carrier therebetween; a cleaning unit that cleans a surface of the transfer member; a first application unit that applies a voltage, for transferring the toner image, to the opposing member; and a second application unit that applies an alternating voltage to the transfer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yukiko Miyakoshi
  • Patent number: 9678458
    Abstract: Provided is a remanufacturing method of a developer accommodating unit including a frame member configured to accommodate a flexible container for accommodating developer. The remanufacturing method includes taking out the flexible container from the inside of the frame member, and refilling the developer into the flexible container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Kase, Kouki Yano, Yuta Isobe, Takahiro Ikeda, Yusuke Usui
  • Patent number: 9678053
    Abstract: A liquid sensor may comprise a first electrode, a second electrode disposed inside the first electrode, and a partition wall comprising a surface defining a storage space with a first opposing surface of the first electrode and a second opposing surface of the second electrode. One of the first electrode, the second electrode and the partition wall may comprise a first communication opening communicating an inside of the storage space and an outside of the storage space and disposed at an upper portion of the storage space. One of the first electrode, the second electrode and the partition wall may comprise a second communication opening communicating the inside of the storage space and the outside of the storage space and disposed lower than the first communication opening. An opening direction of the first communication opening may be different from an opening direction of the second communication opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nobuhiro Kato
  • Patent number: 9671745
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus that includes a first opening/closing member arranged to be openable and closable with respect to a main body of the image forming apparatus, a second opening/closing member, a unit detachably attachable to the main body, and a crank mechanism configured to convert reciprocating motion caused by an opening and closing operation of the first opening/closing member into rotating motion of the second opening/closing member. A first distance from a moving area of the unit is configured to be greater than a second distance from the moving area to thereby suppress an increase in the size of the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masanori Maeda, Masafumi Maeda
  • Patent number: 9671751
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus cartridge includes a casing, a developer roller having an axis L1, and coupling member having an axis L2. The coupling member includes (i) a first end portion operatively connected with the developer roller, (ii) a second end portion having an outermost surface, (iii) an axle portion connecting the first end portion and the second end portion to each other, and (iv) at least one projection extending from the second end portion. For at least part of the outermost surface of the second end portion, a maximum distance from the axis L2 to the outermost surface along a line perpendicular to the axis L2 increases as the distance along the axis L2 from the axle portion increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masanari Morioka, Shigeo Miyabe, Takahito Ueno
  • Patent number: 9671721
    Abstract: A toner cartridge includes a shell, a sleeve and a knocking block. The shell has an internal space, an opening communicating with the internal space and exterior of the shell, and an imaginary axis. The shell is rotatable about the imaginary axis. The sleeve is disposed at an outside of the shell and includes an internal path extended along an imaginary line not parallel to the imaginary axis, and two stopping portions located at two ends of the internal path. The knocking block is accommodated in the internal path, and movable along the internal path to knock the stopping portion when the shell rotates, so as to vibrate the shell, so that the carbon powder sticking on the inner wall of the toner cartridge can be shaken off and then discharged by the toner cartridge. Therefore, the remnant carbon powder in the toner cartridge is effectively decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL PLASTIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yi-Chia Wu
  • Patent number: 9671423
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a substrate, a lid which is bonded to the substrate, and a functional element which is provided between the substrate and the lid, in which the lid includes a penetration hole which penetrates a portion between an inner surface and an outer surface, the penetration hole includes a first hole portion and a second hole portion, a flat area of the second hole portion is set to be smaller than a flat area of the first hole portion, at least a part of an inner wall surface of the second hole portion substantially forms a right angle with respect to a bottom surface of the first hole portion, and the penetration hole is sealed with a sealing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shigekazu Takagi
  • Patent number: 9664580
    Abstract: A sheet material, contoured sheet material, or interface liner which is formulated and fabricated such that, when pressure is applied to said sheet material, contoured sheet material, or interface liner, said sheet material, contoured sheet material, or interface liner indicates the spot at which the pressure has been applied by effecting a change in the color or appearance of said sheet material contoured sheet material, or interface liner itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Inventor: Jonathan Batzdorff
  • Patent number: 9664658
    Abstract: Methods and systems for identifying an aerosolized agent. A method for identifying an aerosolized agent includes the steps of providing a sample potentially containing an aerosolized agent, concentrating the sample with an aerosol collector, analyzing the concentrated sample on a collection substrate using spectroscopy to produce an aerosolized agent analysis output, comparing the analysis output to a database of known agent analysis outputs; identifying the aerosolized agent based on the comparison; and alerting a user to the presence of an aerosolized agent in the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: SRC, INC.
    Inventors: Marc P. Roberts, Stephen R. Houghton
  • Patent number: 9664660
    Abstract: A system and method for providing and/or controlling air flow to an air sensor. As a non-limiting example, an air sensor system may include mechanical and/or electromechanical features (e.g., MEMS features) to control air flow to an air sensor. Various aspects of the disclosure may, for example, be implemented in a personal electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: INVENSENSE, INC.
    Inventor: Stephen Lloyd
  • Patent number: 9664545
    Abstract: An air mass sensor includes a microelectromechanical-type sensor element having a heating element. A first temperature sensor element is arranged on the sensor element upstream of the heating element, and a second temperature sensor element is arranged on the sensor element downstream of the heating element. The first temperature sensor element has a first width and a first length, and the second temperature sensor element has a second width and a second length. To eliminate or closely limit false measurement results due to the presence of dirt on the sensor element, the first width of the first temperature sensor element is greater than the second width of the second temperature sensor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Thorsten Knittel, Stephen Setescak
  • Patent number: 9658136
    Abstract: A mycotoxin sampling system including a kit and method using dry wipes that have been pre-tested on a lot basis to be clean from mycotoxins. Surfaces in an environment to be tested are wiped with a dry wipe over a particular area. The wipe is then sealed in a dry bag and sent to a laboratory for mycotoxin analysis. Results are returned by mail, email, or by telephone. The mycotoxin results are qualitative and quantitative. The kit contains all materials needed by an individual to perform mycotoxin tests and receive results. Advanced kits can contain testing reagents used to perform tests in the field in lieu of sending wipes to a laboratory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Inventor: Sue Price
  • Patent number: 9651915
    Abstract: A modification for an imaging cartridge is provided for use with certain aftermarket or non-OEM cartridge drive mechanisms. At least one wall of a cartridge guiding member is removed to increase a clearance between the guiding member and the cartridge drive mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: CLOVER TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, LLC
    Inventor: John Morgan
  • Patent number: 9649796
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a sensor. In the method, a sensor element having an IC is pre-overmolded to produce a preform, wherein the preform is designed in such a way that the preform can accommodate electrical contacts for the sensor having various dimensions and/or in various positions by press fitting. The electrical contacts are pressed into holes/recesses of the preform, the connections of the IC of the sensor are connected to the electrical contacts, and the preform is inserted into an injecting mold and is overmolded to produce the finished sensor. In this way, sensors for different applications can be produced in a substantially standardized manner. The invention further relates to a sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignees: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG, Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Marc Panis, Matthias Viering, Lothar Biebricher, Robert Déléris, Leon Apers, Marie-Noelle Gris, Matyas Czeh