Patents Examined by Michael Harrison
  • Patent number: 11480891
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes plural image forming units and a controller. The plural image forming units are configured to form images of colors using colorants, respectively. The controller is configured to perform control such that the plural images formed by the plural image forming units are output as one image onto a recording medium. At least two of the image forming units are configured to form images using colorants of special colors, respectively and are arranged in succession.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Kaori Iwaki, Yosuke Tashiro, Kaoru Yamauchi, Toshifumi Takahira, Masahiko Kubo
  • Patent number: 11474456
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a toner transport body that is an endless belt holding a toner image, or is a transfer member transferring the toner image to a recording medium nipped between the endless belt and the transfer member; a cleaning brush that has plural first bristle materials that rotate and come into contact with a surface of the toner transport body, and cleans a toner adhering to the surface of the toner transport body; and a removing brush that has plural second bristle materials in contact with the first bristle material of the cleaning brush and removes the toner adhering to the first bristle material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Takeshi Yasuda, Daisuke Tanaka, Kaoru Matsushita
  • Patent number: 11454521
    Abstract: A magnetic field sensor for detecting motion of an object includes one or more magnetic field sensing elements configured to generate a magnetic field signal in response to a magnetic field associated with the motion of the object and a detector responsive to the magnetic field signal and to a threshold signal and configured to generate a comparison signal having edges occurring in response to a comparison of the magnetic field signal to the threshold signal. A threshold generator is configured to generate the threshold signal at a first level when a peak-to-peak value of the magnetic field signal is greater than a first predetermined value and at a second level when the peak-to-peak value of the magnetic field signal is less than a second predetermined value different than the first predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Philip Suyderhoud, Logan G. Stewart, Steven E. Snyder
  • Patent number: 11448238
    Abstract: Various embodiments concern a pneumatic landfill pump cycle counter comprising a spring located within a housing passage and a shuttle comprising a shuttle magnet, the shuttle located within the passage. The shuttle can be configured to move axially by the spring within the passage in an upstream direction to a home position, move axially by one or both of air pressure differential and airflow within the passage in a downstream direction away from the home position to a hold position. The cycle counter can further comprise a counter comprising an element responsive to a magnetic field of the shuttle magnet, the counter configured to increment a numeric count for each complete cycle of the shuttle moving from the home position to the hold position and then back to the home position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Steven R. Wells, William C. Allen, III, Matthew T. McKeown, Mark T. Weinberger, John F. Schaupp, David A. Fischer, Leonard Felton Stevens-Moman
  • Patent number: 11448987
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, in continuous image formation in which images are continuously formed and fixed on a plurality of recording materials in a fixing portion, with a period from start of the continuous image formation on a first recording material to arrival thereof at the fixing unit being regarded as a first period, and with a period from the arrival of the first recording material at the fixing portion to the end of the continuous image formation being regarded as a second period, a second maximum energizing duty that is set when the control portion supplies power to a plurality of heating elements in the second period is higher than a first maximum energizing duty that is set when the control portion supplies power to the plurality of heating elements in the first period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Nihonyanagi, Masato Sako
  • Patent number: 11442381
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier that carries an image; a developing device that develops a latent image formed on the image carrier into a visible image formed of powder; an intermediate transfer body to which the visible image is transferred from the image carrier and that temporarily transports the visible image; a transfer device that transfers the visible image on the image carrier to the intermediate transfer body; a first cleaning device that cleans the image carrier by collecting powder that remains on the image carrier; a first collection container that receives the powder collected by the first cleaning device; a second cleaning device that cleans the intermediate transfer body by collecting powder that remains on the intermediate transfer body; a second collection container that receives the powder collected by the second cleaning device; a feeding device that supplies a transfer-process bias to the transfer device; and a changing unit that changes the transfer-process bias sup
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Kazunari Yamagishi, Akira Shimodaira
  • Patent number: 11422006
    Abstract: The description relates to devices and/or device accessories. One example can include a Hall effect sensor configured to sense magnetic fields along a sensing axis and a pair of elongate magnets having co-axial and opposite magnetic axes that are perpendicular to the sensing axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Casey Sean Callan, Mika Martti Yitalo, Sheila A. Longo, Brady James Toothaker, Srinivas Reddy Nagampet
  • Patent number: 11415640
    Abstract: Implementations described herein relate to methods, apparatuses, and systems of leakage current detection. According to one implementation, a method includes initiating self-test of a resistive isolation detection circuit, the self-test configured to return a reset latched value representative of a state of the resistive isolation circuit, pulsing a latch reset signal to clear the reset latched value and a testing signal to indicate a testing state, and during the testing signal, independently determining, that a leakage current is present between a photovoltaic power conversion device positive channel and earth, and, that a leakage current is present between a photovoltaic power conversion device negative channel and earth. The method also includes operating a safety relay and indication signal responsive to the testing signal and the independent determining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Sonnen, Inc.
    Inventors: Chetan Bhusanur, Carlos Restrepo
  • Patent number: 11408752
    Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-turn angle measurement device for measuring multiple revolutions of a shaft (4), consisting of a first code carrier (31) with an optical single-turn scanning function (34) for detecting the absolute position of the shaft and a second code carrier for measuring the number of revolutions of the shaft (4). A reduction gear (2) is arranged between the first code carrier (31) and the second code carrier, and the second code carrier consists of a number of permanent magnets (22), the position of which is detected by an assembly of Hall sensors (16a-16b) fixed to the housing. Each of the permanent magnets (22) is embedded into the plastic material of the transmission gears (20) of the reduction gear (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: HENGSTLER GMBH
    Inventors: Martin Linden, Kai Klaeger, Thorsten Blust
  • Patent number: 11409210
    Abstract: In a cartridge, a housing has a developer accommodating portion and includes a first side wall and a second side wall. A coupling member is disposed at a position opposite to the developer accommodating portion with respect to the first side wall. A detection body is disposed at a position opposite to the developer accommodating portion with respect to the second side wall. A first driving force transmission member is positioned at the same side with the coupling member with respect to the first side wall, and transmits driving force from the coupling member to a rotating member. A second driving force transmission member is positioned at the same side with the detection body with respect to the second side wall, and transmits driving force from the rotating member to the detection body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Naoya Kamimura
  • Patent number: 11402776
    Abstract: Provided is an image heating apparatus including: a film that contacts with the recording material; a heater unit configured to be in contact with an inner surface of the film, the heater unit including a heater, and a heater support supporting the heater, wherein the heater is fixed to the heater support; a pressing roller that forms a nip together with the heater unit through the film, the nip being for nipping and conveying a recording material; a pressing member that presses the heater toward the pressing roller without through the heater support; a pressing force adjustment mechanism for adjusting pressing force in the nip; and a control portion that controls the pressing force adjustment mechanism, wherein the control portion causes the pressing force adjustment mechanism to adjust the pressing force based on temperature detected by a temperature detection member that detects temperature of the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Atsushi Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 11402237
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device, an arrangement and a method for characterizing the torsion, rotation, and/or positioning of a shaft by generating a periodic magnetic field of a magnetic field generator disposed between at least two magnetic field detectors by applying a periodic exciter signal. The field is modified by the shaft and induces an output signal at each of the magnetic field detectors. The difference with respect to amplitude or phase between the exciter signal and the first output signal is detected as a first measured variable and between the exciter signal and the second output signal is detected as a second measured variable. The total of and/or the difference between the first and the second measured variables is calculated, and the torsion, rotation, and/or positioning of the shaft is characterized based thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf e.V.
    Inventor: Dominique Buchenau
  • Patent number: 11392065
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a heated rotational body, a heating unit, a pressing rotational body, a drive unit, a light emitting unit, a light receiving unit, and a drive control part. The heated rotational body has a reflection member. The drive unit rotates the pressing rotational body. The light emitting unit emits infrared light. The light receiving unit receives the infrared light reflected on the reflection member, and receives radiation light of the heated rotational body. The light receiving unit detects a temperature of the heated rotational body based on a receiving of the radiation light. The drive control part obtains a rotational speed of the heated rotational body based on a light receiving period of the infrared light in the light receiving unit and a circumference determined depending on the temperature of the heated rotational body, and controls the drive unit based on the obtained rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Akihiro Kondo
  • Patent number: 11385574
    Abstract: A rotation device includes: a rotary body having a recess in an outer peripheral surface thereof; and a brush configured to come into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the rotary body to remove a foreign matter adhering to the outer peripheral surface, in which the brush is separated from the outer peripheral surface of the rotary body in a state where rotation of the rotary body is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Baba, Yoko Miyamoto, Koichiro Yuasa, Tomoaki Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 11385576
    Abstract: There is provided with a printing apparatus. A printing unit prints an image on a print medium. A heating unit heats the print medium with the image printed thereon. A detection unit detects a temperature of the heating unit. A housing accommodates the printing unit and the heating unit. An openable/closable cover member is provided on the housing and covers the heating unit. A restricting unit is capable of restricting an opening operation of the cover member. A control unit controls the restricting unit so as to execute the restriction if the temperature of the heating unit exceeds a first threshold value, and release the restriction if the temperature of the heating unit is not more than a second threshold value lower than the first threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Saeki
  • Patent number: 11385076
    Abstract: Sensor circuits having a filter and methods for filtering a sensor signal are provided. In this case, a passband width of an adjustable low-pass filter or bandpass filter is adjusted on the basis of a comparison of a measure of a signal change of a sensor signal with a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Inventors: Massimiliano Zilli, Mario Motz
  • Patent number: 11366405
    Abstract: A holding member includes a first opposing portion (first inner wall surface) and a second opposing portion (second inner wall surface) which oppose side wall surfaces of a lens array. Side wall surfaces of the lens array on opposite end sides with respect to a longitudinal direction of the lens array are exposed from opposite ends of the first opposing portion and opposite ends of the second opposing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuaki Otoguro, Yuta Okada, Daisuke Aruga, Hitoshi Iwai, Shinichiro Hosoi, Yuichiro Imai, Toshiki Momoka, Yoshitaka Otsubo, Saimon Gokyu, Takehiro Ishidate
  • Patent number: 11366419
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a connection mechanism in electrical contact with a contact. The connection mechanism includes a terminal member, a power supplying member, an insulating member, and a holding member. The terminal member makes contact with the contact. The power supplying member feeds electric power to the contact via the terminal member and urges the terminal member toward the contact. The insulating member covers the terminal member. The holding member holds the terminal member covered with the insulating member. The terminal member, at a tip end portion of it that projects from the holding member, makes contact with the contact. The insulating member covers at least an entire region, except a contact portion with the contact, of the terminal member that projects from the holding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Ohashi
  • Patent number: 11360420
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit having a plurality of members, a control unit, and a sound collecting unit. The control unit controls operations of the plurality of members in a first operation mode in which the image forming unit forms an image on a recording material. The sound collecting unit collects a sound that arises in the image forming apparatus during the first operation mode execution to generate a sound signal. When it is determined, based on the generated sound signal, that an abnormal sound has arisen, the control unit determines a source of the abnormal sound by transitioning to a second operation mode after the first operation mode has ended and causing, in the second operation mode, one or more members, from the plurality of members, that are possible sources of the abnormal sound to operate separately from the remaining plurality of members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Hara, Yohei Suzuki, Masafumi Monde, Hiroshi Hagiwara, Yoshitaka Zaitsu, Hiromitsu Kumada
  • Patent number: 11346688
    Abstract: A magnetic field sensor for sensing an absolute position of a target includes a first magnetic field sensing element disposed proximate to a first portion of the target having a first cross-sectional shape configured to generate a first periodic magnetic field signal in response to movement of the first target portion and a second magnetic field sensing element disposed proximate to a second portion of the target having a second cross-sectional shape configured to generate a second periodic magnetic field signal in response to movement of the second target portion, wherein the first periodic magnetic field signal and the second periodic magnetic field signal have a substantially constant phase separation. An output format module responsive to the first periodic magnetic field signal and the second periodic magnetic field signal is configured to generate an output signal of the magnetic field sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventor: Logan G. Stewart