Patents Examined by Robert B Beatty
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Patent number: 11921459Abstract: An imaging system includes a housing to define a housing space, a collection device to collect fine particles in the housing space, a detection device to detect a collection performance of the collection device, and a cleaning device to clean the collection device.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2021Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Yuji Aoshima, Takashi Nakazawa, Takuya Ito
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Patent number: 11914320Abstract: An image forming apparatus, for forming an image with a fixing unit that fixes a toner image to a recording material and with a first transport path, includes: a first guide unit that guides one side of a recording material discharged from the fixing unit and transported through the first transport path; a second guide unit that guides the other side of the recording material transported thorough the first transport path; a blowing part through which gas is sent to the one side of the recording material transported through the first transport path; and a gas guiding part that faces the second guide unit with the first transport path interposed between the gas guiding part and the second guide unit and that guides, in a direction away from the first transport path, gas that is sent from the blowing part and whose traveling direction is changed by a recording material.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2022Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.Inventors: Kazunari Ishii, Koji Yoshitsugu, Yuta Shimatate, Shunsuke Yamasaki, Naoki Sambe, Yasuhisa Gonda
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Patent number: 11914316Abstract: A fixing unit includes a first heater, a first switch, a second heater, and a second switch. In an image forming mode, a controller controls the first switch and the second switch to keep a temperature of the fixing unit at a fixing temperature serving as a target temperature for fixing the image on the sheet. In a standby mode, the controller controls the first and second switches to keep the temperature of the fixing unit at a standby temperature, and controls the first and second switches such that a period in which a first current is supplied to the first heater and a period in which a second current is supplied to the second heater do not overlap.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2022Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takashi Uehara
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Patent number: 11914315Abstract: In a caser where a first current is supplied to a first heater, a controller gradually increases the first current in a first period, supplies the first current based on a first duty cycle in a second period, and gradually reduces the first current to stop supplying the first current in a third period. In a case where a second current is supplied to a second heater, the controller gradually increases the second current in a fourth period, supply the second current based on a second duty cycle in a fifth period, and gradually reduces the second current to stop supplying the second current in a sixth period. The controller controls the supply of the second current such that part of the fourth period overlaps with the third period.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2022Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiroshi Oguri
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Patent number: 11906921Abstract: An image forming apparatus that is capable of properly grasping a load that is imposed on the image forming apparatus by performing high-chroma printing. The image forming apparatus includes a printer engine that causes a heating rotary body to support and convey a sheet with a toner image formed thereon and performs an image formation on the sheet. The printer engine is controlled to perform the image formation on sheets in a first mode in which a toner image based on a piece of image data is formed with a first amount of toner, or a second mode in which a toner image based on the piece of image data is formed with a second amount of toner larger than the first amount of toner. A count function for counting the number of times of the image formation performed in the second mode, rather than the first mode, is performed.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2022Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Hiroshi Oya
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Patent number: 11899388Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body, a development cartridge, a toner cartridge, and a controller. The development cartridge includes a development roller, a development chamber, and a development memory. The toner cartridge includes a case in which toner is stored, a toner supply unit configured to supply toner from the case into the development chamber, and a toner memory. The controller stores, in the development memory, information regarding a cumulative received toner amount and a cumulative toner consumption amount. The controller subtracts the cumulative toner consumption amount from the cumulative received toner amount to find a difference, and causes the toner supply unit to supply a first predetermined amount of toner into the development chamber when the difference is equal to or smaller than a first threshold value. The controller stores, in the toner memory, information regarding the cumulative supplied toner amount.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2022Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kazuma Hinoue, Shintaro Suzuki, Sota Hirano
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Patent number: 11892787Abstract: A fixing device includes a belt having a tubular shape and extending in a longitudinal direction, and having a longitudinal end, a drive roller to rotate the belt to convey a print medium between the drive roller and the belt, a bushing located at the longitudinal end of the belt, and a guide wall adjacent to the bushing. The belt is displaceable in the longitudinal direction relative to the bushing. The bushing includes a shoulder adjacent to the longitudinal end of the belt and a stem extending from the shoulder to an inside of the belt to support the belt. The guide guides the bushing to move in a direction opposite to a conveyance direction of the print medium when the belt moves toward the bushing. The stem of the bushing includes a convex portion that is in contact with an inner surface of the belt when the belt is displaced in the longitudinal direction.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2021Date of Patent: February 6, 2024Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Tatsunori Izawa, Takayuki Horie, Yasuo Suzuki, Satoru Furuya, Satoshi Ohwada, Hiroyuki Sato, Koichi Utsunomiya
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Patent number: 11880149Abstract: An imaging system includes a housing that defines a housing space, a fuser disposed inside the housing space to fix a toner image onto a print medium, a collecting device including an ionizer and a particle filter, and a controller. The fuser is associated with operation history information. The ionizer of the collecting device includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The ionizer generates a discharge between the first electrode and the second electrode so as to charge floating particles that are discharged from the fuser. The particle filter of the collecting device collects the charged floating particles. The controller controls a current to flow between the first electrode and the second electrode due to the discharging, based on the operation history information of the fuser.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2021Date of Patent: January 23, 2024Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Takuya Ito, Takashi Nakazawa, Yuji Aoshima
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Patent number: 11880161Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section that forms, with a developer containing toner, a toner image on a recording material; a fixing unit that fixes a toner image formed at the image forming section to a recording material; a recovery unit that recovers waste powder containing toner discharged from the image forming section; and a gas circulation unit in which gas for cooling the vicinity of the image forming section or the vicinity of the fixing unit circulates and that has a portion disposed between the recovery unit and the fixing unit.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2022Date of Patent: January 23, 2024Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.Inventors: Yuta Shimatate, Koji Yoshitsugu, Kazunari Ishii, Shunsuke Yamasaki, Yasuhisa Gonda, Naoki Sambe
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Patent number: 11880160Abstract: A filter holding device includes an opening portion and a filter. The opening portion communicates an inside of the filter holding device with an outside of the filter holding device. The filter includes a first side and a second side. The first side faces the inside of the filter holding device. The second side faces the outside of the filter holding device. The filter has a lower weight density per unit volume at the first side than at the second side. At least a side face of the first side of the filter is covered with an air-impermeable member. The side face is a lateral face of the filter at the first side.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2021Date of Patent: January 23, 2024Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Hotaru Hashikawa, Tatsuya Kubo, Kazuki Yogosawa, Yuta Yabuta, Takuya Suganuma
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Patent number: 11874629Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a storage medium. A first contact portion is provided in a photoconductor unit and configured to be electrically connected to the storage medium. A second contact portion is provided in an apparatus body. The photoconductor unit is configured to, in a case of attaching the photoconductor unit to the apparatus body, move from a first position to a second position while being guided by a guide member and then move from the second position to a third position below the second position. At least one of the first contact portion and the second contact portion is capable of being displaced such that engagement between the first contact portion and the second contact portion is performed while the photoconductor unit moves by being guided by the guide member, and the engagement is maintained while the photoconductor unit moves from the second position to the third position.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2022Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hirotaka Ishii
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Patent number: 11868080Abstract: According to an embodiment, an open and close detection device is provided with a moving member, a first lever, a second lever, and the like. The moving member is held to be movable by a holding member within a planar area including an initial position and a detection position. Each of the first lever and the second lever includes a contact guide section, and moves the moving member in association with a closing operation of an open and close member. Also, when one of the first lever and the second lever is to move the moving member, this movement is guided by the contact guide section of the other lever.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2022Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Hideaki Kadowaki
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Patent number: 11868084Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing having an opening, a cover configured to open the opening in an open state and to close the opening in a close state, a photosensitive drum, a heater, a fan configured to force air out of the housing, and a controller. The cover in the open state is configured to allow a sheet with a toner image fixed thereon to be ejected through the opening. The heater is configured to heat a sheet to fix a toner image on the sheet, and is located between the cover in the close state and the photosensitive drum. During execution of a printing process, the controller is configured to cause the fan to rotate at a first speed if the cover is in the closed state, and to rotate at a second speed lower than the first speed if the cover is in the open state.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2022Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Koji Abe
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Patent number: 11868078Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body including a side surface portion in which an opening is formed, a cartridge, an opening/closing member configured to be moved with respect to the apparatus body between a closed position and an opened position, a sheet stacking portion, a feed roller, and a lifting member configured to lift and lower the feed roller. In the state where the opening/closing member is positioned in the closed position, at least part of the lifting member is positioned an inside of a movement locus through which the cartridge passes in a case where the cartridge is attached to and detached from the apparatus body. In a state where the opening/closing member is positioned in the opened position, a whole of the lifting member is positioned an outside of the movement locus.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2022Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tomoya Tateishi, Kazuhiro Hosohara
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Patent number: 11860567Abstract: A drum cartridge includes: a photosensitive drum rotatable about a drum axis extending in an axis direction; a drum cleaner including a cleaning member cleaning a circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum, and a cleaning housing accommodating transfer residual toner removed from the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum by the cleaning member; a first drum side plate supporting a first end portion of the photosensitive drum; a second drum side plate located distant from the first drum side plate in the axis direction and supporting a second end portion of the photosensitive drum; a pipe located between the first drum side plate and the second drum side plate in the axis direction and extending in the axis direction; and a conveyor device conveying the transfer residual toner from the cleaning housing to the pipe.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2022Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Enao Yamada, Shougo Sato
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Patent number: 11852995Abstract: According to examples, an apparatus may include a processor that may identify a first period for a heated system, the first period including a first set of power events and a first zero power event for the heated system and may identify a second period for the heated system, the second period including a second set of power events and a second zero power event for the heated system. The processor may also borrow, from the second period, a portion of a second power event of the second set of power events and may apply the borrowed portion of the second power event to a first power event of the first set of power events during the first period to remove the first zero power event from the first period.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2018Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Robert Yraceburu, Francisco Alcazar, Daniel James Magnusson, Duane A Koehler
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Patent number: 11846907Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device, a power supply, a toner container, a cover, a first harness, and a second harness. The power supply supplies power to the fixing device. The toner container compartment is between the fixing device and the power supply and receives a toner container. The cover is on the toner container compartment and moves into the toner container compartment. The first harness is coupled to the power supply, and the second harness is coupled to the fixing device. The second harness is detachably coupled to the first harness above the cover.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2022Date of Patent: December 19, 2023Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Akimitsu Obana
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Patent number: 11846900Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion, a belt unit including a cleaning unit and an opposing roller, and a swinging mechanism. The swinging mechanism includes a swingable member which is provided in a position different from a rotation center of the opposing roller while holding the opposing roller and the cleaning unit without changing a relative positional relationship between the opposing roller and the cleaning unit and which is swingable about a swing axis.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2022Date of Patent: December 19, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yuki Kurosu
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Patent number: 11845624Abstract: A conveying device includes a rotating carrier, an inlet rotary body, an outlet rotary body, a downstream conveyor, and an inching controller. The rotating carrier carries a sheet. The inlet rotary body transfers the sheet to the rotary carrier from upstream of the rotary carrier in a conveyance direction of the sheet. The outlet rotary body transfers the sheet to a downstream area from the rotary carrier in the conveyance direction. The downstream conveyor conveys the sheet downstream from the outlet rotary body in the conveyance direction. The inching controller performs an inching operation to convey the sheet on a conveyance path including at least the downstream conveyor. The inching controller causes at least the outlet rotary body and the downstream conveyor to perform a conveying operation in conjunction with each other in the inching operation.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2021Date of Patent: December 19, 2023Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Kohei Chike, Toshihiro Nakagaki
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Patent number: 11841647Abstract: A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member unit including a photosensitive drum; a sheet configured to remove a deposited matter from a surface of the drum, the sheet being in contact with the surface of the drum at an end portion of the drum with respect to a rotational axis direction of the member; and a developing unit detachably mounted to the member unit, the developing unit including a developing roller configured to supply toner to the drum, and a storage portion configured to store the deposited matter removed from the surface of the drum by the sheet.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2022Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takuya Kawakami, Noriyuki Komatsu, Tetsuya Numata, Naoya Asanuma, Daisuke Makiguchi