Patents Examined by Sevan A Aydin
  • Drum unit
    Patent number: 11921457
    Abstract: A photosensitive drum is rotatable about a drum axis extending in a first direction. A frame includes a first side plate located at first end in the first direction and a second side plate spaced from the first side plate in the first direction. The frame rotatably supports the photosensitive drum between the first side plate and the second side plate in the first direction. The frame holds a developer cartridge. A lock lever is pivotable about a pivot axis extending in a second direction intersecting with the first direction. The lock lever is movable between a lock position at which the developer cartridge is locked on the frame and a release position at which the developer cartridge is unlocked from the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuwen Wang, Junichi Hashimoto, Isao Kishi, Kazuaki Ooka
  • Offset print apparatus and methods
    Patent number: 11912014
    Abstract: Offset print apparatus comprises: a blanket to receive print agent; a non-contact temperature sensor to monitor electromagnetic radiation from a measurement location of the blanket and generate a respective output; and a controller to: receive the output from the non-contact temperature sensor; determine coverage information relating to a print agent coverage of the blanket at the measurement location; and calculate a temperature of the blanket at the measurement location taking into account both the output from the non-contact temperature sensor and the determined coverage information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Evgeny Gorbikov, Michal Shaviv Petrushevsky, Martin Chauvin, Ron Naveh
  • Recording medium determination device, image formation device, and recording medium determination method
    Patent number: 11906919
    Abstract: A recording medium determination device includes a light emitter, a light detector, and a hardware processor. The light emitter emits inspection light to a recording medium. The light detector detects incident light including at least one of diffuse reflected light of the inspection light emitted to the recording medium and fluorescent light excited by the inspection light in the recording medium. The hardware processor makes a determination depending on a property of the recording medium based on a detection result of first incident light of the incident light in accordance with first inspection light of the inspection light and second incident light of the incident light in accordance with second inspection light of the inspection light obtained by the light detector. The second inspection light has an intensity whose peak wavelength is shorter than the peak wavelength of the first inspection light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Shohei Dokiya, Daisuke Kobayashi, Masahiko Takahashi, Makoto Ooki, Takafumi Yuasa, Takaki Uemura
  • Image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 11892794
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device including a fixing device frame, a chute rotatable between a path forming position and a path opening position, an optical sensor including a light-emitting element, and an actuator. The actuator has a shaft, a first lever configured to contact an anti-pivot rib, and a second lever configured to shield light emitted from the light-emitting element. The actuator is movable to a position where the first lever contacts the anti-pivot rib when the chute is at the path forming position, a position where the first lever and the anti-pivot rib are separated from each other when the chute is at the path forming position, and a position where the first lever and the anti-pivot rib are separated from each other when the chute is at the path opening position. The actuator and the optical sensor are supported by the fixing device frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ayaka Ohira, Tomonori Watanabe
  • Image forming apparatus and control method
    Patent number: 11880151
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image forming unit to form a toner image on a first sheet and a fixing unit configured to heat the first sheet to fix the image to the first sheet. A control unit begins a cooling process for cooling the fixing unit when an overheating condition is met, then permits the image forming unit to form a toner image on a second sheet after the cooling process ends according to a first cooling condition if a person is detected near the image forming apparatus or after the cooling process ends according to a second cooling condition if a person not detected near the image forming apparatus. The cooling process under the first cooling condition ends in less time than under the second cooling condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaya Tanaka, Hiroshi Ota
  • Image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 11880159
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body casing, a drum cartridge, a developing cartridge and an intermediate transfer belt. The drum cartridge is removably insertable into to the main body casing in a first direction. The developing cartridge is removably insertable into the main body casing in the first direction. The drum cartridge includes a first handle. The first handle has a first recess having a first hollow. The developing cartridge includes a second handle. The second handle has a second recess having a second hollow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nao Itabashi
  • Image forming apparatus capable of minimizing number of revolutions of motor
    Patent number: 11874623
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductor drum and a drive device. A latent image is to be formed on the photoconductor drum. The drive device drives the photoconductor drum. The drive device includes a motor, a drive pulley, a driven pulley, and a metal belt. The drive pulley is provided for the motor. The driven pulley is provided for the photoconductor drum. The metal belt is wrapped around the drive pulley and the driven pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Akihiro Yamaguchi
  • Developing cartridge
    Patent number: 11860568
    Abstract: A developing cartridge may include: a casing to accommodate developer; a storage medium including an electric contact surface; an elastic member extending in a first direction crossing the electric contact surface, and configured to be compressed or stretched in the first direction between a first state and a second state; and a holder including an outer surface positioned toward a side of the holder in the first direction, the electric contact surface positioned at the outer surface, and movable between first and second positions in the first direction relative to the casing. A length of the elastic member in the first direction is greater in the first state than in the second state. The electric contact surface is in the first position when the elastic member is in the first state, and the electric contact surface is in the second position when the elastic member is in the second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Junichi Yokoi
  • Developer replenishing container and image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 11841641
    Abstract: Provided is a developer replenishing container including: a developer containing part capable of containing a developer; a discharge port through which the developer contained in the developer containing part is discharged; a conveyance part conveying the developer in the developer containing part by rotating; and a displacement part displaceable in conjunction with rotation of the conveyance part in the developer in a vicinity of the discharge port, and including a moving member capable of reciprocating in conjunction with the rotation of the conveyance part and a biasing member which biases the moving member and which is expandable according to movement of the moving member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Yomoda, Yusuke Yamada, Ayatomo Okino, Manabu Jimba, Akihito Kamura
  • Developing roller, process cartridge, and electrophotographic image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 11841629
    Abstract: A developing roller comprising an electroconductive substrate and an electroconductive elastic layer constituted by a single layer on an outer periphery of the substrate. The elastic layer contains a diene-based rubber, has a thickness of 0.30 mm or more, and the elastic layer has a crown shape in which an outer diameter of a center portion in a longitudinal direction along an axis of the substrate is larger than an outer diameter of each of both end portions in the longitudinal direction. Elastic moduli E11, E12 and E13 in a first region of the elastic layer in cross-sections at positions P1, P2 and P3 of the elastic layer are each 500 MPa or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toru Ishii, Kazuaki Nagaoka
  • Rotator driver, heating device, fixing device, and image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 11835897
    Abstract: A rotator driver includes an endless rotator having an end face in a longitudinal direction thereof. A slide aid contacts an inner circumferential face of the endless rotator. A lubricant is applied between the slide aid and the inner circumferential face of the endless rotator. An end face contact member contacts the end face of the endless rotator and has an end face opposed face contacting the end face of the endless rotator and an opposite face being opposite to the end face opposed face. A helical gear is mounted on the opposite face of the end face contact member. The helical gear has teeth being oriented to generate a force that moves the end face contact member toward the end face of the endless rotator as the helical gear rotates. The helical gear has an outer diameter being not greater than an outer diameter of the endless rotator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Yuusuke Furuichi
  • Image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 11835913
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body casing, a drum cartridge, a developing cartridge and an intermediate transfer belt. The drum cartridge is removably insertable into to the main body casing in a first direction. The developing cartridge is removably insertable into the main body casing in the first direction. The drum cartridge includes a first handle. The first handle has a first recess having a first hollow. The developing cartridge includes a second handle. The second handle has a second recess having a second hollow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nao Itabashi
  • Fixing apparatus and image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 11829089
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes an endless first rotary member, a heating element, a second rotary member configured to form a nip portion, and a nip member configured to receive radiant heat from the heating element and heat the nip portion. The nip member includes a main-body portion that contains aluminum or aluminum alloy and a protective layer that includes an oxide film formed on a surface of the main-body portion. The main-body portion contains a heat receiving surface that faces the heating element and receives radiant heat from the heating element, and a rubbed surface that is rubbed against the inner circumferential surface of the first rotary member. The protective layer contains coloring agent that causes an emissivity of the heat receiving surface and the rubbed surface to be higher than an emissivity of a natural color oxide film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Isamu Takeda, Takanori Mitani, Satoshi Nishida, Takeshi Shinji
  • Image forming apparatus determining states of members, image forming method, and image forming system
    Patent number: 11822276
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of members for forming an image; a transmitting unit configured to transmit a sonic wave; a receiving unit configured to receive a first sonic wave that has been transmitted from the transmitting unit and has passed through a sheet and a second sonic wave that is generated from at least one of the plurality of members; a detection unit configured to detect information regarding a type or state of the sheet based on the first sonic wave; and a determination unit configured to determine a state of a member that has generated the second sonic wave based on the second sonic wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yohei Suzuki, Junya Azami, Seiji Hara, Atsunobu Mori, Masafumi Monde, Tatsuya Hotogi, Hirotaka Shiomichi
  • Fixing device and image forming appartatus
    Patent number: 11822274
    Abstract: A fixing device includes an annular belt having an outer circumferential surface, and a facing member that faces the outer circumferential surface of the annular belt to form a nip region. The annular belt is configured so that in measurement of a hardness of the outer circumferential surface using a hardness tester, a ratio (A/B) of a first hardness value (A) to a second hardness value (B) is 0.738 or more and 0.837 or less. The first hardness value (A) represents a measured value at a time when a measurement time corresponding to a time required for a predetermined point on the outer circumferential surface to pass through the nip region has elapsed after start of the hardness measurement. The second hardness value (B) represents a measured value at a time when the measured value by the hardness tester is saturated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Kanno
  • Image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 11815848
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device that forms an image on a recording material, a forming device storage space storing the image forming device, a temperature adjustment space where a temperature adjustment device adjusts temperature, and a supply unit that supplies air in the temperature adjustment space into the forming device storage space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Teruyo Ryuzaki, Satoru Nishikawa, Yoshitaka Kuroda, Shinji Kawashima, Shinya Mitorida
  • Fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
    Patent number: 11809107
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a heater, a fixing rotator, a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, a contact rotator, and circuitry. The fixing rotator has an outer circumferential surface having a first area and a second area. The first area contacts both a first sheet and a second sheet having a width narrower than the width of the first sheet. The second area contacts the first sheet but does not contact the second sheet. The first temperature sensor detects a first temperature of the first area. The second temperature sensor detects a second temperature of the second area. The contact rotator contacts both the first area and the second area and rotates at the one of at least two relative velocities with respect to the fixing rotator. The circuitry sets one of the at least two relative velocities based on the first temperature and the second temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuo Tokuda, Akiyasu Amita, Fumihiro Hirose, Daisuke Arai
  • Image forming apparatus and control method thereof
    Patent number: 11803142
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a forming unit, a heating unit, a temperature sensor, and a driving unit. The forming unit is configured to attach toner to a recording medium to form an image on the recording medium. The heating unit is configured to heat the toner that is attached to the recording medium by the forming unit to fix the image to the recording medium. The temperature sensor is configured to detect a temperature of the heating unit. The vibration unit is configured to apply vibration to the temperature sensor in a waiting period in which the image formation by the forming unit is not executed and the heating control by the heating unit is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Eiji Shinohara
  • Sheet heating device and image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 11803145
    Abstract: A sheet heating device includes: a heat roller including a lamp heater; a fixing frame supporting end parts of the heat roller and the lamp heater; and a heat-insulating cover member provided outside of the fixing frame. The fixing frame is disposed so as to cover the space above the heat roller. A plurality of heat retention spaces is provided inside of the cover member so as to be partitioned from one another and to be opened toward the fixing frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Minoru Tomiyori
  • Image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 11803140
    Abstract: A heating unit urging member urges a first support body of a heating unit toward a second support body of a fixing unit with elastic force. The heating unit urging member brings the first support body into contact with the second support body and brings the second support body into contact with two struts. An interlocking mechanism moves the heating unit along a direction in which the heating unit and the fixing unit are arranged, in conjunction with movement of an operation portion. When the operation portion moves from a first position to a second position, the interlocking mechanism moves the first support body from a reference position where the first support body is in contact with the second support body to a retracted position where the first support body is separated from the second support body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Sachio Izumichi, Takehiro Sato