Patents Examined by Sophia S. Chen
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Patent number: 11194287Abstract: A system for an electrophotographic image forming device includes a basket for holding multiple toner cartridges. A guide rail assembly operatively connected to an access door moves between a raised position and a lowered position to raise and lower the basket when the access door moves between an open position and a closed position. The basket is slidable along the guide rail assembly into and out of the image forming device when the guide rail assembly is in the raised position, and is in an operational position within the image forming device when the guide rail assembly is in the lowered position. A rail lock mechanism locks the access door in the open position when the guide rail assembly is in the raised position and the basket is extended out of the image forming device and unlocks the access door from the open position when the basket is inserted.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2021Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Jie Chen, Benjamin Charles Devore, Michael James Shanor, Christopher Kent Washing
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Patent number: 11194286Abstract: A system for an electrophotographic image forming device includes a basket insertable into and extendable out of the image forming device. The basket includes a plurality of positioning slots each configured to receive a corresponding toner cartridge of a plurality of toner cartridges. The basket includes a cartridge latching assembly configured to apply a hold-down force on each toner cartridge to rigidly hold each toner cartridge against corresponding datums of the basket. A basket latching assembly in the image forming device is configured to apply a hold-down force on the basket when the basket is inserted into the image forming device to rigidly hold the basket against corresponding datums of the image forming device for positioning the plurality of toner cartridges in respective operational positions within the image forming device with only the cartridge latching assembly of the basket directly applying hold-down forces on the plurality of toner cartridges.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2021Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Mark William Amann, Brian Allen Blair, Brian Lester Boettcher, James Anthany Carter, II, Jie Chen, Benjamin Charles Devore, Darin Michael Gettelfinger, Michael James Shanor, Christopher Kent Washing
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Patent number: 11194285Abstract: A system for an electrophotographic image forming device includes a basket including a plurality of positioning slots each including cartridge datum locators that position a plurality of toner cartridges relative to the basket. A first guide rail and a second guide rail, each movable between a raised position and a lowered position, raise and lower the basket when the first and second guide rails move between the raised and lowered positions. In the raised positions the first and second guide rails support the basket permitting the basket to slide along the first and second guide rails into and out of the image forming device. When the first and second guide rails are in the lowered positions basket datum locators within the image forming device support the basket and position the basket relative to the image forming device in order to position the toner cartridges relative to the image forming device.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2021Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Brian Allen Blair, Jie Chen, Benjamin Charles Devore, Darin Michael Gettelfinger, Michael James Shanor, Christopher Kent Washing
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Patent number: 11193952Abstract: A circuit configured to sense an input analog signal generated by a sensor at a first frequency and to generate an output digital signal indicative of the sensed input analog signal. The circuit includes a conditioning circuit, an ADC, a feedback circuit, and a low-pass filter. The conditioning circuit is configured to receive the input analog signal and to generate a conditioned analog signal. The ADC is configured to provide a converted digital signal based on the conditioned analog signal. The feedback circuit includes a band-pass filter configured to selectively detect a periodic signal at a second frequency higher than the first frequency and to act on the conditioning circuit to counter variations of the periodic signal at the second frequency. The low-pass filter is configured to filter out the periodic signal from the converted digital signal to generate the output digital signal.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2020Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventor: Marco Zamprogno
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Patent number: 11188008Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a developing cartridge including a casing, a first electrical contact surface, and a holder movable relative to the casing; a drum cartridge including a drum frame, a second electrical contact surface, and a holder movable relative to the drum frame; and a main frame having an opening and including first and second guide frames facing in a facing direction, a first main electrical contact capable of being electrically connected to one of the first and second electrical contact surfaces, and a second main electrical contact positioned closer to the opening in an attachment direction and capable of being electrically connected to the remaining one of the first and second electrical contact surfaces. A distance in the facing direction between the first and second guide frames is reduced as the first and second guide frames extend toward the first main electrical contact in the attachment direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2021Date of Patent: November 30, 2021Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shinya Kusuda, Yasuo Fukamachi
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Patent number: 11181851Abstract: A developer supply container 1 is detachably mountable to a developer receiving apparatus including a developer receiving portion 11 provided with a receiving port 11a for receiving a developer, a portion-to-be-engaged 11b a displaceable integrally with the developer receiving portion 11. The developer supply container 1 includes an engaging portion 30 and a discharging portion provided with a shutter opening 4j for discharging the developer accommodated in a developer accommodating portion. The engaging portion 30 is provided at only one side with respect to a predetermined direction crossing with a mounting direction of the developer supply container 1 in the crossing with a displacing direction of the developer receiving portion 11. The engaging portion 30 engages with the portion-to-be-engaged 11b with a mounting operation of the developer supply container 1 to bring the receiving port 11a in the communication with the shutter opening 4j.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2020Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Katsuya Murakami, Ayatomo Okino
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Patent number: 11174930Abstract: A drive force transmission mechanism includes a drive pulley, a driven pulley and an endless belt. The endless belt is wound around the drive pulley and the driven pulley and transmits a rotation of the drive pulley to the driven pulley. At least one of the drive pulley and the driven pulley has a protruding part protruding outwardly in a radial direction around an outer circumferential face of the drive pulley or the driven pulley. The belt is a nonmagnetic metal belt having an outer circumferential face and an inner circumferential face. The outer circumferential face has a surface roughness smaller than a surface roughness of the inner circumferential face.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2019Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventor: Akihiro Yamaguchi
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Patent number: 11175494Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus includes a light source, a light deflecting unit, an optical member, a casing, a cover member, and a detecting unit. The cover member is provided with a first opening permitting passage of a light beam emitted from the light source, a second opening permitting passage of the light beam deflected by the deflecting unit, and third and fourth openings which are provided in positions on a side opposite from the first and second openings with respect to the deflecting unit. Through the third opening, an outflow of the air from the cover member by rotation of said deflecting unit is relatively high. Through the fourth opening, an inflow of the air into the cover member by rotation of said deflecting unit is relatively high. The detecting unit is provided at a position where the air flow blowing through the third opening hits the detecting unit.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2020Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yasuaki Otoguro, Toshiki Momoka, Yuichiro Imai, Yuta Okada, Yoshitaka Otsubo
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Patent number: 11175624Abstract: Control to drive and stop developing roller is effected. A cartridge includes a drive transmission member movable between a transmitting position capable of transmitting the driving force toward a developing roller and a blocking position capable of blocking the transmission of the driving force to the developing roller.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2020Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Sohta Sugimoto, Masaaki Sato
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Patent number: 11175607Abstract: Examples of an output assembly for a print particle replenishment device are described herein, Some examples of the output assembly include a sliding member. For example, the sliding member includes a channel that is offset from a rotating axis of the output assembly and a notch that is offset from the rotating axis and that extends to an outer edge of the sliding member. Some examples of the output assembly include a cover member to maintain a static position with respect to a rotation of the sliding member. In some examples, the cover member includes an alignment structure that is offset from the rotating axis of the output assembly.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2018Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.Inventors: Andy Philip Chick, Pratik Pravinkumar Shah, Min-Chul Lee, Ji-won Moon, Matthew James Storey, Zackary Thomas Hickman, Corbett Benjamin Schoenfelt, Bennett Alexander Nadeau, Jefferson Blake West
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Patent number: 11175621Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one embodiment includes a body having a reservoir for storing toner and a rotatable developer roll mounted on the body and in fluid communication with the reservoir. A portion of an outer surface of the developer roll is exposed along a front of the body for supplying toner from the reservoir to a corresponding photoconductive drum on an imaging unit when the toner cartridge is installed on the imaging unit in an operative position of the toner cartridge relative to the imaging unit. A first engagement member positioned on a rear of the body is configured to engage a corresponding second engagement member on the imaging unit when the toner cartridge is installed on the imaging unit to retain the toner cartridge in a storage position of the toner cartridge relative to the imaging unit with the developer roll spaced away from the photoconductive drum.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2020Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Gregory Alan Cavill, Randal Scott Williamson
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Patent number: 11169465Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a motor; a roller; and a power transmission device for transmitting a driving force of the motor to the roller. The power transmission device includes: a planetary gear mechanism including a first helical gear into which the driving force is inputted, a second helical gear for outputting the driving force to the roller, and a transmission element; and a restriction member. The transmission element can transmit the driving force when the restriction member is in its restricting position and thus rotation of the transmission element is restricted, and interrupts transmission of the driving force when the restricting member is in its non-restricting position and thus rotation of the transmission element is not restricted. A direction of a first thrust force applied to the first helical gear and a direction of a second thrust force applied to the second helical gear are opposite to each other.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2020Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KAB USHIKI KAISHAInventor: Shoichiro Nishimura
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Patent number: 11169477Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a controller configured to, if it is determined that a connecting process of connecting a continuous sheet and another continuous sheet to each other is to be executed when a trailing end of the continuous sheet transported by a printing unit is detected, prohibit the continuous sheet from being transported in response to a user's operation at a time when the trailing end of the continuous sheet is detected.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2019Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.Inventor: Takayuki Matsui
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Patent number: 11163154Abstract: Multi-polygon, vertically-separated laser scanning apparatus and methods are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a multi-polygon. The multi-polygon includes a first polygon, a central axis, and a second polygon. The first polygon includes a first plurality of outwardly-facing mirrored facets. The second polygon includes a second plurality of outwardly-facing mirrored facets angularly offset about the central axis relative to the first plurality of outwardly-facing mirrored facets. The second polygon is positioned relative to the first polygon along the central axis. The first and second polygons are rotatable about the central axis.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2019Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignee: INTEL CORPORATIONInventors: Liron Ain-Kedem, Arnon Hirshberg
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Patent number: 11163258Abstract: An image forming apparatus, having a casing, a cover, a photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a photo-interrupter, a moving mechanism to move the developing roller between a contacting position and a separated position, and a controller, is provided. The moving mechanism has a cam including, a first cam portion, a phase-detector wall including a first slit and a second slit, and a cam follower. When the cover moves from the open position to the closed position, the controller conducts a first initializing control to cause the cam to rotate in a reverse direction, and after detecting the first slit based on a time period, in which light in the photo-interrupter passes through one of the first slit and the second slit, cause the cam to stop rotating.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2020Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshiyuki Sano, Shintaro Sakaguchi, Yusuke Ikegami
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Patent number: 11156956Abstract: A device for transmitting a rotational force to an electrophotographic photosensitive drum includes a flange connectable to the photosensitive drum and having a rotational axis, a hollow portion, and a force receiving surface, a pin configured to transmit the rotational force to the flange, and a coupling member the coupling member including a shaft shaped portion extended along a rotational axis of the coupling member and including a through-hole portion. When the pin and at least a part of the shaft shaped portion of the coupling member are accommodated in the hollow portion of the flange and the pin contacts the force receiving surface, the pin is capable of transmitting the rotational force received from the coupling member to the flange.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2020Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takahito Ueno, Shigeo Miyabe, Masanari Morioka, Masato Hisano
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Patent number: 11156244Abstract: An embossed component for positioning an article having a through hole includes a planar portion and an embossed portion projecting from a surface of the planar portion. The embossed portion is tapered toward a tip side and to be fitted into the through hole. The embossed portion includes a straight base end portion continuous with the planar portion and extending vertically with respect to the planar portion toward the tip side of the embossed portion, and an opening is at a tip of the embossed portion.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2019Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Kohei Takita, Toshikazu Hirakawa, Eiri Sagae, Satoshi Kai, Taisuke Tokuwaki, Shumpei Takahashi, Riku Maeshiro, Shinichi Tanaka
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Patent number: 11156952Abstract: A developer supply container is detachably mountable to a developer receiving apparatus, the developer receiving apparatus including a developer receiving portion provided with a receiving port for receiving a developer and including a portion-to-be-engaged capable of displacing integrally with the developer receiving portion. The developer supply container includes a discharging portion provided with a shutter opening for discharging the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion, and an engaging portion. The engaging portion engages with the portion-to-be-engaged with a mounting operation of the developer supply container to displace the developer receiving portion so as to bring the receiving opening into fluid communication with the shutter opening. The engaging portion includes a curved portion having an angle relative to a mounting direction of the developer supply container, the angle decreasing with approach toward an upstream side in the mounting direction.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2020Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yohei Gamo, Daijiro Kato, Yusuke Oizumi, Ayatomo Okino
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Patent number: 11156940Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body that includes a photosensitive member on which an electrostatic latent image is formed and a development unit configured to develop the photosensitive member with toner. The main body is configured to discharge a recording material on which an image is formed with the toner onto a discharge tray. The image forming apparatus also includes a toner supply port on which a supply container is mounted to supply toner to a toner containing portion of the development unit. The image forming apparatus further includes a non-contact communication portion including an antenna and configured to receive a signal for user authentication. The discharge tray, the toner supply port, and the non-contact communication portion are provided at an upper portion of the main body. The non-contact communication portion is provided outside the discharge tray when the main body is viewed from above.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2020Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kei Hayashida, Kenji Matsuzaka, Tomio Noguchi, Takahiro Azeta
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Patent number: 11156941Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a toner reservoir. An outlet port faces downward on a front of the housing near a first side of the housing. A linkage is positioned on the first side of the housing and has an engagement surface that is accessible at the rear of the housing. A projection is positioned on the first side of the housing and is movable between a first position and a second position. The projection is operatively connected to the linkage such that the projection moves upward from the first position to the second position when the engagement surface receives a forward force that is toward the front of the housing. The projection extends outward sideways from the first side when the projection is in the second position.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2020Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Michael Nuestro Bayubay, Salvador Capurihan Bonanciar, Brian Scott Carpenter, Donato Austria Marmol, Robert Watson McAlpine, Katrina Rosit Lactuan