Patents Examined by Susan Lee
  • Patent number: 10156825
    Abstract: Disclosed is a developing apparatus including: a developer bearing member that bears a developer; a developing frame body that rotatably supports the developer bearing member; a one-end side end member that supports one-end side in an axis direction of the developer bearing member of the developing frame body; and another-end side end member that supports the other-end side in the axis direction of the developer bearing member of the developing frame body. Each of the one-end side end member and the other-end side end member is independently movable with respect to the developing frame body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masato Tanabe, Kazutaka Sueshige, Teruhiko Sasaki, Tsukasa Abe, Osamu Anan
  • Patent number: 10152019
    Abstract: A monochrome laser printer including, a main body including a front wall and a rear wall, a feeding tray, a pickup roller being closer to the rear wall than to the front wall, a drum cartridge comprising a photosensitive drum that is closer to the rear wall than to the front wall and is configured to feed recording sheet upward, a developing cartridge comprising a developing roller that is disposed below the photosensitive drum and faces the photosensitive drum, an exposing unit being closer to the front wall than to the rear wall and is disposed above the feeding tray, a pressing member that is disposed below the developing roller, and a compression spring that is disposed below the pressing member and is configured to press the pressing member upward to press the developing roller upward via the pressing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Junichi Yokoi, Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 10151994
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a charging roller, a voltage source, a current detecting member, and a setting portion configured to set the DC voltage applied to the charging roller in an image forming period on the basis of a detection result of the detecting member when a DC voltage less than a discharge start voltage is applied from the voltage source to the charging roller in a period other than the image forming period, wherein the setting portion sets the DC voltage so that an absolute value of the DC voltage when an absolute value of the detected current is a first value is larger than an absolute value of the DC voltage when the absolute value of the detected current is a second value smaller than the first value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kota Mori, Takeshi Fujino
  • Patent number: 10133234
    Abstract: A process cartridge includes: a developing unit; a drum unit; an urging member; and an electrically-conductive member. The developing unit includes a developing roller. The drum unit includes a photosensitive drum. The developing unit is pivotally movable relative to the drum unit about a pivot axis extending along the developing roller. The urging member is configured to urge the developing roller toward the photosensitive drum. The electrically-conductive member is provided at the developing unit and configured to apply voltage to the developing roller. The electrically-conductive member is made of an electrically-conductive resin. The electrically-conductive member includes a contact portion configured to contact an electric contact provided at an image forming apparatus. The pivot axis and the contact portion define a first distance therebetween. The pivot axis and the urging member define a second distance therebetween. The first distance is smaller than the second distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Junichi Yokoi
  • Patent number: 10132665
    Abstract: A magnetic flowmeter has a transmitter module that generates a drive signal for driving a magnetic field in a flowing fluid. A flowtube module samples a voltage induced in the fluid by the magnetic field and generates a measurement signal. A single communication path carries the drive signal from the transmitter module to the flowtube module and the measurement signal from the flowtube module to the transmitter module. The flowtube module generates a digital measurement signal. The flowtube module can include a processor for bundling the measurement signal with other information such as calibration data for the flowtube. In addition, the processor can control the timing of flowtube module operations so that the flowtube module samples the induced voltage and transmits the measurement signal to the transmitter module at different times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Systems USA, Inc.
    Inventors: James L. Pizzuti, Antoine DeProost
  • Patent number: 10132884
    Abstract: A circular dipole antenna (e.g., for a magnetic imaging system) according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can comprise a circular conductor with a feed point on one side and a gap on the other. A surface coil loop antenna (e.g., for magnetic imaging system) is provided with a capacitor arrangement selected for non-uniform or unbalanced current distribution, with corresponding magnetic and electric dipole fields provided in a single structure referred to as a loopole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: New York University
    Inventors: Karthik Lakshmanan, Martijn Cloos, Graham Charles Wiggins
  • Patent number: 10126399
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for movement correction for a magnetic resonance fingerprinting examination on an object under examination, a magnetic resonance signal shape of a region of the object is acquired using the magnetic resonance fingerprinting method, movement data for at least one sub-region of the region are detected movement information is generated from the acquired movement data, the acquired magnetic resonance signal shape is corrected with reference to the generated movement information, a signal comparison of the corrected magnetic resonance signal shape is made with multiple database signal shapes stored in a database, with a database value of at least one tissue parameter being assigned to each of the database signal shapes. A value of the at least one tissue parameter is assigned to the corrected signal shape as a result of the signal comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: David Grodzki
  • Patent number: 10120317
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is operable in a first mode in which a control unit is in a rest state and a second mode in which electric power is supplied to the control unit. The image forming apparatus changes the mode of the operation to the second mode of the operation in response to detection of putting of the sheet on the manual feeding tray during execution of the operation in the first mode with the pressing mechanism being in the second position, and then in response to receipt of input of a predetermined instruction about an image forming operation by a receiving portion in the second mode, the control unit controls the moving mechanism so that the pressing mechanism moves from the low pressure position to a nip-forming position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Fukuda, Keisuke Yoshida
  • Patent number: 10114337
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes an image-forming unit, a fixing device including a heating rotator and a pressure member forming a nip portion together with the heating rotator, and a bias-applying unit applying bias to the heating rotator. Image forming modes each having a time interval between a preceding recording material and a succeeding recording material which is different from each other can be performed. A control unit executes a first control while the recording materials are being conveyed at the nip portion, and a second control while the recording materials are not being conveyed at the nip portion due to the time interval. A switching time in the image forming mode in which the time interval is a first time interval is determined to be longer than in the image forming mode in which the time interval is a second time interval shorter than the first time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Honke, Satoru Taniguchi, Mahito Yoshioka, Hirohiko Aiba, Taisuke Minagawa, Masaki Hirose
  • Patent number: 10114095
    Abstract: Methods, and systems and apparatus for implementing the methods, are described for performing efficient multispectral magnetic resonance imaging, such that images of multiple contrast weightings for each slice are acquired in a single scan. Such differentially weighted MR images are thus suitable for generating a plurality of coregistered parameter maps for each slice. The methods may comprise applying a first excitation pulse to a first slice of a subject; detecting a first plurality of echo signals emitted by the first slice after the first excitation pulse; waiting a first period of time; applying a second excitation pulse to the first slice during partial recovery of a longitudinal magnetization of the first slice; and detecting a second plurality of echo signals emitted by the first slice after the second excitation pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hernan Jara
  • Patent number: 10114088
    Abstract: A method for the preparation of a sample comprising highly polarized nuclear spins is proposed, comprising at least the following steps: a) provision of molecules with 1,2-dione structural units and/or molecules with 2,5-diene-1,4-dione structural units in the solid state; b) generation of radicals from these molecules by photo induced electron transfer by a first electromagnetic irradiation in the visible or ultraviolet frequency range in the solid state; c) dynamic nuclear polarization in the presence of a magnetic field in the solid state by applying a second electromagnetic irradiation with a frequency adapted to transfer spin polarization from the electrons to the nuclear spins leading to a highly polarized state thereof. Furthermore uses of correspondingly prepared samples for NMR, MRS and MRI experiments are proposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE (EPFL)
    Inventors: Tim Rolf Eichhorn, Christophe Roussel, Arnaud Comment
  • Patent number: 10114331
    Abstract: A transfer device includes an image bearer, a rotatable body, a solid lubricant assembly, and a guide. An image bearer bears an image. The rotatable body forms a transfer nip with the image bearer to rotate in contact with a recording medium. An image on the image bearer is transferred onto the recording medium at the transfer nip. The solid lubricant assembly includes a solid lubricant and extends in a longitudinal direction of the rotatable body. The solid lubricant assembly applies a solid lubricant to at least one of the rotatable body and the image bearer. The guide guides the recording medium and positions the solid lubricant assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Junpei Fujita, Katsuhito Haruno, Atsushi Nakamoto, Masakazu Imai, Osamu Ichihashi, Takehide Mizutani, Naoto Kochi
  • Patent number: 10108131
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a belt, an image bearing member, a developing portion, a belt transfer portion, a steering roller, a detection portion, a cleaning blade, a control portion, and an instruction input portion. In a case where the input has been performed through the instruction input portion, the control portion executes, before starting image formation for the first time after replacement of the belt, an adjustment mode including a series of processes in which a relationship between the position in the width direction and the amount of tilting of the steering roller is adjusted, and also performs a toner supplying operation of supplying toner by transferring a toner image for supplying toner onto the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Ueno
  • Patent number: 10108113
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a primary transfer unit configured to transfer a toner image formed on an image carrier onto an intermediate transfer belt through primary transfer; and a secondary transfer unit configured to transfer the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt onto a recording medium through secondary transfer, wherein the secondary transfer unit extends along a width direction of the recording medium and includes a roller pair and a switching unit, the roller pair being configured to nip the intermediate transfer belt and the recording medium such that the intermediate transfer belt and the recording medium are in pressure contact with each other, the switching unit being configured to switch a length of at least one of the roller pair in a shaft direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Aiko Kubota, Takaaki Kooriya, Toru Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 10095171
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus, which is capable of detecting a color misregistration amount with high accuracy even when a density characteristic thereof is changed. The image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image forming units configured to form toner images of different colors on a predetermined intermediate transfer belt, and a density sensor configured to measure densities of the toner images formed on the intermediate transfer belt. The image forming apparatus determines a density target depending on a measurement result of a density correction image, which is formed by the plurality of image forming units, from the density sensor. The image forming apparatus causes the plurality of image forming units to form position detection images so that the position detection images have densities corresponding to the density target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhito Shirafuji, Naoka Omura, Ryuichi Araki
  • Patent number: 10088545
    Abstract: For prospective motion correction in magnetic resonance imaging, first magnetic resonance data that map a first sub-region of a region of interest are acquired. Motion correction parameters are determined based on a comparison of at least the first magnetic resonance data with reference magnetic resonance data that map the region of interest. Second magnetic resonance data that map a second sub-region of the region of interest are determined using prospective motion correction based on the motion correction parameters. A magnetic resonance image is determined based on the first magnetic resonance data and based on the second magnetic resonance data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Thomas Beck
  • Patent number: 10078300
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator including a primary portion and a secondary portion disposed outboard from the primary portion in an axial direction of the fixing rotator. A pressure rotator contacts the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip between the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator, through which a recording medium is conveyed. A primary heater heats the primary portion of the fixing rotator. A secondary heater heats the secondary portion of the fixing rotator. A primary temperature detector is isolated from the fixing rotator and detects a temperature of the primary portion of the fixing rotator. A secondary temperature detector contacts the fixing rotator and detects a temperature of the secondary portion of the fixing rotator. The primary temperature detector has a thermal time constant that is smaller than a thermal time constant of the secondary temperature detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Samei, Toshio Ogiso, Tamotsu Ikeda, Shigeo Nanno
  • Patent number: 10078295
    Abstract: A belt device includes an endless belt, a support shaft, a contact member, and a regulating member. The support shaft supports the contact member. The contact member rotates together with the support shaft and contacts the belt. The regulating member moves between a regulating position to regulate movement of the support shaft and a releasing position to allow movement of the support shaft, thereby regulating movement of the contact member in an axial direction of the support shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiichi Kogure, Junpei Fujita
  • Patent number: 10067465
    Abstract: A toner cartridge includes a housing, a photosensitive drum, a connecting unit having a coupling member rotatable about a second imaginary axis, and a linking unit disposed on the photosensitive drum and rotatable about a first imaginary axis. When the coupling member is at a first position, the first and second imaginary axes are not parallel, and the coupling member doesn't contact the linking unit. When the toner cartridge is installed in an electronic imaging device and the coupling member is moved to a second position, the first and second imaginary axes are coaxial, the coupling member and the linking unit are engaged and driven to rotate by the electronic imaging device, thereby transmitting rotary kinetic energy to the photosensitive drum. Because the coupling member is movable between the first and second positions, the toner cartridge is installed in and removed from the electronic imaging device easily and smoothly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: General Plastic Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Feng-Chan Chen
  • Patent number: 10061264
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a connector portion, and a developer housing container. The connector portion is located on the apparatus main body and includes a first input/output terminal. The developer housing container is removably mounted to the developing device. The developer housing container includes container body that houses a developer to be replenished to the developing device and a storage unit mounted to an outer surface of the container body. The storage unit includes a second input/output terminal for electrical connection to the first input/output terminal. In a state where the developer housing container is mounted to the developing device, the developer housing container has a posture changeable between: a first posture where the second input/output terminal is separated from the first input/output terminal, and a second posture where the second input/output terminal contacts the first input/output terminal to be electrically connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Daisuke Eto, Hidehiko Kojo