Patents Examined by Victor Verbitsky
  • Patent number: 12124189
    Abstract: A container for accommodating a content of powder or a liquid includes an accommodating portion; an end portion including a rotatable member and a discharging portion which includes a discharge opening and a passage, wherein the end portion is on a side opposite from the accommodating portion with respect to a rotational axis direction; and a flange portion extending in a radial direction of a phantom circle about the rotational axis, wherein as viewed in the rotational axis direction, an outer edge of the flange portion includes an arcuate portion which is on an outermost side of the end portion with respect to the radial direction and which is formed along the phantom circle about the rotational axis and includes a connecting portion which connects a first point and a second point on the phantom circle and which is provided in a region inside the phantom circle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinjiro Toba, Hiroyuki Munetsugu, Mitsuhiro Sato
  • Patent number: 12124196
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to one or more embodiments includes a fixing device and a controller. The fixing device includes a first heating source and a second heating source. The second heating source has a heating width greater than that of the first heating source. The first and second heating sources have different heating characteristics in response to temperature increases. The controller selects one of the first heating source and the second heating source according to a size of a sheet on which printing is to be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yohei Doi
  • Patent number: 12117768
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a heating device, a recording medium ejector, a recording medium tray, an outer wall having an intake, and a filter. The heating device heats a recording medium having an image on one side of the recording medium. The recording medium ejector ejects the recording medium with the one side facing downward. On the recording medium tray, the recording medium ejected by the recording medium ejector is stacked. The intake is open toward the recording medium tray and is disposed at a position below the recording medium ejector. At the position, a maximum amount of recording media placeable on the recording medium tray does not cover at least a part of the intake. The filter collects foreign substances in air sucked from the intake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Andoh, Masahiro Samei, Kota Shiodera, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Toshiyuki Kabata, Tomoyuki Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 12099318
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a holding unit that holds a recording medium transported; a circumferential rotation unit that circumferentially rotates with the holding unit fixed, and constitutes part of a transport path along which the recording medium is transported; an image former that forms an image on the recording medium at an image formation position on a circumferential rotational path of the circumferential rotation unit; a pass point at which the recording medium is passed on the circumferential rotational path; and a receiving point which is provided on a same side as the pass point with respect to the image formation position, and at which the recording medium is received from the circumferential rotational path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Kuroda, Shohei Miyagawa, Naoya Kamigaito, Atsuna Saiki
  • Patent number: 12092986
    Abstract: In a case in which an image forming apparatus determines that a replaceable unit is replaced in a first state, in which removal of the replaceable unit is inhibited, the image forming apparatus performs control to switch from the first state to a second state, in which removal of the replaceable unit is allowed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eiichiro Teshima, Yoshiteru Kaida
  • Patent number: 12092974
    Abstract: Toner cartridge includes a housing, an agitator, an auger, a first protrusion, and a second protrusion. The housing includes a first toner accommodating portion having and a second toner accommodating portion. The auger is rotatable about a second axis extending in a first direction and is configured to convey toner from a first toner accommodating portion to the second toner accommodating portion. The first protrusion is positioned at a first side of the second toner accommodating portion. The first protrusion extends in the first direction. The second protrusion is positioned at a second side of the second toner accommodating portion and extends in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideshi Nishiyama, Keita Shimizu
  • Patent number: 12092982
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit and a reading unit. The image forming unit is configured to form an image. The reading unit has a first reading mode, in which a document conveyed by a conveyance unit is read, and a second reading mode, in which a document placed on a platen glass is read. A first correction mode, in which correction data is generated using a result of reading the test document in the first reading mode, or a second correction mode, in which correction data is generated using a result of reading the test document in the second reading mode, is executed based on a result of detection of placement of a test document on the reading unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keita Hidaka
  • Patent number: 12085876
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes heating and pressurizing rotary members, and a speed control unit. In a first mixed job to be executed in a first mode and where a first recording material is to be initially conveyed and a second recording material is to be conveyed subsequent to the first recording material, the speed control unit sets a conveyance speed of the first recording material to a second speed based on acquired grammage information and sets a conveyance speed of the second recording material to a first speed based on the acquired grammage information. In a second mix job to be executed in the second mode and where the second recording material is to be conveyed subsequent to the initially conveyed first recording material, the speed control unit sets the conveyance speed of the first and second recording materials to the first speed based on the acquired grammage information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Seki, Ryosuke Yamazaki, Osamu Someya
  • Patent number: 12072646
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including: an annular transfer belt having an outer surface on which an image is transferred; a transferring unit including a transfer cylinder having a transfer area that sandwiches a recording medium with the outer surface of the transfer belt to transfer the image from the outer surface of the transfer belt to the recording medium, and a pair of first rotating bodies disposed on both axial end sides of the transfer cylinder; a pair of circulating members each being wound around the first rotating body and being circulated by rotation of the first rotating bodies; and a holding unit attached to the circulating members, the holding unit configured to hold the recording medium, transport the recording medium with circulation of the circulating members, and pass the recording medium through the transfer area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Yoshioka, Mitsuaki Kuroda, Kazuyoshi Hagiwara, Shohei Miyagawa, Kei Tanaka, Masaaki Takahashi, Yoko Miyamoto, Toshiaki Baba
  • Patent number: 12072660
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a casing sheet metal, a circuit board, and a support sheet metal. The casing sheet metal includes a first surface having an opening and a second surface. The support sheet metal is housed in the casing sheet metal in an orientation in which a first edge of the support sheet metal faces the first surface of the casing sheet metal and a second edge of the support sheet metal faces the second surface of the casing sheet metal. The first edge includes an insertion portion configured to be inserted into the opening, and the second edge includes a pressing portion configured to press the second surface of the casing sheet metal in a state in which the insertion portion is inserted into the opening. Grounding of the circuit board is established via the support sheet metal and the casing sheet metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuya Yokobori
  • Patent number: 12072006
    Abstract: A developing device may include an auger or an agitator that is capable of supplying toner in a toner accommodation chamber to a developing chamber and is rotatable about an auger axis extending in an axial direction, a transporting gear that is rotatable together with the auger or the agitator, and a moving gear that is in mesh with a coupling gear and is rotatable both counterclockwise and clockwise. The moving gear is movable while being in mesh with the coupling gear between a first position where the moving gear is in mesh with the transporting gear and a second position where the moving gear is out of mesh with the transporting gear. The moving gear moves to the first position when the coupling gear rotates counterclockwise and to the second position when the coupling gear rotates clockwise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Shimizu, Yasuo Fukamachi, Keita Shimizu, Kazutoshi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 12050420
    Abstract: An image forming system includes: a conveyor that conveys a recording material along a conveyance path; a detector that is disposed on the conveyance path and detects a characteristic of the recording material; a fixer that fixes a toner image formed on the recording material; and a hardware processor that: causes the detector to detect the characteristic during a warm-up of the fixer with respect to an image forming job, and based on the characteristic, sets an image forming condition in the image forming job.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventor: Ryo Mitsuda
  • Patent number: 12044984
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit comprising: a photosensitive member configured to rotate; a charging unit configured to charge the photosensitive member based on a charging bias; an exposure unit configured to expose the photosensitive member charged by the charging unit with laser light to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member; and a developing device configured to develop the electrostatic latent image based on a development bias to form an image on the photosensitive member, a reading unit configured to read a test image formed by the image forming unit, and a controller configured to: control the image forming unit to form the test image; control the reading unit to read the test image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinya Suzuki, Shohei Okumura, Masahiro Tsujibayashi
  • Patent number: 12044985
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main casing, a developing roller, a connecting tube, and a toner container. The main casing includes a sheet supply tray. The developing roller is provided in the main casing. The connecting tube has one end portion and another end portion inside the main casing. The toner container is for accommodating toner. The one end portion of the connecting tube is connected to the toner container. The toner container has an inlet opening for replenishing toner. The toner container is pivotally movable between a first position and a second position about the connecting tube. A position of the inlet opening at the second position is higher than a position of the inlet opening at the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 12025935
    Abstract: A heating device includes a heater including a heat generation portion and a base mounting the heat generation portion. The base includes a first lateral end portion and a second lateral end portion in a longitudinal direction of the base. The first lateral end portion has a first length and the second lateral end portion has a second length that is smaller than the first length in the longitudinal direction of the base. A thermal conduction aid contacts the heater and includes a first lateral end projection and a second lateral end projection that project beyond the heat generation portion in the longitudinal direction of the base. The first lateral end projection has a first volume and the second lateral end projection has a second volume that is greater than the first volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunori Ishigaya, Keitaro Shoji
  • Patent number: 12025929
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fixing device includes a tubular body, a heater unit, a frame, and a guide member. The heater unit is inside the tubular body and contacts the tubular body. The frame supports the heater unit. The guide member is on a side opposite the heater unit with the frame therebetween. The guide member includes a plurality of contact portions which are spaced from each other in a longitudinal direction that parallels an axial direction of the tubular body. A first contact portion is located in an end portion of the guide member. The second contact portion is located in a central portion of the guide member. The second contact portion has an effective heat transfer coefficient with respect to the tubular body that is less that of the first contact portion with respect to the tubular body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryota Saeki
  • Patent number: 11982964
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoreceptor, a charger, an exposure device, a developing device, a transfer device, a power supply, a detection element, and a processor. The processor sets a transfer bias used in image forming processing based on the resistance value calculated using the value of the transfer bias supplied by the power supply, a measured value measured by the detection element, and the potential of the photoreceptor estimated from the charging potential at which the charger charges the photoreceptor if the measured value is measured, and determines the state of the photoreceptor based on a change in the surface potential of the photoreceptor if the charger changes the charging potential for charging the photoreceptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshiki Kogiso
  • Patent number: 11982957
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: an image forming portion that forms a toner image on a recording material; a fixing portion that has a heater unit including a heater and that fixes the toner image on the recording material, the heater being capable of changing a heat generating region; a control portion that controls the heater; and an image adding portion that adds a predetermined additional image to a desired image, wherein the control portion sets the heat generating region according to a width of the desired image in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction or a width of the recording material in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, and the width of the predetermined additional image in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction is equal to or less than the width of the heat generating region in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Eiji Uekawa
  • Patent number: 11977348
    Abstract: An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus configured to form a toner image on a recording material, a varnish application apparatus configured to apply a varnish to the recording material, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to apply a first application amount of varnish to the recording material per unit area in a case of executing the image forming job for forming a varnish layer on a recording material having a first grammage, and is configured to apply a second application amount of varnish to the recording material per unit area in a case of executing the image forming job for forming the varnish layer on a recording material having a second grammage lower than the first grammage, the second application amount being higher than the first application amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenichiro Kitajima
  • Patent number: 11971671
    Abstract: A fusing apparatus includes: a pressing roller to be axially rotated; a fusing belt to rotate by receiving a rotational force from the pressing roller; a pressing member to press toward the pressing roller from the inside of the fusing belt to form a nip in which the printing paper is nipped between the fusing belt and the pressing roller; on the fusing belt or the pressing member, a sliding layer to reduce friction between the fusing belt and the pressing member; and an adhesive layer to adhere the sliding layer to the fusing belt or the pressing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Sun Hyung Lee, Sea Chul Bae, Jae Hyeok Jang, Jin Gyu Ko