Patents Issued in May 20, 2004
  • Publication number: 20040096203
    Abstract: The present invention refers to an electric water heater providing high efficiency and safety to users, increasing time intervals as required for maintenance and consequently considerably increasing its working life.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: Duchacorona Ltda
    Inventor: Helio Tommaso
  • Publication number: 20040096204
    Abstract: A vacuum insulated heater assembly is provided for heating fluids and solids. The assembly includes an inner member, for example, a quartz glass tube with a low-emissivity conductive coating that produces heat when connected to external power. The inner member is attached to end caps that are attached to ends of, for example, an outer quartz glass tube, thus positioning the inner member within the outer tube. With a vacuum drawn within the space between the two tubes, the resulting heat radiates toward the center of the inner member, thus providing a thermos bottle type of construction. The fluid can be heated as it passes through the inner tube. If the inner member is not completely coated then heat would radiate toward the center of the inner member, pass through its uncoated portion, and then pass through the outer tube, where objects can be heated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: Engineered Glass Products, LLC.
    Inventor: Peter F. Gerhardinger
  • Publication number: 20040096205
    Abstract: A camera apparatus comprises a camera-body portion 1; a display panel 2 attached to the camera-body 1 as an outwardly fixing type with freely rotary operation; and a lens block 5 provided at the upper portion of the camera-body 1 and having a pop-up portion rotatable between a stored position within the camera-body 1 and a pop-up position by making a support-axis 14 as a support, wherein the lens block 5 is housed within the camera-body 1 when the camera is not in a taking-picture condition such that the lens surface is protected by the outer body and lens block 5 is made to be a pop-up condition with an angle of a predetermined elevation-angle relative to the camera-body 1 when the camera is in a taking-picture condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Seiichi Kato, Takashi Ikenaga, Keikaku Fukuoka, Yoshitake Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20040096206
    Abstract: A fixing device for fixing an autofocus module to a mirror box of an SLR camera having a quick-return mirror accommodated in the mirror box, wherein the quick-return mirror has a half mirror portion so that a light bundle of an object which is passed through the half mirror portion is reflected by a sub-mirror to be incident on the autofocus module. The fixing device includes an adjustment bracket which is provided separately from the mirror box, the adjustment bracket is fixed to an underside of the mirror box, and the auto focus module is fixed to the adjustment bracket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventor: Shigeru Morishita
  • Publication number: 20040096207
    Abstract: A camera support (10) has a mounting member (13) to be attached to a camera (11), and a supporting member (14) for supporting the camera (11) through the mounting member (13). The supporting member (14) has a catching surface (22) in the shape of an arcuate surface and a fitting surface (24) in the shape of a cylindrical surface. The mounting member (13) has a catching surface (32) and one or more fitting surfaces (36). The catching surface (32) is adapted to removably catch the catching surface (22). Each fitting surface (36) is adapted to removably be fitted to the fitting surface (24). By engaging the catching surface (22) with the catching surface (32), the camera (11) is set in the horizontal position in such a state as to be capable of rotating vertically so that its vertical angle can be adjusted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventor: Kouichiro Nakatani
  • Publication number: 20040096208
    Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a camera rig suitable for handheld use comprising a frame and means to attach a camera inside of said frame. The present invention therefore provides a mobile support for a camera, such as a digital video camera by providing a larger grip than a small camera and hence it is easier to hold steady. Therefore the user may shoot film in a steady manner. It is thus an advantage of the present invention that camera shake is either prevented or substantially reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Michael Figgis, Ben Wilson
  • Publication number: 20040096209
    Abstract: The present invention is an adjustable aesthetically pleasing support structure for a large surveillance camera that is resistant to water and moisture penetration and protects the wires connected to the camera while providing a wide range of adjustable viewing angles for the attached camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: David L.A. Toste, Joshua S. Houser, Terrence Traser
  • Publication number: 20040096210
    Abstract: The present invention provides a resist development processor consisting of a development processing chamber for storing a resist substrate having an exposed resist on the substrate and for developing the exposed resist by means of a development solvent consisting of a supercritical fluid; and a supercritical fluid container for storing a supercritical fluid, where the supercritical fluid container is connected to the development processing chamber through a valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Hisayuki Takasu, Kouichi Miyazawa, Toru Iwaya
  • Publication number: 20040096211
    Abstract: A process is provided for preparing optically active alcohols, amines and derivatives thereof by reacting aldehydes or imines at a temperature of less than 15° C. in the presence of a chiral, enantiomerically pure auxiliary with an organozinc halide which is obtained from zinc and a reactive halogen compound, and water, acid or base, or an alkylating, arylating, acylating or silylating reagent is subsequently added.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: Consortium fur elektrochemische Industrie GmbH
    Inventors: Klas Sorger, Hermann Petersen, Jurgen Stohrer
  • Publication number: 20040096212
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring optical performance of a plurality of channels within an input optical multi-channel signal employs at least one optical interleaver to deinterleave the input signal into a plurality of channel subsets, each channel subset having a greater channel spacing than the input multi-channel signal, and a switch for sequentially submitting the deinterleaved subsets to an optical performance monitor (OPM). The design allows for relaxed specification of the OPM, e.g. its resolution and number of pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: JDS Uniphase Corporation
    Inventors: Robert R. McLeod, Wei-Hung Loh
  • Publication number: 20040096213
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for uniformly sharing across a plurality of channel signals FEC coding gain which may be achieved through FEC encoding of a higher baud rate electrical data signal or through multiplexed or combined electrical data signals from multiple data sources prior to their subsequent demultiplexing and separate generation into optical channel signals which are multiplexed and launched onto an optical transmission medium. The optical signal generation is achieved through reverse multiplexing of the higher baud rate data signal or of the multiplexed, FEC encoded plural data signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Drew D. Perkins, Michael D. Jarchi, Satish K. Sridharan
  • Publication number: 20040096214
    Abstract: A test system is provided for monitoring a WDM transmission system that employs at least one optical amplifier. The test system includes a test signal generator generating an optical test signal and an optical coupler combining the test signal with at least one data signal located at a given channel wavelength. The optical test signal is located at one or more channel wavelengths distinct from the given channel wavelength and which corresponds to an idler channel wavelength that is employed to maintain a prescribed operational state of the optical amplifier. The test system also includes an optical performance monitor receiving at least a portion of the optical test signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: Red Sky Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay P. Morreale, Stuart H. Mayer
  • Publication number: 20040096215
    Abstract: An optical transmission system has an optical transmission terminal with first and second optical interfaces. The first interface is configured to communicate in accordance with an industry-standard, network level protocol. The second interface is configured to communicate in accordance with a first optical layer transport protocol. The optical transmission span includes an optical interface device that has a third interface communicating with the second interface of the optical transmission terminal in accordance with the first optical layer transport protocol and a fourth interface configured to communicate in accordance with a second optical layer transport protocol. The optical interface device also includes a signal processing unit for transforming optical signals between the first and second optical layer protocols. A test system is coupled to the signal processing unit for monitoring optical signal quality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Stephen G. Evangelides, Jay P. Morreale, Michael J. Neubelt, Mark K. Young, Jonathan A. Nagel
  • Publication number: 20040096216
    Abstract: A transmission route applicability inspection system inspecting the applicability of a transmission route at high speed is disclosed. The inspection system includes a test signal transmission unit transmitting an optical test signal from one end of the route along the route; a test signal reception unit receiving the test signal transmitted along the route on the other end of the route; a parameter extraction unit obtaining a transmission parameter representing a transmission characteristic of the test signal received in the test signal reception unit; and a route applicability inspection unit inspecting the applicability of the transmission route based on the transmission parameter extracted in the parameter extraction unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Masato Ito
  • Publication number: 20040096217
    Abstract: A chromatic-dispersion compensator comprises a plurality of dispersive elements (Q in number. Q≧2) each exhibiting a dispersion characteristic D (&lgr;) that varies substantially as a polynominal function of wavelength, the polynominal function being of an order (P−2) greater than 0, the dispersion characteristics being displaced in wavelength relative to each other such that the compensator has a net Pth-order dispersion characteristic DP that is non-zero and does not vary substantially with wavelength over an operating bandwidth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Michael C. Parker, Stuart D. Walker
  • Publication number: 20040096218
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for call or connection admission control, in a telecommunication system in particular of the digital type. For each current connection and each requested connection, the method consists in determining a parameter which depends on the bandwidth and the power of the connection and in summing the parameters for all the connections. The requested connection is granted if the sum of said parameters does not exceed a predetermined threshold. In one embodiment, the parameter for each connection is homogeneous with a power level. The parameter is, for example, the product of a terminal or a base station power by a dimensionless coefficient proportional to a bandwidth. The invention is applicable to a telecommunications system wherein terminals (141, 142, 143) communicate with a base station (12), for example via satellites.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Anne Magnier, Yann Sehedic, Eric Boudjema
  • Publication number: 20040096219
    Abstract: Channels are groomed in a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) communication system having a plurality of system nodes interconnected together by a ring formation of optical fiber waveguides for guiding communication traffic bearing radiation between the nodes. The radiation comprises a plurality of wavelength channels for conveying communication traffic. The channels are spaced over a channel wavelength spectrum. The wavelength channels being used within the system are selected to convey communication traffic (active channels) such as to consolidate them into a relatively more compact part or parts of the wavelength spectrum such as to occupy less communication bandwidth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventor: Ghani Abdul Muttalib Abbas
  • Publication number: 20040096220
    Abstract: An optical transmission system and optical transmission devices in the optical transmission system that can achieve a high quality transmission using considerably simple arrangements are disclosed. At a transmitting-end optical transmission device, encoding means having n outputs, forms k data by aligning phases of data on k channels with each other and for generating (n−k) error correction bits for said k data and adding said (n−k) error correction bits to said k data, and wavelength-multiplexing means connected to the encoding means, converts both said k data and said (n−k) error correction bits to n optical signals having different wavelengths and for wavelength-multiplexing said n optical signals so as to be delivered to the optical transmission line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Kazuhisa Murata
  • Publication number: 20040096221
    Abstract: This invention provides a system that combines a wavelength multiplexer with an FM discriminator for chirp reduction and wavelength locker in a filter to produce a wavelength division multiplexed signal with reduced chirp. A partially frequency modulation laser signal is converted into a substantially amplitude modulation laser signal. This conversion increases the extinction ratio of the input signal and further reduces the chirp. A wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) method is used for transmitting high capacity information through fiber optics systems where digital information is carried on separate wavelengths through the same fiber. Separate transmitters normally generate their respective signals that are transmitted at different wavelengths. These signals are then combined using a wavelength multiplexer to transmit the high capacity information through the fiber optic system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Daniel Mahgerefteh, Parviz Tayebati
  • Publication number: 20040096222
    Abstract: A main-remote radio base station system includes plural remote radio units. Fiber costs are significantly reduced using a single optical fiber that communicates information between the main unit and the remote units connected in a series configuration. Information from the main unit is sent over a first fiber path to the remote units so that the same information is transmitted over the radio interface by the remote units at substantially the same time. The main unit receives the same information from each of the remote units over a second fiber path at substantially the same time. Delay associated with each remote unit is compensated for by advancing a time when information is sent to each remote unit. A data distribution approach over a single fiber avoids the expense of separate fiber couplings between the main unit and each RRU.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventor: Torbjorn Cagenius
  • Publication number: 20040096223
    Abstract: An optical transmission system includes a transmitter unit, a receiver unit, and an optical transmission path interconnecting the transmitter and receiver units. A plurality of optical repeaters are situated along the transmission path. Adjacent ones of the repeaters are interconnected by transmission spans that collectively constitute a majority of the optical transmission path. Each of the transmission spans comprises substantially identical lengths of cabled optical fiber having substantially identical prescribed path average dispersions. At least one adjustable dispersion trimming element is located in the optical repeater and optically couples one of the transmission spans to an optical amplifier located in the repeater. The adjustable dispersion trimming element has an adjustable path average dispersion selected such that a total path average dispersion of the transmission span to which it is coupled plus the adjustable dispersion trimming element has a desired value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: Red Sky Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen G. Evangelides, Mark K. Young
  • Publication number: 20040096224
    Abstract: A transmitter transmits an optical signal to a receiver for optical wireless communications. The receiver returns to the transmitter a pilot light representing light-receiving level information of the received optical signal. The transmitter has a set of 2×2 light-receiving elements for receiving the pilot light returned from the receiver, and executes a rough optical axis adjustment based on the difference among the light-receiving levels detected by respective light-receiving elements. Then, the transmitter executes a fine optical axis adjustment based on the light-receiving level information contained in the pilot light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Naruki, Katsuo Okuaki, Takayoshi Sasao, Kiriko Yamada
  • Publication number: 20040096225
    Abstract: A duobinary optical transmission apparatus is provided to generate duobinary optical signals, without using an electric low-pass-filter (LPF), by restricting a bandwidth of a Mach-Zehnder-interferometer-type optical intensity modulator (MZ MOD). Alternatively, a LPF having a single pole with a single capacitor is implemented instead of an expensive LPF, thereby providing a simple transmitter with a lower production cost in comparison with a transmitter using a conventional electric LPF.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Han-Lim Lee, Ji-Chai Jeong, Yong-Hoon Kim, Yun-Je Oh, Seong-Taek Hwang
  • Publication number: 20040096226
    Abstract: A method and a device for receiving a broadband light pulse modified in the time and frequency domains, the light pulse comprising at least one frequency component. The method comprises receiving the light pulse at a particular moment, separating the frequency components of the light pulse from each other, converting each frequency component into an electrical pulse, performing a first comparison to compare the magnitude of each electrical pulse to a predetermined threshold value, performing a second comparison to compare said electrical pulses exceeding the threshold value at a particular moment, and deciding the bit value in response to the second comparison conducted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Olli-Pekka Hiironen, Markku Tahkokorpi
  • Publication number: 20040096227
    Abstract: A digital signal processing (=DSP) receiver for analyzing an optical signal, in particular in a terabit optical network, comprising a receiver input (11; 21; 31) for receiving the optical signal, a photo diode (15a, 15b; 26a, 26b; 36a, 36b), an analog-to-digital conversion (=ADC) unit (16a, 16b; 27a, 27b; 37a, 37b), and a DSP processing unit (17; 28; 38), is characterized in that the DSP receiver comprises a splitting unit (12; 22; 33) splitting the optical signal and feeding the split parts into at least two waveguide branches (13a, 13b; 23a, 23b; 34a, 34b), that at least one waveguide branch comprises an optical filtering element (14a, 14b; 24a, 24b, 25a, 25b; 35a, 35b), that each waveguide branch is fed onto a separate photo diode (15a, 15b; 26a, 26b; 36a, 36b), that the signal of each photo diode is fed into a separate ADC unit (16a, 16b; 27a, 27b; 37a, 37b), and that the signal of each ADC unit is fed into the DSP processing unit (17; 28; 38).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: ALCATEL
    Inventor: Henning Bulow
  • Publication number: 20040096228
    Abstract: An imaging device is provided that generates and transfers an image to a print media. A fuser fuses the image to the print media through a process of heat and pressure. The fuser is charged with a voltage to reduce toner particles from being attached to the fuser. When the print media contacts the fuser, its current path is altered causing the voltage of the fuser to change. A fuser sensor measures the voltage of the fuser and based on the measured voltage, the imaging device can determine whether a print media is in the fuser. In the event of a malfunction such as a paper jam, the device can determine the location of the paper at least in part by the measured fuser voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Tim M. Hoberock, Michael J. Martin
  • Publication number: 20040096229
    Abstract: A low-voltage power source circuit board is provided downstream in relation to the flow of air introduced through an intake hole and exhausted by a power source fan. Heat sinks are provided on the low-voltage power source circuit board on electronic parts that generate a large amount of heat, the plate surfaces of the heat sinks being arranged along the direction of airflow, thereby minimizing their resistance to the airflow. Air including heat generated from these electronic parts is exhausted by the power source fan without the air heating the high-voltage power source circuit board or engine circuit board that are disposed upstream in relation to the direction of airflow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideo Yoshihara, Masamitsu Ukai, Yoshiteru Hattori
  • Publication number: 20040096230
    Abstract: An automatic process of setting control set-points, control rates, calibrations, timing parameters and maximum density levels for color modules within a color print engine by utilizing addressable settings of multiple configurable parameters for each color module. The parameters can be independently controlled and maintained. Each color module maintains a list of parameters by storing the parametric values in a non-volatile memory. At initialization, the parameters for each module are read out of the non-volatile memory to set the correct settings for the specific color module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: NexPress Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Joseph J. Furno, Richard G. Allen
  • Publication number: 20040096231
    Abstract: In an electrographic reproduction apparatus having a media transport mechanism for transporting media into operative association with a plurality of different color electrographic process modules, a mechanism for providing image density control signals to the logic and control unit. At least one densitometer is provided for sensing image density control patches on the media transport mechanism and producing signals representative of the density of the such image for the logic and control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicants: NexPress Solutions LLC, Heidelberg Digital LLC
    Inventors: Joseph J. Furno, Richard G. Allen, Matthias H. Regelsberger
  • Publication number: 20040096232
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit capable of forming an image with a hypochromic toner and a hyperchromic toner of a substantially same hue, a first toner containing portion containing the hypochromic toner, a second toner containing portion containing the hyperchromic toner, and a density detecting unit which detects a density of an image formed with the hypochromic toner and the hyperchromic toner. Thus an image can be formed with the hypochromic toner and the hyperchromic toner of a substantially same hue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Ito, Takeshi Ikeda, Yukio Nagase, Isami Itoh, Yasukazu Ayaki, Tomohito Ishida
  • Publication number: 20040096233
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is configured to facilitate design modification. The image forming apparatus has an engine mechanism to carry out a printing job with respect to a print data applied from an external device, an image processing unit to convert the print data into image data, and an engine controlling unit to control the engine mechanism to carry out the print job with respect to the image data. The engine controlling unit and the image processing unit are arranged on a single printed circuit board (PCB) in which a first and a second division are defined, with the engine controlling unit being arranged in the first division and the image processing unit being arranged in the second division. A circuit element in the second division is shared by the engine controlling unit and the image processing unit to reduce costs and redesign time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Seung-deog An, Cheol-ju Yang, Sang-sin Park, Yoon-seop Eom, Yong-geun Kim
  • Publication number: 20040096234
    Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus which can output a job with a higher priority level in a timely manner without processing other jobs first, when a container has been attached to the image forming apparatus. Images on sheets are formed in accordance with an image forming job by a color MFP 104. The sheets on which the images have been formed is conveyed to a stacker tray 1207 detachably attached to an inserter 108 attached to the black-and-white MFP 105. Storage of the sheets on which the images have been formed in the stacker tray 1207 is controlled to selectively inhibit or allow the storage according to the priority level of the image forming job by a CPU 1805 of the color MFP 104.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Masahiro Kurahashi, Keizo Isemura
  • Publication number: 20040096235
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image forming device, a first discharge tray for receiving a sheet on which an image was formed, a conveyer for selectively transporting the sheet on which the image was formed by the image forming device to one of a first discharge tray and a sheet processing device, and a controller for controlling a power source so as not to supply electric power to the sheet processing device and the conveyer to transport the sheet to the first discharge tray when discharging the sheet to the first discharge tray, and controlling the power source to supply power to the sheet processing device and the conveyer to transport the sheet to the sheet processing device when discharging the sheet to a second discharge tray provided on the sheet processing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshinori Isobe
  • Publication number: 20040096236
    Abstract: A color image forming apparatus which, in a sequential order for each of plural colors of a composite color image, charges plural photosensitive bodies, exposes electrostatic latent images on the plural photosensitive bodies, develops latent images on the photosensitive bodies into color images, and transfers the color images to sequentially form images of each of the plural colors one on another to form the composite color image and transcribing the composite color image onto a printing medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: SAMSUNG Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyu-Cheol Shin
  • Publication number: 20040096237
    Abstract: To provide an image forming device using a generic image recording apparatus and a generic image reading apparatus, which can respond to customer needs. An image recording apparatus is provided inside a supporting table disposed on an upper surface of an image reading apparatus. A control unit is engaged to a rear side of the supporting table to function also as a reinforcing part of the rear side. The control unit can be changed to carry out control processing according to the combination of the image reading apparatus and the image recording apparatus, and the control unit can be replaced as necessary with another control board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: MURATA KIKAI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shinji Asai
  • Publication number: 20040096238
    Abstract: Systems and methods for replacing a spool cover attached to a spool casing of a laser toner cartridge. When installed on the laser toner cartridge, the spool cover covers a spool and seal sensing contacts located above an electrical trace. A method of replacing the spool cover includes separating the spool cover from the spool casing, replacing the electrical trace with a new electrical trace, attaching a pad to a bottom surface of the spool cover, and replacing the spool cover on the spool casing such that the pad forces the seal sensing contacts to come in contact with the electrical trace.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventor: Allan P. Weiler
  • Publication number: 20040096239
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an apparatus body, an image carrier for carrying a latent image on its surface, and a developing device for developing the latent image to thereby produce a corresponding toner image. A removable member is removably mounted to the apparatus body and positioned in the apparatus body such that a distance between the removable member and a surrounding member around it varies when the removable member is being mounted to or dismounted from the apparatus body. A frame surrounds at least one of the removable member and surrounding member. A contact member contacts, when the removable member is being mounted to or dismounted from the apparatus body, the frame to thereby determine a distance between the removable member and the surrounding member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hosokawa, Kiyonori Tsuda, Satoshi Narumi, Ryuta Takeichi, Yuji Arai, Masanori Kawasumi, Kazuhiko Umemura
  • Publication number: 20040096240
    Abstract: A developing unit of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes at least one developing apparatus installed to be capable of accessing and being separated with respect to a photoreceptive drum and including a developing roller developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptive drum and a gap maintenance member closely contacting the photoreceptive drum such that the developing roller accesses the photoreceptive drum in a non-contact state while maintaining a predetermined gap with the photoreceptive drum, and a guide portion formed on a frame to guide a movement of the developing apparatus. An inclined portion facing a center shaft of the photoreceptive drum is provided at a leading end of the guide portion so that the gap maintenance member closely contacts the photoreceptive drum while pressing the photoreceptive drum in a radial direction of the photoreceptive drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kyung-Hwan Kim
  • Publication number: 20040096241
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a developing apparatus includes:
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideaki Hasegawa, Kazumi Yamauchi, Yoshihiro Ogawa, Norihito Naito, Yasunao Otomo, Nobuo Oshima
  • Publication number: 20040096242
    Abstract: In order to develop a toner-supplementing device and a toner-agitating member used in an image forming device which are small in size, superior in their maintenance and image quality as well as their operability and have no dispersion in supplying of toner, the toner-supplementing device of the present invention is made such that a toner-storing segment is placed outside an image-forming range of the image-forming device, toner is transferred from the toner-storing segment to a toner-supplementing segment of a developer device and the toner is supplemented to a toner-supplementing area having a predetermined width at the toner-supplementing segment, wherein there are provided a conduit having an upstream side one end fixed to the developer device; a cylindrical member closely contacted with the other end of the conduit, rotatable around its axis, having its central segment being placed on an inclined line in respect to an axial direction in a developed plane of a circumferential wall segment and having a desi
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventor: Yukiyoski Murakami
  • Publication number: 20040096243
    Abstract: Development systems and methods for developing using chemically prepared toners are disclosed. The present invention further discloses developers used in development systems. The use of chemically prepared toners with hard magnetic carrier particles with a non-magnetic, cylindrical shell for transporting developers provides excellent benefits with respect to image quality by reducing granularity and by providing a typically constant, stable developer life as shown by the consistent level of charge to mass over time during operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Jan Bares, James H. Anderson, Matthew Ezenyilimba, William K. Goebel
  • Publication number: 20040096244
    Abstract: A developing method of the present invention uses a sleeve accommodating a stationary magnet roller formed with a plurality of magnetic poles and facing an image carrier. The sleeve is rotated to convey a developer, which is made up of toner grains and magnetic carrier grains and deposited on the sleeve, to a developing zone for thereby feeding the toner grains from a magnet brush formed by the developer to a latent image formed on the image carrier. When the developing zone is seen from the image carrier side, the ratio of the total area of voids present at the tips of the magnet brush to the total area of the developing zone is selected to be 25% or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Ichiro Kadota, Takashi Hodoshima, Nobutaka Takeuchi, Teiichiro Takano
  • Publication number: 20040096245
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a developing device of the type causing a developer to form a magnet brush on the surface of a developer carrier in a developing region or nip for development. The magnet brush contacts and thereby develops a latent image formed on an image carrier. The apparatus of the present invention increases image density and faithfully reproduces even low-contrast images with a low-cost configuration. Further, the apparatus reduces image defects, including granularity and the omission of the trailing edge of an image, even if the range over which the magnet brush and image carrier contact is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Tsukuru Kai, Hisashi Shoji
  • Publication number: 20040096246
    Abstract: A developer-supplying system of an image forming apparatus includes a developer-supplying roller supplying a developer onto a developing roller and removing residual developer which is not transferred onto a photosensitive body, but remains on the developing roller after developing, and a residual developer-withdrawing member disposed in a spaced-apart relation with and opposite to the developer-supplying roller to withdraw the residual developer removed from the developing roller by the developer-supplying roller and transferred onto the developer-supplying roller. The developer-supplying system can not only prevent developer-supplying efficiency and residual developer-withdrawal efficiency of the developer-supplying roller from being reduced, but also reduce stress to the developer to prevent the developer from deteriorating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hyun-Wook Bae
  • Publication number: 20040096247
    Abstract: A conductive roller including at least one conductive elastic layer 1 formed of a polymer composition includes a main-component polymer not containing chlorine nor bromine and containing polyether or/and a cyan group; and an anion-containing salt having a fluoro group and a sulfonyl group. The anion-containing salt having the fluoro group and the sulfonyl group includes at least one salt selected from among a salt of bisfluoroalkylsulfonylimide, a salt of fluoroalkylsulfonic acid, and a salt of tris (fluoroalkylsulfonyl) methide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Yogun Ki, Takayuki Hattori, Kiyotaka Okuda, Kenichi Uesaka
  • Publication number: 20040096248
    Abstract: A charging member for being contactably disposed to an image bearing member and being supplied with a bias voltage includes a resistance layer having an ionic electrical conductivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takeshi Tomizawa
  • Publication number: 20040096249
    Abstract: Fusing toner onto a substrate, in which a fusing device (fuser), preferably including a heatable fusing roller in contact with the toner, is used to heat the toner to a temperature that is higher or equal to its glass transition temperature. Prior to the heating of the toner by the fusing device, a contact-free preheating is carried out, with which the toner is first heated to a temperature that is lower or equal to its glass transition temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Knut Behnke, Hans-Otto Krause, Frank-Michael Morgenweck, Domingo Rohde, Detlef Schulze-Hagenest, Lars Seimetz
  • Publication number: 20040096250
    Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a surface treatment apparatus which can modify the surface qualities of different parts of image prints obtained by various image-forming methods, and an image-forming apparatus. For this purpose, it provides a surface treatment apparatus comprising sheet heating unit which heats a sheet, a sheet cooling unit which cools the sheet in contact with a contact member, and a depression-and-protrusion shape control unit which forms depression-and-protrusion shapes by differently treating different parts of the surface of the sheet by at least one of the sheet heating unit and sheet cooling unit, and an image-forming apparatus comprising this surface treatment apparatus which can easily form images having different surface qualities in different parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Eiichi Kito, Hiroshi Ishizuka
  • Publication number: 20040096251
    Abstract: A wasted toner storing apparatus and a dry type electrophotographic image forming apparatus using the same. The wasted toner storing apparatus includes a wasted toner container accommodating wasted toner generated during a printing process, and a dispersing member inside the wasted toner container, dispersing the wasted toner inside the wasted toner container by rotation of the dispersing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: SAMSUNG Electronics Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Byeong-Hwa Ahn, Young-Min Yoon, Woo-chul Jung
  • Publication number: 20040096252
    Abstract: An original document tray for a scanning and printing apparatus includes original document guides for guiding an original document in the original document tray into a scanning unit by determining or regulating a widthwise position of the original document, and manual-feed sheet guides provided with the original document tray for guiding a manual-feed sheet to be supplied to a printing unit by determining a widthwise position of the manual-feed sheet. The manual-feed sheet guides can be adjusted manually in the widthwise direction. The original document guides are disposed on an original document supporting surface of the original document tray on which the original document is placed, and the manual-feed sheet guides are disposed on a side opposite the original document supporting surface. The original document guides can also be moved manually in the widthwise direction and move in conjunction with the manual-feed sheet guides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshi Nobe