Patents Issued in April 3, 2014
  • Publication number: 20140093239
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide efficient solutions for detecting and transmitting heartbeat frames at an optical line terminal (OLT) of an Ethernet passive optical network (EPON). The processing burden of a host CPU is reduced by shifting some of the processing responsibilities of the host CPU to an embedded CPU. An OAM capture FIFO buffer stores frames for later processing by the embedded CPU, and fields of an OAM vector register are changed whenever a heartbeat frame is detected for an LLID. Embedded CPU polls the OAM vector at a predetermined rate sufficient to maintain link status, so heartbeat messages are not missed even when the OAM capture FIFO buffer overflows. Additionally, an OAM generation buffer efficiently creates new heartbeat messages to be sent to ONUs for each supported LLID by modifying previously transmitted OAM frames with new information specific to the LLIDs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Mark GRISWOLD, Lawrence Drew Davis, Mitchell McGee
  • Publication number: 20140093240
    Abstract: A compensator device may include a selection switch to receive a first optical signal and provide first and second groups of channels associated with the first optical signal; a polarization beam splitter to receive the first channels, and provide first and second components; a photodiode that provides an electrical signal indicative of an intensity of the first group of channels; a first modulator to receive the electrical signal and the first components and to modulate the first components to form first modulated channels; a second modulator to receive the electrical signal and the second components to modulate the second components to form second modulated channels; a polarization beam combiner to receive the first and second modulated channels to form combined modulated channels; and a coupler to receive the combined modulated channels and the second group of channels to form a second optical signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Infinera Corporation
    Inventors: Pierre Herve MERTZ, Hai XU, Jeffrey T. RAHN
  • Publication number: 20140093241
    Abstract: A method and a system for providing an external optical data packet to a destination node of a packet optical network are described. The packet optical network includes a plurality of nodes and a first optical data channel for optically communicating local optical data packets between the plurality of nodes. The external optical data packet is optically converted for a transmission to the destination node over a second optical data channel of the packet optical network, the first and second optical data channels being independent of each other, the converted external optical data packet is optically transferred to the packet optical network, and the converted external optical data packet is transmitted to the destination node over the second optical data channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: NTT DOCOMO, Inc.
    Inventors: Qing WEI, Kazuyuki KOZU
  • Publication number: 20140093242
    Abstract: An optical network including at least one optical network node that receives an optical signal for either transmission or reception. The optical network node analyzes the optical signal and applies communication protocols necessary for optical transmission or reception of the optical signal to or from the optical network. At least one communication module is coupled to the at least one optical network node either decodes or encodes the optical signal by identifying or adding at least one wavelength to the optical signal for security.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: FMR LLC
    Inventor: Richard Lee
  • Publication number: 20140093243
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and a device for sending data in a passive optical network. A central office processing device records a downstream superframe number of a downstream data frame. A loop delay between the central office processing device and a terminal processing device is obtained according to the recorded downstream superframe number in combination with an upstream superframe number and an upstream frame synchronization sign in an upstream channel-associated data frame sent by the terminal processing device, so that the central office processing device may, after subtracting the loop delay, accurately determine, by using cached bandwidth map information and an obtained equalization delay of the terminal processing device, a start time point and an end time point for sending an upstream service data frame to an optical line terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Inventors: Kai Dui, Guang Xie
  • Publication number: 20140093244
    Abstract: A filtered laser array assembly generally includes an array of laser emitters coupled between external modulators and an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG). Each of the laser emitters emits light across a plurality of wavelengths including, for example, channel wavelengths in an optical communication system. The AWG filters the emitted light from each of the laser emitters at different channel wavelengths associated with each of the laser emitters. Lasing cavities are formed between each of the laser emitters and a back reflector coupled to an output of the AWG such that laser output from the laser emitters is provided at the respective channel wavelengths of the reflected, filtered light. The external modulators enable high speed modulation of the laser output. The modulated laser output may then be optically multiplexed to produce an aggregate optical signal including multiple channel wavelengths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: APPLIED OPTOELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Jun Zheng, Stefan Murry, Wen-Yen Hwang
  • Publication number: 20140093245
    Abstract: Systems and methods may provide for an optical module including an optical demultiplexer to receive a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) signal from a single receive optical fiber and separate the WDM signal into a plurality of optical signals. Additionally, the optical module may include a receiver conversion unit to convert the plurality of optical signals into a corresponding plurality of electrical signals. In addition, the optical module may include a buffer chip having a single clock and data recovery (CDR) module to recover a clock from a designated signal in the plurality of electrical signals and distribute the recovered clock to a plurality of data lanes corresponding to the plurality of electrical signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Inventors: Inho Kim, Zuoguo Wu
  • Publication number: 20140093246
    Abstract: A method of configuring an optical path, comprising: selecting a path from a first to a second node in an optical communications network; identifying each wavelength that may be used continuously across the path and selecting a transmission wavelength for the optical path one of the identified wavelengths for which: a fixed wavelength direction-bound add/drop transponder add operable at said wavelength is available at each node; if that first requirement is not met, a fixed wavelength direction-bound add/drop transponder or a fixed wavelength directionless add/drop transponder operable at said wavelength is available at each node; and if that second requirement is not met, a tunable wavelength direction-bound add/drop transponder or a tunable wavelength directionless add/drop transponder operable at said wavelength is available at each node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Nicola Sambo, Giulio Bottari, Piero Castoldi, Filippo Cugini, Paola Iovanna
  • Publication number: 20140093247
    Abstract: A subsea cable termination assembly for a subsea cable that includes an optical fiber for data transmission is provided. The subsea cable termination assembly includes a chamber that has a liquid tight seal against an ambient medium surrounding the subsea cable termination assembly, and a media converter arranged in the chamber. The media converter includes an optical interface adapted to be connected to an optical fiber of the subsea cable, and an electrical interface. The subsea cable termination assembly also includes an electric contact arranged outside the chamber and electrically connected to the electrical interface of the media converter arranged inside the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Inventors: Endre Fosso Jamtveit, Trond Holger Villmark
  • Publication number: 20140093248
    Abstract: A power supply connector remote control device is provided. The power supply connector remote control device comprises a network signal-receiving module, an infrared transmission module and a power-converting module. The network signal-receiving module receives a control signal from a first network. The infrared transmission module transmits an infrared control signal to a corresponding electronic device according to the control signal to control the corresponding electronic device. The power-converting module is electrically connected to a power socket to provide power to the network signal-receiving module and the infrared transmission module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Quanta Computer Inc.
    Inventors: Chao-Kang CHIANG, Yu-Hsin Lin
  • Publication number: 20140093249
    Abstract: A mobile device includes an inertial navigation system (INS) to measure inertial quantities associated with movement of the device, and estimate a kinematic state associated with the movement based on the measured inertial quantities. The device includes a light receiver to record light beams originating from lights at respective image positions in a sequence of images. The device photogrammetrically determines its position relative to the originating lights based on predetermined real-world positions and corresponding image positions of the lights. The device corrects the estimated kinematic state based on the photogrammetrically determined position, to produce a corrected estimated kinematic state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Inventors: Richard D. Roberts, Xue Yang
  • Publication number: 20140093250
    Abstract: Methods and systems for facilitating alignment of optical systems and optoelectronic systems are disclosed here. The methods and systems include passively detecting images, determining relative positions of components and aligning components. An imaging component can detect images and determine relative positions and repositioning instructions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicants: VOLEX PLC, APPLIED MICRO CIRCUITS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Benoit Sevigny, Ezra Gold
  • Publication number: 20140093251
    Abstract: A system comprises an interposer positioned between an integrated circuit and a system planar. An electrical/optical transceiver is coupled to the interposer, wherein the electrical/optical transceiver converts electrical signals into optical signals. The interposer comprises a first set of electrical conductors that is electrically coupled to non-Input/Output (I/O) electrical connectors on the integrated circuit, and wherein the first set of electrical conductors passes through the interposer to directly connect the non-I/O electrical connectors on the integrated circuit to the system planar. The interposer further comprises a second set of electrical conductors that is electrically coupled to input/output (I/O) electrical connectors on the integrated circuit, wherein the second set of electrical conductors traverses through the interposer to the electrical/optical transceiver to convert electrical I/O signals from the integrated circuit into optical I/O signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: BRIAN M. KERRIGAN, MICHAEL S. MILLER, JONAS R. WEISS
  • Publication number: 20140093252
    Abstract: The display device according to the present invention comprises a substrate and at least one optical coupler having an optical receiver and an optical transmitter formed on the substrate, wherein the optical transmitter transmits an optical signal to the optical receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicants: CHIMEI INNOLUX CORPORATION, INNOCOM TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD
    Inventors: Keitaro YAMASHITA, Te-Yu LEE
  • Publication number: 20140093253
    Abstract: A transmitter module includes a processor configured to receive input data, and determine input values corresponding to the input data; a digital-to-analog converter configured to receive the input values from the processor, and generate first and second voltage signals based on the input values; a laser configured to output light; a Mach-Zehnder modulator configured to receive the light from the laser and the first and second voltage signals from the digital-to-analog converter, and modulate the light based on the first and second voltage signals to generate a modulated optical signal that includes distortion; and a filter configured to receive the modulated optical signal from the modulator, process the modulated optical signal to reduce or eliminate the distortion and produce an output optical signal, and output the output optical signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Infinera Corporation
    Inventor: David James Krause
  • Publication number: 20140093254
    Abstract: A receiving device includes a first conversion unit, an amplification unit, and a microcomputer. The microcomputer includes: a second conversion unit that performs, for each sampling time duration, AD conversion on a voltage signal into an AD-converted value; a first calculation unit that calculates a difference digital value by difference calculation; a second calculation unit that calculates a positive reference value and a negative reference value; a detection unit that detects a rising point starting difference digital values greater than the positive reference value, and a falling point starting difference digital values smaller than the negative reference value; a third calculation unit that calculates a first sample period and a second sample period; and a fourth calculation unit that calculates a modulated signal for each symbol time period based on the first sample period and the second sample period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Gotou, Masaaki Ikehara, Yoshihiko Matsukawa
  • Publication number: 20140093255
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose an optical signal compensation device, where, a nonlinear compensation module in the optical signal compensation device adopts a new nonlinear compensation algorithm to perform nonlinear compensation on an optical signal, and during the process of performing the nonlinear compensation, it is no longer required to look up a table. Technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present invention can effectively increase the processing speed of the nonlinear compensation, thereby reducing the overall processing delay of an optical signal compensation system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
  • Publication number: 20140093256
    Abstract: A light source is provided in the casing and emits a light beam for forming an image. A first sensor receives the light beam emitted by the light source and outputs a light reception signal. A cover opens and closes relative to the casing. A shutter prevents the first sensor from receiving the light beam when the cover is at an open position, and allows the first sensor to receive the light beam when the cover is at a closed position. A controller is configured to: execute a lighting process of lighting the light source; execute a first determining process of determining whether the light reception signal is outputted from the first sensor, in response to the lighting process; and determine that the cover is at the open position upon determination in the first determining process that no light reception signal is outputted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hironori HIRATA, Koyo YAMAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20140093257
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus including a moving member configured to support a first process cartridge and move the first process cartridge to a position for forming an image, and a detection unit configured to detect a state of a second process cartridge, in which the moving member holds the detection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaki Seto
  • Publication number: 20140093258
    Abstract: Electronic systems, such as printing systems, often use components that have integral memory. The integral memory can be used to store information about the component. In some printing systems this memory includes a portion that stores a value indicative of a print yield. Disclosed is a method and system for allowing the memory to have data indicative of an increased print yield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Static Control Components, Inc.
    Inventors: William Eli Thacker, Lynton R. Burchette, Scott M. Babish
  • Publication number: 20140093259
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a transfer member and a cleaning member. The image forming apparatus: determines whether the electric resistance of a recording medium is low or high; applies a first transfer bias to the transfer member if the electric resistance is low; applies a second transfer bias to the transfer member if the electric resistance is high; applies a first cleaning bias to the cleaning member if the electric resistance is low; and applies a second cleaning bias to the cleaning member so that a potential difference between a portion of a surface of the image carrier against which the cleaning member is rubbed and the cleaning member becomes smaller than that in a case of applying the first cleaning bias if the electric resistance is high.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masatoshi Shiraki
  • Publication number: 20140093260
    Abstract: A recording material detection apparatus having a detecting device configured to detect a surface state of a recording material on the basis of reflected light from a surface of the recording material includes a reference surface to be irradiated with light from a light source, the detecting device includes a light-shielding portion configured to control conditions for detecting information relating to the surface state of the recording material on the basis of the reflected surface from the reference surface, and cover a portion of the reference panel other than the reference surface so as to prevent the light from the light source from being reflected from the portion of the reference panel other than the reference surface and being received by the light-receiving unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Norio Matsui, Shoichi Koyama, Tsutomu Ishida, Shun-ichi Ebihara
  • Publication number: 20140093261
    Abstract: A detection device includes an irradiation unit that irradiates a medium with first irradiation light, a first optical system that has a first incident surface and changes the first irradiation light into second irradiation light, a second optical system that has a second incident surface and changes the first irradiation light into third irradiation light, and a light receiving unit that is provided in a traveling direction of reflection light of the second irradiation light and the third irradiation light, which are specularly reflected by the medium, and receives the reflection light of the second irradiation light and the third irradiation light, which are specularly reflected by the medium, so as to detect a positional deviation amount of an image formed on the medium and detect a density deviation amount of the image formed on the medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenta OGATA, Naoya YAMASAKI, Gen NAKAJIMA
  • Publication number: 20140093262
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a measurement unit configured to emit light to a measurement target, and measure reflected light from the measurement target; a white reference plate disposed at a position opposed to the measurement unit; an image forming unit configured to form a measurement image on a sheet; and a calculation unit configured to, based on a measurement value of the white reference plate and a measurement value of the measurement image by the measurement unit, calculate a spectral reflectivity of reflected light from the measurement image. The calculation unit is configured to, after correcting a variation due to color change of the white reference plate with respect to the measurement value of the white reference plate, calculate the spectral reflectivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasuo Kamei
  • Publication number: 20140093263
    Abstract: An imaging device having a printhead unit which includes a plurality of independently controllable light sources, each light source generating a light beam when activated; a photoconductive surface operable at a plurality of image transfer rates; a scanning device having one or more deflecting surfaces, the scanning device arranged to direct the light beams so as to sweep in at least one scan direction across a surface such that, for each sweep, scan lines written by the light beams are spaced from one another on the photoconductive surface in a process direction that is nominally orthogonal to the scan direction; and a controller configured to selectively activate any number of the light sources for use during a print operation to write image data along scan lines on the photoconductive surface, wherein a rotational velocity of the scanning device is selected and the number of the light sources activated based upon at least one selected operating parameter for the imaging device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Miles Anderson, Matthew Brandon Ballenger, David John Mickan, Kevin Dean Schoedinger, Steven A. Seng
  • Publication number: 20140093264
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a charging member for charging a surface of a photosensitive member to a first potential, an exposing member for partially exposing the charged surface of the photosensitive member such that a potential of the exposed portions becomes a second potential smaller than the first potential, a developer carrier for feeding developer onto the photosensitive member, a discharging-beam member for irradiating a discharging beam onto the photosensitive member having a developer image, and a control device configured to: control a developing bias to become a third potential larger than the second potential and smaller than the first potential; and control a discharging bias such that a potential of portions on the photosensitive member where the developer image has not been formed becomes a fourth potential not smaller than the third potential and smaller than the first potential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuichi Matsushita
  • Publication number: 20140093265
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: an intermediate transfer member configured to transfer the developer images on the plurality of photosensitive members; a secondary transfer member configured to transfer the developer images transferred onto the intermediate transfer member onto a recording sheet; a plurality of primary holding rollers provided to each of the plurality of photosensitive members, respectively; a collecting unit configured to collect developer remaining on the intermediate transfer member; and a control device configured to control biases applied to the secondary transfer member and the plurality of primary holding rollers, wherein, after printing control terminates, the control device is configured to perform cleaning control in which biases having opposite polarities to biases during the printing control are applied to the plurality of primary holding rollers and the secondary transfer member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shuichi Kato, Toshio Furukawa
  • Publication number: 20140093266
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image forming section that includes a fixing device, a power supply controller that controls the fixing device to a power supply state in which power is supplied or a power shut-off state, a switching section that switches a fixing mode to one of a first mode that focuses on temperature, and a second mode that focuses on productivity, and a processing controller that controls an image forming process, by selecting the first mode as initial processing when the fixing device recovers from the power shut-off state to the power supply state upon an instruction to execute a job, and selecting, as continued processing after the initial processing, the first mode or the second mode on a basis of a total processing volume of the job acquired after the instruction to execute the job is made.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Inventors: Kazuhiko NARUSHIMA, Masafumi ONO, Motofumi BABA, Koichi AZUMA, Kenji KUROISHI, Keiko SHIRAISHI, Hidenori HORIE
  • Publication number: 20140093267
    Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus including: a formation unit that forms an image using a color material, on a medium; a fusing unit that fixes the image formed on the medium; and a control unit that controls to perform both of a first fusing and a second fusing on the medium, wherein the first fusing is a fixation in which a first image is formed by using a color material with a metallic color and the first image foamed is fixed, the second fusing is a fixation in which a second image is formed by using a color material with another color than the metallic color and the second image formed is fixed, and the first image and the second image are overlapped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiko KUBO, Jun KOYATSU, Hideki KIMURA
  • Publication number: 20140093268
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing portion for fixing an image, formed on a recording material, on the recording material, wherein the fixing portion includes a heater for generating heat by electric power supplied from a commercial power source; a power source portion for supplying the electric power to a load except the heater, wherein the power source and the heater are connected with the commercial power source in parallel; a suppliable electric power calculating portion for calculating suppliable electric power suppliable to the heater; and a temperature setting portion for setting, depending on the suppliable electric power calculated by the calculating portion, a control target temperature of the fixing portion in an operation in a stand-by mode in which the image forming apparatus awaits a print instruction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Iwasaki, Masatoshi Itoh, Tetsuya Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20140093269
    Abstract: An air-conditioning unit includes an air conditioner to control air temperature, a first channel to guide air supplied from the air conditioner to a conditioning target, a heat exchange channel through which the air supplied from the air conditioner exchanges heat with the conditioning target, a second channel to guide air from the conditioning target either outside the air-conditioning unit or to the air conditioner, and a channel switching unit to cause the air conditioner to suck in either external air or the air guided from the conditioning target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Inventors: Tomoyasu HIRASAWA, Kenichi Takehara, Hiromitsu Fujiya, Keisuke Yuasa, Yasuaki Toda, Keisuke Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20140093270
    Abstract: A process cartridge for an image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum; a cleaning member having a blade contacted to end drum; a sheet contacted to end drum; an end seal provided at an end of a frame and contacted to the drum, end blade and end sheet; and a sealing mold, integrally molded at the end portion of end frame by injection molding, end sealing mold including a first seal provided between end cleaning member and end frame and extending in a direction crossing with the longitudinal direction, a second seal provided between the end seal and end frame and continuously molded with end first seal, and a third seal provided between end sheet and end frame and continuously molded with end second seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Fumito Nonaka
  • Publication number: 20140093271
    Abstract: A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes: a frame; an accommodating portion, constituted by the frame, for accommodating a developer; a seal portion for preventing the developer from being leaking out from the accommodating portion, wherein the seal portion is formed by injection molding at a seal forming portion provided on the frame and is projected from the seal forming portion; and a sprue which is formed integrally with the seal portion by a resin material remaining in a path for permitting flow of the resin material melted when the seal portion is formed by the injection molding and which is projected from the frame in a position different from a position of the seal portion so as to be higher than the seal portion on the basis of the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nobuharu Hoshi
  • Publication number: 20140093272
    Abstract: A cartridge includes: a toner accommodating frame including a toner feeding opening communicating with a toner feeding chamber and a toner filling port; a rotatable member; and a toner seal member. The toner seal member includes a first fixed portion and a second fixed portion which are fixed on the toner accommodating frame at an edge of the toner feeding opening along a longitudinal direction of the toner feeding opening, and includes a third fixed portion fixed on the rotatable member. With rotation of the rotatable member, the first fixed portion of the toner seal member is peeled off from a fixing portion to open the toner feeding opening. The toner is filled into said toner accommodating frame through the toner filling port such that the toner is first filled into a recess defined by said toner seal member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoki Matsumaru, Daisuke Makiguchi, Yoshiyuki Batori, Ryuta Murakami, Toshiaki Takeuchi
  • Publication number: 20140093273
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main casing and a cartridge detachably mountable therein. The cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and a developing roller disposed to oppose each other. The main casing includes: a metal frame for supporting the cartridge; a lock member supported to the metal frame and movable about a first axis to allow or restrict movement of the photosensitive drum relative to the metal frame; and a contact-separation member supported to the metal frame and movable about a second axis to allow contact and separation of the developing roller relative to the photosensitive drum. The lock member and the contact-separation member are aligned in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to an axis of the photosensitive drum such that the first axis is not overlapped with the contact-separation member or the second axis is not overlapped with the lock member in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Hayakawa, Atsuhisa Nakashima, Naoya Kamimura
  • Publication number: 20140093274
    Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes: an image formation unit including an image carrier configured to carry a developer image; a drive unit configured to drive the image carrier; a holder provided with the drive unit; a transfer unit located to be opposed to the image carrier and configured to transfer the developer image from the image carrier on a transfer medium; and a switching unit configured to switch a position of the holder between an image formation position, at which the transfer unit transfers the developer image from the image carrier on the transfer medium, and a non-image formation position. The holder is configured to move together with the image formation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto KITAMURA
  • Publication number: 20140093275
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first process unit and a second process unit. The first process unit includes: a first photosensitive member configured to carry a first developer image to be transferred onto a transfer medium; and a blade member configured to scrape substances attached to a surface of the first photosensitive member off the surface of the first photosensitive member. The second process unit includes: a second photosensitive member configured to carry a second developer image to be transferred onto the transfer medium having the first developer image transferred thereon; and a holding member configured to remove substances attached to a surface of the second photosensitive member from the surface of the second photosensitive member, temporarily hold the substances and return the substances to the surface of the second photosensitive member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Isao Fukuchi, Atsushi Fukui, Masanori Tsuruko, Akihiro Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20140093276
    Abstract: A process cartridge and an image forming apparatus are provided. The process cartridge is detachably mountable in an apparatus body of the image forming apparatus, and includes a plurality of photosensitive drums, a first outer side plate which is provided on one side of the photosensitive drums in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum, a second outer side plate which is provided on the other side of the photosensitive drums in the axial direction, and opposes the first outer side plate with the photosensitive drums interposed therebetween, and a plurality of input parts which are provided on ends of the photosensitive drums at the one side, respectively. An end face of each of the input parts being provided inward with respect to the outer surface of the first outer side plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Abe, Junichi Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20140093277
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member that can not easily cause charging lines even where it is an electrophotographic photosensitive member employing as a conductive layer a layer containing metal oxide particles is disclosed. Also disclosed are a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus which have such an electrophotographic photosensitive member. The electrophotographic photosensitive member has a conductive layer which contains titanium oxide particles coated with tin oxide doped with phosphorus or tungsten.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Fujii, Haruyuki Tsuji, Hideaki Matsuoka, Kazuhisa Shida, Nobuhiro Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20140093278
    Abstract: A high quality electrophotographic member that is excellent in deformation recovery property under high-temperature and high-humidity and that also satisfies filming resistance under low-temperature and low-humidity is provided. The electrophotographic member includes a substrate, an elastic layer, and a surface layer containing a urethane resin, wherein the urethane resin has a partial structure having at least one structure selected from the group consisting of structures of structural formulae (1) to (7) between adjacent two urethane linkages, and the urethane resin further has a partial structure derived from a reaction of a compound represented by a structural formula (8) with a polyisocyanate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaki Yamada, Kazutoshi Ishida, Minoru Ito, Kazuhito Wakabayashi, Tomoya Uesugi
  • Publication number: 20140093279
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cartridge and a casing. The cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a developing frame, and a drum frame. The developing frame is movable between a contact position and a separated position. A separating member provided on the drum frame acts on the developing frame, so that a reaction force is exerted in a reaction force direction. The casing includes a positioning member, an urging member, and a separation pressing member. The positioning member has a first surface and a second surface. The urging member is configured to urge an end portion of the photosensitive drum toward the positioning member in an urging direction. The first surface is configured to support the end portion at a position downstream of the urging direction. The second surface is configured to support the end portion at a portion downstream of the reaction force direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Hayakawa, Naoya Kamimura, Atsuhisa Nakashima
  • Publication number: 20140093280
    Abstract: Disclosed is a positively-charged electrophotographic photoreceptor which uses a tubular photosensitive layer support base with a wall thickness of (t), wherein (t) is 0.7 mm or less, a chamfer angle (a) of an end surface of the photosensitive layer support base is 30° or more and 60° or less with respect to a longitudinal tangent of a surface of a tubular photosensitive layer support base, and an outer end surface-tail edge surface width (b) of the tubular photosensitive layer support base is 0.05 mm or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Keizo Kimoto, Sakae Saito, Yasufumi Mizuta, Kazunari Hamasaki, Syoji Itsumi, Hiroshi Takemoto
  • Publication number: 20140093281
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member in which image deletion is hardly produced, and a process cartridge and electrophotographic apparatus having the electrophotographic photosensitive member are provided. For this, a surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a plurality of depressed portions and a portion other than the depressed portions, each of the depressed portions having a depth of 0.5 to 5 ?m and an opening longest diameter of 20 to 80 ?m; when a 500 ?m×500 ?m square region is disposed in an arbitrary position of the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the area of the depressed portions in the 500 ?m×500 ?m square region is from 10000 to 90000 ?m2, and the area of a flat part contained in the portion other than the depressed portions is from 80000 to 240000 ?m2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Takahashi, Hiroki Uematsu, Takahiro Mitsui, Yasuhiro Kawai, Tsutomu Nishida, Hideki Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20140093282
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including an image forming unit; a resin-made frame to support the image forming unit; a drive source arranged on a one-end side of a transmission path to generate driving force; a gear arranged on the other-end side of the transmission path to be rotated, while one of axial ends of a shaft of the gear is supported by the frame; a metal-made first supporting member fixed to the frame to support the other of axial ends of the shaft of the gear thereon; a metal-made second supporting member fixed to the frame to support the drive source thereon and; an endless belt; a first pulley supported by the second supporting member to transmit the driving force to the endless belt, the first pulley being; and a second pulley having the endless belt strained there-around and supported by the first supporting member, is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Miwa, Tomoya Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20140093283
    Abstract: A corona charger conventionally includes a sheet-like shutter and a holding member configured to hold an end of the shutter, and the replacement of a charging electrode is difficult. To solve this problem, the holding member configured to hold the end of the shutter is set to be movable along the longitudinal direction of a shield to a winding member of the shutter more than a supporting member configured to replaceably support the charging electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuichi Makino
  • Publication number: 20140093284
    Abstract: Ink-based digital printing systems useful for ink printing include a photoreceptor layer configured to receive a layer of liquid immersion fluid. The liquid immersion fluid includes dampening fluid, dispersed solid particles, and charge directors that impart charge to the solid particles. The photoreceptor surface is charged to a uniform potential, and selectively discharged using an ROS according to image data to form an electrostatic latent image. The charged liquid immersion fluid adheres to portions of the photoreceptor surface according to the electrostatic latent image to form a liquid immersion fluid image. The fluid portion of the liquid immersion fluid image is partially transferred to an imaging member and/or transfer member to form a dampening fluid image, either or both of which may be electrically biased. The dampening fluid image is inked on the transfer member, and the resulting ink image transferred to a recording medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Chu-heng LIU
  • Publication number: 20140093285
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes first and second detection units, first to third image forming units, and first to third specifying units. The first and second detection units receive light reflected from first and second regions irradiated with first light and second light having a small range compared with the first light, and detect light-amount signals. The first image forming unit forms first images at first intervals in a first portion passing through the first region. The second image forming unit forms second images having a short length compared with the first images, at second intervals shorter than the first intervals, in a second portion passing through the second region. The third image forming unit forms a third image in the first portion. The first and second specifying units specify misregistration amounts in the first and second images. The third specifying unit specifies density deviation amounts in the third images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kenta OGATA
  • Publication number: 20140093286
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a system speed of from 400 to 2,000 mm/sec, including an endless rotational member having an elastic layer, to transfer a sheet-shaped medium bearing a toner image; and a transfer electric field forming member facing the rotational member, to form a transfer electric field relative to the sheet-shaped medium. A toner of the toner image includes a parent particulate material formed of a colored particulate material granulated by emulsifying or dispersing a toner material solution in an aqueous medium to prepare an emulsion or a dispersion, and removing a solvent therefrom; an external additive on the surface of the parent particulate material; and a charge controlling agent. The external additive is an inorganic particulate material, polymeric particulate material or a polymeric particulate material formed of a thermoplastic resin. The toner is subjected to a surface treatment with a fluidizer to be uniformly charged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Inventor: Wakana ITOH
  • Publication number: 20140093287
    Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes: a rotatable heating member; a belt unit including an endless belt and first and second supporting members; a detector; a rotating mechanism; and a displacing mechanism for permitting displacement, with rotation of the belt unit by the rotating mechanism, of the first supporting member in a direction of equalizing forces urging the belt toward the rotatable heating member by the first supporting member at widthwise ends of the belt, and for permitting displacement, with rotation of the belt unit by the rotating mechanism, of the second supporting member in a direction of equalizing forces urging the belt toward the rotatable heating member by the second supporting member at the widthwise ends of the belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takuya Hasegawa
  • Publication number: 20140093288
    Abstract: A fixing device fixes a toner image on a recording medium transported to a fixing nip by applying pressure and heat to the recording medium. The fixing device includes an endless belt formed into a loop with both ends bonded together, the belt accommodating a heat source inside thereof, a pressing roller rotating in contact with the endless belt forming the fixing nip between the endless belt and the pressing roller, and a fixed member provided inside a loop of the endless belt to press the endless belt against a pressing roller. A reinforcing member is bonded to the fixed member inside the loop of the endless belt to reinforce the fixed member. A reflector is provided to reflect light emitted from the heat source toward the inner circumferential surface of the endless belt. The reflector is held on the reinforcing member by either plastically or elastically deforming by itself.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Inventors: Yutaka Naitoh, Shigeo Nanno, Tomohiko Fujii, Minoru Toyoda, Hitoshi Fujiwara, Tomoya Adachi, Yasuharu Kawarasaki, Tetsu Morino