Patents Issued in January 21, 2016
  • Publication number: 20160018750
    Abstract: A method for preparing suspension polymerization toner of core-shell structure comprises following steps: 1) preparing a monomer oil phase containing a certain amount of polar resin forming toner soft core resin and aqueous dispersion liquid respectively; 2) adding the monomer oil phase into the aqueous dispersion liquid, transferring a mixture into a reactor after high-speed shearing and suspension granulation, and carrying out a first heating polymerization reaction to obtain toner particles of soft-core hard-shell structure; 3) taking the toner particles of soft-core hard-shell structure as a core layer, adding a cationic monomer component, and carrying out a second polymerization reaction through a water-soluble initiator to obtain the toner particles of soft-core hard-shell structure with dense charge surface layers uniformly distributed on outer surfaces; and 4) cleaning, filtering, and sufficiently drying a preceding product, and then adding silicon dioxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Zhijun Liu, Yuanyuan Zhang, Tiantian Pu, Xiao Yuan, Hong Meng, Hui Yang
  • Publication number: 20160018751
    Abstract: Provided are a roller capable of suppressing the generation of cutting waste from the cut surface of a foam layer at the end of the roller in the axial direction thereof, a method of manufacturing especially a conductive roller, and an image forming device using the roller. The roller is provided with a shaft 1, and a foam layer 2 and at least one film layer 3, sequentially provided on the outer periphery of the shaft. The foam layer and film layer are cut at both ends of the roller in the axial direction thereof, and a filler layer 4 for covering at least the foam layer is provided on the cut surface of the foam layer and film layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shogo IMAI, Yusuke FUJISAWA, Yusuke KAMIJO
  • Publication number: 20160018752
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including an image holder that is mounted at a predetermined mount position, a charging member that charges the image holder, a cleaning member that cleans the charging member, a holding member that holds the charging member and the cleaning member, includes a mount section on which the cleaning member is mounted, is urged toward the image holder side, and recedes when the image holder is mounted at the predetermined mount position, and a drop-out prevention section that is disposed at a position facing the mount section which is included in the holding member at a receding position and that prevents the cleaning member from dropping out from the mount section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Mikio YAMAGUCHI, Ichiro KAWAHARA, Hiroki ANDO, Keishi ARAKI, Hirofumi IIDA
  • Publication number: 20160018753
    Abstract: A brushless motor has a rotor and a stator, the stator having coils corresponding to respective phases of the brushless motor. A polygon mirror has a plurality of mirror surfaces and is configured to rotate together with the rotor. When executed by the processor, the instructions cause the processor to: detect first timing at which the light sensor receives a light beam emitted from the light source and reflected by one of the plurality of mirror surfaces when the rotor is rotating; acquire first information identifying a relationship between the first timing and second timing at which an inductive voltage reaches a particular reference value, the inductive voltage being generated in at least one coil in a non-energization state due to rotation of the rotor; and perform a phase switching control of the brushless motor based on the first timing and the first information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tasuku SUGIMOTO, Hironori HIRATA, Ryo ITO
  • Publication number: 20160018754
    Abstract: A light emission element array chip includes light emission light groups each of which includes N light emission elements arranged in a sub-scanning direction. The light emission light groups include a first block of the light emission element groups arranged at intervals of a first predetermined distance in a main-scanning direction. The light emission light groups further include a second block of one or more of the light emission element groups at either end side of the light emission element array chip shifted from a position of each light emission element group included in the first block of the light emission element groups by a second predetermined distance in the sub-scanning direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Michiyoshi, Tetsuroh Tatebe
  • Publication number: 20160018755
    Abstract: An optical print head includes: light-emitting elements in line shape; first power line supplying first reference voltage; second power line supplying drive current to each light-emitting element and supplying second reference voltage; DAC outputting first voltage indicating light emission amount of each light-emitting element; first elements for holding first voltage difference between the first reference voltage and the first voltage; second elements each electrically connectable with corresponding first element and for holding second voltage difference between the second reference voltage and second voltage according to the first voltage, and during supply of drive current, controls each first element to hold the first difference by electrically disconnecting the first and second elements, and temporarily suspends supply of the drive current, and controls the second element to hold the second difference by electrically connecting the first and second elements, such that the drive current according to the s
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Makoto OBAYASHI, Satoshi MASUDA, Yoshikazu WATANABE, Masayuki IIJIMA, So YANO, Takaki UEMURA
  • Publication number: 20160018756
    Abstract: A process unit includes a latent image bearer, a developer bearer, a regulator, a supplier, and at least one voltage applicator. The latent image bearer bears a latent image on a surface thereof. The developer bearer supplies a developer onto the latent image bearer to make the latent image a visible image. The regulator regulates a thickness of a layer of the developer on the surface of the developer bearer. The supplier supplies the developer to the developer bearer. At least one voltage applicator applies a voltage to the developer bearer and the latent image bearer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Takahiro Sanada
  • Publication number: 20160018757
    Abstract: A development execution control portion executes a development process by causing an intermediate lateral conveyance portion and a developing portion to operate. A developer replenishment control portion causes a developer replenishment portion to operate when a detection result of a developer amount sensor satisfies a predetermined shortage condition. A post-development processing control portion causes the intermediate lateral conveyance portion and the developing portion to operate continuously from and after a development process and then stop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Takeshi Amano, Akihiro Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20160018758
    Abstract: A toner container which is a powder container includes a container body that stores toner which is powder; a nozzle receiver having a nozzle insertion opening which is a nozzle insertion opening through which a powder conveying nozzle of a powder conveying device is inserted in the container body; and an elastic sheet which is an elastic sheet member that blocks the nozzle insertion opening and is elastically deformed so that the powder conveying nozzle can pass through when the powder conveying nozzle is inserted. A plurality of elastic sheets is arranged so as to overlap at least partially.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Hiroshi HOSOKAWA, Shunji KATOH
  • Publication number: 20160018759
    Abstract: A developer conveying device includes a vertical conveyance member and an AC application portion. The vertical conveyance member is an electrically conductive member and conveys developer in a developer conveyance path that extends in a vertical direction, by operating in the path. The AC application portion applies an AC voltage to the vertical conveyance member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventor: Koji Suenami
  • Publication number: 20160018760
    Abstract: A developing device includes first and second stirring/transporting members, a developer feeding member, and a developer container that accommodates those components. The first and second stirring/transporting members stir and transport developer. The developer feeding member feeds developer to the first stirring/transporting member. In the developer container, a feeding port through which developer is fed from the developer feeding member to the first stirring/transporting member is formed. The developer feeding member includes a rotary shaft, a first transport blade which stirs and transports developer, a blocking portion which protrudes substantially perpendicularly to the rotary shaft and blocks the developer transported by the first transport blade in a first direction, and a paddle which feeds the developer from a developer supply passage to a first transport chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Eiji GYOTOKU
  • Publication number: 20160018761
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer container, a developer bearing member, and a plurality of stirring conveyance members. The developer container includes a plurality of developer conveyance paths and communication sections. At least one of the stirring conveyance members includes a conveyance fin configured to convey the developer toward one of the communication portions. The conveyance fin protrudes from a portion of the stirring conveyance member, the portion being located at a downstream end of the developer conveyance path in terms of a developer conveyance direction in the developer conveyance path. The conveyance fin is inclined at a specified angle to a direction of a rotational shaft of the at least one of the stirring conveyance members so that the developer being conveyed is turned by the conveyance fin in a direction at an acute angle to the developer conveyance direction in the developer conveyance path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Applicant: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Takeshi IKETANI, Hideki TAKEDA
  • Publication number: 20160018762
    Abstract: A method is provided for recycling a previously-used gear assembly that includes a portion having pair of slots. The method includes obtaining a previously-used gear assembly that has been removed from a first photosensitive drum-cylinder, inserting the portion of the gear assembly into a second drum-cylinder; positioning the portion of the gear assembly and the second drum-cylinder between a pair of moveable arms, and moving the moveable arms toward the portion of the gear assembly to couple the gear assembly to the second drum-cylinder by crimping the second drum-cylinder into the pair of slots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Yoel Wazana, Sagie Shanun, Varuzhan Srmabekian
  • Publication number: 20160018763
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first toner image forming unit including a rotatable photosensitive drum and a charger and configured to form a first toner image on the drum, the charger being supplied with a DC voltage to charge; a movable intermediary transfer member supplied with a transferring current for transferring the first image from the drum onto the transfer member, the transfer member carrying a second toner image at a position upstream of the transfer portion; and a switching portion for switching a mode from a first mode in which a maximum toner deposition amount of the second image fed to the transfer portion and a transfer current supplied to the transfer member are set at respective standard levels to a second mode in which the toner deposition amount and the transferring current are set at respective predetermined levels which are different from the standard levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventor: Kenichi Shibuya
  • Publication number: 20160018764
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a cylindrical film, a heater including a substrate, a first heat generation resistor formed on a first surface of the substrate which is a surface facing an inner surface of the film, and a second heat generation resistor formed on a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a control portion, wherein during a time period from the start of warm-up of the fixing apparatus to a predetermined time, the control portion is configured either to supply power to the first heat generation resistor while supplying no power to the second heat generation resistor or to supply power to the first heat generation resistor and the second heat generation resistor such that the power supplied to the first heat generation resistor is higher than the power supplied to the second heat generation resistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Kenji Takagi, Masato Sako
  • Publication number: 20160018765
    Abstract: A fixing member, includes: a base layer; and a porous elastic layer provided on the base layer and configured to contain a needle-like filler. The elastic layer has a thermal conductivity, with respect to a longitudinal direction thereof, which is 6 times to 900 times a thermal conductivity with respect to a thickness direction thereof. The elastic layer has an open cell rate larger at longitudinal end portions than at a longitudinal central portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Shuichi Tamura, Akeshi Asaka, Hiroto Sugimoto, Shinsuke Takahashi, Shigeaki Takada, Yutaka Arai, Jun Miura
  • Publication number: 20160018766
    Abstract: A fixing member used for fixing a toner image on a recording material includes: a base layer; and a porous elastic layer provided on the base layer and containing a needle-like filler. The elastic layer has a thermal conductivity with respect to a longitudinal direction thereof in a first region where the elastic layer is contactable to the recording material on the fixing member, and the thermal conductivity is 6 times to 900 times a thermal conductivity with respect to a thickness direction in the first region. The elastic layer has a thermal conductivity with respect to the thickness direction thereof in a second region outside the first region with respect to the longitudinal direction, and the thermal conductivity with respect to the thickness direction in the second region is larger than the thermal conductivity with respect to the thickness direction in the first region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Naoki Akiyama, Shigeaki Takada, Daigo Matsuura, Yasuhiro Miyahara, Akeshi Asaka, Shuichi Tamura, Toshinori Nakayama, Yutaka Arai, Jun Miura, Takeshi Suzuki, Katsuhisa Matsunaka, Shinsuke Takahashi, Hiroto Sugimoto
  • Publication number: 20160018767
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable heating member and a rotatable pressing member which are configured to fix a toner image on a recording material in a nip therebetween; and a heating mechanism configured to selectively heat regions of the rotatable heating member depending on sizes of the recording material when the sizes are predetermined ones of all sizes usable in the fixing device. The rotatable pressing member includes a base layer and a porous elastic layer provided on the base layer and containing a needle-like filler. The elastic layer having a thermal conductivity, with respect to a longitudinal direction thereof, which is 6 times to 900 times a thermal conductivity with respect to a thickness direction thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Shigeaki Takada, Toshinori Nakayama, Masayuki Tamaki, Naoki Akiyama, Akeshi Asaka, Koichi Kakubari, Yutaka Arai, Jun Miura
  • Publication number: 20160018768
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, an image forming apparatus comprises a transfer device configured to transfer an image onto a conveyed recording medium (sheet); a fixer configured to heat, press and convey the sheet to fix the transferred image on the sheet; a sensor configured to detect the bending amount of the sheet between the transfer device and the fixer; and a control section configured to control at least one of the transfer device and the fixer so that the recording medium between the transfer device and the fixer is conveyed in a bent state and the bending amount of the sheet is reduced if the bending amount of the sheet exceeds a preset one according to the detection result of the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Satoshi Kinouchi, Takaho Watanabe, Ryota Saeki, Tokihiko Ise
  • Publication number: 20160018769
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit including a fixing member that heats a developer for fixing the developer to a medium, a temperature control unit that heats the fixing member and controls a temperature of the fixing member, a transport member that transports the medium through the fixing unit, and a transport control unit that controls a transport speed at which the transport member transports the medium. At least one of before and after an image forming operation, the image forming apparatus performs a temperature control operation of the fixing unit while transporting the medium through the fixing unit. When the image forming apparatus performs the temperature control operation at least one of before and after the image forming operation, the transport control unit causes the transport member to transport the medium at a transport speed slower than a fastest transport speed among a plurality of preset transport speeds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Applicant: OKI DATA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eiji WAGATSUMA, Tetsuya WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20160018770
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotating member, a bearing and a holding member. The rotating member is configured to fix a toner image on a recording medium. The bearing is configured to support the rotating member so that the rotating member is rotatable around a rotation axis. The holding member is configured to hold the bearing. The holding member has a restricting part configured to face an outside face in the rotation axis direction of the bearing at an interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Naoto MIYAKOSHI, Masahiro UENO
  • Publication number: 20160018771
    Abstract: An elastic layer includes a needle-shaped filler and a void and has a porosity of 20 vol % or more and 60 vol % or less. The elastic layer contains a first area and a second area. The first area extends from a surface of the elastic layer opposite to a surface facing the mandrel toward the mandrel and has a thickness of 30% of the thickness of the elastic layer. The second area is a central area in a thickness direction of the elastic layer and has a thickness of 40% of the thickness of the elastic layer. The needle-shaped filler in the second area has an orientation degree of 50% or lower. The needle-shaped filler in the first area has an orientation degree higher than that of the needle-shaped filler in the second area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Yutaka Arai, Takeshi Suzuki, Jun Miura, Shigeaki Takada, Toshinori Nakayama, Naoki Akiyama, Daigo Matsuura, Yasuhiro Miyahara, Akeshi Asaka, Shuichi Tamura, Katsuhisa Matsunaka, Shinsuke Takahashi, Hiroto Sugimoto
  • Publication number: 20160018772
    Abstract: A pressure member includes a base, an elastic layer outside the base, and a surface layer on the elastic layer, the surface layer containing a fluorine-containing resin. The surface layer is fixed on the elastic layer in a state of being stretched in the longitudinal direction of the pressure member, the elastic layer has a porosity of 20% by volume or more and 60% by volume or less, and when the elastic modulus of the elastic layer in the thickness direction is defined as E (ND) and the elastic modulus of the elastic layer in the longitudinal direction of the pressure member is defined as E (MD), E (MD)/E (ND) is larger than 1.0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Jun Miura, Yutaka Arai, Shigeaki Takada, Akeshi Asaka
  • Publication number: 20160018773
    Abstract: In general, according to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a display unit, an operation input unit, a storage unit, a control unit, and an image forming unit. The operation input unit receives an operation input. The storage unit stores function restriction instruction content that disables setting and use of a predetermined function related to printing, so as to correspond to a sheet handling method after image formation. The control unit displays a setting screen for setting each function related to printing and selecting the sheet handling method on the display unit, acquires the function restriction instruction content corresponding to the selected sheet handling method from the storage unit when the sheet handling method is selected, displays the setting screen in which setting and use of the predetermined function are disabled on the display unit on the basis of the acquired function restriction instruction content, and receives print setting on the setting screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Applicants: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Takahiro Hagiwara
  • Publication number: 20160018774
    Abstract: An image formation apparatus for forming an image and test patterns. The image formation apparatus includes a storage unit that stores dither matrix data used to form the image and the test patterns; and an image formation unit that forms the test patterns based on the dither matrix data. A number of tones of the test patterns to be formed by the image formation unit is changed and the number of tones is determined based on a size of the dither matrix data and a number of bits per pixel within the dither matrix data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Abe, Satoshi Ohmiya, Masahiko Oikawa, Makoto Higashiyama, Yuichiro Shukuya, Tatsuya Miyadera
  • Publication number: 20160018775
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus executes control for predicting a toner remaining amount, if the apparatus can acquire a predetermined value as identification information indicating a type or a manufacture of a toner cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventor: Kenji Saiki
  • Publication number: 20160018776
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a curved conveyance path being formed by an outer guide and an inner guide, and a control unit configured to control a first conveyance unit disposed on upstream of the conveyance path and a second conveyance unit disposed on downstream of the conveyance path such that a conveyance speed of the first conveyance unit is set greater than a conveyance speed of the second conveyance unit, in a case where an image surface of the recording material on which an image is formed faces the inner guide, and perform control of the first and the second conveyance units in such a manner that the conveyance speed of the first conveyance unit is set less than the conveyance speed of the second conveyance unit, in a case where the image surface of the recording material on which the image is formed faces the outer guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventor: Yoichi Furuyama
  • Publication number: 20160018777
    Abstract: There is provided a bearing member which is disposed at an end section of a photoreceptor drum for attaching a shaft member that transmits a rotating force to the bearing member, the bearing member including a tubular body, and a holding section which is disposed inside the tubular body attachably and detachably, and holds a rotating force transmission pin provided in the shaft member, wherein the holding section includes at least two swing grooves provided extending along an axial direction of the tubular body, and opposing each other, and introduction grooves, each having one end communicating with the swing groove and the other end communicating with an outside of the swing groove, and the introduction grooves in a posture in which the shaft member transmits the rotating force are disposed entirely at a position to be lower than an entirety or a part of the rotating force transmission pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinichi IIJIMA, Shuichi IKEDA
  • Publication number: 20160018778
    Abstract: Provided is a method for treating a printing plate developer liquid by which a developer waste liquid can be reused by also removing components that are dissolved in the developer waste liquid, and a system for treating a printing plate developer liquid. A method for treating a printing plate developer liquid includes making a developer waste liquid pass through packed beds 2, 3 filled with activated carbon, the developer waste liquid containing a polymer component generated in a developing step to perform development of a printing plate member including a photosensitive resin layer on which a latent image is formed with the use of an aqueous developer liquid mainly made of water, and replacing a passage liquid made to pass through the packed beds in a supply unit supplying the aqueous developer liquid in a developing machine 1, and reusing the passage liquid as an aqueous developer liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Applicant: SUMITOMO RIKO COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Koki Matsuoka
  • Publication number: 20160018779
    Abstract: A retractor that is applicable to an image forming apparatus includes a moving unit to move a latent image forming device between an image forming position and a retracted position, a first guide into which a first projection of the latent image forming device is fitted in different ranges and changing an attitude of the one end side of the latent image forming device, and a second guide into which a second projection of the latent image forming device is fitted in different ranges and changing the attitude of the opposed end side of the latent image forming device. The different ranges include a first range and a second range. An amount of play in at least a part of the first range with respect to the corresponding projection is greater than an amount of play in the second range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Kuniyori TAKANO
  • Publication number: 20160018780
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body, a moving part supported movably relative to the main body, a support portion provided in the main body to support the moving part movably, a rack provided in one of the main body and the moving part and having a rack gear, a damper gear provided in the other of the main body and the moving part to be meshed with the rack gear, a damper configured to apply resistance force to rotation of the damper gear, and a restricting portion provided in the other of the main body and the moving part to be in contact with an abutting portion extending along the rack gear in the rack, the restricting portion restricting a position of the rack to prevent the rack gear from separating from the damper gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Tadahisa Sugiyama, Shigeo Doi
  • Publication number: 20160018781
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a body provided at one side thereof with an opening, a transfer device movably installed at the body so as to be detachable through the opening, and a locking lever rotatably installed at the transfer device, wherein the locking lever rotates between a first position at which one end of the locking lever protrudes from the transfer device and a second position at which the one end is accommodated within the transfer device, and the body includes a locking protrusion that is locked with other end of the locking lever in a state that the locking lever is at the first position, so that only in a state that a worker rotates the locking lever while gripping the transfer device, the transfer device is separated from the body, thereby separating the transfer device in a safe manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTORNICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jeong Yong JU, Jun Ho LEE
  • Publication number: 20160018782
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body, a photosensitive drum detachably attached to the main body, a light exposure member configured to expose the photosensitive member to light, a developer container configured to store a developer to be supplied to the photosensitive drum, and a supporting member disposed in the main body and configured to support the light exposure member and to hold the developer container detachably. The supporting member is configured to, while holding the developer container, move between a light exposure position where the light exposure member is located proximate to the photosensitive drum and a separation position where the light exposure member is separated from the photosensitive drum while the supporting member holds the developer container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventor: Yasushi Okabe
  • Publication number: 20160018783
    Abstract: A process cartridge includes: a drum cartridge including a photoconductor; a development cartridge configured to be detachably attached to the drum cartridge and including a developer carrying member for supplying developer to the photoconductor; a locking member provided on the drum cartridge and configured to be switchable between a locking position in which the development cartridge attached to the drum cartridge is in a locked state and restrained from being moved in a removing direction in which the development cartridge is removed from the drum cartridge and a lifting position in which the locked state is released and the development cartridge is movable in the removing direction, and a retaining member configured to retain the development cartridge which has been moved from the locked state in the removing direction by switching the locking member from the locking position to the lifting position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventor: Yasuo Fukamachi
  • Publication number: 20160018784
    Abstract: A process cartridge for an image forming apparatus includes a drum unit supporting a photosensitive drum; a developing roller; a driving roller for driving the roller; a drive receiving portion; a developing unit supporting the developing roller and the driving roller; and a connecting portion connecting the drum unit and the developing unit, the connecting portion being disposed below the driving roller. The developing unit is movable relative to the drum unit by rotating about the connecting portion between a contacting position in which the drum and the developing roller contact each other and a spacing position in which the drum and the developing roller are spaced from each other. A direction of the receiving portion is opposite to that of the developing roller, and is the same as the developing unit rotation from the spacing position toward the contacting position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Hideki Maeshima, Masato Tanabe, Keisuke Nomura, Hiroki Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20160018785
    Abstract: A cartridge attachable to and detachable from a main body of an image forming apparatus includes a process unit configured to perform image formation, a frame configured to support the process unit, and a conductive member injection-molded integrally with the frame using a conductive resin, configured contact with a main body electrode portion provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus, and to be electrically connected with the process unit, and a contact surface of the conductive member configured to contact with the main body electrode portion, includes a plurality of protruded portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Hiroshi Takarada, Kuniaki Hirukawa
  • Publication number: 20160018786
    Abstract: A fluorescence receiving apparatus comprises an excitation light source, a spatial light modulator of a phase modulation type for phase-modulating excitation light to obtain phase-modulated light, a focusing optical system configured to focus the phase-modulated light to a specimen, a specimen stage for supporting the specimen, a fluorescence receiver for receiving fluorescence generated by focus of the phase-modulated light to the specimen, a control unit for displaying a first CGH on the spatial light modulator, and a correction unit for correcting the first CGH. The correction unit comprises a receiver-specific sensitivity information storage preliminarily acquiring and storing sensitivity information per reception position specific to the fluorescence receiver, and a second hologram generator for correcting the first CGH, based on intensities of the fluorescence and the sensitivity information, to generate a second CGH. The control unit displays the second CGH on the spatial light modulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventor: Naoya MATSUMOTO
  • Publication number: 20160018787
    Abstract: Timepiece power reserve indicator for the display of the power reserve indication of a plurality of energy accumulators each including one indicator cooperating with one accumulator input of a differential mechanism comprised in the power reserve indicator, and wherein one output of the differential mechanism cooperates with a mechanism for the display of the total power reserve of the plurality of energy accumulators, and at least two of the inputs are coaxial.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventor: Ivan VILLAR
  • Publication number: 20160018788
    Abstract: To provide an analog electronic timepiece which prevents a crystal oscillation circuit from malfunctioning even if a battery voltage is lowered at motor loading. An analog electronic timepiece is equipped with a crystal vibrator, an oscillation circuit, a frequency division circuit, a constant voltage circuit, an output control circuit, and a motor. The analog electronic timepiece is configured in such a manner that the constant voltage circuit has a voltage holding circuit connected between a gate of an output transistor and a power supply terminal, and the oscillation circuit and the frequency division circuit are operated with a constant voltage generated by the constant voltage circuit as a power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Makoto MITANI, Kotaro WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20160018789
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece including: a clocking unit; a storage unit; a setting selection unit which selects, as summer time implementation information, the summer time implementation rule or user setting that specifies whether to implement summer time; and a local time acquisition unit which acquires local time at a predetermined point, wherein the local time acquisition unit includes: a movement determination unit which determines, when the setting selection unit selects the user setting, whether a previous point and a new point belong to a predetermined range in which local time counted at the previous point is equal to local time counted at the new point; and a summer time implementation information switching unit which acquires local time on the basis of the summer time implementation rule when the previous point and the new point do not belong to the predetermined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Applicant: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kosuke HASEGAWA
  • Publication number: 20160018790
    Abstract: The present application discloses an electronic apparatus, comprising: a frame body, a fixing device, and a functional main body section. The fixing device is connected to the frame body, and used for fixing the electronic apparatus onto a support body. The frame body and the fixing device form a ring-like space when the electronic apparatus is fixed onto the support body by the fixing device. The functional main body section at least includes a first display module and a second display module, which are disposed in the frame body and stacked sequentially in a first direction. The electronic apparatus has a first cross section. The first cross section is a ring formed by sectioning the electronic apparatus in a direction perpendicular to the support body with the support body as a reference object, when the electronic apparatus is fixed onto the support body by the fixing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Applicant: Lenovo (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei Su, Zhijun Gao
  • Publication number: 20160018791
    Abstract: The wearable device incorporates a device for measuring the ambient temperature, which comprises an infrared sensor. In an ambient temperature measurement mode a control circuit activates the infrared sensor several times so that it can supply a plurality of measurement signals over a certain period of time. A circuit for processing measurement signals is then arranged in order to supply temperature values corresponding to at least a portion of the measurement signals and to take a mean for at least a portion of these temperature values to obtain an average temperature value that is considered to be representative of the ambient temperature. The invention also relates to a method for measuring the ambient temperature that can be implemented by means of this wearable device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Christophe GERMIQUET, David HOOVER
  • Publication number: 20160018792
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece including: a clocking unit which counts current date and time; a summer time application unit which applies summer time information corresponding to positional information to the date and time counted by the clocking unit; a radio wave reception unit which receives radio waves including summer time implementation information of a predetermined area; a summer time information acquisition unit which acquires the summer time implementation information from the received radio waves; a storage unit in which a summer time implementation rule of each area in the world is stored in advance; and an information selection unit which selects, as the summer time information, one of the summer time implementation information and the summer time implementation rule corresponding to a current position on the basis of the current position and the summer time implementation information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Applicant: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kosuke HASEGAWA
  • Publication number: 20160018793
    Abstract: A central processing unit for control of an aircraft system provided on board an aircraft, a control network for control of the aircraft system, an aircraft comprising such a control network, a corresponding method for control of the aircraft system and a computer program for carrying out the method. The central processing unit is connectable to at least two remote data concentrators over a network connection for control of a system component of an aircraft system. The central processing unit is configured to select one of the at least two remote data concentrators for control of the system component and to instruct the selected remote data concentrator to control the system component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Christian Becker, Jan Bartelmann, Herbert Holzmann
  • Publication number: 20160018794
    Abstract: A control device according to the present invention includes a plurality of arithmetic units that operate in parallel. A sensor value of the control amount is input to the first arithmetic unit in a signal transmission sequence, and a correction amount for the manipulation amount is output from the last arithmetic unit in the signal transmission sequence. The first arithmetic unit has a controller that produces an output by processing the input sensor value, and the arithmetic units other than the first arithmetic unit has a delay element that delays an input by a predetermined number of steps and a controller that produces an output by processing the delayed input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Applicants: NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION NAGOYA UNIVERSITY, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kota SATA, Junichi KAKO, Satoru WATANABE, Yuta SUZUKI, Masato EDAHIRO
  • Publication number: 20160018795
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a method includes formulating an optimization problem to determine a plurality of model parameters of a system to be modeled. The method also includes solving the optimization problem to define an empirical model of the system. The method further includes training the empirical model using training data. The empirical model is constrained via general constraints relating to first-principles information and process knowledge of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Bijan Sayyar-Rodsari, Eric Jon Hartman, Carl Anthony Schweiger
  • Publication number: 20160018796
    Abstract: A method includes obtaining a planning model for an industrial facility at a master MPC controller and sending at least one optimization call from the master MPC controller to one or more slave MPC controllers. The method also includes receiving at least one proxy limit value from the slave MPC controller(s) in response to the at least one optimization call. The at least one proxy limit value identifies to what extent one or more process variables controlled by the slave MPC controller(s) are adjustable without violating any process variable constraints. In addition, the method includes performing plantwide optimization at the master MPC controller using the planning model and the at least one proxy limit value. The at least one proxy limit value allows the master MPC controller to honor the process variable constraints of the slave MPC controller(s) during the plantwide optimization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventor: Joseph Z. Lu
  • Publication number: 20160018797
    Abstract: A method includes receiving, at a master model predictive control (MPC) controller from a slave MPC controller, information indicating to what extent the slave MPC controller is able to change multiple manipulated variables in each of multiple directions within a variable space without violating process variable constraints of the slave MPC controller. The method also includes estimating a feasibility region associated with the slave MPC controller using the information, where the feasibility region identifies a portion of the variable space in which combinations of manipulated variable values satisfy the process variable constraints. In addition, the method includes performing plantwide optimization at the master MPC controller using the feasibility region, where a solution generated during the plantwide optimization includes one of the combinations of manipulated variable values within the feasibility region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventor: Joseph Z. Lu
  • Publication number: 20160018798
    Abstract: A home control system and a method of home control from a vehicle includes determining a distance between the vehicle and a home, and controlling a home system of the home in response to the distance or the estimated amount of time for the vehicle to reach home.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Yifan Jiang, Pujitha Gunaratne, Jason A. Schulz
  • Publication number: 20160018799
    Abstract: An environmental monitoring device that includes a switching mechanism is described. During operation of the environmental monitoring device, the switching mechanism (such as a switch) selectively electrically couples a first electrical-connection node and a second electrical-connection node. For example, using the switching mechanism, an electronic device that is electrically coupled to the first electrical-connection node may be selectively electrically coupled to a second electronic device that is electrically coupled to the second electrical-connection node. The selective electrical coupling may be based on one or more measurements of an environmental condition in an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device. Moreover, a sensor mechanism in the environmental monitoring device may provide sensor data based on the one or more measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Applicant: LEEO, INC.
    Inventors: Adam M. GETTINGS, Andrew G. STEVENS, Bjorn H. HOVLAND, Yi ZHENG, Lucas IVERS, Nina S. JOSHI