Patents Issued in August 18, 2016
  • Publication number: 20160238940
    Abstract: An exposure device and an exposure method are provided. The exposure device includes an exposure lamp, a mask plate and a marking equipment. The marking equipment includes a guide rail frame disposed on the mask plate, and at least one marking vehicle disposed on the guide rail frame, a controller. The controller acts to make the guide rail frame move to a corresponding exposure location on the mask plate earlier than the exposure lamp under its control, and to make the marking vehicle lie in a corresponding marking location by dint of its control, for displaying a corresponding marking identification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Haitao MA, Haisheng ZHAO
  • Publication number: 20160238941
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a method and apparatus for processing a web-based substrate. As the substrate travels between rollers, the substrate may be stretched and thus distorted. Once the substrate reaches the roller, the substrate distortion is fixed. By adjusting the processing parameters, the distorted substrate is processed without correcting the distortion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventor: Christopher Dennis BENCHER
  • Publication number: 20160238942
    Abstract: The conductive pattern formation method according to the present invention comprises a step of providing a photosensitive conductive film including a conductive layer containing conductive fibers, a photosensitive resin layer containing a photosensitive resin and an inorganic filler, and a support film in this order, and laminating the conductive layer and the photosensitive resin layer on a base material such that the conductive layer side is closely bonded to the base material, and a step of exposing and developing the photosensitive resin layer and the conductive layer on the base material to form a conductive pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Masahiko EBIHARA, Emiko OOTA, Yasuharu MURAKAMI, Hiroshi YAMAZAKI, Hiroyuki TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20160238943
    Abstract: The present invention provides a photoresist stripping method and photoresist stripping apparatus. The photoresist stripping method includes: step1, providing a substrate with a photoresist layer waiting for stripping; step 2, irradiating the photoresist layer waiting for stripping with an ultraviolet light; step 3, stripping the photoresist on a surface of the substrate by using a stripper in a stripping tank; step 4, removing the stripper remained on the substrate by using an air knife in a buffer area after stripping the photoresist; and step 5, washing out the stripper remained on the substrate in a water washing tank after blowing the air knife. The present invention greatly reduces corrosion on the aluminum and IGZO generated during the photoresist stripping process, and the quality of the flat panel display can be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Applicant: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Xudong ZHANG
  • Publication number: 20160238944
    Abstract: In a method of treating a substrate including patterns having line-space dimensions of 50 nm or below, the substrate is rinsed by an aqueous composition including at least one non-ionic surfactant A and at least one hydrophobizer B. The at least one surfactant A has an equilibrium surface tension of 10 mN/m to 35 mN/m, determined from a solution of the at least one surfactant A in water at the critical micelle concentration. The hydrophobizer B is selected so that the contact angle of water to the substrate is increased by contacting the substrate with a solution of the hydrophobizer B in water by 5-95° compared to the contact angle of water to the substrate before such contacting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Applicant: BASF SE
    Inventors: Andreas Klipp, Andrei Honciuc, Günter Oetter, Christian Bittner
  • Publication number: 20160238945
    Abstract: A novel photoresist stripping liquid, used for removing superfluous photoresist on a substrate, comprises an organic solvent used for dissolving, a decrosslinking catalyst for accelerating stripping speed, and an anticorrosion agent for avoiding the substrate corrosion. The photoresist stripping liquid can shorten a stripping period, has no toxicity to human body and environment, and can thoroughly remove cross-linked photoresist after exposure, especially negative photoresist. In addition, the present invention also provides an application process of the photoresist stripping liquid. The process does not comprise heating and oscillation, thereby increasing the stripping speed and avoiding possible damage caused by auxiliary measures to the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Bing LI, Xin CHEN, Roger SINTA, Haibo LI, Xiaowei YU
  • Publication number: 20160238946
    Abstract: A lithography apparatus has a plurality of processing units configured to respectively perform patternings on a plurality of substrates that belong to a lot, and a controller configured to perform, based on specific information that specifies one of the plurality of substrates, determination of one of the plurality of processing units that processes the one of the plurality of substrates, and control the plurality of processing units such that the patternings are performed on the plurality of substrates respectively with the plurality of processing units in parallel based on recipe information corresponding to the lot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Miyajima, Hitoshi Nakano
  • Publication number: 20160238947
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, According to one embodiment, a pattern formation method includes disposing a mask and a substrate separately from each other, the mask having a plurality of light transmitting portions arranged periodically. The method includes irradiating the mask with illumination light emitted from an optical part to irradiate the substrate with at least a part of the illumination light transmitted through the light transmitting portions. a distance d between the mask and the substrate, a wavelength of the illumination light, a pitch p of an arrangement of the light transmitting parts, a numerical aperture NAi of the optical part, and at least one natural number n satisfy the following, p?2?, (np2/?)???d?(np2/?)+?, ?=p2(2?) and ?/(8np)?NAi<?/(2np).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Takashi SATO, Akiko Yamada, Takeshi Suto
  • Publication number: 20160238948
    Abstract: An immersion exposure apparatus and method exposes a substrate with a light beam via an optical element and immersion liquid. A table holds the substrate and is movable relative to the optical element. A pad member is movable relative to the table and is movable away from being opposite the optical element. While the table is arranged opposite the optical element, the pad member is movable relative to the table so that the pad member can be arranged adjacent to the table, and when the pad member is arranged adjacent to the table, the adjacent table and pad member are movable to locate the pad member opposite the optical element in place of the table such that the immersion liquid is maintained below the optical element during the movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michael BINNARD
  • Publication number: 20160238949
    Abstract: A liquid immersion exposure apparatus in which a substrate is exposed with an exposure beam, includes a projection optical system by which the substrate is exposed to the exposure beam, a first inlet disposed at a first position, which is capable of supplying a first liquid to a space adjacent to a bottom surface of the projection optical system, and a second inlet disposed at a second position which is different from the first position, the second inlet being capable of supplying a second liquid that is different from the first liquid to the space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroyuki NAGASAKA
  • Publication number: 20160238950
    Abstract: A system and method for optimizing an illumination source to print a desired pattern of features dividing a light source into pixels and determining an optimum intensity for each pixel such that when the pixels are simultaneously illuminated, the error in a printed pattern of features is minimized. In one embodiment, pixel solutions are constrained from solutions that are bright, continuous, and smooth. In another embodiment, the light source optimization and resolution enhancement technique(s) are iteratively performed to minimize errors in a printed pattern of features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Applicant: Mentor Graphics Corporation
    Inventor: Yuri Granik
  • Publication number: 20160238951
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relates to apparatus and methods for a maskless lithography on a flexible substrate with active alignment. In one embodiment, a lithography apparatus includes a cylindrical roller rotatable about a central axis and configured to transfer a flexible substrate on a cylindrical substrate supporting surface. A plurality of printing units, each includes an image sensing device and an imaging printing device, may be positioned facing the substrate supporting surface. The plurality of printing units may capture images of pre-existing patterns and/or markers on the flexible substrate as the flexible substrate is being tramsferred continiously and exposure patterns for each printing unit may be adjusted “on-the-fly” according to the captured image, thus achieving active alignment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventor: John M. WHITE
  • Publication number: 20160238952
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus exposes an upper surface of a substrate with exposure light through liquid, and includes an optical member that has an emitting surface from which the exposure light is emitted; and a substrate holding apparatus having a holding portion that releasably holds a lower surface of the substrate, and an upper surface provided around the holding portion. The upper surface of the substrate holding apparatus is configured such that the upper surface of the substrate holding apparatus and the upper surface of the substrate held by the holding portion are substantially in a plane. The upper surface of the substrate holding apparatus has a jagged edge portion. The substrate is held by the holding portion such that an edge portion of the substrate held by the holding portion is located along the jagged edge portion of the upper surface of the substrate holding apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinji SATO
  • Publication number: 20160238953
    Abstract: A lithographic apparatus includes a base frame, an illumination system configured to condition a radiation beam and supported by the base frame, a support constructed to support a patterning device, the patterning device being capable of imparting the radiation beam with a pattern in its cross-section to form a patterned radiation beam, a substrate table constructed to hold a substrate, a projection system configured to project the patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of the substrate, a positioning device configured to position the substrate table, the positioning device being supported by the base frame, a sensor configured to sense a vibration caused by a torque exerted on the base frame, and an actuator configured to exert a force on the illumination system or the base frame, in response to the sensed vibration, in order to at least partly dampen the vibration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Applicant: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Hans BUTLER, Cornelius Adrianus Lambertus DE HOON, Marc Wilhelmus Maria VAN DER WIJST, Thijs VERHEES, Sander KERSSEMAKERS
  • Publication number: 20160238954
    Abstract: The present invention provides an imprint apparatus which forms a pattern in an imprint material on a shot region of a substrate by using a mold, the apparatus comprising a stage that can move while holding the substrate, and a control unit configured to control relative positions of the mold and the shot region so as to reduce a shift in the relative positions caused by tilting the stage when bringing the mold and the imprint material into contact with each other, based on a contacting force of bringing the mold and the imprint material into contact with each other, and a distance from a reference position of the substrate to the shot region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Tosiya Asano, Takahiro Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20160238955
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor includes a single layer type photosensitive layer which includes a binder resin, a charge generating material, a hole transport material, a first electron transport material represented by the formula (1), and a second electron transport material represented by the formula (2), wherein X1 represents an oxygen atom or ?C(CN)2; R11 to R17 independently represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an aryl group, or an aralkyl group; and R18 represents an alkyl group, -L111-O—R112, an aryl group, or an aralkyl group; provided that L111 represents an alkylene group, and R112 represents an alkyl group, wherein X2 represents an oxygen atom or ?C(CN)2; R21 to R27 independently represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an aryl group or an aralkyl group; and R28 represents an alkylene group having 4 to 20 carbon atoms or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventor: Masahiro IWASAKI
  • Publication number: 20160238956
    Abstract: Provided are an electrophotographic photosensitive member capable of outputting an image having less image defects due to the ghost phenomenon not only under a normal-temperature and normal-humidity environment but also under a low-temperature and low-humidity environment as a particularly severe condition, and a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus each including the electrophotographic photosensitive member. The electrophotographic photosensitive member is an electrophotographic photosensitive member including a photosensitive layer, in which the photosensitive layer includes a gallium phthalocyanine crystal in which a compound represented by the following formula (1) or the following formula (2) is contained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventor: Masato Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20160238957
    Abstract: A charge-transporting layer as the surface layer of an electrophotographic photosensitive member contains a charge-transporting substance, and contains, as resins, a resin A having specific structural units and a polycarbonate resin D having specific structural units. The charge-transporting layer has, in a matrix containing the charge-transporting substance and the polycarbonate resin D, domains each containing the resin A.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Akihiro Maruyama, Harunobu Ogaki, Yuki Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20160238958
    Abstract: A toner for developing an electrostatic charge image, the toner including: elemental iron, wherein a content of the elemental iron is in a range of 1.0×103 to 1.0×104 ppm, based on a total weight of the toner; elemental silicon, wherein a content of the elemental silicon is in a range of 1.0×103 to 5.0×103 ppm, based on a total weight of the toner; elemental sulfur, wherein a content of the elemental sulfur is in a range of 500 to 3,000 ppm, based on a total weight of the toner; optionally elemental fluorine, wherein a content of the elemental fluorine, if present, is in a range of 1.0×103 to 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Masahide YAMADA, Akinori TERADA, Keiichi ISHIKAWA, Kenichi MIYAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20160238959
    Abstract: An electrostatic charge image developing toner includes toner particles containing a binder resin and inorganic particles that are present in a state of being embedded into the surfaces of the toner particles and being exposed, and satisfy the following expression: 20° C.?T1?T10, wherein T1 represents the temperature at which the viscosity under an applied pressure of 1 MPa becomes 104 Pa·s, and T10 represents the temperature at which the viscosity under an applied pressure of 10 MPa becomes 104 Pa·s.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventor: Yasuo MATSUMURA
  • Publication number: 20160238960
    Abstract: An electrostatic charge image developing carrier includes a core particle and a resin coating layer coated on the core particle, wherein the resin coating layer contains a cationic surfactant and an anionic surfactant and a total content of the cationic surfactant and the anionic surfactant in the resin coating layer is from 0.1% by weight to 6.0% by weight with respect to the entire resin coating layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Norihito FUKUSHIMA, Takeshi TANABE, Toshiaki HASEGAWA
  • Publication number: 20160238961
    Abstract: An image forming device includes an image carrier on the surface of which a toner image is formed, a cleaning member arranged in contact with, for cleaning, the surface of the image carrier, a charging member for electrostatically charging the image carrier, a bias applying device, and a control portion. The bias applying device applies a charging bias having DC and AC biases superimposed on each other to the charging member. The control portion controls the charging bias applied to the charging member by the bias applying device. As the AC bias applied to the charging member, the control portion uses, in a first period from the start of use of the image carrier to a predetermined time thereafter, a first AC bias and, in a second period subsequent to the first period, a second AC bias higher than the first AC bias.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Ai TAKAGAMI, Hisashi MUKATAKA, Masaki KADOTA, Takahiko MURATA, Maki IKE
  • Publication number: 20160238962
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive member rotated in a predetermined direction; a charging unit configured to charge a circumferential surface of the photosensitive member; a developing unit carrying a developer including toner and carriers, and including a developer bearing member configured to apply toner charged in a first polarity to the circumferential surface of the photosensitive member; a first voltage applying unit configured to apply a first voltage of the first polarity to the charging unit; a second voltage applying unit configured to apply a second voltage of the first polarity to the developer bearing member; a first voltage detecting unit configured to detect the first voltage; a second voltage detecting unit configured to detect the second voltage; and a controller, wherein the controller determines whether or not to make a second rate lower than a first rate according to the second voltage at a first timing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuhei TATSUMOTO, Katsuhide SAKAI, Yasuhiro KOIDE, Yuta TACHIBANA
  • Publication number: 20160238963
    Abstract: At image formation time, when the light amount setting value used in the image formation is equal to or larger than the light amount value Xm affected by the stray light, a corrected signal width Tw corresponding to the light amount setting value used in the image formation is calculated from the increase ratio ?n of the signal width to of a detection signal acquired in a region having a light amount value smaller than the light amount value Xm affected by the stray light; and a synchronization signal is generated on the basis of a center position of the corrected signal width Tw.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventor: Kenji Nemoto
  • Publication number: 20160238964
    Abstract: A drive circuit for a printing apparatus, comprising a first driver arranged on an electrical path from a first current supply unit to a first connection portion for a light-emitting element, a second driver arranged on an electrical path from a second current supply unit to the first connection portion, a third driver arranged on an electrical path from the second current supply unit to a second connection portion for a light-emitting element, and a switch unit configured to selectively connect the second current supply unit to one of the second driver and the third driver and disconnect the connection between the second current supply unit and the other of the second driver and the third driver when the second current supply unit is connected to the one of the second driver and the third driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventor: Wataru Endo
  • Publication number: 20160238965
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an optical scanning device includes a board and a light receiving member, the positional accuracy of which is improved. When a length in a scanning direction and a length in an intersection direction of a body portion of the light receiving member are denoted by Lx0 and Ly0, respectively, and a length in the scanning direction and a length in the intersection direction of a through-hole formed in the board are denoted by Lx1 and Ly1, respectively, the lengths Lx0, Ly0, Lx1, and Ly1 satisfy the following formula: (Lx1?Lx0)>(Ly1?Ly0).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Jun Nagatoshi, Mitsuhiro Ohta, Shunsuke Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20160238966
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearer disposed facing a latent image bearer in a developing range to transport developer by rotation, a support to support the developer bearer and including a holder mount, a rod-shaped developer regulator disposed facing a surface of the developer bearer across a gap, and a holder secured to the holder mount of the support to hold the rod-shaped developer regulator. The rod-shaped developer regulator extends in an axial direction of the developer bearer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Yuki OSHIKAWA, Akira AZAMI, Yoshiko OGAWA, Masaaki YAMADA, Yoshihiro FUJIWARA, Noriyuki KIMURA, Yoshiharu KISHI, Yasunobu SHIMIZU, Junichi MATSUMOTO, Yoshiyuki FUKUDA, Yuuji ISHIKURA, Kei SAITO
  • Publication number: 20160238967
    Abstract: A cartridge used for forming an image on a recording material include a memory for storing information; a supporting portion provided on a first cartridge constituent member and provided with a slit for permitting insertion of the memory; and a preventing portion, provided on a second cartridge constituent member, for preventing movement of the memory inserted in the supporting portion. With respect to a direction crossing a longitudinal direction of the cartridge and crossing a thickness direction of the memory, a width of the preventing portion is smaller than a width of the memory inserted in the slit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Yuichi Fukui, Kazuhiko Kanno
  • Publication number: 20160238968
    Abstract: An image transfer product is provided which includes a phase change material in one or more layers of the product to regulate the temperature of the product during printing operations. The image transfer product may be in the form of a printing blanket, printing sleeve, electrophotographic/xerographic transfer blanket, image transfer belt, or roller which includes a print surface layer and at least one layer underlying the printing surface layer. The phase change material may be included in any of the layers of the image transfer product, but is not present at the upper surface of the print surface layer. The phase change material may be in the form of a powder, fibers, capsules, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Scott Bridges, Samuel R. Shuman, Peter Asplund
  • Publication number: 20160238969
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an image forming section and a transfer roller. A support body supports the image carrier in a main body opposite to the transfer roller. A holding member positioned in the support body holds the transfer roller. The holding member includes at least one groove in a portion of the holding member that holds the transfer roller. At least one conductive member is positioned in, and protruding from, the at least one groove so that a part of the conductive member makes electrical contact with the transfer roller when the transfer roller is held in the holding member. A power supply section applies transfer bias between the image carrier and the transfer roller through the conductive member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventor: Norio KOUZU
  • Publication number: 20160238970
    Abstract: A fixing device for thermally fixing a developer image transferred onto a recording sheet, includes: a flexible fusing member which is flexibly deformable; a heating element; a nip member disposed in such a manner as to contact with a surface of the flexible fusing member and to allow the flexible fusing member to slide along the nip member; a reflecting plate configured to reflect radiant heat from the heating element in a direction toward the nip member; a backup member configured to nip the flexible fusing member with the nip member to thereby form a nip portion for the recording sheet between the flexible fusing member and the backup member; and a stay configured to support both end portions of the nip member. The reflecting plate has at least one flange portion, and the flange portion is held and supported between the nip member and the stay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Miyauchi, Yasushi Fujiwara, Takuji Matsuno, Kei Ishida, Noboru Suzuki, Tomohiro Kondo
  • Publication number: 20160238971
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, includes an image forming section that forms an image layer on a recording medium by supplying and fixing a toner based on image information, a winding section that winds the recording medium on which the image layer is formed by the image forming section, an extraction section that extracts step portion which is formed at end portion of the image layer based on the image information, and an adjustment layer forming section that forms an adjustment layer which suppresses the step portion that is extracted by the extraction section on the recording medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mamoru FUJITA, Satoshi TATSUURA, Wataru SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20160238972
    Abstract: When fixing is not necessary in a printing apparatus including a fixing unit, a sheet to be conveyed is allowed to avoid the fixing unit. Specifically, a fixing unit-bypass path is provided on a conveying path corresponding to the fixing unit. Further, when a surface treatment material is not applied to a sheet from a surface treatment material applying head, that is, when fixing processing is not performed by the fixing unit, a sheet is conveyed along a fixing unit-bypass path. Since a sheet is conveyed along an bypass path when fixing processing is not performed as described above, it is possible to prevent a sheet from being affected by heat or the like while the sheet passes through the fixing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Kota Uchida, Kengo Nieda, Ryosuke Araki, Shinya Asano, Kanto Kurasawa, Mika Masuda, Yusuke Nakaya
  • Publication number: 20160238973
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit, a fixing unit, and a control unit. The transfer unit transfers a toner image onto a sheet. The fixing unit fixes the toner image onto the sheet and includes a roller. The control unit controls a roller rotational speed. Where both a first loop amount of the sheet at one side in a width direction orthogonal to a sheet conveyance direction and a second loop amount of the sheet at the other side in a width direction are within a predetermined range, the control unit switches a roller rotational speed for controlling a loop amount of the sheet between the transfer unit and the fixing unit. Where either the first or second loop amount is not within the predetermined range, the control unit sets the roller rotational speed into a predetermined speed without switching the roller rotational speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Kenji Takagi, Keita Nakajima
  • Publication number: 20160238974
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a film, a heater contacting the film which has a substrate, a first heat generating segment on a first surface of the substrate, and a second heat generating segment on a second surface opposite to the first surface, a pressure member forming the nip portion, a temperature detection unit detecting a temperature of the second surface, and a control unit supplying power to the heater so that the detected temperature becomes a target temperature, wherein the control unit can perform a first heater control so as to supply power only to the first heat generating segment, and a first heater control so as to supply power only to the second heat generating segment, and wherein the target temperature during performing the second heater control is higher than the target temperature during performing the first heater control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kadowaki
  • Publication number: 20160238975
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a first heater and a second heater disposed inside a fixing rotator to heat the fixing rotator. The first heater generates an increased amount of heat and includes a first heat generator having a first heating span in a longitudinal direction of the first heater. The second heater generates a decreased amount of heat and includes a second heat generator having a second heating span in a longitudinal direction of the second heater. A partition is interposed between the first heater and the second heater to define a first compartment having an increased size and accommodating the first heater and a second compartment having a decreased size and accommodating the second heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Takayuki SEKI, Susumu MATSUSAKA, Yasuhiko OGINO, Shohta KOBASHIGAWA, Kenji ISHll, Kazuhito KISHI, Takashi SETO, lppei FUJIMOTO, Kazunari SAWADA, Hiroshi YOSHINAGA
  • Publication number: 20160238976
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member and an induction heating section. The fixing member fixes an image onto a sheet. The induction heating section inductively heats the fixing member. The induction heating section includes an annular coil and a cover. The annular coil is elongated in a direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the sheet. The cover has first, second, and third opening rows. The annular coil includes first and second linear sections. Both the first and second opening rows are located at a side closer to the first linear section than a center line of the annular coil in the longitudinal direction. The second opening row is located closer to the second linear section than the first opening row. The third opening row is located at a side closer to the second linear section than the center line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Shoko GON
  • Publication number: 20160238977
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion and a fixing device. The image forming portion forms a developer image on a recording medium. The fixing device is removably mounted to an image forming apparatus body, and fixes the developer image formed by the image forming portion to the recording medium. The fixing device includes a first rotator, a second rotator, and a pressing mechanism. The second rotator contacts the first rotator to form an interposition region in which the recording medium is interposed between the first rotator and the second rotator. The pressing mechanism presses the first rotator and the second rotator against each other. The image forming apparatus further includes a change mechanism that changes a force with which the pressing mechanism presses the first rotator and the second rotator against each other. The change mechanism is mounted to the image forming apparatus body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Haruhiko NISHIDA, Jun SAWAMURA, Takayuki UKAWA, Hideki SATO, Yoshiro KONISHI, Yasuhiro KATO, Masahiro AKATSUKA
  • Publication number: 20160238978
    Abstract: It is determined whether or not a die used for executing designated sheet processing is set to a sheet processing apparatus, and control is performed to stop printing in a case where it is determined that the die is not set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventor: Munetaka Sakata
  • Publication number: 20160238979
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion; a usage amount calculating portion; a usage rate calculating portion; and a printable sheet number calculating portion. The image forming portion is configured to form an image on a printing medium using a color agent. The usage calculating portion is configured to calculate a usage amount of the color agent in the image forming portion. The usage rate calculating portion is configured to calculate a usage rate of the color agent on the printing medium according to the usage amount, and a medium size and a printed sheet number of the printing medium on which the image forming portion forms the image. The printable sheet number calculating portion is configured to calculate a printable sheet number that the image forming portion is capable of printing using a remaining color agent according to the usage amount and the usage rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventor: Hirotaka OHSHIKA
  • Publication number: 20160238980
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus is connected to a print control apparatus for generating image data. The information processing apparatus includes a generating unit configured to generate gloss control plate data for specifying a type of a surface effect imparted to a recording medium and a region in the recording medium to which the surface effect is imparted; and a transmitting unit configured to transmit the gloss control plate data to the print control apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Teruyoshi YAMAMOTO, Naoyuki Urata, Kanna Iinuma, Ken Mitsui, Yuu Yamashita, Hiroyuki Abiru, Hiroo Kitagawa
  • Publication number: 20160238981
    Abstract: A rotary drive device includes a drive motor and drive transmission portion, which transmits a rotational drive force of the motor to a driven rotor and includes three or more drive transmission members. A high stiffness member is attached to a low-stiffness drive transmission member, which is one, lower in stiffness, of two of the drive transmission members, to increase stiffness of the low-stiffness drive transmission member. The two form a drive transmission point corresponding to a resonant point of a lowest resonance frequency among frequencies at a plurality of resonance points in frequency response characteristics derived from rotation information. One drive transmission point, which is on either a drive-transmission input side or output side, other than the drive transmission point corresponding to the resonant point of the lowest resonance frequency, of the low-stiffness drive transmission member is configured to transmit the rotational drive force through the high stiffness member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Naoyuki SUIDO, Keisuke SHIMIZU, Hiroaki TAKAGI, Kimiharu YAMAZAKI, Tadahiro SATOH
  • Publication number: 20160238982
    Abstract: A drive system includes multiple vibrating members that tend to vibrate when these members are driven and a holding system to hold the multiple vibrating members. The holding system at least includes a first holding unit and a second holding unit superimposed on and partially connected to each other. The multiple vibrating members include a first vibrating member and a second vibrating member. The first vibrating member is held by the first holding unit and is not held by the second holding unit. The second vibrating member is held by the second holding unit and is not held by the first holding unit. At least one of the first vibrating member and the second vibrating member is a driving device to drive another member as a drive source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki MATSUDA, Masahiro ISHIDA, Jun YASUDA, Shinya SHIMIZU
  • Publication number: 20160238983
    Abstract: The power supply apparatus includes a transformer, a switch connected to a primary side of the transformer, a first line connected to a secondary side of the transformer to output a voltage of a first polarity, a second line connected to the secondary side of the transformer to output a second polarity voltage whose polarity is opposite to the first polarity, a first diode connected to the first line in a direction, a first capacitor connected to the first line, a second diode connected to the second line in another direction opposite to the direction of the first diode, a second capacitor connected to the second line, a resistor connected to the first line on an output side of the first diode, and a controller controlling a frequency of the switch to control an output from the second line constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventor: Jun Hirabayashi
  • Publication number: 20160238984
    Abstract: A cabinet structure includes multiple cover members configured to spatially partition an inside from an outside of a cabinet, and a clearance communicating between the inside and the outside of the cabinet is left between two cover members, the two cover members being adjacent to each other, of the cover members, and a passage defined by the clearance and leading from the inside to the outside of the cabinet through the clearance has a shape with multiple bends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki MATSUDA, Masahiro ISHIDA
  • Publication number: 20160238985
    Abstract: A cartridge drive gear assembly for holding a drum coupling includes a drive gear having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface including inner projections which extend into the interior of the drive gear and includes at least two voids disposed on opposing sides of the inner projections, and at least one slot disposed in the inner surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Donald R. Huck, Lawrence Dale Lewis, William L. London, III
  • Publication number: 20160238986
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a casing; photosensitive drums juxtaposed with each other in a juxtaposed direction; developing units each including a developing roller; an opening-closing member; and a first contacting-separating member. The opening-closing member is movable between an open position and a closed position. The first contacting-separating member is provided at the opening-closing member and movable relative to the casing in the juxtaposed direction for moving, in a state where the opening-closing member is at the closed position, the developing roller between an adjacent position adjacent to or in contact with the corresponding photosensitive drums and a separated position spaced apart from the corresponding photosensitive drums.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventor: Shougo Sato
  • Publication number: 20160238987
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus including: a first moving member pressed and moved by an openable/closable member when the openable/closable member is opened, and switching a cartridge from a state where the cartridge is positioned in an image forming position to a state where the positioning is released; and a second moving member pressed and moved by the openable/closable member when the openable/closable member is opened, and moving the exposure member from an exposure position to a retracted position, wherein when the positioning of the cartridge is released, a reaction force applied from the first moving member to the openable/closable member reaches a first peak, when the exposure member is moved to the retracted position, a reaction force applied from the second moving member to the openable/closable member reaches a second peak, and timing of the first peak is different from timing of the second peak.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryuji Tanaami, Keita Nakajima, Koji Miwa, Yuji Mitsui
  • Publication number: 20160238988
    Abstract: A developing device usable with an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the apparatus including a driving shaft rotatable by a motor and having a rotating force applying portion, and a movable member, the developing device being mountable to the movable member, and the developing device being movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to an axial direction of the driving shaft in response to movement of the movable member in one direction with the developing device mounted to the movable member, the developing device includes i) a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, the developing roller being rotatable about an axis; and ii) a coupling member for transmitting a rotating force to the developing roller, the coupling member including, a rotating force receiving portion engageable with the rotating force applying portion to receive a rotating force from the driving shaft, and a rotating force transmitting portion for
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masanari Morioka, Shigeo Miyabe, Takahito Ueno
  • Publication number: 20160238989
    Abstract: A developing device includes a supply member, a developing device body, and a closing member. The supply member supplies a developer to an image holding element that holds a developer image. The developing device body rotatably supports the supply member. The closing member closes a clearance formed between the developing device body and the supply member with one end of the closing member fixed to the developing device body and the other end, which is a free end, contacting the supply member. The closing member has plural grooves formed to extend from the other end toward the one end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi NAKAMURA, Takashi SAKAMOTO, Munenobu OKUBO, Takafumi WAKAI