Patents Issued in November 1, 2016
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Patent number: 9482971Abstract: A white toner has a first temperature range not less than 25° C. in which 60° glossiness is 10 or less between a fixable minimum temperature and a fixable maximum temperature thereof. The white toner has a second temperature range not less than 25° C. in which 60° glossiness is from 30 to 60 therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2015Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Kazumi Suzuki, Hisashi Nakajima, Masashi Nagayama, Saori Yamada, Yoshitaka Yamauchi, Yu Naito
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Patent number: 9482972Abstract: An electrostatic charge image developing toner includes toner particles including a binder resin that contains a copolymer formed by copolymerizing at least an aromatic vinyl monomer and an aliphatic unsaturated alkyl carboxylate ester, wherein a weight ratio of component M1 of the aromatic vinyl monomer and component M2 of the aliphatic unsaturated alkyl carboxylate ester in the copolymer satisfies the following expression (1), and a weight ratio of volatile component m1 of the aromatic vinyl monomer and volatile component m2 of the aliphatic unsaturated alkyl carboxylate ester, as measured by a headspace method, satisfies the following expression (2): 0.10?MW2/(MW1+MW2)?0.30??Expression (1) 0.70?mw2/(mw1+mw2)?0.98??Expression (2) wherein MW1 represents the weight of M1, MW2 represents the weight of M2, mw1 represents the weight of m1, and mw2 represents the weight of m2.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2015Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.Inventors: Daisuke Ishizuka, Yuki Takamiya, Yuka Kawamoto, Noriyuki Mizutani
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Patent number: 9482973Abstract: A toner is provided. The toner includes a binder resin and a release agent. The toner satisfies the following inequation: 0.45?(S1/S2)?1.00 wherein S1 and S2 represent areas of quadrangles circumscribing the release agent and the toner, respectively, in a cross-sectional image of the toner obtained by a transmission electron microscope (TEM).Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2015Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Ryota Inoue, Yoshihiro Moriya, Masahiko Ishikawa, Satoshi Takahashi, Tatsuki Yamaguchi
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Patent number: 9482974Abstract: A part material for printing three-dimensional parts with an electrophotography-based additive manufacturing system, the part material including a composition having a copolymer (including acrylonitrile units, butadiene units, and aromatic units), a charge control agent, and a heat absorber. The part material is provided in a powder form having a controlled particle size, and is configured for use in the electrophotography-based additive manufacturing system having a layer transfusion assembly for printing the three-dimensional parts in a layer-by-layer manner.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2015Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.Inventor: Trevor I. Martin
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Patent number: 9482975Abstract: Provided is a toner including a crystalline resin and a non-crystalline resin. In a reflected electron image of a cross-section of the toner stained by ruthenium tetroxide captured by a scanning electron microscope, the ratio of regions stained by ruthenium tetroxide is from 50 area % to 80 area %. In a reflected electron image of the surface of the toner stained by ruthenium tetroxide captured by a scanning electron microscope, the ratio of regions stained by ruthenium tetroxide is from 10 area % to 40 area %.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2013Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Yoshitaka Yamauchi, Kazumi Suzuki
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Patent number: 9482976Abstract: An electrostatic latent image developing toner includes toner particles each including a toner core containing a binder resin and a shell layer on a surface of the toner core. The shell layer includes a unit derived from a monomer of a thermosetting resin. The thermosetting resin is one or more resins selected from the group of amino resins consisting of a melamine resin, a urea resin, and a glyoxal resin. The inorganic particles intervene in an interface between the toner core and the shell layer. The inorganic particles have a number average particle diameter of 60 nm or more and 250 nm or less. Protrusions having a shape that follows a shape of the inorganic particles are on surfaces of the toner particles.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2014Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventor: Ken Maetani
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Patent number: 9482977Abstract: Disclosed is a two-component developer containing toner particles and carrier particles. The number-average particle diameter of the toner particles MDt ranges from 3.5 to 5.0 ?m. The MDt of the toner particles and the volume-average particle diameter of the carrier particles MDc are at a specific ratio, and spherical fine toner particles in the toner particles and fine carrier particles in the carrier particles exist at specific percentages.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2016Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Shinya Obara, Satoshi Uchino, Kosuke Nakamura
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Patent number: 9482978Abstract: A liquid developer includes a carrier liquid, and a toner particle which contains a resin having an unsaturated double bond, a compound represented by the formula (I) and a photopolymerization initiator and whose surface is treated by a polyamine, wherein m and n each independently represent an integer of 1 to 10,000; m+n represents an integer of 10 to 10,000; and R1, R2, and R3 each independently represent a single bond or a divalent aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2015Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.Inventors: Koji Horiba, Masahiro Oki, Yoshihiro Inaba, Akira Imai, Daisuke Yoshino, Takako Kobayashi, Hiroyuki Moriya
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Patent number: 9482979Abstract: A liquid toner dispersion provided with marking particles comprising a pigment and a polyester based resin. The dispersion includes a nonpolar organic solvent and a hyperdispersant including a graft copolymer provided with an anchor group including an amine-functionalized polymer onto which at least one stabilizing group is grafted. The stabilizing group includes a hydroxylated fatty acid oligomer. The amine-functionalized polymer has a weight-average molecular weight of less than 1000 g/mol.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2014Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Xeikon IP BVInventors: Werner Jozef Johan Op de Beeck, Lode Erik Dries Deprez, Geert Gaston Paul Deroover
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Patent number: 9482980Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a forming unit and a transfer unit. The forming unit forms a first image using a first toner including a flat pigment containing a first metal or a first metal oxide, and forms a second image using a second toner that does not include any flat pigment containing a second metal or a second metal oxide, a maximum length of the second toner being smaller than that of the first toner. The transfer unit transfers the second image and the first image to a medium in order of the second image and the first image.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2016Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.Inventor: Sho Watanabe
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Patent number: 9482981Abstract: An image forming apparatus has: an image supporting member; a charger in proximity to the image supporting member; a power source unit configured to apply charging voltages to the charger sequentially, the charging voltages including alternating voltages having different peak-to-peak voltages, respectively; an amperometric detector configured to detect values of alternating currents flowing in the charger during application of the charging voltages; and a processor configured to carry out a first charging voltage determination process or a second charging voltage determination process requiring a shorter time than the first charging voltage determination process selectively based on a detection result of the amperometric detector.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2016Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Tomohiro Kato, Kazuki Kobori, Hirohisa Shirai, Hisashi Murata, Masato Kimura
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Patent number: 9482982Abstract: An imaging system includes an incidence face having a plurality of optical faces formed along a first axis with a first pitch; a prism face having a plurality of grooves formed along the first axis with a second pitch; and an exit face having a plurality of optical faces formed along the first axis with a third pitch. A virtual plane extends from an end of the one optical face of the incidence face to an end of the one optical face of the exit face. Among light flux emitting from a spot light source and entering the one optical face of the incidence face, a light beam that passes over the virtual plane is reflected at the prism face, and passes over the virtual plane again and goes to the one optical face of the exit face.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2013Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Shigeaki Imai
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Patent number: 9482983Abstract: An apparatus includes: an image holding element; an exposure device that exposes the image holding element to light; a holding member that holds the exposure device such that the exposure device is movable relative to an apparatus body between an exposure position, at which the exposure device exposes the image holding element to light, and a retracted position, at which the exposure device is located away from the image holding element; an open/close member that has a rotary shaft rotatably supported by the apparatus body and that opens and closes the apparatus body; a moving member that moves the exposure device between the exposure position and the retracted position via the holding member along with opening/closing movement of the open/close member; and a guide member formed with a guide surface that guides movement of the holding member and a holding portion that holds the holding member at the exposure position.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2015Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.Inventor: Hiroyuki Kono
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Patent number: 9482984Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided for controlling current(s) supplied to a semiconductor laser. In one or more embodiments, an image forming apparatus corrects a value of the driving current and a value of at least one correction current (e.g., first and/or second correction current(s)) supplied in synchronization with the supply start of the driving current based on a reception result of a light receiving unit. In one or more embodiments, an image forming apparatus includes a correction current supply unit including a first correction current generation unit for generating a first correction current that attenuates over time and a second correction current generation unit for generating a second correction current that attenuates over time and of which an attenuation speed is lower than that of the first correction current, and configured to supply the first correction current and the second correction current to the semiconductor laser.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2013Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shunsaku Kondo
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Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and recording medium storing an image forming program
Patent number: 9482985Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes multiple exposure units each including multiple light emitting elements, a reading unit that reads data to be used for exposure by each one of the exposure units, one at a time from the exposure unit by the time the exposure units starts exposure, a storing unit that stores the data read by the reading unit, and a transfer unit that transfers the data stored in the storing unit to the exposure unit by the time the exposure unit starts exposure.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2015Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Yuusuke Kohri, Masayuki Hayashi, Motohiro Kawanabe, Yoshinori Shirasaki, Masatoshi Murakami, Akinori Yamaguchi -
Patent number: 9482986Abstract: Provided is a member for electrophotography that can achieve both an improvement in toner-conveying force under high temperature and high humidity, and excellent charge-providing performance for a toner, at high levels. The member for electrophotography includes a substrate, an electro-conductive elastic layer on the substrate, and a plurality of electrically insulating domains formed in a partial region on the electro-conductive elastic layer. The electro-conductive elastic layer has a Martens hardness of 0.10 N/mm2 or more and 3.00 N/mm2 or less. In the surface of the member for electrophotography, the exposure ratio of the electro-conductive elastic layer per the area of a square 300 ?m on a side is 50% to 90%, and the average of the areas of the portions of the respective plurality of electrically insulating domains to be brought into contact with the electro-conductive elastic layer is 300 ?m2 or more and 10,000 ?m2 or less.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2016Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yuji Sakurai, Kazutoshi Ishida
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Patent number: 9482987Abstract: Provided is a powder container having a new structure capable of stable discharge and transport of a powder contained in a container by enabling the powder to be reliably discharged to the outside of the package while preventing the powder from spilling and flying out of the container.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2011Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Junichi Matsumoto, Tsukuru Kai, Hiroshi Hosokawa, Makoto Komatsu, Tadashi Hayakawa, Yuzuru Ozawa
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Patent number: 9482988Abstract: A powder conveying device includes: a conveying nozzle, provided with a powder receiving opening; an open/close member to open/close the powder receiving opening; a flange provided to the open/close member; a biasing member to bias the open/close member; and a container setting section to which a part of a powder container is to be fit. The powder container includes: a conveyor to convey the powder from a second end of the powder container to a first end; a container opening protruding from the first end; a nozzle receiving opening into which the conveying nozzle is to be inserted; and a butting portion provided in the container opening, to butt against the flange. When the powder container is attached to the powder conveying device, the container opening is fitted to the container setting section, and the flange and the biasing member are housed in an inner space of the container opening.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2014Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITEDInventors: Hiroshi Hosokawa, Shunji Kato, Shinji Tamaki, Hiroshi Ikeguchi, Seiji Terazawa, Junji Yamabe, Kaori Mitsuishi, Toshihide Tomotaka, Tsunehiro Watanabe, Kenji Kikuchi
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Patent number: 9482989Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes an electrical contact positioned on a first side of a housing of the replaceable unit for contacting an electrical contact in the image forming device. A guide on the first side of the housing is positioned closer to a front of the housing than the electrical contact and leads rearward toward the electrical contact. The guide includes an inside surface that faces inward sideways toward a second side of the housing. At least a portion of the inside surface is angled inward sideways from front to rear permitting contact between the inside surface and an electrical connector in the image forming device to draw the electrical connector in the image forming device inward sideways relative to the replaceable unit during insertion of the replaceable unit into the image forming device.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2016Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Jeremy Keith Payne, Edward Lynn Triplett
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Patent number: 9482990Abstract: A developing device includes a shutter moving portion and a receiving-port shutter that are combined together, with a recessed portion and a projecting portion thereof being in engagement with each other, so that a developer receiving port is opened or shut. A gap is provided between the recessed portion and the projecting portion, and the shutter moving portion is swingable with respect to the receiving-port shutter. Even if the shutter moving portion vibrates by following the displacement of a toner conveying portion, the vibration is not transmitted to the receiving-port shutter because the shutter moving portion absorbs the vibration, preventing the receiving-port shutter from flapping. Thus, the leakage of developer that may occur particularly in a case of package shipment of the developing device and an image forming apparatus is suppressed.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2015Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Koichi Watanabe
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Patent number: 9482991Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image holding body, a developing device, a transfer device, a collection device, a container, and a transport member. The image holding body includes a surface on which a latent image is formed. The developing device develops the latent image into a visual image with developer. The transfer device transfers the visual image onto a transfer medium. The collection device collects the developer remaining on the surface of the image holding body after the visual image has been transferred. The container contains new developer supplied to the developing device. The image forming apparatus has a channel that has a first sub-channel and a second sub-channel. The developer flows into the first sub-channel from one of the collection device and the container and the second sub-channel from the other of the collection device and the container.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2015Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.Inventors: Ryota Kubo, Kiyotoshi Kaneyama, Kuniaki Tanaka, Yoshinobu Kariya, Hideaki Ozawa, Yasutomo Ishii, Yuki Sekura, Tatsuya Soga, Shintaro Hattori
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Patent number: 9482992Abstract: A toner conveyance member includes a shaft, a first blade member, at least one paddle member, and a pressure relief path. The shaft extends in a first direction and rotates in a second direction. The first blade member winds around the shaft and continues to extend helically in the first direction. The paddle member is in the form of a plate protruding from a surface of the shaft and having a first principal face and a second principal face positioned opposite to and forward from the first principal face in the second direction. The pressure relief path has an opening. The opening is provided within a predetermined distance range from an intersection point of the shaft, the first blade member, and the second principal face of the paddle member.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2015Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventor: Kunio Furukawa
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Patent number: 9482993Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming portion; a transfer member; a fixing portion; and a cleaning member. The image forming apparatus includes a first toner container containing a first formulation toner rich in hydrocarbon wax and a second toner container containing a second formulation toner rich in ester wax. The image forming apparatus is capable of executing an image forming operation and an operation in a toner supplying mode for supplying the toner or the toners to an intermediary transfer member when the image forming operation is not performed. The image forming apparatus is capable of executing the operation in the toner supplying mode in which only the first formulation toner is used or a mixture of the first formulation toner and the second formulation toner is used so that the first formulation toner is used in a larger amount than the second formulation toner.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2015Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Yasutaka Yagi
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Patent number: 9482994Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer to bear a toner image on a surface thereof, a transfer device to contact the image bearer to form a transfer nip, and a power source to output a voltage to transfer the toner image from the image bearer onto a recording medium interposed at the transfer nip. The voltage including a first voltage in a transfer direction in which the toner image is transferred from the image bearer to the recording medium and a second voltage having a polarity opposite that of the first voltage. The first voltage and the second voltage alternate upon transfer of the toner image from the image bearer to the recording medium. The power source is configured to output the voltage that is superimposed a plurality of the alternating current voltage having a basic waveform, and a waveform of the voltage is biased in the transferring direction.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2015Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventor: Shinya Tanaka
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Patent number: 9482995Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying member, a developer carrying member configured to carry developer to be supplied to the image carrying member, a transfer member configured to transfer a developer image formed on the image carrying member to a sheet passing between the image carrying member and the transfer member, a detector configured to detect a temperature, and a control device. The control device is configured to change, in response to a sheet interval, a developing bias to be applied to the developer carrying member from a first developing bias to a second developing bias at a changing rate based on a temperature detected by the detector, the changing rate being an amount of change in the developing bias per unit time based on the temperature.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2013Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Masahiko Hayakawa
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Patent number: 9482996Abstract: A transfer roller includes a support, a foamed elastic layer disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the support, and a surface resin layer that covers the outer peripheral surface of the foamed elastic layer and contains polyimide or polyamide-imide. Bubbles contained in a central portion in the roller axial direction have a shape crushed in the thickness direction of the foamed elastic layer as compared with bubbles at both ends in the roller axial direction.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2016Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.Inventor: Masato Ono
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Patent number: 9482997Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a recording material accommodating portion configured to accommodate a recording material; an image forming portion configured to form a toner image on the recording material fed from the recording material accommodating portion; a fixing portion configured to heat-fix the toner image formed on the recording material by the image forming portion; a storing portion configured to store information corresponding to the type of the recording material accommodated in the recording material accommodating portion; a detecting portion configured to detect that an operator exists in a predetermined zone in a neighborhood of the image forming apparatus; and an executing portion configured to execute a start-up process of the fixing portion, when the detecting portion detects the existence of the operator before the image forming apparatus receives an image formation instruction, over a time depending on the information stored in the storing portion.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2015Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Daigo Matsuura
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Patent number: 9482998Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable fixing member, a pressing member to contact the fixing member with pressure to form a nip between the pressing member and the fixing member, an induction heating unit serving as a heating source to heat the fixing member, and a conductive wire drawn out of the induction heating unit to be disposed outside the cover member through a hole provided substantially at a center of the cover member in a longitudinal direction of the induction heating unit. The induction heating unit includes an excitation coil, a coil holder to hold the excitation coil, and a cover member provided facing the coil holder with the coil holder interposed between the cover member and the fixing member.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2014Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Susumu Matsusaka, Shota Kobashigawa, Motokazu Hasegawa, Yukari Isoe
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Patent number: 9482999Abstract: A heating device includes a rotating member that rotates, and plural unit circuits that are aligned in a width direction of the rotating member. The plural unit circuits each includes a heating body that heats the rotating member, a resistive element that is connected in series to the heating body and has a positive temperature coefficient, and a parallel circuit that is connected in parallel to the resistive element. The unit circuits are each configured such that, if a resistance value of the resistive element is increased with a rise of temperature of the resistive element, a current flows through the parallel circuit.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2015Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.Inventors: Kiyoshi Koyanagi, Toru Inoue
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Patent number: 9483000Abstract: In a fixing device including a cap member mounted at an end portion of a fixing belt in a rotation shaft direction via a rotation transfer member, an axis center of a support shaft supporting the cap member is made eccentric with respect to a rotation axis center of the fixing belt.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2016Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.Inventor: Kenichi Kasama
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Patent number: 9483001Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable fixing member provided in a fixing area where an unfixed image on surface of a medium is fixed, the fixing member including at least a thermoplastic surface layer that softens at a temperature below a fixing temperature at which the image is fixed; and a cleaning member provided on a downstream side with respect to the fixing area in a direction of rotation of the fixing member and that cleans the fixing member while coming into contact with a hardened portion of the fixing member in a cleaning area, the cleaning area being at a temperature below the temperature at which the thermoplastic surface layer of the fixing member softens.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2016Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.Inventors: Yuki Yokoyama, Mitsuhiro Matsumoto, Keitaro Mori, Masayo Higashimura
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Patent number: 9483002Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a heat unit, a pressure roller, a temperature sensor, and a controller. The heat unit includes a heater and a heated member configured to be heated by the heater. The pressure roller is configured to rotate at a rotational speed while being in contact with the heated member upon receiving a driving force. The temperature sensor is configured to detect a temperature of the heat unit. The controller is configured to control the rotational speed of the pressure roller on a basis of: the temperature detected by the temperature sensor; and a parameter that causes temperature of the pressure roller to change.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2015Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tomoaki Hazeyama, Yasuhiro Maruyama
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Patent number: 9483003Abstract: A method of operating a cartridge chip installed in an imaging device includes: causing, by the cartridge chip, the imaging device to enter an error condition; monitoring the timing or sequence of communication signals received from the imaging device during at least a portion of the error condition; and operating, based on the timing or sequence of the communication signals received from the imaging device during at least a portion of the error condition, in a first mode of operation compatible with a first type of imaging device or in a second mode of operation compatible with a second type of imaging device.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2015Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Static Control Components, Inc.Inventor: William Eli Thacker, III
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Patent number: 9483004Abstract: A replenishment unit replenishes a storage unit with toner. A detection unit detects a toner density of developer in the storage unit. A stoppage unit stops, based on the toner density, an image forming operation. A first calculation unit controls the detection unit to detect the toner density in a duration from when the operation stops to when the image forming unit resumes the operation, and calculates a difference between the toner density and a target. A second calculation unit accumulates the difference to obtain a cumulative value. A determination unit determines a value for determining whether or not replenishment of the toner is required, based on the difference calculated and the cumulative value calculated. A controller controls a timing at which the replenishment unit replenishes the storage unit with the toner in the duration based on the value.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2016Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shusuke Miura, Jiro Shirakata, Kana Oshima
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Patent number: 9483005Abstract: A medium carrying device includes an apparatus body, medium guide unit that is detachable with respect to the apparatus body, a carrying roller that is disposed in the apparatus body, and is configured to rotate to carry a print medium passing through the medium guide unit, and a driven roller that is disposed in the medium guide unit at a position corresponding to the carrying roller in a contacting manner so that the driven roller rotates in accordance with a rotation of the carrying roller.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2015Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Oki Data CorporationInventor: Takashi Kobayashi
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Patent number: 9483006Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a discharge tray; a printing unit; a stacking controlling unit that determines a front side value related to toner amount on a front side of a sheet and a back side value related to toner amount on a back side, determines an absolute value of difference between the front side value and the back side value for each sheet, determines a correction value of each sheet based on the absolute value and correction value data, adds the correction value to a predetermined value for determining a corrected count value of each sheet, integrates the corrected count value, and detects full of the discharge tray when the integrated value reaches a predetermined upper limit value; and a storage unit for storing the correction value data in which the correction value is determined corresponding to the absolute value.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2015Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventor: Kenji Miyamoto
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Patent number: 9483007Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer device, a fixing device, an introduction guide member that introduces the leading edge of a recording medium to the fixing device, and a contact guide member that causes the leading edge of the recording medium to contact the introduction guide member. The contact guide member has a first guide part and a second guide part. The first guide part causes the leading edge of a first recording medium, which includes a recording medium of a double-sheet structure, to contact the introduction guide member at a first contact angle. The second guide part causes the leading edge of a second recording medium, which has a feed width greater than the passage width of the first guide part, to contact the introduction guide member at a second contact angle. The first contact angle is greater than the second contact angle.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2015Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.Inventor: Akira Shimodaira
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Patent number: 9483008Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an induced voltage detection portion configured to detect an induced voltage Vk in a motor; and an engagement/disengagement completion time detection portion configured to detect an engagement completion time and a disengagement completion time based on the induced voltage Vk detected by the induced voltage detection portion. The engagement completion time is a time at which engagement of a clutch is actually completed. The disengagement completion time is a time at which disengagement of the clutch is actually completed. A control portion determines a command timing based on any one of the engagement completion time and the disengagement completion time detected by the engagement/disengagement completion time detection portion, the command timing being a time at which a command is given to the clutch to perform an engaging operation or a disengaging operation.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2015Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Chao Ye, Naoto Sugaya, Munehiro Natsume, Nobuhiro Matsuo, Seiichi Kirikubo
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Patent number: 9483009Abstract: An image forming apparatus (100) forms an image on a recording medium. The image forming apparatus (100) includes a substrate (161), a photosensitive drum (120), a heating element (163) that heats the photosensitive drum (120), a light emitting element (162) that performs static elimination on the photosensitive drum (120), and a metal member (167) that transfers heat from the heating element (163) to the photosensitive drum (120). The light emitting element (162) and the heating element (163) are mounted on one of main surfaces of the substrate (161). The metal member (167) is in contact with another of the main surface of the substrate (161).Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2015Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventors: Yosuke Saito, Shigeki Tsukahara, Ai Takagami, Masaki Kadota
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Patent number: 9483010Abstract: A gear apparatus includes a gear including a shaft hole, a reinforcing member that has a higher stiffness in comparison to the gear, and a rotation shaft that is inserted into the shaft hole through the reinforcing member. The gear and the reinforcing member are connected such that they rotate together, by a first connecting portion provided outside of the shaft hole. In this example, the reinforcing member and the rotation shaft are connected to rotate together, by a second connecting portion.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2015Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventor: Yuichi Hirose
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Patent number: 9483011Abstract: A target cycle recording portion (821) records target cycle data (Tref) into a first ring buffer (824) each time a reference pulse signal (Ps) is generated, thereby recording the target cycle data (Tref) sequentially into the first ring buffer (824). A measured cycle recording portion (822) records measured cycle data (Tenc) into a second ring buffer (825) each time an encoder pulse signal (Pe) is generated, thereby recording the measured cycle data (Tenc) sequentially into the second ring buffer (825). A phase error calculating portion (823) calculates a phase error PHE by integrating a difference between the target cycle data (Tref) and the measured cycle data (Tenc) that are sequentially recorded in data buffers respectively in correspondence with each other in the two ring buffers.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2015Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventor: Naohiro Anan
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Patent number: 9483012Abstract: An image forming apparatus main body (apparatus main body) and an automatic document feeder mounted on the apparatus main body are provided, and a cable-side connector provided at a front end of an electrical cable extending from the automatic document feeder is removably connected to a board-side connector provided on a circuit board of the apparatus main body. In this configuration, an opening portion is provided in a back face of a housing of the apparatus main body at a position opposing the board-side connector, a lid that covers this opening portion is attached to a front end portion of the electrical cable by an attachment member, and this lid is configured so as to be attachable to the opening portion by a hook and fixing by screwing by means of a screw insertion boss.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2014Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masahiro Imoto, Yasumasa Morimoto, Toshiki Ohgita
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Patent number: 9483013Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first image forming unit including a first image bearing member and a first rotating member configured to rub a surface of the first image bearing member; a second image forming unit including a second image bearing member and a second rotating member configured to rub a surface of the second image bearing member; and a transfer unit configured to convey a sheet between the first image bearing member and the second image bearing member and transfer a developer on the first image bearing member and the second image bearing member, onto the sheet. The first image forming unit is disposed upstream of the second image forming unit in a sheet conveying direction. A force of the second rotating member rubbing the surface of the second image bearing member is less than a force of the first rotating member rubbing the surface of the first image bearing member.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2014Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Aya Adachi
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Patent number: 9483014Abstract: An image forming apparatus which is provided with a casing, a panel unit provided with at least one of an operation unit acquiring an operation to control the image forming apparatus and a display unit, a discharge tray configured to receive a recording medium discharged from the casing. The casing has a first cover arranged above an image forming unit and constituted at least a part of an upper surface of the casing. The first cover includes a tray part which is at least a part of the discharge tray, a surrounding part configured to surround the tray part. The panel unit is arranged to be inserted in the surrounding part.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2014Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Inventor: Yasumasa Fujikawa
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Patent number: 9483015Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoreceptor which is rotatable with respect to a body frame, an exposing member which is movable relative to the body frame, a spacing member which is provided between the exposing member and the photoreceptor to maintain a distance between the photoreceptor and the exposing member, a positioning member which makes a contact with the exposing member to position the exposing member in a direction of rotation of the photoreceptor, and a pressing member which is provided to the body frame to press the exposing member toward the photoreceptor and the positioning member. Accordingly, it is possible to position the exposing member accurately with respect to the photoreceptor, in any of the light-axis direction and the rotational direction of the photoreceptor.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2013Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yasuo Tamaru, Takuya Yamaguchi
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Patent number: 9483016Abstract: A photosensitive drum for use with an image forming apparatus includes a cylinder, having a photosensitive layer at its surface, to which process units are contacted, a supporting shaft extending through the cylinder, and a flange provided at a longitudinal end portion of the cylinder. The flange includes a supporting portion supporting an inner peripheral portion of the cylinder within a contact area at which the process units contact the cylinder, and a first supported portion supported by the supporting shaft, with the first supported portion disposed further from the longitudinal end portion of the cylinder than the supporting portion. In addition, a second supported portion is supported by the supporting shaft and is disposed closer to the longitudinal end portion of the cylinder than the supporting portion. A clearance portion is provided between the first supported portion and the second supported portion with respect to a longitudinal direction of the cylinder.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2011Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yosuke Kashiide, Yukio Kubo, Makoto Nishigaki
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Patent number: 9483017Abstract: A developing device includes a developer cartridge and a developing unit. The developing unit includes a first guide and a second guide. The second is movable with respect to the developing frame between a first position where the second guide is in continuous with the first guide and a second position where a continuous state of the second guide with the first guide is interrupted. The developer cartridge includes a developer frame that accommodates a developer and a first guided member movable with respect to the developer frame. The first guide and the second guide at the first position guide the first guided member in the course of attaching the developer cartridge to the developing unit. When an attachment of the developer cartridge to the developing unit completes, the first guide receives the first guided member, and the second guide is at the second position.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2015Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masahiko Hayakawa, Masashi Imai, Shougo Sato
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Patent number: 9483018Abstract: A recording-material cooling device includes a first belt, a first cooling unit, and a second cooling unit. The first belt is disposed at a first face side of a recording material. The first cooling unit has a first heat absorbing surface to contact the first belt to absorb heat of the recording material. The second cooling unit has a second heat absorbing surface to directly or indirectly contact the recording material to absorb heat of the recording material. The second cooling unit is disposed at a second face side of the recording material. The first and second cooling units are offset from each other in a transport direction of the recording material. Each of the first and second surfaces has a shape in which an inner area protrudes beyond opposed ends in the transport direction. The first and second surfaces overlap each other in a direction crossing the transport direction.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2015Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Tomoyasu Hirasawa, Kenichi Takehara, Hiromitsu Fujiya, Keisuke Yuasa, Yasuaki Toda, Yutaka Shoji, Kenji Ishii, Makoto Nakura, Susumu Tateyama, Hiroaki Miyagawa, Keisuke Ikeda, Takeshi Watanabe
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Patent number: 9483019Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transport unit that transports a recording medium; a forming unit that forms a toner image on the recording medium, the toner image including a resin and a flat metallic pigment; a fixing unit that fixes the toner image to the recording medium by heating and pressing the toner image; and a cooling unit that cools the toner image fixed by the fixing unit, the cooling unit being disposed at a position at which the cooling is started when a temperature of the toner image is higher than or equal to a glass transition temperature.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2015Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.Inventors: Daisuke Nakai, Hisashi Murase, Atsumi Kurita, Masakazu Takahashi
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Patent number: 9483020Abstract: An apparatus for creating a holodot comprising of a low resolution 2 dimensional spatial light modulator (SLM) and two crossed striped high resolution spatial light modulators. The first SLM creates a 2D image and the second two focus the light into an observer's pupil.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2015Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Inventor: Robert Krause