Patents Issued in August 1, 2017
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Patent number: 9720331Abstract: A liquid immersion member is used in a liquid immersion exposure apparatus which exposes a substrate by exposure light via a first liquid between an emitting surface of an optical member and the substrate, and is capable of forming a liquid immersion space on an object movable below the optical member. The liquid immersion member includes a first member that is disposed at at least a portion of surrounding of the optical member; a second member that includes at least a portion disposed below the first member, that is capable of being opposite to the object and that is movable outside an optical path of the exposure light; and a protection part that protects the optical member. The protection part decreases a change in pressure which the optical member receives from the liquid in the liquid immersion space.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2013Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Shinji Sato, Kenyou Odanaka
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Patent number: 9720332Abstract: An information calculation method includes: calculating liquid information regarding a liquid on an object, which faces an optical member that emits exposure light, when moving the object; and calculating region information indicating a region, in which the liquid information satisfies predetermined conditions, on the object.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2014Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Mineyuki Nishino, Katsushi Nakano, Satoshi Takahashi
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Patent number: 9720333Abstract: The present invention provides a scan-type exposure apparatus comprising an aperture stop provided with at least one of a mask stage and a substrate stage and configured to reduce an influence of flare light, wherein an opening of the aperture stop includes a first opening portion corresponding to one shot region on a substrate, and a serrated second opening portion including a plurality of first openings that protrude in a second direction parallel to the scanning direction from a side of the first opening portion along a first direction perpendicular to the scanning direction, and a length of each of the plurality of first openings in the first direction decreases outward in the second direction from the side of the first opening portion along the first direction.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Ryo Koizumi, Daisuke Kobayashi
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Stage apparatus, lithography apparatus, method of manufacturing an article, and determination method
Patent number: 9720334Abstract: The present invention provides a stage apparatus including a stage being movable, comprising a driving unit configured to drive the stage by providing thrust to the stage, a measuring unit configured to measure a position of the stage, and a control unit configured to control the position of the stage by supplying, to the driving unit, a signal composed of a first signal for reducing a deviation between a current position of the stage and a target position, and a second signal for reducing vibration of the stage caused by a thrust ripple included in the thrust.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Satoshi Maruyama, Mitsuo Hirata -
Patent number: 9720335Abstract: A synthetic controlled variable is obtained by obtaining a synthetic quantity using measurement results of a first and a second measuring instruments and corresponding gains (or transfer function) and synthesizing the synthetic quantity and one of the measurement results of the first and the second measuring instruments, respectively, via a high pass filter and a low pass filter. A feedback control system is structured that obtains a control input using a synthetic controlled variable and a desired value, and gives a plant the control input. This makes adding of a high pass filter for removing offset of installation position of the first and the second measuring instruments no longer necessary, and allows a driving system which controls robust driving in a high bandwidth of a plate stage regardless of bandwidth in which resonance appears to be designed.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2013Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Koichi Sakata, Hiroyoshi Asaumi
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Patent number: 9720336Abstract: A microlithographic apparatus includes an objective that includes a transmission filter that is configured to variably modify a light irradiance distribution in a projection light path. The transmission filter includes a plurality of gas outlet apertures that are configured to emit gas flows that pass through a space through which projection light propagates during operation of the microlithographic apparatus. The transmission filter further includes a control unit which is configured to vary a number density of ozone molecules in the gas flows individually for each gas flow. In this manner it is possible to finally adjust the transmittance distribution of the transmission filter.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbHInventors: Holger Walter, Alexander Wolf
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Patent number: 9720337Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a support and a photosensitive layer in this order. The photosensitive layer contains a chlorogallium phthalocyanine crystal. The chlorogallium phthalocyanine crystal has one or more peaks in each of a wavelength range of 646 nm or more and 668 nm or less and a wavelength range of 782 nm or more and 809 nm or less in an absorption spectrum. When a peak with a maximum absorbance among the peaks in the wavelength range of 646 nm or more and 668 nm or less is assumed to be a first peak and a peak with a maximum absorbance among the peaks in the wavelength range of 782 nm or more and 809 nm or less is assumed to be a second peak, an absorbance of the first peak is larger than an absorbance of the second peak.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tsutomu Nishida, Masato Tanaka, Masataka Kawahara
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Patent number: 9720338Abstract: A cylindrical support for an electrophotographic photoreceptor includes an aluminum alloy including Si: 0.4% by weight to 0.8% by weight, Fe: 0.7% by weight or less, Cu: 0.15% by weight to 0.4% by weight, Mn: 0.15% by weight or less, Mg: 0.8% by weight to 1.2% by weight, Cr: 0.04% by weight to 0.35% by weight, Zn: 0.25% by weight or less, Ti: 0.15% by weight or less, and a balance: aluminum and impurities, wherein an average area of crystal grains of the aluminum alloy is from 3.0 ?m2 to 100 ?m2.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.Inventor: Hiroshi Tamemasa
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Patent number: 9720339Abstract: A toner including at least a crystalline resin as a binder resin, wherein a tetrahydrofuran soluble content of the toner includes 5.0% or more as a peak area of a component having a molecular weight of 100,000 or greater in a molecular weight distribution measured by gel permeation chromatography, and the tetrahydrofuran soluble content of the toner has a weight-average molecular weight of 20,000 to 60,000.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2016Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Shingo Sakashita, Shinya Nakayama, Masahide Yamada, Atsushi Yamamoto, Hideyuki Santo, Yukiko Nakajima, Suzuka Amemori
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Patent number: 9720340Abstract: Provided is a toner that has satisfactory chargeability and hardly causes a reduction in image density, fogging, and density unevenness in various environments ranging from a low-temperature and low-humidity environment to a high-temperature and high-humidity environment. The toner includes toner particles obtained by fixing resin particles to toner base particles each containing resins, in which: the resins contain 50.0 mass % or more of a styrene-acrylic resin and 1.0 to 40.0 mass % of a polyester resin A; the polyester resin A contains 0.10 to 30.00 number % of an isosorbide unit; the fixing amount of the resin particles to the toner base particles is from 0.1 to 5.0 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the toner base particles; and the glass transition temperature of the resin particles is higher than the glass transition temperature of the toner base particles.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tsuneyoshi Tominaga, Yasushi Katsuta, Katsuyuki Nonaka, Taiji Katsura, Akane Masumoto, Harumi Takada, Kohei Mizushima
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Patent number: 9720341Abstract: A high opacity white ink containing a mica-based mineral with titania is provided. A method of manufacturing the high opacity white ink is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2013Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Sivapackia Ganapathiappan, Hou T. Ng, Albert Teishev
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Patent number: 9720342Abstract: An image forming device includes a housing; a conveying belt, and a retaining member. The retaining member retains image bearing members that juxtaposed with and spaced apart from one another. The retaining member is slidingly movable relative to the housing in a direction that the image bearing members are juxtaposed. The retaining member retains the image bearing members to confront the conveying belt. The image bearing members and the conveying belt are arranged in a reference direction. The retaining member includes a cleaning member that removes residual developing agent from the conveying belt, and a guide unit that guides the recording medium to the conveying belt. The guide unit is located on the image bearing member side and the cleaning member is located on the conveying belt side. At least part of the guide unit overlaps at least part of the cleaning member when projected in the reference direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2014Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shougo Sato
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Patent number: 9720343Abstract: A conductive member includes a substrate, an elastic layer formed on the substrate, and a surface layer formed on the elastic layer, wherein the surface layer has a sea-island structure that includes a sea portion at least containing a first resin and a conductive agent and island portions at least containing a second resin, the island portions have an average diameter of approximately at least 100 nm and not greater than 1/10 of the thickness of the surface layer, and the conductive agent contained in the sea portion is unevenly distributed in the vicinity of the interface of the sea portion with the island portions.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2016Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.Inventors: Yukiko Kamijo, Taketoshi Hoshizaki, Hidemi Nukada
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Patent number: 9720344Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a charger, a charge eliminator, and a controller. The charger charges a surface of an image carrier. The charge eliminator eliminates residual charge from the surface of the image carrier charged by the charger. The controller performs control to reduce a level of charge elimination performed by the charge eliminator during a third period compared to a level of charge elimination performed by the charge eliminator during a second period in which an image for determining an image-forming condition is formed. The third period is a period other than the second period within a first period that is a period, other than a period of normal image formation, during which the surface of the image carrier is charged by the charger.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2016Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.Inventor: Hirofumi Hamada
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Patent number: 9720345Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 13, 2014Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Ryuji Tanaami, Keita Nakajima, Koji Miwa, Yuji Mitsui
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Patent number: 9720346Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of correcting relative position in exposure position between laser beams that scan a photosensitive drum in a scanning direction of the laser beams. A semiconductor laser includes first and second light emitting elements for emitting first and second laser beams. These elements are arranged such that the laser beams expose positions on the photosensitive drum different in the sub scanning direction. A polygon mirror deflects the laser beams to scan the photosensitive drum. Relative position in the scanning direction between images to be formed on the photosensitive drum by exposure by the first and second laser beams is corrected based on correction data. An image data generation section generates drive signals associated with the respective light emitting elements. A semiconductor laser drive circuit causes the semiconductor laser to emit the first and second laser beams, based on the drive signals.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2013Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yasutomo Furuta, Shunsaku Kondo
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Patent number: 9720347Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a case having a first sidewall and a second sidewall opposite to the first sidewall, and a developing roller disposed between the first sidewall and second sidewall. The developing roller can include a developing roller shaft and a developing roller member configured to carry a developing agent thereon, the developing roller member disposed around the developing roller shaft. Also, the developing cartridge can include an electrode disposed on the first sidewall adjacent to the developing roller shaft, the electrode electrically connected to the developing roller member, and a driven coupling disposed on the second sidewall. The electrode can include, an extending portion extending in a direction away from the first sidewall. An outermost periphery of the driven coupling defines a projection plane projecting in a direction towards the electrode, wherein at least a part of the extending portion is disposed within the projection plane.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2016Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shougo Sato, Takeyuki Takagi, Naoya Kamimura
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Patent number: 9720348Abstract: In the case that a developer supply container is provided with a feeding portion for feeding a developer by receiving a rotational force and a pump portion for discharging the developer by reciprocation, and the rotational force and a reciprocating force are received from a main assembly side of an image forming apparatus, there is a liability that a driving connection is not properly established between a portion of the developer supply container for receiving the reciprocating force and a portion of the main assembly side for applying the reciprocating force. The developer supply container is provided with a drive converting mechanism for converting the rotational force received from the main assembly side to a force for operating a volume changing type pump.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Katsuya Murakami, Toshiaki Nagashima, Fumio Tazawa, Ayatomo Okino, Yusuke Yamada
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Patent number: 9720349Abstract: A developer supply kit detachably mountable to a developer supplying apparatus comprising a developer supply container and a developer accommodated therein, wherein the developer supply container includes, a developer accommodating portion accommodating the developer, a discharge opening for discharging the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion, a drive receiving portion to which a driving force is inputted from the developer supplying apparatus, and a pump portion operable so that an internal pressure of the developer accommodating portion alternately and repetitively changes between a pressure lower than a ambient pressure and a pressure higher than the ambient pressure, by the driving force received by the drive receiving portion, wherein the developer accommodated in the developer supply container includes toner containing binder resin material and a coloring material, the developer satisfies, 10?E (mJ)?80, 0.4?Ea (mJ)?2.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masato Yamaoka, Hiroyuki Fujikawa, Kunihiko Nakamura, Yusuke Yamada, Emi Watanabe, Nobuo Nakajima, Katsuya Murakami
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Patent number: 9720350Abstract: An auger assembly according to one example embodiment includes an auger having a helical flight extending along a longitudinal axis. The auger has a central opening running along the longitudinal axis. The auger has an end that includes at least a portion of a turn having substantially zero pitch. A retaining member has a body including a groove on an outer surface of the body. The groove has a shape complementary to the helical flight at the end of the auger. At least a portion of the end of the auger is retained within the groove. A rotatable coupling member extends along the longitudinal axis. At least a portion of the rotatable coupling member is positioned within the central opening of the auger and presses the outer surface of the retaining member against an inner diameter of the end of the auger.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2016Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventor: Glen Alan Reidhaar
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Patent number: 9720351Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer belt, multiple first type photoconductive drums, multiple first type transfer rollers, a second type photoconductive drum, a second type transfer roller, a roller, and a roller moving unit. The multiple first type transfer rollers are arranged at positions that face the multiple first type photoconductive drums. The second type photoconductive drum is arranged at a position where the drum surface of the second type photoconductive drum is not tangent to a common tangent plane. The roller is arranged on the inner peripheral side of the intermediate transfer belt and is arranged between the second type transfer roller and one first type transfer roller. The roller moving unit moves the roller by pressing the roller. The roller moving unit changes the state of abutting of the multiple first type photoconductive drums and the second type photoconductive drum.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Susumu Koizumi
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Patent number: 9720352Abstract: An image forming apparatus is designed to be capable of easily suppressing a variation of an inclination of a sensor relative to an endless belt and capable of high accuracy and stabilized sensing operation. The image forming apparatus includes a belt unit having an endless belt supported to be rotatable in a circumferential direction, an image forming unit for forming an image on the belt unit, and an optical sensor for detecting light projected onto the endless belt. The image forming apparatus further includes a sensor supporting member for supporting the sensor, and a positioning portion including, as a unit, a first positioning portion for positioning the belt unit by being contacted by the belt unit and a second positioning portion positioning the sensor supporting member by being contacted by the sensor supporting member.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2016Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tsuyoshi Tajiri, Rin Ishikawa
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Patent number: 9720353Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrophotographic intermediate transfer member that, even if an image is repeatedly and continuously transferred, can retain its transfer performance and can obtain an excellent image for a long time. The electrophotographic intermediate transfer member has a base layer and a surface layer, the surface layer has a matrix-domain structure in the cross section in the thickness direction, the matrix is formed of a binder resin, the domains contains a perfluoropolyether, and a microhardness of a surface of the electrophotographic intermediate transfer member measured by an ultramicro-hardness meter is 50 MPa or more.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2013Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Rieko Sakamoto, Koichi Sato, Kenji Onuma, Kimihiro Yoshimura, Naoto Kameyama, Yasushi Shimizu, Akira Watanabe
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Patent number: 9720354Abstract: An intermediate transfer belt for use in electrophotography is provided. The intermediate transfer belt includes a thermoplastic resin having a vinylidene difluoride (VdF) structure. The intermediate transfer belt has a degree of crystallinity in the range of 17% to 39%.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Keiichiro Juri, Hideaki Yasunaga, Akira Izutani, Makoto Matsushita, Ayano Momose
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Patent number: 9720355Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer, a transfer member, and a power source. The image bearer includes a plurality of layers. The transfer member forms a transfer nip between the image bearer and the transfer member. The power source outputs a transfer bias to transfer a toner image from the image bearer onto a recording sheet in the transfer nip. The transfer bias alternates between a transfer-side bias that causes the toner image to move from the image bearer to the recording sheet, and an opposite-side bias different from the transfer-side bias. A duty ratio of a time period, during which the opposite-side bias is output, relative to one cycle of a waveform, is greater than 50%.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2016Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Tatsuya Ohsugi, Kenji Sugiura, Jyunya Sakuraba, Hirokazu Ishii, Toshitaka Yamaguchi, Hiroyoshi Haga, Naohiro Kumagai, Seiichi Kogure, Junpei Fujita, Yuuji Wada, Kazuki Yogosawa, Shinya Tanaka, Masayoshi Nakayama
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Patent number: 9720356Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing unit that stores a developer containing a toner and develops an electrostatic charge image on a image holding member by the developer to form a toner image, a transfer unit that transfers the toner image on the image holding member onto a recording medium, and a fixing unit that performs an operation of heating and pressing twice or more to the toner image on the recording medium by at least one heating and pressing member which contacts with the toner image, wherein the toner has a sea and island structure of a sea portion containing a binder resin and an island portion containing a release agent, a maximum frequent value and a skewness in distribution of eccentricity B of the island portion is 0.75 to 0.95 and ?1.10 to ?0.50, respectively, and eccentricity B is defined in the specification.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.Inventors: Naoki Ota, Katsuyuki Kitajima, Nagahito Ichijo
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Patent number: 9720357Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a member disposed opposite the fixing member, a rubbing member, a detector, and a rubbing operation controller. The fixing member fixes a toner image on a recording medium. The rubbing member rubs the fixing member to maintain a surface of the fixing member in optimum condition of the fixing member. The detector detects vibration of the rubbing member. The rubbing operation controller controls rubbing the fixing member with the rubbing member. The rubbing operation controller controls a rubbing rotation speed and a rubbing force in response to at least the vibration of the rubbing member as a trigger.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2016Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventor: Masateru Ujiie
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Patent number: 9720358Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a sheet discharge sensor that detects a recording material, a fixing device that nips the recording material to fix an unfixed toner image onto the recording material, a fixing motor that drives the fixing device, and an engine control unit that controls the fixing motor. The fixing device includes a fixing roller, a pressure unit that forms a first nip portion with the fixing roller to press the fixing roller, and a heating unit that forms a second nip portion with the fixing roller to heat the fixing roller. The first nip portion nips the recording material to fix the toner image onto the recording material. When determining that the recording material is wound around the fixing device using the sheet discharge sensor, the engine control unit continues to drive the fixing motor.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2016Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hironobu Nihei, Naoki Inoue
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Patent number: 9720359Abstract: A fixing device includes a frame, a first fixing member, a second fixing member, a first conducting member, and a second conducting member. The second fixing member includes a belt configured to form a nip region. The first fixing member is positioned at a first side and the second fixing member is positioned at a second side opposite to the first side. The first conducting member includes a first contacting portion exposed to an outside from the frame, and a first connecting portion electrically connecting the first fixing member and the first contacting portion. The second conducting member includes a second contacting portion exposed to an outside from the frame, and a second connecting portion electrically connecting the second fixing member and the second contacting portion. Both of the first contacting portion and the second contacting portion are positioned at one of the first side and the second side.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2016Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kei Ishida, Takuji Matsuno, Keita Shimizu
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Patent number: 9720360Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fixing device includes determination means for determining the size of an image forming area of a medium, heating means for including an endless rotating body, plural heat-generating members which are formed in a perpendicular direction to a transporting direction, inclined by a predetermined angle, and divided by a predetermined length, and are disposed so as to come into contact with an inner side of the rotating body, and a switching unit which switches individual conduction, and heats the medium, pressing means for forming a nip by performing pressing and contact at a position of the plural heat-generating members, and nipping and carrying the medium in the transporting direction along with the heating means, and heating control means for controlling the switching unit to select and conduct heat-generating members and controlling the heating means to heat the medium.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2016Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignees: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventor: Osamu Takagi
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Patent number: 9720361Abstract: A belt device includes an endless belt and a rotary driver contacting an outer circumferential surface of the belt to drive and rotate the belt. An opposed belt support is disposed opposite the rotary driver and in contact with an inner circumferential surface of the belt. A rotary belt support is disposed opposite the rotary driver via the opposed belt support and in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the belt. A belt support holder holds the opposed belt support and the rotary belt support to retain a predetermined interval between the opposed belt support and the rotary belt support. A biasing assembly presses against the belt support holder to move the opposed belt support and the rotary belt support collectively with respect to the rotary driver and bias the opposed belt support against the rotary driver.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2016Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Yuusuke Furuichi, Yoshihiro Fukuhata, Tomohiko Fujii
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Patent number: 9720362Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming a toner image on a recording material, the apparatus includes a cylindrical film; a plate-like nip forming member contacted with an inner surface of the film, the nip forming member including a base member and a coating layer on the base member, the coating layer having a thermal expansion coefficient smaller than that of the base member; and a roller cooperative with the nip forming member to form a nip, wherein the coating layer is provided on a first surface of the nip forming member which is opposed to the film and on a second surface opposite from the first surface except for an outer edge portion of the nip forming member.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2016Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yasuhito Minamishima, Satoshi Nishida, Isamu Takeda, Takanori Mitani, Kazuhiro Doda, Hideo Nanataki, Akimichi Suzuki
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Patent number: 9720363Abstract: An additive manufacturing system comprising a transfer medium configured to receive the layers from a imaging engine, a heater configured to heat the layers on the transfer medium, and a layer transfusion assembly that includes a build platform, and is configured to transfuse the heated layers onto the build platform in a layer-by-layer manner to print a three-dimensional part.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2012Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.Inventors: Steven A. Chillscyzn, James W. Comb, William J. Hanson, J. Randolph Sanders, Michael W. Bacus
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Patent number: 9720364Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer having an image bearing face to bear an image thereon; a transferer disposed opposing the image bearer, to transfer the image from the image bearing face onto a recording medium at a transfer section between the transferer and the image bearer; a first guide disposed upstream from the transfer section in a direction of delivery of the recording medium, to guide the recording medium to the transfer section; and a second guide upstream from the first guide and spaced away from the first guide, to guide the recording medium to the transfer section. Each of the first guide and the second guide extends in a lateral direction perpendicular to the direction of delivery. A leading end of the second guide in the direction of delivery is inclined from one end to the other end of the second guide in the lateral direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Seiichi Kogure, Naohiro Kumagai, Junpei Fujita, Kazuki Yogosawa, Tatsuya Ohsugi, Kenji Sugiura, Yuuji Wada, Takehide Mizutani, Ryo Hasegawa
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Patent number: 9720365Abstract: An image forming device includes: a main casing; a retaining unit; a feed tray; and a pickup roller. The retaining unit retains a plurality of photosensitive drums juxtaposedly arrayed and spaced away from each other in an array direction. The retaining unit is movable in the array direction between a mounted position in which the retaining unit is mounted in the main casing and a pulled-out position in which the retaining unit is pulled out of the main casing. The feed tray is configured to accommodate a first transferred medium. The pickup roller is configured to pick up the first transferred medium accommodated in the feed tray. The pickup roller is arranged to overlap with the retaining unit in the array direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2017Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shougo Sato
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Patent number: 9720366Abstract: A drive element for a rotatable component of an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a body having a center hole for receiving a drive shaft therein. The center hole defines a rotational axis of the body. A drive coupler is positioned on the body and centered around the rotational axis. A drive slot on the body extends radially relative to the rotational axis and is sized to receive a cross pin. The drive slot includes one or more snap features formed on the body that are positioned to retain the cross pin axially in the drive slot and that permit the cross pin to snap axially into and out of the drive slot.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2016Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventor: Jeffrey Lawrence Tonges
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Patent number: 9720368Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes a first opened/closed signal generation unit for generating a first opened/closed signal indicating an opened/closed state of the open/close member by using polling detection; a second opened/closed signal generation unit for generating a second opened/closed signal in which a state indicating the opened state of the open/close member is latched when a second signal via the switch is cut off; and a power-supply failure detection unit for detecting a power-supply failure based on the first and/or second opened/closed signals. The second opened/closed signal indicates in an initial state the closed state of the open/close member, and is returned to the initial state by an initialization command, and the power-supply failure detection unit detects the power-supply failure based on the second opened/closed signal during an image forming period, and based on the first and second opened/closed signals during a period other than the image forming period.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2016Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Takuma Nishio
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Patent number: 9720369Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a casing, a cover member having an opening and supported by the casing, a tray configured to pivot between a first position covering the opening and a second position uncovering the opening, and first and second lock members. The first lock member is configured to move between a first lock position in which the cover member is locked in a closed position and a first release position in which a locked state of the cover member is released. The second lock member is configured to move between a second lock position in which the tray is locked in the first position and a second release position in which a locked state of the tray is released, and is configured to move to the second lock position in response to movement of the first lock member to the first release position.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2016Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yosuke Aoi, Takuya Yamaguchi
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Patent number: 9720370Abstract: A cable holder includes a plurality of cable holding portions and a stopper. The plurality of cable holding portions is arranged under an apparatus body of an apparatus that is connectable to another apparatus via a cable, the cable to fit in the plurality of cable holding portions. The stopper is disposed at the plurality of cable holding portions to hold the cable fitted in the plurality of cable holding portions. The plurality of cable holding portions includes outlets communicated with an outside of the cable holder and arranged at different positions from each other.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Kazuyoshi Matsumoto, Daisuke Nakamura
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Patent number: 9720371Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes process units and developer cartridges; a process unit supporting member; a cartridge supporting member; and a moving mechanism. Each developer cartridge includes a transporting member configured to transport developer to a corresponding process unit. The moving mechanism is configured to move each transporting member between a communicated position, in which developer is transported to the corresponding process unit, and an interrupted position, in which transporting of developer to the corresponding process unit is interrupted.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2016Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shougo Sato, Hiroshi Igarashi
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Patent number: 9720372Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cartridge supporting member configured to move with respect to a main body of the apparatus in a state in which a cartridge is mounted to take a mounting and demounting position where the cartridge supporting member is located at an exterior of the main body and allowing the cartridge to be mounted and demounted, and an image forming position where the cartridge supporting member is located within an interior of the main body to locate the cartridge at a position which allows formation of an image. A first unit of the cartridge includes a position-restricted portion, and the cartridge is located below a second unit in which the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge supporting member. The cartridge supporting member includes a position restricting portion configured to restrict movement of the cartridge with respect to the cartridge supporting member by engaging the position-restricted portion.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Daisuke Hiramatsu, Tetsuya Numata, Takayuki Yada
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Patent number: 9720373Abstract: A cartridge for an image forming apparatus including a movable member is provided with a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion movable between a first position and a second position. The cartridge includes a first engaged portion engageable with the first engaging portion, and a second engaged portion engageable with the second engaging portion. By the first engaged portion being engaged with the first engaging portion in the process of mounting, the movable member is moved from the first position to the second position to permit the second engaged to pass the second engaging portion in a mounting direction.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2013Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masato Tanabe, Kazuo Chadani, Yasunori Toriyama, Sadaaki Tani, Yuuki Nakamura
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Patent number: 9720374Abstract: A cartridge used for forming an image on a recording material includes a memory for storing information, wherein the memory has an outer configuration having a length in a first direction and a length in a second direction longer than the length in the first direction in a plane crossing a thickness direction thereof; 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. A prevention width of the slit with respect to a direction crossing the thickness direction of the memory is longer than the length of the memory in the first direction and is shorter than the length of the memory in the second direction as seen in an inserting direction of the memory.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2016Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazuhiko Kanno, Yuichi Fukui
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Patent number: 9720375Abstract: A spatial light modulating panel using a transitive liquid crystal display panel and a three-dimensional display device using the same. A a spatial light modulator including a plurality of pixels arrayed in a matrix manner; and a liquid crystal layer configured to modulate phase of an incident light passing through the each pixel, respectively. The spatial light modulator and the 3D display using the same provides a thin flat type display system having an easy and simple structure and a low manufacturing cost.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2012Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: LG DISPLAY CO., LTD.Inventors: Minsung Yoon, Sunwoo Kim, Minyoung Shin
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Patent number: 9720376Abstract: A band-type electronic device and a method for configuration of a flexible circuit board in a band-type electronic device are disclosed. The band-type electronic device includes a plurality of segments connected with each other in a band-like shape, a plurality of electronic components arranged in the plurality of segments, and a flexible circuit board connected to the plurality of electronic components arranged in the plurality of segments, wherein the flexible circuit board is partly deformed into a meandering shape in at least one of the plurality of segments.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Mobile Communications Inc.Inventor: Teppei Tsushima
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Patent number: 9720377Abstract: A timepiece includes a representation of a non-rectilinear object, the representation particularly including a movable element kinematically connected to a drive mechanism. The representation also includes at least one second movable element, the drive mechanism being arranged such that the movable elements each move, simultaneously and in synchronization, between a first and a second end position, and vice versa, the movable elements forming the representation at a first size and at a second size greater than the first, respectively, when the movable elements are in the first and second end positions thereof.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Inventor: Paul Hartzband
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Patent number: 9720378Abstract: A chronometer to monitor the passage of time prior to a projected date of birth of a baby and to recognize and celebrate the birth of the baby. The chronometer includes a generally hollow egg-shaped housing including a bottom, a top, a hinge mechanism, and a latching mechanism. The hinge mechanism rotatably connects the top to the bottom so the top can open and close. The latching mechanism releasably connects the top to the bottom. The chronometer also includes a replica of a young chicken housed in the chronometer, and includes a display to indicate the length of time until the projected birth date of the baby.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2016Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Inventors: Craig A Hills, David A. Fussell
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Patent number: 9720379Abstract: The invention relates to a timepiece movement comprising at least first and second functions implementing the display of at least first and second pieces of information. According to the invention, the movement has a selection member comprising an actuator, at least one lever configured to take at least first and second positions, respectively corresponding to the first and second functions, and respectively corresponding to the creation of first and second kinematic connections, and a cam cooperating with the actuator and the at least one lever so as to create the first and second kinematic connections.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: The Swatch Group Management Services AGInventor: Paulo Bravo
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Patent number: 9720380Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a time-to-digital converter, where the time-to-digital converter includes a delay unit, a first sampling unit, and a second sampling unit. The delay unit is connected to the first sampling unit and is configured to receive a first clock signal and delay the first clock signal; the first sampling unit is configured to perform sampling on the first clock signal and generate a first phase signal, so that a first phase-locked module adjusts a frequency of the first clock signal; the delay unit is further connected to the second sampling unit and is configured to receive a frequency-adjusted first clock signal and delay the frequency-adjusted first clock signal; and the second sampling unit is configured to perform sampling on the frequency-adjusted first clock signal and generate a second phase signal.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2016Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.Inventors: Shenghua Zhou, Dongli Song
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Patent number: 9720381Abstract: Systems and methods for displaying an adjusted time to a user are provided. A time display device that normally displays the correct time is used to display a modified time. This modified time is unknown to the user so that the user cannot know what the time offset is and is forced to assume that the current time is displayed. The modified time may be an advanced time or a time that is set backwards, depending on when the user wants to arrive at an event.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: PAYPAL, INC.Inventor: Michael Charles Todasco