Patents Issued in November 6, 2018
  • Patent number: 10120296
    Abstract: An electrostatic latent image developing toner includes toner particles which comprises a binder resin and a releasing agent. A main component of the binder resin is a polyester resin. The binder resin comprises a crystalline polyester resin, an amorphous polyester resin and a hybrid vinyl resin. The hybrid vinyl resin is composed of a vinyl polymer segment and at least one segment selected from a polyester polymer segment, an urethane polymer segment and an urea polymer segment which is chemically bound to the vinyl polymer segment. A main component of the hybrid vinyl resin is the vinyl polymer segment which comprises a structural unit derived from a monomer having a specific structure. A tetrahydrofuran-soluble fraction of the toner has a main peak of a molecular weight distribution measured by gel permeation chromatography within the range of 11000 to 30000.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Kaori Matsushima, Noboru Ueda, Shiro Hirano, Kouji Sugama
  • Patent number: 10120297
    Abstract: A liquid developer containing toner particles containing a resin binder and a pigment, wherein the toner particles are dispersed in an insulating liquid in the presence of a dispersant, wherein the resin binder contains a polyester resin P having a glass transition temperature of 35° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Yamada, Nobumichi Kamiyoshi
  • Patent number: 10120298
    Abstract: Herein is described a method for the manufacture of a charge director comprising a barium salt. The method comprises reacting barium alkoxide with an acid in a reaction medium comprising ethanol, and separating ethanol from the reaction mixture to recover the barium salt produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: HP Indigo B.V.
    Inventors: Hanit Marom Tchaicheeyan, Eyal Bachar, Julia Kornilov, Albert Teishev
  • Patent number: 10120299
    Abstract: Provided are an light scanning device capable of adjusting the position of optics and an image forming apparatus including the light scanning device. The light scanning device includes first and second light sources configured to emit first and second light beams, respectively; optics including first and second lenses for transmitting the first and second light beams therethrough and a lens holder configured to support the second lens; and a housing configured to support the first and second light sources and the optics, wherein the first and second light sources and the first lens are supported to be fixed to the housing, and the second lens is supported to be able to move with respect to the first lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: S-PRINTING SOLUTION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Heon-hee Lim, Han-sung Lee, Jin-kwon Chun, Sung-dae Kim
  • Patent number: 10120300
    Abstract: An example binary ink developer (BID) assembly includes a housing, a developer roller, a squeegee roller, and a guard member. The developer roller receives ink and transfers a portion of the ink to a photoconductive member. The squeegee roller rotates and regulates a film thickness of ink on the developer roller. The squeegee roller includes a curved circumference. The guard member includes a conforming end disposed across from the squeegee roller. Further, the conforming end has a concave shape corresponding to a portion of the curved circumference of the squeegee roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: HP Indigo B.V.
    Inventors: Barak Rosenstein, David Sabo
  • Patent number: 10120301
    Abstract: A developing device of the present disclosure includes a developing container, a first stirring-conveyance member, a second stirring-conveyance member, and a developer carrier. The developing container includes a first conveyance chamber, and a second conveyance chamber arranged above the first conveyance chamber. The first stirring-conveyance member conveys a developer in the first conveyance chamber in a first direction, while stirring the developer. The second stirring-conveyance member conveys the developer in the second conveyance chamber in a second direction, while stirring the developer. The first stirring-conveyance member includes a plurality of spiral blades formed on an outer peripheral surface of a rotary shaft, and a reverse spiral blade which is arranged downstream of the spiral blades in the first direction and opposite in winding direction to the spiral blades. Downstream ends of the spiral blades in the first direction are located substantially equally distant from the reverse spiral blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Yukari Ota
  • Patent number: 10120302
    Abstract: An example device, for sealing an ink developer unit in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure includes a rigid plate. The device also includes a first compliant sealing member disposed on a first side of the rigid plate to form a seal between the number of rollers of the ink developer unit and the rigid plate. The device also includes a second compliant sealing member disposed on a second side of the rigid plate to form a seal between the rigid plate and an end cap of the ink developer unit. The first compliant sealing member, the second compliant sealing member, or combinations thereof include a developer roller arm aligned with an interior portion of a developer roller face and to allow ink to contact the developer roller face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: HP Indigo B.V.
    Inventors: James Pingel, Christopher S Tanner, Evgeny Korol
  • Patent number: 10120303
    Abstract: An image forming system includes a post-processing unit capable of performing a post-processing on the sheet on which the toner image is formed. The image forming system is capable of executing a transfer cleaning operation to more toner from a transfer member to an image bearer by electrostatic force caused by cleaning bias applied by a bias applying unit in a state where the image bearer and the transfer member are rotated, to clean the transfer member, as an inter-sheet operation performed when at least one of inter-sheet areas that exist on the image bearer during a successive image forming period. The image forming system is capable of executing a rotation stop operation to stop rotation of the image bearer and the transfer member, as the inter-sheet operation when the post-processing is performed, in addition to the transfer cleaning operation, before or after the transfer cleaning operation is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Kojima, Tomoya Ohmura, Sho Sekiguchi, Taichi Urayama, Kazuya Saitoh, Takuya Moriyama, Hiroomi Tamura, Tetsuto Ueda, Naoyuki Ozaki
  • Patent number: 10120304
    Abstract: A belt device includes a belt unit including a plurality of rotators and a belt looped around the plurality of rotators. The belt device further includes a frame including a plurality of support portions to support the belt unit, a biasing member to bias the belt unit supported by the frame in a predetermined direction, and an adjuster to adjust a position of at least one of the plurality of support portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Junpei Fujita, Naohiro Kumagai, Seiichi Kogure, Kazuki Yogosawa, Kenji Sugiura, Yuuji Wada
  • Patent number: 10120305
    Abstract: An imaging device has a drive gear assembly which operatively engages with a backup roll gear of a fuser assembly when the fuser assembly is inserted into the imaging device. Such engagement causes the drive gear assembly to rotate, and in turn rotates a drive motor coupled to the drive gear assembly. The drive motor includes Hall Effect sensors associated with a sensor arrangement that senses rotation of the motor. During rotation of the drive motor, sensor signals are transmitted to a controller of the imaging device, the controller counting rising and falling signal edges of the received sensor signals. Based on the number of rising and falling signal edges, a message is sent to a user of the imaging device whether or not the installation of the fuser assembly was successful.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Lee Carter, Mark Stephen Malone, Brian Anthony Reichert
  • Patent number: 10120306
    Abstract: A gas impingement device includes a first surface including a pattern of a plurality of gas outlets, the pattern including a number of substantially parallel rows of gas outlets, the rows arranged in a direction, which direction is at a skew angle ? with a front edge of the first surface of the gas impingement device. A recording substrate treatment apparatus and a printing system including such a gas impingement device and a method of drying a recording substrate by using the gas impingement device are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: OCÉ-TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventors: Hendrikus G. M. Ramackers, Stan H. P. Kersten
  • Patent number: 10120307
    Abstract: An image heating apparatus for use with an image forming apparatus. The image heating apparatus includes a pair of rotatable members configured to form a nip for heating an image on a recording material, a guide member configured to guide the recording material toward the nip, a supporting mechanism configured to rotatably support the guide member about an axis so that the guide member is movable between a first position at which the guide member guides the recording material and a second position at which the guide member blocks at least a portion of a feeding path of the recording material, and a locking mechanism configured to lock the guide member being in the first position. The locking mechanism releases locking with sliding movement of the guiding member in a direction of the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tempei Okanemasa
  • Patent number: 10120308
    Abstract: An image heating device includes a rotator, a heater including a heat generating resistor, a connector electrically connected to the heater, and a power interrupting unit that detects an abnormal temperature rise of the heater and interrupt supply of the power to the heater. The power interrupting unit includes a first terminal and a second terminal, a first conductive sheet metal that electrically connects the connector to the first terminal, a second conductive sheet metal that to electrically connects the connector to the second terminal via the heat generating resistor, a length of the second conductive sheet metal being different from a length of the first conductive sheet metal in the longitudinal direction of the heater, and a supporting member supporting the heater and including a regulation portion that regulates rotation of the power interrupting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takaaki Akamatsu, Masashi Tanaka, Kensuke Umeda, Shoichiro Ikegami, Sho Taguchi, Ai Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10120309
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a first pressing member, a fixing belt, a second pressing member, a tensioning section on which the fixing belt is wound on an upstream side relative to the fixing nip in a rotation direction of the fixing belt and which is configured to impart tension to the fixing belt, and a control section configured to control the tensioning section such that the shape in an axial direction of the fixing belt is changed in accordance with a type of sheet which passes through the fixing nip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Asahi Ebe
  • Patent number: 10120310
    Abstract: A fusing apparatus and an image forming apparatus includes: a fusing belt; a pressing roller pressed to the fusing belt to form a nib part and rotating the fusing belt; a bushing guiding an edge of the fusing belt; and a ring member rotatably coupled to the bushing and in contact with the edge of the fusing belt that rotates to rotate together with the fusing belt, wherein a first frictional force generated between the edge of the fusing belt and the ring member is larger than a second frictional force generated between the bushing and the ring member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: S-PRINTING SOLUTION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sun-hyung Lee, Sung-woo Kang, Ji-su Park, Sea-chul Bae, Gil-jae You, Seung-jun Lee, Young-hoon Han
  • Patent number: 10120311
    Abstract: A fixing device according to an embodiment includes a first rotating body, a pressing unit, an urging member, a base body section, a screw shaft section, and a rotation regulating section. The pressing unit includes a belt, a second rotating body, and a supporting frame. The supporting frame supports the second rotating body. The urging member urges the pressing unit in a direction in which the second rotating body approaches the first rotating body. The base body section is rotatable around an axis. The shape of a cross section of the base body section orthogonal to an axial direction is a noncircular shape. The screw shaft section projects from the base body section and regulates a movement of the pressing unit in a direction in which the pressing unit approaches the first rotating body. The rotation regulating section comes into contact with the outer surface of the base body section to regulate the rotation of the base body section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKA KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazutoshi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10120312
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device to form a toner image onto a recording medium by transferring the toner image directly or indirectly onto the recording medium, the image forming device including a developer to develop a latent image formed on an image carrier into the toner image; and a controller to control the image forming device. The controller determines whether a first estimated time period is greater than a first predetermined time period, the first estimated time period being a time period from a time when image formation of one page of the image completes to an estimated time when image formation of a subsequent page of the image will start; and stops operating the developer based on a determination indicating that the first estimated time period is greater than the first predetermined time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Uchida, Takuma Higa, Shinya Kamijo, Takeshi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10120313
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image forming section which uses a color material for non-removal to form an image on an image receiving medium, a second image forming section which uses a color material for removal to form an image on an image receiving medium, a first processing section for making a hole in the image receiving medium, a second processing section which does not make a hole in the image receiving medium, and a controller which executes the second processing without executing the first processing to the image receiving medium on which the image is formed with the color material for removal at the time of executing a job if the job contains formation of the image with the color material for removal and carries out the first processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 10120314
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image designated by a job on a sheet fed from one of a plurality of paper feed sources. The apparatus includes a detection unit that detects paper types of sheets respectively fed from the plurality of paper feed sources, a detection unit provided on a conveyance path, a memory device that stores a set of instructions, and at least one processor that executes the instructions to function as a first holding unit to hold paper sizes and paper types set by a user in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of paper feed sources, a second holding unit to hold the paper types detected by the detection unit in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of paper feed sources, and a third holding unit to hold a paper size designated by the job and a paper type. designated by the job or a condition related to setting of a paper type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hidemi Sasaki
  • Patent number: 10120315
    Abstract: A characteristic measuring portion measures current-voltage characteristics of a primary transfer member before a toner image for a first surface of a sheet is primarily transferred. A characteristic information storage portion stores characteristic information that indicates the current-voltage characteristics. A first transfer voltage determining portion determines a first transfer voltage based on a first target current value and the characteristic information. A second transfer voltage determining portion determines a second transfer voltage based on a second target current value and the characteristic information that was used when the first transfer voltage was determined, the second target current value being smaller than the first target current value. A voltage control portion applies the first and second transfer voltages to the primary transfer member by a constant-voltage method when the toner images for the first and second surfaces of the sheet are primarily transferred, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Yuta Kitabayashi
  • Patent number: 10120316
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus capable of recovering the apparatus from a state in which software operation is abnormal to a state in which the same is normal. The information processing apparatus is provided with a CPU for receiving an instruction for turning off power of the information processing apparatus. Upon receipt of the instruction, the CPU determines whether or not it is necessary to turn off the power of the information processing apparatus. When it is necessary to turn off the power of the information processing apparatus, the CPU controls the information processing apparatus such that the power thereof is turned off, whereas when it is unnecessary to turn off the power of the information processing apparatus, the CPU controls the information processing apparatus such that the power thereof is not turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tamotsu Takatani, So Yokomizo
  • Patent number: 10120317
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is operable in a first mode in which a control unit is in a rest state and a second mode in which electric power is supplied to the control unit. The image forming apparatus changes the mode of the operation to the second mode of the operation in response to detection of putting of the sheet on the manual feeding tray during execution of the operation in the first mode with the pressing mechanism being in the second position, and then in response to receipt of input of a predetermined instruction about an image forming operation by a receiving portion in the second mode, the control unit controls the moving mechanism so that the pressing mechanism moves from the low pressure position to a nip-forming position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Fukuda, Keisuke Yoshida
  • Patent number: 10120318
    Abstract: A recording material feeding device includes a stacking portion, a driving source, a holding member, a torque limiter for limiting transmission of a driving torque from the driving source to the stacking portion in a case that the driving source rotates in a state in which the holding member holds the position of the stacking portion; a storing portion for storing information on a holding state of the holding member; and a controller for controlling the driving source to rotate at a rotational speed slower when the information is information indicating that the holding member holds the position of the stacking portion than when the information is information indicating that the holding member does not hold the position of the stacking portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hironobu Nihei
  • Patent number: 10120319
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a control unit for converting image information into an image signal and output the image signal with reference to a timing signal, a sheet feeding control unit for feeding a recording material, an image forming unit for forming the image on a photosensitive drum based on the image signal output from the control unit, a transmission unit for transmitting a length of the image corresponding to a length of an output period of the image signal, an automatic sheet length detection mechanism for acquiring a length of the recording material in a conveyance direction thereof, and an image control unit for controlling a time interval at which the timing signal is output based on the size of the image and the size of the recording material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Naoki Kanno
  • Patent number: 10120320
    Abstract: A sheet transport device includes a transport unit that transports a sheet, an endless belt that transmits a driving force from a motor to the transport unit, a rotary member that rotates by being pressed by the sheet transported by the transport unit, and a sensor that generates a signal in accordance with rotation of the rotary member. The rotary member is arranged in such a manner that a portion of the rotary member faces an inner peripheral portion of the endless belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Daisuke Yamabe
  • Patent number: 10120321
    Abstract: A power transmission apparatus includes a first pulley and a second pulley. A belt is extended around them. A supply unit supplies a voltage such that the first pulley and the belt are electrostatically attracted and that the second pulley and the belt are electrostatically attracted. The belt includes a conductor layer. At least one pulley includes a first electrode to which a first voltage is applied and a second electrode that is insulated from the first electrode and to which a second voltage is applied. An insulating layer or a dielectric layer is arranged between the conductor layer of the belt and the first electrode of the at least one pulley and an insulating layer or a dielectric layer is arranged between the conductor layer of the belt and the second electrode of the at least one pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuri Mori, Seiji Hara, Mineto Yagyu
  • Patent number: 10120322
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a transfer member, a power source, a detection unit, and a fixing unit. The transfer member transfers a toner image to a transfer material from the image bearing member. The detection unit detects electric current flowing in the transfer member when the power source applies voltage to the transfer member. The fixing unit fixes a toner image to a transfer material by heat. The heat to the fixing unit is controlled where a subsequent transfer material conveyance stops after the transfer material is discharged from the fixing unit, in a case where a second current value, detected when voltage is applied to the transfer member contacting the fixing unit and the transfer member, is greater than a first current value detected when voltage is applied to the transfer member before the transfer material reaches the fixing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaru Ohno, Kenji Watanabe, Takao Kume, Marehiko Hirajima
  • Patent number: 10120323
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to suppressing image defects due to variations in the values of currents flowing through respective photosensitive drums during image formation, and reducing the absolute value of a voltage applied when a primary transfer power supply unit applies a voltage of polarity opposite to that during image formation, to primary transfer members. There is provided an image forming apparatus including a transfer member configured to make contact with an inner peripheral surface of a transfer belt, a first power supply unit configured to apply a voltage to the transfer member, a resistance element connected between the first power supply unit and the transfer member, and a diode connected in parallel with the resistance element in a direction in which a current flowing in a first direction is blocked and a current flowing in a second direction is passed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Shimizu, Kenichi Iida, Takao Kume, Keisuke Ishizumi, Toshihiko Takayama
  • Patent number: 10120324
    Abstract: An imaging device has a photoconductive drum with a surface that is selectively discharged to create a latent electrostatic image for attracting toner for transfer to a media moving in a process direction. The image is divided into multiple segments along the process direction and discharged pixels per segment are counted. An accumulator keeps track of the numbers of pixels per revolutions of a roller that applies the toner to the drum. Upon meeting a predetermined deficiency in the counts of pixels in any given segment, an artificial image gets generated on the surface of the photoconductive drum that supplies the missing pixels, per segment. The image gets developed with toner, but does not transfer to the media. Lubrication occurs on the surface of the drum and each segment retains a relatively common number of imaging pixels that get developed over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Brian Bacelieri, Marc Cousoulis
  • Patent number: 10120325
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a charging unit, a developing unit, a transfer unit, a residual developer collecting container, a developer feeding unit, a driving unit configured to drive the developer feeding unit and at least one of the image bearing member, the developing unit and the transfer unit, and a control unit configured to change a driving speed of the driving unit depending on a storing amount of the residual developer in the collecting container in a period from an end of formation of an image on a first recording material to a start of formation of the image on a second recording material subsequent to the first recording material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ryo Takaba
  • Patent number: 10120326
    Abstract: There is provided a manufacturing method of manufacturing a cartridge by using a cartridge having a rotator, a frame that supports the rotator, an elastic member that is provided in a concave portion formed in the frame along a rotation axis direction of the rotator, and a sheet member that has one end fixed to the elastic member and the other end abutting on the rotator along the rotation axis direction of the rotator, and the manufacturing method includes: detaching the rotator from the frame; detaching the sheet member from the frame; detaching the elastic member from the frame; and attaching another sheet member to the frame via an adhesive member that is attached to an adhesive member attachment portion formed in the concave portion of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshiteru Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 10120327
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a recording mechanism unit, an opening/closing unit that is rotatably coupled to the recording mechanism unit in an upper portion of the recording mechanism unit, an operation unit which is arranged to face a circumferential edge of the opening/closing unit and is able to have a coupling state in which the operation unit and the opening/closing unit are coupled together and a released state in which the coupling state is released, a cable that connects a control unit with the operation unit, and a support means which is provided in the recording mechanism unit and which supports the operation unit that is in the released state and is connected to the control unit by the cable in a state in which a distance between the operation unit and the circumferential edge of the opening/closing unit is greater than that in the coupling state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Shiohara, Satoshi Iwaya, Koji Migita, Hiroyuki Yoda
  • Patent number: 10120328
    Abstract: A drive device, which is included in an image forming apparatus, includes a drive source, an input side rotary body, an output side rotary body, two drive transmission routes, a drive transmission state switcher, and a drive transmission changer. The input side rotary body receives a driving force from the drive source. The output side rotary body outputs the driving force to a driving target body. The drive transmission state switcher switches a first drive transmission route between a transmission state and a non transmission state. The drive transmission changer transmits the driving force via a second drive transmission route to the output side rotary body when the first drive transmission route is in the non transmission state and restricts the driving force from being transmitted via the second drive transmission route when the first drive transmission route to the output side rotary body is in the transmission state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Ishida, Naoki Matsuda
  • Patent number: 10120330
    Abstract: A multicolor molded component used in an image forming apparatus includes a molded portion molded with a first resin, and a bearing portion configured to be movable with respect to the molded portion, and to support a rotating member. The molded portion includes a regulation portion, and the bearing portion is formed by injection molding to be engaged with the regulation portion in such a manner as to be movable in a first direction with respect to the molded portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shogo Satomura, Kazuki Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 10120331
    Abstract: The present invention provides a satisfactory electrophotographic photosensitive member which satisfies wear resistance and electrical properties and further, with which image defects do not occur, a process for producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and an electrophotographic apparatus and a process cartridge each including the electrophotographic photosensitive member. The electrophotographic photosensitive member the surface layer of which contains a copolymer of a polymerizable functional group-containing charge transporting substance and a particular polymerizable compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Nakata, Shinji Takagi, Masaki Nonaka, Haruki Mori
  • Patent number: 10120332
    Abstract: A cartridge includes a coupling member, a transmitted member, and a rotary member. The transmitted member includes an accommodating portion configured to accommodate the coupling member, and a protruded portion integrally formed with an inner wall of the accommodating portion and protruding from the inner wall toward an inside of the accommodating portion. The coupling member includes a free end portion having a rotational force receiving portion that receives a rotational force, a connected portion connected to the transmitted member in such a manner that at least a part of the connected portion can be accommodated in the accommodating portion, and a recessed portion provided at the connected portion so that the protruded portion can enter. An inclination angle of a rotation axis of the coupling member relative to a rotation axis of the transmitted member is variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kensuke Sato, Tetsushi Uneme, Toshiki Fujino
  • Patent number: 10120333
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus which is capable of prompting a user to replace a process cartridge. The process cartridge is comprised of a plurality of components. At least CPU executes instructions to obtain life span information indicating life spans of the components of the process cartridge, determine whether or not the process cartridge is a specific process cartridge for which life span information on a part of the components of the process cartridge is obtained whereas life span information on all the components of the cartridge is not obtained, calculate a life span of the process cartridge, and provide notification of the calculated life span of the process cartridge. When the process cartridge is the specific process cartridge, the life span of the process cartridge is calculated based on only the obtained life span information on the components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazutaka Shinagawa
  • Patent number: 10120334
    Abstract: A system for recording a digital hologram of an object comprises: a coherent source intended to illuminate the object and thus produce a wave diffracted by the object; and a digital sensor intended to record the digital hologram of the object. It furthermore comprises a spatial phase modulating assembly able to produce in the plane of the sensor a plurality of duplicates of the wave diffracted by the object, the duplicates being offset from each other but overlapping partially, these duplicates forming on the sensor a digital hologram of the object, this hologram being what is referred to as a self-reference hologram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignees: CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE, UNIVERSITE DU MAINE, INSTITUT DES MOLECULES ET MATERIAUX DU MANS (IMMM-UMR 6283)
    Inventors: Pascal Picart, Mokrane Malek
  • Patent number: 10120335
    Abstract: A method for displaying a hologram to a variable direction including using circuitry to determine a direction from a holographic projector to a viewer for projecting a hologram to a viewer, and projecting a hologram in the determined direction, in which the projecting the hologram includes reflecting from a same mirror as the determining the direction of the viewer, and the circuitry controls the projecting the hologram to a direction corrected for a difference in direction between a projecting unit and a tracking unit relative to the mirror. Related apparatus and methods are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Real View Imaging Ltd.
    Inventors: Carmel Rotschild, Aviad Kaufman
  • Patent number: 10120336
    Abstract: An apparatus and method to produce a hologram of a cross-section of an object includes an electromagnetic radiation assembly configured to receive a received electromagnetic radiation, such as light, from the object. The electromagnetic radiation assembly is further configured to diffract the received electromagnetic radiation and transmit a diffracted electromagnetic radiation. An image capture assembly is configured to capture an image of the diffracted electromagnetic radiation and produce the hologram of the cross-section of the object from the captured image. The hologram of the cross-section includes information regarding a single cross-section of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: CellOptic, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Rosen
  • Patent number: 10120337
    Abstract: Examples are disclosed herein relating to an adjustable scanning system configured to adjust light from an illumination source on a per-pixel basis. One example provides an optical system including an array of light sources, a holographic light processing stage comprising, for each light source in the array, one or more holograms configured to receive light from the light source and diffract the light, the one or more holograms being selective for a property of the light that varies based upon the light source from which the light is received, and a scanning optical element configured to receive and scan the light from the holographic light processing stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Maimone, Joel S. Kollin, Joshua Owen Miller
  • Patent number: 10120338
    Abstract: A holographic-stereogram-forming apparatus includes a laser beam source that generates a laser beam to be split into an object beam and a reference beam; a display that displays an original image corresponding to a substantially strip-shaped holographic element constituting a holographic stereogram containing parallax information in a horizontal direction; a diffusing unit provided on a light-emission side of the display and including optical elements having different thicknesses in a direction of light transmission, the optical elements being arranged in a matrix and each having a substantially rectangular shape with a vertical length being shorter than a horizontal length, the diffusing unit diffusing object beam more widely in the vertical direction than in the horizontal direction, the object beam to be diffused by the diffusing unit being generated by the display; and a condensing unit that condenses the object beam diffused by the diffusing unit on a hologram recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Ogasawara, Jiro Minabe, Shigetoshi Nakamura, Takashi Kikuchi, Masahiro Igusa, Motohiko Sakamaki
  • Patent number: 10120339
    Abstract: A device for holding a wheel set of a timepiece movement mounted on a main plate includes a lever, intended to be mounted to slide on the main plate of the timepiece movement between a first and a second position and arranged to move in translation between the two positions. The lever includes, at a first end, a locking beak cooperating with a slot of a ring attached to the wheel set to hold and to guide the wheel set in rotation in the first position, and leaving the wheel set free in the second position, the lever being arranged to move in translation, between the retracted position and the deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventor: Adrian Kammer
  • Patent number: 10120340
    Abstract: The invention concerns a watch comprising a case having a middle part and inside which is housed a movement. The watch also includes a control member intended to be actuated by a user and an internal transmission device provided with an actuator, able to move, in response to actuation of the control member, between a rest position and an active position in which it actuates a mechanism of the movement. In an original manner, the transmission device includes a closed cavity filled with a fluid and a thrust means kinematically connected to the control member and arranged to displace the fluid inside the cavity, the displacement of fluid inside the cavity causing displacement of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventor: Pierry Vuille
  • Patent number: 10120341
    Abstract: A method for determining an imbalance characteristic of a hairspring (5) balance (4) oscillator (3) of a timepiece movement (2), the method comprising at least the following steps: —Setting the hairspring balance oscillator in an oscillating motion at at least two amplitudes, —Determining, for each amplitude and for at least two positions of the oscillator, a piece of data representative of the oscillation period of the oscillator, —Using the data from the previous step to calculate the imbalance characteristic of the hairspring balance oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: ROLEX SA
    Inventors: Richard Bossart, Marc Cerutti, Frédéric Burger, Olivier Hunziker, Denis Favez
  • Patent number: 10120342
    Abstract: A method is for acquiring a time point where a glimmering pulse passes over a threshold. The method includes: converting a relationship between a pulse and a threshold into high and low level signals; segmenting output level signals. For a phase where a pulse signal passes over and is higher than a preset threshold and a phase where a pulse signal passes over and is lower than the preset threshold, the two phases respectively include several time points generated by several jumps, and the time point where a pulse passes over a threshold is recorded as any one jump time point or a weighted value of any two or more jump time points. By selecting one jump time point or weighting any two or more jump time points, a more accurate time point where a pulse actually passes over a threshold can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Raycan Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daoming Xi, Wei Liu, Qingguo Xie
  • Patent number: 10120343
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method, system and apparatus for synchronizing the time of time series data acquired from a wellbore sensor relative to a reference time series. This comprises acquiring a first time series from a sensor in a wellbore, acquiring a reference time series and determining a linear moveout time correction to apply to the first time series. The linear moveout time correction is equal to the depth of the wellbore sensor divided by the signal propagation velocity. The linear moveout correction is applied to the first time series. The first time series is cross-correlated with the reference time series to determine a cross-correlation time correction to apply to the first time series and the cross-correlation time correction is applied to the first time series to obtain a cross-correlation corrected time series. Dynamic time warping and dynamic cross-correlation may be used to adjust for clock drift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY
    Inventors: Stephen K. Chiu, Phil D. Anno
  • Patent number: 10120344
    Abstract: A smartwatch assembly may include a dial portion having a plurality of apertures extending therethrough and a circuit board having a plurality of LED modules disposed thereon. The plurality of LED modules may be oriented to emit light toward the plurality of apertures of the dial portion. The circuit board may include a control module configured to illuminate the plurality of LED modules in response to an alert and a communication module configured to interface with an electronic device wirelessly and to receive the alert. Methods of making a smartwatch assembly may include disposing a dial portion having a face plate and a plurality of hour-mark apertures extending through the face plate in a watch casing and disposing a circuit board having a plurality of LED modules disposed thereon in a watch casing, the plurality of LED modules corresponding to the plurality of hour-mark apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Inventor: Michael M. Yuen
  • Patent number: 10120345
    Abstract: An electronic device has a GPS receiver that receives satellite signals transmitted from positioning information satellites and computes positioning information; a first storage unit that stores the positioning information and local time information including local time computing information related to the time in the region identified by the positioning information; an update information receiving unit that receives update information for the local time information from an update information transmission device; a second storage unit that stores the update information; a local time computing information acquisition unit that acquires the local time computing information from the first storage unit when the local time computing information corresponding to the positioning information is stored only in the first storage unit, and acquires the local time computing information from the second storage unit when the local time computing information is stored in the second storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Katsuyuki Honda
  • Patent number: 10120346
    Abstract: A satellite radio wave receiving processing unit 60 includes a front end 60a which receives a radio wave including a code signal transmitted from a satellite, and a baseband unit 64 which acquires the code signal from the received radio wave, in which the baseband unit identifies a pseudo-random code sequence used for performing spread spectrum to the code signal and a phase of the pseudo-random code sequence in a transmission period, identifies a code type of the code signal every time according to the transmission period, identifies, by comparing an array of the identified code type with a plurality of comparison arrays expected to appear as the array of the code type, a head timing of each code in the code signal according to a comparison array in which a result of the comparison satisfies a predetermined condition, and identifies each code in synchronization with the identified head timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTERS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Matsue, Hideo Abe, Tatsuya Sekitsuka