Patents Issued in May 12, 2020
  • Patent number: 10649334
    Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid processing apparatus for performing a liquid processing by supplying a processing liquid from a nozzle to a substrate. The apparatus includes: a cup body provided to surround a substrate holding unit; a nozzle arm provided with a nozzle and supported by a support unit; a moving mechanism configured to move the nozzle arm via the support unit between a stand-by position and a processing position; an elevating mechanism configured to move up and down the support unit; a cover member including a top plate portion provided above a driving region and configured to partition the driving region from a region where the substrate is held within the cup body; an opening formed in a portion corresponding to a moving path of the support unit in the top plate portion; and an exhaust mechanism configured to evacuate the driving region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Koki Yoshimura, Shogo Takahasi, Yasushi Takiguchi, Taro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10649335
    Abstract: A substrate processing method, includes acquiring a height distribution along a radial direction of a substrate in a peripheral edge portion of a front surface of the substrate, forming an underlayer film on the entire front surface of the substrate so as to correct a drop of a height of the peripheral edge portion based on the height distribution, and forming a resist film on the entire surface of the underlayer film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Teruhiko Kodama, Masashi Enomoto, Masahide Tadokoro, Takafumi Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 10649336
    Abstract: A system for fabricating a semiconductor device includes a first supplier, a second supplier, a mixer, and an applier. The first supplier is configured to supply a developer solution having a first chemical. The second supplier is configured to supply the second chemical to the mixer. The mixer is configured to mix the developer solution with a second chemical, in which the second chemical is configured to form a plurality of bubbles in the developer solution. The applier is configured to apply the developer solution mixed with the bubbles onto a photoresist layer formed on a substrate, in which the photoresist layer has an exposed region, and the first chemical is configured to dissolve the exposed region of the photoresist layer through a chemical reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun-Yih Yu, Chang-Fa Lin, Ching-Hung Cheng, Yi-Chuan Lo, Ming-Hsuan Chuang
  • Patent number: 10649337
    Abstract: Provided is a positive type lithographic printing plate precursor including at least: a support which has a hydrophilic surface or a hydrophilic layer; and an underlayer, an interlayer, and an upper layer on the support in this order, in which the underlayer contains a polymer compound 1 which has at least one structure selected from the group consisting of a urethane bond, an acetal structure, and a urea bond in a main chain, the interlayer contains a polymer compound 2 which has at least one structure selected from the group consisting of a sulfonamide group, an active imide group, and a urea bond in a side chain, the upper layer contains a polymer compound 3 which has a phenolic hydroxy group, and one or more layers among the underlayer, the interlayer, and the upper layer contain an infrared absorbent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Sato, Rena Mukaiyama, Yuichi Yasuhara
  • Patent number: 10649338
    Abstract: The present invention has an object of providing a stepped wafer that can prevent a resist from remaining after development, and a method for manufacturing the stepped wafer. The stepped wafer according to the present invention is a stepped wafer having a step and whose main surface is thinner in a center portion and is thicker in an outer periphery. The step includes a curved surface with a radius of curvature ranging from 300 ?m to 1800 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Naoyuki Takeda
  • Patent number: 10649339
    Abstract: A resist material and methods for forming a semiconductor structure including using the resist material are provided. The method for forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a resist layer over a substrate and exposing a portion of the resist layer to form an exposed portion of the resist layer by performing an exposure process. The method for forming a semiconductor structure further includes developing the resist layer in a developer. In addition, the resist layer is made of a resist material including a photosensitive polymer and a contrast promoter, and a protected functional group of the photosensitive polymer is deprotected to form a deprotected functional group during the exposure process, and a functional group of the contrast promoter bonds to the deprotected functional group of the photosensitive polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ya-Ching Chang, Chen-Yu Liu, Cheng-Han Wu, Ching-Yu Chang, Chin-Hsiang Lin
  • Patent number: 10649340
    Abstract: In order to prevent delamination of a reflective coating from the substrate under the influence of reactive hydrogen, a reflective optical element (50) for EUV lithography is provided, which has a substrate (51) and a reflective coating (54) for reflecting radiation in the wavelength range of 5 nm to 20 nm. A functional layer (60) is arranged between the reflective coating (54) and the substrate (51). With the functional layer, the concentration of hydrogen in atom % at the side of the substrate facing the reflective coating is reduced by at least a factor of 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: CARL ZEISS SMT GMBH
    Inventors: Dirk Heinrich Ehm, Vitaliy Shklover, Irene Ament, Stefan-Wolfgang Schmidt, Moritz Becker, Stefan Wiesner, Diana Urich, Robert Meier, Ralf Winter, Christof Jalics, Holger Kierey, Eric Eva
  • Patent number: 10649341
    Abstract: An immersion lithographic apparatus is disclosed that includes a fluid supply system configured to supply a fluid, the fluid supply system having a chamber with a plurality of inlet holes in a first side wall and a plurality of outlet holes in a second side wall, the first side wall facing the second side wall, wherein the inlet holes direct fluid entering the chamber in a direction towards areas of the second side wall between the plurality of outlet holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Clemens Johannes Gerardus Van Den Dungen, Nicolaas Franciscus Koppelaars, Martinus Hendrikus Antonius Leenders, Paulus Martinus Maria Liebregts, Johannes Catharinus Hubertus Mulkens, Erik Henricus Egidius Catharina Eummelen, Marcel Beckers, Richard Moerman, Cédric Désiré Grouwstra, Danny Maria Hubertus Philips, Remko Jan Peter Verhees, Pieter Mulder, Evert Van Vliet
  • Patent number: 10649342
    Abstract: A lithographic process is one that applies a desired pattern onto a substrate, usually onto a target portion of the substrate. During the lithographic process, the focus should be controlled. There is disclosed a method for determining a fingerprint of a performance parameter associated with a substrate, such as a focus value to be used during the lithographic process. A reference fingerprint of the performance parameter is determined for a reference substrate. A reference substrate parameter of the reference substrate is determined. A substrate parameter for a substrate, such as a substrate with product structures, is determined. Subsequently, the fingerprint of the performance parameter is determined based on the reference fingerprint, the reference substrate parameter and the substrate parameter. The fingerprint may then be used to control the lithographic process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Léon Maria Albertus Van Der Logt, Bart Peter Bert Segers, Simon Hendrik Celine Van Gorp, Carlo Cornelis Maria Luijten, Frank Staals
  • Patent number: 10649343
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a method and an apparatus for modifying imaging properties of a microlithographic optical system. In a method according to the disclosure, the imaging properties are modified by way of control signals coupled into the optical system by way of at least one interface. The values of the control signals that are in each case coupled in during the controlling for a desired modification of the imaging properties are ascertained on the basis of a model. The model is created by virtue of performing, in a learning phase in which the modification of the imaging properties that is in each case attained for different values of the control signals is ascertained, a successive individual adaptation of the model to the optical system. The learning phase is performed without prior specification of explicit information relating to internal mechanisms of action within the optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
    Inventors: Jochen Knopf, Mohammad Awad
  • Patent number: 10649344
    Abstract: Disclosed is an illumination source apparatus comprising a high harmonic generation medium, a pump radiation source and a spatial filter. The pump radiation source emits a beam of pump radiation having a profile comprising no pump radiation in a central region of the beam and excites the high harmonic generation medium so as to generate high harmonic radiation. The pump radiation and the generated high harmonic radiation are spatially separated beyond the focal plane of the beam of pump radiation. The spatial filter is located beyond a focal plane of the beam of pump radiation, and blocks the pump radiation. Also disclosed is a method of generating high harmonic measurement radiation optimized for filtration of pump radiation therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Sander Bas Roobol, Simon Gijsbert Josephus Mathijssen
  • Patent number: 10649345
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for estimation of at least one parameter of interest of a feature fabricated on a substrate, the feature having a plurality of structure parameters, the structure parameters including the at least one parameter of interest and one or more nuisance parameters. A receiver receives radiation scattered from one or more measured features on the substrate. A pupil generator generates an unprocessed pupil representation of the received radiation. A matrix multiplier multiplies a transformation matrix with intensities of each of a plurality of pixels of the unprocessed pupil representation to determine a post-processed pupil representation in which effects of the one or more nuisance parameters are mitigated or removed. A parameter estimator estimates the at least one parameter of interest based on the post-processed pupil representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Maxim Pisarenco, Markus Gerardus Martinus Maria Van Kraaij, Sebastianus Adrianus Goorden
  • Patent number: 10649346
    Abstract: A table for a lithographic apparatus, the table having an encoder plate located on the table, a gap between the encoder plate and a top surface of the table, the gap located radially inward of the encoder plate relative to the periphery of the table, and a fluid extraction system with an opening in the surface of the gap to extract liquid from the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.
    Inventors: Takeshi Kaneko, Joost Jeroen Ottens, Raymond Wilhelmus Louis Lafarre
  • Patent number: 10649347
    Abstract: An apparatus having: a system configured to measure an object; a base structure; an object support constructed to hold the object, the object support movably supported on the base structure; a balance mass configured to absorb a reaction force arising from movement of the object support; an actuator connected to the balance mass and the base structure, the actuator configured to apply a force to the balance mass and the base structure; a sensor configured to produce a signal for a measured characteristic of the base structure corresponding to a disturbance, or its effect, acting on the base structure; and a control system configured to determine, based on at least the signal for the measured characteristic of the base structure, a signal for the actuator to apply a force to the base structure and/or the balance mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Michael Johannes Christiaan Ronde, Lucas Kuindersma, Niels Johannes Maria Bosch, Hans Butler, Cornelius Adrianus Lambertus De Hoon, Marc Wilhelmus Maria Van Der Wijst, Thijs Verhees, Sander Kerssemakers
  • Patent number: 10649348
    Abstract: A movable body apparatus includes: a substrate holder which can move in the X-axis and Y-axis directions; a Y coarse movement stage which can move in the Y-axis direction; a first measurement system which acquires position information on the substrate holder by heads on the substrate holder and a scale on the Y coarse movement stage; a second measurement system which acquires position information on the Y coarse movement stage by heads on the Y coarse movement stage and a scale; and a control system which controls the position of the substrate holder based on position information acquired by the first and second measurement systems. The first measurement system irradiates a measurement beam while moving the heads in the X-axis direction with respect to the scale, and the second measurement system irradiates a measurement beam while moving the heads in the Y-axis direction with respect to the scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasuo Aoki
  • Patent number: 10649349
    Abstract: A new way of drying and/or wetting a surface, such as a top surface of a substrate, is disclosed which is useful in immersion lithography. The surface is placed under a single phase extractor and a priming liquid is delivered between the single phase extractor and the surface. The single phase extractor is only activated after the priming liquid has been provided between the single phase extractor and the surface. Priming liquid is delivered to the single phase extractor during the whole of the drying and/or wetting process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignees: ASML HOLDING N.V., ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.
    Inventors: Martinus Hendrikus Antonius Leenders, Sjoerd Nicolaas Lambertus Donders, Harry Sewell, Louis John Markoya, Marcus Martinus Petrus Adrianus Vermeulen, Diane Elaine Markoya
  • Patent number: 10649350
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electrophotographic member having excellent deformation recovery even when stored or used under a high temperature and high humidity environment, which is useful in forming a high-quality electrophotographic image; a process cartridge; and an electrophotographic apparatus. The electrophotographic member of the present invention includes a conductive mandrel and an electro-conductive layer; the electro-conductive layer including a resin synthesized from an ion conducting agent and a compound being able to react with the ion conducting agent; the ion conducting agent including a specific anion and a cation having at least three hydroxyl groups; the compound being able to react with the hydroxyl group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Sosuke Yamaguchi, Masaki Yamada, Kazuhiro Yamauchi, Satoru Nishioka, Taichi Shintou
  • Patent number: 10649351
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member (1) includes a conductive substrate (2) and a photosensitive layer (3). The photosensitive layer (3) is a single-layer photosensitive layer (3c) and contains a charge generating material, a hole transport material, an electron transport material, and a binder resin. The binder resin includes a polyarylate resin represented by general formula (1). In general formula (1), Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 each represent a methyl group or a hydrogen atom. r, s, t, and u each represent a number greater than or equal to 15 and less than or equal to 35.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Tomofumi Shimizu, Jun Azuma, Keiji Maruo
  • Patent number: 10649352
    Abstract: To provide an electrophotographic member high in volume resistivity uniformity even in application of a high voltage such as 1,000 V. The electrophotographic member includes a base material and an elastic layer on the base material, the elastic layer containing a silicone rubber and an ionic liquid, and the ionic liquid including a cation modified by a dimethylsiloxane chain, and an anion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasutomo Tsuji, Yohei Miyauchi, Toshio Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10649353
    Abstract: Described herein is a photoreceptor and a method of making metal oxide particles having hygroscopic polymers attached to a surface of the metal oxide particles. The photoreceptor includes a conductive substrate and an undercoat layer disposed on the conductive substrate. The undercoat layer includes metal oxide particles having hygroscopic polymers attached to a surface of the metal oxide particles. The undercoat layer includes a binder resin. A photosensitive layer is disposed on the undercoat layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Jin Wu
  • Patent number: 10649354
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electrophotographic photoreceptor which can suppress occurrence of abnormalities such as peeling or falling off of a film from a substrate end portion in a film formation step of a surface layer and maintain and reproduce a stable printing quality even in a use stage after productization, and an image forming apparatus including the same. An electrophotographic photoreceptor includes a cylindrical substrate including a chamfered face located between an substrate outer circumferential surface and a substrate end face, and a surface layer located on the outer circumferential surface. The substrate outer circumferential surface includes a first uneven portion. The chamfered face includes a second uneven portion and a third uneven portion located on a surface of the second uneven portion. A surface roughness Sa of the second uneven portion is larger than a surface roughness Sa of the third uneven portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomomi Fukaya
  • Patent number: 10649355
    Abstract: A method of making a composite feed material for fused deposition modeling (FDM) is disclosed. The method comprises providing composite particles made by a process of emulsion aggregation, the composite particles comprising at least one thermoplastic polymer and at least one carbon particle material. A composite feed material is formed for fused deposition modeling from the composite particles. The composite feed material is in a form selected from a filament and a paste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Barkev Keoshkerian, Rachel Prestayko, Kimberly D. Nosella, Valerie M. Farrugia
  • Patent number: 10649356
    Abstract: A brilliant toner includes a first toner which contains a first toner particle containing a flake-shape brilliant pigment; and a second toner which contains a second toner particle containing a flake-shape brilliant pigment, and has a different color from that of the first toner, and an electrostatic charge image developing toner includes a first toner which contains a first toner particle; and a second toner which has a different color from that of the first toner, and contains the second toner particle, in which, based on a charge distribution of each of the first toner and the second toner obtained according to a charge spectrograph method, maximum peak positions of the first toner and the second toner are taken as P1 and P2, respectively, and full widths at half maximum of the first toner and the second toner are taken as W1 and W2, respectively, |P1?P2| is 3 mm or less, and |W1?W2| is 3 mm or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satomi Hara, Masaru Takahashi, Yukiaki Nakamura, Sakiko Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 10649357
    Abstract: A method for producing a liquid developer containing a resin binder containing a resin having an acidic group, a colorant, a basic dispersant, and an insulating liquid, including: step I: stirring raw materials containing the resin binder, the colorant, and the basic dispersant at a temperature of equal to or higher than a glass transition temperature of the resin binder; and step II: adding dropwise from 50 to 500 parts by mass of the insulating liquid to a stirred mixture of the step I, based on 100 parts by mass of the stirred mixture at a temperature of equal to or higher than a glass transition temperature of the resin binder, thereby carrying out a phase inversion emulsification, to provide a dispersion of toner particles. The liquid developer obtainable by the method of the present invention is suitably used in development or the like of latent images formed in, for example, electrophotography, electrostatic recording method, electrostatic printing method or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Yuri Nannichi, Nobumichi Kamiyoshi
  • Patent number: 10649358
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner image supporting section and a medium transfer section. The toner image supporting section includes first and second toner image supporting member that support first and second toner images at first and second linear speeds, respectively. The medium transfer section transfers, onto a medium, the first and second toner images respectively supported by the first and second toner image supporting members, to thereby cause the first and second toner images to be superimposed on each other. The following conditional expression (1) is satisfied when the medium transfer section transfers the first and second toner images onto the medium, (Vd1?Vt1)/(Vt1>(Vd2?Vt2)/Vt2??(1) where Vd1 is the first linear speed, Vt1 is a first conveyance speed of the medium, Vd2 is the second linear speed, and Vt2 is a second conveyance speed of the medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Takaaki Ebe
  • Patent number: 10649359
    Abstract: A lens mirror array includes a plurality of optical elements connected to each other and aligned along one direction. Each of the optical elements comprises a first lens surface on which light is incident, a first reflection surface on which the incident light is reflected within the optical element, a second reflection surface on which the reflected light is further reflected within the optical element, a second lens surface through which the light reflected by the second reflection surface is emitted outside the optical element, and a protruding portion having a plurality of surfaces and connected to the first lens surface and the second reflection surface. One of the surfaces of the protruding portion inclined with respect to a direction of light incident on the protruding portion has a prism structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takashi Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 10649360
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an optical scanning device includes a board and a light receiving member, the positional accuracy of which is improved. When a length in a scanning direction and a length in an intersection direction of a body portion of the light receiving member are denoted by Lx0 and Ly0, respectively, and a length in the scanning direction and a length in the intersection direction of a through-hole formed in the board are denoted by Lx1 and Ly1, respectively, the lengths Lx0, Ly0, Lx1, and Ly1 satisfy the following formula: (Lx1?Lx0)>(Ly1?Ly0).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jun Nagatoshi, Mitsuhiro Ohta, Shunsuke Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10649361
    Abstract: Methods of printing indicia on PVC sheets with laser printers. The method includes manufacturing a heat resistant coating that includes each of a water based ink, a work and turn coating, and Calcium Sulfate. The heat resistant coating is applied to the PVC sheet and is allowed to dry thereon. Indicia is printed on the PVC sheet with the laser printer. During a printing process, a temperature of a fuser assembly of the laser printer exceeds 290 degree Fahrenheit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Ward Kraft, Inc.
    Inventor: Jesse Crum
  • Patent number: 10649362
    Abstract: An optical scanning device includes light sources, a deflector deflecting light beams emitted from the light sources, a first lens transmitting the light beams deflected by the defector, and second lenses guiding the light beams transmitted from the first lens to respective surfaces to be scanned. The second lenses are arranged so that a first incident position of a first light beam emitted by a first light source and entering one of the second lenses is closer to the respective surface to be scanned along an optical axis of the first lens than a second incident position of a second light beam emitted by a second light source and entering another of the second lenses, and an incident angle of the second light beam with respect to the optical axis along a deflection direction by the deflector is greater than the incident angle of the first light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasushi Kuribayashi
  • Patent number: 10649363
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a casing, a developer-carrying member, a supply member, a developing electrode, a supply electrode, and an insulating member. The casing is configured to accommodate therein developer. The developer-carrying member is configured to rotate about a rotational axis and carry the developer thereon. The supply member is configured to supply the developer to the developer-carrying member. The developing electrode is configured to be electrically connected to the developer-carrying member. The supply electrode is configured to be electrically connected to the supply member. The insulating member insulates the developing electrode and the supply electrode with each other. The developing electrode, the insulating member, and the supply electrode are overlapped in this order in an axial direction of the rotational axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasumasa Fujii
  • Patent number: 10649364
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing device. The developing device transports a two-component developer by a transporting unit so that the two-component developer passes through a developing roller. The two-component developer is stored in a storage chamber provided with a transporting path. The transporting unit rotates in the transporting path. The developing device causes a portion of the two-component developer to overflow from a discharge port provided at the transporting path, and to discharge the two-component developer. The image forming apparatus has a period in which a first operation is executed, the first operation of reversely rotating the transporting unit at a high speed so that a rotational direction of the transporting unit is an opposite direction to that at a time of development and a rotational speed of the transporting unit is higher than that at the time of development.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Hamachi, Ryo Fukuno, Daisuke Uchimitsu, Toshiaki Suzuki, Makoto Kanno
  • Patent number: 10649365
    Abstract: A developing device for forming an image by developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier with a developer, includes: a developing container that accommodates the developer; a developing roller that faces the image carrier, is disposed adjacent to the developing container, and conveys the developer accommodated in the developing container to the image carrier, and a developer discharging part that is provided in the developing container and discharges a part of the developer, wherein a discharge amount of the developer discharged by the developer discharging part is controlled on the basis of a charge amount of a toner included in the developer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Wataru Watanabe, Shota Sakurai, Tomohiro Kawasaki, Takenobu Kimura, Ryoei Ikari
  • Patent number: 10649366
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a casing configured to accommodate therein toner; a developing roller; a supply roller configured to supply the toner to the developing roller; a layer thickness regulation blade in contact with a circumferential surface of the developing roller; a developing electrode electrically connected to the developing roller; and a supply electrode electrically connected to the supply roller and the layer thickness regulation blade. The supply electrode includes: an electrode member electrically connected to a rotation shaft of the supply roller and movable in a direction perpendicular to the rotation shaft; and a connection member in contact with and electrically connecting the electrode member and the layer thickness regulation blade. The electrode member is movable relative to the connection member in the direction perpendicular to the rotation shaft in a state where the electrode member is in contact with the connection member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Fukaya, Tomoya Ichikawa, Koji Abe, Naoya Kamimura
  • Patent number: 10649367
    Abstract: A powder supply device includes a powder conveyance path and a pair of electrodes to supply powder from a powder container. The powder conveyance path is configured to transport the powder in the powder container. The pair of electrodes is disposed at least in part in or on the powder conveyance path. The powder supply device is configured to detect an amount of powder in the powder conveyance path based on change of capacitance between the pair of electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Matsumoto, Tatsuya Kubo, Shuntaroh Tamaki, Hiroaki Okamoto
  • Patent number: 10649368
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a first unit having an image bearing member, a second unit having a development member, an apparatus main body which includes an opening portion, an opening-closing member to open or close the opening portion, a first portion contacting with a part of the first unit to position the first unit to the apparatus main body, and a second portion arranged on an opposite side of the first portion with respect to the image bearing member, and a sandwiched unit movable between a first position at which the sandwiched unit is sandwiched between the first unit and the second portion and a second position at which the sandwiched unit is not sandwiched, wherein when the sandwiched unit is located at the first position, a part of the first unit is urged against the first portion by the sandwiched unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shunsuke Hijikata, Ryota Shibuya
  • Patent number: 10649369
    Abstract: A developing cartridge may include: a casing configured to accommodate developer therein, the casing extending in the first direction; a coupling rotatable about a first axis extending in the first direction, the coupling being positioned at one side of the casing in the first direction; a detection gear rotatable about a second axis extending in the first direction, the detection gear being positioned at another side of the casing in the first direction; and a storage medium including an electric contact surface, the electric contact surface being positioned at the one side of the casing in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Junichi Yokoi
  • Patent number: 10649371
    Abstract: The developing device includes a developer bearer, a conveyor, a casing including a ceiling, and a seal. The developer bearer is configured to bear a developer and develop a latent image. The conveyor is configured to convey and stir the developer. The casing is configured to contain the developer, the developer bearer, and the conveyor. The seal is configured to seal the inside of the casing to form a closed space that encloses the developer in the developing device. The conveyor is configured to be partially or entirely buried in the developer enclosed in the closed space in both of a normal posture and an upside-down posture of the developing device. A cross-sectional area of the closed space in a horizontal plane gradually increases from a top of the ceiling of the casing toward a bottom of the developing device in the normal posture of the developing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kei Saito, Yoshiyuki Fukuda, Masaaki Yamada, Yuuji Ishikura
  • Patent number: 10649372
    Abstract: A method of converting a CMYK toner printer to print with a white toner, comprising the steps: providing a CMYK toner printer; wherein the toner printer has four printing cartridges; wherein the four printing cartridges comprise a black toner printing cartridge, a cyan toner printing cartridge, a magenta toner printing cartridge, and a yellow toner printing cartridge; removing the black toner printing cartridge from the toner printer, such that there is an empty toner cartridge slot; providing a white toner printing cartridge that is filled with a white toner; installing the white toner printing cartridge into the empty toner cartridge slot; and providing raster image processor (RIP) software, such that the printer is able to incorporate the white toner into one or more images printed by the printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: UI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Raymond Josiah, Joseph Dovi
  • Patent number: 10649373
    Abstract: In a case where a sheet jam detection unit detects that a sheet jam has occurred in an image bearing member, and determines that there is no sheet P at a nip portion, a printer control unit starts cleaning by a cleaning unit without waiting for removal of the sheet P causing the sheet jam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuya Konno
  • Patent number: 10649374
    Abstract: A transport device includes a first belt member, a second belt member, a first roller, a second roller, a third roller, a fourth roller, a fifth roller, and a sixth roller. The second belt member is in contact with the first belt member to form a contact portion in cooperation with the first belt member. The first roller is capable of adjusting a tilt in a longitudinal direction of the first roller. The second roller is capable of adjusting a tilt in a longitudinal direction of the second roller. The third and fourth rollers are located adjacent to the first roller. The fifth and sixth rollers are located adjacent to the second roller. The third roller, the fourth roller, the fifth roller, and the sixth roller each have a uniform diameter in a longitudinal direction of the roller, and are disposed at positions other than the contact portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keitaro Mori, Takashi Ochi, Yoshiki Shimodaira, Toshimasa Toyama, Masato Yamashita, Takashi Ohashi
  • Patent number: 10649375
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion, a fixing portion, a temperature detecting portion, a measuring portion, a storing portion, and a controller. The controller is capable of setting a case that a start of feeding of a recording material is permitted after a lapse of a predetermined time need to measure a temperature rising rate of the fixing portion and a case that the start of feeding of the recording material is permitted, depending on a value relating to the temperature rising rate stored in the storing portion, at timing before the lapse of the predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeharu Nakada, Tomoo Akizuki, Ryo Morihara, Masahiko Suzumi
  • Patent number: 10649376
    Abstract: When a nip portion has a region through which a recording material passes, and a part of the region is an image heating region where an image region on the recording material passes through, and the rest of the region is a non-image heating region where a non-image region on the recording material passes through, a control portion controls heating elements corresponding to the non-image heating region, out of the plurality of heating elements, so as to maintain a control target temperature, which is set based on the amount of the image heating apparatus used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Jota, Atsushi Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 10649377
    Abstract: In a heater including a plurality of first temperature detection elements that are arranged at predetermined intervals in a longitudinal direction of a substrate and respectively output temperature signals individually, and a plurality of second temperature detection elements that are arranged at predetermined intervals in positions that differ from the positions of the first temperature detection elements in a lateral direction that is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction but correspond to the positions of at least some of the plurality of first temperature detection elements in the longitudinal direction, and that output a single temperature signal obtained by adding individual temperature signals together, the individual temperature signals included in the single temperature signal are acquired on the basis of the plurality of temperature signals output by the plurality of first temperature detection elements and the single temperature signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryota Ogura, Yasuhiro Shimura
  • Patent number: 10649378
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt, a pressing member, a pressing roller and a cap. The fixing belt is cylindrical and rotatable. The pressing member has a longitudinal length shorter than a longitudinal length of the fixing belt. The pressing member is configured to face an inner circumferential face of the fixing belt via a lubricant. The cap is configured to rotate together with the fixing belt. In a first end area between the longitudinal end portion of the fixing belt and the pressing member, a first step is formed on the inner circumferential face of the fixing belt in a circumferential direction of the fixing belt such that an inner diameter of the fixing belt is larger at a side of the longitudinal end than at a side of the pressing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Yasuhito Okajima
  • Patent number: 10649379
    Abstract: A customer replacement unit monitor (CRUM) unit that can be mounted in an image forming apparatus includes a decoder which receives first clock signals from the image forming apparatus and converts the first clock signals into second clock signals, a memory which stores data related with a consumable unit, and a controller which manages the memory based on data signals transmitted from the image forming apparatus and the second clock signals. The first clock signals are divided into a data section in which the data signals are transmitted and received and an idle section in which the data signals are not transmitted and received. The first clock signals have a first frequency on the data section while having a second frequency on the idle section, and the second clock signals are clock signals maintaining a high value or a low value on the idle section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Chang-keun Seo, Jin-boo Kim, Youn-jae Kim
  • Patent number: 10649380
    Abstract: In one example, a development cycle of a binary ink developer, BID, is timed. Timing may be based on the length of a substrate in which the image is to be printed or the size of the image or the area to be printed with the ink associated to the BID.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: HP Indigo B.V.
    Inventors: Asaf Shoshani, Lavi Cohen, Ido Finkelman, Meir Grinstein
  • Patent number: 10649381
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit having a first shielding member configured to change an opening width of a first opening with respect to a longitudinal direction, a second shielding member configured to change an opening width of a second opening with respect to the longitudinal direction, and a controller that controls, on the basis of an output of a detector and size information of the recording material, the opening widths of the first opening and the second opening, so as to correspond to widths of non-passing portions of the recording material in the nip, by moving the first shielding member and the second shielding member in the longitudinal direction, respectively, when the recording material, having a size other than the maximum size, is inserted into the fixing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuji Mitsui
  • Patent number: 10649382
    Abstract: A control apparatus includes a processor and a memory to control a system having an image forming apparatus and a sheet discharge apparatus. Executing a memory store program causes the control apparatus to receive configuration information of the system and generate a system configuration image, receive stacking state information and generate a sheet bundle image, display a screen, receive job identification information of an image forming job of sheets to be picked up, and display a thumbnail image. The stacking state information includes a stacking amount of sheets stacked on a sheet stacking tray. The sheet bundle image represents the sheets stacked on a sheet stacking tray based on the stacking state information. The system configuration image and the sheet bundle image are combined in the screen. The thumbnail image is based on receiving the job identification information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toru Shinnae, Jerome Guermont, Nobuaki Miyahara, Ryo Fujita, Yoshitaka Oba
  • Patent number: 10649383
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus that forms an image on continuous paper, includes: an image former that forms an image on the continuous paper; a conveyer that conveys the continuous paper in a forward direction that is a conveyance direction at a time of image formation and conveys the continuous paper to the image former; an image diagnosis part that detects abnormality of the image formed by the image former and performs diagnosis of a degree of the detected abnormality; and a hardware processor that switches whether to continue conveyance of the continuous paper in the forward direction according to a result of the diagnosis of the image performed by the image diagnosis part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Yusuke Yamamoto, Hiroyuki Arai
  • Patent number: 10649384
    Abstract: An image bearing member unit and a developing unit are respectively configured to be attachable to and detachable from an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus, the image bearing member unit has a first memory that stores information related to a toner amount during a toner supply in accordance with a use amount of the image bearing member unit, the developing unit has a second memory that stores information related to a toner amount during the toner supply in accordance with a use amount of the developing unit, and a control device controls, during the toner supply, the toner supply with a toner amount based on the information stored in the first memory and the information stored in the second memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kodai Hayashi, Taku Watanabe, Shuhei Kawasaki, Keisuke Endoh