Having Particular Structure Patents (Class 399/107)
  • Publication number: 20150147086
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including an image forming unit, a body accommodating the image forming unit, and a cover configured to form a part of an exterior covering of the body, is provided. The cover includes a first rib formed to protrude from an inner surface of the cover and extend longitudinally along the inner surface of the cover. The first rib extends to incline with respect to a horizontal plane to be higher at one end on a first side of the image forming apparatus and lower at the other end on a second side of the image forming apparatus. An upper surface of the first rib extends continuously from the one end to the other end and is discontinued at the other end, the other end of the upper surface of the first rib being separated from the exterior covering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventor: Toshiya Saito
  • Patent number: 9042783
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus provided with an image forming unit. The image forming apparatus includes a movable member configured to be displaced relative to an apparatus main body; a cover configured to be displaced between a position where an opening portion provided on the apparatus main body is opened and a position where the opening portion is closed; a link that displaces the movable member in conjunction with the cover; a driving pulley and a driven pulley; and an endless belt that is looped around and stretched between the driving pulley and the driven pulley and transmits a driving force from the driving pulley to the driven pulley. The belt overlaps with the link in a direction parallel to a rotational axis of the driving pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomoya Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9042770
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cover and a supporting member. The cover includes a connecting portion, the supporting member has a first path which guides the connecting portion and a second path which is bifurcated from the first path. When the connecting portion is located at an end of the first path, the cover is supported at a first opening angle, and when the connecting portion is located at an end of the second path, the cover is supported at a second opening angle which is larger than the first opening angle. When the supporting member upwardly rotates in a state where the cover is supported at the first opening angle, the cover rotates so as to interwork with the rotation of the supporting member, the connecting portion moves from the first path to the second path by its own weight of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koki Sato
  • Publication number: 20150139679
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image forming units in an arrangement direction orthogonal to a rotary axis thereof; a support member configured to support the plurality of image forming units; a frame, which is configured to support the support member, and a plurality of electrodes, which is supported to the frame and is configured to supply power to the plurality of image forming units, wherein the frame comprises: a plurality of support projections, which is protruding inwardly to support the plurality of electrodes, and a projection part, which is arranged at an outer position of the plurality of support projections, at which the projection part overlaps with the support member, as viewed from the direction of the rotary axis, and is contactable to the support member in a case where the support member is moved towards the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventor: Makoto Souda
  • Publication number: 20150139685
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a casing, an image-forming unit, a circuit board for controlling operations of the image-forming unit, a receiving unit for receiving liquid entering into the casing. The casing includes: a wall portion constituting a top surface and positioned upward of the image-forming unit; a first frame supporting the circuit board; and a second frame opposing the first frame in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to a vertical direction. The wall portion includes a first member and a second member positioned adjacent to each other to provide a first gap therebetween. The image-forming unit is disposed between the first frame and the second frame. The receiving unit is positioned below the first gap and includes a receiving wall for receiving the liquid entering into the casing through the first gap, the receiving wall being slanted downward toward the second frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Takashi Hoshino, Yuji Takenoshita
  • Publication number: 20150139687
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including: a plurality of image forming units arranged to align along a direction orthogonal to rotation axes of photosensitive drums; a first frame made of resin and arranged on one side of the photosensitive drums along the direction of rotation axes to support the plurality of image forming units; a first beam made of metal, formed in an elongated shape longitudinally along a direction to intersect with the aligning direction, and arranged along and fixed to a planar face of the first frame; and a second beam formed in an elongated shape extending along the aligning direction, arranged along the planar face of the first frame to intersect with the first beam, and fixed to the planar face of the first frame, is provided. Rigidity of the first beam is higher than rigidity of the second beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventor: Makoto Souda
  • Publication number: 20150139686
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a casing including a base frame, a top cover, and an access cover; a grooved portion; and a cartridge. The top cover is provided at the base frame and has a first edge. The access cover is provided at the base frame and pivotally movable between an open position and a closed position. The access cover has an upper region providing a second edge. The second edge is positioned along the first edge when the access cover is at the closed position. The upper region of the access cover at the closed position and the top cover defines a boundary therebetween. The grooved portion has a groove positioned below the first edge and a second edge. The cartridge is attached to and detached from the casing and positioned below the boundary and the grooved portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Yuji Takenoshita, Takashi Hoshino
  • Patent number: 9031456
    Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus that is to be detachably attached by a detachable unit, wherein the detachable unit includes a unit side connector that fits a main body side connector disposed in a main body of the image forming apparatus by an attaching operation for attaching the detachable unit to the main body of the image forming apparatus, wherein one of the detachable unit and the main body of the image forming apparatus includes a concave portion extended in an attaching direction in which the detachable unit is attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus, and wherein the other one of the detachable unit and the main body of the image forming apparatus includes a convex portion disposed at a position corresponding to the concave portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Mizusawa
  • Patent number: 9026007
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising: a plurality of housing units that houses toners of mutually different colors, at least one toner inside of the plurality of housing units being to be used for forming a toner image on a recording medium; and a fixing unit configured to fix the toner image on the recording medium to the recording medium, wherein a housing unit among the plurality of housing units that houses a toner with a lowest peak temperature of loss elastic modulus is disposed in a portion with a lower temperature than a temperature of a portion where another housing unit is disposed, or in a position farther from the fixing unit than a portion where another housing unit is disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Bisaiji, Hiroomi Tamura, Hirokatsu Suzuki, Satoru Ishikake, Ryuji Yoshida
  • Patent number: 9025986
    Abstract: A moving device assembly includes a moving device and a shield. The moving device is movable between a first position and a second position, to move a detector including a detection surface relative to an opposing member disposed opposite the detector. The shield shields the detection surface of the detector. As the moving device is at the first position, the detector is at a proximal position at which the detector is near the opposing member, and as the moving device is at the second position, the detector is at a shield position at which the detector is separated from the opposing member and the detection surface of the detector is shielded by the shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuuki Shiga, Sei Onuma, Kozo Yamazaki, Kimihiro Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20150117898
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a casing having a frame, a drive source configured to generate a driving force, a gear mechanism configured to receive the driving force of the drive source, and a drive source support formed in the frame. The drive source support encloses and supports the drive source. At least an upper portion of the drive source support has a plurality of first openings which are spaced from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Mizuno, Tomitake Aratachi, Tomonori Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20150117893
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a casing, a cover unit, and a liquid channel. The cover unit is disposed above an image forming unit. The cover unit includes a first member, a second member, and a neighboring portion positioned between the first member and the second member. The liquid channel is configured to guide liquid and includes a first channel and a second channel. The first channel is disposed between the neighboring portion and the image forming unit. The first channel includes a recess part and a liquid outlet. The recess part is disposed below the neighboring portion and extending toward the frame in an extending direction. The liquid outlet is positioned at an end portion of the recess part in the extending direction. The second channel is disposed at the frame. The second channel is configured to allow liquid to pass through the frame in the extending direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Masato Makino, Kouji Watanabe, Nobuyuki Futatsuki
  • Publication number: 20150110516
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body including an image forming unit that forms an image; an opening/closing member that is openable or closeable with respect to a portion of an external surface of the apparatus body; and an absorption member disposed on the opening/closing member at a side facing the image forming unit, the absorption member absorbing sound while facing a portion of the image forming unit in a state where the opening/closing member is closed with respect to the apparatus body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro MORI, Misa HISHIDA
  • Patent number: 9008542
    Abstract: An image scanner section is disposed above a printer section. The image scanner section is supported by the printer section in such a manner as to be pivotable about a pivotal axis. The printer section has a lower housing having a substantially rectangular shape as viewed from above. The image scanner section has an upper housing having a substantially rectangular shape as viewed from above. The upper housing and the lower housing are configured such that a second upper corner portion, which is a corner portion of the upper housing, projects beyond a second lower corner portion, which is a corner portion of the lower housing and is located just under the second upper corner portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sakae Ito, Takuro Kusama, Satoru Hattori
  • Publication number: 20150098727
    Abstract: A connection mechanism includes a protrusion, a plate section, and a movable section. The protrusion has a distal end, which has a spherical surface and a tapered surface, and a support that supports the distal end. The plate section is provided with a hole for positioning the protrusion when the support is inserted thereto. The movable section faces a side of the hole where the tapered surface of the distal end exists, and moves along the plate section by being pressed by the tapered surface of the distal end as the distal end is inserted through the hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Kenichiro YANO, Keijiro HAMABA, Hirotake EGUCHI, Akira HARADA, Shohei MATSUNAMI
  • Patent number: 9002235
    Abstract: A toner cartridge packaging having a non-planar top surface is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Scott K. Hymas
  • Publication number: 20150086233
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, an image forming portion, a hold portion, a cooling air passage, and a communication opening. The apparatus body includes a front wall, and a side wall standing perpendicularly to the front wall, the front wall and the side wall defining an internal space. The image forming portion is disposed in the internal space, and forms an image on a sheet. The hold portion is in the form of a hollow at a part of the side wall, and adapted to be held when moving the apparatus body. The cooling air passage extends in the internal space vertically along the side wall. The communication opening allows communication between a space defined by the hold portion and a lower part of the cooling air passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventor: Hiroki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8988731
    Abstract: A wide-format color printer includes a carriage, an ink carrier (2) disposed on the carriage, a motor (3) for driving the carriage and a guide-rail frame (4). The motor is mounted on the carriage and a motor wheel (3-1) of the motor is fitted to a guide rail (4-1) of the guide-rail frame. An anti-friction strip (6) is disposed on the bottom of the guide rail. The carriage includes a carriage frame (1-1) and a motor holder (1-2). The ink carrier is buckled to a front end face of the carriage frame. The motor is fixed to the motor holder. The motor holder is connected to the carriage frame through an elastic member (5) on the top of the motor holder. The motor of the printer drives directly the carriage frame to move on the guide rail of the guide-rail frame reciprocally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Zhengzhou Lecai Science and Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jiwei Wang, Dawei Wang, Lei Yao, Bingbing Zhao
  • Patent number: 8983335
    Abstract: A process cartridge for an image forming apparatus includes a first frame supporting the photosensitive drum; a developing roller; a process member actable on the developing roller; a second frame supporting the developing roller and the process member, the second frame being movable between a contact position where the developing roller contacts the drum and a spacing position where the developing roller is spaced from the drum; a developing device contact; and a process member contact, wherein when the second frame is moved between the contact position and the spacing position, a movement path of the developing device contact overlaps a movement path of process member contact, as seen along the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masatoshi Yamashita, Yuichi Fukui
  • Patent number: 8983331
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a functional unit, an electric circuit board, a pivotable support member, an outer cover, and wiring. The functional unit is disposed inside the electronic apparatus. The electric circuit board is configured to control the functional unit. The pivotable support member is shaped rectangular having a vertical length that is shorter than a horizontal length thereof and is pivotally movable about a pivoting axis defined to extend along one horizontally extending side of the pivotable support member between a closed position in which the pivotable support member covers the functional unit and an open position in which the functional unit is exposed. The outer cover is disposed more outwardly than the pivotable support member. The wiring passes through a pivoting axis side of the pivotable support member to connect the functional unit to the electric circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 8977161
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, an exposure unit, and a main housing. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the image bearing member. The exposure unit includes an optical device that irradiates the image bearing member with light to form the electrostatic latent image, and a housing that defines a storage space in which the optical device is located. The main housing includes a partition wall that divides an inner space of the main housing into a first space in which the image bearing member is located and a second space in which the exposure unit is located. The housing includes a first opening wall having a first opening through which the storage space communicates with the second space. The optical device irradiates the image bearing member with light through the first opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Tsuchiya
  • Publication number: 20150063863
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a shield case in which a circuit board mounted with an electric circuit is contained. The shield case has an electrical conductive case main body and an electrical conductive lid member. The case main body has an aperture formed in a part of one face. The lid member has one end turnably supported by the case main body and the other end fastened to the case main body by a screw when the aperture is closed. The case main body and lid member have an engaged part and an engaging part engaged with each other when the aperture is closed. The engaging part is formed so as to clamp the engaged part. The shield case is configured so that contact force between the engaging part and engaged part is increased, if the screw is rotated in a fastening direction when the aperture is closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi KOYANAGI, Naoki YAMANE
  • Publication number: 20150063864
    Abstract: A frame of an apparatus includes first and second skeleton frames arranged to face each other and third and fourth skeleton frames configured to couple the first and second skeleton frames. A first installation portion is provided on the third skeleton frame at a position closer to the second skeleton frame side than a center portion of the third skeleton frame. Second and third installation portions are provided on the fourth skeleton frame. A coupling stay includes a first end portion fixed to the third skeleton frame at a position closer to one skeleton frame out of the first and second skeleton frames than the center of the third skeleton frame and a second end portion fixed to the other skeleton frame out of the first and second skeleton frames at a position closer to the fourth skeleton frame side than the third skeleton frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventor: Tomonori Kitan
  • Publication number: 20150055973
    Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a recording medium storage unit in which a recording medium is stored, a pickup unit to pick up the recording medium stored in the recording medium storage unit, a pair of transport rollers being engaged with each other to rotate and transport the recording medium picked up by the pickup unit; an image forming unit to form an image on the recording medium transferred by the pair of transport rollers; and a frame including a first support region to support at least one of the pair of transport rollers, and a second support region to support at least a part of the image forming unit, wherein the frame further includes a vibration blocking slit that is disposed between the first and second support regions to block vibration from being transmitted from the first support region to the second support region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jung-hoon CHOI, Hwan-jin YOON, Seung-bok JUNG
  • Patent number: 8965237
    Abstract: The present invention provides a configuration in which an electrically connected condition can further be stabilized in electrical-connection zones between a body of an image-forming apparatus, and an image-forming unit and a plurality of image-forming cartridges. Developing electrode members and wire power-feed electrodes are attached to a slide frame. Each of the developing electrode members has a first body-side contact. The developing electrode members are electrically connected with the developing-roller output terminals. The wire power-feed electrodes are electrically connected with wire output terminals through contact with the wire output terminals. The developing electrode members are elastically deformed as a result of their first body-side contacts being pressed in a direction, which is along a slide direction, by the developing-roller output terminals. The wire power-feed electrodes are pressed in a paper width direction by the wire output terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasushi Okabe
  • Patent number: 8965244
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus having an image bearing member, an optical print head to irradiate the image bearing member with light to form a latent image thereon, a developing device to develop the latent image with a developing agent to obtain a visual image, and front and rear plates that sandwich at least the image bearing member and the developing device from opposite directions to position at least the image bearing member and the developing device thereof, the plates having focus direction position determining reference surfaces and sub-scanning direction position determining reference surfaces the optical print head contacts to position the optical print head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8965266
    Abstract: Automatic document feeder includes a transport path member having a transport path surface configuring a transport path in a device body, a latching member that is mounted on a rotating shaft provided in the other end side, is urged in a first rotation direction latched to a latched portion, and holds the transport path member in closed transport path, and an operating member that is rotated up to an operating position by own weight thereof or urging force in a second rotation direction when the device body moves to an exposed position of the transport path member, and is mounted with allowance so that the latching member is rotated in the second rotation direction according to a further rotating operation in the second rotation direction from the operating position and the latching member is detached from the latched portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Yamazaki, Hyundeok Ha, Senggyu Cho
  • Patent number: 8953978
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a rotary member which rotates with respect to an apparatus main body between a first position and a second position; and a buffering member connected to the apparatus main body and the rotary member for buffering an impact attributable to the rotation of the rotary member. The buffering member includes: a hollow member; a movable member moveable between an evacuation position and an advance position; and a slide member provided to the movable member and contactable with an inner circumferential surface of the hollow member. The slide member is deformable such that a first pressure on the hollow member when the rotary member rotates from the first position to the second position is larger than a second pressure on the hollow member when the rotary member rotates from the second position to the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shogo Mori, Takuya Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8942591
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a finger receiving portion that is inwardly recessed and defined in each of right and left side-surfaces of a housing of the image forming apparatus. The housing includes an upper surface that is inclined downward toward the front of the image forming apparatus. The finger receiving portion is disposed in an upper part of each of the right and left side-surfaces of the housing and at a position that allows a user to hold both of the finger receiving portion and the upper surface of the housing at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasunori Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8942611
    Abstract: A fixing device includes: a fixing member that transports a recording medium on which a toner image has been transferred to fix the toner image to the recording medium; an endless belt member that rotates with a front surface of the belt member contacting the fixing member; a guide member that guides the belt member to a contact portion at which the belt member and the fixing member contact each other; plural rotational-direction projections formed on a guide surface of the guide member facing a back surface of the belt member and disposed at intervals in a rotational axis direction of the belt member, the rotational-direction projections extending in a rotational direction of the belt member and projecting toward the back surface; and an intersecting-direction projection formed on the guide surface, the intersecting-direction projection extending along an intersecting direction that intersects the rotational-direction projections and projecting toward the back surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Sato, Jun Sawamura
  • Patent number: 8938182
    Abstract: A stand of the image forming apparatus includes at least one plate unit including a first plate member which includes a first surface unit which forms an external appearance and a first bent unit which is provided to at least one of the opposite end parts of the first surface unit, and a second plate member which includes a second surface unit and a second bent unit which is provided to at least one of the opposite end parts of the second surface unit, and is capable of being inserted into the first plate member, at least one of the first bent unit and the second bent unit being bent so that each bending direction thereof may start from at least one of the first surface unit and the second surface unit, and then bend toward at least one of the first surface unit and the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong-hyun Lee, Jong-cheon Hong
  • Patent number: 8938185
    Abstract: An imaging window cover and slotted hinge assembly includes a cover and first hinge members rotatably and slideably coupled to second hinge members. The cover and slotted hinge assembly enables the cover to be attached to a housing so that the cover may be located in any position between a fully covering position and a rotated and stowed position. When rotated and stowed, the cover and hinge assembly are fully located below a plane of the imaging window, and fully out of the way so that large objects may be placed over the imaging window. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring abstracts, and is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope and meaning of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Webscan, Inc.
    Inventor: Glenn S. Spitz
  • Publication number: 20150016835
    Abstract: The power source board is arranged at a lower side on the back side of the main body of the image forming apparatus. The load control board is arranged at an upper side in a vertical direction of the power source board in such a manner that the load control board does not overlap with the power source board. For a board and load at a lower side when viewed from a load control board, a connector is arranged near the lower side of the load control board. For a board and load at an upper side of the load control board, a connector is arranged near the upper side of the load control board. Similarly, for boards and loads of right and left side, connectors are arranged near the respective right and left sides of the load control board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Toshifumi Kakutani, Shinya Suzuki, Hirohisa Kato, Yousuke Hata, Takeyuki Suda, Kazumi Sato, Manabu Koseki, Toshiyuki Abe
  • Patent number: 8934812
    Abstract: In one embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention, the image forming apparatus includes an opening/closing cover that is supported so as to be capable of moving relative to an image forming apparatus main body and opens/closes an opening portion of the image forming apparatus main body; and a unit installed so as to be capable of swinging on an image forming apparatus main body side of the opening/closing cover, in which when the opening/closing cover is opened/closed, the unit moves in a track that moves around a guide shaft of the unit, and in a track that moves so as to follow opening/closing of the opening/closing cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinji Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 8934807
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a chassis, an image forming section, a shield metal plate, and a plurality of substrates. The chassis has a first surface and a second surface on an opposite side to the first surface. The image forming section is disposed in an internal space formed between the first and second surfaces of the chassis and performs an image forming process on a sheet. The shield metal plate is provided vertically between the second surface and the image forming section and has a third surface facing a side of the first surface and a fourth surface facing a side of the second surface. The plurality of substrates are provided vertically on the third surface of the shield metal plate and have electrical components protruding toward the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Satoru Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8934810
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus is provided with: a replaceable image forming structure body including elements for image formation; a recording medium transporting structure body including elements for transporting a recording medium to the image forming structure body; an output recording medium transporting structure body transporting, to an output port, a recording medium outputted from the image forming structure body; and a connection structure body electrically connected to structure bodies. They each form at least a part of the appearance of the image forming apparatus. The latter three bodies are adjacent to each other, and attachable in a state where the image forming structure body is not attached, the image forming structure body is in contact with at least three surfaces included in surfaces of the other bodies adjacent to each other, and the image forming structure body is attachable in a state where the other bodies have been attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Ishino, Hidekazu Amamoto
  • Patent number: 8923728
    Abstract: In one embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention, the image forming apparatus includes an opening/closing cover that is supported so as to be capable of moving relative to an image forming apparatus main body and opens/closes an opening portion of the image forming apparatus main body; and a unit installed so as to be capable of swinging on an image forming apparatus main body side of the opening/closing cover, in which when the opening/closing cover is opened/closed, the unit moves in a track that moves around a guide shaft of the unit, and in a track that moves so as to follow opening/closing of the opening/closing cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinji Nakazawa
  • Publication number: 20140376956
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including image forming units, a pair of frames, an optical scanner, a metal-made first connecting frame, a resin-made second connecting frame, is provided. The first and second connecting frames are formed to be hollow and are coupled to the paired frames at both ends thereof along an axial direction of rotation axes of photosensitive drums contained in the image forming units. The first connecting frame accommodates the optical scanner in the hollow space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Makoto Souda
  • Publication number: 20140376945
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including an image forming unit having a photosensitive drum and a developer device; a first frame, made of a resin, formed in an approximate shape of a rectangle plate having shorter sides and longer sides, and arranged on one end, along an axial direction of a rotation axis of the photosensitive drum, of the image forming unit; a first beam formed in an elongated shape, arranged along and fixed to a planar face of the first frame, is provided. The first beam is arranged to partly overlap the image forming unit, when viewed along a facing direction to face the planar face of the first frame orthogonally, and is fixed to end parts on the longer sides of the first frame at longitudinal ends thereof at least along the facing direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Souda, Yohei Nishimura
  • Publication number: 20140376946
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including an image forming unit having a photosensitive drum and a developer device; a first frame made of a resin, formed in a shape of a plate, and arranged on one end, along an axial direction of the rotation axis of the photosensitive drum, of the image forming unit; a first beam formed in an elongated shape, arranged along and fixed to a planar face of the first frame; and a second beam formed in an elongated shape, arranged along the planar face of the first frame to intersect with the first beam, and fixed to the first frame, is provided. The first beam and the second beam are unfixed to each other at a mutually intersecting part thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Souda, Yohei Nishimura
  • Publication number: 20140376957
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including an image forming unit comprising a photosensitive drum configured to be rotatable about a rotation axis and a developer device configured to supply a developer agent to the photosensitive drum; a first frame made of a resin and formed in a shape of a plate, while the first frame is arranged on one end, along an axial direction of the rotation axis of the photosensitive drum, of the image forming unit; and a first beam made of a metal and formed in an elongated shape, while the first beam is arranged along and fixed to a planar face of the first frame, is provided. The first beam is arranged to overlap the image forming unit at a longitudinal central part thereof, when projected along the axial direction, while longitudinal ends of the first beam are arranged on outer sides of the image forming unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Souda, Yohei Nishimura
  • Publication number: 20140376944
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including an image forming unit containing a photosensitive drum and a developer device; a resin-made first frame formed in a shape of a plate and arranged on one end, along an axial direction of the rotation axis of the photosensitive drum, of the image forming unit; an enhancing member formed in an elongated shape, arranged along a planar face of the first frame on one side of the first frame and fixed to the first frame; and a metal-made first beam formed in an elongated shape, arranged along the planar face of the first frame to intersect with the enhancing member and fixed to the first frame, is provided. The first beam is fixed to the enhancing member at one end thereof in a position between longitudinal ends of the enhancing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Souda, Yohei Nishimura
  • Publication number: 20140376958
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including an image forming unit with a photosensitive drum and a developer device; a first frame made of a resin, formed in a shape of a plate, arranged on one end, along an axial direction of the rotation axis of the photosensitive drum, of the image forming unit; and a first beam formed in an elongated shape, arranged along and fixed to a planar face of the first frame, is provided. The first beam is made of a material different from the first frame and includes a first attachment portion, at which the first beam is immovably fixed to the first frame, and a second attachment portion, at which the first beam is attached to the first frame movably with respect to the first frame along a longitudinal direction of the first beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto Souda, Yohei Nishimura
  • Publication number: 20140369713
    Abstract: A movable member 51 is movable with respect to the main body in conjunction with the movement of an opening-closing member 52 while changing a posture relative to the opening-closing member 52 such that a gap between the movable member 51 and the opening-closing member 52 is gradually reduced when the opening-closing member 52 moves from the open position toward the closed position. The movable member 51 is configured such that where an article is inserted into the gap when the opening-closing member 52 moves from the open position toward the closed position, the movement path is switched, by the reaction force received from the article inserted into the gap, from a first path along which the movable member moves while reducing the gap to a second path in which the gap is not reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenichi Nakao, Shinkichi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8910929
    Abstract: A printer architecture that enables a printer (or other media processing device) with an elongate foot print to be configured with media input and operator controls oriented at either a narrow end or a wide side thereof, that surface becoming the “front” of the unit. Controls and/or display(s) are mounted such that either the end or side orientation can be accommodated. The media input tray includes a separate assembly so that selection of the tray with access to end or side complements the user control panel in establishing the front of the machine. The combination of control/display mounting and oriented media tray structure integration with the print engine to establish which of the printer surfaces is considered the front allows for multiple orientations of the printer and greater flexibility to the customer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Martin Scott Walsh, Timothy Crawford, Mark H. Tennant, Aaron L. Boyce, Edward F. Burress, Isaac S. Frazier, John E. Fanning, Brent R. Jones, Todd D. Smith, Trevor J. Snyder, Carl T. Urban, Paul Van Gasse, Paul Woodward
  • Publication number: 20140363190
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a plurality of image forming units arranged in parallel with each other at intervals in a predetermined direction toward a first side from a second side of the image forming apparatus, each image forming unit including a photoconductive drum, and a charger configured to charge the photoconductive drum, a frame body configured to support the plurality of image forming units, and a regulating member disposed between a first-side image forming unit of the plurality of image forming units that is closest to the first side in the predetermined direction and a first-side end portion of the frame body in the predetermined direction, the regulating member configured to regulate an air current and urge the first-side image forming unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Junichi HASHIMOTO, Norio UCHIDA, Takashi ARAKAWA
  • Publication number: 20140356022
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an openable cover, including a rotational shaft, capable of opening and closing an opening by being rotated about the rotational shaft relative to a main assembly of the image forming apparatus; an image forming portion for forming a toner image on a sheet; an opposing member, provided in the image forming portion, opposing the openable cover when the openable cover closes the opening; a contact member, provided on the openable cover, contactable to the opposing member; an urging member, provided on the openable cover, for urging the contact member toward the opposing member; and a locking member for locking the openable cover in a closed state relative to the main assembly. The image forming apparatus comprising a cam member, provided in the image forming portion, for moving the contact member toward and away from the opposing member by rotation of the cam member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Yu Shuhama, Yuichiro Osawa, Masao Amano, Kiyoharu Yoshioka, Nobukazu Adachi
  • Publication number: 20140356021
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, first legs, a second leg, a first member, a second member, and a third member. The first legs and the second leg are disposed on a bottom portion of the apparatus body. The first member has a width greater than a height to form a large horizontal surface. Each of the second member and the third member has a height greater than a width to form a large vertical surface. The apparatus body has a first side to arrange two of the first legs, and a second side opposite the first side to arrange the second leg. The first, second, and third members are arranged on the top of the first side, an upper side surface of the second side, and a lower side surface of the second side, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuki SATO
  • Patent number: 8894059
    Abstract: A sheet feeding device comprises a structure as an option, on which an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus having a lower face with a positioning depression is placed. The structure includes a mounting member, a reinforcement member and a positioning pin. The mounting member is located to face to a periphery of the lower face. The reinforcement member is located below the mounting member. The positioning pin includes an upper part having a guard part and a lower part. The pin penetrates the mounting member so that the upper part can fit in the positioning depression and the lower part can come into contact with the reinforcement member. When the apparatus main body is placed, the upper part fits in the positioning depression, the guard part comes into contact with an edge of the positioning depression and the lower part comes into contact with the reinforcement member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Takeshi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8897669
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first metal side plate frame; a second metal side plate frame arranged to face the first metal side plate frame; a sheet-metal stay electrically connecting the first metal side plate frame and the second metal side plate frame; a base portion provided at the sheet-metal stay and extending horizontally; and an abutting portion rising from the base portion and abutting each of the outer surface of the first metal side plate frame and the outer surface of the second metal side plate frame, and any one of the first metal side plate frame and the second metal side plate frame is directly grounded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Akinori Matsuno