Remanufacturing Patents (Class 399/109)
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Patent number: 12259667Abstract: A developer replenishing container configured to be detachably attachable to a developer replenishing device and to replenish developer via the developer replenishing device is disclosed. The developer replenishing container includes: a developer replenishing portion with a replenishing opening; and a shutter with at least one shutter opening that can communicate with the replenishing opening, the shutter being configured to open and close the replenishing opening according to attaching and detaching operations of the developer replenishing container, wherein the shutter is movable between a sealing position where the replenishing opening is sealed, a replenishing position where the shutter opening faces the replenishing opening to replenish developer from the developer replenishing container, and a filling position where the developer replenishing container is filled with developer without sealing the replenishing opening.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2023Date of Patent: March 25, 2025Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Yasuhiro Shimoi
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Patent number: 12259679Abstract: A developing cartridge is attachable to a drawer that is movable in a first direction relative to a main housing of an image forming apparatus. The developing cartridge includes: a casing having a toner chamber; and a developing roller positioned at one end of the casing in a second direction and rotatable about an axis extending in a third direction. The casing includes: a recessed portion recessed from an outer surface of the casing toward the developing roller; a first wall extending in the second direction; and a first boss positioned inside the toner chamber. The recessed portion is positioned at a center in the third direction of another end of the casing in the second direction. The first wall and the second wall form the toner chamber. The first boss extends from the first wall to be connected to the second wall.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2023Date of Patent: March 25, 2025Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Koji Abe, Takuya Amaike
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Patent number: 12216415Abstract: A toner container includes a container body, a cap, bosses and a cover. The container body has a toner filling port. The cap is detachable and closes the filling port. The bosses are provided on the container body. The cover is detachably attached to the container body so as to cover the filling port and the bosses, and has a through hole through which each of the bosses penetrates. The boss has a tip end portion protruding from the cover through the through-hole. The tip end portion is provided so as to regulate detachment of the cover by being worked into a head portion having a cross-sectional area larger than the through-hole, and to permit the detachment of the cover by cutting off the head portion. The container body, the cap and the cover can be reused maximum by the number of times corresponding to the number of the bosses.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2023Date of Patent: February 4, 2025Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventor: Yuri Nakamura
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Patent number: 12007713Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing and a first process cartridge. The first process cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the housing. The first process cartridge includes a first photosensitive drum, a first developing roller, and a developing frame. The developing frame has a toner inlet opening. A toner cartridge has a toner supply opening. The toner cartridge is positioned above the developing frame such that the toner supply opening and the toner inlet opening face with each other in upward/downward direction. In the state where the first process cartridge to which the toner cartridge is attached is attached to the housing, the toner cartridge is incapable of being detached from the first process cartridge. In a state where the first process cartridge to which the toner cartridge is attached is detached from the housing, the toner cartridge is detachable from the first process cartridge.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2022Date of Patent: June 11, 2024Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KAUBSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Daisuke Maeta, Shougo Sato
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Patent number: 11852999Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first metal plate provided with a through hole; a second metal plate provided opposed to the first plate; a third metal plate provided between the first plate and the second plate; and a fixing member fixing the first plate and the third metal plate to each other. The fixing member has a first surface and a second surface extending in a direction crossing the first surface. The third metal plate extends outward in a direction in which the first plate and the second plate opposes to each other, and the third metal plate is provided with a first projection penetrating the through hole, and wherein the first projection is fixed on the first surface. The first plate is fixed on the second surface of the fixing member.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2022Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoichiro Iizuka, Kohei Koguchi, Masatoshi Yamashita
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Patent number: 11841674Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body including a main contact, and a main guide, and a cartridge including a memory contact, a moving unit moving into and out of the apparatus body in a first direction and including a frame to which the cartridge is attached, first and second protrusions protruding in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction from the end surface of the frame, an intermediate contact being in electrical contact with the memory contact, an unit contact being in electrical contact with the main contact, and a line conductor, the first protrusion being supported by the main guide of the apparatus body, the second protrusion being located above the first protrusion. At least part of the line conductor connecting the intermediate contact and the unit contact is located in a recess formed by the first protrusion, the second protrusion, and the end surface.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2022Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Daisuke Abe, Koji Wada
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Patent number: 11782358Abstract: A developing agent filling device includes a jig retaining a developing device with a filling inlet oriented upward, the developing device including a stirring chamber, a bladed wheel that stirs a developing agent stored in the stirring chamber, a developing roller that retains the developing agent stirred by the bladed wheel, the filling inlet located at an end portion of the stirring chamber in an axial direction of the bladed wheel and opened in the axial direction, a support member supporting a shaft of the bladed wheel inside of the filling inlet, a regulation blade opposed to an outer circumferential surface of the developing roller, and a biasing member that presses the regulation blade against the developing roller, a pressure relief device that releases the developing roller from a pressure of the regulation blade, against the biasing member, and a vibration generating device that vibrates the developing device.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2022Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventor: Dan Van Mai
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Patent number: 11630415Abstract: Discloses herein is a storage component disassembly tooling, for disassembling a storage component on a process cartridge. The process cartridge has a housing and a storage component mounting bracket on the housing for supporting the storage component. The storage component disassembly tooling has a drilling portion and a positioning portion. The positioning portion positions the storage component disassembly tooling on the housing of the process cartridge. The drilling portion moves relative to the positioning portion to destroy at least a part of the storage component mounting bracket.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2021Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignee: JIANGXI YIBO E-TECH CO. LTD.Inventors: Mei Yan, Zhisheng Cheng, Liangliang Hu, Zhibin Chen, Lei Zhou, Peng Jiang
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Patent number: 11493875Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first metal plate provided with a through hole; a second metal plate provided opposed to the first plate; a third metal plate provided between the first plate and the second plate; and a fixing member fixing the first plate and the third metal plate to each other. The fixing member has a first surface and a second surface extending in a direction crossing the first surface. The third metal plate extends outward in a direction in which the first plate and the second plate opposes to each other, and the third metal plate is provided with a first projection penetrating the through hole, and wherein the first projection is fixed on the first surface. The first plate is fixed on the second surface of the fixing member.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2019Date of Patent: November 8, 2022Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoichiro Iizuka, Kohei Koguchi, Masatoshi Yamashita
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Patent number: 11385573Abstract: Examples include an end cap system for a developer unit in a liquid photographic printer. The end cap system includes an end cap and a film that includes a first outermost superficial layer and a second outermost superficial layer opposed to the first outermost superficial layer. The first outermost superficial layer is a pressure sensitive adhesive layer applied to a portion of an inner surface of the end cap. The second outermost superficial layer is a low surface energy layer to be exposed to liquid photographic printing fluid during printing.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2021Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Blair A Butler, James Huai Kiang, Stanley J Kozmiski
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Patent number: 11364726Abstract: An example fluid dispensing system includes a printhead assembly comprising a printhead to dispense a given fluid in a printing process; and a first memory storing an identifier of the given fluid. The example fluid dispensing system further includes an accessory to interact with the printhead in a cleaning process or a storage process. The example fluid dispensing system further includes a second memory that is located with the accessory. The example fluid dispensing system further includes a read-write device to: read the identifier of the given fluid from the first memory; read the second memory; and, when the second memory does not store a fluid identifier, write the identifier of the given fluid to the second memory.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2018Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventor: Jeffrey A. Nielsen
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Patent number: 11360427Abstract: In a remanufacturing method for remanufacturing a cartridge from a material cartridge, the material cartridge is attachable to and detachable from an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus, and the apparatus main body includes a guide member. The material cartridge includes a frame member including an engagement portion configured to be engaged with the guide member, and a first attachment portion provided in the engagement portion, and a first storage member. The first storage member includes a first holding portion configured to hold a first electrode and be attached to the first attachment portion. The remanufacturing method includes detaching the first holding portion, attaching a second electrode to the frame member, and attaching a second storage element to the frame member at a different position from a position of the first attachment portion.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2021Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroki Shimizu, Tomofumi Kawamura, Masakazu Tatsumi
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Patent number: 11269287Abstract: A developing cartridge may include a housing configured to hold toner. The cartridge may further include a developing roller including a developing roller shaft, a supply roller including a supply roller shaft, a developing electrode and a supply electrode. The developing electrode and supply electrode may be configured to guide an electrical contact of an image forming apparatus in one or more directions. In some examples, the developing electrode and supply electrode may have angled surfaces that extend toward one another.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2020Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takeyuki Takagi, Hiroki Mori
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Patent number: 11144004Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a drawer movable between an inner position and an outer position and supporting a first cartridge including a first photosensitive drum and a first discharge part and a second cartridge including a second photosensitive drum and a second discharge part; and a waste toner box including a first coupling part coupled with the first discharge part and a second coupling part coupled with the second discharge part, in a state where the first cartridge and the second cartridge are supported by the drawer at an inner position and the waste toner box is mounted to the apparatus main body, the waste toner box being movable between a first/second position where the first coupling part and the first discharge part are coupled/decoupled and the second coupling part and the second discharge part are coupled/decoupled.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2020Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shougo Sato, Naomichi Kobayashi
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Patent number: 11016411Abstract: A process cartridge includes a first unit including an image bearing member to bear a developing agent image, a second unit including a development frame member in which a developing agent bearing member to bear a developing agent to be supplied to the image bearing member is supported, and a coupling portion that can couple the first and second units such that the second unit is swingable with the coupling portion as a rotation center. The development frame member includes a replenishing opening for the developing agent, and an elastically-deformable sealing member that seals the supply portion and the replenishing opening. As viewed along a compression direction of the sealing member, in a section orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the process cartridge, the rotation center is disposed at a position overlapping with the sealing member.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2020Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Naoki Matsumaru, Joji Goto, Takatoshi Hamada
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Patent number: 10990031Abstract: A developing device includes an agitating member, a magnetic roller, a lower housing, an upper housing and a blade member. The lower housing includes a first housing part including a first edge having a first contact face and a first facing surface at a blade member's side. The upper housing includes a second housing part including a second edge having a second contact face contact with the first contact face and a second facing surface facing to the first facing surface. The blade member is attached to the upper housing and arranged at a gap to the lower housing. Between the first and second facing surfaces, a width at a blade member's side is broader than a width at a first contact face's side. The first and second facing surfaces are bonded by an adhesive agent. The gap is sealed by the adhesive agent.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2020Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventor: Hiroaki Takai
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Patent number: 10955794Abstract: In a remanufacturing method for remanufacturing a cartridge from a material cartridge, the material cartridge is attachable to and detachable from an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus, and the apparatus main body includes a guide member. The material cartridge includes a frame member including an engagement portion configured to be engaged with the guide member, and a first attachment portion provided in the engagement portion, and a first storage member. The first storage member includes a first holding portion configured to hold a first electrode and be attached to the first attachment portion. The remanufacturing method includes detaching the first holding portion, attaching a second electrode to the frame member, and attaching a second storage element to the frame member at a different position from a position of the first attachment portion.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2020Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroki Shimizu, Tomofumi Kawamura, Masakazu Tatsumi
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Patent number: 10928751Abstract: A remanufacturing method of a developing apparatus including: a communicating step of removing a part of a frame of the developing apparatus to form a communication hole such that an outside of the frame and a developing chamber of the frame are connected each other; a refilling step of refilling an inside of the frame with developer via the communication hole; and a sealing step of sealing the communication hole.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2019Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yu Akiba, Toshiaki Takeuchi, Koichi Ooishi, Naoya Asanuma
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Patent number: 10890863Abstract: A remanufacturing method of a developing device is provided. The developing device includes a frame configured to store developer, a developer carrying member configured to carry the developer, a regulating member including a regulating portion configured to regulate the developer carried on the developer carrying member, and a storage member configured to store the developer, the storage member being mounted on the regulating member. A storage portion configured to store the developer and a first opening communicating with the storage portion are formed between the storage member and the regulating member, the first opening is opposed to an exposed portion of the developer carrying member, and the exposed portion is exposed to an outside of the frame. The remanufacturing method includes forming a communicating hole communicating with the storage portion, and removing the developer from the storage portion.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2020Date of Patent: January 12, 2021Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yuuki Nakamura, Teruhiko Sasaki, Osamu Anan
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Patent number: 10877426Abstract: An example stand for the support of a Binary Ink Development unit has first and second spaced supports upstanding from a base portion to securely receive a Binary Ink Development unit and also to securely receive a component of a Binary Ink Development unit.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2017Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: HP Indigo B.V.Inventors: Barak Rosenstein, Tsahi Cohen, Yehonatan Lugassy, Itay Davidi
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Patent number: 10824091Abstract: A development device includes a rotational member and a housing. The rotational member rotates around an axis. In the housing, the rotational member and a toner are stored. The housing includes a lower housing and an upper housing. The lower housing has a concave first storage part having an opened upper face. The upper housing has a concave second storage part having an opened lower face. The first storage part has a first edge portion around the opened upper face. The first edge portion has a first contact face. The second storage part has a second edge portion around the opened lower face. The second edge portion has a second contact face coming into contact with the first contact face. The first contact face and the second contact face are contained in a single plane along respective entire circumferences.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2020Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventors: Hiroaki Takai, Hiroaki Ohashi, Hirofumi Tsuji, Masahiro Ueno, Yasutaka Hashimoto, Tomoyasu Yamada
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Patent number: 10732545Abstract: A method for remanufacturing a cartridge from a source cartridge, wherein the source cartridge includes a first unit and a second unit, the first unit including a first memory unit having a first electrode and a first storage element electrically connected to the first electrode. The method includes removing the first memory unit from the first unit, attaching a second electrode of a second memory unit to the first unit, and attaching a second storage element of the second memory unit to the second unit. The second electrode and the second storage element are connected by a connecting member so that when the second unit moves relative to the first unit, electrical connection between the second electrode and the second storage element is maintained, and the second electrode is electrically connected to a main body electrode of an information apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2019Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshiaki Takeuchi, Shuichi Gofuku, Yu Akiba, Shota Nakamura, Masakazu Tatsumi, Hiroki Shimizu, Tomofumi Kawamura
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Patent number: 10649394Abstract: A method of manufacturing a frame unit from a first unit. The first unit includes a first image carrying member, a supporting member supporting the first image carrying member, and a frame to which the supporting member is adhered. The first image carrying member includes a first edge portion member, and the first edge portion member includes a first restricted portion. The supporting member includes a bearing engaging with the first edge portion member so that the first image carrying member is rotatable about a rotational axis. The frame includes a first restricting portion restricting movement of the first image carrying member. The method includes separating in which the first image carrying member is separated from the supporting member while in a state in which the supporting member is adhered to the frame.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2019Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Daisuke Makiguchi, Tadashi Horikawa, Naoki Matsumaru, Ryuta Murakami, Tetsuya Numata
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Patent number: 10564597Abstract: A manufacturing method includes a dividing step for dividing a supporting member into a first divided portion including a fixed portion to a frame and a second divided portion including a second engaged portion, a divided-portion detaching step for detaching the second divided portion from the frame, and a separating step for detaching an engaging portion from a first engaged portion and separating a developing unit from the frame.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2019Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tetsuya Numata, Ryuta Murakami, Daisuke Makiguchi, Naoki Matsumaru, Tadashi Horikawa
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Patent number: 10520883Abstract: A manufacturing method includes a removing step for removing at least a part of a contact portion of a cover portion from a supporting member, the cover portion being configured to come into contact with a projecting portion included in a frame when the supporting member is deformed to allow a second engaged portion to be detached from an engaging portion in a state in which a fixed portion of the supporting member is fixed to the frame, a deforming step for deforming the supporting member to allow the second engaged portion to be detached from the engaging portion in the state in which the fixed portion is fixed to the frame, and a separating step for detaching an engaging portion from a first engaged portion and separating a developing unit from the frame.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2019Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tadashi Horikawa, Ryuta Murakami, Tetsuya Numata, Daisuke Makiguchi, Naoki Matsumaru
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Patent number: 10481524Abstract: A component has a surface to which a sheet material having an adhesive surface is adhered, and an adhesive target region on a surface of the component, to which the sheet material is adhered, is provided at the peripheral edge thereof with a first region and a second region. The first region includes a recess that allows a predetermined sheet material peeling tool to be insertable to a side of the adhesive surface of the sheet material. The second region is positioned in the vicinity of the first region, and includes a region not in contact with the adhesive surface of the sheet material or a region mixedly including a part in contact with the adhesive surface and a part not in contact with the adhesive surface.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2018Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.Inventor: Yuzo Harada
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Patent number: 10353318Abstract: According to an embodiment, a toner cartridge for use with an image forming apparatus includes a body that contains toner and includes an opening through which the toner is supplied the image forming apparatus. A supplying mechanism is provided with the body that discharges the toner from the opening of the body to the image forming apparatus. The body is removably mounted on an mounting unit of the image forming apparatus through a port.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2017Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Noriyuki Yokoyama, Eiji Gumbe
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Patent number: 10345733Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a development unit, and an apparatus main body. On the image carrier, an electrostatic latent image is formed. The development unit develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier. To the apparatus main body, the development unit is attached. The development unit includes a toner supplying member, a supporting member, at least one mounting component, and at least one pressing member. The toner supplying member supplies a toner to the image carrier. The supporting member supports the toner supplying member. The at least one mounting component is positioned to the apparatus main body and rotatably supports the supporting member. The at least one pressing member presses the toner supplying member to the image carrier by biasing the supporting member in a rotating direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2018Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventor: Takashi Kusukawa
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Patent number: 10324410Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a registration unit, a first paper feeding unit, a second paper feeding unit, and a control unit, which performs a primary paper feeding for conveying a paper sheet to a registration position, finishes the primary paper feeding at timing when the paper sheet reaches the registration position, and then after operating a target paper feeding unit until a preceding feeding time elapses, performs a secondary paper feeding for conveying the paper sheet to the printing position. The control unit sets different values of the preceding feeding time for the case where the first paper feeding unit is the target paper feeding unit and the case where the second paper feeding unit is the target paper feeding unit.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2017Date of Patent: June 18, 2019Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventors: Masayuki Mochizuki, Mariko Kosaka, Yuya Kobayashi
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Patent number: 10300637Abstract: Systems for defining an internally threaded bore in a composite material component include one or more thread forming tools each defining a thread forming portion and a locating fixture configured to hold the one or more thread forming tools in a predetermined configuration defining a pattern of internally threaded bores to be provided in the composite material component. The thread forming portions include a plurality of thread forming surfaces each defining a pitch, a crest fillet radius, and a root fillet radius, and define internally threaded bores having an interior helical thread defining a plurality of full crest radii and a plurality of full root radii. A component forming fixture is provided for abutting the locating fixture whereby the one or more thread forming tools are held in an interior of the forming fixture. Methods for forming composite material components having internally threaded bores using the described systems are described.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2016Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLCInventors: Mark Michael Madin, Christopher Donald Wicks
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Patent number: 10295931Abstract: A developing device includes a casing to contain developer and define a developer circulation passage, a developing roller to bear the developer, and at least one developer conveyor to convey the developer. The developer conveyor is disposed in the developer circulation passage and lower than the developing roller. The developing device satisfies M1/L2>0.56 g/cm and M1/M2>0.50, where M1 represents an amount of developer borne on the developing roller, L1 represents a width in which the developing roller bears the developer in a longitudinal direction of the developing roller; and M2 represents an amount of developer stored in the casing and excluding the amount of developer borne.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2018Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Shinji Tamaki, Ichiro Kadota, Keiichi Yoshida, Hiroshi Hosokawa
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Patent number: 10252538Abstract: A system for splitting a printer cartridge. The system includes a cartridge holder, a cutting head, and an actuator. The cartridge holder is for holding the printer cartridge. The cutting head includes an idling cutting wheel configured to split the printer cartridge when in an idle state. The actuator provides relative movement between the printer cartridge and the cutting head to affect splitting of the printer cartridge by the idling cutting wheel.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2017Date of Patent: April 9, 2019Assignee: CLOVER TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, LLCInventors: Robert W. Lucenta, Daniel J. Andersen
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Patent number: 10232630Abstract: Devices and methods for refurbishing a used print cartridge for further use in a printing device are provided. An electronic patch is attached to a circuit on the used print cartridge. The electronic patch includes contact pads that are positioned to correspond to the location of contact pads on the circuit of the used print cartridge. The electronic patch also includes a control chip and an embedded memory array that replaces one or more functions of the memory on the used print cartridge, allowing the used print cartridge to be refilled with printing ink and reused in a printer.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2017Date of Patent: March 19, 2019Assignee: CLOVER TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, LLCInventors: Andrew J. Quinn, Steven D. Iocco
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Patent number: 10156825Abstract: Disclosed is a developing apparatus including: a developer bearing member that bears a developer; a developing frame body that rotatably supports the developer bearing member; a one-end side end member that supports one-end side in an axis direction of the developer bearing member of the developing frame body; and another-end side end member that supports the other-end side in the axis direction of the developer bearing member of the developing frame body. Each of the one-end side end member and the other-end side end member is independently movable with respect to the developing frame body.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2017Date of Patent: December 18, 2018Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masato Tanabe, Kazutaka Sueshige, Teruhiko Sasaki, Tsukasa Abe, Osamu Anan
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Patent number: 10146154Abstract: A powder container includes a powder chamber for containing powder for forming images, a powder outlet formed in a face of the powder container, and a shutter assembly to open and close the powder outlet and including first and second shutters. The first shutter is movable between a sealing position to close the powder outlet and an open position to open the powder outlet and includes a pressed member to cancel retention of the first shutter at the sealing position. The second shutter includes a pressing projection that interferes with the pressed member of the first shutter and is movable between a shielding position to cover the pressed member without interference between the pressing projection and the pressed member and a releasing position to press the pressed member with the pressing projection.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2017Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Kentaro Nodera, Emi Kita, Akihiro Takayama, Susumu Tateyama, Shinnosuke Koshizuka, Tatsuya Kubo, Teppei Kikuchi
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Patent number: 10110596Abstract: An information processing system comprising: an acceptance unit configured to receive an issuance request of an electronic certificate that is available in an electronic apparatus used by one or more users; an issuance unit configured to issue the electronic certificate based on the issuance request received by the acceptance unit; a management unit configured to store information indicating the electronic certificate issued by the issuance unit associated with information indicating one or more services that can be used with the electronic certificate, the one or more services being provided respectively by one or more servers; and a reporting unit configured to transmit authentication information for determining validity of the electronic certificate to at least one server among the one or more servers based on the information stored in the management unit.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2016Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Jun Satoh
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Patent number: 9864332Abstract: A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes: a frame; an accommodating portion, constituted by the frame, for accommodating a developer; a seal portion for preventing the developer from being leaking out from the accommodating portion, wherein the seal portion is formed by injection molding at a seal forming portion provided on the frame and is projected from the seal forming portion; and a sprue which is formed integrally with the seal portion by a resin material remaining in a path for permitting flow of the resin material melted when the seal portion is formed by the injection molding and which is projected from the frame in a position different from a position of the seal portion so as to be higher than the seal portion on the basis of the frame.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2016Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Nobuharu Hoshi
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Patent number: 9727021Abstract: A cartridge used for forming an image on a recording material include a memory for storing information; a supporting portion provided on a first cartridge constituent member and provided with a slit for permitting insertion of the memory; and a preventing portion, provided on a second cartridge constituent member, for preventing movement of the memory inserted in the supporting portion. With respect to a direction crossing a longitudinal direction of the cartridge and crossing a thickness direction of the memory, a width of the preventing portion is smaller than a width of the memory inserted in the slit.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2016Date of Patent: August 8, 2017Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yuichi Fukui, Kazuhiko Kanno
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Patent number: 9632451Abstract: A developing device includes first and second frames; a developer carrying member; an end portion seal, provided in the first frame, for sealing between an end portion and the first frame to prevent leakage; a sheet, provided in the second frame in contact with the developer carrying member along the rotation axial direction of the developer carrying member; a filler filling a space defined by the first and second frames, the end portion seal and the sheet at a connecting portion where the end portion seal and the sheet contact each other; and a projected portion provided in the first frame and projected into the space, the projected portion is spaced from the second frame, the end portion seal in the rotation axial direction.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2013Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Naoki Hayashi, Yosuke Kashiide, Masaaki Sato, Fuyuki Sugihara
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Patent number: 9606488Abstract: The present teachings described a method and system of refilling replenisher containers for an electrophotographic machine. A replenisher cartridge for refill is received and a weight of the replenisher cartridge is determined. The weight of residual material in the replenisher cartridge is determined. The weight of carrier particles in the weight of residual material is determined through X-ray image analysis of the replenisher cartridge. The weight of carrier particles in the weight of residual materials and the weight of residual toner by is determined. An amount of toner and carrier is added to the replenisher cartridge.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2016Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Gerardo Leute, Paul M. Wegman
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Patent number: 9575462Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main casing including a cover; a process cartridge including a second toner conveying part; a transfer belt; a toner cartridge including a first toner conveying part; a secondary transfer member; and a fixing unit. The cover opens and closes an opening of the main casing by pivotally moving about a pivot axis. The transfer belt and toner cartridge are positioned upward of the process cartridge. The secondary transfer member contacts the one end of the transfer belt. The pivot axis and fixing unit are closer to the one end than to the other end of the transfer belt in the orthogonal direction. The second toner conveying part has a second opening in communication with a first opening of the first toner conveying part. The second opening is opposite the developing roller with respect to the photosensitive drum in the orthogonal direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2016Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shougo Sato
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Patent number: 9547259Abstract: A development device used for an image forming apparatus includes a frame member, a developer bearing member configured to develop a latent image formed on an image bearing member using developer, and an edge portion sealing member provided between an edge portion in a rotational axis direction of the developer bearing member and the frame member to prevent the developer from leaking to an outside of the development device from between the edge portion and the frame member, and including, in a state of being compressed between the edge portion and the frame member, a layer that includes an aggregate of a plurality of foam cells in which a foam cell communicating with an adjacent cell via a communication hole and a foam cell not communicating with an adjacent cell are mixed in a direction from an inside of the development device to the outside thereof.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2013Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tetsushi Uneme
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Patent number: 9541857Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developer bearing member configured to bear a developer on a surface, a regulating member that regulates layer thickness of the developer on the developer bearing member, and a development chamber provided with the developer bearing member and the regulating member and having an opening. A storage chamber stores the developer, and a conveying member in the storage chamber conveys the stored developer to the development chamber through the opening. The developing apparatus collects, after the developer on the image bearing member is transferred onto a transfer material, the developer remaining on the image bearing member into the storage chamber, wherein a bottom section of the development chamber is located above a bottom section of the storage chamber in a vertical direction. A contact region of the developer bearing member in contact with the regulating member is located directly above the opening in the vertical direction.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2015Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Motoki Adachi, Motonari Ito, Takanori Watanabe, Yusuke Usui
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Patent number: 9513577Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a casing configured to hold developing agent therein, a developing roller rotatably supported by the casing, the developing roller configured to rotate about a first axis, an agitator configured to agitate the developing agent in the casing and to rotate about a second axis and a window member disposed around a through hole. The casing includes a first frame including a first wall having the through hole and a second wall spaced apart from the first wall and a second frame that contacts the first wall and the second wall and includes an extension extending along an outer surface of the first wall. The window member is disposed between the second axis and the second frame. The window member is also disposed between the first wall and the extension and supported by the first wall and the extension.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2015Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yasuo Fukamachi, Motoaki Mushika
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Patent number: 9421783Abstract: Devices and methods for refurbishing a used print cartridge for further use in a printing device are provided. An electronic patch is attached to a circuit on the used print cartridge. The electronic patch includes contact pads that are positioned to electrically contact pads on the circuit of the used print cartridge. The electronic patch also includes a control chip and an embedded memory array that replaces one or more functions of the memory on the used print cartridge, allowing the used print cartridge to be refilled with printing ink and reused in a printer.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2014Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Assignee: CLOVER TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, LLCInventors: Andrew J. Quinn, Steven D. Iocco
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Patent number: 9417557Abstract: A developing cartridge including: a housing; a developing roller rotatable around a rotation axis extending in a first direction; a developing gear supported by an end portion of the developing roller; and a driving force receiving member rotatable around a rotation axis extending in the first direction by receiving a driving force from an image forming apparatus body and including a gear portion engaging with the developing gear, wherein the housing has an opening for filling the housing with developer, and wherein at least a part of the driving force receiving member overlaps the opening when viewed in the first direction.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2015Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Nao Itabashi
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Patent number: 9335708Abstract: An imaging unit includes a support body; a photoconductor supported by the support body; a developing device supported by the support body to swing about a pivot arranged at a pivot portion, and including a development roller having a gap holding member that contacts a portion of the photoconductor; and a driven coupling member provided at a first end portion of the development roller, and removably coupled to a driving coupling member to which a rotational power is transmitted. The pivot portion is arranged so that the developing device swings toward the photoconductor by self weight. The driving or driven coupling member has at least three protruding portions that restrict rotation of the developing device when the members are coupled. The development roller rotates in a generation direction of an action that causes the developing device to swing toward the photoconductor when receives the rotational power and is rotationally driven.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2015Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.Inventors: Shota Makita, Ryuji Hattori, Kazuya Nishimura, Katsuyuki Nishizawa
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Patent number: 9304485Abstract: There is provided in one embodiment a doctor blade alignment device for aligning a doctor blade in a toner hopper of a printer cartridge. The device has an alignment assembly portion with a doctor blade contact portion having at least two magnet elements and at least two blade adjustment elements. The device further has an adjustable setting blade attached to the alignment assembly portion and substantially coextensive in length with the alignment assembly portion. The device further has a base portion attached to the adjustable setting blade and substantially coextensive in length with the adjustable setting blade. The alignment assembly portion and the adjustable setting blade calibrate the doctor blade alignment device to obtain a doctor blade alignment setting for aligning a doctor blade in a toner hopper of a printer cartridge.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2013Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignee: Mitsubishi Kagaku Imaging CorporationInventors: Denny Holmes, Tigran Ohanyan
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Patent number: 9268299Abstract: Methods are provided for modifying an imaging process cartridge intended for installation in one type of printer to be installed in at least one other type of printer. In one embodiment, a method of modifying the imaging process cartridge may include modifying one or more endplates of the imaging process cartridge. In another embodiment, one or more of the endplates is removed and replaced with a replacement endplate.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2015Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: Static Control Components, Inc.Inventors: Rick Manning, Thomas Mitchell
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Patent number: 9239564Abstract: A drum unit includes: a first side plate; a second side plate; a photosensitive drum; a cleaner; a first frame; and a bearing. The first side plate has a first opening. The second side plate is spaced apart from the first side plate in a first direction. The photosensitive drum has an axis extending along the first direction and a first end portion in the first direction. The photosensitive drum has a circumferential surface. The cleaner is configured to clean the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum. The first frame includes: a support portion configured to support the cleaner; and a wall portion having a second opening. The bearing is configured to support the first end portion of the photosensitive drum. The bearing extends through both the first opening and the second opening.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2015Date of Patent: January 19, 2016Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Junichi Hashimoto, Ryuya Yamazaki