Unit Or Part Identification Patents (Class 399/12)
  • Patent number: 10528000
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body casing having a front side wall having a plurality of cartridge ports and a tray port, each of the plurality of cartridge ports extending in a first direction and being aligned in a second direction; a reading scanner unit provided above the main body casing; and a sheet discharging unit configured to discharge a sheet and positioned between an upper side wall of the main body and the reading scanner unit. The apparatus further includes a sheet feeding unit positioned below a door provided on the front side wall; a plurality of toner cartridges which are attached to the plurality of cartridge ports; and a plurality of photosensitive drums being detached from the main body casing in the second direction, each of the plurality of toner cartridges being spaced apart from the plurality of photosensitive drums in a third direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 10520879
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a developing roller rotatable about a first axis extending in an axial direction of the developing roller, a casing having an outer surface positioned at one end of the casing in the axial direction, an electrode electrically connected to the developing roller and positioned at the outer surface, the electrode extending in the axial direction, a gear, a protrusion, and an adapter having an electric conductivity and detachably attachable to the electrode, the adapter being electrically connected to the electrode in a state where the adapter is attached to the electrode. A total length of the electrode and the adapter in the axial direction in the state where the adapter is attached to the electrode is greater than a length in the axial direction of the electrode in a state where the adapter is detached from the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tsubasa Kiriyama
  • Patent number: 10509362
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes an attachment mechanism to which an attachment unit is detachably attachable and a processor. The processor is configured to perform a determination operation to determine whether or not an attachment unit attached to the attachment mechanism is of a specific type, and transmit a determination result of the determination operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takeharu Shokai
  • Patent number: 10509358
    Abstract: An image formation apparatus having a lubricant application apparatus applying lubricant to an image carrier in an image former, in which the lubricant application apparatus includes: a lubricant stick; an application member disposed on an upstream side in an advancing direction of the image carrier surface with respect to a cleaning apparatus pressing lubricant supplied to the image carrier to form a film, supplying lubricant scraped off from the lubricant stick to the image carrier, and removing residual toner adhering to the image carrier; and a recovery member in contact with the application member, and recovering toner adhering to the application member, and the image formation apparatus includes a hardware processor controlling a lubricant amount on the image carrier by changing each of removability of residual toner on the image carrier by the application member, and recoverability of residual toner on the application member by the recovery member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Kuniaki Kashiwakura
  • Patent number: 10503096
    Abstract: Identification information of a toner bottle recorded in an IC chip is included in a toner bottle. When information on remaining amount of toner is successful, a printing apparatus notifies a management server with identification information of the toner bottle and information on remaining amount of toner, obtains toner usage amount used in printing processing according to an execution of printing processing based on print job, and updates information on remaining amount recorded in the IC chip according to usage amount. When reading of information of the IC chip fails, updating of information on remaining amount recorded in the IC chip, according to usage amount of toner used in printing processing according to execution of printing processing based on print job, which is received when the reading fails, is suppressed. Notification including information indicating the reading has failed as the information on remaining amount is transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshimasa Kawana
  • Patent number: 10459392
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier that carries a toner image; a developing part that accommodates two-component developer containing toner and a carrier, and supplies the toner to the image carrier; a transferor that transfers the toner image on the image carrier onto paper; a cleaning member that removes the toner remaining on the image carrier; and a hardware processor that controls toner discharge operation in the developing part according to a toner discharge condition, in which the hardware processor sets the toner discharge condition so that a replacement time of the cleaning member overlaps with a replacement time of another consumable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Takenobu Kimura, Shota Sakurai, Tomohiro Kawasaki, Wataru Watanabe, Ryoei Ikari
  • Patent number: 10459404
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a formation unit configured to form an image by using a plurality of cartridges that are detachable from the image forming apparatus, each cartridge having a storage unit and a member for forming the image; and a control unit configured to set an image forming condition for image formation. The control unit reads identification information from each storage unit of at least two cartridges out of the plurality of cartridges, the identification information indicating a version of a corresponding cartridge, and the control unit sets the image forming condition based on a combination of versions of the at least two cartridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoki Inoue
  • Patent number: 10452024
    Abstract: A secondary transfer portion includes a transfer roller, a fixing member, a movable member, and a detector. The transfer roller is configured to rotate about an axis thereof when the secondary transfer portion is attached to an apparatus body. The fixing member is fixed to the axial end portion of the transfer roller. The movable member is caught on the fixing member. The detector is configured to indicate different detection states depending on a position of the movable member. The fixing member and the movable member are connected to each other through a guide mechanism (a guide groove and a guide protrusion) that is configured to move the movable member in an axial direction of the transfer roller. The movable member is moved to a detection position of the detector by rotation of the transfer roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ginga Nakamura, Shohtaroh Okamoto
  • Patent number: 10447879
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sensor configured to detect an object within a predetermined range, a storage unit that stores information about the detected object, and a controller. The controller is configured to control the sensor to detect the object when the image forming apparatus is in a first mode, and in response to the detection of the object, store the information indicating that the object is detected. In response to transition from the first mode to a second mode in which power consumption is higher than the first mode, when the information indicates that the object is detected, the controller performs authentication of a developer cartridge attached to the image forming apparatus, and when the information does not indicate that the object is detected, the controller skips the authentication of the developer cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Eiji Shinohara
  • Patent number: 10437178
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus which forms an image on a recording medium, includes: a belt which is endless and rotationally driven; a drive roller which is wound around the belt to rotationally drive the belt; a position detector which is arranged along an axial direction of the drive roller to detect deviation of the belt; a steering roller which is wound around the belt and corrects the deviation of the belt detected by the position detector; and a controller which controls the steering roller, wherein the controller determines a deterioration state of the belt based on a change amount linked with change of a friction coefficient of the belt until a predetermined period elapses after starting use of the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Akihiko Shimazu
  • Patent number: 10417539
    Abstract: A processor causes a transmission circuit to output a carrier signal intermittently. Each time the carrier signal is output, the processor determines whether or not a level of a detection signal is in a satisfactory state. In a first case where the level of the detection signal is determined to be in the satisfactory state, the processor performs a read control to cause the transmission circuit to perform a precharge process and a transmission process. In a second case where the level of the detection signal is not determined to be in the satisfactory state, the processor determines that the unit attachment portion is in a unit non-attachment state. In the first case, when the processor succeeds in identifying the developer information, the processor determines that the unit attachment portion is in a unit attachment state, and otherwise, determines that the unit attachment portion is in an exceptional state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Shizuya Uemura, Tadaharu Kusumi
  • Patent number: 10409211
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner supply section, an image forming section, a touch panel, a determining section, a calculating section, and a display section. The determining section determines whether a toner container mounted to the toner supply section is a first container or a second container which differs from the first container. The calculating section calculates a consumption amount of toner consumed for the image forming section to form an image on paper when the determining section determines that the toner container is the second container. The display section displays a ratio of a second consumption amount to a first consumption amount on the touch panel. The first consumption amount is a consumption amount of the toner when the toner container is the first container. The second consumption amount is a consumption amount of the toner when the toner container is the second container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Kenichi Katsura
  • Patent number: 10399350
    Abstract: An engagement part fitted in an outer package of an ink cartridge is provided with: a fit-in rib which is provided at a circumferential edge on a rear side and which serves as a guide upon engagement with an opening of the outer package; an engagement rib provided upright at the circumferential edge of the engagement hole in the same direction as a direction of the fit-in rib; and a bonding region for bonding a communication tag that performs near field radio communication with a printer. A tag-removing hole which is formed in the bonding region and which is to be removed from a bonding surface side of the communication tag with a bar-like member inserted is formed in a formation region as the bonding region located in a first quadrant and a fourth quadrant in an orthogonal coordinate system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: RISO KAGAKU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shotaro Kon, Kenichi Ozeki, Toshio Hamada
  • Patent number: 10387756
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a recognition tag is an electronic tag in which recognition information is recorded in advance. A displacement mechanism holds a displacement portion at a first position so as to make a communication access from a tag reader to a recognition tag possible in a case where a replenishment unit is not attached to a unit attachment portion, and holds the displacement portion at a second position so as to make the communication access from the tag reader to the recognition tag impossible in a case where the replenishment unit is attached to the unit attachment portion. The state determining portion determines a state from among a unit attachment state, a unit non-attachment state, and an exceptional state based on information obtained via the tag reader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Shizuya Uemura
  • Patent number: 10389672
    Abstract: One example discloses a peripheral supply component. The peripheral supply component includes a supply item to provide resources on an installed peripheral component, wherein the supply item is a consumable, upgradable, or replacement component on the installed peripheral component. An encoded component is installed with the supply item, wherein the encoded component is employed to generate a message event related to the peripheral component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: David B Novak, Brian Woods, Erik D Ness, Huston W Rice, Amy Shipman
  • Patent number: 10372061
    Abstract: An image forming system includes an image forming unit, an acquisition unit, first and second determination units, and a controller. The image forming unit forms an image using toner from a toner cartridge. The acquisition unit acquires identification information from the toner cartridge. The first determination unit determines whether the toner cartridge satisfies a first condition, based on the identification information. The second determination unit determines whether a second condition is satisfied if a determination result of the first determination unit indicates that the toner cartridge does not satisfy the first condition. The controller enables the image forming unit to form an image, if the determination result of the first determination unit indicates that the toner cartridge satisfies a predetermined condition or that the toner cartridge does not satisfy the predetermined condition and if a determination result of the second determination unit indicates that the second condition is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Fuse
  • Patent number: 10372461
    Abstract: [Problem to be Solved] To register a device driver in the kernel of an operating system by means of a method simpler than conventional methods. [Solution] The device driver is registered in an operating system kernel using a notification driver, which is provided with a driver interface for notifying the operating system kernel of device setting information, and a scenario sequence file, in which device setting information is described which includes device parameters, including configuration structure information about the device, and an execution script for determining the operations of the device. By loading the scenario sequence file into the notification driver, the device driver is registered in the operating system kernel by means of the device interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: ALAB INC.
    Inventors: Masayuki Araki, Hajime Takahama
  • Patent number: 10365583
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a toner container comprises a toner container body in which toner is stored, a cover portion configured to cover the toner container body, and a projection. The projection is provided in the vicinity of a rear end portion in a longitudinal direction of the cover portion or a longitudinal direction of the toner container body, and projecting toward a rear side of the toner container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba TEC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tsutomu Sato
  • Patent number: 10365582
    Abstract: A developer cartridge may include: a first gear having a small-diameter gear portion and a large-diameter gear portion; and a second gear including: a first columnar portion centered on a second axis; a second columnar portion having a smaller diameter than the first columnar portion; a first engagement portion extending along a portion of a peripheral surface of the first columnar portion and engageable with the small-diameter gear portion; a second engagement portion extending along a portion of a peripheral surface of the second columnar portion and positioned closer to a housing than the first engagement portion in an axial direction and engageable with the large-diameter gear portion; and a protruding portion protruding in the axial direction and rotatable together with the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion. The second engagement portion may engage the large-diameter gear portion after the first engagement portion engages the small-diameter gear portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keita Shimizu, Takashi Shimizu, Hideshi Nishiyama, Naoya Kamimura, Tomonori Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10353651
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a read-out unit, a memory unit, and a processor. The read-out unit reads out first collation information from an exchange product which is mounted in the image forming apparatus. The memory unit stores second collation information. The processor detects a power supply or a sleep return, compares the first collation information with the second collation information based on detection of the power supply or the sleep return, and sets an operation mode based on a comparison result of the first collation information with the second collation information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takahide Kenmotsu
  • Patent number: 10310448
    Abstract: In a case where a new consumable item is determined to be installed in a printer as a replacement for the current consumable item based on the related information, the printer receives, from the server, a first code assigned to a first consumable item to be installed in the printer. The printer obtains, from the second consumable item, a second code associated with a second consumable item installed in the printer as a replacement for the current consumable item. The printer determines whether the first code corresponds to the second code. The printer provides a notification indicating whether the second consumable item was determined to replace the current consumable item based on whether the first code corresponds to the second code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Nagasaki
  • Patent number: 10303102
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit and a controller configured to control an operation of the image forming unit is provided. The image forming unit includes a conductive member to which a bias voltage is supplied in image formation. The controller is configured to calculate an operating ratio indicating a percentage of a time period during which the conductive member is used, and calculate a value indicating a consumption degree of the conductive member based on the calculated operating ratio and a magnitude of an electrical resistance of the conductive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Kouichi Etou
  • Patent number: 10303113
    Abstract: A developing cartridge may include a housing including an outer surface, a small-diameter gear, a large-diameter gear, a first gear, and a moving member. The small-diameter gear may include a first engaging portion positioned on at least a portion of a peripheral surface of the small-diameter gear. The large-diameter gear may be positioned farther from the outer surface than the small-diameter gear from the outer surface. The large-diameter gear may be rotatable together with the small-diameter gear. The first gear may include a second engaging portion, a first end surface, a second end surface, and at least one protrusion. The moving member may include a contact portion configured to move the moving member from one position to another position in a state where the contact portion is in contact with the protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuna Taguchi, Koji Abe, Motoaki Mushika, Yasuo Fukamachi
  • Patent number: 10305892
    Abstract: A device system that performs group authentication and an operating method thereof are provided. The device system includes multiple devices. The operating method of the device system includes performing a first authentication procedure with respect to a first device that is newly connected to the device system; and performing a second authentication procedure with respect to the first device via an authentication group including at least two devices selected from the devices. The second authentication procedure is a group-based authentication procedure. If the first and second authentication procedures are successful, the operating method includes approving connection of the first device to the device system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jong-Hoon Shin
  • Patent number: 10303870
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a reception unit which receives first input information which is arbitrary set in conjunction with a login of the first user, a restriction unit which starts imposing a restriction of use of the information processing apparatus at a predetermined timing in a case that a second user logs in to the information processing apparatus while a login state of the first user is continued and a release unit which releases the restriction in response to inputting of second input information, which matches the first input information received by the reception unit, while the use of the information processing apparatus is restricted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10303088
    Abstract: In a cartridge, a developing roller is configured to rotate around a first axis extending in an extending direction. The cartridge further includes a cylinder extending in the extending direction and configured to receive electric power, a first portion, which is one portion of a circumferential surface of the cylinder, and a second portion, which is another portion of the circumferential surface of the cylinder. The cartridge also includes a gear rotatable about a second axis extending in the extending direction, a first covering portion covering the first portion and being rotatable with the gear, and a gear cover covering at least a portion of the gear and having an opening through which the second portion is exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nao Itabashi
  • Patent number: 10281840
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a conveyance section, an image forming section, a fixing section, a sheet output tray, a toner container, a suitable product determining section, and a control section. The suitable product determining section determines whether the toner container loaded in an apparatus body is a suitable product. When the suitable product determining section determines that the toner container is not a suitable product, the control section allows the conveyance section, the image forming section, and the fixing section to form, on a sheet, a solid image having a circumferential length of one of rotating bodies of the fixing section or longer, and allows the sheet on which the solid image is formed to pass through a fixing nip, to thereby periodically allow a cleaning operation of removing a contamination adhering to surfaces of rotating bodies of the fixing section to be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Sueaki Okamoto, Eiji Nimura, Koji Kuramashi
  • Patent number: 10281871
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a first opening on a side surface of the casing, first and second frames, a cartridge detachably attached through the first opening, and light receiver and light emitter respectively provided to the first and second frames. The cartridge shields the light from the light emitted when attached to an attachment position. The first and second frames face across the attachment position. The light reaches the light receiver when the cartridge is detached from the casing. A door is movably secured to the casing between closing and opening positions, and a second opening allowing a sheet to pass through is formed on the door. External light entering through the second opening and directed toward the light receiver is shielded by a light shielding part provided to the first frame, which also serves as a guiding part to guide attachment of the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideaki Yoshimune, Tomoyuki Mizuno, Masahito Saeki, Tomoya Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10248041
    Abstract: A developing unit includes a body and a displacement member. The displacement member is to be held by the body in a first mode in a first mounting state, and is to be held by the body displaceably between the first mode and a second mode in a reversible fashion in a second mounting state. The first mounting state is a state in which a first toner cartridge is mounted on the developing unit. The second mounting state is a state in which a second toner cartridge is mounted on the developing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Masayuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10248074
    Abstract: A developer cartridge comprises a first gear. The first gear may include a first protrusion extending in a radial direction of the first gear. The first protrusion may be positioned at a circumference of a column of the first gear. The first protrusion may be spaced apart from a second end face opposite to a first end face facing an exterior surface of a casing configured to accommodate developer therein. The first protrusion may be further from the second end face than a large-diameter gear in an axial direction. A rotational circumference of the first protrusion defined by rotation of the first protrusion and a portion of the large-diameter gear are aligned in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuna Taguchi, Yasuo Fukamachi, Motoaki Mushika
  • Patent number: 10251119
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a method for handling reject in wireless communication. The method includes receiving, at an electronic device, a reject message indicative of a forbidden resource of a service provider network to use by the electronic device for wireless communication, determining a reliability attribute of the reject message, storing the forbidden resource associated with the reliability attribute, and maintaining the stored forbidden resource based on the reliability attribute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: MediaTek Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Matti Moisanen, Marko Niemi
  • Patent number: 10248047
    Abstract: A toner case includes a case main body and a cover. The case main body stores a toner. The cover covers a face of the case main body at one end side in a longitudinal direction of the case main body. An inside projection or an inside recess is provided on an inner face of the cover at a position to be touchable from an outside. A number of the inside projection or the inside recess is determined based on a color of the toner stored in the case main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Takashi Tamura
  • Patent number: 10241467
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a developing electrode and a supply electrode. The developing electrode includes a first electrical contact in contact with a developing roller shaft, and a second electrical contact positioned closer to the developing roller shaft than a second agitator gear is to the developing roller shaft. The second electrical contact is positioned farther from the developing roller shaft than the first electrical contact is from the developing roller shaft. The supply electrode includes a first electrical contact in contact with the supply roller shaft, and a second electrical contact positioned closer to the developing roller shaft than the second agitator gear is to the developing roller shaft. The second electrical contact of the supply electrode is positioned farther from the developing roller shaft than the second electrical contact of the developing electrode is from the developing roller shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keita Shimizu, Tomoya Ichikawa, Takashi Shimizu, Kazuna Taguchi
  • Patent number: 10228637
    Abstract: Method and system for converting a toner cartridge printer to a metallic or light toner printer. The method may comprise the steps: providing a printer having one or more toner cartridges; removing at least one of the one or more toner cartridges; disassembling the one or more removed toner cartridges; cleaning the one or more removed toner cartridges; filling the one or more removed toner cartridges with a white, clear, metallic or light toner; and installing the one or more removed white, clear, metallic or light toner cartridges into the printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: UI Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Raymond Josiah, Joseph Dovi
  • Patent number: 10209666
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes first and second rotary members. The first rotary member is rotatable from a first position to a second position and from the second position to a third position, and includes a first gear part and a first rib. The first rib extends along an addendum circle of the first gear part. The second rotary member includes a second gear part and a second rib protruding outward in a radial direction of the second rotary member. The second rib is in contact the first rib during rotation of the first rotary member from the first position toward the second position. The second rib is separated from the first rib during rotation of the first rotary member from the second position toward the third position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keita Shimizu, Takashi Shimizu, Naoya Kamimura
  • Patent number: 10201075
    Abstract: In an image processing apparatus, a print board includes a layered board, frequency signal lines, and a cylindrical magnetic body. The frequency signal lines are formed on an intermediate layer of the layered board. The cylindrical magnetic body includes a lower portion, an upper portion, and a pair of side portions, wherein the lower portion and the upper portion are respectively formed on layers of the layered board that are, in a thickness direction of the print board, located under and on the intermediate layer on which the frequency signal lines are formed, and the pair of side portions connect the lower portion and the upper portion at opposite sides of the frequency signal lines. The cylindrical magnetic body is formed in a shape of a cylinder in such a way as to extend along the frequency signal lines and surround a circumference of the frequency signal lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Sho Harabe
  • Patent number: 10191408
    Abstract: A cartridge configured to accommodate a developing agent may include a detection gear, a first protrusion, and a memory. The detection gear may be rotatable about a first axis extending in a predetermined direction. The first protrusion may be movable with rotation of the detection gear. The memory may include a first storage region storing a first yield information representing at least one of amount of the developing agent in the cartridge and the number of printable sheets by the developing agent in the cartridge, wherein at least one of the amount of the developing agent and the number of sheets by the developing agent in the cartridge may be confirmable based on the first yield information and the first protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tadao Kyotani, Nao Itabashi
  • Patent number: 10185261
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, an image forming apparatus encompasses a heat roller, a lamp, a use amount acquisition section, a switching controller and a cycle controller. The heat roller heats a sheet printed with a toner image. The lamp heats the heat roller. The use amount acquisition section acquires a use amount of the lamp. The switching controller repeats a processing from a moment at which the lamp is charged until the lamp is charged next after the lamp is not charged in a predetermined control cycle. The cycle controller sets the cycle based on the use amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ken Iguchi
  • Patent number: 10156822
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transport unit, an image forming unit, an output tray, a toner container, and a processor that realizes a function of a conformity decision unit, a change reception unit, and a controller. The controller discharges, when the conformity decision unit decides that the toner container is not a conforming product, a quality check sheet to the output tray each time a predetermined number of sheets have been printed, or each time a predetermined time has elapsed. The change reception unit receives a change of a quality adjustment value from a user. The controller controls the operation of the transport unit and the image forming unit, according to the quality adjustment value that has been changed and received by the change reception unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Eiji Nimura, Koji Kuramashi, Sueaki Okamoto
  • Patent number: 10150306
    Abstract: A drying device includes a roller, and the drying device is for drying a recording medium conveyed by rotation of the roller. The drying device includes a first heating source and second heating source included inside the roller; first and second temperature detectors for respectively detecting a temperature of a first region on a surface of the roller and a temperature of a second region on the surface of the roller; and a heating controller that controls heating and termination of the heating by the first heating source and/or the second heating source, wherein, upon detecting that a temperature of one region of the first region and the second region is higher than or equal to a predetermined temperature, the heating controller terminates heating by one heating source corresponding to the other region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wataru Sakamoto, Toshihiro Yoshinuma
  • Patent number: 10140637
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a customer selection include receiving customer location information from at least one beacon device of a plurality of beacon devices that are located in a physical merchant location. The customer location information is collected by the at least one beacon device from a customer device that is associated with a customer. Customer selection indication data that is indicative of at least one physical gesture made by the customer is also received, and may be collected, for example, by cameras, object detection devices, communications between customer devices, etc. The customer location information and the customer selection indication data is then analyzed to determine a first product location in the physical merchant location that the customer is selecting, and a first product that is associated with the first product location in a database is determined. Information about the first product may then be sent to the customer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: PAYPAL, INC.
    Inventor: Kamal Zamer
  • Patent number: 10139752
    Abstract: A shutter member of a toner case includes a compatible key and an engaged portion. A storage portion for storing the toner case includes a compatible member rockably supported at a position that faces the shutter member during an insertion process of the toner case. The compatible member includes a first contact portion and a first engaging portion. The first contact portion is located on a forward side of a rocking shaft of the compatible member in the insertion direction. The first engaging portion is located on a backward side of the rocking shaft in the insertion direction. During an insertion process of the toner case, the first engaging portion of the compatible member is engaged with the engaged portion so that the shutter member moves from a closing position to an opening position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Koji Murata, Yoshitaka Tokoro
  • Patent number: 10139753
    Abstract: A toner supply unit for use in an image forming apparatus includes a bottle gear provided on a toner bottle to receive a driving force when the toner bottle is mounted to a mounting portion, and a discharging mechanism provided on the toner bottle to discharge a predetermined amount of toner from a discharging portion with the rotation of the bottle gear. A controller controls the driving force inputted to the bottle gear in a period from input of the driving force to the bottle gear to a predetermined number of rotations of the toner bottle to be smaller than the driving force inputted to the bottle gear at a time when the discharging mechanism first discharges the predetermined amount of toner from the discharging portion after the predetermined number of rotations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takao Nakajima
  • Patent number: 10133224
    Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes: a replaceable part attached to an image formation device and including an information storage unit having unique identification information stored therein; an error detector which detects an occurrence of an anomaly; an error code storage unit having a first error code and a second error code stored therein, each code indicating a content of error display concerning the anomaly; and a controller which determines whether the replaceable part is of a first type or a second type based on the identification information. The controller outputs a first notification signal indicating a content corresponding to the anomaly of the first error code if the replaceable part is of the first type when the error detector detects the anomaly, and outputs a second notification signal indicating a content corresponding to the anomaly of the second error code if the part is of the second type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiko Hoshino
  • Patent number: 10127749
    Abstract: A key fob associated with a select one of a plurality of driver profiles stored in a vehicle memory is provided. The key fob comprises a memory for storing a profile indication for identifying the driver profile associated with the key fob, and an output device for presenting the profile indication. Another embodiment provides a wireless system comprising a vehicle storing driver profiles in a memory, and a key fob associated with a select profile and comprising an output device for presenting a profile indication assigned to that profile. Another embodiment includes a method of providing a profile indication on a key fob associated with one of the driver profiles stored in the vehicle. The method comprises transmitting an identifier to the vehicle, receiving a profile indication associated with the identifier from the vehicle, and presenting the profile indication on an output device of the key fob.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Kyle Schmidt
  • Patent number: 10108140
    Abstract: A development unit includes an attachable unit and an attached unit. The attachable unit includes an engaging section. The attached unit includes an engaged section that allows the engaging section to be brought into engagement with the engaged section attachably and detachably, and whose state changes in response to the engagement of the engaging section. The state of the engaged section upon the engagement of the engaging section is maintained even after the engaging section is detached from the engaged section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: OKI DATA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masayuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10101706
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes a developing cartridge, a drum cartridge, an electrical contact, a frame to which the developing cartridge attached to the drum cartridge is attachable, and first and second guide portions. The developing cartridge includes a storage medium having an electrical contact surface, and a holder including: a first outer surface holding the electrical contact surface, a second outer surface, and a resilient member connected to the both outer surfaces. The drum cartridge includes a holder support portion. The frame allows the developing cartridge to move from a first position to a second position, and then to a third position during insertion of the developing cartridge into the frame. The first guide portion guides the first outer surface, and the second guide portion guides the holder support portion to allow the electrical contact surface to contact the electrical contact during insertion of the developing cartridge into the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Junichi Yokoi
  • Patent number: 10073409
    Abstract: A developing cartridge may include a housing including an outer surface, a small-diameter gear, a large-diameter gear, a first gear, and a moving member. The small-diameter gear may include a first engaging portion positioned on at least a portion of a peripheral surface of the small-diameter gear. The large-diameter gear may be positioned farther from the outer surface than the small-diameter gear from the outer surface. The large-diameter gear may be rotatable together with the small-diameter gear. The first gear may include a second engaging portion, a first end surface, a second end surface, and at least one protrusion. The moving member may include a contact portion configured to move the moving member from one position to another position in a state where the contact portion is in contact with the protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuna Taguchi, Koji Abe, Motoaki Mushika, Yasuo Fukamachi
  • Patent number: 10073405
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an electrophotographic photoreceptor that includes an electroconductive substrate, an undercoat layer which is provided on the electroconductive substrate and has electrostatic capacitance per unit area of from 2.5×10?11 F/cm2 to 2.5×10?10 F/cm2, and a photosensitive layer provided on the undercoat layer; a charging unit; an electrostatic latent image forming unit; a developing unit; an intermediate transfer member; a primary transfer unit that primarily transfers the toner image formed on the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor, onto the surface of an intermediate transfer member, while providing a primary transfer current value of from 80 ?A to 160 ?A; and a secondary transfer unit that secondarily transfers the toner image transferred onto the surface of the intermediate transfer member, onto a surface of a recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiro Kawasaki, Hirofumi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10073375
    Abstract: A toner case includes a case main body, a rotator, a transmitter and a moving mechanism. The case main body stores a toner. The rotator is stored in the case main body and rotates around a rotation axis. The transmitter is arranged outside the case main body and transmits rotation to the rotator. The moving mechanism moves the transmitter between a first position and a second position which is arranged at an outside of the first position in a rotation axis direction of the rotator. The moving mechanism includes a holder holding the transmitter. As the holder moves with respect to the case main body, the transmitter moves between the first position and the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Daisuke Mimura, Nobuhiro Fukuma