Image Formation Patents (Class 399/130)
  • Patent number: 11988974
    Abstract: A movable member includes a frame, a mounting portion, a rotatable image bearing member, a charging member, and a cleaning member. The cleaning member includes a base portion including a first surface positioned on one side of the frame, a second surface positioned on the other side of the frame, and a third surface, and includes a projected portion. The projected portion includes a first side surface positioned on the aforementioned the other side and a second side surface positioned on the aforementioned one side. The first side surface is positioned between the first surface and the second surface. The first side surface constitutes an end surface of the projected portion on the aforementioned the other side with respect to the axial direction, and the second side surface constitutes an end surface of the projected portion on the aforementioned one side with respect to the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazutaka Sueshige, Daisuke Abe
  • Patent number: 11911824
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a material layer includes a first step S101 of arranging first particles P1 in a pattern on a base material 11 and a second step S102 of arranging second particles in regions in which the first particles P1 are not arranged on the base material 11. The second step S102 includes a step of rubbing bearing materials S2 that carry the second particles P2 against the base material 11 on which the first particles P1 are arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenta Kubo, Hiroshi Taniuchi
  • Patent number: 11826829
    Abstract: A method for dynamically controlling layer thickness during an additive manufacturing process of building a block including an object with layers of powder material, detecting a height of the block after each layer is compacted, determining a delta between the detected height and a height in a computer model defining slices of the block and compensating for the determined delta in subsequent cycles. A cycle in the additive manufacturing process includes selectively printing a layer pattern, spreading a powder layer over the layer pattern with a spreader and compacting the powder layer with the layer pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Stratasys Ltd.
    Inventors: Yehoshua Sheinman, Shai Hirsch, Almog Shahar
  • Patent number: 11813792
    Abstract: A three-dimensional, additive manufacturing system is disclosed. The first and second printer modules form sequences of first patterned single-layer objects and second patterned single-layer objects on the first and second carrier substrates, respectively. The patterned single-layer objects are assembled into a three-dimensional object on the assembly plate of the assembly station. A controller controls the sequences and patterns of the patterned single-layer objects formed at the printer modules, and a sequence of assembly of the first patterned single-layer objects and the second patterned single-layer objects into the three-dimensional object on the assembly plate. The first transfer module transfers the first patterned single-layer objects from the first carrier substrate to the assembly apparatus in a first transfer zone and the second transfer module transfers the second patterned single-layer objects from the second carrier substrate to the assembly apparatus in a second transfer zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Sakuu Corporation
    Inventors: Morteza Vatani, Philip Eugene Rogren
  • Patent number: 11722621
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a sheet supporting portion, a sheet feeding portion configured to feed a sheet supported on the sheet supporting portion, a sheet regulation portion configured to regulate a position of the sheet in a width direction, an image forming portion including an exposing portion configured to expose a charged surface of an image bearing member, the image forming portion being configured to form an image on the sheet fed by the sheet feeding portion, and a frame member provided inside the apparatus body. A position of the exposing portion is determined with respect to the frame member. A position of the sheet regulation portion is determined with respect to the frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaki Sato, Akira Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 11534963
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by solidifying selected areas of consecutive powder layers is provided. At least one electron beam successively irradiates predetermined sections of each powder layer by moving an interaction region in which the electron beam interacts with the powder layer. Electromagnetic radiation from a radiation source is directed onto the powder layer to reduce local electrostatic charging in the interaction region. In this way, levitation and scattering of charged powder will be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Freemelt AB
    Inventor: Ulric Ljungblad
  • Patent number: 11449292
    Abstract: An image processing device reduces influence from delay due to one or more post processors and efficiently utilizes resources of an image former, to improve productivity. The image processing device includes: a job taker configured to take a print job; and a print data producer configured to output print data to an image former, configured to form an image on a sheet, and control a cutter configured to cut, inline, the sheet having the image formed and the image former. When the job taker takes a first print job to use the cutter and then takes a second print job not to use the cutter, the print data producer executes the first print job concurrently with the second print job.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Nobuhiro Nojima
  • Patent number: 11429048
    Abstract: A transmission unit transmits driving force to be supplied from a motor to a roller pair. A switching unit acts on the transmission unit to switch a rotation direction of the roller pair by the driving force between a normal rotation and a reverse rotation. A control unit controls a rotation speed of the motor to convey the sheet at a second conveyance speed in a part of a first time period. The second conveyance speed is lower than a first conveyance speed. The first conveyance speed is a conveyance speed when the sheet is conveyed in the image forming unit. In the first time period the sheet having the image formed on the first surface is conveyed in a first direction. In a second time period the sheet is conveyed in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Marehiko Hirajima, Shimpei Ishikawa, Keisuke Fujita, Junichi Sekiyama
  • Patent number: 11425274
    Abstract: A sheet transport device includes a sheet transport unit, a detector, and a releasing unit. The sheet transport unit transports a sheet by nipping the sheet in a nip between multiple pairs of transport rollers arranged in a sheet width direction intersecting a sheet transport direction. The detector detects a size of the transported sheet. The releasing unit releases the nip of one or more of the pairs of transport rollers outside a transport region of the sheet based on the size of the sheet detected by the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Isamu Adachi, Takakiyo Toba, Yosuke Takahashi, Masato Serikawa, Yuta Abe
  • Patent number: 11320760
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member and a charging roller that charges a circumferential surface of the image bearing member to a positive polarity. The image bearing member includes a conductive substrate and a photosensitive layer of a single layer, and satisfies formula (1) shown below. The photosensitive layer contains a charge generating material, a hole transport material, an electron transport material, and a binder resin. 0.60 ? V ( Q / S ) × ( d / ? r · ? 0 ) ( 1 ) In formula (1), Q represents a charge amount [C] of the circumferential surface of the image bearing member, S represents a charge area [m2] of the charged circumferential surface of the image bearing member, d represents a film thickness [m] of the photosensitive layer, co represents vacuum permittivity [F/m], and V represents a value calculated in accordance with formula V=V0?Vr.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Masahito Ishino, Keiya Nishimura, Yoshitaka Imanaka, Toshiki Fujita
  • Patent number: 11209756
    Abstract: A method for producing printed matter that has a fixed toner image and a resin layer, in the indicated sequence, on a substrate, comprising a toner image formation step of forming a fixed toner image on the substrate by fixing a toner containing a resin and a hydrocarbon wax, a mixture layer formation step of forming, on the fixed toner image, a layer of a mixture, the mixture contains at least one selected from the group consisting of diacrylates and dimethacrylates as a component (a) and a polymerization initiator as a component (b); and a resin layer formation step of polymerizing the component (a) and the component (b) in the mixture layer to form the resin layer; wherein the melting point of the hydrocarbon wax is from 55° C. to 85° C., a surface wax index A and a wax distribution unevenness index B of the area are predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuya Chimoto, Yoshiro Tsukada, Naoyuki Yamamoto, Shuichi Tamura, Akifumi Matsubara, Hayato Ida
  • Patent number: 11112706
    Abstract: Provided is an electrophotographic photosensitive member in which the generation of a positive ghost image is suppressed under a low-temperature and low-humidity environment, and the occurrence of cracking is suppressed under a high-temperature and high-humidity environment. Also provided are a process cartridge mounted with the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and an electrophotographic apparatus including the process cartridge. The electrophotographic photosensitive member of the present disclosure is characterized in that an undercoat layer contains aluminum oxide particles and titanium oxide particles at a specific mass ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Eileen Takeuchi, Kumiko Takizawa, Ikuyo Kuroiwa, Tsuyoshi Shimada, Wataru Kitamura
  • Patent number: 10965823
    Abstract: An information processing system includes a first display control unit and a second display control unit. The first display control unit displays, on a display unit, a button on which a setting value of a program is displayed. The second display control unit starts up the program when the button is pressed and, in accordance with the started program, displays, on the display unit, a setting screen that corresponds to the button being pressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Sasaki, Tadashi Sato, Fumiyoshi Kittaka
  • Patent number: 10737442
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing system includes a transfer belt traveling along a belt path including first and second moveable-position rollers and a plurality of fixed-position rollers. The belt path includes a fixed-velocity portion from the first moveable position roller to the second moveable position roller, and a variable-velocity portion from the second moveable position roller to the first moveable position roller. An electrophotography engine positioned along the fixed-velocity portion deposits a part material layer onto the transfer belt, and an image transfer assembly positioned along the variable-velocity portion transfers the part material layer onto a receiver medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Chung-Hui Kuo, James Douglas Shifley
  • Patent number: 10647145
    Abstract: A mechanism that makes it possible to output a saddle-stitched brochure in a correct page order when a post-processing apparatus that executes a saddle-stitching process by switching back a sheet is caused to execute the saddle-stitching process. Sheets discharged from a printing apparatus are switched back by reverse rotation of a conveying roller pair, and are conveyed into a conveying path for a saddle-stitch bookbinding process. The sheets are accumulated in an accumulation tray for the saddle-stitch bookbinding process. When the saddle-stitch bookbinding process is caused to be executed on the accumulated sheets by the post-processing apparatus, the order of image formation is decided such that the order of pages of images printed on the saddle-stitched sheets becomes correct. The images are printed on the sheets in the decided order of image formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshiro Tachibana
  • Patent number: 10451867
    Abstract: A two-dimensional scan type light scanning device is configured to perform oscillation of a mirror in a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The light scanning device includes a second actuating beam causing the oscillation of the mirror in the second direction, a differential calculation unit configured to calculate a difference between a bending amount of the second actuating beam at a time of an initial drive and a bending amount of the second actuating beam after a predetermined period of time, and a phase shift calculation unit configured to calculate an amount of phase shift between a driving signal for oscillating the mirror in the first direction and a signal representing a displacement of the mirror in the first direction, based on the difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUMI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuji Kimura
  • Patent number: 10342139
    Abstract: A printer includes a belt, a tray and a plurality of printing devices located over the belt. The tray is located on the belt and receives a printed circuit board (PCB). A sensor attached to the tray. The sensor is used to sense whether the PCB is located in the tray, when the PCB is located in the tray, the belt is driven by a driving device to transport the tray to be located below each of the plurality of printing devices. Each of the plurality of printing devices is used to print the PCB. The disclosure further offers a printing method for the PCB using the printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignees: Fu Tai Hua Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Xue-Qin Zhang
  • Patent number: 10207528
    Abstract: A mechanism that makes it possible to output a saddle-stitched brochure in a correct page order when a post-processing apparatus that executes a saddle-stitching process by switching back a sheet is caused to execute the saddle-stitching process. Sheets discharged from a printing apparatus are switched back by reverse rotation of a conveying roller pair, and are conveyed into a conveying path for a saddle-stitch bookbinding process. The sheets are accumulated in an accumulation tray for the saddle-stitch bookbinding process. When the saddle-stitch bookbinding process is caused to be executed on the accumulated sheets by the post-processing apparatus, the order of image formation is decided such that the order of pages of images printed on the saddle-stitched sheets becomes correct. The images are printed on the sheets in the decided order of image formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshiro Tachibana
  • Patent number: 10086558
    Abstract: 3-D printing system include development stations positioned to electrostatically transfer build and support materials to an intermediate transfer surface, a transfer station adjacent the intermediate transfer surface, guides adjacent the transfer station, and platens moving on the guides. The guides are shaped to direct the platens to repeatedly pass the transfer station and come in contact with the intermediate transfer surface at the transfer station. The intermediate transfer surface transfers a layer of the build and support materials to the platens each time the platens contact the intermediate transfer surface at the transfer station to successively form layers of the build and support materials on the platens. The platens and the intermediate transfer surface include alignment features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Donald Thresh, Michael N. Soures, Jonathan Ireland, James D. Van Bortel, Bruce H. Smith
  • Patent number: 10005228
    Abstract: 3-D printers include an intermediate transfer surface that transfers a layer of material to a platen each time the platen contacts the intermediate transfer surface to successively form a freestanding stack of layers of the material on the platen. A sensor detects the thickness of the layer on the platen after a fusing station fuses the layer. A feedback loop is electrically connected to the sensor and a development station (that includes a photoreceptor, a charging station providing a static charge to the photoreceptor, a laser device exposing the photoreceptor, and a development device supplying the material to the photoreceptor). The exposure device adjusts the intensity of light exposed on the photoreceptor, based on a layer thickness measurement from the sensor through the feedback loop, to control the thickness of subsequent ones of the layers transferred from the intermediate transfer surface to the freestanding stack on the platen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Jorge A. Alvarez, Michael F. Zona, William J. Nowak, Robert A. Clark, Chu-heng Liu, Paul J. McConville
  • Patent number: 10000010
    Abstract: 3-D printing system include development stations positioned to electrostatically transfer build and support materials to an intermediate transfer surface, a transfer station adjacent the intermediate transfer surface, guides adjacent the transfer station, and platens moving on the guides. The guides are shaped to direct the platens to repeatedly pass the transfer station and come in contact with the intermediate transfer surface at the transfer station. The intermediate transfer surface transfers a layer of the build and support materials to the platens each time the platens contact the intermediate transfer surface at the transfer station to successively form layers of the build and support materials on the platens. The platens and the intermediate transfer surface include rack and pinion structures that temporarily join at the transfer station, as the platens pass the transfer station, to align the platens with the intermediate transfer surface as the platens contact the intermediate transfer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Roberto A. Irizarry, Donald R. Fess, Carlos M. Terrero, Brian A. Hanna, Lynn C. Saxton
  • Patent number: 9917980
    Abstract: When a user changes a setting of a hold job that includes a stapleless binding process setting, a print control apparatus determines whether the number of sheets to be printed when the setting change is applied is equal to or less than the upper-limit number of sheets that can be bound in the stapleless binding process. The print control apparatus inquires whether the user wants to change the staple setting to a staple binding process or cancel the setting change in a case where it is determined that the number of sheets to be printed is greater than the upper-limit number of sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideaki Ooba
  • Patent number: 9880509
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a motor, a cleaning portion, a measurement processing portion, and a cleaning control portion. The image carrier is configured to carry an electrostatic latent image. The motor is configured to rotate the image carrier. The cleaning portion is configured to clean the image carrier. The measurement processing portion is configured to measure a transition time that is a time required for the motor to transition from a stationary state to a driving state in which the motor rotates at a predetermined speed. The cleaning control portion is configured to control a cleaning time of the cleaning portion or whether or not to cause the cleaning portion to clean the image carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Haruki Shoji, Okito Ogasahara, Naohiro Anan
  • Patent number: 9740153
    Abstract: A power control device includes non-volatile memory, a controller, and a logic circuit. The non-volatile memory includes a function of externally outputting a logical state of a bit stored in a specific area as a state hold signal that indicates an ON/OFF state of a device function unit before a power cutoff. The controller controls the ON/OFF state of the device function unit and also writes the ON/OFF state of the device function unit to the specific area of the non-volatile memory. The logic circuit controls power supply to the controller on the basis of a logic level of the state hold signal from the non-volatile memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tadamasa Sakamaki, Shinho Ikeda, Yuji Murata, Hiroaki Yamamoto, Masakazu Kawashita, Shunsuke Kasahara
  • Patent number: 9471025
    Abstract: A contact member is substantially arc-shaped along an inner peripheral surface of a cylindrical body while being supported in contact with an inside of the cylindrical body, when viewed from an axial direction of the cylindrical body. The contact member has at least one projection projecting from an inner peripheral surface of the contact member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuaki Iikura
  • Patent number: 9423756
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing system for printing a three-dimensional part using electrophotography, the additive manufacturing system comprising a rotatable photoconductor component, first and second development stations configured to develop layers of materials on a surface of the rotatable photoconductor component while the rotatable photoconductor component rotates in opposing rotational directions, and a platen configured to operably receive the developed layers in a layer-by-layer manner to print the three-dimensional part from at least a portion of the received layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Hanson, J. Randolph Sanders, Michael W. Bacus, Steven A. Chillscyzn
  • Patent number: 9392988
    Abstract: An X-ray imaging apparatus that performs X-ray radiographing by detecting X-rays that have transmitted through an object with an X-ray sensor includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire a first predetermined time based on operational information of the X-ray sensor, and a control unit configured to alter a drive of the X-ray sensor based on whether the first predetermined time has elapsed after bias voltage is applied on the X-ray sensor after X-ray radiographing is performed by the X-ray sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9367008
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to providing an electrophotographic member including a conductive elastic layer having high thermal insulation properties and excellent dimensional stability. The electrophotographic member having an elastic layer which includes a plurality of voids derived from resin microballoons connected to and made open to each other and contains an ion conducting agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Sakakibara, Katsuhisa Matsunaka
  • Patent number: 9300831
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus is provided with a book data acquisition unit which acquires a book data item including a plurality of image data items related to covers and individual pages of a book, a length acquisition unit which acquires a longitudinal length and a lateral length of the book based on lengths of two sides of the plurality of image data items included in the book data item, and an image data determination unit which compares the longitudinal and lateral lengths of the book to the lengths of the two sides of each of the image data items to determine the image data item determined to include neither one page nor two facing pages as the image data item including a spine image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: PFU LIMITED
    Inventors: Chieko Murai, Mitsuhiro Iwase, Masato Izumi
  • Patent number: 9248636
    Abstract: A structural laminate having a selected resistance to a first stress applied in a selected first stress direction relative to the laminate is formed from first and second sheets. A selected volume of toner is deposited on the first sheet to form a deposited toner pattern, the deposited toner pattern being disposed over a selected first surface area of the first sheet and extending normal to the first sheet by a selected first height. The second sheet, or toner thereon, is brought into contact with the deposited toner pattern. The deposited toner pattern is fixed to produce a fixed toner pattern that adheres the second sheet to the first sheet, in that way forming the laminate. The fixed toner pattern includes one or more first contiguous regions of toner extending in a direction within about 45° of the stress direction, so that the contiguous regions resist the applied stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventor: Roland R. Schindler, II
  • Patent number: 9075341
    Abstract: A developing roller is provided which is capable of forming a toner layer having the most uniform possible thickness on an outer peripheral surface of a roller body thereof. The roller body (2) of the developing roller (1) is formed from a rubber composition containing a base rubber which is a mixture of NBR and/or SBR, CR, an epichlorohydrin rubber and IIR, wherein the IIR is present in a proportion of not less than 2.5 parts by mass and not greater than 20 parts by mass in 100 parts by mass of the base rubber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiko Kawatani, Kenichi Kuroda
  • Patent number: 9036208
    Abstract: A print controlling apparatus includes: a receiving unit that receives input data including: gloss control plane data indicating a surface effect type to be achieved on the recording medium with certain density information; and table identifying information for identifying a surface effect selection table indicating a corresponding relation between the surface effect type and the density information used to generate the gloss control plane data; an acquiring unit that acquires an independent data portion indicating a portion corresponding to the surface effect type capable of being achieved independent from competence of the printing apparatus, out of the surface effect selection table identified by the table identifying information included in the input data from an external device; and a generating unit that generates the clear toner plane data using the independent data portion acquired by the acquiring unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Yuji Tokushima, Hiroaki Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20150132697
    Abstract: A toner includes toner particles, each containing binder resin and a plurality of microcapsules dispersed therein, each of the microcapsules containing a liquid material. A method for forming an image on a medium includes forming an electrostatic latent image on a carrier, forming a toner image by developing the electrostatic latent image using the toner, transferring the toner image onto a medium, and fixing the transferred toner image on the medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Maiko YOSHIDA, Satoshi ARAKI, Taishi TAKANO, Takashi URABE
  • Publication number: 20150093149
    Abstract: A method for forming a tactile printed image on a receiver medium to convey information to a visually-impaired person from image data having an array image pixels with binary pixel values. The tactile printed image by depositing tactile marking material onto the receiver medium, wherein no tactile marking material is deposited onto portions of the receiver medium corresponding to image pixels having a first state, and tactile marking material is deposited onto portions of the receiver medium corresponding to image pixels having the second state. The receiver medium has a first coefficient of friction, and the portions of the tactile printed image having deposited tactile marking material are raised by at least 20 microns relative to the surface of the receiver medium and have a second coefficient of friction which differs from the first coefficient of friction by at least 0.06.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Dinesh Tyagi, Louise Granica
  • Publication number: 20150093553
    Abstract: A document includes a transparent substrate; a plurality of color toners and a black toner in a fused image on the substrate; an amount of white toner in the fused image on the substrate; wherein the amount of fused white toner is a non-uniform amount as determined by an covering power of the fused black toner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Dinesh Tyagi, Kevin D. Lofftus, Louise Granica
  • Publication number: 20140377695
    Abstract: A member for electrophotography having a multilayer structure or a single-layer structure, including an outermost layer which satisfies the following A, B and C: A: the outermost layer has perfluoropolyether and a binder resin, and in the outermost layer, the ratio of the number of fluorine atoms to the number of carbon atoms is 0.10 or more and 0.40 or less; B: in a 19F-NMR spectrum of the outermost layer, the relaxation time T2 of a peak derived from CF2 moieties of perfluoropolyether is 13 milliseconds or more at 22° C.; and C: the total sum of the contents of CF3 moieties, CF2 moieties, and CF moieties in the binder resin is 5% by mass or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Naoto Kameyama, Kenji Onuma, Rieko Sakamoto, Yasushi Shimizu, Koichi Sato, Kimihiro Yoshimura, Akira Watanabe, Maho Tanaka, Shigeki Takishita, Hiroshi Tominaga, Keiji Karube, Takenori Sueoka
  • Patent number: 8913283
    Abstract: A method for displaying events in printing material processing machines, includes capturing the events with at least one camera and storing the captured events on a computer. Sensors for detecting machine states are provided in the printing material processing machine. Records of the events recorded by the camera as a video sequence are electronically marked in dependence on the detected machine states. A printing machine for carrying out the method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Winfried Berg, Gernot Keller, Martin Klüpfel, Mario Rottloff, Ingo Schilz
  • Patent number: 8896850
    Abstract: A multifunctional printer is provided. A printer chassis includes a data buffer, controller and printing assembly. The data buffer includes electronic memory storage and retrieval components. The controller is electronically interfaced with the data buffer. The controller is configured to store a digital image into the data buffer. A printing assembly is electronically interfaced with the data buffer. The printing assembly is configured to output a printed facsimile of the digital image under control of the controller in a marking material progressively deposited on a print medium. A display is provided on the chassis and is electronically interfaced with the data buffer. The display is configured to render a visualization of the digital image. The rendering of the visualization on the display excludes that portion of the digital image that has been output in the printed facsimile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Girling Kelly Design Group, LLC
    Inventors: Jonas Buck, Ferdinand Johannes van Engelen
  • Patent number: 8879957
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing system for printing a three-dimensional part using electrophotography, the additive manufacturing system comprising a rotatable photoconductor component, first and second development stations configured to develop layers of materials on a surface of the rotatable photoconductor component while the rotatable photoconductor component rotates in opposing rotational directions, and a platen configured to operably receive the developed layers in a layer-by-layer manner to print the three-dimensional part from at least a portion of the received layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Hanson, J. Randolph Sanders, Michael W. Bacus, Steven A. Chillscyzn
  • Patent number: 8849159
    Abstract: A method for forming a tactile printed image on a receiver medium using an electrographic printer, comprising forming a sequence of toner particle images on one or more primary imaging members, the sequence of toner particle images including a plurality of annular shapes having associated inner and outer sizes. The inner and outer sizes of the annular shapes varying in a monotonic sequence, such that when the sequence of toner particle images are transferred in register onto the receiver medium the annular shapes are substantially concentric and overlapping, thereby forming a tactile image feature having a hollow core; which is then fixed to permanently attach the transferred toner particle images to the receiver medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Donald Saul Rimai, Hwai-Tzuu Tai, Thomas Nathaniel Tombs
  • Publication number: 20140286674
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a thermal transfer print sheet includes an image forming unit configured to form a film pattern including a first pattern and a second pattern on a releasing sheet, the first and second patterns being arranged to at least partially overlap each other, the first pattern being formed of toner that includes a binder resin having a first thermoplastic resin, the second pattern being formed of toner that includes a binder resin having a second thermoplastic resin that is in a homologous relation to the first thermoplastic resin, and a fixing unit configured to apply heat and pressure to the film pattern such that the film pattern is formed as a thermal transfer film releasably supported on the releasing sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicants: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD., CASIO ELECTRONICS MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi MITSUI, Masaru SATO, Tomohumi SANO
  • Patent number: 8836966
    Abstract: In a printing system capable of supplying a sheet of a job having undergone print processing by the printing unit of a printing apparatus to a post-processing unit capable of executing at least a specific type of post-processing among a plurality of types of post-processes, when the target job requires the specific type of post-processing, the printing apparatus is inhibited from executing print processing of the job without explicitly determining a sheet necessary for the print processing of the job by a user using a user interface unit. When the target job does not require the specific type of post-processing, the printing apparatus is permitted to execute print processing of the job without explicitly determining a sheet necessary for the print processing of the job by the user using the user interface unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuyuki Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20140248067
    Abstract: A modified polymer body 1 has a polymer body 2 composed of a polymer material containing a carbon-carbon double bond and first binding parts 3 and second binding parts 4 bound to the surface of the polymer body 2. The first binding parts 3 are such that an organic group 6 having a functional group is bound via an isocyanuric acid skeleton 5 to the surface of the polymer body 2. The second binding parts 4 are such that an organic group 7 having a functional group is directly bound to the surface of the polymer body 2 without interposing an isocyanuric acid skeleton 5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: TOKAI RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yosuke Hayashi, Shuichi Egawa, Yasuyuki Hayasaki
  • Patent number: 8787797
    Abstract: A photoconductive foil sheet applicator applies a photoconductive foil sheet about a circumference of a drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Michael Melnik, Moshe Peles
  • Patent number: 8774679
    Abstract: An electrographic printing system for forming a tactile printed image on a receiver medium, comprising an image processing path, one or more printing modules and a fixing subsystem. The image processing path provides a sequence of image patterns including a plurality of annular shapes having associated inner and outer sizes, the inner and outer sizes of the annular shapes varying in a monotonic sequence. The printing modules are controlled to form a sequence of toner particle images corresponding to the sequence of image patterns, and to sequentially transfer the sequence of toner particle images in register onto the receiver medium such that the annular shapes in the toner particle images overlap to form a tactile image feature having a hollow core. The fixing subsystem is used to permanently attach the transferred toner particle images to the receiver medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Donald Saul Rimai, Hwai-Tzuu Tai, Thomas Nathaniel Tombs
  • Publication number: 20140178096
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electrophotographic electrically conductive member in which conductivity needed for a charging member is secured, and defects in an image attributed to uneven discharging can be minimized independently of a long-term use and an environment of use. An electrophotographic electrically conductive member comprising an electrically conductive support and an electrically conductive layer, wherein the electrically conductive layer includes an ion conductive resin having a quaternary ammonium ion in a molecule structure as a binder resin, and a carrier molecule represented by the following formula (1) or (2): (wherein n1 and n2 each independently represent an integer of 1 to 4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Yamauchi, Norifumi Muranaka, Satoru Nishioka, Yuichi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 8725051
    Abstract: Disclosed is a heat-producing fixing belt of a cylindrical shape which is composed of a heat-producing layer, an elastic layer, and a releasing layer in this sequential order from the inner side, and the heat-producing layer contains a polyimide resin and fabric containing carbon fiber and a pair of electrodes to supply power to the heat-producing layer making contact with the fabric containing carbon fiber are provided on both ends of the cylindrical shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eiichi Yoshida, Susumu Sudo, Yasuo Kurachi, Kotaro Takebe, Izumi Mukoyama
  • Patent number: 8711380
    Abstract: The disclosure proposes the automatic use of the job or image content information of a print job. This information is used to automatically adjust the general printing procedure for a print engine. The job's image content information is analyzed in the context of the constraints of the print engine to determine an improved printing procedure, which may include cycle-up operation, process control cycles, or maintenance cycles for that particular print job.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron Michael Burry, Eric Scott Hamby, Christopher Auguste DiRubio
  • Publication number: 20140093706
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a coated substrate for electrophotographic (LEP) printing comprising an ink-receiving layer and a base layer, wherein said ink-receiving layer comprises a reactive polycarbodiimide component and a method for producing the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: HEWLETT-PACKARD INDIGO B.V.
    Inventors: Inna Tzomik, Hannoch Ron, Igal Levine
  • Patent number: 8675254
    Abstract: An image processing device includes: a storage part configured to store a correlation between a pre-deformation color and a post-deformation color that reflects a color variation accompanying a deformation of a medium, with respect to a degree of deformation of the medium; an acquisition part configured to acquire degree-of-deformation information and color information for each region of a deformed object; and a determination part configured to determine a color of the image based on the degree-of-deformation information, the color information, and the correlation, so that the post-deformation color of each region of the deformed object approximates the color information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Fujita, Minoru Koyama