Having Temperature Or Humidity Detection Patents (Class 399/44)
  • Publication number: 20100329707
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearing member for bearing a toner image; a transfer member constituting a transfer portion for transferring the toner image formed on said image bearing member onto a recording material; a voltage source for applying, to said transfer member, a voltage in the form of superimposed DC voltage and AC voltage; controller for controlling said voltage source such that a duty ratio, in the AC voltage, of a component increasing an absolute value of a transfer voltage is less than 50%; and an executing portion for executing an operation in an image forming mode in which the toner image is transferred from said image bearing member onto the recording material with the duty ratio controlled by said controller correspondingly to a kind of the recording material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Yamada
  • Publication number: 20100316398
    Abstract: An image-forming device includes a media path extending through the image-forming device, and at least one image transfer nip positioned along the media path. An electrode is positioned subsequent to the nip with respect to the media path and is coupled to a voltage source. An electric field produced by the electrode and voltage source limits the degree of post-nip toner scattering by applying an electrostatic force to toner particles on media sheets passing along the media path. The image-forming device further includes a processor for monitoring a plurality of ambient conditions, for adjusting the voltage applied to the electrode, and optionally, for repositioning the electrode with respect to the media path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Inventors: Richard Gordon Boyatt, III, Alexander Johannes Geyling, Brandon Alden Kemp, Niko Murrell, Gregory Lawrence Ream
  • Patent number: 7853161
    Abstract: A potential difference between the photoreceptor and the development roller is set at a value at which the normally charged toner on the development roller can be flown toward the photoreceptor in the development phase at the time of compulsorily consuming the toner, and this potential difference is set at a value at which the flown normally charged toner can be returned to the development roller in the recovery phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Toru Hayase, Kuniya Matsuura, Yuusuke Okuno, Kentaro Katori, Hiromasa Ueno, Hideaki Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20100303487
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image forming unit that directly transfers an image onto a transfer sheet; an intermediate transfer member onto which an image is transferred; a secondary image forming unit that transfers an image onto the intermediate transfer member; a secondary transfer unit that transfers the image on the intermediate transfer member onto the transfer sheet; a fixing unit that fixes an image on the transfer sheet at a fixation position; and a guide member that guides the transfer sheet to the fixation position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Takahiro MIYAKAWA, Shigeyuki Ishii, Jun Kosako, Takashi Enami, Nobuyuki Kobayashi, Natsuko Kawase, Takahiro Kamekura, Miyo Taniguchi
  • Publication number: 20100303485
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a receiver to receive image information from an external device, a movable intermediate transfer member, a plurality of latent image bearing members on which a latent image is formed based on the image information, a plurality of developing devices, each of which disposed in proximity to the latent image baring member, to develop the latent image on the latent image bearing member with toner to form a toner image thereon, a transfer bias application mechanism to apply a transfer bias to the intermediate transfer member and halt temporarily and periodically application of the transfer bias in a continuous output mode in which a plurality of images are continuously formed on different recording media sheets based on the image information of the plurality of images received continuously by the receiver, and a secondary transfer member to transfer the superimposed toner image onto a recording medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventor: Yoshihisa Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20100303486
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner carrying member for supplying toner to the image bearing member to visualize the latent image; a rotatable toner supply member, contacted to the toner carrying member, for supplying the toner to the toner carrying member, the toner supply member including a surface foam layer; a voltage applying device for applying voltages to the toner carrying member and the toner supply member; a controller for controlling the voltage application apparatus such that A and B have a polarity which is the same as a regular charging polarity of the toner, where A=Vs2?Vd2; B=(Vs2?Vd2)?(Vs1?Vd1); Vd1 is a voltage applied to the toner carrying member during a period in which the latent image is visualized; Vs1 is a voltage applied to the toner supplying member during the period; vd2 is a voltage applied to the toner carrying member during at least a part of a period which is after the visualization of the latent image and before stoppage of rotation of the toner supplying member; and Vs
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Shibata, Masahiro Yoshida, Kazunori Hashimoto, Kazuhiro Okubo, Hisashi Yamauchi
  • Publication number: 20100296826
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; a developer carrier being in contact with the image carrier and configured to develop the electrostatic latent image on the image carrier with a developer; a temperature humidity measurement unit configured to measure the temperature and humidity around the developer carrier; a pressure changing mechanism configured to change a pressure of a contact between the image carrier and the developer carrier; and a pressure controller operable to change, based on the temperature and humidity measured by the temperature humidity measurement unit, the pressure by controlling the pressure changing mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: OKI DATA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tsutomu YAMANE
  • Patent number: 7837320
    Abstract: A liquid droplet ejection apparatus comprising a liquid droplet ejection head that ejects liquid droplets, a conveyor belt that retains and conveys a recording medium while causing the recording medium to face the liquid droplet ejection head, and a charge roll that causes the recording medium to be electrostatically attracted to the conveyor belt. The charge roll and the conveyor belt are configured not to contact each other, and a gap between the charge roll and the conveyor belt is less than the thickness of the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Mohri, Hiroaki Satoh, Koichi Saitoh
  • Patent number: 7831176
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is constituted by a rotatable image bearing member; a charging member for electrically charging the image bearing member in contact with the image bearing member; developing member, containing polishing particles, for collecting toner from the image bearing member and effecting development on the basis of an electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member; a transfer member for transferring a toner image formed on the image bearing member onto a transfer material; an auxiliary charging member, located downstream from a transfer portion and upstream from the charging member with respect to a movement direction of the image bearing member, for electrically charging toner remaining on the image bearing member after the transfer by contact with the image bearing member; and control means for performing a discharging mode, for discharging polishing particles from the auxiliary charging member onto the image bearing member on the basis of an image ratio of an image to be for
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yusuke Ishida
  • Patent number: 7826754
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a charging device, a developing device, a thickness detecting unit and a parameter setting unit. A photosensitive layer is formed on a surface of the photosensitive member. The charging device charges the photosensitive member. The developing device forms a toner image on the surface of the photosensitive member. The thickness detecting unit detects a thickness of the photosensitive layer on a basis of a value of a current supplied to the charging device. When the thickness detecting unit detects the thickness of the photosensitive layer, the parameter setting unit sets at least one of a charge parameter for the charging device and a development parameter to be different from that used in forming an image on a recording medium by transferring a toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive member onto the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomokazu Kurita, Kanji Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7826755
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of performing monochrome printing and color printing in which all the developing units share a single development transformer is constructed such that at the time of monochrome printing the photoreceptor drums for colors are stopped rotating while all the developing units are constantly applied with a high voltage. Further, the cumulative operation time in which the black photoreceptor drum has been operated for monochrome printing is calculated so that the color-printing photoreceptor drums which are stopped during monochrome printing are rotationally driven by a predetermined angle when the cumulative operation time exceeds predetermined fixed time. Thus, the surface of each color-printing photoreceptor drum that is being worn is restored by making the fresh surface of the drum oppose the associated color developing unit, whereby it is possible to prevent occurrence of defects on the surface of each photoreceptor drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroo Naoi, Kohichi Takenouchi, Mitsuru Tokuyama, Kiyofumi Morimoto, Kazuma Hinoue, Tomoki Minamikawa
  • Patent number: 7817934
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus that includes: an image forming portion for forming an image in accordance with image data contained in an input command; and a controller for controlling the image forming portion, and is constructed such that the controller includes: a mode switch for switching the image forming portion from a standby mode in which image forming is instantly enabled into a power-saving mode in which power supply to the image forming portion is partially stopped when no subsequent command has been received after a predetermined period elapsed from when image forming portion was operated last; a mode restoring portion for restoring the image forming portion from power-saving mode to standby mode when a subsequent command is received; and an image quality controller for performing image quality control of the image every time a predetermined time elapsed from when the image forming portion was last operated, and the image quality controller starts execution of the image quality control before the mod
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroo Naoi, Mitsuru Tokuyama, Kohichi Takenouchi, Kiyofumi Morimoto, Kazuma Hinoue
  • Patent number: 7817929
    Abstract: A system for adjusting selected operating parameters of an image forming device to improve color registration based on selected environmental conditions includes a first image forming station to print a first registration mark on a substrate, a second image forming station to at least partially erase the first registration mark to form a registration pattern in a reverse transfer process of the color registration, and a control mechanism to adjust voltage biases of charge and developer rolls of the second image forming station based on wet-bulb temperature values determined from measured dry-bulb temperature and relative humidity values and stored in a lookup table so as to maintain a predetermined potential difference between charged and uncharged areas of a PC drum of the second image forming station that avoids Paschen breakdown and the development of toner at charged areas of the PC drum during the reverse transfer process of the color registration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Reed Booth, Ryan David Brockman, Kerry Leland Embry, Paul Wesley Etter, Claudia Alexandra Marin
  • Patent number: 7817928
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, an intermediate transferring body and a contact type secondary transferring member transferring an image from the intermediate transferring body to a recording medium. The apparatus forms an image with respective developers for multiple colors and uses a predefined adjustment pattern to make density adjustment and position adjustment of respective color images. After execution of the density adjustment and/or the position adjustment, a stain prevention pattern is formed with a yellow developer to cover an area where the adjustment pattern is attached to the secondary transferring member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Yoshie Tsuchida, Takafumi Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 7817933
    Abstract: A method for controlling blade interference in a single blade or multi-blade xerographic cleaner based on a look-up table for environmental conditions and blade age. Temperature and humidity sensors and a blade age counter are used to provide information to a controller, which adjusts the blade interference through a stepper motor based on the preloaded table. This allows lower blade load in most conditions over life, compared to the known method of setting the initial load high enough to cover these stress factors at worse case levels. The look-up table is empirically determined for a give blade material and xerographic system, e.g., photoreceptor, toner, etc. It takes into account the variation in blade load itself as a function of the environment and blade age.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce E Thayer, Richard W Seyfried
  • Publication number: 20100260510
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer supporting member for supplying developer to an image supporting member; a developer supplying member for supplying developer to the developer supporting member; and a stirring member disposed to be freely rotatable. The stirring member includes a free end portion arranged to contact with the developer supplying member and a stirring section for stirring developer when the stirring member rotates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventor: Takuya GOTO
  • Publication number: 20100254721
    Abstract: A printer includes a fixing device that fixes a toner image formed on a sheet and a sheet delivery roller pair for delivering the sheet on which the toner image is fixed by the fixing device onto a sheet delivery tray placed outside of a printer main body. The printer includes a supporting member that supports an upstream edge portion of the sheet in a delivery direction delivered from the sheet delivery roller pair so that the upstream edge portion does not fall down on the sheet delivery tray. The printer includes a blower unit that blows air along a lower surface of the sheet supported by the supporting member from the upstream edge portion of the sheet in the delivery direction toward a downstream edge portion of the sheet in the delivery direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Taku Fukita, Minoru Kawanishi, Kenji Watanabe, Motohiro Furusawa
  • Patent number: 7809294
    Abstract: An image forming device includes an image forming arrangement including a medium passage and motor, and a temperature detecting unit. A supplying control unit allows supply of a recording medium in the medium passage responsive to an image-forming signal, and prevents supply of a recording medium in the passage responsive to a warm-up signal. A warm-up control unit controls the motor to drive, responsive to the warm-up signal, at a first speed if a detected temperature is least a first temperature, and a second speed lower than the first speed if the detected temperature detected is lower than the first temperature. An image forming control unit controls the motor to drive, responsive to the image-forming signal, at a third speed if the detected temperature is at least a second temperature, and a fourth speed lower than the third speed if the detected temperature is lower than the second temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiteru Hattori, Atsushi Hayakawa
  • Publication number: 20100247120
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, a time detection unit, a humidity measurement unit and a controller. The image forming device includes a photoconductive body, a developing device and a transfer device. The time detection unit detects information concerning a stop time period of the developing device. The humidity measurement unit is provided in a casing in which the image forming device is provided and measures a humidity. The controller controls a developer supply member in the developing device based on the information concerning the stop time period detected by the time detection unit and information concerning the humidity measured by the humidity measurement unit, so as to rotate at a lower speed than a rotation speed at a normal time before the developing device starts a first developing operation after the developing device stopped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Shigemi Murata, Makoto Kanno
  • Publication number: 20100247123
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image carrier; a charger to charge a surface of the image carrier; an irradiating device to form a latent image; a developing device to form a toner image; a transfer device to transfer the toner image onto a recording medium; a cleaning device to remove residual toner from the surface of the image carrier; a temperature and humidity detector to measure temperature and humidity within the image forming apparatus; a stop time clock to measure a period of time for which the image carrier is not driven; a removal unit to remove discharge products adhering to the surface of the image carrier; and a control unit to drive the removal unit to remove the discharge products for a period of time determined by the control unit based on measurements obtained by the temperature and humidity detector and the stop time clock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Kenji Honjoh, Hirotaka Hatta, Toshiya Satoh
  • Publication number: 20100247122
    Abstract: A charging device includes: a charging member; a charging power source that applies a charging voltage to the charging member; a temperature dependence storage unit that stores preset temperature dependence; a humidity dependence storage unit that stores preset humidity dependence; an ambient temperature detecting unit that detects an ambient temperature in the vicinity of the charging member; an ambient humidity detecting unit that detects an ambient humidity in the vicinity of the charging member; and a charging voltage control unit that applies the charging voltage to the charging member according to (i) a constant current value that is determined according to the temperature dependence as corresponding to the detected ambient temperature or (ii) a constant current value that is determined according to the humidity dependence as corresponding to the detected ambient temperature and the detected ambient humidity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takuro Hagiwara
  • Publication number: 20100239280
    Abstract: Electric charge remaining on a photoreceptor after transfer causes image deterioration. According to one conventional method widely used in view of this problem, erase light is emitted onto a photoreceptor after the transfer to remove the electric charge remaining on the photoreceptor. However, such a method poses the following problem: emission of erase light leads to light-induced fatigue of the photoreceptor, and as a result, the photoreceptor which has deteriorated from the light-induced fatigue wears down due to abrasion and the like with a cleaner blade, resulting in a shorter lifetime of the photoreceptor. Thus, the thickness of the photosensitive layer is detected to acquire the amount of thickness decrease, and the amount of the erase light is reduced according to the acquired amount of thickness decrease.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Keisuke INOUE
  • Publication number: 20100239279
    Abstract: A prediction table is stored in an NVM and an in-apparatus temperature is measured by a temperature sensor, a registration control adjustment based on the prediction table is carried out if an absolute value of a variation in the in-apparatus temperature is smaller than a threshold, and a registration adjusting patch is formed to actually measure a positional shift amount if the absolute value of the variation in the in-apparatus temperature is equal to or greater than the threshold. When the positional shift amount measured actually is greatly different from a value of the prediction table, the value of the prediction table is modified into the actually measured value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kanou SAITOU, Mitsunori SHIOI, Hajime MISUMI, Fujio OSAWA, Susumu TAKAGAKI, Yuji SATO, Tadakazu TSUTEHIRA, Hideo KAGEYAMA, Takashi KUBO
  • Publication number: 20100239281
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a transfer member provided at a position at which the transfer member can be pressed against the image carrier, a detection device for detecting a toner attachment amount of the toner image formed on the image carrier, an avoidance judging section for judging whether or not avoidance of a pressed region should be performed when a toner image for image formation is formed on the image carrier, the pressed region serving as a region located on the image carrier and being pressed against the transfer member from the end of a previous image forming operation to the start of a present image forming operation, and an avoidance continuation judging section for judging the necessity for continuation of the avoidance by being operated when it is judged as avoidance by the avoidance judging section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Toshiaki HIROI
  • Publication number: 20100232818
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a heating member to heat the fixing member, a pressing member to press against the fixing member with a predetermined pressure, forming a nip where an image is fixed on a recording medium with heat and pressure, a heating controller to cause the heating member to heat the fixing member to a predetermined temperature set in advance and to preheat the fixing member while maintaining the temperature of the fixing member, a recording-medium data receiver to acquire recording-medium data before a fixing process is started, and a preheating-time adjuster to adjust a preheating time during which the heating member preheats the fixing member based on the data acquired by the recording-medium data receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kunii
  • Publication number: 20100226666
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes: an image carrier on whose surface is formed a latent image; a developing unit that forms a developer image with a developer including toner, carrier and additive; a transfer unit that transfers the developer image onto a recording medium; a recovery member that recovers the developer remaining on the surface of the image carrier after the developer image is transferred; a supply member that supplies, to the image carrier, a recovery promoter; and a voltage application unit that applies, to the supply member, an alternating-current voltage whose amplitude is changed in accordance with a change in the percentages of the amount of toner and the amount of carrier per unit area of a developer image forming portion of the developing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masaya Nakatsuhara
  • Patent number: 7773894
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing belt configured to bear a toner image, a driving roller configured to rotationally drive the image bearing belt, first and second image forming units configured to form toner images on the image bearing belt. To correct color misregistration, the image forming apparatus uses a mark detecting unit including a plurality of sensors provided at different positions in a rotation direction of the image bearing belt to detect a mark on the image bearing belt, and adjusts a rotational speed of the driving roller, based on detection results of the mark detecting unit and temperature detected within the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Jiro Shirakata
  • Publication number: 20100196026
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; toner image forming means for forming a toner image on the image bearing member; a transfer member for transferring the toner image from the image bearing member onto a recording material; an executing portion for executing a first cleaning mode in which the transfer member is cleaned by being supplied with a voltage of an identical polarity to a normal charge polarity of toner during non-image formation and executing a second cleaning mode in which the transfer member is cleaned by being supplied with a voltage of an opposite polarity to the normal charge polarity of the toner during the non-image formation; and a control portion for changing a ratio between a first cleaning mode execution period and a second cleaning mode execution period depending on an operation environment of the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masanori Shida
  • Patent number: 7764889
    Abstract: An image-forming device includes a cleaning unit, a toner detection unit, a control unit, and a cleaning target member in the housing. The cleaning unit applies a predetermined voltage with a predetermined absolute value to the cleaning target member to remove toner from the cleaning target member through an electrostatic force. The toner detection unit detects an amount of toner on the cleaning target member at least twice to detect a first amount of toner and a second amount of toner. The first amount and the second amount of toner are detected when a first voltage having a first absolute value is applied as the predetermined voltage at a first time and when a second voltage having a second absolute value is applied as the predetermined voltage at a second time. The control unit determines the predetermined absolute value based on the first toner amount and the second toner amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahito Hamaya, Hiroyuki Naganawa, Katsumi Inukai, Kazushi Fukuta
  • Patent number: 7764888
    Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes: a photoconductor that has a photoconductive layer having a surface on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; a charging roll to which a bias with an AC component superposed on a DC component is applied for charging the photoconductor at a predetermined potential; a film thickness detector that detects a film thickness of the photoconductive layer of the photoconductor without applying the AC component; an environment measuring section that measures at least one of ambient temperature and humidity; an AC component setting section that sets a value of the AC component of the bias based on detection results of the film thickness detector and the environment measuring section; and a charging controller that controls at least one of voltage and current applied to the charging roll based on the value of the AC component set by the AC component setting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuro Hagiwara, Yoshihisa Kitano, Osamu Handa
  • Publication number: 20100183323
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a target part to be cooled detachably attachable to the image forming apparatus, a cooling device including a heat receiving part provided to contact the target part to be cooled to receive heat from the target part to be cooled with a cooling medium provided within the heat receiving part, and a contact/separation mechanism to cause the heat receiving part to contact and separate from the target part to be cooled. The contact/separation mechanism includes a pressing unit to press the heat receiving part against the target part to be cooled. A reaction of a pressing force of the heat receiving part applied to the pressing unit when the heat receiving part is pressed against the target part to be cooled is directed onto a predetermined portion of the target part to be cooled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Fujiya, Kenichi Takehara, Yasuaki Iljima, Takayuki Nishimura, Satoshi Okano, Tomoyasu Hirasawa, Shingo Suzuki, Masanori Saitoh
  • Patent number: 7761018
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus transfers a toner image on a recording medium in a transfer unit and fixes the toner image on the recording medium in a fixing unit. The image forming apparatus performs duplex image formation in a first mode and a second mode. The first mode is a mode in which a toner image is transferred and fixed on a second side of a recording medium after a toner image is transferred and fixed on a first side thereof. The second mode is a mode in which, after a toner image is transferred and fixed on a first side of a recording medium fed at first, a second side of the recording medium is subjected to fixing without transferring thereon a toner image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Takuya Etoh
  • Patent number: 7761017
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes an error detecting unit configured to perform error detection to detect that an output node and another node are placed in a short-circuit state or open-circuit state, a condition change detecting unit configured to detect a change in an external condition, and an operating-point changing unit configured to change an operating point of the error detection performed by the error detecting unit in response to the change detected by the condition change detecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Akira Yashiro
  • Publication number: 20100178070
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image bearing body on which surface a solid lubricant is supplied, forming and bearing an image on the surface; a charging member to which a voltage is applied, being in contact with the image bearing body to impart a charge; a voltage applying section that applies the voltage to the charging member, capable of switching the voltage between superimposed voltage on which DC voltage and AC voltage are superimposed and non-superimposed voltage including only DC voltage; an image forming section that forms a toner image; a transfer device that transfers the formed toner image to a transferring body; a cleaning member that contacts the image bearing body to scrape unnecessary substance from the surface; and a voltage switching section that switches the voltage applied to the charging member between the superimposed voltage and the non-superimposed voltage according to an amount of the solid lubricant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Taichi YAMADA
  • Patent number: 7756436
    Abstract: A developing roller supplies toner to an image on an image bearing body, the image being formed in accordance with image data. A toner supplying member supplies developer material to the developer bearing member. A computing section computes a dot population density in corresponding one of a plurality of sub data areas. The plurality of sub data areas are obtained by dividing the image data such that the plurality of sub data areas are aligned in a printable area of a print medium in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the print medium. A controller performs a developer material removing process based on the dot population density, in which the toner deposited on the developing roller is removed from the developing roller in an area corresponding to a low dot population density of image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Tsutomu Yamane
  • Patent number: 7751072
    Abstract: A method of printing includes processing a print job stream to identify one or more images to be printed on a first substrate. The first substrate has a substrate attribute, such as paper weight or surface roughness, which is different from that of a second substrate. A marking engine is selected to print the identified images on the selected first substrate. An operating parameter of the marking engine is modified from a set point for the second substrate to a modified set point for the first substrate, to accommodate the substrate attribute of the selected first substrate. The identified images are sent to the selected marking engine to be printed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: David G. Anderson, Charles Anthony Radulski, Robert M. Lofthus
  • Patent number: 7742712
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus for transferring a toner image onto a sheet by applying a transfer bias voltage to the sheet through a transfer member, there is provided a technique of preventing poor transfer from occurring by suitably controlling the transfer bias voltage according to a processing condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takao Izumi
  • Publication number: 20100142981
    Abstract: A system for tailoring a transfer nip electric field includes a transfer roll, a backup roll forming a transfer nip with the transfer roll, and a pre-nip roll positioned upstream from the transfer and backup rolls and the transfer nip such that a toner image-supporting transfer belt moving past the pre-nip, transfer and backup rolls separately makes contact with, wraps partially around, and rotates each of the rolls as a media sheet is fed into the transfer nip after first passing through a gap defined between the pre-nip and transfer rolls such that by presetting the position, geometry and charge of the pre-nip roll relative to the transfer and backup rolls and the transfer belt an electrical field at the transfer nip can be tailored for enhanced toner transfer from the transfer belt to the media sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: Nicholas Fenley Gibson, Brandon Alden Kemp, Brad Edward Mattingly, Michael Todd Phillips, Peter Brown Pickett, Gregory Lawrence Ream, Christopher Michael Smith, Julie Ann Gordon Whitney
  • Patent number: 7734207
    Abstract: A turret fusing apparatus including (a) a frame; (b) a rotatable external pressure roller mounted at a first mounting position to the frame; and (c) a rotatable turret assembly mounted at a second mounting position on the frame for selectably forming different fusing nips having different characteristics with the rotatable external pressure roller. The rotatable turret assembly has at least a pair of internal pressure rollers including a first rotatable internal pressure roller for forming a first fusing nip having a first set of characteristics with the rotatable external pressure roller, and a second rotatable internal pressure roller for forming a second fusing nip having a second set of characteristics with the rotatable external pressure roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony S Condello, Donald M Bott
  • Publication number: 20100129095
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus which includes a photosensitive body on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, a developing unit including toner to develop the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive body, a temperature sensor installed in the developing unit to measure temperature around the toner, a memory unit having information regarding the toner and installed in the developing unit to receive signals from the temperature sensor, and a controller electrically connected to the memory unit to control developing operations based on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Young-ho YOO, Yong-geun Kim
  • Patent number: 7720399
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing body that bears a developer image, a transfer member for transferring the developer image to a recording medium, a storing section in which a stored temperature value and a stored electric resistance value of the transfer member are stored, a temperature detecting section that detects a temperature of the transfer member, a calculating section that calculates a temperature variation value, a comparing-and-determining section that determines whether the temperature variation value is less than a temperature variation threshold, an output control section that determines a transfer output based on the stored electric resistance value stored in the storing section in the case where the temperature variation value is less than the temperature variation threshold, and an output applying section that applies the transfer output to the transfer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihiko Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20100104301
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a medium transport path which a medium is transported through; an image forming unit configured to form a developer image on the medium transported through the medium transport path; a fusing unit configured to fix the developer image formed on the medium to the medium; a temperature detecting unit configured to detect temperature in the image forming apparatus; and a controller operable to temporarily stop the transport of the medium in the medium transport path when the temperature detected by the temperature detecting unit is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Koji KATO
  • Patent number: 7706703
    Abstract: When image forming is performed by a photosensitive drum according to operating conditions corresponding to an image forming mode selected out of a predetermined plurality of candidates, an actual cumulative number of printed sheets Pi is corrected and recorded based on the image forming mode (monochrome mode or color mode; low-temperature and low humidity ambience mode or other ambience mode) selected at the time of each image forming (S7) and an adjustment volume (koƗPia) of a charging applied voltage Ey is calculated and the charging applied voltage Ey is set based on a corrected cumulative number of printed sheets Pia (S5). As a result, the charging applied voltage Ey to a charging unit is changed according to a cumulative number of printed sheets and at the same time, a pace of change thereof is adjusted based on the image forming mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tohru Sakuwa, Kohji Shinkawa
  • Patent number: 7706730
    Abstract: An image forming device which transfers a toner image carried on an image carrying body from the image carrying body to a transfer receiving body in a transfer section, the device including a charge producing section provided at an upstream side, in a moving direction of the transfer receiving body, with respect to a position at which the image carrying body and the transfer receiving body oppose each other so as not to be contacted with the transfer receiving body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akitoshi Akaike, Naohisa Fujita, Satoru Hori
  • Patent number: 7697854
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided which is capable of forming higher-quality images by detecting a toner concentration with higher accuracy to attain appropriate toner supply and image density. A value obtained by adding a correction value based on a temperature, humidity, a print coverage, or the like to a developer concentration adjustment value is set as a control voltage value Vc which is to be inputted to a toner concentration sensor, and an output value of the toner concentration sensor is detected for each of process speeds. A difference between the output value detected and a value at reference process speed is calculated and based on the difference, a correction value is further calculated. Such another calculation of the correction value with use of the output value detected allows for highly accurate correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Motoyuki Itoyama, Syouichi Fujita, Mitsuhiro Murata
  • Patent number: 7697855
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus including a belt, a cleaning roller opposed to a surface of the belt, a voltage generating circuit generating a voltage applied to the cleaning roller, a voltage value detecting circuit detecting a voltage value applied to the cleaning roller, a control unit controlling the voltage generating circuit by inputting a control signal to the voltage generating circuit such that the voltage value detected by the voltage value detecting circuit is set to the same value as a target voltage value, and a target voltage value setting section setting the target voltage value based on a duty of the control signal input from the control unit to the voltage generating circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsunemitsu Fukami, Kazushi Fukuta
  • Publication number: 20100086321
    Abstract: A xerographic marking engine adjusts a charging actuator value, such as an AC peak-to-peak voltage or an AC peak-to-peak current, based on a determined knee value, VKNEE, of a charge curve for an imaging apparatus photoreceptor within the xerographic marking engine and environmental sensor data. The environmental sensor data may measure environment temperature and environment humidity. In near A-zone [80 degrees Fahrenheit and 80 percent relative humidity] environments, the charging actuator value may be selected to achieve a predetermined photoreceptor wear rate that avoids print quality defects due to lateral charge migration. In other than A-zone environments, the charging actuator value may be selected to minimize the photoreceptor wear rate, while avoiding print quality defects. The described approach allows optimal photoconductor wear to be achieved, in all operational environments, without increasing the risk of print quality defects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Aaron Michael BURRY, Kenny-tuan T. DINH, Karl E. KURZ, Bruce E. THAYER, Michael F. ZONA
  • Patent number: 7692820
    Abstract: A method and or a device for comprehensive temperature calibration of a full width array (FWA) image sensor may minimize loss of productivity and/or image quality. Multiple temperature sensors disposed along a width of the FWA image sensor may provide temperature points used to correct for temperature shifts in output of individual pixel sensors of the FWA image sensor. Under control of a microprocessor, a real-time correction may be calculated for each pixel of the FWA image sensor. The correction may be based upon a real-time temperature profile of the FWA image sensor and temperature dependent factors of at least one calibration equation. The factors may be predetermined, or be determined at factory test, at warm-up or at a specified time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Eugene A. Rogalski, Jr., Paul A. Hosier
  • Patent number: 7693436
    Abstract: A fixing unit adapted to fix a developing agent onto an image forming medium by way of a heat roller containing a heater and a press roller conducts a warming up operation for the optimum warming up time as determined based on the temperature and the humidity of ambient air detected by a temperature/humidity sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenichiro Shishikura
  • Publication number: 20100080587
    Abstract: A system for adjusting selected operating parameters of an image forming device to improve color registration based on selected environmental conditions includes a first image forming station to print a first registration mark on a substrate, a second image forming station to at least partially erase the first registration mark to form a registration pattern in a reverse transfer process of the color registration, and a control mechanism to adjust voltage biases of charge and developer rolls of the second image forming station based on wet-bulb temperature values determined from measured dry-bulb temperature and relative humidity values and stored in a lookup table so as to maintain a predetermined potential difference between charged and uncharged areas of a PC drum of the second image forming station that avoids Paschen breakdown and the development of toner at charged areas of the PC drum during the reverse transfer process of the color registration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventors: Robert Reed Booth, Ryan David Brockman, Kerry Leland Embry, Paul Wesley Etter, Claudia Alexandra Marin