Forced Air Circulation Patents (Class 399/92)
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Patent number: 11977351Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a development device, and a control unit that controls the development device. The development device includes a toner collection mechanism having a duct, a filter, and an exhaust fan. The duct is connected to a conveyance chamber of the development container and allows air in the conveyance chamber to flow through. The filter is disposed at a connecting part between the duct and the conveyance chamber, and collects toner flowing into the duct from the conveyance chamber. The exhaust fan makes the air in the conveyance chamber flow to the outside via the duct. The control unit changes rotational frequency or operation frequency of the exhaust fan based on current detected by a current detection unit at non-image forming time.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2023Date of Patent: May 7, 2024Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.Inventors: Takuji Watanabe, Junichi Nakagawa, Kenichi Tamaki, Hiroshi Yamazaki, Tamotsu Shimizu
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Patent number: 11971680Abstract: An abutting portion that abuts on an operation lever for moving a pressure roller is provided on an inner side of an exterior cover provided so as to be openable and closable with respect to a housing that accommodates a fixing unit. The pressure roller is movable to a first pressing position where the pressure roller presses a heating roller with a first pressing force and to a second pressing position where the pressure roller presses the heating roller with a second pressing force smaller than the first pressing force. In addition, the operation lever is moved to a first position for positioning the pressure roller at the first pressing position and to a second position for positioning the pressure roller at the second pressing position. When the exterior cover is closed while the operation lever is located at the second position, the abutting portion abuts on the operation lever.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2021Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hisashi Otaka
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Patent number: 11947312Abstract: An example developing device includes a developing roller, a regulation blade to regulate a thickness of a toner layer attached to an outer circumference of the developing roller, a blade bracket for supporting the regulation blade, and an inner duct including an air supply port and extending in a longitudinal direction of the developing roller to form a flow path of air to cool the blade bracket.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2021Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Minguk Go, Horyul Lee, Yoshihiko Ichikawa, Yunkyu Shim
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Patent number: 11940752Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing; a powered body for image formation provided inside the housing; an attachable/detachable body that is attached to and detached from the housing; a power supply path body that is attached to and detached from the attachable/detachable body to form a power supply path; and a substrate that supplies power to the powered body, is directly mounted on the attachable/detachable body or the power supply path body, and is separated from the attachable/detachable body or the power supply path body.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2022Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.Inventor: Atsushi Kaneko
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Patent number: 11914320Abstract: An image forming apparatus, for forming an image with a fixing unit that fixes a toner image to a recording material and with a first transport path, includes: a first guide unit that guides one side of a recording material discharged from the fixing unit and transported through the first transport path; a second guide unit that guides the other side of the recording material transported thorough the first transport path; a blowing part through which gas is sent to the one side of the recording material transported through the first transport path; and a gas guiding part that faces the second guide unit with the first transport path interposed between the gas guiding part and the second guide unit and that guides, in a direction away from the first transport path, gas that is sent from the blowing part and whose traveling direction is changed by a recording material.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2022Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.Inventors: Kazunari Ishii, Koji Yoshitsugu, Yuta Shimatate, Shunsuke Yamasaki, Naoki Sambe, Yasuhisa Gonda
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Patent number: 11904598Abstract: A conditioner includes a pressure roller assembly, a tension roller assembly, a heating element, a pressure roller drive motor, a tension drive motor, and a controller. The heating element heats the pressure roller assembly. The pressure roller drive motor rotates the pressure roller assembly. The tension drive motor rotates the tension roller assembly. The controller receives a print job complete notification to initiate a conditioner shutdown. In response to the print job complete notification, the controller turns off the tension drive motor. The controller sets the heating element to a predetermined temperature and waits a first predetermined period. In response to the first predetermined period elapsing, the controller turns off the heating element. With the heating element turned off, the controller turns off the pressure roller drive motor.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2018Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Jody L Clayburn, Ian Anderson, Brooke Hoyer
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Patent number: 11868074Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first casing including a transfer unit, a second casing including a fixing unit, and a third casing provided between the first casing and the second casing and including an intermediary feeding member. The first casing includes a first discharging port discharging a recording material with a toner image. The second casing includes a first receiving port receiving the recording material with the toner image. A height from an installing surface of the image forming apparatus to the first receiving port in a vertical direction is different from a height from the installing surface to the first discharging port. The intermediary feeding member of the third casing is provided obliquely in the vertical direction from a second receiving port receiving the recording material from the first discharging port to a second discharging port delivering the recording material to the first receiving port.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2022Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Akio Ogasawara
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Patent number: 11868084Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing having an opening, a cover configured to open the opening in an open state and to close the opening in a close state, a photosensitive drum, a heater, a fan configured to force air out of the housing, and a controller. The cover in the open state is configured to allow a sheet with a toner image fixed thereon to be ejected through the opening. The heater is configured to heat a sheet to fix a toner image on the sheet, and is located between the cover in the close state and the photosensitive drum. During execution of a printing process, the controller is configured to cause the fan to rotate at a first speed if the cover is in the closed state, and to rotate at a second speed lower than the first speed if the cover is in the open state.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2022Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Koji Abe
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Patent number: 11846908Abstract: An image forming apparatus having an image forming apparatus and a first housing is provided. The first housing has a top cover, a front cover, a side cover, a first guide, and a second guide. The front cover has a front wall having a first outlet port and a first upper wall. The side cover has a first side wall having a second outlet port and a second upper wall. The first guide guides liquid entering the first housing to the first outlet port and is connected to the front wall. The second guide guides the liquid entering the first housing to the second outlet port and is connected to the first side wall.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2022Date of Patent: December 19, 2023Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Koji Abe, Tomohiro Wada
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Patent number: 11835876Abstract: In opposition to a sheet feeding path, an ultrafine particle (UFP) collecting filter provided between transfer and fixing is easily exchanged. Therefore, a duct unit kept in a state of holding the UFP collecting filter is removably and easily mounted to a duct.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2020Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Ryoichi Kawasumi
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Patent number: 11822282Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion configured to form a toner image on a sheet, a fixing portion configured to heat and pressurize the sheet bearing the toner image to fix the toner image to the sheet, a shutter provided to be movable to an open position at which the shutter opens an opening that the sheet being conveyed toward the fixing portion is able to pass through, and a closed position at which the shutter closes the opening, an urging portion configured to urge the shutter toward the open position, and an abutment portion that the shutter urged toward the open position by the urging portion abuts to be positioned at the open position.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2022Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Akitoshi Toyota
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Patent number: 11822284Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image forming unit, a second image forming unit, and an intake unit. The intake unit includes an intake duct provided at one side relative to the first and the second image forming units in an arrangement direction of the plurality of image forming units and configured to take in air outside the image forming apparatus from an intake port, a first fan configured to take in air from a first communication port, and a second fan configured to take in air from a second communication port. The intake unit branches air taken in from the intake duct to the air taken in from the first communication port by the first fan and the air taken in from the second communication port by the second fan, and blows the air to each of the first image forming unit and the second image forming unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2022Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yuki Tashiro
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Patent number: 11822285Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes first and second image forming units, and first and second fans. The first and second image forming units are positioned on one and the other endmoset sides in an arrangement direction of the plurality of image forming units, respectively. The first and second fans are provided closer on one and the other endmoset side than the first and second image forming units, respectively. A first suction port for supplying outside air to the first fan is positioned closer to the first image forming unit than to the second image forming unit. A second suction port is positioned closer to the second image forming unit than to the first image forming unit. The first fan is positioned closer to the first image forming unit than to the second image forming unit, and the second fan is positioned closer to the second image forming unit than to the first image forming unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2022Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hideto Abe
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Patent number: 11815848Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device that forms an image on a recording material, a forming device storage space storing the image forming device, a temperature adjustment space where a temperature adjustment device adjusts temperature, and a supply unit that supplies air in the temperature adjustment space into the forming device storage space.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2021Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.Inventors: Teruyo Ryuzaki, Satoru Nishikawa, Yoshitaka Kuroda, Shinji Kawashima, Shinya Mitorida
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Patent number: 11803138Abstract: A fixing apparatus can include a heater roller, a tension roller, a belt movable from the heater roller to the tension roller, a pressure roller to make pressure contact with the heater roller via the belt to form a fixing nip, and a blower member including a first opening to direct air toward the belt and a second opening to direct air toward the heater roller.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2021Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Takayuki Horie, Yasuo Suzuki
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Patent number: 11802009Abstract: A trolley device is used to convey laminar elements. The trolley device includes at least one belt that defines a closed loop, a plurality of pulleys, at least one drive pulley being configured to act on the belt, the pulleys being mounted on a frame with a supporting region over which a section of the belt can be slid and wherein suction means linked to the belt are provided. The belt includes at least on the outer face thereof a projecting section of predetermined length that protrudes in height with respect to the rest of the belt, the projecting section being provided with a plurality of through holes aligned in position with through holes made in the belt.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2021Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Assignee: COMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL MAQUINARIA CARTON ONDULADO, S.L.Inventors: Ramon Serra Obiol, Jaume Pugès Triguero, Jordi Puig Vargas
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Patent number: 11803137Abstract: A fixing device includes a first roller that is arranged in a region where an image formed on a recording medium is fixed to the recording medium and that heats the recording medium, a second roller that is arranged to face the first roller in the region and pressurizes the recording medium toward the first roller, a fan that sends air to the second roller, and a processor configured to control the fan, in which the second roller has a shape in which a diameter of an end portion in a longitudinal axis direction is larger than a diameter of a central portion in the longitudinal axis direction, the first roller and the second roller fix the image to the recording medium in the region, and the processor is configured to change a rotation speed of the fan between the central portion and the end portion of the second roller.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2022Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.Inventors: Makoto Hasegawa, Yasutaka Naito
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Patent number: 11772396Abstract: A recording device includes a recording unit configured to perform recording on a medium, and a discharge tray located above the recording unit in a height direction of the recording device and configured to support the medium discharged after recording is performed thereon, and a flow path of air for cooling a cooling target is formed along a lower surface of the discharge tray. The recording unit is an example of the cooling target.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2021Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Atsushi Takei, Junya Hayakawa
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Patent number: 11747755Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a controller configured to identify a selected sheet size setting as defined by a dimension in the width direction and a dimension in the conveyance direction, set a cooling threshold at a first threshold if the selected sheet size setting is a first size having a dimension in the width direction larger than a predetermined dimension, and a dimension in the conveyance direction larger than the dimension in the width direction, and set the cooling threshold at a second threshold lower than the first threshold if the selected sheet size setting is a second size having a dimension in the width direction that is the same as the dimension in the width direction of the first size, and a dimension in the conveyance direction smaller than the dimension in the width direction.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2022Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yasuhiro Maruyama
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Patent number: 11720058Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first housing inside an image forming unit, a second housing that includes a fixing unit, a conveyance belt provided in the first housing to convey a sheet, first and second intake fans, and first and second duct units. The first intake fan takes in air to suction the sheet to an outer peripheral surface of the conveyance belt. The first duct unit provided in the first housing forms an air path for exhausting air from the first intake fan. The second intake fan provided in the second housing takes in air near the fixing unit. The second duct unit provided in the second housing passes air flowing in from the first duct unit and the air taken in by the second intake fan. The second duct unit includes an exhaust port for exhausting air outside and a filter through which the exhausted air passes.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2021Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroshi Nojima, Keiko Fujita
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Patent number: 11720056Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a stacking unit, a frame, an outer surface member, an electronic circuit board, and a fan. The image forming unit, supported by the frame, forms an image on a recording material that then is stacked on the stacking unit. The outer surface member is disposed on an outer side relative to the frame and includes a through-hole. The electronic circuit board is disposed between the frame and the outer surface member. The fan sucks air from an outside to an inside of the image forming apparatus via the through-hole. The electronic circuit board is disposed on an upstream side of the fan in a direction of an air flow generated into air by the fan. The stacking unit is disposed on a downstream side of the fan in the direction of the air flow generated by the fan.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2021Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yu Shuhama
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Patent number: 11709459Abstract: An exhaust device includes: a flow path section through which gas containing ozone generated inside a device body flows; a joint section connected to the flow path section with an inlet opening where hot gas generated inside the device body flows, and where gas containing ozone and hot gas are joined internally; a first air flow generator that generates an air flow which causes the gas containing ozone to flow through the flow path section and to the joint section; and a second air flow generator that causes the gas containing ozone and the hot gas to be joined and discharged from the joint section to outside the device body so that a flow rate of the joint gas discharged from the joint section to outside the device body is higher than a flow rate of the gas containing ozone to the joint section by the first air flow generator.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2022Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.Inventor: Shinya Mitorida
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Patent number: 11703781Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt, a nip formation pad, a support, an opposing rotator, a heat source, a housing, an inlet guide, an airflow generator, and an airflow guide. The fixing belt fixes an unfixed image on a recording medium. The nip formation pad is disposed inside a loop of the fixing belt. The support supports the nip formation pad. The opposing rotator abuts on the nip formation pad via the fixing belt. The heat source heats the fixing belt. The housing has an inlet opening to receive the recording medium. The inlet guide is disposed at the inlet opening and guides the recording medium to the fixing nip. The airflow generator generates an airflow in the housing. The airflow guide guides the airflow toward the inlet opening to generate a flow of air in the inlet opening in a direction different from a conveyance direction.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2021Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventor: Naoki Iwaya
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Patent number: 11697292Abstract: A conveyance device includes a conveyor having an outer face that contacts a sheet adhered with liquid. The conveyor conveys the sheet. A heat radiator generates air. A ventilator sends the air to the outer face of the conveyor.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2022Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventor: Ken Onodera
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Patent number: 11693357Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: an image forming device provided in a housing; a fan to cool an interior of the housing; an AC/DC board; a first temperature detecting element configured to output a signal corresponding to a temperature in the housing; a second temperature detecting element configured to output a signal corresponding to a temperature of an element mounted on the AC/DC board; and a controller configured to control the fan when at least one of a first condition and a second condition is satisfied, the first condition being a condition in which a first detection temperature detected based on the signal received from the first temperature detecting element is not less than a first temperature threshold, the second condition being a condition in which a second detection temperature detected based on the signal received from the second temperature detecting element is not less than a second temperature threshold.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2021Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takuya Nagai, Keisuke Manoh, Yuya Harada, Yoshiyuki Tsujimoto
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Patent number: 11693349Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a single fan, a first air outlet port disposed so as to supply air sent from the fan to an image surface of the sheet, a second air outlet port disposed so as to supply the air sent from the fan to a surface opposite to the image surface of the sheet, and a control unit configured to control the fan. The control unit includes a first mode of controlling a rotational speed of the fan at a first rotational speed in a case where the sheet is not present in a position facing the first air outlet port and control the rotational speed of the fan at a second rotational speed lower than the first rotational speed in a case where the sheet is present in the position facing the first air outlet port.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2022Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yuki Uchida
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Patent number: 11693342Abstract: A first rotating member a heating recording medium, a second rotating member forming a nip portion with the first rotating member, a holding member disposed downstream of the nip portion in a conveying direction and holds a conveying member conveying the recording medium, and a guide member facing the conveying member, the fixing apparatus is not exposed to an outside when opening/closing member is in a closed state, the fixing apparatus is exposed to the outside when the opening/closing member is in an opened state. A distance between the holding member being in the closed state and at a first position and the guide member is a first distance. A distance between the holding member being in the opened state and at a second position and the guide member is a second distance, and the second distance is shorter than the first distance.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2021Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroki Yamaguchi, Terutaka Endo
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Patent number: 11693360Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first exterior cover provided on a front surface of the image forming apparatus so as to be openable and closable, a second exterior cover provided on a side surface of the image forming apparatus, a third exterior cover fixed on a front surface side of the image forming apparatus and above the first exterior cover in a vertical direction, and a fan configured to suck outside air through a gap formed between the first exterior cover and the second exterior cover. In a state where the first exterior cover is closed, the gap formed between the first exterior cover and the second exterior cover is larger than a gap formed between the third exterior cover and the second exterior cover.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2022Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Ryoichi Kawasumi
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Patent number: 11693359Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus, including; an imaging forming unit for forming a toner image on one surface of a recording material; a fixing unit that includes a heating unit and heats and fixes the toner image formed on the one surface; a discharging unit for discharging the recording material, on which the toner image is fixed, to a discharged paper tray; and a guide member that is disposed between the fixing unit and the discharging unit and forms a recording material conveying path for conveying the recording material from the fixing unit to the discharging unit. On the guide member, a blowing port to send air to the recording material conveying path and a suction port to suck air from the recording material conveying path are disposed on a same surface so as not to cross over the recording materials.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2022Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takehito Osada
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Patent number: 11689673Abstract: A printing device includes a panel unit which operation information for operating a printing unit is input, and a speaker that is stored in a main housing of the printing unit and outputs an operating sound, the main housing includes a sound emitting hole that emits the operating sound to an outside of the main housing, the sound emitting hole is located such that at least a part thereof overlaps the panel unit when the panel unit is viewed from the normal direction.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2022Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Chiharu Kobayashi, Toru Matsuyama
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Patent number: 11675310Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a support frame, a cover, an electric component unit, a duct unit, and a fan. The support frame includes a second support portion disposed more rearward than a first support portion in a front-back direction of the image forming apparatus. The cover is more rearward than the second support portion in the front-back direction, and forms part of an image forming apparatus exterior. The electric component unit has a circuit board, and is between the second support portion and the cover in the front-back direction. The duct unit has an intake port located more frontward than the second support portion in the front-back direction, and is connected to the electric component unit. The fan is more rearward than the second support portion in the front-back direction, and takes in air from the intake port and discharge the air from an electric component unit exhaust port.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2021Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shigeo Doi
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Patent number: 11677889Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, an object to be cooled, a unit, a structural frame, and a ventilation duct. The unit is disposed detachably from the body of the apparatus. The structural frame constitutes a part of the body or the unit. The ventilation duct includes a plurality of ducts connected to each other. The ventilation duct is configured to guide air sucked from outside of the body through an intake of the body to an exhaust port to blow the air to the object to be cooled. The structural frame includes a part of at least one of the plurality of ducts.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2021Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Satoshi Narai
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Patent number: 11669045Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first duct unit, a first air blowing fan, a second duct unit, a filter, and a second air blowing fan. The first duct unit includes a power source substrate, a first intake portion, and a first exhaust portion. The first air blowing fan forms an airflow from the first intake portion to the first exhaust portion. The second duct unit includes a second intake portion to take air in from inside the image forming apparatus, and includes a second exhaust portion to exhaust the air taken in from the second intake portion to outside of the image forming apparatus. The filter is disposed between the second intake portion and the second exhaust portion in an airflow from the second intake portion to the second exhaust portion. The second air blowing fan forms the airflow from the second intake portion to the second exhaust portion.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2021Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Keiko Fujita, Takuya Matsumura
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Patent number: 11630418Abstract: A fan introduces air and send the air toward an air blow target. The fan includes an impeller and a casing. The casing includes a first wall covering the impeller, a second wall covering the impeller and facing the first wall, and a peripheral wall surrounding the impeller and connecting the first and second walls. The peripheral wall has an air discharge port for discharging air toward the air blow target. The impeller is located between the first wall and the second wall. The second wall is located closer to a side cover than the first wall is. At least the first wall or the second wall has an air inlet port for introducing air into the casing. The outside air inlet is located at a different position from the air inlet port as viewed from a facing direction in which the fan and the side cover face each other.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2022Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Koji Abe
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Patent number: 11630417Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion, a transfer belt, a secondary transfer portion, a cleaning member contacting a surface of the transfer belt for cleaning the surface of the transfer belt, a fixing device, an exhausting device, a duct portion and a sheet member. The sheet member is provided on the exhausting device so as to project toward the transfer belt from the exhausting device, the sheet member being opposed to transfer belt and separated by a predetermined space downstream of the transfer portion and upstream of the cleaning member with respect to a rotational direction of the transfer belt, and being configured to prevent air flow between the exhausting device and the transfer belt from flowing downstream with respect to the rotational direction.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2022Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takao Nakajima
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Patent number: 11622059Abstract: An image reading apparatus connected to a conveying apparatus to convey a recording medium to which a toner image is fixed includes a conveying unit and a reading unit having a transparent member, a reading sensor, a housing supporting, and a fan. The conveying unit receives the recording medium discharged from the conveying apparatus and conveys the recording medium. The reading unit is positioned downstream of the conveying unit in a conveying direction of the recording medium. The reading sensor read a housing supporting image information about an image on the recording medium through the transparent member. The housing supports the reading sensor and defines, together with the transparent member, an accommodation space configured to accommodate the reading sensor. The fan is positioned in the accommodation space and circulates air in the accommodation space.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2021Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroki Takayama, Masashi Sawada
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Patent number: 11614701Abstract: A fixing belt heats and fixes a toner image. A pressure roller rotates the fixing belt while in contact with the fixing belt. A heater heats the fixing belt. A lubricating oil forms an oil film between the heater and an inner peripheral surface of the fixing belt. A pressure roller driver rotates the pressure roller so that the lubricating oil causes the fixing belt to be out of contact with the heater.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2022Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventors: Akihiro Kondo, Takashi Eiki, Ryohei Tokunaga, Yuta Kitabayashi, Rina Kikugawa, Hiroki Kawasaki, Shunsaku Fujii, Tei To
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Patent number: 11609527Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image processing apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a first rotating body, a second rotating body, and a connection member. The first rotating body is configured to be openable and closeable and provided in the apparatus main body. The second rotating body is provided in the first rotating body. The second rotating body is configured to be openable and closable from the first rotating body in the same direction as that of the first rotating body. The connection member is linear. The connection member is configured to connect the apparatus main body and the second rotating body to each other and to restrict a rotation angle of the second rotating body.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2020Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Toshiaki Oshiro
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Patent number: 11599053Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a first duct, a second duct, and a switching member. The first duct is disposed at a first side of a sheet conveyance passage to face a first face of a sheet passing the sheet conveyance passage and has a first air blowing port through which air is blown toward the sheet conveyance passage. The second duct is disposed at a second side of the sheet conveyance passage to face a second face of the sheet passing the sheet conveyance passage and has a second air blowing port through which air is blown toward the sheet conveyance passage. The switching member is disposed downstream from the first and second air blowing ports in a sheet conveyance direction and configured to switch the sheet conveyance passage. No pair of rollers is disposed between the switching member and each of the first and second blowing ports.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2020Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Ruki Midorikawa
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Patent number: 11599061Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a heating device including a heater, a developing device, and an airflow generation device. The heater includes a base, a heat generator, an electrode portion, and conductive portions. The conductive portions are disposed on one side and another side in a longitudinal direction in a heat generation region and spaced apart in a lateral direction intersecting the longitudinal direction. A maximum total value among total values of squares of current flowing in the conductive portions at longitudinal positions on the one side is larger than that on said another side. The developing device includes a rotating member and sliding portions. A sliding portion having highest temperature in operation is disposed on one side of the developing device being same as the one side of the heater in the longitudinal direction. The airflow generation device generates an airflow toward the one side of the developing device.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2022Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Kei Saito, Tomoya Adachi, Yuusuke Furuichi
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Patent number: 11579566Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a duct that recovers scattered toner and ozone generated in an image former, wherein the duct is partitioned into two parts, one of the partitioned parts is a scattered toner recovery path that recovers the scattered toner, and the other of the partitioned parts is an ozone recovery path that recovers the ozone.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2021Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventor: Eriko Kozaki
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Patent number: 11573513Abstract: A heating device includes a housing, a heating member, a pressure member, a pair of openings, and a thermal insulator. The heating member and the pressure member extend along a longitudinal direction and press each other to form a nip portion in the housing. The heating member transfers heat to a recording medium passing through the nip portion. The pair of openings is disposed in the housing and opens facing both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the heating member so that air passes through the pair of openings. The thermal insulator is disposed inside the housing between the pair of openings and faces an outer peripheral surface of the heating member.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2021Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventor: Tamotsu Ikeda
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Patent number: 11567431Abstract: A process unit has an image carrying unit having an image carrying member configured to be rotatable about a first axis extending in a first direction, and a developing agent removing member, a developing unit having a developing agent carrying member configured to be rotatable about a second axis parallel to the first axis, and a waste developing agent collecting unit configured to collect the developing agent removed by the removing member from the image carrying member. The waste developing agent collecting unit is arranged on one side in the first direction with respect to the developing unit such that the waste developing agent collecting unit faces the developing unit, and the developing unit is connected to the waste developing agent collecting unit such that the developing unit being movable in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction with respect to the waste developing agent collecting unit.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2022Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shougo Sato
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Patent number: 11546480Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: a housing including a processing unit configured to process image information; an opening and closing member openably and closably provided on the housing, the opening and closing member including a reading unit configured to read an image from an image holding medium and configured to obtain image information from the image; a connection member that electrically connects the reading unit and the processing unit; and a protective member including a first protective member rotatably supported by the opening and closing member and a second protective member rotatably supported by the housing and rotatably connected to the first protective member, wherein rotation axial directions of the first protective member and the second protective member are the same direction as a rotation axial direction of the opening and closing member, and the connection member is accommodated in the protective member and protected by the protective member.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2021Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.Inventors: Yoji Nishida, Masato Serikawa
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Patent number: 11526127Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a developing apparatus, a driving device, an airflow space portion, a duct, and, a drawing fan. A driving-force transmission member, the driving device and the airflow space portion are disposed on a side on which a developer container faces the image bearing member. The driving-force transmission member, the driving device, the duct and the drawing fan are disposed on one end side of a developing rotary member in a rotation-axis direction of the developing rotary member. The duct is disposed underneath the developer container, formed from the side on which the developer container faces the image bearing member to a side opposite to the side on which the developer container faces the image bearing member. The drawing fan is disposed on the side opposite to the side on which the developer container faces the image bearing member.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2021Date of Patent: December 13, 2022Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Atsushi Matsumoto, Hirotoshi Tajima, Kosuke Takeuchi, Takashi Ninomiya, Ryosuke Kosone
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Patent number: 11526126Abstract: An image forming apparatus prints an image on a sheet. The image forming apparatus includes a casing, a plurality of open/close devices, a plurality of fans, and a control device. The casing includes a plurality of openings and a plurality of ventilation holes. The plurality of open/close devices are attached to the casing, and configured to open and close the respectively corresponding openings. The plurality of fans each generate an airflow from inside of the casing to a corresponding one of the plurality of ventilation holes. The control device controls operation of the plurality of fans. The control device also detects occurrence of an event that restricts execution of the printing, identifies a type of the event, selects at least one of the plurality of fans according to the type of the event, and drives the selected fan.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2021Date of Patent: December 13, 2022Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventor: Katsuhiko Okamoto
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Patent number: 11513472Abstract: An image forming apparatus configured to perform simplex printing and duplex printing includes a recording medium ejection device, a suction duct, a blower, and a pair of rotating members. The recording medium ejection device includes a recording medium outlet through which a recording medium is ejected outside of the image forming apparatus and a recording medium reverse port through which a part of the recording medium is ejected to reverse the recording medium in the duplex printing. The suction duct includes a suction port to suck air. The blower is disposed in the suction duct and sucks air from the recording medium ejection device to the suction port. The pair of rotating members is disposed between the suction port and at least one of the recording medium outlet and the recording medium reverse port and reverses both sides of the recording medium in the duplex printing.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2020Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Taisuke Ishikawa, Junichi Murano, Hiroki Ishimitsu
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Patent number: 11507018Abstract: An image formation air blowing device includes an outlet and an airflow control portion. The outlet blows out an airflow toward a target space on a discharge table to which a sheet with an image formed thereon by an image forming portion is discharged. The airflow control portion controls a direction of the airflow at least in a horizontal plane in the target space.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2021Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventor: Shikitaro Ogawa
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Patent number: 11487229Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a guide member including a guide surface that guides a sheet to a delivery rotating body, an opposing member opposed to the other face of the sheet, on an opposite side of the guide surface of the guide member, and defining an air passage between the opposing member and the guide member, such that one end portion is located on a side of the outer space, and the other end portion, on an opposite side of the outer space, communicates with a predesignated space on a side of the fixing device in an apparatus main body, and a dam member located downstream of the delivery rotating body in a sheet transport direction, and configured to dam air to be discharged with the sheet by the delivery rotating body, thereby guiding the air to the one end portion of the air passage.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2022Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventors: Yoshiharu Kanematsu, Taisei Hayakawa
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Patent number: 11487219Abstract: An imaging system includes: a housing including a developing chamber, a developing roller located in the developing chamber to transport a developer and spaced apart from the housing; a conveyance path extending along at least part of a periphery of the developing roller in order to form a flow of air including the developer; and a control member. The developing roller includes a peeling pole at a fixed position with respect to the housing, to discharge the developer. The control member is located along the conveyance path in proximity to the peeling pole of the developing roller, to reduce a flow rate of the air flowing through the conveyance path.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2020Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Naoya Iwata, Takayuki Yamada, Yuya Kato