Forced Air Circulation Patents (Class 399/92)
  • Patent number: 12210316
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet includes a rotatable image bearing member, a transfer roller, a fan, and a duct. The duct extends in a parallel direction to a shaft direction of the transfer roller and includes an inflow port to guide air. The duct further includes, in an area opposing the transfer roller, a first opening portion that is provided at a position closer to a first end side of the duct than to a second end side of the duct, and a second opening portion that is provided at a position closer to the second end side than to the first end side, in the parallel direction. The air supplied to the duct by the fan through the inflow port passes through the first opening portion and the second opening portion, and is supplied to the transfer roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuji Mitsui
  • Patent number: 12210309
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of stations and a plurality of stays arranged along a first direction; and a first board support member supporting a first electric board. Each of the plurality of stations includes: a rotation shaft extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction; and a photosensitive member and a flywheel provided to the rotation shaft. The first board support member is attached to two of the plurality of stays so as to bridge a gap between the two stays, and provided, in the second direction, on a first side opposite to a second side of the flywheel on which the photosensitive member is provided. The first board support member overlaps with the flywheel of at least one of the plurality of stations when viewed from a viewpoint along the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shigeharu Kurita
  • Patent number: 12194731
    Abstract: A medium drying device includes a transport roller pair as a transport unit that transports a medium and a heat roller pair as one heating unit that heats the medium transported by the transport roller pair and is provided in a transport direction of the medium, in which the medium is configured to be transported to a heating area by the heat roller pair a plurality of times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yutaro Harada, Kohei Ueno, Nobuyuki Mizushima, Shunpei Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 12189328
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a heating unit, a fixing unit, a first cover member, an opening portion, a second cover member, an interlocking mechanism, an operating portion, and an operation portion. The operating portion is provided on a side surface of the apparatus main body and operates to turn ON or OFF a power supply. The operation portion is provided on the first cover member and operates the operating portion in a state where the first cover member is arranged at a first closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Takuro Morita
  • Patent number: 12181831
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a casing, a fan unit, a support member interposed between the casing and the fan unit, and an elastic member arranged between the support member and the casing. The first duct includes a fixing portion fixed to the casing, the fixing portion being provided on a first side of the fan unit in a first direction. One of the second duct and the support member includes a support projection provided on a second side, opposite to the first side, of the fan unit, and the other one of the second duct and the support member includes a support hole portion defining a support hole. On the second side, the fan unit is supported on the casing via the support member when the support projection is inserted to the support hole and a gap is provided between the support projection and the support hole portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shogo Terakawa
  • Patent number: 12174564
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first rotatable member, a second rotatable member, an air nozzle, and a pipe. The pipe includes a portion provided in a range overlapping with the first rotatable member and making one reciprocation or more in a case that when a direction crossing a feeding direction of a recording material fed in a nip is a widthwise direction of the first rotatable member, the pipe is viewed in a direction perpendicular to the widthwise direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuharu Toratani, Shutaro Saito, Keisuke Yoshida, Yuya Yamada, Taku Ashida, Asuna Fukamachi, Shohei Tsuzaki, Yusuke Yamaguchi, Hiroshi Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 12174561
    Abstract: A printing drum for a liquid electrophotographic printing system which comprises a photosensitive surface and a heating device mounted to the printing drum. The heating device heats the photosensitive surface of the printing drum to a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Lavi Cohen, Asaf Shoshani, Yulia Haddad
  • Patent number: 12164240
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photoconductor that rotates about a first axis; an exposure portion that includes a substrate that includes a plurality of light emitting portions for exposing a surface of the photoconductor, and a support portion for supporting the substrate, and that moves between an exposure position where the photoconductor is exposed and a retracted position where the photoconductor is retracted from the exposure position; and a rotational member that has a second axis along the first axis, and that moves the exposure portion between the retracted position and the exposure position by rotation about the second axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryoichi Kawasumi, Takehiro Ishidate, Hiroki Takano
  • Patent number: 12158723
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus forming an image on a sheet conveyed in a sheet conveyance direction includes a frame including a first side plate and a second side plate disposed in parallel in a width direction orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction, an intake unit disposed on an outer side of the frame in the width direction and configured to draw air into an interior of the frame, an exhaust unit disposed between the first side plate and the second side plate and configured to discharge air outside of the frame, and a cooling object unit disposed on a path of the air which is drawn into the interior of the frame by the intake unit and moves toward the exhaust unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takehiro Miyashita, Takeo Kawanami, Ryosuke Takahashi
  • Patent number: 12140890
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroki Yamaguchi, Terutaka Endo
  • Patent number: 12130584
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a forming unit, a transfer unit, a blowing unit, a temperature detection unit, and a control unit. The forming unit forms a toner image on a photosensitive member. The transfer unit transfers the formed toner image onto a recording material. The blowing unit takes outside air into the apparatus to generate an air flow for adjusting a temperature of the transfer unit. The temperature detection unit detects an ambient temperature outside the apparatus. The control unit controls driving of the blowing unit based on the detected ambient temperature. The control unit drives the blowing unit in a case where the detected ambient temperature is less than or equal to a first temperature threshold and a gradient value indicating a change in the detected ambient temperature is at least a first gradient threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kadowaki
  • Patent number: 12117767
    Abstract: A second duct for guiding air outside an image forming apparatus A to a charging device includes: a first flow passage; a second flow passage bent from the first flow passage and extending in a direction orthogonal to a rotational direction and a rotational axis direction of a photosensitive drum, the second flow passage being provided with an outlet; and a plurality of flow dividing plates provided in the second flow passage, the plurality of flow dividing plates being disposed in parallel along the rotational axis direction and forming a third flow passage between the flow dividing plates adjacent to each other, in which a relationship between a length in the orthogonal direction and a length in the rotational axis direction of the third flow passage is a predetermined relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuya Otsuka, Hiroki Sato, Ryuichi Kojima
  • Patent number: 12111611
    Abstract: A duct unit is disposed inside a housing of an image forming apparatus and used. The duct unit includes an airflow generation unit, a duct, and a first holding portion and a second holding portion. The duct has a shape in which a center of an intake port and a center of an exhaust port are shifted from each other. The first holding portion and the second holding portion are provided at different positions with respect to the duct so as to be able to hold the duct unit with respect to the housing in a first posture and a second posture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuki Tashiro
  • Patent number: 12098859
    Abstract: An air treatment system includes an air handling unit to direct air into a building structure; a sensor to detect the presence of a target material and produce a signal indicative of the detection of a target material greater than a threshold amount; and a control system to control the air handler based on the signal from the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: AirPure Control Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Peter J. Bonzani, Jr.
  • Patent number: 12078956
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a transfer unit having a transfer belt, a primary transfer roller, a secondary transfer inner roller below the primary transfer roller in a vertical direction, and a stretching roller, a secondary transfer outer roller, a support unit, and an air duct provided in the transfer unit. The secondary transfer outer roller faces the secondary transfer inner roller via the transfer belt and forms a nip portion for secondarily transferring a toner image on the transfer belt to a sheet. The air duct is located downstream of the nip portion in a sheet conveyance direction and below a portion of the transfer belt stretched between the secondary transfer inner roller and the stretching roller in the vertical direction. The air duct includes an air intake port and moves with the transfer unit with movement of the transfer unit from the support unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keiko Fujita, Kentaro Yamana, Shigeo Doi, Yuya Yokobori, Hiroshi Nojima
  • Patent number: 12066766
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a rotatable photoconductor; an exposure portion including a substrate on which a plurality of chips each including a plurality of light emitting portions that emit light for exposing the photoconductor is mounted, and a support portion configured to support the substrate; a fan configured to generate an airflow for cooling the exposure portion; and a duct configured to communicate with the fan and to communicate with the support portion to guide the airflow generated by the fan to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryoichi Kawasumi, Takehiro Ishidate, Hiroki Takano
  • Patent number: 12061427
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a transport unit that transports an object along a transport path; a transfer unit that transfers an image onto the object on the transport path; and a fixing unit that has a heat source for increasing a temperature inside the fixing unit, into which the object onto which the image has been transferred is carried along the transport path, and includes a first opening and closing member that opens a carry-in opening when the object is carried into the fixing unit and closes the carry-in opening after the object is carried into the fixing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Tetsuro Kodera, Tomoaki Yoshioka, Takayuki Yamashita
  • Patent number: 12034894
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a first image reading unit, a second image reading unit provided on a side opposite from the first image reading unit with respect to a sheet feeding passage, a first guiding member, a second guiding member, a first unit holding the first image reading unit and the second guiding member, and a second unit holding the second image reading unit and the first guiding member. One of the first unit and the second unit is movable relative to the other unit so as to open the sheet feeding passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Watanabe, Kazuhisa Okuda, Michiaki Endo
  • Patent number: 12007712
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus in which, while image formation is prevented from being performed, scattered toner that has dropped from a filter and adhered to an outer peripheral surface of a developer carrying member is recovered by a cleaning unit through intermediation of an image bearing member. An absolute value of a perpendicular-magnetic-force gradient of a fixed magnet of the developer carrying member is 4.0 mT/° or less at a position where the fixed magnet faces a central portion of the filter in a rotation direction of a developing sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Junichi Nakagawa, Tamotsu Shimizu, Hiroshi Yamazaki, Kenichi Tamaki, Takuji Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11994826
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photoconductor; an exposure portion that exposes the photoconductor; a fan that generates an airflow for cooling the exposure portion; a duct portion that communicates with the fan; and an elevating duct that relatively moves with respect to the duct portion integrally with the exposure portion, in which the elevating duct includes a rib protruding in a direction away from the exposure portion in a vertical direction, the duct portion includes a sealing member surrounding an opening portion that communicates with the elevating duct, when the elevating duct is located at an exposure position, a surface of the rib intersecting a rotation axis of the photoconductor is in contact with the sealing member, and when the elevating duct is located at a retracted position, a surface of the rib intersecting with the rotation axis of the photoconductor is in contact with the sealing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryoichi Kawasumi, Takehiro Ishidate, Hiroki Takano
  • Patent number: 11981130
    Abstract: A printer is provided with a head configured to discharge ink, a fan configured to cool the head, a sensor configured to output a detection signal indicating a state of the fan. A processer of the printer performs decision processing of deciding print control based on a detection signal output by the sensor. In the decision processing, the processor decides a first print control to drive the fan and control printing by the head in a first print mode, when the detection signal does not indicate a failure state of the fan. In the decision processing, the processor decides a second print control to control the printing by the head in a second print mode suppressing generation of heat more than the first print mode, when the detection signal indicates the failure state of the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ko Masuoka, Katsunori Nishida
  • Patent number: 11982958
    Abstract: There is provided image forming apparatus including: casing; temperature sensor configured to detect temperature in the casing; image forming unit configured to form toner image on sheet; fuser which has heating member configured to heat the sheet, and which is configured to fix the toner image to the sheet; a fan; and a controller. The controller is configured to execute: changing of driving speed of the fan; and waiting control including: stopping supply, to the image forming unit, of next sheet, before the changing of the driving speed; completing the fixing of the toner image to the sheet, before the changing of the driving speed; and restarting supply of the next sheet to the image forming unit after the changing of the driving speed and after waiting time has elapsed since the completion of the fixing of the toner image to the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuya Koyama, Kotaro Fujishiro
  • Patent number: 11977351
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Takuji Watanabe, Junichi Nakagawa, Kenichi Tamaki, Hiroshi Yamazaki, Tamotsu Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11971680
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hisashi Otaka
  • Patent number: 11947312
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Minguk Go, Horyul Lee, Yoshihiko Ichikawa, Yunkyu Shim
  • Patent number: 11940752
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventor: Atsushi Kaneko
  • Patent number: 11914320
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Kazunari Ishii, Koji Yoshitsugu, Yuta Shimatate, Shunsuke Yamasaki, Naoki Sambe, Yasuhisa Gonda
  • Patent number: 11904598
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jody L Clayburn, Ian Anderson, Brooke Hoyer
  • Patent number: 11868074
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akio Ogasawara
  • Patent number: 11868084
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koji Abe
  • Patent number: 11846908
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Abe, Tomohiro Wada
  • Patent number: 11835876
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryoichi Kawasumi
  • Patent number: 11822282
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akitoshi Toyota
  • Patent number: 11822284
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuki Tashiro
  • Patent number: 11822285
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideto Abe
  • Patent number: 11815848
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Teruyo Ryuzaki, Satoru Nishikawa, Yoshitaka Kuroda, Shinji Kawashima, Shinya Mitorida
  • Patent number: 11803138
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Takayuki Horie, Yasuo Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11803137
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Makoto Hasegawa, Yasutaka Naito
  • Patent number: 11802009
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: COMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL MAQUINARIA CARTON ONDULADO, S.L.
    Inventors: Ramon Serra Obiol, Jaume Pugès Triguero, Jordi Puig Vargas
  • Patent number: 11772396
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Takei, Junya Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 11747755
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Maruyama
  • Patent number: 11720056
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yu Shuhama
  • Patent number: 11720058
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nojima, Keiko Fujita
  • Patent number: 11709459
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventor: Shinya Mitorida
  • Patent number: 11703781
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Naoki Iwaya
  • Patent number: 11697292
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Ken Onodera
  • Patent number: 11693342
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroki Yamaguchi, Terutaka Endo
  • Patent number: 11693357
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuya Nagai, Keisuke Manoh, Yuya Harada, Yoshiyuki Tsujimoto
  • Patent number: 11693359
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takehito Osada
  • Patent number: 11693349
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuki Uchida