Forced Air Circulation Patents (Class 399/92)
  • Patent number: 10466644
    Abstract: An exposure window component is provided so as to be separated from an exposure device housing and is attached to an opening through which light from the exposure device housing passes. The exposure window component includes: a transmitting member that allows light from the exposure device housing to pass therethrough; a holding frame that holds the transmitting member; a receiving member that is provided at a periphery of the opening to receive the holding frame when the transmitting member is attached and that removably supports the transmitting member; and a grasping part that is provided at a portion of the holding frame and is grasped when the transmitting member is attached and removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kenichiro Yano
  • Patent number: 10452003
    Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developing container, a rotatable developer bearing member, a magnet, and a wall portion. The magnet is provided in the developer bearing member and has a first magnetic pole and a second magnetic pole of the same polarity as the first magnetic pole. The second magnetic pole is adjacent to and downstream of the first magnetic pole in a rotation direction of the developer bearing member. The wall portion is disposed to face the developer bearing member in an area downstream of the first magnetic pole and upstream of the second magnetic pole in the rotation direction and is configured such that gaps between the wall portion and respective end portions of a developer bearing area in a rotation axis direction of the developer bearing member are smaller than a gap between the wall portion and a center portion of the developer bearing area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ryohei Terada
  • Patent number: 10416597
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, having a body, a fuser to fix an image on a recording medium by heat, an interface to accept a value for a first time, which is between an end of fixing by the fuser until entry into a low power-consuming condition for the heater, a fan, and a controller, is provided. The controller sets a second time being a predetermined length and subtract the second time from the first time to obtain a third time. If the third time is given a positive value, the controller continues driving the fan after the end of the fixing and throughout the third time, and inactivates the fan after the third time. If the third time is given a value smaller than or equal to zero, the controller inactivates the fan during the first time before the entry into the low power-consuming condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Ishizuka, Yuichi Ikeno, Atsushi Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 10409205
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a drum unit having an image carrier carrying a toner image; a fixing unit having a heating member and pressure member forming a fixing nip part with the heating member and fixing the toner image on a recording medium at the fixing nip part; a cooling duct provided between the drum unit and the fixing unit preventing heat transfer from the fixing unit to the drum unit; and a cooling fan causing the air to flow to the cooling duct. The cooling duct is a movable duct being changeable to a first state in which the cooling duct is unopen towards the fixing unit and a second state in which the cooling duct is open towards the fixing unit. The cooling duct changes to the first state during image formation by the drum unit and changes to the second state after the image formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Hirohito Konishi
  • Patent number: 10409219
    Abstract: An image forming device includes: an endless belt that transfers an image onto a sheet; a driving mechanism that drives the endless belt; a nip that transfers an image onto the sheet; a pressing rotational part that presses a front side of the endless belt that is a face onto which an image is transferred, and is rotated together with movement of the endless belt; and an blowing mechanism to blow out air to the pressing rotational part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA INC.
    Inventor: Toshimitsu Morioka
  • Patent number: 10338523
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing portion, a sheet conveying portion, a first airflow generating portion, a setting processing portion, and a first drive processing portion. The fixing portion heats a sheet on which a toner image has been transferred to fix the toner image to the sheet. The sheet conveying portion conveys a sheet along a conveyance path that leads to a sheet discharge port via the fixing portion. The first airflow generating portion includes a first fan and generates an airflow flowing upstream from the fixing portion in a conveyance direction of the sheet. The setting processing portion sets a drive speed of the first fan based on either or both of a sheet size, and a conveyance interval at which the sheet conveying portion conveys the sheet. The first drive processing portion drives the first fan at the drive speed set by the setting processing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Shinji Yamane
  • Patent number: 10331061
    Abstract: A developing device includes a rotatable developing member carrying a developer containing toner and a carrier to a developing position and a magnet provided fixedly inside the rotatable developing member and including first and second magnetic poles. A cover portion opposes the rotatable developing member. A most upstream end of the cover portion is positioned downstream of an uppermost position of the rotatable developing member and upstream of a most upstream position of a half-width of magnetic flux density of the first magnetic pole, and a most downstream end of the cover portion is positioned downstream of a first peak position and upstream of a position where the magnetic flux density of the first magnetic pole is a minimum on a side downstream of the first peak position and upstream of a second peak position where magnetic flux density of the second magnetic pole is a maximum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masafumi Takahashi, Ryohei Terada, Yushi Sadamitsu, Yasuhiro Shimoi, Yutaka Koga, Yukihiro Soeta
  • Patent number: 10301140
    Abstract: A printer includes: a housing; a paper delivery table on which paper sheets delivered from an inside of the housing are stacked; a suction fan that sucks a gas that cools down the inside of the housing from an outside of the housing; and a first suction port that is a suction port through which a gas is sucked from the outside of the housing by the suction fan and through which a gas below a paper sheet that is delivered from the inside of the housing is sucked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: RISO KAGAKU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Iwano, Masaru Ohmori, Yasuko Yamamoto, Keiichi Matsukawa, Masahiro Kato
  • Patent number: 10301130
    Abstract: According to the present disclosure, a first guide unit is provided with a first opening portion through which light in an optical path connecting a first optical element unit and a second optical element unit passes, a second guide unit is provided with a second opening portion through which light in the optical path connecting the first optical element unit and the second optical element unit passes, the first guide unit is provided with a duct for sending air to the first optical element unit, and the air coming out from the first opening portion hits the second optical element unit via the second opening portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takafumi Suzuki, Yasuhiko Okuma, Yusuke Jota
  • Patent number: 10274895
    Abstract: An apparatus including a case that includes an electro conductive housing that accommodates a circuit board on which an electronic component is mounted and that includes a first opening for accommodating the circuit board, an electro conductive top plate that is disposed so as to cover the first opening and that includes a second opening, a HDD that is separated from the circuit board with the top plate and is connected to the circuit board, and a signal wire that connects the circuit board and the HDD to each other thorough the second opening. The apparatus includes an electro conductive cover to cover the HDD and the signal wire, and a duct portion formed between the electro conductive cover and the top plate and passes external air from below the HDD to the housing though the second opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiromichi Koseki
  • Patent number: 10268159
    Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including: a printing paper transport path in which printing paper is transported; a secondary transfer unit and a fixing section both disposed on the printing paper transport path; an open/close cover that, when opened, exposes the printing paper transport path in a main body of the apparatus; a pressure roller, disposed in the fixing section, that presses the printing paper on a side thereof facing the open/close cover against the printing paper transport path; and cooling fans that cool down the pressure roller, wherein the secondary transfer unit and the cooling fans are attached to the open/close cover and disposed at such positions that the secondary transfer unit and the cooling fans move following overlapping paths when the open/close cover is opened/closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirokazu Nakamura, Kimihide Tsukamoto, Masaki Amemiya
  • Patent number: 10254675
    Abstract: An optical writing apparatus includes: a light source panel including light emitting elements arranged on an elongate glass substrate; an optical member that causes emergent light to form an image; a first holding member holding the optical member; and a second holding member holding the glass substrate, wherein legs are provided below the first holding member on sides of both ends, the legs extending downward, drooping ends of the legs being mounted and fixed on the second holding member, one end of the glass substrate is positioned inside the space, an integrated circuit being provided, a through hole is provided to an upper surface of the second holding member, and when cooling air for the integrated circuit flows into the space, the cooling air is guided through the through hole to a side of a lower surface of the upper surface of the second holding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Takafumi Yuasa, Akira Taniyama, Hidenari Tachibe
  • Patent number: 10228640
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms a toner image, a transfer portion that transfers the toner image onto a sheet, and a fixing unit that fixes the toner image to the sheet. A compressor outputs air based on a drive current supplied from a power source, and a detection portion detects the drive current. An ejection portion ejects the air output from the compressor, and a pipe supplies the air output from the compressor to the ejection portion. In addition, a determination unit determines a characteristic expression indicating a relationship between the drive current and an air pressure of the air based on a first detection result obtained by the detection portion when the air pressure is adjusted to a first predetermined value and a second detection result obtained by the detection portion when the air pressure is adjusted to a second predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Yamazaki, Takashi Umemoto
  • Patent number: 10228645
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a printing unit for making printing on a print medium; a communicating unit for communicating with an external apparatus; a controlling unit for controlling the image forming apparatus; a storing unit for storing print data which is used by the printing unit; and a power controlling unit for transferring the image forming apparatus to a power saving state in which power supply to the controlling unit and the storing unit is stopped. The communicating unit outputs a first signal to the power controlling unit in a case where a destination port number of data received from the external apparatus in the power saving state is a predetermined port number, and the power controlling unit supplies power at least to the storing unit in response to input of the first signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Atsushi Hikichi
  • Patent number: 10191448
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided an image forming apparatus including a fixing portion, an exterior member, a first ventilation guide, a second ventilation guide, and a blowing portion. The exterior member has a first opening portion opened to an outside. The first ventilation guide is disposed between the fixing portion and the exterior member. The first ventilation guide forms a first space communicating with the first opening portion between the first ventilation guide and the exterior member. The second ventilation guide is disposed between the fixing portion and the first ventilation guide, and has a second opening portion. The second ventilation guide forms a second space communicating with the second opening portion between the second ventilation guide and the first ventilation guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Ogiwara, Kazumasa Yasui
  • Patent number: 10185256
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming a toner image on a sheet includes a main assembly, an image forming station provided in the main assembly and configured to form a toner image on the sheet, and a fixing portion provided in the main assembly and configured to fix the toner image formed on the sheet, on the sheet, the fixing portion including a fixing rotatable member and a covering member covering the rotatable member. The image forming apparatus also includes a suction mechanism including a duct connected with an opening provided in the covering member, and a fan configured to suck air inside the covering member through the duct. The air sucked by the suction mechanism is discharged into a space in the main assembly other than a space through which the sheet passes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Inada, Seiji Obata, Shizuma Nishimura, Michio Uchida, Yoji Oya
  • Patent number: 10175649
    Abstract: A system and method for removing toner and particles from a developer cavity of an electrostatic process unit of a toner-based printer includes a filter displaced over at least a portion of the developer cavity, and a fan configured to draw a volume of air through the filter from the portion of the developer cavity adjacent to the filter. The fan is coupled to the photoconductive drum of the electrostatic process unit and rotates when the photoconductive drum rotates. The rotation of the fan generates a negative pressure on the filter which draws the volume of air through the filter. The filter removes airborne toner and particles from the volume of air. The toner and particles are removed from the electrostatic process unit by an associated auger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba TEC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Donald W. Stafford, William M. Connors
  • Patent number: 10175645
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, an image holding member, at least one image forming unit, a recording medium container, a plate-shaped separator, and an air blowing device. The at least one image forming unit forms an image on the image holding member. The recording medium container contains a recording medium to be fed to the at least one image forming unit. The separator has an opening, is adjacent to the at least one image forming unit in the apparatus body, and separates the at least one image forming unit and the recording medium container from each other. The air blowing device is disposed at the opening provided in the separator. An adjacent space in which the recording medium container is disposed is provided. The air blowing device blows air from the adjacent space toward the at least one image forming unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoru Nishikawa, Hirofumi Ueno, Satoshi Takada, Xubin Zhou, Naoki Sambe
  • Patent number: 10175614
    Abstract: A belt device includes a plurality of support rotators, a belt, a cleaner, and a rotator inclination unit. The belt is looped around the plurality of support rotators and moves according to rotation of the plurality of support rotators. The cleaner contacts a surface of the belt to remove foreign substances. The rotator inclination unit inclines an inclined support rotator that is at least one of the plurality of support rotators. The cleaner is disposed in contact with a portion of the belt stretched taut between the inclined support rotator and another support rotator. A pushing amount of the cleaner relative to the belt varies according to inclination of the inclined support rotator and is smallest in a state in which the inclined support rotator is not inclined by the rotator inclination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiki Hozumi
  • Patent number: 10168666
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion, a waste toner housing container, an open/close member, and an air blowing unit. The image forming portion forms an image. The waste toner housing container is disposed on one side surface of the image forming portion to house a waste toner discharged from the image forming portion. The open/close member opens and closes an opening portion provided in a side surface of an apparatus body to mount and remove the waste toner housing container. The air blowing unit is provided close to the waste toner housing container on a side surface of the apparatus body that is adjacent to a side surface on which the open/close member is installed. The air blowing unit feeds air to the image forming portion from a side of the waste toner housing container toward an opposite side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazunari Ishii, Akio Shimonaga, Masayuki Yamagishi
  • Patent number: 10162305
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, an image forming device to form an image on a recording medium, a casing to accommodate the image forming device, a sheet discharging port through which the recording medium having the image is discharged from the casing, a sheet stacker to stack the recording medium output through the sheet discharging port and opening on one side of the apparatus body and surrounded by outer walls including an outer wall having the sheet discharging port, an air guide opening disposed within a sheet passing range in a width direction of the recording medium in a sheet conveying path through which the recording medium having the image passes from the image forming device to the sheet discharging port, and an air suction fan to discharge air passing through the air guide opening to an outside of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Komatsuzaki, Osamu Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 10156814
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developing roller, a toner supply roller, a casing, a film member, a biasing member, a link member, a link member drive mechanism, and an oscillation mechanism. The film member is disposed on an upper surface of an inner wall portion of the casing, with the biasing member coupled to one longitudinal end of the film member. The link member is coupled to the other longitudinal end of the film member. The link member drive mechanism drives the link member. The link member drive mechanism makes the link member intermittently pull the film member to thereby cause reciprocation of the film member in a longitudinal direction. The oscillation mechanism causes an upper end portion of the film member to oscillate in a direction orthogonal to the upper surface of the inner wall portion along with the reciprocation of the film member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Shinobu Ohata
  • Patent number: 10146152
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer holder that holds developer, the developer holder being disposed so as to oppose an image holder that holds a latent image and developing the latent image with the developer; a housing that accommodates the developer holder with the developer holder being exposed from an opening portion; a wall section that is provided over an entire region in an axial direction of the developer holder from an edge portion, which is a downstream side in a rotation direction of the developer holder, of the opening portion of the housing, the wall section having an opposing surface that opposes an outer peripheral surface of the image holder to form a gap; and a blocking member that is disposed on one side of the opposing surface in the axial direction and that blocks part of the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Munenobu Okubo
  • Patent number: 10133237
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier; a developing device; a transfer section; a fixing section; a conveyance path through which a recording sheet is conveyed; an air path guiding air taken from an outside of the apparatus to the conveyance path and the developing device; an adjustment member arranged at an outlet port of the air path, branching the air flowing through the air path into directions toward the conveyance path and the developing device, and adjusting volume of the air flowing toward each direction; and a control section controlling the adjustment member in accordance with conveyance status of the recording sheet in the conveyance path, and when no recording sheet exists in the conveyance path, causing the adjustment member to branch the air flowing through the air path so that more air flows toward the developing device than the conveyance path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Makoto Egi, Takahiko Murata
  • Patent number: 10126708
    Abstract: A cooling unit has a cooling fan, a duct configured to guide air supplied from the cooling fan and having a shape extending along an axial direction of a photosensitive member, and a plurality of air outlet portions provided in the duct so as to be apart from each other in the axial direction. Air discharged from the plurality of air outlet portions is supplied to the inside of an image forming unit by utilizing a space as an air duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoji Oya
  • Patent number: 10082767
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion, a housing, and a partition wall portion. The housing is configured to store the image forming portion and comprising first and second exhaust ports disposed on a same side wall portion of the housing. The first and second exhaust ports are configured to discharge air which has been taken into the housing and has passed through the image forming portion. The partition wall portion is provided so as to project from the side wall portion and configured to separate an outside space, facing the first exhaust port and to which the air discharged out of the first exhaust port is discharged, of the housing from an outside space, facing the second exhaust port and to which the air is discharged out of the second exhaust port, of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takuya Matsumura
  • Patent number: 10078303
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator, a pressure rotator, a cooling assembly, and an air regulation plate. The cooling assembly blows air onto an outer circumferential face of the pressure rotator to cool the outer circumferential face of the pressure rotator. The air regulation plate is disposed opposing the outer circumferential face of the pressure rotator with a clearance between the air regulation plate and the outer circumferential face of the pressure rotator, to regulate a flow direction or amount of one of air to be blown onto the outer circumferential face of the pressure rotator and air having been blown onto the outer circumferential face of the pressure rotator. The air regulation plate has a leading end opposing the outer circumferential face of the pressure rotator. The leading end has a shape following the outer circumferential face of the pressure rotator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuuki Kikushima
  • Patent number: 10073415
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developing unit, a rotating member that rotates in a predetermined direction to generate an airflow in a space that accommodates the developing unit, and first and second partitioning members. The first partitioning member is disposed between the developing unit and the rotating member, and has first and second openings that are each provided with an opening-closing mechanism and respectively disposed at upstream and downstream sides in a direction of the airflow generated when the rotating member rotates in the predetermined direction. The second partitioning member is disposed between the developing unit and an external space, and has third and fourth openings that are each provided with an opening-closing mechanism and respectively disposed at downstream and upstream sides in the direction of the airflow generated when the rotating member rotates in the predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuya Tamura, Koji Udagawa, Masafumi Kudo
  • Patent number: 10073414
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a printer unit configured to form a toner image on a recording material, the printer unit including a fixing portion configured to heat-fix the toner image on the recording material; a reader unit provided above the printer unit and configured to read an image of an original, the reader unit including an image sensor configured to optically read the original; wherein in a side of the reader unit opposed to the printer unit, there are provided a suction opening configured to suck air from an outside of the reader unit and a discharging opening configured to discharge the air to an outside of the reader unit, and wherein an air flow path connecting the suction opening and the discharging opening overlaps with an entirety of the image sensor in a main scan direction which is an axial direction of the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Fumio Asano
  • Patent number: 10031477
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes an open/close cover, a side cover, and a fan configured to take in ambient air through a vent hole, and generate airflow to cool an inside of the image forming apparatus, wherein the side cover includes an outside surface C, at least part of which faces the open/close cover, and a vent hole is provided in the outside surface C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Imanari, Satoru Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10007231
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cooling mechanism used for cooling, as a cooled object, either of a unit and a component forming the image forming apparatus. This cooling mechanism includes: a sub frame, a fan-attached part and a duct semi-completed part. The fan-attached part is formed on the frame in a manner such as to permit fan attachment thereto. The duct semi-completed part is provided on the frame for forming a duct introducing, to the cooled object, cooling wind generated by the fan attached to the fan-attached part, and has one non-formed wall part. Further, a circuit board can be attached to a portion of the non-formed wall part of the duct semi-completed part, and the duct is formed by the attached circuit board and the duct semi-completed part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Daijiro Ueno
  • Patent number: 10001728
    Abstract: A developer container of a developing device has a toner collection portion having a collection container, a toner receiving member, a stopping member, and a toner collection passage. The collection container is arranged under a developing roller, extends along the axial direction of the rotary shaft of the developing roller, and has an opening open upward to face the developing roller. The toner receiving member is supported on the collection container, and has a swing portion protruding inward from an inner surface of the collection container and receiving toner that falls from the developing roller. The stopping member is supported on the collection container, and prevents, by the swing portion making contact with the stopping member from below, the swing portion from being displaced upward. The toner collection passage is arranged in a bottom part of the collection container, and communicates with the interior of the developer container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Yuzo Harada, Yoshifumi Okauchi
  • Patent number: 9996034
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fixing device includes determination means for determining the size of a medium, heating means for including plural heat-generating members which are two-dimensionally arranged such that the heat-generating members are lined up along two parallel lines or more which are vertical to a transport direction of the medium and divided at locations on the parallel lines, and are disposed so as to come into contact with an inner side of the rotating body, and a switching unit which switches individual conduction, and heats the medium, pressing means for forming a nip by performing pressing and contact at a position of the plural heat-generating members, and heating control means for selecting a group of the heat-generating members which are lined up in the two-dimensional arrangement, conducting the selected group of the heat-generating members, and controlling the heating means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shoko Shimmura, Osamu Takagi
  • Patent number: 9986120
    Abstract: An environment management apparatus for inside of a machine includes an estimator and a generator. The estimator estimates an environment state in the machine in a case of executing a process under a predetermined control condition, from process execution data for instructing execution of the process. The generator generates, for the environment state estimated by the estimator, a time-series scheme for environment control during the execution of the process from a calculation result obtained by calculating a control condition which maintains the environment state to be less than or equal to a predetermined target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Norikazu Yamada
  • Patent number: 9967419
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus capable of detecting correct color tones of an image printed on a sheet is described. The image reading apparatus includes a scanner 100, a colorimeter 103, a cooling device 145, a temperature control unit 111, and an image correction unit 113. While an image correction process is not performed, the temperature control unit 111 controls the cooling temperature to a first temperature for shifting the cooling device 145 to a predetermined cooled state. While the image correction process is performed, the temperature control unit 111 controls the cooling temperature to a second temperature for making the temperature of the sheet uniform. The image correction unit 113 obtains, while the temperature control unit 111 controls the cooling temperature to the second temperature, the correction amount of the image based on the colorimetric measurement result of the colorimeter 103 and the reading result of the scanner 100.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Akihiko Ooishi
  • Patent number: 9927769
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a cooler, an air passage switching member, a swing mechanism, a drive gear train, and a restricting mechanism. The air passage switching member is swingable and switches the path of cooling air produced by the cooler. The swing mechanism swings the air passage switching member. The drive gear train transmits a rotation driving force to the swing mechanism. The restricting mechanism restricts the swinging range of the swing mechanism. The swing mechanism has a first gear coupled to the drive gear train, and an actuator swingably coupled to the first gear with a predetermined load and coupled to the air passage switching member. By swinging the actuator together with the first gear while restricting the swinging range of the actuator with the restricting mechanism, the air passage switching member is switched between a first position and a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Yuya Shimohora, Mitsuki Hattori
  • Patent number: 9910388
    Abstract: A developer device includes a housing having an opening, a developing roller configured to rotate within the housing, the developing roller having a first portion that is exposed through the opening of the housing and a second portion at which developer attached to the developing roller separates from the developing roller, a first airflow passage formed in the housing, and a second airflow passage facing a third portion of the developing roller at a location of the developing roller between the first and second portions and connected to the first airflow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba TEC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9910408
    Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including: a printing paper transport path in which printing paper is transported; a secondary transfer unit and a fixing section both disposed on the printing paper transport path; an open/close cover that, when opened, exposes the printing paper transport path in a main body of the apparatus; a pressure roller, disposed in the fixing section, that presses the printing paper on a side thereof facing the open/close cover against the printing paper transport path; and cooling fans that cool down the pressure roller, wherein the secondary transfer unit and the cooling fans are attached to the open/close cover and disposed at such positions that the secondary transfer unit and the cooling fans move following overlapping paths when the open/close cover is opened/closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirokazu Nakamura, Kimihide Tsukamoto, Masaki Amemiya
  • Patent number: 9910407
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion; a discharge portion configured to discharge a recording material on which an image is formed by the image forming portion, wherein a delivery conveyance portion having a power source circuit is mountable in a space adjacent to the image forming portion and configured to convey the recording material to a post-processing apparatus; a detection unit configured to detect a temperature; a cooling unit configured to cool the image forming portion; and a control unit configured to control, in a case where the delivery conveyance portion is mounted, rotation of the cooling unit based on the temperature detected by the detection unit in a standby state in which an image forming operation is not performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshifumi Kakutani, Takayuki Iikura, Shuji Obata, Mitsuhiro Sugeta, Kazunori Miyake, Yousuke Hata, Shinya Suzuki, Hirohisa Nakajima, Manabu Koseki, Takeyuki Suda, Toshiyuki Abe, Kazumi Sato
  • Patent number: 9897971
    Abstract: A powder collecting device includes a collecting container and a ventilation passage. The collecting container is removably attachable to a housing of a processing apparatus including a powder processing unit, has one or more collecting openings through which heat-melting powder transported from the powder processing unit is collected, and includes an accommodation space capable of accommodating the collected powder. The ventilation passage is partitioned from the accommodation space of the collecting container. Airflow generated by an airflow generator passes through the ventilation passage. The ventilation passage extends in a longitudinal direction of the collecting container, and has an inlet through which the airflow is introduced and a ventilation hole formed in a downstream section of the ventilation passage in a direction of the airflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hirofumi Ueno
  • Patent number: 9869962
    Abstract: A housing structure includes a housing, a cover, and a plurality of paths of gas. The cover spatially partitions an inside and an outside of the housing. The plurality of paths of gas connect the inside and the outside of the housing and include a plurality of bypass portions. Two or more paths of gas of the plurality of paths of gas communicate with an outside of the cover via a single housing opening that communicates an inside and the outside of the cover with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Ishida, Naoki Matsuda
  • Patent number: 9864336
    Abstract: A cooling unit has a cooling fan, a duct configured to guide air supplied from the cooling fan and having a shape extending along an axial direction of a photosensitive member, and a plurality of air outlet portions provided in the duct so as to be apart from each other in the axial direction. Air discharged from the plurality of air outlet portions is supplied to the inside of an image forming unit by utilizing a space as an air duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoji Oya
  • Patent number: 9823622
    Abstract: A drive force transmission device includes a frame that supports therein plural gears transmitting a rotational drive force and that has a flat portion extending in a direction intersecting a direction in which the rotational drive force is transmitted. The drive force transmission device has an air channel that allows air sucked from an outside of the frame to pass therethrough so as to exhaust the air to the outside of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Goda, Chihiro Iijima, Kazuyuki Yagata, Shohei Miyagawa
  • Patent number: 9823618
    Abstract: A waste toner transporting device includes a waste toner passing passage, a waste toner collection container, a suction passage, a suction device, and a passing passage box. Through the waste toner passing passage, waste toner passes. The waste toner collection container collects the waste toner having passed through the waste toner passing passage. In the suction passage, suspended toner is sucked along with air inside a developing device. The suction device sucks the air inside the suction passage. Inside the passing passage box, the waste toner passing passage constituting part of the waste toner passing passage is formed. The suction passage constituting part of the suction passage is formed inside the passing passage box so as to be connected to the waste toner passing passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Masahiro Ueno, Hiroaki Ohashi
  • Patent number: 9817366
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a charging section configured to charge a surface of an image bearing member; an air-intake duct having an air-supply port, and configured to guide air sucked from an outside to the charging section through the air-supply port; an exhaust duct having an air-intake port, and configured to suck air around the charging section through the air-intake port and eject the air thus sucked. The air-intake duct has a configuration in which air guided to the charging section through the air-supply port flows in a direction orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the charging section, or flows toward a center of the charging section in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Keiki Katsumata, Yuichi Omori
  • Patent number: 9804532
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developing roller, a housing, and a film member. A side opening provided in the housing communicates with a suction device at an end in a rotation axis direction of the developing roller. A downstream cover portion of the housing covers the developing roller from a downstream side in a rotation direction of the image carrying member. Concave portions of the downstream cover portion and a portion of a film member bonded to the downstream cover portion form ducts that communicate from openings facing the image carrying member to the side opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Goda
  • Patent number: 9804562
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing, a duct member, and a board. The housing has a support plate extending in a vertical direction. The duct member is attached to the support plate and has a first air duct through which air sent by a blower passes. The board has an element that is mounted thereon and generates heat when energized, and has a part supported by the duct member so as to cover an outer surface of the first air duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Tatsuro Arata
  • Patent number: 9791830
    Abstract: A duct that is attachable to a main body includes a flow passage to flow air, the flow passage including a flexible structure, and a ventilation opening at a first end of the flow passage. The ventilation opening and at least a part of flow passage are passable through a recess of a detachable device which detachable from the main body. A main body including the duct, the detachable device, and an airflow generation device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Fujiya, Tomoaki Suga
  • Patent number: 9778607
    Abstract: Provided is a fixing device including a pair of end deformation restraint members. A restraint body 35 of the end deformation restraint member has an insertion part 38 which is inserted into both end portions of a fixing belt, and restrains deformation of belt end portions by holding both end portions of the fixing belt, which slides on an outer peripheral surface of the insertion part 38, from inside in the insertion part 38. The insertion part 38 is continued in a belt rotation direction with no gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Kotatsu Kawaguchi, Yoshihiro Yamagishi, Takashi Eiki, Takefumi Yotsutsuji
  • Patent number: 9746828
    Abstract: Provided is a sheet discharging apparatus including a discharge unit configured to discharge a sheet on which a toner image has been heated and fixed, a stacking unit configured to stack the sheet discharged by the discharge unit, a suction unit configured to suck air over the stacking unit, and a cooling unit configured to blow air over the stacking unit on a downstream side of an air suction by the suction unit in a sheet discharge direction by the discharge unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Finetech, Inc.
    Inventor: Toshinori Tanaka