10th week of 2014 patent applcation highlights part 51 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20140064732 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR RECEIVING OPTICAL SIGNAL, AND OPTICAL FREQUENCY-DIVISION-MULTIPLEXING TRANSMISSION SYSTEM - An optical signal receiving apparatus includes: a chromatic dispersion medium having an amount of chromatic dispersion which is determined according to a frequency of the sub-carrier modulation signals so as to receive the sub-carrier modulation signals, a photodetector configured to convert the carrier optical signal that has passed through the chromatic dispersion medium, into electrical signals, and a signal receiving unit configured to receive an electrical signal selected from the electrical signals obtained by the photodetector. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064733 | SELF-INJECTION LASER, WAVE DIVISION MULTIPLEXING PASSIVE OPTICAL NETWORK SYSTEM AND OPTICAL LINE TERMINAL - Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a self-injection laser, a WDM-PON system and an optical line terminal. The self-injection laser includes a gain medium, an array waveguide grating AWG, a periodic filter and a reflection module. The AWG is configured to multiplex an optical signal received from the gain medium via the branch port, and output the multiplexed optical signal via the common port. The periodic filter is configured to filter the optical signal output by the AWG, where at least a part of the filtered optical signal is reflected by the reflection module, and the reflected signal is returned back and injected to the gain medium. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064734 | WDM TELECOMMUNICATIONS LINK WITH COHERENT DETECTION AND OPTICAL FREQUENCY COMB SOURCES - An optical data link has a transmitter and a receiver with coherent detection at the receiver and more than one optical carrier frequency. The optical carrier frequencies are generated by a frequency comb source in both the transmitter and the receiver. The frequency comb sources generate frequency combs that have frequency components and a free spectral range. The optical carrier frequencies transport more than one optical channel. Either at least one frequency component or the free spectral range of the optical comb generated at the receiver is locked to the comb generated at the transmitter by an optical phase locked loop, or an electrical phase locked loop or a feed-forward carrier recovery generates an intermediate frequency carrier reference that is routed to more than one channel to demodulate the data. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064735 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVISION OF APPLIANCE CONTROL FUNCTIONALITY TO A SMART DEVICE - A system for use in issuing commands to a plurality of appliances each of a specific one of a plurality of different appliance types includes a smart device adapted to transmit command communications and a plurality of low-energy consuming controllers each adapted to transmit a command to a one of the plurality of appliances of a specific one of the plurality of different appliance types in response to receipt of a command communication originating from the smart device. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064736 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, AND PROGRAM THEREFOR - An information processing apparatus including: a light-receiving section capable of receiving an optical signal emitted from another apparatus; a controller capable of acquiring identification information for identifying the another apparatus on a network based on the received optical signal; and a communication section capable of establishing a connection with the another apparatus based on the acquired identification information. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064737 | SMART SWITCH AND REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM USING THE SAME - A smart switch applied to a remote control system in a smart home is connected to a power and at least one electronic device. The smart switch includes a storage, and a communication unit receiving commands from a remote source which include the unique identification code of a target electronic device. A smart gateway, a remote unit, and a processor unit including a converting module and a control module are also included. The converting module converts the remote command to a control signal that can be recognized by the electronic device, and the control module controls the remote unit to send the control signal to the electronic device. A remote control system is also provided. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064738 | SMART GATEWAY AND SMART HOME NETWORK SYSTEM USING THE SAME - A smart home network system includes a number of home devices, a smart gateway, and a control device. The smart gateway stores a mapping list that records configuration information of each home device, and the configuration information contains a UID code of each home device. When received a control signal for controlling a target home device from the control device, the smart gateway analyzes the control signal and modulates the control signal with the UID of the target home device and converts network protocols, to generate an effective control command, then transmits the control command to the target home device. When received status information from the home devices, and the smart gateway sends the status information to the control device for reading status information of the home devices. Therefore, user can operate the control device anywhere to remote control each individual home device via the smart gateway. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064739 | LIGHT COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, TRANSMITTER AND RECEIVER - A light communication system, a transmitter and a receiver are provided. The light communication system includes the transmitter and the receiver. The transmitter has a first processing unit and a light-emitting element. The first processing unit produces a transmission signal. The light-emitting element produces light to carry the transmission signal. The receiver has a first variable lens, a photosensitive element and a second processing unit. The first variable lens changes the propagation path of the light. The photosensitive element senses the light passed through the first variable lens to produce a receiving signal. The second processing unit controls the first variable lens based on the signal quality of the receiving signal to change the equivalent channel between the transmission signal and the receiving signal. Therefore, the transmission capability of the light communication system is enhanced. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064740 | VEHICLE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR VISIBLE LIGHT COMMUNICATION AND OPTICAL NETWORKING AND COMMUNICATION METHOD THEREOF - Provided herein is a communication system and method capable of performing visible light communication and optic networking, the system performing visible light communication with an electronic device inside a vehicle and accessing an optic network inside the vehicle. Accordingly, RF interference and distortion is removed, and thus not effecting use of a wireless device inside the vehicle, thereby reducing malfunction/error of a electronic control device and enabling real time data transceiving in the vehicle. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064741 | OPTICAL COMMUNICATION DEVICE - An optical communication device includes a substrate, a photoelectric element for emitting/receiving optical signals, a driver chip for driving the photoelectric, and a light waveguide for transmitting optical signals. The substrate defines a through fixing hole. The photoelectric element and the driver chip are electrically connected to the substrate. The photoelectric element includes a base portion and an optical portion formed on the base portion. The optical portion includes an optical surface serving as a light emergent/incident surface, the optical surface faces toward the substrate, and the optical portion is aligned with the fixing hole. An end of the light waveguide is inserted and fixed into the fixing hole and is optically aligned with the optical portion. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064742 | EVENT SYNCHRONIZATION FOR OPTICAL SIGNALS - A system for synchronizing an optical signal with an initiation of an event can include an event controller which controls the initiation of the event, and an optical modulator which modulates the optical signal in response to receipt of an indication from the event controller that the event is initiated. A method of synchronizing an optical signal with an initiation of an event can include transmitting from an event controller an indication that the event is initiated, receiving the indication that the event is initiated, and modulating the optical signal in response to the receiving. A system for synchronizing multiple optical signals can include at least one time-code generator which generates time-codes, and multiple optical modulators which modulate the respective optical signals in response to generation of the time-codes by the at least one time-code generator. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064743 | OPTICAL COMMUNICATION TRANSMITTER SYSTEM - An optical transmitter may include a sample rate converter and a digital-to-analog converter operable to convert an inputted digital electrical signal to an analog optical signal. The signal converter may include a first interface operable to receive a digital electrical signal that may include a block of input data having N symbols in a time domain. The signal converter may also include: a first module operable to transform, via a Fourier Transform, the input data having N symbols from the time domain to a frequency domain; a second module operable to up-sample the N frequency domain samples so that there are 1.6N, 2N, or 2.67N frequency domain samples, for example; and then a third module operable to transform, via an inverse Fourier Transform, the 1.6N, 2N, or 2.67N frequency domain samples to an equivalent number of time domain samples at 1.6, 2.0, or 2.67 samples per symbol, respectively. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064744 | RECEPTION DEVICE - A first phase setting circuit generates a first phase setting signal. A first synchronous signal generator generates a first synchronous clock signal having a phase set by the first phase setting signal from a multi-phase local clock signal. By removing a phase fluctuation component representing phase fluctuation of the reception data signal from a first signal including a frequency component representing a frequency offset between a multi-phase local clock signal and a reception data signal and the phase fluctuation component, a second generation unit generates a second signal including the frequency component. The first phase setting circuit updates the first phase setting signal according to the second signal. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064745 | PACKAGED IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM OF APPARATUS TO BE PACKAGED - A packaged image forming apparatus includes an image forming apparatus, and a packaging member for packaging the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a power supply connection unit to which one end of a power cable, the other end of which is connected to an external power source, is detachably connected, a power supply voltage generation unit receiving a voltage via the power cable and generating a power supply voltage, a load circuit operating based on the power supply voltage, a status determination unit determining whether a connection status of the load circuit is normal, and a communication interface unit sending a determination result to the external device. The packaging member includes an access part enabling the one end of the power cable to be connected to the power supply connection unit in a state where the image forming apparatus is packaged. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064746 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus including a wireless tag reader is described. The wireless tag reader is configured to be located in a first position to read wireless tags associated with consumables when the consumables are inserted into, stationary in, or removed from the image forming apparatus, and in a second position to read wireless tags outside of the image forming apparatus. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064747 | PRINTING APPARATUS, PRINTING METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - A printing apparatus includes a controller that, upon receipt of a printing suspension instruction during printing on a print medium by a printing device, causes a conveyor to stop a conveyance of the print medium from an upstream side to a downstream side after printing a mark on the print medium, causes the conveyor to convey the print medium from the downstream side to the upstream side, then to stop the conveyance of the print medium after a sensor detects the mark printed on the print medium, and upon receipt of a printing restart instruction, causes the conveyor to convey the print medium from a returned position where the print medium is stopped to the downstream side and controls a timing of a printing based on a detection of the mark by the sensor. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064748 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS CAPABLE OF REDUCING RECOVERY PRINTING TIME - An image forming apparatus capable of properly reducing recovery printing time, while reducing abrasion and deterioration of image bearing members. As an image formation mode determining method, a first method is selected before a print job is interrupted e.g. a jam, whereas for recovery printing, one of the first method and a second method is selected. In the first method, if an image to be formed is a color image, an image formation mode is set to an all-contact mode having an intermediate transfer belt brought into contact with all of photosensitive members, and if the image is a monochrome image, the mode is set to a partial-contact mode having the belt brought into contact only with a photosensitive member for black toner. In the second method, the mode is set to the all-contact mode for all pages on which image formation is to be performed. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064749 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - This invention is to provide a technique of always obtaining a stable output image in image formation using toner. A supplier ( | 2014-03-06 |
20140064750 | DEVELOPER AND TEST METHOD THEREOF - A color-fadable developer contains a binder resin, a color generation compound and a color developing agent. When the developer is heated from a temperature range of 0° C. to 20° C. to a temperature range of 150° C. to 180° C. at a temperature increase rate range of 5° C./min to 10° C./min a first time and a second time, a first differential scanning calorimetry curve based on a measurement by differential scanning calorimetry during the first heating has an endothermic peak that is missing from a second differential scanning calorimetry curve based on a measurement differential scanning calorimetry during the second heating, and has a different peak than the endothermic peak caused by a glass transition point of a binder resin. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064751 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Provided is an image forming apparatus capable of accurately detecting deformation of a roller member. The image forming apparatus configured to form an image by forming an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive drum ( | 2014-03-06 |
20140064752 | DRIVING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS PROVIDED WITH SAME - A driving device includes a motor, a pulley, a metal belt, a first unit, a second unit, a biasing member and a detector. The motor includes a drive shaft. The pulley includes an output shaft extending in parallel to the drive shaft. The pulley is rotatably supported on the first unit with the output shaft as a rotary shaft and the circumferential surface is arranged at a distance from the drive shaft in a radial direction of the rotation. The second unit supports the motor and is slidable relative to the first unit. The biasing member biases the second unit in a direction to move the drive shaft away from the output shaft in a state where the metal belt is mounted between the drive shaft and the pulley. The detector detects a change in an inter-axial distance between the drive shaft and the output shaft. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064753 | PRINTING APPARATUS - A printing apparatus includes: a conveyor configured to convey a sheet along a conveyance path; a driving device configured to drive the conveyor; a printing device configured to print an image on the sheet conveyed by the conveyor; and a controller. The controller executes a first processing in which, when a first indicator reaches a preset first value, the controller suppresses rise of a temperature in the printing apparatus. The first indicator is a value that changes based on an increase in the number of sheets printed by the printing device. The controller further executes a second processing in which the controller reduces frequency of execution of the first processing when the number of printings performed by the printing device within a set specific period is equal to or greater than a set reference number. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064754 | FIXING DEVICE - A fixing device includes first and second rollers forming a nip for fixing a toner image on a sheet; a heat absorption roller for absorbing heat from said first roller by contacting said first roller; a moving mechanism for moving said heat absorption roller to and away from said first roller; a counter for counting a number of continuously executed fixing process operations without said heat absorption roller contacting said first roller; a controller for determining, based on an output of said counter, whether to carry out an operation of a mode in which said heat absorption roller is contacted to said first roller by said moving mechanism and is rotated for a predetermined period, during non-fixing process period. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064755 | FIXING DEVICE AND CONTROL DEVICE - A fixing device includes a fixing device including rollers which form a nip therebetween to fix a toner image on a sheet; a reciprocating mechanism, including a motor, for reciprocating the fixing device within a predetermined range by moving the fixing device in a longitudinal direction thereof for each passages of a predetermined number of sheets through the nip; and a controller for controlling the motor so that a drive time of the motor per the predetermined number of the sheets is longer in a first range including a point at which a moving direction of the fixing device reverses than in a second range in which the moving direction of the fixing device does not reverse. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064756 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD - An image forming apparatus capable of executing continuous image forming operation forming images on more than one page includes a temperature detector that detects internal or surrounding temperature of a developing device correspondingly changing to temperature of a developer bearer. A temperature information acquiring device acquires information of ambient temperature outside of the image forming apparatus. A controller switches a current operation mode to an intermittent image forming operation mode intermittently including a braking time period not to allow image formation and cancels the intermittent image forming operation mode in accordance with detection result of the temperature detector. The intermittent image forming operation mode allowed to continuously form images only on a prescribed limited number of sheets. The controller varies the braking time period in accordance with the ambient temperature detected by the temperature information acquiring device. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064757 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A representative configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the invention includes a photoreceptor drum, a primary charger, an exposure device, a development device, a detection unit that detects a density of the toner image, and forming a patch image with a plurality of different density levels, and being capable of performing a mode of correcting a tone density based on a density of the patch image, a controller that determines whether to perform the mode based on a first patch and a second patch, the first patch which is formed by charging, exposuring and performing development, the second patch which is formed by charging and performing development without substantially performing the exposure. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064758 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - There is provided an image forming apparatus which includes multiple charging rollers and which can suppress accumulation of deposits such as external additives onto a charging roller without reducing productivity of the image forming apparatus. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064759 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a controller and an imaging unit having a developing device to develop a latent image on a surface of a latent image carrier with toner. When control target value of control parameters that influence a developing ability of the imaging unit becomes inappropriate, the controller performs target value correction processing of correcting the control target value to bring the control target value close to an appropriate value for stabilizing a development density of the imaging unit. In the target value correction processing, the controller corrects a control target value of a second control parameter having a response speed, obtained when the developing ability is changed by the correction, faster than a first control parameter, correct the control target value of the first control parameter, and then turn the control target value of the second control parameter back to the original value. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064760 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus has an image forming section having a photoreceptor on which a toner image is formed, an endless belt that revolves with its outer surface facing the photoreceptor, a steering roller adapted to provide a tension to the belt and adjust the position of the belt in the width direction, a transfer roller that presses the belt toward the photoreceptor so as to form a transfer nip where the toner image is transferred, a transfer pressure adjusting mechanism adapted to adjust pressing force when the transfer roller presses the belt toward the photoreceptor, and a controller adapted to control the pressing force adjusted by the transfer pressure adjusting mechanism, according to the adjustment state of the steering roller. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064761 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A transfer bias voltage supplier supplies, to a transfer member, a transfer bias voltage of a polarity opposite to the polarity of toner. The absolute value of transfer bias voltage to be supplied to the transfer member when a leading/trailing end of the sheet is passed through the nip portion is set smaller than when a toner image transfer region of the sheet is passed through the nip portion. A separation bias voltage supplier supplies, to a discharging electrode member, a separation bias voltage of a polarity opposite to the polarity of transfer bias voltage. The absolute value of separation bias voltage to be supplied to the discharging electrode member when the leading/trailing end of the sheet is passed through a discharging gap is set smaller than when the transfer region is passed through the discharging gap. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064762 | FIXING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing apparatus includes a fixing portion which comes into contact with a sheet and fixes a toner image on the sheet, a magnetic flux generating portion which generates a magnetic flux so as to heat the fixing portion by electromagnetic induction, a magnetic flux shielding portion which shields a magnetic flux generated from the magnetic flux generating portion between the fixing portion and the magnetic flux generating portion, a support portion which supports the magnetic flux shielding portion, a moving portion which moves the support portion in a with direction perpendicular to a sheet conveying direction, a controller which controls the moving portion so as to move the magnetic flux generating portion to a position based on a sheet size in the width direction, and a sheet guide portion which is supported on the support portion and guides the sheet to the fixing portion. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064763 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device causes an eccentric cam to perform a rotation step of 113° to shift from a pressurization releasing mode to a pressurization mode, and causes the eccentric cam to perform a rotation step of 263° to shift from a standby mode to the pressurization mode. A control unit activates a motor by setting a rotational speed of a rotational magnetic field of a stator to 600 rpm in the rotation step of 113° and to 1500 rpm in the rotation step of 263° so as to prevent the eccentric cam from receiving acceleration of a rotational direction from a pressure lever before a rotational speed of a rotor reaches a first rotational speed. Then, the control unit stops the rotational magnetic field of the stator based on an output of a photo interrupter. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064764 | APPARATUS AND METHOD TO CONTROL TEMPERATURE OF HEATING ROLLER USED IN FUSING DEVICE OF IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The apparatus includes a heating roller that generates heat for melting toner attached to a printing medium; a first induction coil that is disposed outside the heating roller and heats the heating roller by using induced current generated according to current flowing through the first induction coil; two second induction coils that are disposed at upper portions of both ends of the first induction coil and heat the heating roller by using induced current generated according to current flowing through the two second induction coils; a power supply unit that supplies current to the first induction coil and the two second induction coils; and a control unit that controls the power supply unit to supply current flowing in the same direction or different directions to the first induction coil and the second induction coils according to the size of paper fed into the heating roller. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064765 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND PRINTING METHOD - An image forming apparatus includes an input unit, a display unit, an image forming unit, a storage unit, a first-page print execution information setting unit, and a print control unit. The first-page print execution information setting unit stores information in the storage unit. The information relates to execution of printing the first page of a job on a sheet on a manual feed tray. If printing on a long nonstandard-size sheet is selected, the print control unit causes the display unit to display an indication prompting a user to identify the sheet size and requests the image forming unit to start printing the sheet on the manual feed tray after a print start instruction. If the information is stored in the storage unit, the print control unit skips the step of displaying the indication and requests the image forming unit to start the printing on the sheet on the manual feed tray. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064766 | PRINTING APPARATUS - A printing apparatus includes: a printing device configured to print an image on a sheet; a temperature detector configured to detect a temperature in the printing apparatus; and a controller. The controller executes: a first processing in which the controller changes a first indicator based on printing performed by the printing device; a second processing in which the controller changes the first indicator based on a first temperature detected by the temperature detector at a first point in time and a second temperature detected by the temperature detector at a second point in time; and a third processing in which the controller suppresses a rise in the temperature in the printing apparatus when the first indicator reaches a predetermined value. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064767 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a heating member configured to heat the sheet for fixing the image onto the sheet, a temperature detection unit configured to detect a temperature of a predetermined position of the heating member, a controller configured to control the heating member, a heating region control unit configured to control the heated region of the heating member, wherein the heating region control unit controls a first and a second heated region, wherein the first heated region includes the predetermined position, and wherein the second heated region in the width direction includes the first heated region and an outer heated region outside the first heated region, and a cooling unit configured to cool the heated region, wherein if the heating region control unit changes the heated region from the first heated region to the second heated region, the cooling unit cools the predetermined position. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064768 | IMAGE FORMATION APPARATUS - An electromagnetic induction heating apparatus comprises: a resonance circuit that includes a inductor and a capacitor; a direct-current electric power supply; and a switching element performing ON and OFF switching of electric power supplied to the resonance circuit by the direct-current electric power supply; performs intermittent control of the electric power supply by controlling the ON and OFF switching at regular intervals, and by performing control to stop the electric power supply when not controlling the ON and OFF switching, wherein during the intermittent control, the switching control unit performs gradual control such that, upon beginning the control of the ON and OFF switching, the electric power supply gradually increases to reach a target value, and upon stopping the control of the ON and OFF switching, the electric power supply gradually decreases from the target value until stopping, such that the gradual decrease involves fewer steps than the gradual increase. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064769 | CLEANER, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS USING THE CLEANER, AND VOLTAGE SETTING DEVICE - A cleaner includes at least two cleaning brush members to electrostatically remove toner on an object; a memory; a voltage applicator to apply a voltage to the cleaning brush members based on setup voltage values stored in the memory; a current detector to detect the amounts of currents flowing through contact portions of the object with the cleaning brush members; and a setup voltage changing device to change the setup voltage values based on the amounts of currents detected by the current detector. The voltage applicator applies a first voltage for removing residual toner or a second voltage higher than the first voltage in absolute value for removing non-transferred toner to at least one of the cleaning brush members, and the setup voltage changing device performs change of the setup voltage value for the second voltage prior to change of the setup voltage value for the first voltage. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064770 | OPTICAL SENSOR UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - An optical sensor, which can be included in an image forming apparatus, includes a detecting portion disposed facing a detection target and configured to detect the detection target by emitting light to the detection target, a dust-proofing member having a surface disposed facing the detection target and configured to cover the detecting portion, a vibration member configured to vibrate the surface of the dust-proofing member, and a collecting member configured to collect dust in the vicinity of the dust-proofing member. On the surface of the dust-proofing member facing the detection target, at least a portion that intersects a pathway of light emitted from the detection portion is formed as a thru-beam part by a material through which the light transmits. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064771 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - In a main controller of an image forming apparatus, the status renewing-and-notifying unit (a) obtains statuses from a queue, and store status values at addresses corresponding to status IDs in a first status storage unit; (b) notifies a component of both of a objective status and a dependent status either at a same time or in a reversed time order if the statuses includes the objective status and the dependent status, and the status value of the dependent status in the first status storage unit and the status value of the dependent status in the second status storage unit are different from each other; and (c) stores a status value of each status that the component is notified of at an address corresponding to a status ID of the status in the second status storage unit at a notification timing of the status. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064772 | IMAGE FORMATION APPARATUS, CHARGE MANAGEMENT APPARATUS, AND PRINT CHARGE SYSTEM - An image formation apparatus includes: an image data processor to generate page data representing images to be printed on a page basis based on print data; a print work execution unit to form images for two pages on both faces of each recording media based on the page data upon two-sided printing; and a charge information generator to generate charge information according to the image formation executed by the print work execution unit. The image data processor generates, where the number of pages of the images represented by the print data is an odd number upon the two-sided printing, edited image data for an even number of pages including a blank page with a blank image which does not correspond to the print data as the page data. The charge information generator generates the charge information without the blank page being set as a charge item. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064773 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, METHOD OF INDICATING REMAINING QUANTITY OF CONSUMABLE MATERIAL AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM - Provided are an image forming apparatus, a method of indicating the remaining quantity of a consumable material and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program for the remaining quantity of a consumable material. The image forming apparatus includes an array of LEDs arranged on a body of the image forming apparatus such that a lighting condition of the LEDs is visible to a user at a remote place from the image forming apparatus; an image forming section; and a control section configured to operate the image forming section to perform image forming processing. The control section is further configured to operate the LEDs to turn on or blink in a first lighting pattern according to a status of an operation of the image forming apparatus, and operate the LEDs to turn on or blink in a second lighting pattern according to a remaining quantity of a consumable material. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064774 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, POWER CONTROL METHOD, AND RECORDING MEDIUM - An image forming apparatus comprises: a piezoelectric sensor that produces an variable output signal depending on the amount of infrared energy; a human body detecting device having a lens that forms a detecting area serving for detecting if the person enters; a peak detector that detects a peak of an output signal produced when the person enters the detecting area; an offset voltage judgment portion that judges if the output signal falls to the offset voltage after the peak; a moving direction judgment portion that judges the direction in which the person moves in the detecting area; and a mode controller that switches the power supply mode to a first mode if the power supply mode is found to be a second mode requiring less power than the first mode while the moving direction judgment portion judges that the person moves toward the image forming apparatus. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064775 | COOLING DEVICE HAVING A TURBULENCE GENERATING UNIT - In a cooling device that includes a cooling roller that comprises a hollow tubular member and a cooling medium transport unit for transporting a cooling liquid to the inside of the cooling roller and contacts a sheet-like member to cool down the paper, a turbulence generating unit that generates turbulence in a cooling liquid is disposed near an inner wall of the outer tube. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064776 | UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A unit for use with an image forming apparatus includes: a frame; a developer accommodating portion; a sheet member, contact to a rotatable member and provided on the frame along a longitudinal direction of the rotatable member; a first end portion seal member for preventing, at a longitudinal end portion, the developer from leaking out from between the frame and the rotatable member; and a second end portion seal member for preventing the developer from leaking out from among the first end portion seal member, the sheet member and the frame. The second end portion seal member is formed by injecting, on the frame, a resin material having an elastic modulus smaller than an elastic modulus of the frame so as to contact with the first end portion seal member and the sheet member. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064777 | DEVELOPMENT APPARATUS AND CARTRIDGE - A developing apparatus for an image forming apparatus includes a frame having a developer container; a developing roller; a blade for regulating a developer layer thickness on the roller, the blade including a base end portion supported by the frame, and a free end portion contacted to the roller; and an elastic seal provided between the frame and the blade to prevent leakage of the developer from the developer container in an axial direction of the roller at an end portion, wherein in a state before the roller is mounted to the frame, a thickness of the seal, measured in a compression direction in which the seal is compressed by the blade, is larger in a free end portion side than in a base end portion side with respect to a direction crossing with the axial direction. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064778 | DEVELOPMENT DEVICE - A development device used for an image forming apparatus includes a frame member, a developer bearing member configured to develop a latent image formed on an image bearing member using developer, and an edge portion sealing member provided between an edge portion in a rotational axis direction of the developer bearing member and the frame member to prevent the developer from leaking to an outside of the development device from between the edge portion and the frame member, and including, in a state of being compressed between the edge portion and the frame member, a layer that includes an aggregate of a plurality of foam cells in which a foam cell communicating with an adjacent cell via a communication hole and a foam cell not communicating with an adjacent cell are mixed in a direction from an inside of the development device to the outside thereof. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064779 | Image Forming Apparatus and Process Unit Therefor - An image forming apparatus may include arrangement of a process unit, a fixing unit, and a discharge tray. In one example, the process unit, the fixing unit and the discharge tray may be arranged in such an order above a feed tray. The image forming apparatus may further include an exposure unit disposed at a position distinct from, in a sheet conveying direction, a position where the process unit is located. Additionally or alternatively, the process unit may include a developing unit. The developing unit may include a developing agent storage that extends beyond a photosensitive drum of the process unit in a direction opposite to a direction in which developing agent is conveyed from the storage. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064780 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND STRUCTURE FOR INSTALLING CONSUMABLES THEREOF - A structure for installing consumables of an image forming apparatus, the structure comprising: a frame; a plurality of consumables which comprises irregular installation preventing units in different locations; a plurality of irregular installation preventing keys which prevents an irregular installation of the plurality of consumables by an interaction with the irregular installation preventing units; and an installation guide member which is installed in the frame, comprising a key installation unit to guide the plurality of irregular installation preventing keys to be installed differently for each of the consumables and having the plurality of consumables installed therein. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064781 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus capable of preventing the image formation unit from being attached to a guide member for the image formation unit mistakenly, including an apparatus body; an image carrier including a rotary shaft; an exposure device configured to form a latent image through exposure of a surface of the image carrier and retractable from an exposure position; an image formation unit disposed detachably from the apparatus body; and a guide member to guide the exposure device to the exposure position. In the optimal apparatus, the guide member is used both to guide the image formation unit to the apparatus body and to guide the exposure device to the exposure position. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064782 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an opening; an door; a pressing member movable between a pressing position for fixing the cartridge to an image forming position, and a non-pressing position; an interrelating member for interrelations such that (i) with movement from the close position to the open position, the pressing member moves from the pressing position to the non-pressing position, and the cartridge moves from the image forming position to a retracted position, and (ii) with the inverse movement, the cartridge and the pressing member move inversely; and a limiter movable between a position for preventing the cartridge from moving against the pressing force, and a position for permitting the cartridge to move from the image forming position to the retracted position. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064783 | ROTATIONAL FORCE TRANSMITTING PART - A rotating force transmitting part for an electrophotographic photosensitive drum for a main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The rotating force transmitting part includes a coupling member engageable with the rotational force applying portion to receive a rotational force for rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum in the state in which electrophotographic photosensitive drum is mounted to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the coupling member being capable of taking a rotational force transmitting angular position for transmitting the rotational force for rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a disengaging angular position in which the coupling member is inclined away from the axis of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum from the rotational force transmitting angular position. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064784 | PACKAGED CARTRIDGE, PACKING MATERIAL AND CARTRIDGE - A packaged cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus includes: (i) a cartridge provided with a grip portion; (ii) a frame portion accommodating the cartridge, the frame portion including an opening and a recessed portion so that the grip portion is exposed through the opening so as to be capable of being gripped; and (iii) a cap portion movable, in a state in which the cartridge is accommodated in the recessed portion, relative to the frame portion between an open position where the opening is open and a closed position where the opening is closed. Such a gap is provided between the cartridge and an inner surface of the frame portion that when the frame portion is moved relative to the cap portion in an opening direction with a cap portion side of the packaged cartridge down, the cartridge interferes the inner surface of the frame portion. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064785 | CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - In a configuration in which a charging roller contact unit of a contact unit is located in a periphery of a mounting surface for mounting a cleaning blade of a drum cartridge frame, at least a part of the charging roller contact unit of the contact unit is formed in such a manner that an area of a cross section perpendicular to a direction approaching to the mounting surface of the cleaning blade becomes smaller with an approach to the mounting surface of the cleaning blade. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064786 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - An image heating apparatus includes a rotatable heating member; an exciting coil; a magnetic core including a first engaging portion in the neighborhood of an end thereof and a second engaging portion in the neighborhood of another end thereof; a holder including a first recess into which the first engaging portion is inserted and a second recess into which the second engaging portion is inserted; and an elastic member fixed on the holder so as to be located between the magnetic core and the holder. The elastic member urges the first engaging portion, inserted into the first recess, in a direction perpendicular to an inserting direction so that a position of the second engaging portion is determined by the second recess. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064787 | FIXING DEVICE AND CONTROL DEVICE - A fixing device includes a fixing unit including a first roller and a second roller which form a nip to fix a toner image on a sheet, the fixing unit being capable of fixing the toner image on a maximum width sheet and a small width sheet; a reciprocating mechanism for reciprocating the fixing unit in a widthwise direction; and an operating device for operating the reciprocating mechanism, wherein the operating device operates the reciprocating mechanism for a fixing operation on the small width sheet, and the operating device does not operate the reciprocating mechanism for the fixing operation on the maximum width sheet. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064788 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a fixing device including rollers which form a nip therebetween to fix a toner image on a sheet; a supporting mechanism for movably supporting the fixing unit; a reciprocating mechanism for reciprocating the fixing unit relative to the supporting mechanism in a longitudinal direction thereof; an electric connector provided on the supporting mechanism; and a wire connecting between the electric energy supply connector and the fixing unit and having an enough length to permit reciprocation of the fixing unit. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064789 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND TRANSPORT DEVICE - Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including an image forming apparatus member, a toner image forming unit including a housing that accommodates at least one of a toner image retainer to retain a toner image and a toner retainer to supply a toner to the toner image retainer, and a recording medium transport unit including a transport belt, having an endless shape, that is openably and closably mounted to the image forming apparatus member and transports a recording medium with being wound between a pair of support rollers provided along a transport direction of the recording medium, and a regulation member that faces the transport belt to regulate a posture of the recording medium, wherein when the recording medium transport unit is closed with respect to the image forming apparatus member, the regulation member is positioned to come into contact with the housing. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064790 | CHARGING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - To provide a charging device and an image forming apparatus that can restrict generation of a winding-seam irregularity of a roll brush for a long period. A charging device | 2014-03-06 |
20140064791 | OPTICAL ELEMENT UNIT - An optical element unit is provided comprising an optical element group for projecting light along an optical axis of the optical element group and a housing having an inner housing part partly defining a first space and a light passageway between the inner housing part and a second space. The inner housing part receives the optical element group. The optical element group comprises an ultimate optical element located in the region of the light passageway. A load-relieving device is provided adjacent to the ultimate optical element, the load relieving device partly defining the first space and the second space and at least partly relieving the ultimate optical element from loads resulting from pressure differences between the first space. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064792 | DEVELOPING UNIT AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Provided are a developing unit alleviating fogging occurrence and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus providing images over long periods. The developing unit comprises at least toner ( | 2014-03-06 |
20140064793 | DEVELOPING UNIT, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developing unit includes: a frame; a flexible container, provided inside the frame, for accommodating a developer, wherein the flexible container includes an opening for permitting discharge of the developer; an urging member, provided inside the frame, for urging the flexible container to deform the flexible container; and a developer carrying member for carrying the developer discharged from the opening of the flexible container. The flexible container includes a projected portion projecting toward an outside of the flexible container. The projected portion is moved depending on deformation of the flexible container, by urging of the flexible container, to stir the developer discharged from the opening. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064794 | DEVELOPER CONTAINER, DEVELOPER REPLENISHING DEVICE, DEVELOPING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS USING SAME - A developer container removably installable in an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus includes a container body to contain developer, a cap connectable to the container body, the cap including a supply opening, and a flange projecting beyond an outer circumferential surface of the cap in a radial direction extending from a center of a cross section of the container body. The flange is formed along a circumference of the container body and provided between the container body and the cap. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064795 | POWDER MATERIAL CONTAINER AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS PROVIDED THEREWITH, AND POWDER MATERIAL REPLENISHING METHOD - A powder material container is disclosed, including an elongated tubular container body; and a cap which has formed a temporary containing space which is communicably connected in the longitudinal direction of the container body to an opening of the container body to temporarily contain a powder material conveyed from the opening and which has formed on a side face in the longitudinal direction of the container body a discharging hole which discharges the powder material within the temporary containing space. The powder material container includes a blocking member which can switch between a blocking state in which the powder material within the temporary containing space is blocked from passing through an inlet face of the discharging hole facing the temporary containing space and a non-blocking state in which the powder material within the temporary containing space is not blocked from passing through the inlet face of the discharging hole. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064796 | TONER CASE INCLUDING CONVEYING MEMBER ATTACHED TO CASE BODY AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING TONER CASE - A toner case includes a case body, a cover, and a conveying member. The cover covers the outer surface of a wall at an end of the case body. The conveying member, including a first attaching assembly, a second attaching assembly and a linking assembly, is rotatably attached to the case body and feeds toner. The first attaching assembly is rotatably attached to the wall. The second attaching assembly is rotatably attached to a wall at the other end of the case body. One end and the other end of the linking assembly are respectively linked to the first attaching assembly and second attaching assembly. One end is slidable in the longitudinal direction of the conveying member. The linking assembly rotates together with the first and second attaching assemblies. The first attaching assembly engages the cover's inner surface, preventing the first attaching assembly from coming off the one-end wall. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064797 | DEVELOPING MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - A high-quality developing member which excels in filming resistance and excels in leak resistance despite high electroconductivity is provided. The developing member includes an electroconductive substrate, an elastic layer formed on the substrate, and a surface layer which covers a surface of the elastic layer. The surface layer includes a first resin which has, between two adjacent urethane linkages, a structure represented by the structural formula (1) and one or both of structures selected from the group consisting of a structure represented by the structural formula (2) and a structure represented by the structural formula (3), a second resin which has a structure represented by the structural formula (4) and one or both of structures selected from the group consisting of a structure represented by the structural formula (5) and a structure represented by the structural formula (6), and an electronically conductive filler. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064798 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - To accomplish this, an image forming apparatus of the present invention determines whether the temperature of an exposure unit is changing at a predetermined gradient or more, detects misregistration by forming patches and executes first registration adjustment amount calculation processing for detecting a registration adjustment amount, in a case where the temperature is not changing at the predetermined gradient or more, and executes second registration adjustment amount calculation processing for predicting the misregistration amount according to the temperature of the exposure unit measured by a first sensor, in a case where the temperature is changing at the predetermined gradient or more. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064799 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The rotation speed of an intermediary transfer belt | 2014-03-06 |
20140064800 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A color image forming apparatus includes a first temperature detection unit configured to detect a temperature of an exposure device, a second temperature detection unit configured to detect a temperature of a photosensitive member, a color registration pattern detection unit configured to detect a color registration pattern formed on a transfer member, an actual-measurement-based color registration adjustment value calculation unit configured to calculate an actual-measurement-based color registration adjustment value from a result of the detection of the color registration pattern detection unit, and a prediction-based color registration adjustment value calculation unit configured to calculate a prediction-based color registration adjustment value from the temperature of the exposure device detected by the first temperature detection unit and the temperature of the photosensitive member detected by the second temperature detection unit. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064801 | CLEANING DEVICE AND FIXING DEVICE - A cleaning device includes a cleaning unit which includes a web; a first roller, a second roller for winding the web up, a driving mechanism for second roller, a third roller urging the web to the rotatable member, an urging portion urging the third roller toward the rotatable member, and a supporter supporting the third roller while permitting movement relative to the first and second rollers; a moving mechanism for relative movement between the cleaning unit and the rotatable member, between a first position in which the web is spaced from the rotatable member and a second position in which they contact; and a controller. When the mechanism causes the relative movement from the first position to the second position, the controller operates the mechanism for a predetermined duration to substantially eliminate the slackness of the web resulting from the relative movement. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064802 | ROTATING BODY SUPPORT DEVICE AND FIXING DEVICE HAVING ROTATING BODY SUPPORT DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A rotating body support device includes a shaft, a bearing, a mounting member, and a protruding part. The shaft serves as a rotating shaft which rotates or a fixed shaft during rotation of a rotating body. The bearing includes an inner peripheral part for supporting the shaft and an outer peripheral part disposed at an interval in a radial direction relative to the inner peripheral part. The mounting member includes an insertion part on which the outer peripheral part is mounted, and supports the bearing. The protruding part is provided to protrude from one of a peripheral face of the shaft and the inner peripheral part of the bearing in the radial direction along a peripheral direction of the rotation. Moreover, the protruding part comes into contact, along the peripheral direction, with the other one of the peripheral face of the shaft and the inner peripheral part of the bearing. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064803 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body that heats and pressurizes, together with a recording medium, toner having particle diameter of 4.5 [μm] or less and a softening point of 100 [° C.] or higher and 125 [° C.] or lower to fix the toner on the recording medium, a heating unit that heats the fixing rotary body, and a pressurizing unit that sandwiches and pressurizes the toner and the recording medium in a contact part formed by the fixing rotary body, wherein the maximum pressure in the contact part is equal to or more than 2.9×10 | 2014-03-06 |
20140064804 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME - A fixing device includes a rotary fixing member, a heater, a pressing member, a nip formation member, a reinforcement member, a sliding sheet, and a holding member. The nip formation member is disposed at an inner circumferential side of the fixing member and pressed by the pressing member via the fixing member to form a nipping portion. The reinforcement member is stationarily disposed in an internal diameter area of the fixing member to support the nip formation member. The sliding sheet is disposed between the nip formation member and an inner circumferential face of the fixing member. The holding member is disposed at a member differing from the nip formation member to hold the sliding sheet in a state in which the sliding sheet is in close contact with a nipping face of the nip formation member facing the nipping portion. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064805 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - An image heating apparatus includes an image heating roller; an excitation coil provided outside of the roller for causing electromagnetic induction heat generation in the roller; a magnetic core, provided opposed to the roller through the excitation coil, for directing a magnetic flux produced by the excitation coil to the roller; a retracting mechanism for retracting the magnetic core from the excitation coil; a coil holder for holding a side of the excitation coil adjacent to the roller; and first and second pressing members for pressing the excitation coil against the holder in each of longitudinally opposite portions which are outside beyond the magnetic core. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064806 | IMAGE HEATING DEVICE - An image heating device includes a rotatable heating member configured to heat a toner image formed on a sheet with a toner containing a wax component, an exciting coil arranged outside the rotatable heating member and configured to generate a magnetic flux for subjecting the rotatable heating member to electromagnetic induction heating, a holder configured to hold the exciting coil, a magnetic flux suppression member configured to suppress a portion of a magnetic flux that acts on the rotatable heating member from the exciting coil, and a movement mechanism configured to move the magnetic flux suppression member in a space between the rotatable heating member and the holder. The holder has a region opposite the magnetic flux suppression member, and the region is coated with fluorine-based resin. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064807 | INDUCTION HEATING TYPE FUSING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS EMPLOYING THE SAME - An induction heating type fusing device and an image forming apparatus including the fusing device. The fusing device includes a magnetic flux generator and a compressing roller outside a fusing belt, first and second fusing rollers and a nip guide inside the fusing belt. The compressing roller compresses against the first and second fusing rollers and the nip guide to form nips, while the fusing belt is disposed between the compressing roller and the first and second fusing rollers and the nip guide. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064808 | FIXING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes an irradiation section that irradiates a recording medium with light, the recording medium having thereon an image formed by an image forming material to be fixed by absorbing light and being transported along a transporting path, and a preventing member that is provided with a first hole that allows the light to pass therethrough, and prevents the image forming material irradiated with the light from adhering to the irradiation section. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064809 | FORMATION PROCESS FOR GLOSSY SURFACE - A formation process of a glossy surface, without unevenness of gloss in a image on a print surface, nor toner offset or release failure over a long time period, is provided, where a surface of a belt member is composed of a resin containing structural units derived from a specific urethane (meth)acrylate (A), a specific polyfunctional monomer (B), and a fluorine-modified acrylate (C) and has the contact angle with respect to water of | 2014-03-06 |
20140064810 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - An image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photoreceptor; and a cleaning blade. The electrophotographic photoreceptor includes an outermost layer having a ten-point average roughness Rz of from 0.5 to 2.4 μm and an average interval between concavities and convexities Sm of from 30 to 300 μm, and the cleaning blade includes a reed-shaped elastic blade having a contact point to the electrophotographic photoreceptor. The contact point includes a substrate; a mixed layer overlying the substrate, including a material forming the substrate and at least one of an acrylic resin and a methacrylic resin and having a thickness not less than 1.0 μm; and a surface layer overlying the mixed layer, including at least one of an acrylic resin and a methacrylic resin and having a thickness not less than 0.1 μm. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064811 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The present invention provides an image forming apparatus including a charger that includes a case surrounding the discharge electrode and having an opening on the photosensitive member side and a grid disposed in the opening and having a mesh area, a shutter that includes the fiber opening and closing the opening, and first and second contact members that are disposed on a downstream of the charger and an upstream of the cleaning blade in a rotational direction of the photosensitive member and come in contact with areas of the photosensitive member corresponding to both longitudinal ends of the mesh area of the grid. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064812 | BOWED AND NON-PARALLEL ROLLERS FORMING NIP - A pair of opposing rollers comprises a first roller and a second roller contacting the first roller to form a nip between the rollers through which print media passes. Because of surface irregularities in the rollers, the nip can have one or more unintended gaps at locations where the surface of the first roller separates from the surface second roller. Further, a frame holds the first roller and the second roller. A manual or automatic axis adjuster is operatively connected to the controller and the first roller. The axis adjuster changes the angle of the axis (a first axis) of the first roller relative to the axis (a second axis) of the second roller based on the gap to position the first axis in a position other than parallel to the second axis. Changing the angle of the first axis relative to the second axis reduces or eliminates the gap. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064813 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An improved image forming apparatus is described in which, even when a conveyance unit is switched from a pressure engaged state to a disengaged state, misalignment of a sheet during conveyance can be inhibited. A control unit conveys a sheet between a transfer unit and paper stop rollers, while forming a loop of the sheet therebetween, by setting the speed of conveying the sheet passing between the paper stop rollers to be higher than the speed of conveying the sheet passing through the transfer unit. In addition to this, when the pair of rollers serving as the paper stop rollers are switched from a pressure engaged state to a disengaged state, the paper stop rollers are controlled to reduce the speed of conveying the sheet therethrough in advance of this switching operation. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064814 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus with a duplex printing function may include a closeable and openable portion. In one example, the portion may correspond to a cover of the image forming apparatus. The cover may include guiding portions configured to define a return path for duplex printing. In another example, the portion may correspond to a document reading unit including an outer casing. A portion of the outer casing may be configured to guide a recording sheet that is conveyed out of a housing of the image forming apparatus by a switchback roller. In one example, the switchback roller may convey a recording sheet to a position above an upper surface of the outer casing. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064815 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus, including: an image forming portion configured to form an image on a recording material; and a conveyance roller pair configured to nip and convey the recording material, at least one of the conveyance roller pair having: a contact portion configured to come into contact with the recording material when the recording material passes through the conveyance roller pair; and a non-contact portion configured to be out of contact with the recording material when the recording material passes through the conveyance roller pair, wherein the non-contact portion is provided with a static electricity eliminating function to discharge an electric charge imparted on the recording material. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064816 | LOCKING MECHANISM - An apparatus can comprise a locking mechanism comprising an elongated slot to receive a pin. The apparatus can also comprise an encoder strip adhered to the locking mechanism. The apparatus can further comprise a tension spring coupled to the locking mechanism. The tension spring can provide a force in a given direction to pull the locking mechanism in the given direction. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064817 | TENSION CONTROL IN A WEB TRANSPORT SYSTEM - A method for controlling tension in a print media in a tension zone of a printing system comprises enabling an active tension control mode until the tension in the print media is in a stable state for a given period of time. Then, the active tension control mode is disabled and a synchronized control mode is enabled. The tension in the print media is monitored to determine if the tension exceeds a tension inner band but does not exceed a tension outer band while the synchronized control mode is enabled. The speed of a drive roller is adjusted in response to this determination. The tension in the print media is also monitored to determine if the tension exceeds the tension outer band while the synchronized control mode is enabled. The synchronized control mode is disabled in response to this determination and the active tension control mode is enabled. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064818 | Portable Single-Use Sunscreen Container with Integrated Applicator - A lotion container is described. The container includes a sealed outer edge that defines a cavity adapted to store an amount of lotion sufficient for a single application; and a set of notches that define a removable section of the lotion container, wherein at least one notch from the set of notches severs a portion of the sealed edge such that the lotion is able to be dispensed from the cavity if the removable section is separated from the lotion container. A container adapted to store and dispense lotion includes a cavity adapted to store lotion sufficient for a single application; an integrated applicator spout extending out from the cavity; and a removable section adapted to allow stored lotion to be dispensed through the applicator spout. A lotion kit includes multiple single-use lotion containers; and a fastener adapted to be coupled to one or more of the single-use lotion containers. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064819 | PENCIL - The invention concerns a pencil comprising a lead, a protective cap and a device for shaping the lead in the protective cap. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064820 | Assisted opening compact novelty utensil - A compact utensil which has two utility components connected by an assisted opening hinge. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064821 | Dispensers and Applicator Heads Therefor - An applicator head for selectively dispensing product includes a base structure and a support structure. The base structure includes a top face inclined relative to a bottom face, and a first side wall. The top face includes a base flange, and defines a first orifice in fluid communication with a fastener of the bottom face. The support structure includes a lower face inclined relative to an upper face, and a second side wall. The upper face includes a top surface and defines a second orifice. The lower face includes a support flange engaged with the base flange such that the support structure is pivotable relative to the base structure between first and second positions. Fluid communication is facilitated from the fastener through the second orifice in only one of the first and second positions. A dispenser is also provided. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064822 | COSMETIC MATERIAL APPLYING CONTAINER - The present invention provides a cosmetic material applying container that provides comfortable use feeling and facilitates drawing a narrow line. A cosmetic material applying container includes a leading end portion which discharges a cosmetic material and is formed of a soft material. The leading end portion has a flat shape and an edge shape. A top end surface of the leading end portion constitutes an applying surface, and the leading end portion has a tapered shape. The distal end side of the leading end portion is formed in a sharp shape. The applying surface includes a distal end where a vertex position constitutes a sharp portion. The applying surface includes a concave part depressed toward a base end side in a side view at the distal end side. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064823 | HARNESS FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICES - A harness for electronic devices includes a folder member and a pouch member. In a preferred embodiment, the folder member is releasably securable to the pouch member and includes an interior pocket and a transparent front cover structured and disposed for allowing a user to operate the touch screen interface of an electronic tablet while the tablet is protectively contained within the interior pocket. The opening of the interior pocket is at least partially sealable. The pouch member includes at least one interior compartment being sized and configured for securing electronic devices. A removable clip extension is provided on the pouch member for releasably securing items. At least one securing strap is provided on the folder member for securing the folder member and pouch member to the cover of a notebook binder. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064824 | QUICK COUPLER FOR AN EARTH MOVING MACHINE - The invention relates to a quick coupler ( | 2014-03-06 |
20140064825 | FASTENING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF FASTENING - A fastening apparatus having a base part ( | 2014-03-06 |
20140064826 | EQUIPMENT ADAPTER FOR SNOWPLOW ATTACHMENT - An equipment mounting assembly, for attachment of a desired equipment to a snowplow attachment, which comprises a mounting frame with an equipment adapter. A first end of a frame adaptor is pivotally attached, by a horizontal pivot, to a rear portion of the mounting frame to facilitate tilting thereof while a second end of the frame adaptor is engageable with a snowplow attachment. First and second spaced apart support brackets are supported by the mounting frame, and each of the support brackets facilitates coupling the mounting frame to the snowplow attachment. A first end of a frame tilt actuator is supported by the mounting frame while a second end of the frame tilt actuator is attachable to the frame adaptor or and the snowplow attachment so as to facilitate forward and rearward tilting of the mounting frame about a horizontal tilt axis defined by the horizontal pivot. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064827 | LOCKING ASSEMBLY FOR LOCKING AN AIRCRAFT INTERIOR STRUCTURE TO AN INTERNAL MOUNTING FRAME IN AN AIRCRAFT CABIN - The invention relates to a locking assembly for locking an aircraft interior structure ( | 2014-03-06 |
20140064828 | Systems and Methods for Securing Mobile Medical Equipment Supporter Systems to Patient Transporters with Adjustability - The present invention relates to systems and methods for securing a mobile medical equipment supporter system, such as an infusion pump pole, to a mobile patient transporter, such as a gurney, thereby enhancing patient and attendant safety. In some embodiments in accordance with the present invention adjustable hitchee assembly is operatively connected to a hitch coupler of the mobile medical equipment supporter system which allows the position where the mobile medical equipment supporter system is secured to the mobile patient transporter to be easily varied. In some other embodiments in accordance with the present invention more than one mobile medical equipment supporter system can be secured independently to the mobile patient transporter. In yet another embodiment, the mobile medical equipment supporter system can be configured to be positioned at any desired position around the mobile patient transporter. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064829 | JOINT DEVICE - A joint device includes a first latch, an actuating mechanism, and two connection parts pivotally connected to each other. The first latch is selectively moved to a first locking position for locking the two connection parts or a first unlocking position for unlocking the two connection parts. The actuating mechanism is disposed adjacent to where the two connection parts are pivotally connected. The actuating mechanism is connected to the first latch to be operable to selectively move the first latch to the first locking position or the first unlocking position, so that the structure of the joint device of the invention is simple and practical, and it facilitates operation of unfolding and folding a stroller equipped with the joint device of the invention. | 2014-03-06 |
20140064830 | METHOD FOR BONDING METAL MEMBER AND RESIN MEMBER - A metal member | 2014-03-06 |
20140064831 | AUTOMOBILE FRAME COMPONENT - An automobile frame component includes a closed section constituted by welding a flange portion to a panel part, wherein when a welding position coordinate is represented in a coordinate system in which an end of a contact position between the flange portion and the panel part is assumed as 0, and a flange outer end side of the flange portion is assumed as negative (−) whereas a vertical wall side is assumed as positive (+), and when a radius of a circular arc-like portion connecting a vertical wall portion and the flange portion in the substantially hat-like shape is denoted as R (mm), and a weldable gap amount is denoted as a (mm), a welding position X represented by the following formula is continuously welded using a one-side welding method: | 2014-03-06 |