25th week of 2011 patent applcation highlights part 46 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20110150470 | PROCEDURE, APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR NETWORK PLANNING - A method, apparatus, system, and computer program, for operating a network planning tool. The method includes recognizing at least one predetermined criteria being satisfied or triggered, and learning at least one network attribute, to be used in subsequent network planning. Various types of network attributes can be learned, such as, e.g., network element parameters, site parameters, link parameters, demand parameters, optical parameters, general parameters, and networking parameters. Example attributes may specify, e.g., a maximum number of add/drop channels, at least one alarm threshold, a maximum number of sites per network ring, a maximum number of add/drop sites per ring, and a maximum ring circumference. Others can specify a maximum light path distance, a routing tendency, at least one grooming node, or the like. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150471 | TRANSMITTER PHOTONIC INTEGRATED CIRCUIT - The present invention provides a system, apparatus and method to provide for amplification at various points along one or more optical paths of a photonic integrated circuit. According to various embodiments of the invention, the photonic integrated circuit includes a plurality of optical devices having associated characteristics which may have lead to optical signal degradation. One or more optical amplifiers provided along one or more optical paths of the photonic integrated circuit compensate for such signal degradation, resulting in a highly configurable photonic integrated circuit. The various optical devices of the photonic integrated circuit may be provided on a single substrate. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150472 | Data center with free-space optical communications - A data center for executing a data processing application includes processing units, sub-units or servers. Each of the processing units, sub-units or servers can execute a part or all of the data processing application. The processing units, sub-units or servers are electrical disjoint with respect to data communications, but can communicate with each other over free space optical links. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150473 | Data center with free-space optical communications - A data center for executing a data processing application includes processing units, sub-units or servers. Each of the processing units, sub-units or servers can execute a part or all of the data processing application. The processing units, sub-units or servers are electrical disjoint with respect to data communications, but can communicate with each other over free space optical links. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150474 | PACKET TRANSPORT LAYER PASSIVE OPTICAL NETWORK (PTL-PON) PROVIDING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A packet transport layer passive optical network providing method controls an optical line termination device and an optical network terminal or an optical network unit of the subscriber end to transport packet transport layer passive optical network packets between the optical network terminals or the optical network units and the optical line termination device, and the optical network terminals or the optical network unit of the subscriber end becomes an end point of a packet transport layer connection. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150475 | System and Method for Pluggable Optical Modules for Passive Optical Networks - An optical local area network includes a passive optical distribution fabric interconnecting a plurality of nodes including a first node and a plurality of remaining nodes, a hub that includes the first node and a control module, and a client network adapter coupled to each of the remaining nodes for responding to the control module. The control module controls timing for each of the client network adapters to transmit signals over the passive optical distribution fabric and distribution of signals to each of the nodes. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150476 | DELAY CONTROL METHOD IN PASSIVE OPTICAL NETWORK, AN OPTICAL LINE TERMINAL AND A PASSIVE OPTICAL NETWORK - A method for controlling delay in a Passive Optical Network (PON) is applicable when a Precision Timing Protocol (PTP) message is transmitted in a downlink direction. The method includes obtaining a buffer duration of the PTP message destined for an Optical Network Unit (ONU), storing the PTP message destined for the ONU, and sending the PTP message to the ONU when a duration for storing the PTP message reaches the buffer duration. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150477 | Receiver Algorithms for Coherent Detection of Polarization-Multiplexed Optical Signals - A digital signal processor (DSP) operating within, for example, an optical receiver wherein the DSP processes complex sample streams derived from a received modulated optical signal, the DSP configured to perform a method comprising: processing at least one block of symbols within a complex symbol stream to define a received constellation having symbols located within decision boundaries; and verifying that the received constellation does not exhibit errors by comparing the received constellation to each of a sequence of reference constellations having corresponding phase shifts within an angular ambiguity range of the first constellation. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150478 | Receiver Algorithms for Coherent Detection of Polarization-Multiplexed Optical Signals - A digital signal processor (DSP) operating within, for example, an optical receiver wherein the DSP processes complex sample streams derived from a received digitally modulated optical signal, the DSP configured to perform a method comprising: using a filter adaptation algorithm (FAA), processing digitized complex sample streams for each of a sequence of unitary matrix different starting conditions associated with the FAA to establish a converged FAA. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150479 | Multi-Level Polarization Multi-Level Phase Modulator - An apparatus for use with an optical computation system may comprise a monolithic device with no free space optical components and may include a phase modulator and a polarization modulator. The phase modulator may be configured to receive a beam of light and two digital data streams and operable to modulate the phase of the beam of light to at least four phase states, the at least four phase states representing the two digital data streams. The polarization modulator may be configured to receive two additional digital data streams and the modulated beam of light from the phase modulator and operable to modulate the polarization of the beam of light to at least four polarization states, the at least four polarization states representing the two additional digital data streams. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150480 | Data center with free-space optical communications - A data center for executing a data processing application includes processing units, sub-units or servers. Each of the processing units, sub-units or servers can execute a part or all of the data processing application. The processing units, sub-units or servers are electrical disjoint with respect to data communications, but can communicate with each other over free space optical links. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150481 | ELECTRICAL RETURN-TO-ZERO (ERZ) DRIVER CIRCUIT - Consistent with the present disclosure, clock-and-data recovery (CDR) circuitry and driver circuitry are provided on a chip that is separate from the driver circuitry, thereby reducing the amount of power consumed by the driver circuitry and simplifying system design. In one example, timing of the ERZ signals is controlled by a feedback loop that adjusts the phase of a data carrying signal relative to a clock signal, such that the phase has a desired value. Timing of the ERZ signals may thus be adjusted to minimize errors. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150482 | Transmission control system, subscriber-side communication device, and office-side communication device - Provided is a subscriber-side communication device including a subscriber-side processing unit that continuously performs signal processing regardless of computer restart and includes a transmission processing unit that performs a data transmission process according to transmission control information contained in a received signal from the office-side communication device. Also provided is an office-side communication device including an office-side processing unit that continuously performs signal processing regardless of computer restart, and a transmission control information computing unit that computes transmission control information for each subscriber-side communication device, the office-side processing unit including a transmission control information storing unit that stores transmission control information of each subscriber-side communication device computed by the transmission control information computing unit, and a transmission control processing unit that performs a transmission control process with each subscriber-side communication device by using the transmission control information of each subscriber-side communication device stored in the transmission control information storing unit. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150483 | APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COMPENSATING INFRARED NOISE IN AN ELECTRONIC SYSTEM - Remote control signal detection systems and methods are operable to compensate detected infrared energy to identify an infrared energy communication signal emitted by a remote control. An exemplary embodiment detects first infrared energy, wherein the infrared energy communication signal is absent in the first infrared energy; determines compensation based on the first infrared energy; detects second infrared energy, wherein the infrared energy communication signal is present in the second infrared energy; and compensates the second infrared energy based on the determined compensation. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150484 | Method and Apparatus for Improved SBS Suppression in Optical Fiber Communication Systems - Methods of transmitting an optical signal through optical fiber in a manner suppressing stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) are provided. A light beam emitted from a light source is modulated by driving either the light source or a separate phase modulator or both simultaneously with a separate high frequency signal dithered by one or more low frequency dithering signals of a frequency or frequencies lower than that of the high frequency signal. Thereafter, the light beam is further modulated externally with an RF information-carrying signal. The high frequency signal is at least twice a highest frequency of the RF information-carrying signal. The light beam modulated with the RF information-carrying signal is coupled into optical fiber. The high frequency signal dithered by the one or more low frequency dithering signals spreads the optical power of the light beam in a wider spectral range thereby raising the SBS threshold power level for purposes of suppressing SBS while the undesired induced spurious frequency component level is controlled. The form of the spread spectrum is also controlled and adjusted. An optical transmitter is also disclosed. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150485 | Photonic RF Frequency Conversion - Devices and techniques for frequency conversion of radio frequency (RF) or microwave signals based on photonic processing. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150486 | Data centerr with free-space optical communications - A data center for executing a data processing application includes processing units, sub-units or servers. Each of the processing units, sub-units or servers can execute a part or all of the data processing application. The processing units, sub-units or servers are electrical disjoint with respect to data communications, but can communicate with each other over free space optical links. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150487 | High speed communication - The disclosure has application for use in establishing a communication link between a first location and a second location, the first location having an electrical driver circuit that receives input data to be communicated, and the second location having an electrical receiver circuit for producing output data representative of the input data. The method includes the following steps: providing a tilted charge light emitting device at the first location and coupled with the driver circuit such that the light produced by the tilted charge light-emitting device is a function of the input data; providing an optical fiber between the first and second locations; coupling light from the tilted charge light emitting device into the optical fiber; and providing, at the second location, a photodetector coupled with the optical fiber and with the receiver circuit; whereby electrical signals representative of the input data are output from the receiver circuit. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150488 | Electrically Traceable and Identifiable Fiber Optic Cables and Connectors - Composite fiber optic cables having exposed, conductive traces external to the cable jacket enable non-invasive, wireless electrical tone tracing of fiber optic cables. The cross sectional geometry of the fiber optic cable prevents conductive traces from short circuiting when abutting other cables or grounded conductive elements. Moreover, the structure allows convenient electrical contact to the conductive traces at any location along the longitudinal extent of the cable without requiring penetration of the cable jacket or removal of fiber optic connectors. Traceable fiber optic cables of various types are disclosed, including simplex, duplex and ribbon cables. Systems of traceable cables utilizing connectors with integrated electrical antenna elements attached to the conductive elements of cable and RFID tags for remote connector port identification are further disclosed. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150489 | Data center with free-space optical communications - A data center for executing a data processing application includes processing units, sub-units or servers. Each of the processing units, sub-units or servers can execute a part or all of the data processing application. The processing units, sub-units or servers are electrical disjoint with respect to data communications, but can communicate with each other over free space optical links. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150490 | Data center with free-space optical communications - A data center for executing a data processing application includes processing units, sub-units or servers. Each of the processing units, sub-units or servers can execute a part or all of the data processing application. The processing units, sub-units or servers are electrical disjoint with respect to data communications, but can communicate with each other over free space optical links. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150491 | Data center with free-space optical communications - A data center for executing a data processing application includes processing units, sub-units or servers. Each of the processing units, sub-units or servers can execute a part or all of the data processing application. The processing units, sub-units or servers are electrical disjoint with respect to data communications, but can communicate with each other over free space optical links. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150492 | Data center with free-space optical communications - A data center for executing a data processing application includes processing units, sub-units or servers. Each of the processing units, sub-units or servers can execute a part or all of the data processing application. The processing units, sub-units or servers are electrical disjoint with respect to data communications, but can communicate with each other over free space optical links. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150493 | OPTICAL MODULE - A light module | 2011-06-23 |
20110150494 | OPTICAL TRANSCEIVER AND PACKAGING METHOD THEREOF - An optical transceiver includes a substrate, a positioning seat, a plurality of laser components, a bracket and a plurality of lenses. The positioning seat is installed on the substrate and includes a pair of positioning posts and a plurality of receiving holes between the positioning posts. The laser components pass through the receiving holes and are installed on the substrate. The bracket includes a top cover and one or more sidewalls. The one or more sidewalls surround the positioning seat and the plurality of laser components. The top cover defines a pair of positioning holes engaged with the pair of positioning posts to position the bracket corresponding to the positioning seat. The lenses are installed on the top cover of the bracket and correspond to the plurality of laser components on the substrate. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150495 | VECTOR SUM PHASE SHIFTER, OPTICAL TRANSCEIVER, AND CONTROL CIRCUIT - A vector sum phase shifter includes a 90° phase shifter ( | 2011-06-23 |
20110150496 | Time Constrained Signal MIMO Wireless and Wired Communication Method - A method and system for receiving and processing in a wireless device a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) device generated signal and a sensor generated signal. Receiving and processing a data signal into a processed ultra narrowband (UNB) and a processed ultra wideband (UWB) signal and providing processed UNB and UWB signal to a selector for selection of UNB or UWB signal and for providing selected UNB or UWB signal to a transmitter for transmission. A transmitter and receiver having a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) antenna system. Processing a signal into a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) and a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Time Constrained Signal (TCS) waveform shaped and Long Response (LR) filtered signal. Receiving and processing a Fiber Optic Communication (FOC) network provided signal and processing a UNB processed signal into a processed spread spectrum signal. Processing and modulating a UNB signal into a missing cycle (MCY) processed modulated signal and into a phase reversal keying (PRK) modulated signal. Processing a signal into a clock shaped signal and processing and modulating a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) processed signal into a processed UNB phase reversal keying (PRK) modulated signal and an infrared (IR) signal processor for receiving and processing an IR generated signal used in wireless device. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150497 | CONTACTLESS INFRARED DATA TRANSMISSION FOR WIND TURBINES - An apparatus for enabling transmission of signals and data via means of infrared (IR) light for a wind turbine includes a plurality of IR data communication elements configured to provide unidirectional and bidirectional IR data exchange between non-rotating portions of the wind turbine and the rotatable wind turbine hub. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150498 | OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS WITH POLARIZATION DEPENDENT LOSS COMPENSATION - The invention related to the system and method for optical communication using light of two polarization states. Polarization distortion loss (PDL) is compensated by implementation of polarization controllers at both the transmitter and receiver sides. The transmitter controller performs a mixing transformation of beam with two polarizations, while the receiver controller performs the same transformation in the opposite direction with exactly same sequence as in the transmitter part. A cross scrambling and a polarization rotation represented by matrix multiplication are examples of such mixing polarization transformations. The averaged PDL induced errors are corrected by the FEC code plus interleavers. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150499 | System, Method, and Computer Program Product for Fiber Access - A system, method, and computer program product for synchronizing time between a centralized controller device and at least one subscriber device on a fiber access network. The control layer of a network device is expanded, and additional messaging control is added via the transmission of data frames. The expansion prevents reliance on a physical layer signal. The time synchronization also allows a time stamp to be incorporated into a message. Thus, bandwidth is not wasted by simply transmitting a time stamp by itself. In an embodiment, the centralized controller device measures the time difference between the time at which a particular ranging request is transmitted and the time at which the particular ranging request is received. The time difference represents the time adjustment value for the particular subscriber device and allows the device to synchronize its time with that of the centralized controller device. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150500 | VERTICAL CAVITY SURFACE EMITTING LASER, VERTICAL CAVITY SURFACE EMITTING LASER DEVICE, OPTICAL TRANSMISSION DEVICE, AND INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS - A vertical cavity surface emitting laser that includes: a substrate; a first semiconductor multilayer reflector; an active region; a second semiconductor multilayer reflector; a columnar structure formed on the substrate; a current narrowing layer that is formed inside of the columnar structure, and has a conductive region surrounded by an oxidization region selectively oxidized; a first electrode that is formed at a top of the columnar structure, and defines a beam window; a first insulating film that covers the beam window; and a second insulating film of which a second refractive index is larger than the first refractive index. A reflection ratio in a second region where the second insulating film is formed is lower than a reflection ratio in a first region where only the first insulating film is formed. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150501 | SPATIAL LIGHT MODULATOR WITH MASKING-COMPARATORS - Described is a device comprising a spatial light modulator comprising a plurality of comparators for computing a respective drive for each pixel of a plurality of pixels. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150502 | HIGH-SPEED OPTICAL TRANSMITTERS USING CASCADED OPTICALLY INJECTION-LOCKED LASERS - Apparatus and method for increasing optical transmission bandwidth in response to chaining, in cascade, one or more slave lasers onto a master laser. Each laser is configured for optical injection locking (OIL) and each slave laser is locked onto the master laser. The first and each subsequent slave laser are detuned to tailor frequency characteristics of apparatus output. The transmitter can be scaled up by cascading additional injection-locked lasers together. The invention supports multiple compatible modulation formats, such as amplitude modulation (AM), phase modulation (PM), and frequency modulation (FM), for tailoring the output to the application of interest, while any type of laser can be used for the master and slave lasers. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150503 | Receiver Algorithms for Coherent Detection of Polarization-Multiplexed Optical Signals - A digital signal processor (DSP) operating within, for example, an optical receiver wherein the DSP processes complex sample streams derived from a modulated optical signal, the DSP configured to perform a method of acquiring an intermediate frequency (IF) signal from within the received optical signal, the method comprising: processing at least one block of complex sample stream symbols using a frequency locked loop (FLL) to achieve an initial constellation lock condition, the FLL having a nominal lock-in spectral region; if an initial constellation lock condition is not achieved within a predetermined amount of time, shifting the spectral region processed by the FLL to a spectral region proximate a current operating spectral region. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150504 | COHERENT OPTICAL RECEIVER SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING PHASE MODULATED SIGNALS - One aspect of the invention is a homodyne coherent receiver, suitable for high speed phase shift keying (PSK), the receiver comprising a receiver for receiving an incoming signal having a carrier-less modulation format, a signal conditioning sub-system that generates a carrier component from the incoming signal, and an optical injection phase locked loop (OIPLL) that phase locks the generated carrier component of the incoming signal. Embodiments of the invention may enable DSP free detection of optical PSK signals, which may be required in next generation fiber transmission systems and in optical constellation analyzer systems. In addition, embodiments of the invention may provide improved receiver sensitivity performance comparing to prior art systems using direct detection schemes. Also, embodiments of the invention may be advantageous in terms of cost and energy efficiency. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150505 | ZERO MEAN CARRIER RECOVERY - A method of data symbol recovery in a coherent receiver of an optical communications system. Two or more SYNC bursts, having a known symbol sequence and periodicity, are processed to derive an estimate of a frequency offset Δf between a transmit laser and a Local Oscillator (LO) of the receiver. A phase rotation κ(n) is computed based on the estimate of the frequency offset Δf, and applied to a plurality of data symbol estimates to generate corresponding rotated symbol estimates. The rotated symbol estimates are then filtered to generate corresponding decision values of each data symbol. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150506 | OPTICAL RECEIVER AND RECEIVING METHOD - An optical receiver includes an optical front-end, a digital converter, a frequency-characteristic-difference reducing unit and an identifying unit. The optical front-end splits an input signal light into signal light components on a basis of local light and converts the split signal light components into electrical signals. The digital converter converts the electrical signals, converted by the optical front end, into digital signals. The frequency-characteristic-difference reducing unit reduces a frequency-characteristic difference between the digital signals converted by the digital converter. The identifying unit identifies each of the digital signals whose frequency-characteristic difference is reduced by the frequency-characteristic-difference reducing unit. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150507 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF MANAGING ERRORS OF AN IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A method of managing errors of at least one image forming apparatus, the method involving collecting information regarding the errors disrupting normal operation of the at least one image forming apparatus, analyzing the severity of each of the errors based on the collected information, and outputting a severity analysis result for each of the errors. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150508 | IMAGE INFORMATION DETECTING APPARATUS - An image information detecting apparatus comprises a light source comprising a light emitting surface, an image bearing member, a light receiving unit comprising a light receiving surface, an illumination optical system for causing the light emitting surface and the image bearing member to have a conjugate relationship and illuminating a pattern for detecting the overlap positional deviation with a beam; and a light receiving optical system for causing the image bearing member and the light receiving surface to have a conjugate relationship and guiding the beam for detecting the overlap positional deviation to the light receiving unit, wherein a straight line portion of a conjugate image of the light emitting surface on the image bearing member and a straight line portion of a conjugate image of the light receiving surface on the image bearing member are parallel with each other. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150509 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a profile storage section that stores distortion characteristic of a scanning line, a correcting section that corrects image data by lines in the sub scanning direction, and a registration sensor that detects a pattern image for detecting color misregistration amounts in a sub scanning direction of images formed on an intermediate transfer member. When the pattern image is formed, the distortion correcting section shifts image data of the pattern image by lines in the sub scanning direction so that, with reference to a detection position of the registration sensor, a positional displacement amount of the pattern image in the sub scanning direction becomes less than or equal to ½ of a scanning-line distance, in accordance with a positional displacement amount of the scanning line in the sub scanning direction at a detection position of the registration sensor along a main scanning direction. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150510 | OPTICAL SCANNING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING OPTICAL SCANNING APPARATUS - In an optical scanning apparatus, a light source includes a plurality of light emitting elements. A light beam output from the source is scanned and deflected by a polygon mirror so as to form an electrostatic latent image on a surface of a light sensitive member. A control unit controls the source so that the source outputs the light beam in a first period before a second period in which the light beam deflected by the mirror forms the image. During the first period for outputting the light beam from the source a period for scanning a non-image region of the member in a state in which the rotation speed of the mirror is being accelerated or decelerated is made longer than a period for scanning the non-image region of the member in a state in which the rotation speed of the mirror is controlled at a constant speed. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150511 | Image Forming Apparatus, Image Forming Method and Data Control Device - The apparatus is adapted to deflect a light beam from a laser light source for each of the color components by means of a deflection mirror surface which oscillates, thereby making the light beam reciprocally scan in a main scanning direction. In this apparatus, however, only a light beam SL which scans in a first direction (+X) of the main scanning direction is irradiated in an effective image region on a photosensitive member, so as to form a latent image thereon. The resultant latent image is developed to form a toner image. Since image formation is performed using only the light beam SL which scans in the first direction (+X), the images may be formed at the consistent density irrespective of the image types. Furthermore, the scanning directions of the light beams SL for all the color components are uniformly defined to be the first direction (+X), so that the toner images of the respective colors may maintain the consistent density. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150512 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus to which a cleaning unit is detachably mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus includes a rotatable image bearing drum on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; a developing unit for developing the latent image into a toner image by supplying toner onto a surface of the drum; a cleaning unit including a cleaning blade for cleaning the drum by contacting to the surface of the image bearing member when the drum is rotating; a storing portion for storing information relates to a use amount of the developing unit; and a control device capable of executing toner supply into between the surface of the drum and the cleaning blade by supplying the toner to the surface of the drum from the developing unit in a period in which image formation on a sheet material is not executed, wherein when the toner supply is executed, the control device increases the amount of the toner to the surface of the drum from the developing unit with increase of the use amount of the developing unit on the basis of the information stored in the storing portion. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150513 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A charge bias causing the surface potential of a photosensitive drum to be lower than that in image formation is applied to a charge roller during a period in which the stop position of a rotary is moved from an unknown state to a home position to cause a developing bias to be applied to a developing roller to be smaller than that in the image formation. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150514 | METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY CORRECTING TRANSFER PRESSURE NON-UNIFORMITY USING THE CROSS PROCESS UNIFORMITY - This invention relates to an electrophotographic marking apparatus and provides an automatic method for automatically scanning and correcting TAB pressure non-uniformity using a cross-process uniformity controller and a closed loop system. The TAB is contacted with an image on a photoreceptor surface to leave its imprint or footprint on the image. Sensing said footprint and marking indicated changes in the TAB performance and pressure. This method uses a CPUC full width array in conjunction with a software version for assessing TAB performance. This method continuously monitors the TAB performance during the running of a marking apparatus. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150515 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a charging device for electrically charging the image bearing member; an electrostatic latent image forming device for forming an electrostatic latent image on the image bearing member; a developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image into a toner image; a transfer device for transferring the toner image from the image bearing member onto a recording material, the transfer device including a transfer member to which a transfer voltage is to be applied, a transfer voltage source capable of variably setting the transfer voltage, and a current detecting circuit for detecting a current passing between the image bearing member and the transfer member by the transfer voltage applied from the transfer voltage source; and a controller for controlling the transfer voltage source. The controller sets a value of the transfer voltage, to be applied from the transfer voltage source during a non-passing period of the recording material, so that a predetermined current is detected by the current detecting circuit, wherein the predetermined current is preset as a current not causing electric discharge between the image bearing member and the transfer member but causing the toner image to move from the transfer member to the image bearing member. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150516 | COLOR IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A color image forming apparatus includes a plurality of mark sensing devices are arranged between a plurality of photoconductors arranged on an intermediate transfer belt to sense a mark transferred to a region of the intermediate transfer belt corresponding to an interval between successive recording media. As an exposure time to form an electrostatic latent image on a photoconductor, on which a following developer image will be formed, is determined, minimized mis-registration and consequently, improved color registration correction efficiency are accomplished. Also, automatic color registration correction is performed on per printing operation basis, resulting in improvement in image quality. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150517 | Method And System For Maintaining Substantially Uniform Pressure Between Rollers Of A Printer - A method and system for maintaining a substantially uniform pressure between a pair of rollers is disclosed. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150518 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The fixing device using an electromagnetic induction heating (IH) method includes a fixing sleeve having a heating layer, a pressure roller to form a nip while contacting the fixing roller and rotate to drive the fixing sleeve, a temperature detector to detect a temperature on a circumference of the fixing sleeve, and an excitation coil provided near the fixing sleeve and configured to perform induction heating of the heating layer of the fixing sleeve based on the detection result from the temperature detector. The fixing device is configured to change a rotation speed of the fixing sleeve in a standby time during which the fixing sleeve, while rotating, is controlled to be heated so as to maintain a target temperature when a periodic temperature difference occurs on a circumference of the fixing rotary member and having a fluctuation amplitude larger than a predetermined value compared to the target temperature. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150519 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a control unit that performs two types of stop operations in which an image bearing member is rotated or is not rotated after forming an image. The control unit selects the stop operation according to operation time of the image bearing member. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150520 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM - An image forming system including first and second image forming apparatuses that includes a first image forming unit configured to form an image on a first surface of recording paper, a discharging unit configured to discharge the recording paper on which the image is formed by the first image forming unit to the second image forming apparatus, a second image forming unit configured to form an image on a second surface of the recording paper discharged by the discharging unit from the first image forming apparatus, and a correction unit configured to correct adjustment timing of the image forming system as a whole so that first adjustment timing for performing an adjustment operation of an output image formed by the first image forming unit and second adjustment timing for performing an adjustment operation of an output image formed by the second image forming unit accord with each other. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150521 | POWER SUPPLY AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A synchronous rectification power supply controls driving of a switching unit in such a manner as to start the driving in response to rising of an output voltage at a secondary side of a transformer and to stop the driving after a predetermined time passed. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150522 | POWER SUPPLY DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A power supply device controls drive of a synchronous rectification switch unit by converting a voltage into a current, and comparing a voltage obtained by current-to-voltage conversion with a predetermined value. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150523 | POWER SUPPLY AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A power supply includes a transformer, a switching unit configured to drive the transformer at a primary side of the transformer, a voltage adjustment unit configured to adjust voltage of a capacitive element at a secondary side of the transformer, at the primary side thereof, and a plurality of constant voltage members connected across the terminals of the capacitive element at the secondary side of the transformer, wherein the power supply generates voltage having a predetermined polarity during the period before the voltage of the capacitive element at the secondary side of the transformer becomes a predetermined voltage by the voltage adjustment unit, and generates voltage having a polarity opposite to the predetermined polarity after the voltage of the capacitive element at the secondary side becomes the predetermined voltage. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150524 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a drum for bearing a toner image; a rotatable belt onto which the toner image is to be transferred from the drum; a primary transfer member for primary transferring the toner image from the drum onto the belt; a secondary transfer member for secondary transferring the toner image from the belt onto a transfer material; and a charging member for electrically charging toner remaining on the belt. The image forming apparatus is capable of executing a belt cleaning mode in which the toner remaining on the belt is electrically charged, and a charging member cleaning mode in which the toner is transferred from the charging member onto the belt and then onto the drum. When the charging member cleaning mode is executed, the charging member is moved at least once from a belt separation position or away from a belt contact position. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150525 | DEVELOPMENT DEVICE, PROCESS CARTRIDGE INCLUDING SAME, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME - A development device includes a developer carrier, a supply compartment having a downstream end portion positioned outside the development area in the axial direction of the developer carrier, a collection compartment disposed lower than the supply compartment, first and second communication ports respectively formed in the downstream end portion and an upstream end portion of the supply compartment, a developer circulation unit including first and second developer conveyance members respectively provided in the supply compartment and the collection compartment, a toner supply port formed in an upper portion of the downstream end portion of the supply compartment, and an airflow path limiter provided in the downstream end portion of the supply compartment, closer to the development area than the toner supply port in the axial direction of the developer carrier, to restrict an airflow path above the developer in the downstream end portion of the supply compartment. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150526 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - To provide an image forming apparatus in which variations in the contact pressure produced between a photosensitive drum and a developing roller is suppressed, whereby image quality can be improved. A development unit and a drum unit are rotatably connected to each other with a link member interposed therebetween. Gears for transmitting a driving force are supported at two rotation support points of the link member, whereby the driving force is transmitted to the development unit. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150527 | DEVELOPER CARTRIDGE FOR IMAGE-FORMING DEVICE - A developer cartridge provided in an image-forming device has a developer side casing that includes a toner-accommodating chamber and a developing chamber; and a plate wall disposed in the developing chamber for partitioning a thickness-regulating blade from the toner-accommodating chamber. When a thickness-regulating blade scrapes excess charged toner off the developing roller, the plate wall prevents this charged toner from returning to the toner-accommodating chamber. A flexible wiper for cleaning toner detection windows is attached to an agitator for stirring toner in the toner-accommodating chamber via a fixing member. The fixing member includes a support plate and a gripping plate disposed opposite each other with a slit formed therebetween. The wiper is inserted into the slit and is fixed to the fixing member when a boss protruding from a restricting plate becomes inserted into a through-hole formed in the wiper. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150528 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes a main body; a tandem type photosensitive unit, retaining photosensitive drums, mounted in the body and movable along the arrangement direction of the drums; and a developer cartridge provided for each drum, retaining a developing roller and detachably mounted on the unit. The apparatus also includes a translation member provided in the body and movable in the arrangement direction; and a link member corresponding to each cartridge and displaced to a position where a first end portion opposed to a prescribed portion of each cartridge, and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion and pressed by the translation member so the first end portion presses the prescribed portion to separate the roller from the drum and a position where the translation member is released from pressing the second end portion and the first end portion is released from pressing the prescribed portion. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150529 | BELT DEVICE AND IMAGE-FORMING APPARATUS - A belt device for use in an image forming apparatus includes two side frames supported by two slide rails disposed at the body of the image forming apparatus on the outside of the outer periphery of the belt member, a rear frame constructed between two sub-frames and having a box-shaped structure, a front frame having a smaller projecting surface than the inner periphery of the belt member as viewed from the front, a support frame that cantilever-supports the front frame with respect to the rear frame, and triangular reinforcing frames constructed across the side frames and the rear frame. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150530 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus including, a photosensitive body for carrying toner images, a transfer section for nipping the recording sheet at a position facing the photosensitive body and transferring the toner images carried on the photosensitive body onto a recording sheet, a driving section for driving the photosensitive body, and a control section for giving instructions to the driving section to conduct a velocity control to rotate the photosensitive body at a predetermined velocity, wherein the control section sets a gain of velocity control to be greater than normal condition, at a time which is at least one of a time when the recording sheet enters the transfer section, or a time when the recording sheet separates from the transfer section. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150531 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD OF EFFECTIVELY DETECTING A SPEED DEVIATION PATTERN OF THE IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image bearing members, each of which is configured to bear a portion of a pattern image including a plurality of reference images in a given form, an endless moving member facing the plurality of image bearing members and configured to receive the pattern image, an image detecting unit configured to detect the plurality of reference images, a rotational angle detecting unit configured to separately detect each image bearing member at a given rotational angle, and a controller configured to detect a speed deviation pattern for each revolution of each image bearing member. The controller is configured to detect the speed deviation pattern based on a result obtained from a phase component and a quadrature component of a frequency signal generated from the detection result obtained by the rotational angle detecting unit and a result of detecting the plurality of reference images in the pattern image transferred onto the endless moving member. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150532 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A charging member that charges residual toner on an intermediate transfer belt is a charging brush constituted by conductive fibers including an electric insulating portion and an electric conductive portion. Part of the outer circumferential surface of each conductive fiber is the conductive portion. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150533 | DEVELOPING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS PROVIDED WITH THE SAME - A housing of a developing apparatus is provided with a conveying member in a developer supplying and recovering portion, and two agitating members rotating in the same direction respectively as viewing rotating shafts from a near side in an axial direction, in a developer agitating portion. A guide is provided in an inner bottom surface of the housing between two agitating members. A braking portion suppressing a discharge of a developer is provided in a downstream side of the developer agitating portion in a developer conveying direction of the second agitating member, and a discharge portion is provided in a downstream side of a disc of the braking portion. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150534 | DEVICE TO DEVELOP CHARGE IMAGES GENERATED ON A CHARGE IMAGE CARRIER IN AN ELECTROPHORETIC PRINTING APPARATUS - In a device or method to develop charge images generated on a charge image carrier, a rotating applicator moves developer fluid having charged toner particles charged to a predetermined charge and carrier fluid past the charge image carrier. The developer fluid is moved into a developer gap between the applicator and a counter-electrode where it is exposed to an electrical field between the counter-electrode and the applicator. The toner particles of the predetermined charge are moved in a direction of the applicator depending on their charge, uncharged toner particles remaining unaffected and toner particles of opposite charge being repelled. Via a separation electrode protruding into the developer gap, the developer fluid in the developer gap is divided at an exit of the developer gap into a first partial flow adjacent to the application electrode and into a second partial flow adjacent to the counter-electrode where it is discharged. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150535 | DEVELOPING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS PROVIDED WITH THE SAME - A housing of a developing apparatus is provided with a conveying member and two agitating members. A guide is provided in an inner bottom surface of the housing between the agitating members. The guide has a mountain shape with wide foot portion in a cross sectional shape which is orthogonal to an axial direction of rotating shafts of the agitating members. The agitating members are arranged in such a manner that gaps between respective outermost portions thereof and the inner bottom surface of the housing and the guide become equal to or more than 1.5 mm and less than 3 mm. The agitating members rotate in the same direction respectively as viewing the rotating shafts from a near side in an axial direction. A discharge portion is provided on a downstream side of the developer agitating portion in a developer conveying direction of the first and second agitating members. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150536 | TONER CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - Disclosed is a toner cartridge including a gear for rotating a rotatable member, for example, an agitator, of the toner cartridge and a support for rotatably supporting the gear. The gear includes a gear body, a coupling portion coupled to an end of the rotational shaft of the rotating member and a first position determining portion. The support includes a second position determining portion having a shape that corresponds to the shape of the first position determining portion so that the first and second position determining portions are capable of being coupled to each other. The gear is rotatable with the first and second position determining portions coupled to each other. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150537 | DEVELOPING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS PROVIDED THEREWITH - Provided is a developing device including: a developing container including a developer replenishing port from which the developer is replenished, and a developer discharge port which is provided on a downstream side of one of the conveyance paths and from which surplus developer is discharged; and a discharge regulating portion provided to one of the plurality of stirring members which is arranged in the one of the conveyance paths, in which the discharge regulating portion includes a regulating member arranged so as to face the developer discharge port, for regulating movement of the developer to the developer discharge port side, and a decelerating conveyance member arranged between the helical blade and the regulating member, for partially reducing a conveying speed of the developer in the one of the conveyance paths. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150538 | DEVELOPING DEVICE, PROCESS UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Provided is a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier, the developing device comprising: a housing having an opening; a developing sleeve facing the image carrier through the opening; a magnet roller encased in the developing sleeve and having magnetic poles including (i) a first magnetic pole having a strongest magnetic force of all the magnetic poles and (ii) a second magnetic pole having a magnetic force equal to or larger than a predetermined value and being different from the first magnetic pole; and a positioning member operable to allow the magnet roller to rotate together with the developing sleeve when the magnet roller is in a first rotational position where the first or the second magnetic pole faces an edge of the opening located downstream in a transfer direction of a two-component developer, and to inhibit the rotation of the magnet roller when the magnet roller is in a second rotational position where the first magnetic pole is closest to the image carrier. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150539 | DEVELOPMENT DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - The development device includes a developer storage part storing a developer, a developer carrier having a carrying surface for carrying the developer and a first magnet, and receiving the developer from the developer storage part on the carrying surface while rotating in a predetermined direction, and supplying the developer to a predetermined image carrier, a magnetic member formed from a magnetic material, forming a predetermined regulatory gap with the carrying surface, and arranged opposite to the first magnet, a second magnet disposed more upstream than the magnetic member when viewed from the rotating direction of the developer carrier, and having a magnetic pole of the same polarity as the first magnet, and a deterioration suppressing part suppressing deterioration of the developer transported to the regulatory gap along with the rotation of the developer carrier. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150540 | TRANSFER DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer belt, a photosensitive belt, a primary transfer roller, a secondary-transfer opposing roller, and a secondary transfer roller. The photosensitive belt comes into contact with a surface of the intermediate transfer belt to form a primary transfer nip. The secondary-transfer opposing roller comes into contact with the surface of the intermediate transfer roller to form a secondary transfer nip. The closest distance between a surface of the photosensitive belt and that of the primary transfer roller is greater than the thickness of the intermediate transfer belt. A toner image on the intermediate transfer belt is transferred onto a recording sheet at the secondary transfer nip while a transfer bias is applied to the secondary transfer roller. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150541 | BELT DRIVING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - In an intermediate transfer belt unit, elastic bodies are provided on respective inner circumferences of side edge portions of an intermediate transfer belt along with the circumferential direction. Rotating members are attached to respective opposite ends of a follower roller rotatably and concentrically with the follower roller, so as to face respective elastic bodies of the intermediate transfer belt. Each of the rotating members is composed of a tapered section, a bottom receiving section to keep bending of the intermediate transfer belt within a certain amount, a small diameter section forming an escape groove for receiving the elastic body of the intermediate transfer belt, and a large diameter section. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150542 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND TRANSFER DEVICE THEREOF - An image forming apparatus having an improvement to increase the reliability of a sensing operation that is carried out to improve image quality, and a transfer device thereof. The image forming apparatus includes at least one photosensitive member, a plurality of developing units to supply developer to the at least one photosensitive member so as to form a visible image, and a transfer belt to transfer the visible image formed on the at least one photosensitive member to a printing medium, an inner surface of the transfer belt being rotatably supported by at least two rollers. The image forming apparatus further includes at least one sensor to sense a mark formed on the transfer belt, and a supporting unit to support the transfer belt at a position corresponding to the at least one sensor so as to apply a tensile force to the transfer belt. The supporting unit includes a first supporting portion and a second supporting portion arranged to support the transfer belt at different two positions in a rotating direction of the transfer belt. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150543 | Fixing Device - In a fixing device, a nip plate is disposed on an inner surface of a tubular flexible fusing member which is flexibly deformable, and configured to be heated by a heating element disposed inside the fusing member. The fusing member is nipped between the nip plate and a backup member to form a nip portion. First and second portions of the nip plate which are located in positions upstream and downstream, respectively, with respect to a recording sheet conveyance direction and to be supported by a stay are each configured to be a flat plate extending along the recording sheet conveyance direction. A central portion between the first and second portions of the nip plate is in a position shifted from those of the first and second portions in a direction perpendicular to flat surfaces of the first and second portions. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150544 | Fixing Device Provided with Temperature Sensor - There is provided a fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet. The fixing device includes: a tubular flexible member having an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space; a nip member disposed in the internal space and having one surface, the inner peripheral surface being in sliding contact with the one surface; a heater disposed in the internal space: a reflection plate configured to reflect a radiant heat from the heater toward the nip member; a backup member providing a nip region in cooperation with the nip member for nipping the flexible member between the backup member and the nip member; and a temperature sensor disposed in the internal space to detect a temperature of the reflection plate. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150545 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS AND HEATING BELT FOR USE IN THE IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - A cylindrical heat generating belt for use in an image heating apparatus includes a heat generating layer, in which an electroconductive filler is dispersed in a resin material, for generating heat by being supplied with electric power; and a surface parting layer. The heat generating layer has a sheet resistance, with respect to a generatrix direction of the heat generating belt, which is larger than that with respect to a circumferential direction of the heat generating belt. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150546 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - An image heating apparatus includes a belt unit including a belt; a coil unit, provided opposed to an outer surface of the belt, including a coil for generating a magnetic flux for heating the belt; a pressing member for forming a nip, in which a recording material is to be heated, between itself and the belt; a positioning portion, provided on the coil unit, for positioning the coil unit with respect to the belt unit; a portion to be positioned, provided on the belt unit, for being engaged with the positioning portion; and an elastic member for urging the coil unit toward the belt unit. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150547 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a first drum for bearing an electrostatic latent image; a first developing device for developing the latent image with toner into a toner image on the first drum; a first cleaning device having a cleaning blade for cleaning the first drum; a second drum; a second developing device for developing the latent image with toner into a toner image on the second drum; a second cleaning device having a cleaning blade for cleaning the second drum; a rotatable member contactable to the first drum and the second drum; wherein the rotatable member is an intermediary transfer member for receiving the toner images from the drums and for transferring it onto a sheet, or a feeding member for feeding a sheet for receiving the toner images; and a control device for controlling a toner supply process for supplying toner into between the first drum and the blade of the first cleaning device when formation of the toner image to be transferred onto the sheet is not carried out, wherein the control device selects between the toner supply process using the toner accommodated in the first developing device and the toner supply process using the toner accommodated in the second developing device, in accordance with an amount of the toner accommodated in the first developing device or the second developing device. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150548 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The present invention provides an image forming apparatus including an upstream conveying portion, a downstream conveying portion, and a loop detector, wherein the image forming apparatus further includes a driving portion which moves the contact portion to a projecting position where the sheet conveying path is in contact with a conveyed sheet and to a retracted position where the sheet conveying path is not in contact with the conveyed sheet, and a controlling portion which controls the driving portion such that the contact portion is moved from the projecting position to the retracted position before a tip end of a sheet which enters the sheet conveying path from the upstream conveying portion reaches the contact portion. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150549 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The present invention provides an image forming apparatus having an upstream conveying portion, a downstream conveying portion, and a contact loop detection portion to detect a loop of the sheet formed between the upstream conveying portion and the downstream conveying portion, wherein the loop detection portion, includes a sensor that outputs the detection signal, a contact portion that protrudes into a sheet conveyance path between the upstream conveying portion and the downstream conveying portion as if to come into contact with the sheet conveyed through the sheet conveyance path and causes the sensor to output the detection signal by moving in contact with the sheet, and a contact force changing portion that changes a contact force with which the contact portion comes into contact with the sheet conveyed through the sheet conveyance path according to a type of the sheet conveyed through the sheet conveyance path. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150550 | SHEET POST-PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM - A sheet post-processing apparatus including, a sheet receiving section to receive sheets, a punching device to punch sheets; an accumulating section to accumulate sheets; a stitching device to stitch the sheets accumulated in the accumulating section; a sheet discharging section to which the sheets stitched by the stitching device are discharged; and a conveyance path to connect the sheet receiving section, the punching device, the accumulating section, and the sheet discharging section, wherein the conveyance path comprises an upper loop and a lower loop and has an S-shaped conveyance path to convey a sheet from the sheet receiving section to the accumulating section; and the punching device is arranged in the upper loop. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150551 | IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - An image forming system includes a receiving unit configured to receive a job, an acquisition unit configured to acquire print setting information from the received job, a detection unit configured to detect, when there is a tab sheet print command included in the acquired print setting information, an image orientation and a binding position, a determination unit configured to determine an alignment order of tab sheets based on a relationship between the detected image orientation and binding position, a sheet feeding unit configured to feed a sheet from a tab sheet bundle of the alignment order determined by the determination unit, and a printing unit configured to perform printing on the fed sheet. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150552 | Spreader Module for Duplex Continuous Feed Imaging Devices - A modular roll bar assembly for use in a continuous web imaging device includes a plurality of roll bars and a support frame configured to operably support the plurality of roll bars such that the plurality of roll bars define a web path having a non-linear shape with an entrance end and an exit end. The entrance end is configured to receive a substantially continuous web of substrate material, and the plurality of roll bars is configured to guide the continuous web past the exit end. A load cell is operably coupled to the support frame and configured to generate a signal indicative of a down force applied to the support frame. A controller is operably coupled to the load cell to receive the signal and to correlate the down force applied to the support frame indicated by the signal to a tension measurement value for the continuous web. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150553 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND SHEET FEEDING DEVICE - An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming part; a paper dust collecting roller that collects paper dust from a sheet; a conveying roller that is opposed to the paper dust collecting roller and conveys the sheet; a paper dust removing member that contacts the paper dust collecting roller for removing the paper dust therefrom; a supporting member that extends in a width direction of the sheet; a swing shaft for swinging the supporting member; and a pressing member that presses the supporting member for contacting the paper dust removing member with the paper dust collecting roller. The supporting member includes: a guiding surface that contacts the sheet conveyed along the conveying path for guiding the sheet toward the image forming part along the conveying path; and a paper dust receiving part which receives the paper dust removed by the paper dust removing member. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150554 | TAPE PRINTER - A printing apparatus is provided that has a roller for dispensing adhesive tape and a printing wheel in association with an ink reservoir, the tape being presented with its adhesive surface presented to the printing wheel for the printing to be applied to the adhesive surface; and thence is reversed so that the adhesive surface with the printing can be applied to a substrate. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150555 | PERSONAL CARE PRODUCT DISPENSER SYSTEMS - Personal care product dispenser systems include a dispenser and a base station. The dispenser comprises a casing including a personal care product and a shaft. The personal care product is disposed within the casing and comprises an antiperspirant or deodorant. The shaft extends through a portion of the casing and including a first end and a second end and is configured to advance the personal care product through the casing when rotated in a first direction. The second end has a chuck contact surface defining a first shape. The base station includes a motor and a chuck. The motor is operatively coupled to the chuck and is configured to rotate the chuck, and the chuck has a wheel contact surface to correspond to the first shape of the chuck contact surface. The base station is configured to rotate the chuck when the dispenser is mounted to the base station. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150556 | PERSONAL CARE PRODUCT DISPENSERS AND METHODS OF PACKAGING A PERSONAL CARE PRODUCT - Personal care product dispensers include a housing, a platform, a personal care product, a hydraulic mechanism, and a tab. The housing has a main opening and an interior compartment. The platform is disposed within the interior compartment of the housing. The personal care product is disposed on the platform. The hydraulic mechanism is in operable communication with the platform. The tab is operatively coupled to the hydraulic mechanism. The hydraulic mechanism is configured to exert a force against the platform to advance the platform and the personal care product through the interior compartment of the housing in response to user manipulation of the tab. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150557 | PRODUCT DISPENSER - A product dispenser assembly for dispensing a liquid or gel composition, the assembly including a container housing having a head portion and an internal chamber for holding a composition, the head portion including a plurality of apertures, a moveable member structured to enable a user to selectively deploy the composition from within the internal chamber through the plurality of apertures, a cap assembly, a first absorbent pad arranged on top of the head portion for receiving the composition as it is deployed from the container, a plurality of absorbent pads arranged in a stacked configuration within cap assembly, each of the plurality of pads being adapted to be sequentially arranged on top of the head portion after the first removable pad has used to apply the composition and then removed by the user. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150558 | PRODUCT DISPENSER AND ABSORBENT ARTICLE KIT - A kit including a product dispenser assembly and an absorbent article, the assembly including a container housing having a head portion and an internal chamber for holding a composition, the head portion including a plurality of apertures, a moveable member structured to enable a user to selectively deploy the composition from within the internal chamber through the plurality of apertures, a cap assembly, a first absorbent pad arranged on top of the head portion for receiving the composition as it is deployed from the container, a plurality of absorbent pads arranged in a stacked configuration within cap assembly, each of the plurality of pads being adapted to be sequentially arranged on top of the head portion after the first removable pad has used to apply the composition and then removed by the user. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150559 | ARRANGEMENT FOR APPLYING A LIQUID - The invention relates to a device for applying a fluid, comprising an application container ( | 2011-06-23 |
20110150560 | Strip Fastener - A fastener ( | 2011-06-23 |
20110150561 | Holding Device for Medical Instruments - A holding device for medical instruments with a bracket on which at least one medical instrument can be affixed and with at least one joint to position the bracket and/or the medical instrument, so that the at least one joint is configured as a ball and socket joint that is equipped with at least one bearing shell and one pivot ball and whose pivot angle around the longitudinal axis of the joint is restricted by a pivot guard. The pivot guard is positioned inside the pivot ball to provide a holding device for medical instruments whose pivot guard allows for a compact structure of the ball and socket joint. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150562 | Ball Stud Fastener - A ball stud fastener ( | 2011-06-23 |
20110150563 | BALL JOINT AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SAME - A ball joint includes a ball seat, and the ball seat includes a thermal caulking portion for fixing a ball seat to a housing. The ball seat includes a concave portion having an overhang portion for withstanding a pullout load so as to prevent a ball portion from coming off from the concave portion. The concave portion of the ball seat is formed of polyoxymethylene, and the overhang portion and the thermal caulking portion are formed of a resin, in which glass fiber is added to the polyoxymethylene, so as to be strengthened. Consequently, the pullout load can be increased, and the weight of the ball joint is maintained and the production cost is not greatly increased. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150564 | HOLDING DEVICE FOR MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS - A holding device for medical instruments, with a bracket on which at least one medical instrument can be affixed and with at least one joint to position the bracket and/or the medical instrument, so that the at least one joint is configured as a ball and socket joint that is provided with at least one bearing shell and a pivot ball and that can be converted between a position that releases the joint and one that blocks the joint. To provide a holding device for medical instruments that is simple to operate, makes possible a rapid blocking and releasing of the at least one joint, and in addition ensures that unintentional release of the blocking is excluded to the greatest extent possible, it is proposed with the invention that the bearing shell should be of rigid configuration and the pivot ball should be capable of being affixed in the bearing shell by clamping by at least one blocking element. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150565 | Quick release launch connector for micro unmanned aerial vehicle - The invention comprises a clamping mechanism comprising a first and second hinged retaining members for the receiving of a terminal member of a connecting rod. The terminal member is affixed within a retaining volume defined by the first and second hinged retaining members while in a closed first position when the clamping mechanism is disposed within a retaining structure. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150566 | CONNECTOR COMPONENTS AND METHODS OF USE - Interlocking clips are provided to assemble structures without the need for conventional fasteners. Structures such as fences, which may be assembled in situ, include the cooperating clips designed to provide a controlled amount of “play” between the pickets and rails of the fence to enable adjustment when racking the fences to accommodate sloping terrain. The clips are provided to interlock rails to cross members. The clips are preferably formed of a single sheet of a springy metallic material. The clips may be advantageously used to couple other types of apparatus. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150567 | MECHANICAL DRIVE DEVICE FOR DRIVING THE HIGH PRESSURE SUB ASSEMBLYSUB ASSEMBLY OF AN AIRPLANE ENGINE - Providing manual mechanical drive to the high pressure sub assembly of a turbojet, in particular during endoscopic inspection of the high pressure turbine. According to the invention, a coupling element suitable for coupling with an external actuator such as a crank handle is fitted on the axis of a specific alternator that is normally driven mechanically via the high pressure sub assembly, thereby providing a coupling suitable for driving said high pressure sub assembly. | 2011-06-23 |
20110150568 | WEDGE-TYPE LOCKING DEVICE - A clamping device ( | 2011-06-23 |
20110150569 | LOW PROFILE BARRIERS HAVING ATTACHED MOLDED PINS - A barrier assembly includes a barrier having an interior surface and an opposing exterior surface extending between a first end and an opposing second end. The interior surface bounds a chamber that is adapted to receive a ballast. The barrier also has an internal sidewall extending between top and bottom surfaces of the barrier so as to bound a passage extending completely through the barrier between the top and bottom surfaces. The barrier assembly also includes an elongated coupler extending down through the passage and projecting below the bottom surface of the barrier. A means for securing the coupler within the passage is formed on or attached to the coupler. The means for securing the coupler within the passage prevents the coupler from being removed from the passage while allowing the coupler to freely rotate within the passage. | 2011-06-23 |