26th week of 2013 patent applcation highlights part 39 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20130163977 | Camera Barrel Mechanism - Novel tools and techniques are described for protecting camera components on a surface and/or within an internal portion of a portable electronic device. In one aspect, an electronic device might comprise a camera mount, which might comprise a camera barrel assembly configured to have a camera affixed thereto, the camera barrel assembly being rotatably coupled with one of a front panel, a rear panel, or a chassis of the electronic device. The camera mount may further comprise a set of cantilever springs affixed to one of the front panel, the rear panel, or the chassis and biased against the camera barrel assembly to provide rotational friction on the camera barrel assembly. The set of cantilever springs might have sufficient compliance to allow the camera to retract into a body of the portable electronic device upon encountering an external force, which may include an impact force or a dropping force. | 2013-06-27 |
20130163978 | SUPPORT HEAD OF THE BALL JOINT TYPE FOR VIDEOPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUSES - A support head ( | 2013-06-27 |
20130163979 | DIAPHRAGM DEVICE OF LENS - Diaphragm device of a lens includes a click mechanism with a locking portion disposed in one of a stationary tube and a diaphragm setting ring, the locking portion having an elastically supported locking element, and an entrapment body disposed on the other of the stationary tube and the diaphragm setting ring. The entrapment body having an entrapment surface wherein a plurality of entrapment portions are formed for catching the locking element pressed against the entrapment surface at one of a plurality of aperture numbers when the diaphragm setting ring is turned. A mode select mechanism for switching between a click mode wherein the locking element is pressed against the entrapment surface and a non-click mode wherein a click function is deactivated with the locking element and the entrapment surface separated from each other by altering the position of at least one of the locking portion and the entrapment body. | 2013-06-27 |
20130163980 | APPARATUS, AND ASSOCIATED METHOD, FOR AFFIXING EXTERNAL CAMERA LENS TO DEVICE HAVING CAMERA FUNCTIONALITY - An assembly for a device having camera functionality, such as a portable wireless device, provides for affixation of an external camera lens to the device. A magnetic coupler is positioned at the device. The magnetic coupler exerts magnetic forces that affix the external camera lens in position. Removal forces in excess of the magnetic forces are applied to remove the external lens out of the affixation at the device. | 2013-06-27 |
20130163981 | SIGNALLING IN OPTICAL TRANSMISSION NETWORKS - A connection-oriented optical network ( | 2013-06-27 |
20130163982 | TRANSMISSION APPARATUS - A transmission apparatus interconnects a core network for making a communication by forming a connection and a metro network for m a communication by adding an address to data and by executing a forwarding process. The transmission apparatus includes a function of transmitting the data to the connection of the core network, to which an address of the metro network is made to correspond, and transfers the data to the connection of the core network, which is made to correspond to the address added to the data received from the metro network. | 2013-06-27 |
20130163983 | Signaling Protocol for Multi-Domain Optical Networks - A three-way handshake method for optical messaging in a multi-domain optical network that includes a first pass from a source domain to a destination domain through intermediate domains on candidate working paths, collecting information identifying available routing resources for each working path, calculating a working path metric and storing each of the metrics at the respective border node, determining a path key of the topology of each domain working path and using the path key to identify the path outside its domain and determining the best working paths and border nodes to use. A second pass using the path keys for identifying the working path in each domain and reserving the identified routing resources and selecting which routing resources to use. A third pass identifying the selected routing resources and establishing an optical signaling message path between the source node and the destination node. | 2013-06-27 |
20130163984 | Fiber Optic Wall Plate with Redundancy System - An optical splitter/coupler may be disposed at a subscriber network access location to provide primary and back-up service to the subscriber network access location. The optical splitter/coupler includes first and second optical fibers that are optically coupled to a third optical fiber. The first and second optical fibers of the optical splitter/coupler are optically coupled to a service provider location. The third optical fiber is optically coupled to the subscriber network access location. | 2013-06-27 |
20130163985 | 1:N Sparing Of Router Resources At Geographically Dispersed Locations - Systems and methods are described that that dynamically configure high-speed data link lightpaths between access routers and backbone routers at geographically dispersed locations to reassign traffic when a backbone router fails or is removed from service. Embodiments reduce the quantity of backbone router ports used in dual backbone router-homed networks. | 2013-06-27 |
20130163986 | ELECTRICALLY-ADAPTIVE DSPK AND (D)MPSK RECEIVERS - The present application describes methods and systems that improve the optical signal to noise ratio performance of an optical network without the need to vary the free spectral range associated with a differential interferometer. This is achieved by varying an electrical bandwidth of an electronic device associated with the receiver. For example, the electrical bandwidth may vary in inverse proportion to the combined effective optical bandwidth of the transmission line carrying the optical signal. The techniques described herein a applicable to a wide variety of modulation formats, including mPSK, DPSK, DmPSK, PDmPSK, mQAM, ODB, and other direct-detection formats. Using the techniques described herein, the optical signal to noise ratio and bit error ratio performance of the optical network is improved without the need to provide costly and complex differential interferometers whose free spectral range is variable. | 2013-06-27 |
20130163987 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING IN-BAND OPTICAL NOISE - There is provided a method for determining the in-band noise in agile multichannel Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) optical systems, where the interchannel noise is not representative of the in-band noise in the optical channel. The method relies on the analysis of two observations of the same input optical signal. In the two observations, the linear relationship between the optical signal contribution and the optical noise contribution (e.g. the observed OSNR) is different, which allows the discrimination of the signal and noise contributions in the input optical signal. In a first approach, the two observations are provided by polarization analysis of the input optical signal. In a second, the input optical signal is obtained using two different integration widths. | 2013-06-27 |
20130163988 | BLIND EQUALIZATION FOR POLARIZATION-SWITCHED QPSK OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS - An apparatus, e.g. an optical receiver, includes an optical front end and an equalizer. The front end is configured for receiving an optical signal bearing first and second symbols on respective first and second polarization channels. The equalizer is configured to 1) select a first cost function if the first symbol has greater energy than the second symbol, 2) select a second different cost function if the second symbol has a greater energy than the first symbol, and 3) based on the selected cost function, update coefficients of an adaptive filter configured to demultiplex and equalize the first and second polarization channels. | 2013-06-27 |
20130163989 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTHENTICATION IN PASSIVE OPTICAL NETWORK - A method and apparatus for authentication in a passive optical network are disclosed. In the disclosure, a PLOAM message is sent from an ONU to an OLT, where the PLOAM message includes a first field for carrying an ONU identifier (ONU-ID) and a second field for carrying a first logic registration code, where the ONU-ID is assigned by the OLT to identify the ONU and wherein the first logic registration code is assigned to a user by an operation management system communicatively connected to the OLT and provisioned to the user for authentication. The OLT is configured to judge whether the first logic registration code received from the ONU matches with a second logic registration code provisioned by the operation management system to the OLT and to promote the ONU into service if the first logic registration code matches with the second logic registration code. | 2013-06-27 |
20130163990 | Provisioning and Commissioning a Communications Network with a Virtual Network Operations Center and Interface - An interface coupled to a virtual network operations center and coupled to a data communications network having at least one optical channel. Equipment on the data communications network is identified by the interface wherein the interface coordinates and correlates communications between the I/O interfaces of a server coupled to the network so that data rates and data protocols are managed properly. The interface receives commands from and transmits commands to the data communications network and translates the commands to be further transmitted and used in the virtual network operations center coupled to the server. The data communications network is represented in a three dimensions virtual world in the virtual network operations center so that events on the network can be represented in real-time in the virtual network operations center. | 2013-06-27 |
20130163991 | SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING WDM-BASED WIRELESS OPTICAL TRANSPORT NETWORK AND METHOD FOR TRANSMITTING WIRELESS OPTICAL SIGNAL USING THE SAME - Disclosed are a system for providing a WDM-based wireless optical transport network and a method for transmitting a wireless optical signal using the same. The system for providing a WDM-based wireless optical transport network, includes: a central office terminal (COT) for bilaterally transmitting wireless optical signals of different unique wavelengths; and a plurality of remote terminals (RTs) connected to the COT in a ring, for dropping a wireless optical signal having a corresponding unique wavelength from the wireless optical signals transmitted from the COT, for adding a corresponding optical transmission signal to wireless optical signals of the remaining unique wavelengths except for the corresponding unique wavelength of the dropped wireless optical signal, and for bilaterally transporting the wireless optical signals to which the corresponding optical transmission signal is added. | 2013-06-27 |
20130163992 | MULTICARRIER BASED OPTICAL SIGNAL TRANSMITTING APPARATUS AND OPTICAL SIGNAL RECEIVING APPARATUS - Disclosed is an optical signal transmitting apparatus including: an optical carrier generator configured to generate a plurality of optical carriers and outputs the optical carriers to optical modulators corresponding to the optical carriers, respectively; a plurality of optical modulators configured to modulate the optical carriers, respectively, according to an input signal; and an optical combiner configured to couple a plurality of optical signals from the plurality of optical modulators. | 2013-06-27 |
20130163993 | DIRECTLY-COUPLED WAVELENGTH-TUNABLE EXTERNAL CAVITY LASER - Disclosed is a directly-coupled wavelength-tunable external cavity laser including a gain medium that generates an optical signal by an applied bias current; an optical waveguide structure that is coupled to the gain medium to form a minor surface and causes lasing in the mirror surface when the applied bias current has a threshold or higher; and a radio frequency transmission medium that adds a radio frequency signal to the applied bias current to adjust an operating speed of the optical signal. | 2013-06-27 |
20130163994 | INFORMATION PROVISION SYSTEM, SERVER, TERMINAL DEVICE, INFORMATION PROVISION METHOD, DISPLAY CONTROL METHOD AND RECORDING MEDIUM - For setting a tag ID in association with a content supposed to be provided to a portable terminal, the server acquires the location information of an illumination device of which the content is already stored in the memory and sets a tag ID in association with an illumination device that is away from the location presented by the location information by a given or longer distance. Then, the server associates and stores in the memory the set tag ID, location information of the illumination device transmitting the tag ID, content supposed to be provided. Subsequently, the server receives the tag ID and location information transmitted from a portable terminal, determines the content to transmit based on the received location information and the element stored in the memory, and transmits the determined content to the portable terminal. | 2013-06-27 |
20130163995 | OPTICAL TRANSMITTER/RECEIVER CIRCUIT DEVICE AND RECEIVER CIRCUIT - According to one embodiment, an optical transmitter/receiver circuit device includes a transmitter circuit including a transition time adjusting circuit to obtain a second voltage signal from a first voltage signal and a voltage-current converter circuit that converts the second voltage signal to a first current signal, a light-emitting element to convert the first current signal to an optical signal, a light-receiving element to convert the optical signal to a second current signal, and a receiver circuit including a current-voltage converter circuit that converts the second current signal to a third voltage signal, a pulse generation circuit to generate rise and fall pulse from the third voltage signal and a decoder circuit that generates a fourth voltage signal in synchronism with the pulse. | 2013-06-27 |
20130163996 | Printed Circuit Board and Optical Transmission Device - A printed circuit board includes a substrate, a signal output circuit formed on the substrate for outputting a clock signal, a shield for covering the signal output circuit, a power supply wiring for connecting the signal output circuit and a power source, and a trap filter provided to the power supply wiring and provided inside the shield, for attenuating a frequency component corresponding to a frequency of clock signal. The trap filter includes a resonance circuit having one portion of the power supply wiring, an inner-layer wiring of the substrate located below the one portion of the power supply wiring, an inner-layer ground wiring of the substrate located below the inner-layer wiring, and a via hole for connecting the one portion of the power supply wiring and the inner-layer wiring. | 2013-06-27 |
20130163997 | OPTICAL FIBER TRANSMISSION SYSTEM - An optical fiber transmission system includes a light emitting source, a plurality of light receiving terminals, and a plurality of optical fibers connecting the light emitting source to the light receiving terminals. The optical fiber transmission system further includes a plurality of controlling modules positioned between the light receiving terminals and the optical fibers. Each of the plurality of controlling modules includes a controller, a signal analyzer, and a reflective member. The signal analyzer and the reflective member are connected to the controller and analyze and reflect optical signals respectively. | 2013-06-27 |
20130163998 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, DETACHABLE UNIT, AND PLURAL DETACHABLE UNITS - Disclosed is an image forming apparatus that is to be detachably attached by a detachable unit, wherein the detachable unit includes a unit side connector that fits a main body side connector disposed in a main body of the image forming apparatus by an attaching operation for attaching the detachable unit to the main body of the image forming apparatus, wherein one of the detachable unit and the main body of the image forming apparatus includes a concave portion extended in an attaching direction in which the detachable unit is attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus, and wherein the other one of the detachable unit and the main body of the image forming apparatus includes a convex portion disposed at a position corresponding to the concave portion. | 2013-06-27 |
20130163999 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a holding unit configured to change a developing device to first and second orientations. Whether a developer in the developing device is unevenly distributed in a longitudinal direction of the developing device is detected based on a capacitance C1 between first and second electrode members in the first orientation and a capacitance C2 between the first and second electrode members in the second orientation. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164000 | IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM - An image forming system includes an image forming unit configured to output image data onto a recording medium; a first conveying unit configured to convey the medium; a reading unit configured to read an image from the medium; a defect determining unit configured to determine whether the read image has a defect; a device connection determining unit configured to determine whether a discharge device is directly connected to an image inspection device at the downstream side or is connected to the image inspection device via another device at the downstream side; a second conveying unit configured to convey the medium to the discharge device on a longer conveying path, when the discharge device is directly connected to the image inspection device; a defective discharge tray to which the medium having a defective image is discharged; and a normal discharge tray to which the medium having a non-defective image is discharged. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164001 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a developing device, a holding unit, and a detection device. The image bearing member supports an electrostatic latent image. The developing device includes a developer bearing member having a first electrode member and supporting a developer to develop the electrostatic latent image. The developing device includes a supply member having a second electrode member and supplying the developer to the developer bearing member at a nip portion. The holding unit holds and change the developing device to a first posture and to a second posture where the deposited developer falls off the first posture. The detection device detects a remaining developer amount in the developing device based on a capacitance C | 2013-06-27 |
20130164002 | CONTROL APPARATUS AND METHOD, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM - A control apparatus includes the following elements. A toner density specifying unit specifies a toner density in a developer stored in a developing device. A toner density controller performs control such that the toner density approximates a predetermined toner density target value. A first calculator calculates a first value corresponding to an image density of an image to be output after a first timing. A correction amount specifying unit specifies a correction amount for the toner density target value at the first timing. When the condition that an absolute value of a difference between the first value and a second value is greater than a predetermined threshold is satisfied, the correction amount specifying unit specifies a smaller correction amount for the toner density target value, compared with when the condition is not satisfied. A correcting unit corrects the toner density target value on the basis of the correction amount. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164003 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM - An image forming apparatus includes a body, a developer recovery container, a detecting section, a power supply, a detection object part, a pair of wires, a conducting section, a drive section, and a determining section. The determining section determines the developer recovery container to have been used in a case where the developer is determined to be not present in the detection object part on the basis of information from the detecting section, and in a case where the developer is determined to be present in the detection object part, checks the information from the detecting section again after driving the drive section, and determines the recovery container to have not been used when the developer is determined to be not present in the detection object part and determines the recovery container to have been used when the developer is determined to be present in the detection object part. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164004 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus including: color image forming means for effecting image formation with a color toner on the basis of color image data; transparent image forming means for effecting image formation, on the basis of transparent image data, with a transparent toner on a color toner image formed by the color toner forming means; fixing means for fixing a formed image, on a recording material, of the transparent toner superposed on the color toner; and control means for controlling the color image forming means, so that a toner amount per unit area of the color toner at a superposing portion of the transparent toner on the color toner image is less than that of the color image data at the superposing portion. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164005 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a developing device for developing a latent image formed on an image bearing member into a developer image; a transferring device for transferring the developer image from the image bearing member onto a transfer material; a temperature detecting sensor in a main assembly of the image forming apparatus, for detecting a temperature; and a controller for controlling a forced consumption operation in which toner is forcedly consumed by the developing device without transferring the developer image from the image bearing member onto the transfer material. The controller is capable of executing the forced consumption operation when toner consumption is below a predetermined threshold. The predetermined threshold is higher with higher temperature. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164006 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS FOR DETECTING PATCH IMAGE INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF REGIONS - An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of developing units configured to develop latent images formed on a plurality of photosensitive members by a exposure units; an image carrier, on which the developed images formed on the plurality of photosensitive members are transferred; a sensor configured to irradiate the image carrier with light, and detect an amount of reflected light; a patch detection unit configured to detect a position of a patch image, formed on the image carrier, based on the amount of reflected light detected by the sensor, wherein the patch image has a first region and a second region formed on the same photosensitive member, the second region is formed to be adjacent to the first region, and a density of the second region is lower than that of the first region. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164007 | REFLECTIVE OPTICAL SENSOR AND IMAGE FORMING DEVICE INCORPORATING THE SAME - A reflective optical sensor includes a light emitting element to irradiate a target object with a light beam, a light receiving element to receive the light beam reflected by the surface of the target object, a circuit board on which the light emitting element and light receiving element are mounted, a cover element supported on the circuit board to surround the light emitting element and light receiving element, and a light shielding wall provided in the cover element to be a partition between the light emitting element and light receiving element to prevent a part of the light beam from the light emitting element from leaking to the light receiving element. A layer in a certain thickness is formed on the surface of the circuit board along either or both sides of the light shielding wall. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164008 | IMAGE FORMING METHOD - According to one embodiment, a developing device in which a decolorizable developing agent containing encapsulated colorant microparticles each including a core containing a color developable compound, a color developer, and a decolorizing agent is accommodated and a developing device in which a transparent developing agent containing a binder resin is accommodated are provided, respectively, and an image is formed by transferring a transparent developing agent image onto a region capable of covering a decolorizable developing agent image, followed by fusing the image. Further, in the second image formation and thereafter, the using amount of the transparent developing agent is decreased as compared with that in the first image formation. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164009 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Image forming apparatus is disclosed. The developing portion is replenished with toner from a toner containing body by operating a toner feeding mechanism. The receiving portion receives a designation of switching to a low speed i.e. switching the rotation speed of the motor from the first speed to the second speed lower than the first speed. The measuring portion measures a value of a counter electromotive voltage generated in the motor by causing the motor to operate the toner feeding mechanism. The motor control portion causes the motor to rotate at the first speed until an absolute value of the value measured by the measuring portion is not larger than a predetermined first value, and causes the motor to rotate at the second speed after an absolute value of the measured value is smaller than the first value, in the case where the switching to a low speed is designated. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164010 | CONTROL APPARATUS AND METHOD, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND SYSTEM, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM - A control apparatus includes the following elements. A page specifying unit specifies, concerning image data representing images included in plural pages, among the plural pages, plural pages including images each having a similarity which is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold. A controller controls a transfer bias to be applied to a transfer device which transfers a toner image formed on an image carrier onto a medium. The controller performs control, for the plural pages specified by the page specifying unit, such that each of values of the transfer bias to be applied to the transfer device when toner images corresponding to the plural pages specified by the page specifying unit are transferred onto the medium is within a predetermined range. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164011 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a transfer member disposed facing the image bearing member to form a transfer region therebetween, a transfer bias application device to apply to the transfer region a transfer bias including a direct current (DC) component and an alternating current (AC) component to transfer the toner image onto the recording medium as the recording medium passes through the transfer region, and a controller operatively connected to the transfer bias application device to allow, during a bias change period in a sheet absent period in which the image bearing member rotates and no recording medium passes through the transfer region, the transfer bias application device to selectively apply to the transfer region one of the transfer bias without the AC component and the transfer bias with a peak-to-peak voltage of the AC component less than that applied in image formation. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164012 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS - An image processing apparatus includes an image forming section, a fixing section, a mode switching section that selectively switches a fixing mode between a fast heating mode and a heat accumulation mode, a selecting section that selects the fast heating mode or heat accumulation mode based on the relationship between operation expressions F | 2013-06-27 |
20130164013 | INDUCTION HEATING FUSING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An induction heating fusing device and an image forming apparatuses that may control even a very small current region by tracking a resonance frequency to perform PWM control and phase control without considering a deviation of a part constant or a temperature change are provided. The induction heating fusing device includes: a serial resonance circuit having an induction coil and a condenser; a phase comparator, a phase controller, a resonance frequency tracking oscillator, and a PWM (pulse width modulation) signal generator. The phase comparator compares a phase of a pulse outputted by the PWM signal generator with a phase of current flowing through the induction coil, outputs a comparison result obtained by the comparing to the phase controller when controlling the phase, and outputs the comparison result to the resonance frequency tracking oscillator when performing PWM control. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164014 | MEDIA STORAGE DEVICE AND SECTIONAL IMAGE PRINTING METHOD - A media storage device and a sectional image printing method are provided. The media storage device includes a main body, a sectional heating module and a pressing roller. The sectional heating module and the pressing roller are both disposed within the main body. The sectional heating module includes a body, a plurality of heaters and a power controller. The body is disposed within the main body, and the heaters are disposed on the body. The power controller includes a plurality of power circuits, and each of the power circuits is electrically connected with a corresponding one of the heaters to control the corresponding electrically connected heater to generate heat. The pressing roller is in contact with the heaters of the sectional heating module, and the heaters face the pressing roller. During a printing process, not all the heaters of the media storage device generate heat at the same time. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164015 | FIXING DEVICE - A fixing device includes: a rotatable fixing member configured to fix at a nip a toner image formed on recording paper; a rotatable pressing member configured to form the nip between itself and the rotatable fixing member; and a controller configured to control a temperature of the rotatable pressing member depending on smoothness of the recording paper. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164016 | POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A power supply system for AC-DC conversion, includes: a first rectifying/smoothing circuit configured to rectify and smooth an AC voltage applied from an AC power supply; a switching power supply configured to perform voltage conversion on an output voltage of the first rectifying/smoothing circuit, and output the converted voltages; an accumulating unit configured to receive a charging current from the switching power supply; a detecting unit configured to detect input/cutoff of the AC power supply; and a control device configured to receive supply of electric power from the accumulating unit and stop the switching power supply if the detecting unit detects the cutoff of the AC power supply. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164017 | POWER SUPPLY CIRCUIT, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME, AND POWER SUPPLY METHOD TO SUPPLY VOLTAGE TO IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A power supply circuit includes a voltage regulator to which a first high voltage is supplied, to operate at constant voltage and regulate the supplied first high voltage, and a first rectifier circuit to which the first high voltage is supplied, connected in parallel to the voltage regulator, to rectify the supplied first high voltage for output as a first DC voltage. When the first high voltage is a pseudo-alternating-current (AC) voltage consisting of two types of high voltages that alternate, the voltage regulator regulates each of the two different types of the voltages to output a desired pseudo-AC voltage. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164018 | METHOD TO CONTROL THE POWER REQUIREMENT OF A DIGITAL HIGH-CAPACITY PRINTING SYSTEM, AND HIGH-CAPACITY PRINTING SYSTEM TO EXECUTE THIS METHOD - In a method or system to control a power requirement of a digital high-capacity printing system that comprises a plurality of individual modules, the modules are connected to a common main current line with which they are supplied with operating current. The individual modules are each provided with a respective processor controller that are connected via a respective data line with a central control device. The individual modules and the central control device are respectively connected to an auxiliary current line that supplies the processor controllers and the central control device with current, independently of the main current line. With the central control device, the individual processor controllers are controlled such that a change of the power requirement is controlled such that at least two of the modules execute the change of the power requirement offset by a predetermined time interval. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164019 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An electronic device includes a first voltage output part configured to output a first voltage, a second voltage output part configured to output a second voltage, a first controller configured to receive the first voltage supplied from the first voltage output part, a second controller configured to receive the first voltage supplied from the first voltage output part, and a third controller configured to receive the second voltage supplied from the second voltage output part. The first controller stops the supply of the first voltage to the second controller by the first voltage output part after the supply of the second voltage to the third controller by the second voltage output part has been stopped. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164020 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An electronic device and image forming apparatus include a main body and an attachment unit. The main body includes a main-body side connector. The attachment unit includes a unit-side connector connectable with the main-body side connector and is mounted detachably on the main body. The main body includes a static electricity prevention member and a biasing member. The static electricity prevention member is configured to be movable between a first position and a second position. The static electricity prevention member partially or completely covers an outer periphery of a terminal of the main-body side connector at the first position and exposes this terminal at the second position. The attachment unit presses the static electricity prevention member from the first position to the second position against a biasing force applied by the biasing member, such that the main-body side connector is connected with the unit-side connector. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164021 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus has a structure which prevents contamination of charging units charging photoconductors. The image forming apparatus includes photoconductor units, charging units charging the photoconductor units, and a fan-motor unit changing the flow of air between the photoconductor units and the charging units to prevent substances of fine particles from flowing into the charging units. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164022 | DEVELOPING CONTAINER, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME, DEVELOPING DEVICE USING THE SAME, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developing container configured to contain developer, the developing container including: a filter member which covers a communicating hole through which an inside and an outside of the developing container are communicated with each other; a fixing area where the filter member is fixed to the developing container; and a vibration regulating portion configured to regulate vibrations of the filter member on an inner side of the fixing area, wherein the filter member is configured to allow passage of air and regulate passage of the developer, and wherein the vibration regulating portion is provided so as to be hit by the filter member if the filter member is vibrated, in order to regulate the vibrations of the filter member. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164023 | Photosensitive Member Unit - A photosensitive member unit includes: a first image forming unit including a first photosensitive member rotatable on a first axis line; and a second image forming unit including a second photosensitive member rotatable on a second axis line parallel with the first axis line and disposed in parallel with the first image forming unit at a first side in an orthogonal direction perpendicular to the first and second axis lines. The first image forming unit includes a charger and a cartridge containing portion. The charger includes: a charging member; a cleaning member for cleaning the charging member; and an operating member for operating the cleaning member. The operating member is inoperable when the developing cartridge is installed in the cartridge containing portion, and is exposed to be operable in the cartridge containing portion when the developing cartridge is removed from the cartridge containing portion. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164024 | Developer Supplying Apparatus - A developer supplying apparatus includes a developer carrying member, a casing, and a side seal. The developer carrying member includes a roller body and a brush part having fibrous members disposed on the peripheral surface. The developer carrying member is configured to carry a developer at the brush part. The casing includes a developer storing portion configured to store the developer, and has an opening formed along a rotation axis of the developer carrying member. The casing is configured to support the developer carrying member rotatably such that the brush layer is exposed outside from the opening. The side seal is disposed in an end of the opening in a direction along the rotation axis of the developer carrying member such that the side seal protrudes toward the brush layer to press the brush layer toward the rotation axis. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164025 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes: a rotary member which rotates with respect to an apparatus main body between a first position and a second position; and a buffering member connected to the apparatus main body and the rotary member for buffering an impact attributable to the rotation of the rotary member. The buffering member includes: a hollow member; a movable member moveable between an evacuation position and an advance position; and a slide member provided to the movable member and contactable with an inner circumferential surface of the hollow member. The slide member is deformable such that a first pressure on the hollow member when the rotary member rotates from the first position to the second position is larger than a second pressure on the hollow member when the rotary member rotates from the second position to the first position. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164026 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes vertically connected units, first and second fitting portions, and first and second fitted portions. These fitting portions are provided at a lower portion of an upper unit. These fitted portions are provided at an upper portion of a lower unit downwardly adjacent to the upper unit. The first fitted portion corresponds to the first fitting portion and the second fitted portion corresponds to the second fitting portion. The upper unit is restricted from displacing vertically relative to the lower unit when the first fitting portion engages with the first fitted portion. The second fitting portion engages with the second fitted portion such that the upper unit is restricted from moving horizontally relative to the lower unit, when a user pivots the upper unit downwardly about the first fitting portion while the first fitting portion is engaged with the first fitted portion. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164027 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes: a main apparatus body; an opening/closing member; a drum unit including a photosensitive drum and can be pulled out of an accommodating space along an axial direction of the photosensitive drum; an exposing member provided in the main apparatus body and movable between an exposure position and an evacuation position; and a movable mechanism including: a first movable member movable in accordance with an opening/closing operation of the opening/closing member; and a second movable member for moving the exposing member between the exposure position and the evacuation position in accordance with movement of the first movable member. The second movable member supports both end portions of the exposing member. The second movable member moves the exposing member to the exposure position or the evacuation position by the movement of the first movable member in accordance with the movement of the opening/closing member. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164028 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge includes: a first unit including a photosensitive drum; a second unit, including a process member, movable to a spaced position and to a close position; and a spacer member for holding the second unit at the spaced position. The spacer member includes a contact portion for holding the second unit at the spaced position and includes a portion-to-be-phase-determined for preventing rotation of the spacer member by being engaged with a phase-determining portion provided in the second unit. The spacer member is rotated, by receiving a force from the drum at the contact portion when the drum is rotated, against a force with which the phase-determining portion determines a rotational position of the spacer member, and eliminates a contact state of the contact portion with the drum to permit movement of the second unit from the spaced position to the close position. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164029 | DEVELOPING DEVICE, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND DRUM UNIT - A developing device for use with an image forming apparatus, includes: a developer carrying member for carrying a developer; a developer regulating member for regulating an amount of the developer carried on the developer carrying member; a first frame for supporting the developer regulating member; a fixing member for fixing the developer regulating member to the first frame; a second frame mounted to the first frame; and a molded resin portion formed by injecting a melted resin material into a space defined by the first and second frames. The molded resin portion is engaged with a first limiting portion provided as a part of the fixing member and projected into the space and is engaged with a second limiting portion provided as a part of the second frame to connect the first and second frame. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164030 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge demountably mountable on an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus includes: an image carrying member; a first frame body configured to support the image carrying member; a developer carrying member configured to carry developer; a second frame body configured to support the developer carrying member; an urging member configured to urge the developer carrying member against the image carrying member; a holding member mounted between the first frame member and the second frame member and configured to hold the urging member so as not to cause the urging member to apply the urging force to the first frame member and the second frame member, and the urging member is configured to apply the urging force to the first frame member and the second frame member upon removal of the holding member. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164031 | ROTATIONAL FORCE TRANSMITTING PART - An electrophotographic photosensitive drum unit includes a cylinder having a photosensitive layer at an outer periphery thereof. A drum flange is provided at one end of the cylinder, with the drum flange including a plurality of projections provided inside of the drum flange and projected radially inwardly of the drum flange, and with a space diametrically between the projections. A radially inner part of each projection has an overhang. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164032 | Image Forming Apparatus Having Waste Developer Accommodating Portion - A photosensitive drum is rotatably supported in a main body. A developing cartridge is detachably mountable on the main body in a state where the photosensitive drum is supported in the main body. The developing cartridge includes a developing device and a frame. The developing device includes a developing roller disposed in confrontation with the photosensitive drum to supply developer to the photosensitive drum when the developing cartridge is mounted in the main body, and a developer-accommodating portion configured to accommodate developer. The frame includes a waste-developer-accommodating portion configured to accommodate waste developer and supports the developing device that is movable relative to the frame. The frame is disposed on an opposite side of the developing roller from the photosensitive drum. An urging member is disposed between the frame and the developing device to urge the developing roller toward the photosensitive drum. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164033 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes a main body, a photosensitive drum detachably attached to the main body, a light exposure member configured to expose the photosensitive member to light, a developer container configured to store a developer to be supplied to the photosensitive drum, and a supporting member disposed in the main body and configured to support the light exposure member and to hold the developer container detachably. The supporting member is configured to, while holding the developer container, move between a light exposure position where the light exposure member is located proximate to the photosensitive drum and a separation position where the light exposure member is separated from the photosensitive drum while the supporting member holds the developer container. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164034 | PASSIVE BELT STEERING APPARATUS AND SYSTEMS - A passive belt steering apparatus includes a steering linkage at two ends of a steering roll. The steering linkage includes a fixed support and a steering link movably connected to the fixed support and a steering roll at to pivot points. The two pivot points are offset from one another to accommodate passive hard axis roll alignment in response to an axial force to the steering roll applied by a misaligned or incorrectly positioned belt. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164035 | Image Forming Apparatus And Power-Transmission Assembly of The Same - An image forming apparatus having an improved power-transmission assembly to drive a developing cartridge mounted in a main body of the apparatus. The apparatus includes a main body, at least one driving coupling unit rotatably located in a side region of the main body, at least one driven coupling unit connected to a rotator inside a developing cartridge, and a coupling holder in which the driving and driven coupling units are connected to each other to enable a power-transmission from the driving coupling unit to the driven coupling unit. The driving coupling unit includes a first spherical portion to come into contact with one side of an inner surface of the coupling holder when received in the coupling holder. The driven coupling unit includes a second spherical portion to come into contact with the other side of the inner surface of the coupling holder when received in the coupling holder. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164036 | CHARGING DEVICE - The present invention provides a charging device which can suppress the deterioration of a photosensitive member and the occurrence of an image deletion phenomenon on an electrophotographic image due to an electric discharge product having deposited on a charger shutter, even when having been used for a long period of time. The charging device has an image bearing member which bears an image thereon, a charging member which charges the image bearing member, and a shielding member which shields the charging member from the image bearing member, wherein the shielding member includes a specific material. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164037 | OPTICAL SCANNING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A housing includes a base portion for installation of an optical beam emission unit, a light guiding unit, and a deflection unit, and a cover portion that includes an indented heat emission channel that transmits heat in an inner portion of the housing to a fluid. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164038 | DEVELOPING MEMBER AND PRODUCTION METHOD THEREFOR, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Provided is a developing member capable of suppressing occurrence of compression set. The developing member comprises a substrate; an elastic layer provided on the substrate; and a coating layer provided on the elastic layer, wherein the elastic layer contains a cured substance of a mixture containing the following (A) to (D): (A) organopolysiloxane having two or more vinyl groups bonded to a silicon atom in one molecule and having a viscosity at 25° C. of 10 Pa·s or more and 100 Pa·s or less; (B) organopolysiloxane including constituent units of SiO | 2013-06-27 |
20130164039 | DEVELOPER ACCOMMODATING CONTAINER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developer accommodating unit includes: a flexible container, provided with an opening for permitting discharge of a developer, for accommodating the developer; a frame for accommodating the flexible container and for accommodating the developer discharged from the flexible container; and an urging member, provided inside the frame, for urging the flexible container to deform the flexible container. The flexible container has a plurality of sides including an opening-containing side and another side having stiffness lower than that of the opening-containing side. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164040 | DEVELOPING DEVICE, CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developing device includes: a flexible container, provide with an opening, for accommodating the developer; a frame for accommodating the container; an urging member, rotatably provided inside the frame, for urging the container by rotation thereof to deform the container; and a developer carrying member for carrying the developer on its surface to feed the developer. A distance X from a rotation center of the urging member to the surface of the developer carrying member and a length T from the rotation center of the urging member to a free end thereof for urging the container satisfy a relationship of X2013-06-27 | |
20130164041 | DEVELOPER STORAGE CONTAINER, IMAGE FORMING UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developer storage container includes a storage portion for storing a developer therein, an opening for ejecting the developer stored in the storage portion, and an opening-and-closing member for opening and closing the opening. A concave portion is formed on the opening-and-closing member so that the concave portion faces the opening. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164042 | DEVELOPING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A developing device includes first and second developer carriers facing each other in a facing region, a regulating member that regulates a layer thickness of developer, and a separation member. The first and second developer carriers respectively include first and second magnetic members that are respectively magnetized with first and second facing magnetic poles having opposite polarities. The separation member separates the developer so that the developer is supplied toward the first and second developer carriers. The separation member is disposed such that distances between the separation member and the first and second developer carriers are the smallest in a region in which a magnitude of a combined magnetic field of the first and second magnetic poles locally decreases as compared with a case where at least one of the first and second developer carriers is independently disposed due to interaction between the first and second facing magnetic poles. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164043 | DEVELOPING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developing device includes a first developing roller including a first transport member that transports magnetic developer by rotating while being close to a latent-image carrier rotating in one direction and a first magnet member, a second developing roller including a second transport member that transports the developer by rotating while being close to the latent-image carrier at a position on a downstream side of the first developing roller in the one direction, and a second magnet member, and a regulation member that regulates transport amounts of the developer distributed to the first and second developing rollers to required transport amounts, and opposes the developing rollers with predetermined distances therebetween. The first and second developing rollers are spaced from each other. The regulation member is movably supported in an area closer to the latent-image carrier than a closest position between the first and second developing rollers. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164044 | DEVELOPING APPARATUS, DEVELOPING METHOD AND MAGNETIC TONER FOR DEVELOPING APPARATUS - An object of the present invention is to provide a developing apparatus which can provide images having superior image density and less fogging. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164045 | DEVELOPING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME - A developing device having: a guide member creating a guide channel for guiding the developer being fed thereto while being supported on the developer support; and a regulating member regulating the amount of the developer that has passed through the guide channel, the guide member further creates a reflux channel in a gap from an inner surface of the housing, the reflux channel is connected to the guide channel via a communication channel such that the developer regulated by the regulating member returns toward an upstream end of the guide member, the upstream end of the guide member is disposed in a position opposed to the position where the magnetic flux density of the catch pole peaks, and the magnet assembly further includes a feeding pole that is disposed downstream of the catch pole and upstream of the developing pole, so as to be opposed to the guide channel. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164046 | DOCTOR BLADE FOR IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - A doctor blade of an image forming device for controlling a thickness of a toner coated on a development roller to a uniform thickness inside the image forming device is disclosed. The doctor blade includes: a support rod serving as a support fixture; a plate formed in an L shape, the plate being mounted on the lower surface and the rear surface of the support rod in contact with them to thereby serve to keep a uniform thickness of the toner in a state where the bottom surface is in contact with the development roller, the plate including a base layer of a metallic material and a coated layer formed on the bottom surface of the base layer getting in contact with the development roller; and a torsion spring mounted above the support rod to pressurize the support rod and the plate in order to fix the support rod and the plate. The doctor blade is reusable because only the plate is simply replaced with a new one when the coated layer formed on the plate is worn out. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164047 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING COLOR REGISTRATION CONTROL BASED ON DETECTION RESULT OF PATCH IMAGE - An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier on which images formed by a plurality of image forming units are transferred; a sensor configured to irradiate the image carrier with light, and detect reflected light; a detection unit configured to detect, based on an output value of the sensor, a feature value of an edge of a patch image which has been formed by the image forming unit and transferred to the image carrier; a determination unit configured to determine a position of the patch image using the output value of the sensor corresponding to the patch image and the feature value of the edge; and a color registration control unit configured to perform color registration control based on the determined position of the patch image. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164048 | COLOR REGISTRATION SENSOR FOR IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, METHOD OF DETECTING REGISTRATION TEST PATTERNS BY USING THE COLOR REGISTRATION SENSOR, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE COLOR REGISTRATION SENSOR - A color registration sensor of an image forming apparatus, and a method of detecting registration test patterns of a plurality of colors formed on a transfer medium, by using the color registration sensor. The color registration sensor detects a current generated by an electric force of a charged toner forming registration test patterns by using an electrode, as the registration test patterns of a plurality of colors formed on the transfer medium approach the color registration sensor, and detects a location of each of the registration test patterns of the plurality of colors by using a voltage signal obtained by converting the detected current. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164049 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member unit including a toner image carrying member; a transfer unit including a movable endless belt for transferring the toner image from the carrying member onto a transfer material, a plurality of stretching members for stretching the endless belt, and a supporting portion, provided at a end portion with respect to a widthwise direction, for supporting the stretching members; and a main assembly frame provided at a position opposing the supporting portion and including a positioning portion for determining a positions of the plurality of stretching members, wherein the supporting portion is movable relative to the main assembly frame. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164050 | BELT UNIT, TRANSFER UNIT AND IMAGE FORMATION APPARATUS - A belt unit includes rolls being rotatably supported and a belt to be conveyed by the rolls. In a dynamic viscoelasticity test with conditions of tensile load set in a frequency range of 0.01 to 100 [Hz], the belt unit satisfies 1≦G | 2013-06-27 |
20130164051 | CONDUCTIVE ROLLER, IMAGE-FORMING APPARATUS, AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - A conductive roller includes a conductive core and a foamed elastic layer covering the conductive core. The foamed elastic layer contains at least three conductive rubbers having different volume resistivities within the range of less than about 1×10 | 2013-06-27 |
20130164052 | ROLLER DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING ROLLER - A roller device includes a roller main body, a shaft member, flanges, a position restricting member, a plate-shaped member, a biasing member, and a securing member. The shaft member is inserted into the roller main body and the flanges in contact with both ends of the roller main body. The position restricting member is secured to the shaft member at an end portion side of the shaft member with respect to the flange. The position restricting member restricts an axial position of the flange. Movement of the plate-shaped member toward the end portion side in an axial direction is restricted by the position restricting member. The biasing member biases the flange toward a center side in the axial direction. The securing member is disposed at the end portion side of the shaft member with respect to the plate-shaped member. The securing member engages the position restricting member. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164053 | IMAGE FORMING METHOD AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The image forming method comprising: forming a toner image on an image carrier; transferring the toner image formed on the image carrier onto a recording medium; and transforming the toner image on the image carrier into a semi-film by applying a pressure. And the image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier; a toner image forming unit configured to form a toner image on the image carrier; a transfer unit configured to transfer the toner image formed on the image carrier onto a recording medium; and a toner image transforming unit configured to transfer the toner image on the image carrier into a semi-film by applying a pressure to the toner image. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164054 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a heater that transports a recording medium while rotating in a first direction and fixes an image formed on the recording medium to the recording medium by heating the image, a reducing member that rotates in a second direction different from the first direction, the reducing member and the heater contacting each other and rotating at different speeds, and the reducing member scratching an outer peripheral surface of the heater, and a moving device that moves the heater with respect to the reducing member in a direction of a rotational axis of the reducing member. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164055 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a magnetic-field generating unit that generates a magnetic field; a substantially cylindrical fixing rotational body that faces the magnetic-field generating unit, generates heat by electromagnetic induction of the magnetic field, and melts and fixes a developer image to a recording medium; a temperature-sensitive contact part that contacts an inner side of the fixing rotational body, and faces the magnetic-field generating unit, its permeability decreasing if its temperature becomes a permeability-change start temperature or higher; and a temperature-sensitive non-contact part arranged at the inner side of the fixing rotational body to face the magnetic-field generating unit in a range different from the contact part, and spaced from the fixing rotational body. An angle defined by the contact part and the center of the fixing rotational body is 60° or larger. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164056 | Fixing Device And Image Forming Apparatus Including The Fixing Device - A fixing device for fixing an image on a recording medium includes a rotatable endless fixing rotary member, a heating source which heats the fixing rotary member, an opposite rotary member in contact with the fixing rotary member, a nip forming member provided inside the fixing rotary member and in contact with the opposite rotary member via the fixing rotary member to form a nip portion to which the recording medium is fed, holding members rotatably holding end portions of the fixing rotary member, and protecting members provided between the holding members and end surfaces of the fixing rotary member to protect the end portions. Each of the protecting members has an opposite surface facing the corresponding end surface of the fixing rotary member, and including an inner diameter-side end edge having an inclined surface inclined in an inner diameter direction and away from the fixing rotary member. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164057 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - The image heating apparatus includes an endless belt, a heater placed in contact with an inner surface of the endless belt, a holder made of resin, adapted to hold the heater, and provided with a supporting space to be fitted with the heater, where a through hole is formed in a bottom area of the supporting space; and a back-up member adapted to form a nip together with the heater to pinch and convey a recording material through the endless belt, wherein in the bottom area, hollow portions recessed from the bottom area are provided at opposite ends in a short direction of the holder, being located at locations in a longitudinal direction of the holder different from a location in which the through hole is formed. Consequently, even if the heater heats up abnormally, heater cracks can be prevented. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164058 | FIXING DEVICE AND ENDLESS BELT ASSEMBLY - A fixing device includes an endless flexible belt, a stationary pad, a rotary pressure member, and a reinforcing member. The endless flexible belt is looped into a generally cylindrical configuration extending in an axial direction thereof for rotation in a rotational, circumferential direction thereof. The stationary pad is stationarily disposed inside the loop of the belt. The rotary pressure member is disposed parallel to the belt. The rotary pressure member presses against the stationary pad via the belt to form a nip therebetween. The reinforcing member is stationarily disposed in contact with the stationary pad inside the loop of the belt for reinforcing the stationary pad. The stationary pad includes two or more contact portions spaced apart from each other in the conveyance direction, each generally extending in the axial direction of the looped belt and protruding toward the reinforcing member to contact the reinforcing member. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164059 | Fixing Device And Image Forming Device - According to an embodiments, provided is a fixing device that includes: an endless fixing belt, heats and melts a toner image, and has flexibility; a stationary member that is set stationary on an inner peripheral surface side of the fixing belt and comes into contact under pressure to form a nip portion; and a reinforcement member that is set stationary on the inner peripheral surface side of the fixing belt and comes into abutment with the stationary member. If it is assumed that a length of the nip portion in a direction of conveyance of the recording medium is designated as A; and a length between an upstream-side abutment portion and a downstream-side abutment portion at which the stationary member and the reinforcement member come into abutment with each other is designated as B, following relation is established: A | 2013-06-27 |
20130164060 | FIXING APPARATUS AND FILM FOR USE IN FIXING APPARATUS - A fixing apparatus for fixing a toner image on a recording material, while conveying the recording material bearing the toner image, at a nip portion includes a tubular film, a heater configured to heat the film, and a pressure member configured to form the nip portion with the film, wherein the film has a property that a resistance value per unit area between an outer surface of the film and an inner surface of the film becomes 5×10 | 2013-06-27 |
20130164061 | LIQUID ENHANCED FIXING METHOD - Printing methods are provided. In one method, an inkjet image is printed on a receiver using an inkjet ink having a liquid with a boiling point and a toner image conforming to the ink jet image is generated using toner particles with a glass transition temperature that is below the boiling point and the toner image is transferred into an unabsorbed volume of liquid ink of the inkjet image on the receiver. A first energy is applied to the toner and the liquid sufficient to bring the liquid to the boiling point without bringing a heated surface into contact therewith. The toner particles are heated above the glass transition temperature by the combination of heat from the liquid and heating of the toner particles by the radiant energy without requiring that the receiver is heated to the glass transition temperature of the toner. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164062 | PRINTER WITH LIQUID ENHANCED FIXING SYSTEM - Printers are provided. One printer has an ink jet printer with an inkjet printhead to print an inkjet image on a receiver using an inkjet ink having a liquid with a boiling point a toner print engine to generate a toner image conforming to the ink jet image using toner particles with a glass transition temperature that is below the boiling point and to transfer the toner image into an unabsorbed volume of liquid ink of the inkjet image on the receiver and a fixing system having a first energy source to apply a first energy to the toner and the liquid sufficient to bring the liquid to the boiling point without bringing a heated surface into contact therewith. The toner particles are heated above the glass transition temperature by the combination of heat from the liquid and heating of the toner particles by the first energy. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164063 | TONER RECOVERY DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE TONER RECOVERY DEVICE - A toner recovery device includes a toner recovery container that recovers toner; and a toner conveying shaft member that is provided inside the toner recovery container and conveys toner in a axial direction of the toner conveying shaft member by the rotation around a rotational axis of the toner conveying shaft member and that has a spiral groove formed around the rotational axis and an outer peripheral surface whose distance from the rotational axis is variable. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164064 | MEDIUM LOADER DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMATION APPARATUS - A medium loader device includes a first medium loader member configured to load a medium, a second medium loader member usable as an extension of the first medium loader member, and a support member configured to support the first medium loader member and the second medium loader member and to form a storage area capable of storing the second medium loader member between the support member and the first medium loader member. The support member includes a holder configured to hold the first medium loader member such that the first medium loader member moves relative to the support member when the second medium loader member is moved from a usage position where the second medium loader member is used as the extension of the first medium loader member to a storage position where the second medium loader member is stored in the storage area. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164065 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit, a fixing unit, a conveyance belt, a suction unit, and a control unit. The transfer unit transfers a toner image to a sheet. The fixing unit conveys the sheet and to fix the toner image transferred by the transfer unit on the sheet. The conveyance belt provided between the transfer unit and the fixing unit conveys the sheet. The suction unit suctions the sheet to the conveyance belt. The control unit controls to suction the sheet to the conveyance belt, and controls to stop suction or weaken a suction force in response to performing conveyance control for changing a conveyance speed of the fixing unit so that a loop amount of the sheet between the transfer unit and the fixing unit is maintained in a constant range after the leading edge of the sheet reaches the fixing unit. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164066 | SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A sheet feeding mechanism incorporatable in an image forming apparatus includes a cover unit rotatably attached to one side of a main body of an image forming apparatus to cover a part of a sheet conveyance path, a first feeding member located in a main body of the apparatus, a second feeding member located in the cover unit in a displaceable manner and facing the first feeding member when the cover unit is closed and sandwiching and conveying a recording medium along the sheet conveyance path with the first feeding member, and a guide member disposed in the main body to guide the second feeding member. The guide member guides the second feeding member to move in a first direction that approaches the first feeding member when closing the cover unit and in a second direction that separates from the first feeding member when opening the cover unit. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164067 | CARRIAGE ROLLER BAR POWER PROFILE - A printer is disclosed. The printer has a carriage that holds at least one print head. The printer measures the power used by a motor that drives the carriage along a roller bar during a printing operation. The printer displays an error message when the power used by the motor exceeds a threshold. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164068 | BONDED KEYBOARD AND METHOD FOR MAKING THE SAME - A bonded keyboard and method for making the same are disclosed. The bonded keyboard uses adhesive as the primary agent, and in some embodiments, as the sole agent for coupling various components of the keyboard stackup together. The keyboard stackup uses a skeletal adhesive to couple a top case to a backcase assembly. In one embodiment, the skeletal adhesive is an interconnected matrix of ribs dimensioned to fit within the spacing existing between adjacent keys, which are mounted on the backcase assembly. The skeletal adhesive is fixed to the backcase assembly, occupies a portion of the spacing that exists between keys, and the top case is fixed to the top of the skeletal adhesive. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164069 | PRINTER WITH A PROGRAMMABLE ARRAY - A printer that images print media with an adhesive layer backing with an heat absorption substance. The printer contains control board with electronics and firmware to control the printer's various functions. It contains media storage to store the print media, and a platen mechanism to feed the print media. It contains a printhead to image the coloring layer of the media. The printer has a programmable array to activate the adhesive layer of the media once the imaging is complete and feed past the knife blades. If built with a cutter option, the printer contains a knife mechanism which cuts the media once the imaging and adhesive activation is complete. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164070 | PRINTER SUBSTRATE EDGE TRIMMING - According to one example of the present invention there is provided a printer for a printing on a roll of substrate. The printer comprises a substrate support for receiving a roll of substrate, a drive mechanism for driving substrate from a roll of substrate when installed on the substrate support through a print writing module, and a substrate edge trimming module for trimming the longitudinal edges of a substrate prior to the substrate passing through the print writing module. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164071 | PRINTER - A printer includes a main body case in which a sheet roll is installed, a sheet discharge port from which a printed sheet of paper is discharged, an opening/closing cover that opens and closes with respect to the main body case, a cutter that is attached to the opening/closing cover and configured to cut the printed sheet of paper from the sheet roll, and a cutter protection mechanism configured to move in correspondence with an opening movement or a closing movement of the opening/closing cover. The cutter protection mechanism is configured to expose the cutter at the sheet discharge port when the opening/closing cover is in an open state and conceal the cutter when the opening/closing cover is in a closed state. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164072 | Paper Cutting Device and a Printer with a Paper Cutting Device - A printer has a main frame with a roll paper compartment for storing roll paper and a printing mechanism for printing on the roll paper; a cover frame movably connected to the main frame and having an openable cover for the roll paper compartment; a movable blade frame disposed to the main frame for supporting first and second movable blades with the blade tips in opposition; a stationary blade frame disposed to the cover frame for supporting a stationary blade in a position substantially transverse to the paper transportation path during cutting; and a movable blade drive mechanism for linking and driving the first and second movable blades to cut the roll paper in a scissor action against the stationary blade and such that one movable blade leads and the other movable blade follows, with the movable blades disposed such that the paths of the tips overlap during cutting. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164073 | Movable buckle device of a file box - A movable buckle device of a file box contains a movable buckle device of a file box comprised of an upper cover, a lower cover, a side lid, wherein the side lid includes a groove in which two through holes are defined on an upper end and a lower end of the groove respectively and two orifices are defined on two sides of the groove individually, each orifice is used to insert a hook member, the hook member includes a first stop piece and a second stop piece formed on one side of the first stop piece, the second stop piece includes an elongated aperture | 2013-06-27 |
20130164074 | DEVICE FOR REVERSIBLY FASTENING A PANEL TO A STRUCTURE SO AS TO OBTAIN A WINDOW IN THAT STRUCTURE, A VEHICLE, AND A METHOD | 2013-06-27 |
20130164075 | ADAPTER FOR ACETABULAR COMPONENT POSITIONING - An adapter for a tripodal stereotactic reference frame for use in arthroplastic surgery mounts a third leg of the frame at an angle with respect to the other two legs to facilitate use of said frame with varying surgical exposures. | 2013-06-27 |
20130164076 | PIVOT PIN SECURING STRUCTURE - A pivot pin securing structure includes a support seat and a pivot pin. The support seat is formed with a bush section with a pinhole. The bush section is formed with a split in communication with the pinhole, whereby the bush section has elasticity for holding the pivot pin. The bush section has at least one independent spring section. An obliquely extending track section is disposed on at least one side of the spring section. One end of the pivot pin extends into the pinhole. An abutment member is disposed on a circumference of the pivot pin. The abutment section is slidable along the track section with the rotation of the pivot pin in abutment with the spring section to different extents. During the sliding movement, the spring section applies different reaction forces to the abutment section as resistance against and aid force for the rotation of the pivot pin. | 2013-06-27 |