38th week of 2012 patent applcation highlights part 36 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20120237234 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier to carry a toner image, a transfer member to form a transfer nip by contacting the image carrier surface, and a power supply to output a voltage to the recording material captured in the transfer nip so as to transfer the toner image formed on the image carrier surface. The voltage is switching alternately between a voltage in the transfer direction and a voltage opposite to the voltage in the transfer direction, and a time average value (Vave) of the voltage is set to have a polarity of the transfer direction, and is set to a value in the transfer voltage side, and a change mode to change a cycle of the voltage output from the power supply can be changed based on the toner deterioration information which determines the deterioration status of the toner. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237235 | XEROGRAPHIC COLOR IMAGE FORMING MACHINE HAVING MARKING ENGINES WITH BOTH LOW GLOSS AND HIGH GLOSS DEVELOPERS - A color image forming machine is provided having a plurality of xerographic marking engines, each forming associated color separations that are combined to produce a color print image. Each marking engine includes two independently controlled developers using toners of the same color and strength of color but with different fused gloss characteristics, in that one of the toners will produce a print with a comparatively lower gloss and the other will produce a print with a comparatively higher gloss, thereby providing a greater control over the range of the gloss of the output print. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237236 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - Image forming apparatus to expose-scan electrically charged surface of image carrier based on image data in unit of page to form electrostatic latent image, and develop electrostatic latent image at development position on image carrier by using developer carried by developer carrier. The image forming apparatus determines, based on image data of page, first and second partial regions having first and second attributes in page, not overlapping in sub scanning direction, and switches development bias voltage value and/or rotational speed of developer carrier to value for first attribute while electrostatic latent image on image carrier corresponding to first partial region passes through development position, and to value for second attribute while electrostatic latent image corresponding to second partial region passes through development position. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237237 | WET-TYPE IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A wet-type image forming apparatus forms a toner image on an image carrier using liquid developer containing carrier liquid and toner dispersed therein. The apparatus includes: a developing member carrying the liquid developer to develop a latent image thereby forming the toner image on the image carrier; a charger for charging the liquid developer on the developing member according to a current applied on the charger; a measuring member for measuring a potential of the liquid developer charged by the charger; and a controller for controlling an amount of the liquid developer on the developing member, before the toner image is formed on the image carrier, by setting plural values of the current to be applied on the charger and controlling the amount of the liquid developer based on results of measurement of potentials of the liquid developer charged by the charger with the plural values of the applied current. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237238 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, STORAGE UNIT CONTROLLING METHOD, AND STORAGE UNIT CONTROLLING PROGRAM PRODUCT - An image forming apparatus includes a control unit that controls each component, a first storage unit that is a non-volatile and rewritable storage unit mounted on the control unit, a toner containing unit that contains toner to be used for an image forming, a second storage unit that is a non-volatile and rewritable storage unit mounted on the toner containing unit, and a detecting unit that detects an amount of the toner remained in the toner containing unit. The control unit stores count information into the second storage unit, the count information is copied from the second storage unit to the first storage unit, when the detecting unit detects that the amount of the toner remained in the toner containing unit is not enough, and the count information is kept on being stored into the first storage unit, until the toner containing unit is replaced with a new one. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237239 | METHOD FOR ASSESSING TRANSFER PRESSURE UNIFORMITY - Systems and methods are described that facilitate automatically and uniformly depositing a marking material on transfer assist blade (TAB) petals to improve TAB pressure profile accuracy. A TAB liftoff timing value is adjusted in non-volatile memory (NVM) to delay TAB liftoff beyond a trailing edge of a page on which an oversized (in the process direction) image being printed. Toner deposited on a photoreceptor belt beyond the trailing edge of the page is picked up by the TAB petals once the trailing edge of the page has passed the TAB. The TAB is then disengaged and re-engaged against a backside of a next page, where the TAB petals deposit the uniformly acquired toner to generate the TAB pressure profile. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237240 | IMAGE FORMING DEVICE, NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM STORING IMAGE FORMING PROGRAM, IMAGE FORMING METHOD, AND IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM - Disclosed is an image forming device that forms toner images on corresponding photosensitive bodies, and performs primary transfers for transferring the toner images on the corresponding photosensitive bodies onto an intermediate transfer body and performs a secondary transfer for transferring the toner images from the intermediate transfer body onto a recording medium. The image forming device includes a position detection unit that detects a position of the intermediate transfer body; a position control unit that controls movement of the intermediate transfer body; a speed determination unit that determines a speed of the intermediate transfer body; and an image forming control unit. The image forming control unit causes the image forming device to form the toner images, to perform primary transfers or to perform a secondary transfer, when the intermediate transfer body is moving at a constant speed. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237241 | FIXING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM, AND FIXING METHOD - A fixing device includes a fixing member that fixes a toner image on a recording material, a pressure applying member that is pressed against an outer peripheral surface of the fixing member and forms a press-fixing part therebetween through which the recording material having an unfixed toner image is transported, a heating unit that heats the fixing member, and a pressure-applying-member-moving unit that moves the pressure applying member and changes the pressure applying member between being pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the fixing member and being spaced apart from the outer peripheral surface of the fixing member. The heating unit heats the fixing member at the start of a fixing operation under heating conditions corresponding to a change in the state of the fixing member occurring when the pressure applying member is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the fixing member by the pressure-applying-member-moving unit. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237242 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - To provide an image forming apparatus in which multiple number of laser beams are controlled to perform fixing based on the toner concentration in the developing device, or based on the density and weight of the toner image adhering on the recording medium before fixing. The controller in the image forming apparatus compares the toner concentration detected by the toner concentration detector with the reference toner concentration, calculates the output level of the laser irradiator, controls the laser irradiator based on the calculation, controls to increase the output level of the laser irradiator in accordance with the detected toner concentration when the toner concentration is lower than the reference toner concentration, and controls to lower the output level of the laser irradiator in accordance with the detected toner concentration when the toner concentration is higher than the reference toner concentration. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237243 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT - An information processing apparatus is connected to a print control apparatus for generating image data. The information processing apparatus includes a generating unit configured to generate gloss control plate data for specifying a type of a surface effect imparted to a recording medium and a region in the recording medium to which the surface effect is imparted; and a transmitting unit configured to transmit the gloss control plate data to the print control apparatus. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237244 | PRINT CONTROL APPARATUS, PRINTING SYSTEM, AND PRINT CONTROL METHOD - A print control apparatus includes a generating unit that generates clear-toner plane data based on gloss-control plane data, which contains a gloss control value for specifying a type of a surface effect being a visual or a tactile effect applied to the recording medium and for specifying a region to which the surface effect is applied in the recording medium, and clear plane data, which contains a density value for specifying a transparent image other than the surface effect; and an outputting unit that outputs the clear-toner plane data. When a region where the gloss control value is specified in the gloss-control plane data and a region where the density value is specified in the clear plane data overlap each other, the generating unit sets a value of the clear-toner plane data to the gloss control value or the density value, based on a predetermined condition. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237245 | PRINT CONTROL APPARATUS, PRINT CONTROL SYSTEM, PRINT CONTROL METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT - A print control apparatus includes an acquiring unit configured to acquire a glossiness indicating a degree of glossy effect on a recording medium; a first generating unit configured to generate image data based on the glossiness acquired by the acquiring unit; and an output unit configured to output the image data. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237246 | TONER DENSITY SENSOR AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A toner density sensor has a light emitting unit that emits light to detect toner density, a light receiving unit that receives the light emitted from the light emitting unit and reflected from a detection target, and a board on which the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit are surface-mounted. A penetration space that penetrates the board in a thickness direction is formed in at least one of portions in which the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit are attached to the board. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237247 | PRINTING CONTROL APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM, AND PRINTING CONTROL METHOD - A printing control apparatus includes an acquiring unit, a storing unit, a replacing unit, and a generating unit. The acquiring unit is configured to acquire apparatus configuration information of a printing apparatus that forms an image based on image data. The storing unit is configured to store therein gloss control plane data in which a type of a surface effect imparted to a recording medium and a control value for specifying an area in the recording medium, to which the surface effect is imparted, are designated. The replacing unit is configured to replace, based on the apparatus configuration information, the type of the surface effect imparted to the recording medium in the gloss control plane data with a predetermined type of a surface effect. The generating unit is configured to generate the image data based on the gloss control plane data subjected to the replacement by the replacing unit. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237248 | CURRENT-SUPPLY CONTROL UNIT, FUSING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND CURRENT-SUPPLY CONTROL METHOD - A current-supply control unit for controlling current supply to a heating element includes a voltage detector and a heating element control unit. The voltage detector detects voltage at both ends of the heating element. The heating element control unit controls a duty cycle of current supply for the heating element based on the voltages detected by the voltage detector when current is supplied to the heating element. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237249 | IMAGING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - An imaging device provided with a latent image carrying body rotatably disposed to carry a latent image, a developing unit that develops the latent image carried on the carrying body by using a developer containing toner at least, and a duct disposed downstream of the developing unit and having a wall with an upstream suction port and a downstream suction port formed. An air flow path is formed by a surface of the latent image carrying body and a surface of the duct wall, between the upstream suction port and the downstream suction port. A gap of the air flow path is wider at the downstream side than at the upstream side with respect to the rotational direction of the latent image carrying body. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237250 | IMAGE-FORMING APPARATUS - An image-forming apparatus, comprising: a rotatable photoreceptor; a charging device configured to charge a surface of the photoreceptor to be a target charge potential; an exposure device configured to expose a charged portion on the surface of the photoreceptor to form an electrostatic latent image; a developing device configured to develop the electrostatic latent image using toner to form a toner image; a transfer device configured to apply a transfer bias between the photoreceptor and a transfer member by applying an electrical potential of opposite polarity to the target charge potential to the transfer member facing the photoreceptor, and which transfers the toner image on the photoreceptor onto a body to be transferred by the transfer bias; a neutralization device configured to neutralize the surface of the photoreceptor by irradiating the surface with neutralization light after the transferring; and a pre-rotation device configured to perform a pre-rotation process. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237251 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member to bear a toner image on a surface thereof, an intermediate transfer member disposed facing the image bearing member, onto which the toner image is transferred, a primary transfer device disposed opposite the image bearing member with the intermediate transfer member interposed therebetween to transfer the toner image from the image bearing member onto the intermediate transfer member, a cleaning device detachably attachable relative to the intermediate transfer member and including a cleaning member to contact the surface of the intermediate transfer member to remove residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer member after transfer of the toner image, and a lubricant application device detachably attachable relative to the intermediate transfer device to apply a lubricant on the surface of the intermediate transfer member. The cleaning device and the lubricant application device are detachably attachable independent of each other. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237252 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a drum unit containing the drum, a developing unit containing the roller and being movable so the roller contacts and is spaced from the drum, and a first force receiver receiving a force from a main-assembly first force applier by movement of a door from open to closed positions when mounting the cartridge and a second force receiver movable from a stand-by position by movement of the first force receiver by a force received from the first force applier. The second force receiver takes a projected position receiving a force from the second force applier to move the developing unit so the roller moves out of contact with the drum, the projected position being higher than the stand-by position. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237253 | ELECTROSTATIC IMAGE DEVELOPING TONER, TONER CONTAINER AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - An electrostatic image developing toner including: toner particles; wherein the toner particles each contain: a core particle including a first resin and a colorant; and fine resin particles each formed of a second resin and existing in a surface of the core particle, wherein part of each fine resin particle is embedded in the core particle to form an embedded region, and the remaining part of the fine resin particle is exposed on the surface of the core particle to form an exposed region, and wherein each toner particle satisfies an expression of R | 2012-09-20 |
20120237254 | COVERS OPENING/CLOSING SEQUENCE REGULATION SYSTEM AND METHOD AND IMAGE FORMATION APPARATUS USING SAME - A covers opening/closing sequence regulation system includes a first cover and a second cover openably and closably attached to a housing. The first and second covers are provided in a way that the first cover becomes openable and closable while the second cover is in a fully-closed state, and that the second cover becomes unable to be fully-closed from an opened state while the first cover is in a fully-closed state. A regulation mechanism is configured to stop the first cover in a spaced-out position, which is spaced out from a fully-closed position of the first cover, in an operation of closing the first cover toward the fully-closed position with the second cover being in an opened state. The second cover is openable and closable while the first cover is in the spaced-out position. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237255 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes a casing, a photosensitive member, a developing unit, an exposure member including a light emitting element array, a covering member, and a cover operation mechanism. The developing unit includes a developer carrying member configured to carry a developer supplied to the photosensitive member. The exposure unit is configured to expose the photosensitive member to form a latent image on the photosensitive member. The covering member is configured to move between a cover position where the covering member covers the exposure member between the photosensitive member and the exposure member and a retracted position where the covering member is retracted from between the photosensitive member and the exposure member. The cover operation mechanism is configured to hold the covering member in the retracted position at least when the exposure member forms the latent image on the photosensitive member. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237256 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes a casing, photosensitive members arranged along an arrangement direction, and developing cartridges. Each developing cartridge includes a developer carrying member configured to supply a developer to a corresponding one of the photosensitive members. Each photosensitive member is configured to move between an image formation position where an image is formed on the photosensitive member and a retracted position where the photosensitive member is retracted from the developer carrying member. When the photosensitive member is in the image formation position, the photosensitive member is configured to close a path through which a corresponding one of the developing cartridges is attached to and removed from the casing. When the photosensitive member is in the retracted position, the photosensitive member is configured to open the path. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237257 | COLOR IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A color image forming apparatus includes: a main body of the apparatus that forms a color image; and an intermediate transfer unit for transferring the color image formed by the main body of the apparatus, wherein the intermediate transfer unit is configured to be removed from and to be inserted into the main body of the apparatus, and wherein the intermediate transfer unit is configured to perform a door-like opening and closing movement. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237258 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus having: a guide that is a component of a conveyance route for a print medium; a first door that incorporates the guide, an inside of the conveyance route being exposed to an outside of a main body of the image forming apparatus when the first door is open; a functional component fixed to the first door, the functional component being placed in a specified position by contact with a component located inside the main body when the first door is closed; a first lock mechanism for keeping the first door closed; a second door that covers the first door when the second door is closed and that exposes the first door to the outside of the main body when the second door is open; and a second lock mechanism for keeping the second door closed. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237259 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a housing, a cover member pivotally mounted on the housing, and operable to change the posture thereof between a closing posture and an opening posture, and a first and second urging member. A first conveyance roller for conveying a sheet is rotatably supported on the housing, and a second conveyance roller to be pressingly contacted with the first conveyance roller is rotatably supported on the cover member. The first urging member applies, to the cover member in the opening posture, an urging force for returning the cover member from the opening posture to an intermediate posture between the opening posture and the closing posture. The second urging member applies, to the second conveyance roller, an urging force with which the second conveyance roller is pressingly contacted with the first conveyance roller when the cover member is in the closing posture. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237260 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND BELT TENSIONING UNIT - An image forming apparatus includes: a belt unit that includes a belt-shaped image carrier stretched around and driven to rotate by a plurality of rollers; a belt tensioning unit that includes a tensioning member that is brought into contact with an image carrying surface of the belt-shaped image carrier and applies tension to the belt-shaped image carrier; and a cleaning unit that includes a cleaning member that is brought into contact with the image carrying surface of the belt-shaped image carrier and cleans the image carrying surface. The cleaning unit is supported by the belt tensioning unit in an attachable and detachable manner. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237261 | SURFACE EMITTING LASER AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A surface emitting laser includes a stepped structure having a step between a first region and a second region, the stepped structure provided in an emission area located in an upper portion of the upper mirror. The surface emitting laser includes a light shielding member provided in a third region between the first region and the second region. The light shielding member is not provided in a portion of the first region and a portion of the second region. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237262 | HEAT RADIATING DEVICE, OPTICAL SCANNING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A heat radiating device includes a base on which a heat generating member is mounted and a plurality of heat radiating members that integrally extend from a bottom face of the base. In this heat radiating device, the heat radiating members are each formed to have a circular transverse section, and are arranged such that any one of the heat radiating members is positioned on a straight line in any direction orthogonal to a direction in which the heat radiating members extend. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237263 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus is provided, which is configured to form an image with developer of a plurality of colors on a sheet-type recording medium by a non-magnetic single component developing method. The image forming apparatus includes a first color developing unit which is configured to perform developing of a first color by a jumping developing method, and a second color developing unit which is configured to perform developing of the second color by a contact developing method. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237264 | Wet-Type Image Forming Apparatus - An infiltration amount measuring unit is provided to measure the amount of carrier liquid infiltrated in recording paper. An output signal of the infiltration amount measuring unit is input to a control device to be used to calculate a voltage supplied to a heat source (heater) in a pre-fixing unit. A signal of a paper temperature measuring unit is input to the control device, which determines whether a target temperature is reached. The control device estimates the amount of carrier liquid in a toner layer based on the information from the infiltration amount measuring unit. Then, the pre-fixing unit is controlled such that the amount of carrier liquid in the toner layer falls within an appropriate range, based on the estimation result of the amount of carrier liquid. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237265 | Wet-Type Image Forming Apparatus - A wet-type image forming apparatus includes: a heating unit configured to heat a recording medium and to volatilize liquid carrier in a toner image; a fixing unit configured to fix the toner image on the recording medium and disposed at a downstream side of the heating unit in a conveyance direction of the recording medium; a conveyance unit configured to convey the recording medium from the heating unit to the fixing unit; and a housing disposed to cover the conveyance unit, wherein the recording medium is conveyed on the conveyance unit in the housing toward the fixing unit after heated by the heating unit, in the presence of gas containing the volatilized liquid carrier, and the volatilized liquid carrier is cooled and turned into fine mist liquid carrier and then the fine mist liquid carrier attaches to the recording medium before the recording medium reaches the fixing unit. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237266 | Developing Apparatus and Image Forming Apparatus - A driving force produced by a first driving motor is transmitted to a developing roller and an intermediate application roller by a first drive transmission unit, and the developing roller and the intermediate application roller are rotated as a result. The developing roller and the intermediate application roller thus take the first driving motor as a drive source, and receive the driving force from the first driving motor via the same first drive transmission unit. As a result, the phases of the fluctuation in a rotational component of the first driving motor and the cyclic fluctuation of gear interlocking match, which reduces a rotational velocity difference between the developing roller and the intermediate application roller. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237267 | ELECTROSTATIC IMAGE DEVELOPING TONER, DEVELOPER, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An electrostatic image developing toner including: toner particles each containing binder resin and colorant; and an external additive supported on the toner particles, wherein the toner particles each have protrusions on surface thereof, average of lengths of long sides of the protrusions is 0.10 μm or more but less than 0.50 μm, standard deviation of the lengths of the long sides of the protrusions is 0.20 or less, coverage rate of the protrusions on the surface of each toner particle is 30% to 90%, the external additive includes at least two different particles including external additive (A) and one or more external additives (B), external additive (A) has longest average primary particle diameter among the external additives and charged to have the opposite polarity to the toner particles, and at least one of the external additives (B) is charged to have the same polarity as the toner particles. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237268 | POWDER TRANSPORT DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A powder transport device includes a first transport tube through which powder falls under gravity; a second transport tube having a transport member that transports the powder in a substantially horizontal direction; and a joint section having a ceiling, opposed side walls, an upstream wall, and a downstream wall. The joint section defines a first drop region, defined by the downstream wall and the side walls, continuous with and positioned directly under the first transport tube, to drop the powder dropped from the first transport tube; and a second drop region, defined by the ceiling, the upstream wall, and the side walls, displaced relative to and continuous with the first drop region, positioned adjacent to the second transport tube, to drop the powder transported from the second transport tube upstream from the first drop region in the direction in which the powder is transported through the second transport tube. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237269 | TONER CONTAINER AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS USING SAME - A toner container for containing toner, removably installable into an apparatus body, includes a container body in which an opening for receiving toner therein or discharging toner therefrom is formed and a handle forming a front end portion of the toner container when the toner container is installed in the apparatus body, the handle having a front face inclined relative to a center axis (L) of the container body. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237270 | DEVELOPING ROLLER - A developing roller including: an electrically-conductive base; an elastic layer formed on an outer circumference of the electrically-conductive base; and a toner bearing layer formed on the elastic layer, wherein the toner bearing layer contains a polyurethane resin having an isocyanurate structure, and wherein the polyurethane resin has a ratio A/B of 1.0 to 10.0 where A denotes absorbance attributed to C═O of cyanurate and B denotes absorbance attributed to C═O of urethane in an infrared absorption spectrum of the polyurethane resin obtained by an ATR method. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237271 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, an image forming unit for forming a toner image and a toner pattern comprising toner not to be transferred onto a recording medium for adjustment of a density of toner on a surface of the image bearing member, a nip forming member contacting the surface of the image bearing member to form a transfer nip therebetween, a transfer bias applicator for applying a transfer bias in which an alternating current component and a direct current component are superimposed to transfer the toner image onto the recording medium in the transfer nip, a first cleaning device to mechanically remove toner remaining on the image bearing member after passing through the transfer nip. The transfer bias applicator applies a charge eliminating bias to remove charge from toner in the toner pattern when the toner pattern passes through the transfer nip. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237272 | IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD - An intermediate transfer member ( | 2012-09-20 |
20120237273 | FIXING DEVICE WITH RESISTANCE HEATING ELEMENT CAPABLE OF ACCURATELY GENERATING HEAT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS WITH FIXING DEVICE - In a fixing device, a heating element is extended along a fixing member at a location other than a nip on an inner circumferential surface side of the fixing member to generate heat. The fixing member contacts the heating element either indirectly via a gap of a prescribed size or directly contacts the heating element by with a prescribed pressure when the fixing member is rotating, and continuously separates from the heating element by a prescribed distance greater than the size of the gap when the fixing member stops rotating. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237274 | FIXING UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing unit includes a fixing rotatable body that is located at a side of a recording medium, the side carrying a not-fixed image, a pressing rotatable body that is located at another side of the recording medium and that is disposed so as to abut on the fixing rotatable body, a fixing heating unit that heats the fixing rotatable body, a first pressing heating unit that heats the pressing rotatable body from inside thereof, and a second pressing heating unit that is disposed opposite to a surface of the pressing rotatable body and that heats the pressing rotatable body from outside thereof. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237275 | APPARATUS AND METHOD TO CONTROL MEDIA WRINKLING THROUGH ROLL FLARING - According to aspects of the embodiments, an electrophotographic system utilizing a belt roll fuser mechanism which inhibits or minimizes wrinkling or slipping of printed media through the fuser is disclosed. In this device, the belt is driven at the ideal velocity at all locations across the width of the roll with minimal differential shear stress between the internal pressure roll and the inside of the belt in the nip and around the wrap. The ideal velocity is achieved by straining the circumference belt while its mounted on a roll support structure by flaring the other rolls equally and flaring the internal pressure roll to match the strained circumference of the belt. A small flaring of the rolls in the belt module would reduce sliding of the belt and make the transition between the wraps or the stripper shoe less stressful. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237276 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus of the invention includes a carrier solution application roller that rotates centering on a rotary shaft and applies a carrier solution to a transfer roller after an image of a liquid developer including toner and the carrier solution is transferred to a transfer medium, a transfer roller cleaning roller, supported by a cleaning member support portion through a rotary shaft, which removes toner remaining in the transfer roller, and a carrier solution application roller of which the amount of movement is larger than the amount of movement of the transfer roller cleaning roller when the cleaning member support portion is rotated. Even when the transfer roller moves, satisfactory cleaning properties are secured without breaking a mutual positional relationship by facilitating mutual positioning between the transfer roller and the transfer roller cleaning roller. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237277 | DEVELOPING UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - A developing unit and an image forming apparatus are disclosed. The developing unit includes an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, a developing member to supply a developer to the image carrier, and a first cleaning member having a first cleaning blade to remove a non-transferred developer on the image carrier. The first cleaning blade is configured to be reversible between a counter disposition, which is opposite to a rotation direction of the image carrier while the image carrier is in a printing operation, and a trailing disposition, which corresponds to the rotation direction. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237278 | SHEET CONVEYING DEVICE THAT CAN CHANGE SHEET CONVEYING DIRECTION - A sheet conveying device includes: a roller that conveys a sheet; a leading end retaining member that temporarily retaining a front portion in a conveying direction of the sheet conveyed by the roller; a moving unit that moves a rear portion of the sheet toward a direction intersecting the conveying direction using a pushing member while the sheet is retained by the leading end retaining member, the pushing member being located on a downstream side of the roller; and an inverting and conveying roller that, after the moving unit moves the sheet, conveys the sheet while the rear portion of the sheet is set to a head. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237279 | Sheet Conveyer Device and Image Forming Apparatus - A sheet conveyer device is provided. The sheet conveyer device includes a sheet tray, a feeder roller, a separator roller, a roller holder to rotatably support the feeder roller and to be coupled with the separator roller, spreading from a separator roller side toward a feeder roller side, to be movable between a first position and a second position, a manipulation arm configured to be coupled to the roller holder and to manipulate the roller holder to move between the first position and the second position, and a driving unit to drive the manipulation arm to move the roller holder. The manipulation arm is coupled to the roller holder at a coupled section, which is in a position between the feeder roller and the separator roller and in a position between two tangent planes which are common to the feed roller and the separator roller. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237280 | SHEET DETECTING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A sheet detecting apparatus including: a sheet detecting member having a plurality of abutment surfaces in a peripheral direction thereof, the sheet detecting member being rotated by a conveyed sheet abutting against one of the plurality of abutment surfaces; a detection portion which operates in association with the sheet detecting member; a sensor which generates a signal based on a position of the detection portion; and an urging portion which generates an urging force for positioning the one of the plurality of abutment surfaces of the sheet detecting member in a waiting position in which the leading edge of a sheet conveyed by a conveying portion abuts against the one of the plurality of abutment surfaces, and thereafter the urging portion switching the urging force to an urging force for positioning, in the waiting position, another one of the plurality of abutment surfaces against which a succeeding sheet abuts. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237281 | COSMETIC DISPENSERS WITH A TRANSLUCENT WALL AND AN OPAQUE HOUSING - A cosmetic dispenser includes a translucent reservoir sandwiched in-between a shelled wall and a solid wall of an opaque housing. The shelled wall provides exposure to a portion of the translucent reservoir, the exposed portion of the translucent reservoir defines a flexible wall. The translucent reservoir being formed of a substantially more supple material than the opaque housing, thereby providing the flexible wall to displace a portion of product stored in the translucent reservoir. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237282 | LOOSE LEAF AND BINDER ASSEMBLY - A loose leaf and binder assembly includes a binder that includes a plurality of spaced apart closed rings extending around a common line, and a connecting rod connected integrally to all of the closed rings at one side of the common line. The closed rings are free of radial slits and are non-openable at junctions of the closed rings and the connecting rod. The binder has a robust reinforced structure and can be manufactured at reduced costs. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237283 | COMPACT QUICK COUPLING MECHANISM FOR TOOL ATTACHMENT - A compact quick coupling apparatus has a wedge movable between closed and open positions. A wedge spring extends in the opening direction from the wedge and urges the wedge in the closing direction. A latch spring urges a safety latch to a latched position to prevent the wedge from moving. A single acting hydraulic cylinder extends through the wedge and extends in the opening direction from the wedge. As the hydraulic cylinder extends it first moves the safety latch to the unlatched position, and then moves the wedge in the opening direction. When pressurized fluid is released from the hydraulic cylinder, it retracts and the wedge moves in the closing in response to the wedge spring until the wedge reaches the closed position, and then the hydraulic cylinder further retracts in response to the latch spring and the safety latch moves to the latched position. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237284 | Boom Fore and Aft Breakaway Assembly - A breakaway assembly may be provided. The breakaway assembly may comprise an upper joint connecting a boom tip to a structure (e.g. a plate.) The breakaway assembly may further comprise a first hinge connecting the boom tip to the structure and a second hinge connecting the boom tip to the structure. In addition, the breakaway assembly may comprise a pressure assembly connected to the boom tip and a lower joint connecting the pressure assembly to the structure. When a force is applied to the boom tip (e.g. from either side, fore or aft), the pressure assembly may be configured to oppose the force and one of the first hinge and the second hinge may be configured to release in response to the boom tip rotating. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237285 | FULL BREAKOUT ARM FOR AUTOMATIC DOORS - A full breakout arm ( | 2012-09-20 |
20120237286 | ROTARY CONNECTOR - A rotary connector includes a stationary housing that includes an outer cylindrical body, and a movable housing that is disposed coaxially with the stationary housing and includes an inner cylindrical body facing the outer cylindrical body. An annular space portion is formed between the inner and outer cylindrical bodies facing each other and flat cables are wound and received in the annular space portion. An internal gear is provided on the outer cylindrical body of the stationary housing. A sun gear is provided on the inner cylindrical body of the movable housing. A planetary gear, which meshes with both the sun gear and the internal gear and is movable along the inner surface of a bottom plate portion of the stationary housing, is provided between the sun gear and the internal gear. The planetary gear and the sun gear include a plurality of void portions in the circumferential direction. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237287 | BUTT-WELDED JOINT AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SAME - A butt-welded joint includes a pair of steel plates, a first weld metal that is formed at a butting portion of the pair of steel plates from a first surface side of the pair of steel plates to a second surface side opposite the first surface side by irradiation of a first high-energy density beam from the first surface side, and a second weld metal that is formed by a second high-energy density beam to cover an end surface of the first surface side of the first weld metal. Here, a width W | 2012-09-20 |
20120237288 | PLUGGABLE MODULES HAVING LATCH MECHANISMS FOR GRIPPING RECEPTACLE ASSEMBLIES - A pluggable module that includes a module housing having mating and trailing ends and a sidewall that extends therebetween. The sidewall extends along a longitudinal axis. The pluggable module further comprises a latch mechanism that is attached to the trailing end of the module housing. The latch mechanism includes a coupling arm that extends along the sidewall toward the mating end and also an operator handle that is operatively connected to the coupling arm at a latch joint. The operator handle projects away from the trailing end of the module housing. The operator handle is configured to be pressed by an actuating force to move the coupling arm into a flexed position. The latch joint moves relative to the module housing when the operator handle is pressed and the coupling arm moves away from the sidewall to the flexed position. The coupling arm returns toward the sidewall when the actuating force is removed. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237289 | FAMILY OF FIXATION DEVICES WITH VARIABLE TAPER - In the prior art, a multitude of families of different drills and lengths exist, varying per diameter of the attachment, contrary to attachments with cylindrical bodies, for which a single tool is sufficient. One of ordinary skill in the art must provide for the appropriate tool and device for each thickness of the element being fastened, which represents a significant cost in tooling, in addition to a loss of the time required to change the tooling. The invention relates to the idea of adapting the rate of taper (C | 2012-09-20 |
20120237290 | JOINT ASSEMBLY WITH CENTERING FLANGE - A joint assembly for coupling a first rotating part and a second rotating part includes a first rotating part comprising a first mounting flange having a first shoulder and a first axis and a second rotating part comprising a second mounting flange having a second shoulder and a second axis, the first flange and the second flange configured to secure the joint assembly. It also includes a cylindrical inner surface disposed in the second shoulder. It further includes a centering flange disposed on the first shoulder, the centering flange having a first length and disposed about the first axis; the centering flange having an axially extending non-contact section and an axially coextending contact section that is disposed within and extends radially outwardly from the noncontact section, the contact section having an annular convexly curved outer surface disposed about the first axis and a second length substantially smaller than the first length. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237291 | Joinery System and Method - An end-lock joinery system allows the formation of one or more elongated members configured to lock end portions with each other. An elongated member can have an end portion that includes, but is not limited to, a protrusion, a shoulder, and a recess, the protrusion and recess each having a width that smoothly tapers from a wider portion to a narrower portion. Various embodiments of the end-lock joinery system can provide different modular configurations to join elongated members and present curved surfaces. The end-lock joinery system can be formed via various methods, including, but not limited to, using a computer numerical control (CNC) machine. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237292 | Loader Coupler with Removable Mount Pins - A loader coupler includes left and right spaced-apart inner rib mounts including inner mount pins connected to a body, and left and right inner locking regions aligned with the left and right inner rib mounts. The coupler includes left and right spaced-apart outer rib mounts including outer mount pins connected to the body, and left and right outer locking regions aligned with the left and right outer rib mounts. The coupler includes a lock system including: (i) left and right first lock plungers that move between locked and unlocked positions relative to the left and right inner locking regions, respectively; and, (ii) left and right second lock plungers that move between locked and unlocked positions relative to the left and right outer locking regions, respectively. The left and right outer mount pins and/or the left and right inner mount pins are removable from the body. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237293 | Apparatus And Method For Disabling A Ground Engaging Traction Device Of A Land Vehicle - An apparatus and a method for disabling a ground engaging traction device of a land vehicle includes at least one penetrator configured to breach the traction device, an articulated strap configured to move the apparatus between a retracted arrangement and an extended arrangement, a mass configured to deploy the apparatus to the extended arrangement, and a retractor configured to retract the apparatus to the retracted arrangement. The penetrators can be arranged in a triangular section which, in turn, can be deployable on any of its three sides. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237294 | ROAD RESTORATION BLOCK - The present invention relates to a road restoration block for covering eliminated pavements during various road constructions conducted by eliminating some of or the entire existing road pavements, and more specifically, to a road restoration block, which can quickly and safely cover the eliminated pavements by providing blocks that are simply carried, disposed, and disassembled with strong coupling power to the upper part of the eliminated pavements so that people and cars may pass even when the constructions are in progress, thereby providing a safe and pleasant construction environment by preventing the traffic congestion caused by the constructions. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237295 | JOINTING STRUCTURE IN VEHICLE TRAVELLING PATH JOINTS AND THE LIKE HAVING EXPANSION FUNCTION AND METHOD OF MOUNTING ELASTIC MEMBER THEREIN - A jointing structure comprising multiple steps provided face to face at the coaxially built traveling path ends with an expansion gap between, multiple elastic members respectively mounted inside the multiple steps, and a joint block mounted on the multiple elastic members across the expansion gap. Multiple supporting blocks and one or more than one intermediate joint block are mounted inside the multiple steps with the joint block between. The multiple supporting blocks, the joint block and the one or more than one intermediate joint block are of concrete. The elastic members are joined together across the expansion gap. The elastic member on one side is fixed to the inside of the step on one side and then subjected to deformation toward the bridge girder axis, and thereafter, the elastic member on the other side is fixed to the inside of the step on the other side. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237296 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GOLF COURSE CART PATH CONSTRUCTION - A system and method for building and renovating golf course paths to provide an alternate golf cart path with a drainage system and durable natural path for golf. A drainage system and a layer of gravel is installed over the entire sub grade of the path. A layer of crumb rubber is placed over the gravel. A pre-polymer is sprayed onto the layer of crumb rubber and gravel to secure it in place. The polymer sprayed is permitted to cure for approximately 24-48 hours. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237297 | RAISED STATE HOLDING MECHANISM OF FLAP GATE FOR BREAKWATER - To make it possible to hold a door body in an immobilized state without oscillating when the raising operation has been completed. A raised state holding mechanism | 2012-09-20 |
20120237298 | UNDER BOTTOM DAM WAVE ENERGY CONVERTER - Disclosed is a double wall dam with a reservoir between the walls with opening doors mounted on the front wall to allow oncoming waves to open the doors and fill the reservoir. A hole with a turbine and generator is mounted in the bottom of the front wall to allow the water in the reservoir to flow out and spin the turbine and generator to create electricity. The dam can collect the entire wave and stack the water in a column that can be higher than the wave. This dam can produce many times the power than other over the top wave energy converters. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237299 | BERM AND METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION THEREOF - A system for reinforcing and facing a wall comprises a plurality of facing baskets and corresponding substantially horizontal reinforcing members, arranged in a plurality of layers. An impermeable membrane is positioned to uninterruptedly span two or more layers. At each of one or more layers, different portions of the impermeable membrane are positioned (a) between the substantially horizontal portion of the facing basket and the bottom surface of the corresponding reinforcing member, (b) around the outer end of the corresponding reinforcing member, (c) along the top surface of the substantially horizontal portion of the facing basket, and (d) angled upward toward an adjacent layer. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237300 | TUBBING LINING HAVING AN INTEGRATED FLEXIBLE ELEMENT - A tubbing lining for a tunnel or shaft is formed from tubbing rings having annular end surfaces, with successively tubbing rings are aligned with each other at annular end surfaces forming an annular joint. Each tubbing ring is composed of successive circumferentially arranged tubbing segments which are butt-joined. A deformable flexible element having an outer cross-sectional contour is arranged in at least one butt joint, with the cross-sectional contour parallel to the butt joint matching outer contours of the end faces such that the flexible element completely covers at least one abutting end face. The tubbing segments in conjunction with the flexible element form a prefabricated element formed of a steel reinforcing framework encased in concrete to which the flexible element is connected in a force-locked manner. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237301 | OFFSHORE VESSEL FOR LAYING A PIPELINE ON THE SEABED, AND A METHOD FOR HANDLING PIPE SECTIONS - An offshore pipelaying vessel for laying a pipeline on a seabed includes a pipeline-laying installation having a preassembly line; an inspection station; an assembly line with a pipeline assembly station to assemble a pipeline to be launched from the vessel by joining multi and/or single length pipe sections end to end; and a conveyor system for transporting multi and single length pipe sections, said conveyor system comprising an entry-and-exit location, wherein the conveyor system is configured to allow transportation of multi and/or single length pipe sections at least along the following routes: directly from the entry-and-exit location to the assembly line; indirectly from the entry-and-exit location to the assembly line via the preassembly line and said inspection station; and from the entry-and-exit location to the preassembly line and said inspection station, and after passing said inspection station directly to the entry-and-exit location. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237302 | PRESSURE GAUGE ASSEMBLY FOR A RAILCAR AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLING THE SAME - A pressure gauge assembly for use with a railway hopper car is provided. The railway hopper car includes a railcar and a product unloading system that is attached to the railcar. The railcar includes sidewalls, end walls, and at least one bottom wall for defining an interior volume. The product unloading system includes an inlet manifold for channeling pressurized fluid to the interior volume of the railcar, and an outlet manifold for channeling the pressurized fluid to the product unloading system for discharging materials from the railcar. The pressure gauge assembly includes a housing that is attached to the railcar. A first pressure gauge is positioned within the housing. The first pressure gauge is configured to measure a differential pressure between the interior volume of the railcar and the product unloading system. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237303 | Device of a Bulk Ship for Sand Transport and Fluidized Unloading - A device of a bulk ship for sand transport and fluidized unloading, wherein an unloading pipe communicates with at least one of the holds of the bulk ship, and wherein the unloading pipe is connected to a submerged pipe connector. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237304 | COAL FLOW SPLITTERS AND DISTRIBUTOR DEVICES - A flow splitter for distributing solid particles flowing in a fluid through a piping system includes a divider housing. The divider housing has an inlet configured to connect to an upstream pipe and has a plurality of outlets, each outlet being configured to connect to a respective downstream pipe. A divider body is mounted within the divider housing. A plurality of divider vanes are included, each extending from the divider body to the divider housing. The divider housing, divider body, and divider vanes are configured and adapted to reduce non-uniformity in particle concentration from the inlet and to supply a substantially equal particle flow to each outlet. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237305 | Multi-Functional Cutting Tool and Tool Holder Therefor - A multi-functional cutting tool has a first cutting head, a second cutting head positioned opposite to the first cutting head, a shank formed between the first cutting head and the second cutting head, and a chip discharge portion extending from the first cutting head to the second cutting head by way of the shank. The first cutting head has 180 degrees rotational symmetry with the second cutting head about an axis, which passes through the longitudinal center of the cutting tool and is perpendicular to the central axis of the cutting tool. The chip discharge portion comprises a helical portion formed helically with respect to the central axis of the cutting tool such that the chip discharge portion is not positioned on the portion, where a tool holder clamps the cutting tool and a cutting load is concentrated during the cutting process. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237306 | HOLE SAW - A hole saw that includes a saw body including a circular cutting edge having a cutting edge diameter, and the saw body is coupled to a guide member for rotation with the guide member. A pilot is coupled to the guide member for movement relative to the guide member and the saw body, and the pilot includes an outer guide surface having a diameter that increases in a direction from a second end portion of the guide member toward a first end portion of the guide member. The pilot is coupled to the guide member such that at least a portion of the outer guide surface extends past the circular cutting edge of the saw body in a direction from the first end portion of the guide member toward the second end portion of the guide member. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237307 | BORING TOOL - Provided is a boring tool which not only is lightweight but also has both abrasion resistance and high stiffness. More specifically, provided is a boring tool wherein a shaft-like tool body ( | 2012-09-20 |
20120237308 | TAPPING UNIT WITH PROTECTION MEANS - A tapping unit ( | 2012-09-20 |
20120237309 | TOOL HOLDER USING SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY AND TOOL HOLDING METHOD - A tool holder using a shape memory alloy and a tool holding method are provided. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237310 | SYSTEM AND DEVICE FOR HOLDING A WORK PIECE TO BE MACHINED BY A ROUTER AND USE THEREOF - A holding device and method for engaging a work piece to route an end thereof. The device includes parallel first and second side plates and first and second clamping plates; where the clamping plates are positioned between the side plates. A connector member connects all the plates together. An activator assembly is engaged with the plates and, in a first instance, moves the clamping plates laterally toward each other and in a second instance moves them laterally away from each other. When moved toward each other, each clamping plate contacts one of the elongated sides of the work piece and the work piece is thereby clamped between the clamping plates. A clamping element extends downwardly from the connector member to contact the work piece. The holding device is usable in two different orientations to enable routing of the end face or second face of the work piece. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237311 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THERMAL CONTROL WITHIN A MACHINING PROCESS - Method and apparatus for mixing within a rotary union of a computer numerical control machine a constant pressure gas with a relatively higher-pressure, lower-temperature dense fluid to produce a dense isobaric fluid deliverable through a rotating tool without gelling or solidifying therein. The constant pressure gas may include carbon dioxide, nitrogen, air or mixtures thereof. The dense fluid preferably includes liquid carbon dioxide at or above its triple point. The liquid carbon dioxide and isobaric gas are independently fed to the rotary union. When mixed, a pressurized flowing carbon dioxide machining fluid composition is formed exhibiting a temperature between about 20° F. and 70° F. at pressures between 75 psi and 1,000 psi. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237312 | TORQUE-LIMITING NUT ASSEMBLY - A torque-limiting nut assembly, in a preferred form, includes an inner nut engaged with a shaft. A resilient torque member and a rigid torque member are positioned between the inner nut and an outer nut, with each being rotatably fixed to one of the nuts. Rotating the outer nut relative to the inner nut compresses the resilient torque member with the rigid torque member, moving the nuts along the shaft in a first axial direction until the resilient torque member is compressed out of engagement with the rigid torque member. Rotating the outer nut in the opposite direction engages the resilient and rigid torque members thereby urging the nuts in the opposite direction. The torque-limiting nut assembly provides a convenient device to apply the correct amount of application-specific torque. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237313 | FIXING ELEMENT - The invention relates to a fixing element ( | 2012-09-20 |
20120237314 | FASTENER RETAINER - A fastener retainer is provided capable of retaining a fastener to a part prior to and during assembly. A first portion engages a fastener flange while leaving a fastener head exposed for assembly tool access. A second portion has flanges that engage the edges of the part. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237315 | FLOATING FASTENER - A floating fastener includes a mounting socket defining therein an annular locating groove, a locking member having a head, a shank and a retaining portion located on the periphery of the shank, a spring member sleeved onto the shank of the locking member and stopped between the head of the locking member and a shoulder in the mounting socket, a cap member affixed to the head of the locking member and axially slidable coupled to the mounting socket, and a locating ring mounted in the annular locating groove of the mounting socket for engagement with the retaining portion of the locking member to prohibit the locking member from floating when bonding the mounting socket to a predetermined metal plate member. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237316 | FLOATING FASTENER - A floating fastener includes a mounting socket bonded to a first plate member, a locking member axially movably mounted in the mounting socket and fastenable to a second plate member to lock the first plate member to the second plate member, a first locating ring mounted in the mounting socket around a plain stem of the locking member and adapted for securing a shoulder of the locking member to hold the locking member in a received position temporarily, a spring member mounted around the locking member in the mounting socket and stopped between a head of the locking member and the first locating ring to support the locking member in a floating position, and a second locating ring mounted in the mounting socket to prohibit the locking member from falling out of the mounting socket. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237317 | THREADED SLEEVES - A threaded metal sleeve includes a core and a thread provided on the outside of the core, with the thread profile having a flank angle within the range from 25° to 35°. The pitch (h) of the thread is 0.1-fold to 0.4-fold of the outer diameter of the threaded sleeve, and the thread depth of the thread is 0.02-fold to 0.2-fold of the outer diameter of the threaded sleeve. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237318 | SCREW FOR SEALING EXTRUDED TAPPED HOLE IN METALLIC SHEET - A casing includes a metallic sheet and a screw. The metallic sheet is formed with an extruded tapped hole surrounded by an arcuate portion in the metallic sheet and a sleeve integrally with and depending from the arcuate portion. The sleeve has internal threads. On the other hand, the screw is configured to seal the extruded tapped hole of the metallic sheet. The screw has a threaded section configured to be mated with the internal threads of the sleeve of the metallic sheet, and a flat head capable of abutting against the arcuate portion and sitting flush with the metallic sheet when the screw is placed in the extruded tapped hole of the metallic sheet. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237319 | Robotic Lift Device with Human Interface Operation - An operator controllable robotic device is disclosed. The robotic device comprises a support member, an upper robotic arm, a lower robotic arm, and a control arm. The upper robotic arm is coupled to the support member and has rotational movement in at least one degree of freedom relative to the support member. The lower robotic arm is coupled to the upper robotic arm and has rotational movement in at least one degree of freedom relative to the upper robotic arm. The control arm allows an operator to control the robotic device. The control arm is coupled to the upper robotic arm and has rotational movement in at least one degree of freedom relative to the upper robotic arm. The control arm allows a movement of the operator to control a movement of at least one of the upper robotic arm and the lower robotic arm. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237320 | SUBSTRATE TREATING APPARATUS - A substrate treating apparatus includes a pod storage unit | 2012-09-20 |
20120237321 | LIBRARY APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A library apparatus includes a housing that has a magazine loading opening, the magazine storing a plurality of cartridges; a reader that reads an identifier provided on each cartridge stored in the magazine, the reader reading the identifiers while the magazine is being inserted through the magazine loading opening and pulled to a preset loading completion position; a transportation mechanism that is movable, the transportation mechanism including a removal mechanism that selectively removes one of the cartridges, and a connection member to be connected to the magazine inserted; and a controller that controls the transportation mechanism, wherein the transportation mechanism transports the removed cartridge to a cartridge processing unit, wherein the controller controls the transportation mechanism to stand by on the magazine loading opening side when the magazine is not loaded, and pull the magazine to the loading completion position when the controller detects that the magazine is inserted. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237322 | ACTIVE CHOKING FUNNEL FOR A GRAIN SPREADER - A grain spreader with an active choking funnel is described. The grain spreader includes an upper funnel assembly to receive grain. A choking funnel assembly is in a spring loaded engagement with the upper funnel assembly. The upper funnel assembly directs the grain to the choking funnel assembly. A spreader pan or a grain distributor is positioned beneath the choking funnel assembly. The choking funnel assembly spreads the grain on the spreader pan or the grain distributor. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237323 | LID OPENING AND CLOSING DEVICE - A lid opening and closing device for a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus having a partition wall configured to divide a carrier conveying region and a substrate conveying region, the partition wall having a conveying gateway with an edge portion, includes an exhaust port configured to discharge therethrough an atmospheric gas from a closed space formed between a carrier making contact with the edge portion of the conveying gateway and an opening/closing door, and a purge gas injecting part provided in the opening/closing door. The purge gas injecting part is configured to enter the internal space of a carrier lid through an opening formed on the front surface of the carrier lid, to inject a purge gas into the internal space of the carrier lid and to discharge an atmospheric gas existing in the internal space of the carrier lid into the closed space through another opening of the carrier lid. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237324 | Lifting and transferring apparatus and method - A lifting and transferring apparatus and method are disclosed. In some embodiments, the apparatus may be realized as a power lift and transfer system which has the capability of attaching to, lifting, and carrying a mobility device for a person with a disability in conjunction with a wide variety of vehicles. The unique design of the apparatus eliminates a typical platform structure that is often incorporated by other devices and substitutes an interlocking mechanism which comprises a docking device on the personal mobility device and a mated receiver on the apparatus, thus saving significant weight and bulk. A unique swivel swing-away design incorporates a swing away hinge in a space between a hitch and the apparatus instead of in a space between the apparatus and the mobility device and platform. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237325 | HARVESTER GRAIN TANK HAVING ACTIVE CONVEYING SYSTEM - A grain tank includes a generally flat bottom that is oriented at a position that is less than the angle of repose of the grain. A conveyor mechanism conveys grain along the bottom to a cross auger for unloading. One or more sensors may be placed in the grain tank to determine a state of the grain to further determine if the conveyor mechanism should be operated to unload grain from the grain tank. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237326 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRANSFERRING A WHEELED LOAD INTO A TRANSPORT VEHICLE - A simple, adjustable lift system to load a cot bearing a patient into and out of an ambulance and a method of transferring a load on a transport into a vehicle is provided. More specifically, the lift system provides a pair of rails that may be adjusted to accommodate any cot currently in use by an ambulance. The rail system is extendable and is operated by a linear actuator to couple to a cot or other transport and lift the cot or other transport to a height from which the cot may be laterally inserted into the ambulance without undue strain on the EMT, firefighter, or other user. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237327 | FULLY AUTOMATIC COUPLER FOR EXCAVATOR ARM - A coupler for receiving first and second pins of an accessory. A first latching mechanism is associated with a first jaw, having an arm connected to and extending away from a latching member thereof, and a second latching mechanism is associated with a second jaw, the first and second latching mechanisms adapted to latch the first and second pins of an accessory in or on the first jaw and the second jaw, respectively. The second latching mechanism is powered for movement between a latching position and a non-latching position. The first latching mechanism is connected to, or connectable with, the second latching mechanism to allow operation of the second latching mechanism selectively to operate the first latching mechanism between its own latching and non-latching positions by means of a groove or flange or finger provided on the second latching mechanism. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237328 | DEVICE FOR ALIGNMENT OF TWO SUBSTRATES - Device and method for alignment of a first contact surface of a first substrate with a second contact surface of a second substrate which can be held on a second platform. The device includes first X-Y positions of first alignment keys located along the first contact surface, and second X-Y positions of second alignment keys which correspond to the first alignment keys and which are located along the second contact surface, wherein the first contact surface can be aligned based on the first X-Y positions in the first alignment position and the second contact surface can be aligned based on the second X-Y positions in the second alignment position. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237329 | Thin Wafer Gripper Using High Pressure Air - The invention concerns thin wafer handling for solar silicone wafers or other semiconductor thin wafer handling applications, especially after back grind process. The invention performs high speed, mass wafer transfer between varying pitch carriers. Transfers are between various types of wafer carriers as required (plastic, Teflon, PEEK, SiC, etc.). | 2012-09-20 |
20120237330 | SHELF ALIGNING APPARATUS - According to one embodiment of the present invention, a shelf organizing apparatus is provided. According to this embodiment, the shelf aligning apparatus comprises a flat elongated arm unit having a handle at one end and a hinge at the other end. A trigger is attached to the handle and a flat paddle is attached to the hinge. A cable connects the trigger to the paddle such that in a first position of the trigger, the paddle is aligned in the plane of the arm unit and in a second position of the trigger, the paddle is disposed at an angle with respect to the plane of the arm unit. The shelf organizing apparatus may be used by inserting in between rows of goods when in the first position. Then, with the shelf organizing apparatus in the second position, it may be used to line up the goods in an even row and to pull the row of goods towards the front of the shelf. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237331 | Portable Unloading Dock - A portable unloading dock including a lower frame, a first post member, a second post member, a support linkage, a curved ramp, one or more power generators, one or more first wheel apparatus, and one or more second wheel apparatus each independently mechanically coupled to the second ramp frame member. The portable unloading dock is used to transfer one or more wheeled objects from a first elevation to a second elevation. A method of using the portable unloading dock is also provided. | 2012-09-20 |
20120237332 | FLUID-COOLING DEVICE FOR A TURBINE ENGINE PROPULSIVE UNIT - The invention relates to a fluid cooling device ( | 2012-09-20 |
20120237333 | COOLED GAS TURBINE ENGINE COMPONENT - A gas turbine engine component is disclosed having a cooling fluid passageway that provides relatively cool fluid to a surface of the gas turbine engine component. The cooling fluid passageway can be shaped in cross section to reduce a stress present in the gas turbine engine component. One form of the shape is non-circular. The gas turbine engine component can be formed such that an overhanging material otherwise formed by the intersection of a cooling fluid passageway and a surface of the gas turbine engine component is absent. The gas turbine engine component can also have a depression formed near the surface of the gas turbine engine component such that the cooling fluid passageway exits into an upstream portion and a downstream portion of the depression. | 2012-09-20 |