40th week of 2013 patent applcation highlights part 46 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20130259464 | OPTICAL MECHANISM WITH INDEXING STAGE WITH AT LEAST ONE FIXED DIAMETER APODIZED APERTURE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME - An optical mechanism for a camera having a camera aperture includes an indexing stage movable between at least two distinct positions. At least a first fixed diameter apodized aperture is mounted on the stage and configured to be aligned with the camera aperture in one of the distinct positions of the indexing stage, and wherein the first fixed diameter apodized aperture is not aligned with the camera aperture in the other of the distinct positions of the indexing stage. The stage can include multiple fixed diameter apodized apertures of distinct effective diameters each of which can be selectively aligned with the camera aperture. The mechanism includes an actuator for moving the stage between each of said distinct positions. Methods for mass producing the fixed diameter apodized aperture are disclosed using dye diffusion into optical elements via various methods, and various casting and molding formation techniques. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259465 | ETHERNET PRIVATE LOCAL AREA NETWORK SYSTEMS AND METHODS - The present disclosure provides hybrid packet-optical private network systems and methods for a private and dedicated multi-point Ethernet Private Local Area Network (EPLAN). The network systems and methods include a Layer 1 infrastructure service with the inclusion of reserved, dedicated packet switch capacity upon which clients can build their personal, private packet networks. In the systems and methods described herein, packet networking methods are not used to partition the isolated LAN connectivity. Instead, dedicated Ethernet Private LANs (EPLs) are defined between dedicated virtual switching instances (VSIs) that are defined, as necessary, within larger packet-optical switches. Each VSI is partitioned from the remainder of its packet switch fabric as a dedicated, private resource for a specific EPLAN. A packet network is then built by the customer on top of the private EPLAN bandwidth and operated as an isolated, private network with no influence by other carrier's network resources. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259466 | ARRANGEMENT AT A REMOTE NODE, A REMOTE NODE, A CENTRAL OFFICE AND RESPECTIVE METHODS THEREIN FOR SUPERVISION OF A WAVELENGTH DIVISION MULTIPLEXED PASSIVE OPTICAL NETWORK - An arrangement at a Remote Node, a Remote Node, a Central Office, a WDM-PON and a method in an arrangement at a Remote Node, and a method in a Central Office are provided for supervision of the WDM-PON. The arrangement comprises at least one filter connected to the feeder fibre links and adapted to separate a data signal and an original OTDR signal received on either of the feeder fibre links. Further, the arrangement comprises a first splitter adapted to receive, from the at least one filter, the original OTDR signal, to split the original OTDR signal into a plurality of OTDR sub-signals and to output, to an N*M AWG, the plurality of OTDR sub-signals. The at least one filter is further adapted to output the original OTDR signal to the first splitter and to output the data signal to the AWG, thereby enabling supervision of the WDM-PON. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259467 | COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK - A passive optical network is provided which uses existing GPON OAM functionality and standard routing protocol messages to solve the downstream routing problem between an access service provider and one or more other communication provider networks. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259468 | OPTICAL LINE TERMINAL AND OPTICAL NETWORK UNIT - An optical line terminal which includes an observing unit that observes information of any one or all of an arrival interval of frames, an instantaneous bandwidth under use of a flow, a queue length of a queue temporarily storing the frames, and a traffic type, and a stop determining unit that dynamically determines a sleep time to be a period in which a sleep state where partial functions of the ONU are stopped is maintained, on the basis of the information obtained by the observing unit. The ONU is entered into a sleep state, immediately after communication ends, after a predetermined waiting time passes from when the communication ends, or after a waiting time determined on the basis of the information passes from when the communication ends. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259469 | Apparatus And Method For Testing Fibers In A PON - A manner of providing for testing of access fibers in a PON (passive optical network) using OTDR (optical time-domain reflectometry). According to the invention, a PON includes an optical splitter module having one or more optical couplers that combines downstream light from 1×N optical splitter directing the output of an OLT (optical line terminal) and a cyclic AWG (arrayed waveguide grating) for transmission toward one or more ONUs (optical network units). The splitter module is preferably formed on a single semiconductor chip, such as a PIC (photonic integrated circuit) chip and may reside in an outside plant of the PON. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259470 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TESTING OPTICAL FIBER AND PASSIVE OPTICAL NETWORK SYSTEM - A method for testing an optical fiber includes: receiving a test optical signal from an optical fiber network, and converting the test optical signal into a test current signal; receiving, by a transimpedance amplifier, the test current signal by using a first working mode and outputting a first test voltage signal; acquiring a swing of the first test voltage signal, and determining whether the swing of the first test voltage signal meets a preset condition; and receiving, by the transimpedance amplifier, the test current signal by using a second working mode and outputting a second test voltage signal when the swing of the first test voltage signal meets the preset condition, where an upper limit and a lower limit of a receiver dynamic range when the transimpedance amplifier works in the first working mode are different from those when the transimpedance amplifier works in the second working mode. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259471 | METHOD, SYSTEM, AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING OPTICAL POWER OF PASSIVE OPTICAL NETWORK - The present invention disclose an apparatus for detecting an optical power of a passive optical network, where the apparatus includes: a detecting module is configured to measure an RSSI of a received optical signal; and a controller is configured to output the RSSI function trigger signal to the detecting module, selectively receive, an RSSI measurement result output by an RSSI detection branch, and calculate optical power information of the optical signal according to the RSSI measurement result. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259472 | METHOD AND NETWORK NODE FOR CONFIGURING A NETWORK FOR OPTIMIZED TRANSPORT OF PACKET TRAFFIC - In order to configure a network for optimized transport of packet data traffic, a first packet node determines whether a traffic volume to be forwarded to a remote second packet node exceeds a predefined bypass threshold. If that is the case, the first packet node sends a bypass request towards the remote second packet node. An intermediate third packet node processes the request and determines, whether it locally has an interfering second bypass request and in this case, determines which of the two requests has a higher weight. The bypass request or, in case of an interfering second bypass request, the one with the higher weight, is then forwarded to the remote second packet node. Upon receipt thereof, the second packet node determines whether the received bypass request can be served. It that is the case, the bypass will be executed by sending a trigger to a service layer network to establish a bypass connection in accordance with the bypass request. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259473 | OPTICAL TRANSMISSION APPARATUS - In an optical transmission apparatus, a path information table stores paths set in a network and wavelength channel information on the paths. A controller searches for an apparatus which performs route switching of paths using a plurality of grouped wavelength channels, based on fault information on the network detected by the optical transmission apparatus, fault information on the network detected by other optical transmission apparatus, and the paths and wavelength channel information on the paths stored in the path information table. When determining that the number of operating paths is maximized by performing the route switching of the paths in the optical transmission apparatus, the controller performs the route switching of the paths. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259474 | TRANSPONDER AGGREGATOR-BASED OPTICAL LOOPBACK IN A MD-ROADM - The present principles are directed to a transponder aggregator-based optical loopback in a multi-degree colorless, directionless, contention-less, reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer. The multiplexer includes a reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer section for performing connect operations for wavelength division multiplexing signals among all degrees. The section has a plurality of subsections. Each of the subsections corresponds to a respective one of the degrees and has an optical separator at an input side and an optical combiner at an output side. The multiplexer further includes a transponder aggregator section having a split-and-select switch-based transponder aggregator. The multiplexer also includes an optical line loopback having a connection path between the optical separator at the input side and the optical combiner at the output side of at least one of the subsections. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259475 | RECONFIGURABLE BRANCHING UNIT FOR SUBMARINE OPTICAL COMMUNICATION NETWORKS - Methods and systems for optical communication in a submarine network are provided. An input signal is received from a terminal at a reconfigurable branching unit (BU), and the input signal is split into at least two parts, with one part being associated with one or more trunk terminals and another part being associated with one or more branch terminals. Each of one or more spectrum channels are selected and individually switched to one of a plurality of paths using at least one wavelength selective switch (WSS), with the at least one WSS being configured to transmit the one or more spectrum channels to their respective target output port and to combine signals switched to a specific port into a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) signal. Individual spectrum channels are filtered out using at least one wavelength blocker (WB). | 2013-10-03 |
20130259476 | TRANSMISSION METHOD AND NODE DEVICE - A transmission method for transmitting a lower-speed signal transmission frame using a node device in a network by accommodating the lower-speed signal transmission frame into time slots of a higher-speed signal transmission frame includes supplying, when a number of the time slots accommodating the lower-speed signal transmission frame is to be increased, the time slots to input numbers of a cross-connection part of the node device in accordance with an order of time slot numbers of the time slots; and re-establishing cross-connections where the input numbers are cross-connected to corresponding output numbers of the cross-connection part so that the cross-connections are prevented from crossing each other, wherein the input numbers input the time slots and the output numbers output the time slots. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259477 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REDUCING THE RESOURCE UTILIZATION OF SWITCH FABRIC IN A SONET/SDH MULTIPLEXER BY SWITCHING DATA ON A TU LEVEL - The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for reducing the resource utilization of the switching fabric in a SONET/SDH multiplexer by switching data on a TU level instead of byte or column level. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259478 | OPTICAL TRANSMITTER, OPTICAL RECEIVER, AND OPTICAL TRANSMISSION METHOD - There is provided an optical transmitter including: a demultiplexer configured to divide a data frame of a transmission signal into subframes with a predetermined length so as to form the subframes in a plurality of signal lanes; an index generator configured to generate an index for indicating an order of the signal lanes; a lane rearrangement unit configured to rearrange the order of the signal lanes according to the index; a carrier controller configured to generate a frequency offset of a carrier corresponding to the index; a mapping unit configured to map the transmission signal in the plurality of signal lanes with the rearranged order to the transmission signal with a phase corresponding to the frequency offset; and a transmitting unit configured to optically modulate the mapped transmission signal so as to transmit the modulated transmission signal. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259479 | OPTICAL TRANSCEIVING APPARATUS, OPTICAL TRANSMITTING METHOD, AND OPTICAL TRANSMITTING DEVICE - An optical transceiving apparatus includes an optical transmitting device performing polarization multiplexing on and transmitting as polarization multiplexed signal light, a first signal light of a predetermined polarization direction and a second signal light of a polarization direction different from the predetermined polarization direction; an optical receiving device receiving the signal light transmitted from the optical transmitting device through an optical transmission path; an acquiring unit acquiring information indicative of magnitude relation of intensity between the first signal light and the second signal light included in the signal light received by the optical receiving device; and a control unit controlling the magnitude relation of intensity between the first signal light and the second signal light included in the signal light output from the optical transmitting device, to be opposite to the magnitude relation indicated by the information acquired by the acquiring unit. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259480 | OPTICAL TRANSMISSION APPARATUS - An optical transmission apparatus includes transmitters configured to correspond to the polarization multiplexing optical signals, each of at least two of the transmitters including a first computing unit that computes, based on information regarding an optical transmission line including a plurality of spans and a polarization multiplexing optical signal, data waveform information regarding the transmitter and transmits the data waveform information to at least one another transmitter provided for at least one another polarization multiplexing optical signal, and a second computing unit that receives data waveform information from the at least one another transmitter provided for the at least one another polarization multiplexing optical signal and pre-equalizes or reduces cross phase modulation occurring in the optical transmission line of a transmission signal based on the data waveform information received from the at least one another transmitter provided for the at least one another polarization multiplexing optical signal. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259481 | CLIENT SIGNAL MAPPING CIRCUIT AND MAPPING METHOD - A client signal mapping circuit for accommodating a client signal in a transmission frame, including: a buffer unit configured to temporarily store the client signal; a buffer used amount monitoring unit configured to report a used amount of the buffer unit; a stuff processing determination unit configured to compare the used amount of the buffer unit with a predetermined reference value, and a pseudo random sequence signal and the comparison result; an overhead insertion unit configured to add an overhead to the client signal read from the buffer unit to form a transmission frame; and a reading control unit configured to perform control for reading the client signal from the buffer unit based on determination by the stuff processing determination unit. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259482 | OPTICAL NETWORK UNIT REGISTRATION METHOD - In a network that includes one or a plurality of optical line terminals, a plurality of branches, and an optical routing unit, the optical network unit registration method includes a first process in which the optical line terminals transmit a discovery gate to the optical network units, and a second process in which, in response to the discovery gate, an unregistered optical network unit transmits a register request to a separate optical line terminal from the terminal that transmitted the discovery gate. A discovery window is provided in the optical line terminal that receives the register request. This optical line terminal receives the register request in the discovery window. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259483 | RECEIVERS AND TRANSCEIVERS FOR OPTICAL MULTIBUS SYSTEMS - This disclosure is directed to optical-to-electrical receiver and transceiver integrated circuits that can be used to send and receive multiple optical signal data streams using at least one optical bus. In one aspect, a fan-in integrated circuit of a node includes an arbiter/multiplexer, and at least one receiver. Each receiver is electronically connected to the arbiter/multiplexer. Each receiver receives at least one optical signal over an optical broadcast bus and converts the optical signals into a data stream encoded in electronic signals. The arbiter/multiplexer selects one receiver at a time to send an electronic signal to the arbiter/multiplexer and outputs the electronic signal to the node for processing. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259484 | DATA TRANSMISSION APPARATUS AND DATA TRANSMISSION METHOD - A data transmission device where a low-speed signal transmission frame is included in time slots of a high-speed signal transmission frame and a number of the time slots to include the low-speed signal transmission frame is variable, wherein the time slots have respective time slot numbers, includes a storage unit storing signal data of the high-speed signal transmission frame corresponding to the number of the time slots based on a time slot number basis, wherein the signal data of the high-speed signal transmission frame are supplied on the time slot number basis; and a selection and output unit selecting and sequentially outputting the signal data on the time slot number basis, wherein the signal data have been stored in accordance with the number of the time slots. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259485 | DISTORTION COMPENSATION CIRCUIT INCLUDING TUNABLE PHASE PATH - A distortion compensation circuit compensates for distortion generated by one or more non-linear elements such as a laser device and/or an optical fiber and may include a primary signal path for carrying an input signal and a secondary signal paths for generating distortion. The distortion compensation circuit may also include a controllable phase inverters and a tunable filter. For example, the secondary signal path may include a distortion generator to produce distortion products from the input signal and a signal controlled phase inverter that inverts the phase of the distortion products and a tunable filter that adjusts the phase of the frequency dependent distortion. The phase inversion and tunable filter may be controlled in response to control signals generated based on one or more parameters such as, for example, laser power, input RF channel loading, temperature, and fiber length. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259486 | WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A wireless communication device includes a first antenna, a second antenna, a first light sensor adjacent to the first antenna, a second light sensor adjacent to the second antenna, a controller, and a magnetic member movably located between the first antenna and the second antenna. When one of the first and second antennas in a state of receiving/transmitting wireless signals is covered by a user's hand, the nearby light sensor sends a pulse signal to the controller. The controller receiving the pulse signal controls the first and second antennas to change their magnetic polarity, enabling the magnetic member to be separated from one of the first and second antennas and attached to the another one, thereby choosing one of the first and second antennas, or a combination of one of the two antennas and the magnetic member to receive/transmit the wireless signals. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259487 | DIGITAL OPTICAL COHERENT TRANSMISSION DEVICE - An optical signal is converted into an electric signal by an O/E converter on the reception side, and converted into a digital signal by an analog/digital conversion unit. In a capture unit A at the input stage of the digital signal processing unit at the next stage, the constellation of a signal output from an analog/digital conversion unit is acquired for each polarization. According to the constellation information, the amplitude value of the electric signal input to the analog/digital conversion unit is corrected so that the value is optimum. Also, the capture unit B acquires the constellation on the signal after the demodulation by the digital signal processing. According to the constellation information, the amplitude of the I and Q signals and the skew between the I and Q signals are corrected. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259488 | REACTIVE METAL OPTICAL SECURITY DEVICE AND METHODS OF FABRICATION AND USE - A reactive metal optical security device for implementation in an optical network and/or system to provide a mechanism for disrupting the optical network and/or system. The security device includes a mirror comprising a reactive metal stack and configured to reflect an optical signal and receive an electrical signal. The security device further includes a semiconductor chip configured to send the electrical signal to the mirror. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259489 | MEMORY EXPANDING DEVICE, PORTABLE MOBILE DEVICE AND PORTABLE MOBILE SYSTEM USING THE SAME - A memory expanding device for expanding a main memory of an external device connected to the memory expanding device through an optical interface. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259490 | PROCESSING DATA IN A COHERENT OPTICAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - This disclosure describes techniques to sample electrical data streams in coherent receivers. For instance, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) samples the received electrical data stream at a sampling rate that is nominally twice or greater than twice the symbol rate of the electrical data stream that the ADC receives. A digital filter receives the digital data stream from the ADC, and digitally filters the digital data streams to output a filtered digital electrical data stream at an effective sampling rate that is less than the sampling rate and less than twice the symbol rate, and greater than or equal to the symbol rate. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259491 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPROVING RECEIVER SENSITIVITY OF A DD-OFDM SYSTEM WITHOUT USING FREQUENCY GUARD BAND - A system and method for improving receiver sensitivity of an DD-OFDM system without using frequency guard band. The method having: interleaving input data to the DD-OFDM system to generate interleaved data; encoding the input data with a first recursive systematic convolutional code to generate a first recursive systematic convolutional encoded data; encoding the interleaved data with a second recursive systematic convolutional code to generate a second recursive systematic convolutional encoded data; puncturing the first recursive systematic convolutional encoded data and the second recursive systematic convolutional encoded data to generate a parity sequence; and combining the input data with the parity sequence to generate coded DD-OFDM data; wherein the parity sequence is generated by using different puncturing rates for different OFDM subcarriers, so as to obtain higher spectral efficiency. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259492 | REDUCING PROCESSING BIAS IN A SOFT FORWARD ERROR CORRECTION (FEC) DECODER - A system is configured to receive a word that includes a group of samples; randomly select a subset of the samples; identify first samples, from the subset, with a lowest level of reliability; select another subset of the samples; identify second samples, from the other subset, with a lowest level of reliability; and create a merged subset based on selected first samples and selected second samples. The system is also configured to select a further subset of the samples; identify third samples, from the further subset, with a lowest level of reliability; identify fourth samples, from the merged subset, associated with a lowest level of reliability; create another merged subset based on a greater probability that fourth samples than third samples are included in the other merged subset; and generate another word based a sample from the other merged subset; and process the word using the other word. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259493 | SIGNAL FRAMING IN A COHERENT OPTICAL RECEIVER - A method and system for a estimating a most likely location of a periodic SYNC burst within an optical signal received through an optical communications system. A cross-correlation is calculated between a multi-bit digital signal derived from the optical signal and a known symbol sequence of the SYNC burst. The cross-correlation is processed in at least one sub-block to identify a candidate sub-block in which the SYNC burst is most likely located. The candidate sub-block is then further analysed to estimate a location of the SYCN burst. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259494 | PRINTING APPARATUS - A printing apparatus to print an image on a sheet is provided. The printing apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a contiguous member arranged to contact the photosensitive member, and a protection sheet configured to protect the photosensitive member from the contiguous member. The protection sheet is arranged in an intervening position between the photosensitive member and the contiguous member but configured to be removed from the intervening position by a user before using the printing apparatus. The protection sheet interferes with at least one of the user's behavior conducted on the printing apparatus in order to use the printing apparatus and a detecting behavior of a sensor which is arranged in the printing apparatus to detect a condition of the printing apparatus. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259495 | DEVELOPER STORAGE BODY, DEVELOPER COLLECTING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developer storage body includes a developer storage portion configured to store a developer. The developer storage portion has a first end portion and a second end portion opposite to each other. A developer ejecting portion is provided in the developer storage portion is located closer to the first end portion than to the second end portion. The developer ejecting portion is configured to eject the developer into the developer storage portion. The developer storage body further includes a developer pushing portion configured to push the developer ejected into the developer storage portion from the developer ejecting portion toward the second end portion. A developer detecting portion is provided in the developer storage portion and is located closer to the second end portion than to the first end portion. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259496 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus calculates a positional deviation in the main and sub-scanning directions for each color by forming registration patterns in two arrays along a sub-scanning direction on an image carrier. Each registration pattern in one array is paired with an identical registration pattern in the other array. A first sensor has: a light-emitting element irradiating one registration pattern in a pair; a photodetector for regular reflection light; and a photodetector for diffuse reflection light. A second sensor has: a light-emitting element irradiating the other one in the pair; and a photodetector for regular reflection light. The relative positions of a pair of registration patters calculated using the respective sensors are corrected so as to reduce the positional deviation between the calculated positions by the amount of offset deviation estimated occur between positions detected by the respective sensors when the registration patterns are without positional deviation. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259497 | IMAGE FORMATION APPARATUS AND METHOD OF ADJUSTING DEVELOPER DISCARD AMOUNT FOR THE SAME - An image formation apparatus includes an exposure unit to form an electrostatic latent image with image dots on a rotatable image carrier by exposing the image carrier to irradiation light, a development unit to form a developer image by attaching a developer to the electrostatic latent image, a voltage supply unit to supply the development unit with a development voltage, a cleaning unit to clean up the developer left on the image carrier after the development, and a developer discard amount controller to control an amount of the developer to be forcibly attached to the image carrier based on a total rotation number of the image carrier if the number of image dots printed during a prescribed number of rotations of the image carrier is smaller than a reference value, and to forcibly attach the controlled amount of the developer to the image carrier to discard the developer. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259498 | RECORDING MATERIAL END POSITION DETECTION APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An rotation angle of a crank arm is calculated on the basis of a period of time in which a recording material is detected or a period of time in which the recording material is not detected and an end position of the recording material is calculated from the calculated rotation angle, so that detection of the end position of the recording material can be started regardless of a stop position of a sensor and the end position of the recording material can be accurately detected without using a dedicated drive source or member to reciprocate the sensor. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259499 | METHOD FOR SENSING UNFUSED TONER - Methods for determining an amount of toner in a target area are provided. In one method, the target area is illuminated with a first light from a first illumination position that is on a first side of a plane that is normal to the target area so that any toner particles in the target area direct a reflected portion of the first light to the first side and a light is sensed at a surface at a sensing position on the first side of the plane to which toner particles at the target area direct the reflected portion of the first light and a sensed light signal is generated that is indicative of the sensed light. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259500 | PRINTER WITH UNFUSED TONER PROCESS CONTROL SYSTEM - Toner printers are provided. In one printer a toner image is printed according to first printing instructions. An amount of toner in a target area of the toner image is determined and second printing instructions are generated causing the toner printer to print at least one subsequent toner image based upon the determined amount of first toner. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259501 | PRINTER WITH UNFUSED TONER PROCESS CONTROL - Methods for operating a toner printer are provided. In one method a toner image is printed according to first printing instructions. An amount of toner in a target area of the toner image is determined and second printing instructions are generated causing the toner printer to print at least one subsequent toner image based upon the determined amount of first toner. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259502 | IMAGE FORMATION DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMATION PROGRAM - An image formation device for forming an image by an electrophotographic process includes a charge voltage controller configured to control an application charge voltage to be applied to a charge member, a transfer voltage controller configured to control a transfer voltage to be applied to a transfer member, a charge current detector configured to detect a charge current flowing through the charge member, and a controller configured to determine the application charge voltage according to the application charge voltage and the detected charge current, both detected when the transfer voltage controller applies a predetermined transfer voltage. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259503 | APPARATUS CONFIGURED TO FORM PLURAL IMAGES ON AN IMAGE CONVEYOR AND METHOD CONFIGURED TO FORM PLURAL IMAGES ON AN IMAGE CONVEYOR USING THE APPARATUS - An apparatus to form plural images on an image conveyor includes plural photoconductor bodies, a light exposure device, a development device, a transfer device, and a pattern detection device, wherein the light exposure device includes an optical scanning part, a first light detection part having a first light receiving face, a second light detection part having a second light receiving face being non-parallel to the first light receiving face, a third light detection part having a third light receiving face being non-parallel to the first light receiving face, the optical scanning part, the first light detection part, and the second light detection part being provided inside a housing of the light exposure device, the third light detection part being provided outside the housing, and a light exposure timing control device. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259504 | DEVELOPING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING DEVELOPING DEVICE - A developing device includes a developing roller, a magnetic roller, a capacitor, a transformer, and a control signal generating unit. The developing roller carries toner. The magnetic roller performs supply of toner to the developing roller and removal of toner from the developing roller. The transformer includes a primary side to which a capacitor is connected and a secondary side from which an AC voltage is output and applied to the developing roller. The control signal generating unit inputs a control signal to the capacitor and adjusts a DC bias value of the control signal so that a DC component of the control signal is the same before and after the change of the duty ratio of the control signal. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259505 | PRINTING SYSTEM WITH RECEIVER CAPACITANCE ESTIMATION - A printing system includes a rotatable transport member that transports a receiver on its obverse. A tackdown unit includes an electrode arranged facing the reverse of the transport member. A source responsive to the control system produces a tackdown current, and a charger spaced apart from the transport member facing the obverse thereof selectively deposits charge on the receiver in response to the tackdown current. A non-contact voltmeter arranged facing the receiver on the obverse after the charger measures a resulting voltage. A control system drives a selected voltage or current through the charger using the source and measures a resulting voltage using the non-contact voltmeter. The selected voltage or current and the measured resulting voltage are used to automatically estimate a capacitance of the receiver. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259506 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A voltage maintenance element is connected to a contact member that contacts a primary transfer surface area of an intermediate transfer belt to which toner images are transferred from a plurality of image carriers between stretch members, in such a way as to prevent the electric potential of the intermediate transfer belt from varying between respective stations. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259507 | Narrow Media Throughput Control Using Temperature Feedback - A printer is provided having a fuser assembly having a belt, a heater to heat the belt, a backup roll positioned to engage the belt thereby defining a fusing nip with the belt, a main temperature sensor associated with the heat transfer member, the first temperature sensor associated with the backup roll for sensing a temperature of a portion of the backup roll, the second temperature sensor associated with a distal end region of the heat transfer member for sensing the temperature of the distal end region. A controller is coupled to the fuser assembly for controlling a throughput of the printer based on at least one of the backup roll temperature and the temperature at the distal end region of the heater. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259508 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a first rotating member, a second rotating member and a blowing unit. The first rotating member is heated by a heat source. The second rotating member is pressed against the first rotating member to form a fixing nip with the first rotating member along a conveying path of a recording medium. The blowing unit blows a cooling airflow toward the first rotating member. An airflow route from the blowing unit to the first rotating member is arranged so as to cross the conveying path. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259509 | Image Forming Apparatus Equipped with a Fixing Device Configured to Induce Electromagnetic Heating - A fixing device includes a heating member, a pressurizing member, a coil wound in a loop shape in the width direction of the heating member to generate a magnetic flux that inductively heats the heating member, and a magnetic core adjacent to the coil. The magnetic core is configured to apply the magnetic flux to an inductive heat-generating layer of the heating member. The magnetic core includes first core parts and second core parts. The first core parts are positioned to enclose the coil in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which paper is conveyed. The second core parts are placed in hollow areas formed by the loops of the coil at both ends in the direction orthogonal to the paper conveyance direction. The second core parts have a higher Curie temperature and a lower thermal capacity than the first core parts. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259510 | TONER SENSOR MODULE - Toner sensor modules are provided. In one aspect, a toner sensor module has a first light source emitting a first light, a first light sensor that generates a sensed light signal that is indicative of a sensed light, and a frame. The frame positions the light source to illuminate a target area from a first side a plane that is normal to the target area so that illuminated portions of any toner particles at the target area direct a reflected a portion of the first light into the first side and positioning the first light sensor on the first side of the plane to which toner particles at the target area direct the reflected portion of the first light. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259511 | AIR SENDING MECHANISM AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An air sending mechanism includes an air sending unit including a rotating shaft and a plurality of blade members provided on the rotating shaft, the air sending unit being configured to send air by producing a swirl flow swirling about the rotating shaft with rotation of the plurality of blade members; a wall member provided on a downstream side in an air sending direction with respect to the air sending unit in such a manner as to face the air sending unit; and a rectifying member provided between the air sending unit and the wall member and having at least one bend or curve provided as a result of the member being angled or curved such that the swirl flow produced by the air sending unit is guided in an intersecting direction that intersects the air sending direction. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259512 | COOLING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A cooling device includes a cooling member including a circulation passage for liquid coolant, and a cooling surface being directly or indirectly made to contact with a recording material being conveyed to cool the recording material. The circulation passage includes multiple passage sections arranged crossing to a conveying direction of the recording material, and a folded passage section to guide the liquid coolant from one of the multiple passage sections to another one of the multiple passage sections while changing a flowing direction of the liquid coolant. The folded passage section is disposed outside of an image forming area of the recording material on the cooling surface of the cooling member. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259513 | CLEANING MEMBER AND CHARGING DEVICE, UNIT FOR IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A cleaning member includes a core member, a foamed elastic layer in which fillers are filled in bubbles of a foamed elastic layer that are present at a surface of a side opposing to an outer circumferential surface of the core member in at least one side or both sides of ends in a longitudinal direction in the foamed elastic layer that is disposed so as to helically wind a strip shaped foamed elastic member from one end of the core member to the other end thereof in the outer circumferential surface of the core member, and a bonding layer that bonds the core member and the foamed elastic layer. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259514 | SEALING MEMBER HAVING INTERNAL LUBRICANT ADDITIVES - A sealing member for use in an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a molded body formed of an elastomer material and internal lubricant additives. The lubricant additives include at least about 20% by weight of the molded body. The lubricant additives include a wet lubricant, a dry lubricant and rounded beads. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259515 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes: a body frame having an opening, a cartridge being configured to be removably mounted to the body frame through the opening; and a cover configured to open and close the opening, wherein the cover includes a metallic reinforcement plate that is configured to face the cartridge mounted to the body frame when the cover is closed, and wherein the reinforcement plate includes a first recess part configured to receive therein a part of the cartridge mounted to the body frame when the cover is closed. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259516 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS WITH PROCESS CARTRIDGE CAPABLE OF MINIMIZING DAMAGE TO A WRITING DEVICE - An image forming apparatus includes a detachable latent image bearer, a casing including a cover opened and closed when the latent image bearer is detached and attached thereto, an LED array head opposed to the latent image bearer, and a rotation mechanism to rotate the LED array head in synchrony with either insertion and removal operation of the latent image bearer or opening operation of the cover. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259517 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes: a body frame having an opening; a cover configured to open/close the opening; an exposure unit configured to expose a photosensitive member and being swingable between an exposure position and a retreated position; an urging member configured to urge the exposure unit from the exposure position towards the retreated position; and an interlocking mechanism configured to: swing the exposure unit from the retreated position to the exposure position against an urging force of the urging member in conjunction with the rotation of the cover when the cover is closed; and allow the exposure unit to swing from the exposure position to the retreated position by the urging force of the urging member in conjunction with the rotation of the cover when the cover is opened. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259518 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes a casing having an opening that is open upward, a cover supported by the casing, a process cartridge configured to be attached to or removed from the casing through the opening, and a particular guide configured to guide the process cartridge when the process cartridge is attached to or removed from the casing. The cover is configured to pivot around a pivot axis to open and close the opening. The cover includes a pressing portion. The pressing portion is configured to, when the cover is closing the opening, contact the process cartridge being attached inside the casing and press the process cartridge toward an attachment position in which the process cartridge is attached to the casing. A path of the pressing portion in the casing is substantially same as a shape of the particular guide as viewed from an axial direction of the pivot axis. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259519 | Image Forming Device Facilitating Removal of Jammed Sheet - An image forming device includes a main casing, a process cartridge, a sheet passage, and a first guide. The process cartridge includes a photosensitive body, and a transfer member, and is configured to be attachable to and detachable from the main casing. The sheet passage extends in a first direction and is configured to allow a sheet to pass between the photosensitive body and the transfer member. The first guide is configured to guide the process cartridge such that the process cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the main casing. The first guide has a support portion extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction and configured to support the process cartridge in a state where the process cartridge is attached to the main casing. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259520 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes a casing having an opening that is open upward, a cover configured to open and close the opening, a process cartridge, and a guide. The guide is configured to guide the process cartridge in the casing while changing a position of the process cartridge. The process cartridge includes a photosensitive member, a first guided portion and a second guided portion. The guide includes a first guide configured to guide the first guided portion and a second guide configured to guide the second guided portion. The second guide has an upper portion disposed on an upstream side in an attaching direction of the process cartridge, and a lower portion extending smoothly from a lower end of the upper portion to a stop position in which the second guided portion is disposed. The lower portion is curved away from the first guide. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259521 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus, which includes a main frame having an opening, a cover rotatable between an opened position where the cover uncovers the opening and a closed position where the cover closes the opening, a holder rotatably supported by the cover and having a recess, and an exposure unit having a plurality of light emitting elements and a supporting wall, and held by the holder, the supporting wall having a first engaging portion which engages with the recess of the holder when the cover is located at the opened position, and which disengages from the recess of the holder when the cover is located at the closed position. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259522 | Image Forming Device Including Process Unit Provided with Handle - An image forming device includes a main casing, a support member, a plurality of developing cartridges, a handle provided to the support member, and a pair of interfering parts provided at both ends of the support member. Each developing cartridge includes a casing and a developing member supported by the casing. A gap between the pair of interfering parts is narrower than a length of the developing member, and the pair of interfering parts is located between the handle and one of the developing cartridges. Each of the interfering parts has a higher height than the handle. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259523 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - A process cartridge usable with an image forming apparatus includes a developing member, a photosensitive medium to face the developing member, a pair of supporting plates to rotatably support the developing member and the photosensitive medium; a center moving member rotatably disposed on the supporting plate, the center moving member having a first position in which the photosensitive medium contacts the developing member and a second position in which the photosensitive medium is spaced apart from the developing member; and a separation restraining member formed so that when the center moving member locates at the second position, the separation restraining member restrains the center moving member from moving from the second position. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259524 | Image Forming Device Having Holder - In an image-forming device, a holder is configured to move between a position inside the main body and a position outside the main body and to hold a first process unit having a first supply roller and a second process unit such that the first and second process units are arranged in a row along a first direction. The holder has a first guide member positioned between the first and second process units in the first direction when the holder holds the first and second process units, the first guide member being configured to guide the first process unit into the holder. An upper end of the first guide member is positioned at a vertical level higher than the first supply roller when the holder holds the first process unit. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259525 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus of the present disclosure includes a developing device, a support frame, a developer supply mechanism, and a shutter member. The developing device has a developer bearing member that supplies a developer to the image bearing member. The support frame is capable of disposing the developing device selectively at a mounting/demounting position and at a developing position. The shutter member opens a replenishment part formed at the connection portion in tandem with the movement of the developing device from the mounting/demounting position to the developing position and closes the replenishment port in tandem with the movement of the developing device from the developing position to the mounting/demounting position. A direction in which the developing device is moved is different from a direction in which the shutter member performs the opening/closing of the replenishment port. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259526 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus having an apparatus body includes an image carrying body carrying an image, a transfer body which is provided in the apparatus body and to which the image is transferred, a first opening and closing member, a second opening and closing member, and a movement mechanism. The first opening and closing member is rotatable so as to open and close an opening of the apparatus body. The transfer body is detachable from the apparatus body through the opening. The second opening and closing member, which is displaceable relative to the first opening and closing member, together with the first opening and closing member opens and closes the opening in conjunction with opening and closing operations of the first opening and closing member. The movement mechanism causes the second opening and closing member to move in a direction away from the transfer body. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259527 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, FIXING-SECTION-HOLDING MECHANISM, AND FIXING DEVICE - An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body in which an image forming section that forms an image on a recording material and a drive mechanism that generates a rotational driving force are provided; a fixing section that transports the recording material while receiving the rotational driving force and fixes the image on the recording material, the fixing section being held by the apparatus body at two axial ends thereof; and a transmission mechanism that is provided at one of the two axial ends of the fixing section and is connected to the drive mechanism, the transmission mechanism transmitting the rotational driving force from the drive mechanism to the fixing section. When a pulling force is applied to a recording material that is present in the fixing section, the drive mechanism and the transmission mechanism are disconnected from each other. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259528 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus including a drive source, a rotating body, a processing unit, and a joint to switch transmission and disconnection of the driving force by moving along an axial direction, is provided. The joint is rotatable by the driving force transmitted from the rotating body in a coaxial position with respect to the rotating body and switches transmission and disconnection of the driving force by moving along the axial direction. The rotating body includes an input rotating body, which is subject to the driving force input in the rotating body and rotatable by the driving force, and an output rotating body, which is arranged coaxially with respect to the input rotating body and rotatable integrally with the input roller to output the driving force. The rotating body provides accommodating space, which accommodates at least a part of the joint when the joint is separated from the processing unit. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259529 | Image Forming Apparatus - Provided is an image forming apparatus provided with an image forming unit. The image forming apparatus includes a movable member configured to be displaced relative to an apparatus main body; a cover configured to be displaced between a position where an opening portion provided on the apparatus main body is opened and a position where the opening portion is closed; a link that displaces the movable member in conjunction with the cover; a driving pulley and a driven pulley; and an endless belt that is looped around and stretched between the driving pulley and the driven pulley and transmits a driving force from the driving pulley to the driven pulley. The belt overlaps with the link in a direction parallel to a rotational axis of the driving pulley. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259530 | Developer Container - A developer container for an image forming apparatus includes a housing configured to store developer, a developer conveying member disposed inside the housing and configured to rotate to convey the developer stored in the housing. The developer conveying member includes a rotary shaft, a rotary base member and a sheet-like main body. The main body has a base end portion fixed to the rotary base member and a free end portion configured to be pressed into contact with an inner wall of the housing. The rotary base member includes an urging member configured to urge the main body from an upstream side toward a downstream side in a direction of rotation thereof. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259531 | TONER CARTRIDGE - A toner cartridge comprises a toner container which contains toner, a driving member which rotationally drives a conveying member, an agitating member which agitates a toner in the toner container while being rotated, a driven member which rotates in association with the driving member which is for rotationally driving the agitating member, and a rotational body which rotates according to rotation of the driven member, has a plurality of slits in rotational circumference for identifying a type of the toner cartridge, and has 1/K or more of the slits when a ratio of a rotational speed R | 2013-10-03 |
20130259532 | DEVELOPER CONTAINER, DEVELOPING DEVICE, PROCESS UNIT, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The developer container includes a rotator that is rotated in the container body, a sequence of gears disposed outside the developer container that transmits a torque to the rotator, and a container guiding portion that fits with a main body side guiding portion and guides the developer container in a direction in which the developer container is attached to a mounting portion of an image forming device main body. A first gear included in the sequence of the gears is movable between an operating position where the first gear engages with a second gear and a retracted position where the first gear is retracted. On a surface on which the container guiding portion is disposed, a part of the container guiding portion is disposed within a projected area of the first gear being disposed at the operating position. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259533 | TONER BOTTLE, SUPPLY UNIT, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A first shutter covers a first supply port formed in an outer peripheral surface of a main body, and can move in an outer peripheral direction along the outer peripheral surface of the main body. A pair of guiding members respectively formed on both ends of the first shutter guide the first shutter in the outer peripheral direction. A lock mechanism fixes the first shutter to achieve a closed sate of the first supply port. The lock mechanism includes a protrusion provided to the first shutter, the protrusion being capable of engaging with a recess formed in the outer peripheral surface. Fixing by the lock mechanism is released when the protrusion elastically deforms and is disengaged from the recess. The protrusion, the recess, and the first supply port are disposed along a virtual curve between the pair of guiding members. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259534 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND DEVELOPER CONTAINER REMOVABLY CONNECTED THERETO - An image forming apparatus has a developer container removably connected thereto, a developer feeding mechanism, a drive mechanism, and a torque limiter. The developer container includes a cylindrical container body having a developer discharge port, and a shutter fitted to be rotatable to open and close the developer discharge port. When the drive mechanism rotates the developer container in the developer feeding direction, while the torque limiter keeps the shutter stationary, the container body rotates through a predetermined angle to open the developer discharge port, and as the developer container continues to be rotated, the developer is fed through the developer discharge port. When the developer container is rotated in the direction reverse to the developer feeding direction, while the torque limiter keeps the shutter stationary, the container body rotates through a predetermined angle in the reverse direction to close the developer discharge port. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259535 | TONER CONTAINER - A toner container installed in an image forming apparatus includes a toner container main body having a predetermined length and in which toner is accommodated, a discharge port through which the toner is discharged from the toner container main body, a shutter which opens and closes the discharge port, a handle provided on the toner container main body, and a pressed portion provided on the toner container main body and which is pressed by the image forming apparatus to project the handle out from the image forming apparatus. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259536 | Developing Cartridge - A process cartridge, which includes a developing cartridge and a photosensitive cartridge for use with an image forming apparatus including a driving force output part and a feeding part, is provided. The developing cartridge includes a developer carrier, a first electrode provided at one side thereof, and a driving force receiving part provided at another side thereof and aligned with the first electrode such that the driving force receiving part overlaps the first electrode in a side view. The photosensitive cartridge, to which the developing cartridge is removably mounted, includes a photosensitive member, and a second electrode that contacts the first electrode when the developing cartridge is mounted in the photosensitive cartridge and that contacts the feeding part when the photosensitive cartridge is mounted in the image forming apparatus. The first electrode is pressed toward the driving force receiving part by contact with the second electrode. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259537 | POWDER ACCOMMODATION CONTAINER, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND MANUFACTURING METHOD OF THE IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A powder accommodation container includes an accommodation container body, a regulation member, and a transport member. The accommodation container body has a hole portion to outside and accommodates powder. The regulation member is provided in the hole portion to regulate a passage of the powder accommodated in the accommodation container body. The transport member is arranged in an inside of the accommodation container body to rotate about a rotating shaft and to transport the powder in the inside of the accommodation container body. The transport member has one end side in a short direction that is arranged on the rotating shaft and the other end side that is a free end, the free end includes a flexible member that is in contact with the accommodation container body to be flexed. The flexible member is locatable to face the hole portion. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259538 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member on which an electrostatic latent image is formed by exposure, an exposing device including a plurality of light sources and a plurality of lenses, which are provided along a longitudinal direction of the image bearing member, and configured to radiate light on the image bearing member, and a developing device arranged at a fixed distance apart from the image bearing member and configured to develop, according to application of a direct-current bias, the electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member into a visible image using a two-component developer. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259539 | DEVELOPER CARRYING DEVICE, DEVELOPMENT DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developer carrying device includes a first developer containing part configured to contain developer, a first rotational member arranged in the first developer containing part, a second developer containing part arranged side by side with the first developer containing part, a second rotational member arranged in the second developer containing part, an opening part formed between the first developer containing part and the second developer containing part, and a restriction part arranged between the first rotational member and the second rotational member. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259540 | Developing Unit - There is provided a developing unit, including: a body defining a developing chamber and a developer accommodating chamber, and a developer delivery member. The body includes a sliding portion, a restoring portion and a colliding portion at the developer accommodating chamber. The developer delivery member includes an elastic member configured to be made a sliding contact with the sliding portion while being curved elastically, configured to be restored elastically at the restoring portion, and configured to collide with the colliding portion. The developer delivery member is configured so that, the elastic member which has been elastically restored at the restoring portion is collided with the colliding portion to generate an air flow and to deliver the developer in the developer accommodating chamber toward the connection port. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259541 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - An image forming apparatus and an image forming method are provided that realize both the use of a decolorizing toner and a non-decolorizing toner and miniaturization of the apparatus. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259542 | Method and apparatus for assessing the operation of a color printing system - A method and apparatus are provided for assessing the operation of a col or printing system ( | 2013-10-03 |
20130259543 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - In existing image forming apparatuses, it is difficult to maintain each of a primary transfer member and a secondary transfer member at an optimum potential. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259544 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a pressing member that is rotatably held and provides a pressure acting in one direction; a heating member that is rotatably held, faces the pressing member, and includes a substantially cylindrical member and a heating unit, the substantially cylindrical member receiving the pressure, the heating unit being provided inside the substantially cylindrical member, the heating member fixing a toner image on a sheet with the pressure and heat; a drive source that outputs a driving force with which the heating member is rotated; and a transmission member having a space that receives an end of the substantially cylindrical member with a gap interposed therebetween, the transmission member having an inner circumferential surface that comes into contact with the end of the substantially cylindrical member in the space when the substantially cylindrical member receives the pressure, the transmission member transmitting the driving force to the heating member. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259545 | MOUNTING STRUCTURE FOR BEARING MEMBER, FIXING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A mounting structure for a bearing member comprises the bearing member, bearing a rotary shaft; a frame body that includes a mounting hole; and a plurality of projections, each of the projections being formed at one of three or more positions on at least one of an outer circumferential surface of the bearing member and an inner circumferential surface of the mounting hole, the positions extending radially from a centre of the rotary shaft, the bearing member being press fitted into the mounting hole via the projections, each of the projections being formed at a circumferential position having no other projection formed at a position 180° therefrom with respect to the centre of the rotary shaft. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259546 | HEATING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A heating device includes a magnetic-field generating unit that generates an alternating-current magnetic field, an endless belt, and a heat transfer unit that includes a heat storage layer, a thermosensitive layer, and a diffusion layer. The thermosensitive layer extends so as to separate the magnetic-field generating unit and the heat storage layer from each other, and forms a magnetic path that allows a magnetic flux of the alternating-current magnetic field to pass therethrough in a direction in which the thermosensitive layer extends at a temperature below a Curie temperature and a magnetic path that allows the magnetic flux to extend therethrough and reach the heat storage layer at a temperature higher than or equal to the Curie temperature. The diffusion layer has a higher thermal conductivity than thermal conductivities of the thermosensitive layer and the heat storage layer, and diffusing heat of the belt. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259547 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing member is rotatably supported. A first pressing member faces the fixing member. A running member runs while being sandwiched between the fixing member and the first pressing member. A first mechanism urges the first pressing member against the fixing member, defining a first nip between the fixing member and the running member. A second pressing member presses the running member against the fixing member. A second mechanism includes a holding member that holds the second pressing member and an urging member therein, and urges the second pressing member against the fixing member with the running member sandwiched therebetween, defining a second nip, adjacent to the first nip, between the fixing member and the running member. The second pressing member and the holding member abut each other through a plurality of projections formed on at least one of the second pressing member and second pressing mechanism. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259548 | FIXING MEMBER, HEATING APPARATUS AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing member is provided which is excellent in durability and hardly undergoes the peeling of the surface layer even when used in a heating apparatus over a long term. The fixing member is an electrophotographic fixing member including a substrate, an elastic layer, an intermediate layer and a fluororesin-containing surface layer. The elastic layer includes a silicone rubber and sodium ions, and the intermediate layer includes an amino group-containing polysiloxane. The surface layer is formed by forming, on the intermediate layer, a primer layer including a copolymer, to which a phosphate group is bound, of tetrafluoroethylene and perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether), forming, on the primer layer, a coating film including the copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether) or a coating film including a copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and hexafluoropropylene, and melting the copolymer in the primer layer and the copolymer in the coating layer. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259549 | HEATING ROLLER HAVING RESISTIVE HEATING ELEMENT AND FUSING DEVICE INCLUDING HEATING ROLLER - A heating roller including a resistive heating layer and a fusing device including the heating roller. By separately disposing a plurality of electrodes in an axis direction of the heating roller, and by independently controlling each electrode, the heating roller may correspond to various papers having different sizes. Accordingly, the temperature of the heating roller may be stably controlled. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259550 | FIXING SOLUTION AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - To provide a fixing solution and an image forming method in which faster fixing rate and faster drying rate can be achieved while the amount of fixing solution supplied is reduced and furthermore, a wet feeling in a formed image is reduced and an image having a high fixing strength can be formed | 2013-10-03 |
20130259551 | DELIVERY APPARATUS - There is described an applicator for use in an image forming apparatus. The applicator comprises a blade applicator comprising an elastomeric matrix and a functional material dispersed therein. The applicator blade is positioned in a trailing position with respect to a surface and wherein the functional material diffuses from the elastomeric matrix to the surface. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259552 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus, including: an image bearing member; and a protective layer forming unit which includes a protective agent supplying member which rotatably contacts a surface of the image bearing member and an image bearing member protective agent,
| 2013-10-03 |
20130259553 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion configured to form an image on a recording sheet, a main body including a pair of frames and a bridging member connecting the pair of frames, a feed roller, a sheet receiving plate, and a lifting member. The sheet receiving plate is configured to receive the recording sheet, and pivot between a nearby position where the sheet receiving plate is disposed near the feed roller and a remote position where the sheet receiving plate is disposed remote from the feed roller. The lifting member is disposed opposite to the feed roller relative to the sheet receiving plate and configured to lift the sheet receiving plate such that the sheet receiving plate is disposed in the nearby position. The lifting member includes a pivot shaft rotatably supported by the bridging member and a lift portion configured to contact the sheet receiving plate. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259554 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus that is orientatable in either a first position or a second position, the second position being different from the first position in inclination with respect to a horizontal plane, comprising: a platform configured to be stacked with a plurality of recording sheets used for image formation; a pickup roller in contact with the recording sheets and configured to pick up the recording sheets one at a time; a pressing member applying pressure to the platform against the pick-up roller; and a pressure changer causing the pressing member to change an amount of the pressure according to whether the image forming apparatus is in the first position or in the second position. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259555 | IMAGE FORMING MEMBER AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming member includes a rotation body that is configured to rotate in contact with a medium and to form an image on the medium, and a separation member that is positioned in contact with or in a vicinity of the surface of the rotation body and that separates the medium attached to the rotation body. The separation member includes a plurality of partial contact parts formed along a rotational axis direction of the rotation body, and a plurality of ridge parts respectively formed from the partial contact parts toward the downstream of a carrying direction of the medium. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259556 | TAPE FEEDING APPARATUS AND TAPE PRINTING APPARATUS - A tape A tape feeding apparatus has a feeding roller that feeds a tape and a roller accommodation section that has a cylindrical accommodation section inner surface along with a roller outer circumferential surface of the feeding roller, accommodates the feeding roller having a gap with the roller outer circumferential surface, and has a roller opening aperture through which the accommodated feeding roller faces the tape. The feeding roller is rotatably supported at one end section side in a cantilever state and is opened at the other section side. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259557 | TAPE PLACEMENT APPARATUS, TAPE FEEDING APPARATUS AND TAPE PRINTING APPARATUS - A tape placement apparatus has a roll placement section in which a roll portion Ra of a tape roll is placed in a width direction, a feeding path on which a pulled-out portion Rb of the tape roll is set in the width direction and a set position regulation section that is provided in an outer surface side path formation section forming the feeding path and positionally regulates a width end at an upstream side in a set direction of the pulled-out portion set on the feeding path in the width direction. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259558 | SHEET PROCESSING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM - A sheet processing device includes a cutter including a movable unit moving toward or away from a predetermined position and cutting a sheet held in the predetermined position, a door provided to a housing having an opening, the door opening and closing the opening for an operation for the cutter. The sheet processing device further includes the housing holding the cutter, a locking member locking and unlocking the door closing the opening and a locking mechanism mechanically connecting the movable unit to the locking member and causing the locking member to lock or unlock the door depending on a position of the movable unit relative to the predetermined position. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259559 | PRINTER PLATEN SUPPORT MECHANISM AND ROLL PAPER PRINTER - A platen support mechanism of a printer moves a platen unit of the printer. When moving the platen unit from a closed position to an open position, the platen support mechanism of the printer first moves the platen unit along a straight first path, and then moves the platen unit along a curved second path. A posture of the platen unit is held constant during this time by a six joint linkage mechanism. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259560 | PAINT TRIMMER - The paint trimmer includes a rigid base and a handle removably attachable to the base. The handle includes a bladder for storing paint. A paint applicator is associated with the base and fluidly coupled to the bladder via a manifold. Accordingly, a user may selectively dispense paint from the bladder to the paint applicator via the manifold for application to a surface to be painted. A paint mask associated with the base and offset from the paint applicator prevents paint from dispensing to undesired locations of the surface. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259561 | COLLAPSIBLE TUBULAR ROD - A collapsible tubular rod includes a socket body having an inner friction surface adjacent to one end thereof, and a tubular rod body coupled to the socket body and having a plurality of rod segments configured to be end-to-end engageable such that the rod body is convertible from a collapsed state to an assembled state in which the rod segments are successively engaged with one another by pulling of a connecting cord led through the socket and rod bodies. A releasably clamping member has a radially expandable tubular plug mating with and axially movable relative to the inner friction surface so as to be displaced from a normal position for gripping the connecting cord to an expanded position for tension adjustment of the cord when an actuator is actuated manually to move axially or radially. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259562 | AIRCRAFT MONUMENT INTEGRATED ATTACHMENT DEVICE - An attachment device for an aircraft monument is disclosed having a pair of spaced apart parallel plates having vertical sides and a rounded upper surface defining an arch. A panel attaches the spaced apart parallel plates along an inner radius, and a pair of lugs including a vertical channel is disposed below the plates for receiving fasteners to connect the attachment device to a rail or planar surface. | 2013-10-03 |
20130259563 | UNIVERSAL CONSTRUCTION BRACKET METHOD AND APPARATUS - A universal bracket system can be used to create multiple interlocking bracket assemblies for construction of buildings, dwellings, structures and other objects. A primary planar bracket plate member has flange extensions and holes for bolts or other fasteners. Multiple supplementary bracket plate members are variations of the primary bracket plate member. A ridge bracket plate member is provided. Primary and supplementary plate members, as well as the ridge bracket plate member, can be combined in multiple interlocking configurations to create brackets for connecting structural members into many different connection joints. | 2013-10-03 |