10th week of 2011 patent applcation highlights part 27 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20110058799 | IMAGE STABILIZER - An image stabilizer that compensates for external vibrations by moving an imaging unit. The image stabilizer includes a first frame on which an imaging unit is installed, a second frame that is connected to the first frame using three points and guides movement of the first frame in a first direction and second direction, and a third frame that is connected to the second frame using three points and guides the first frame and the second frame to move in a third direction and fourth direction, which are perpendicular to the first and second directions. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058800 | HUMANOID ROBOT RECOGNIZING OBJECTS USING A CAMERA MODULE AND METHOD THEREOF - Disclosed herein is a humanoid robot and a method thereof, in which a best one of lenses or filters of a camera module is selectively substituted to improve object recognition performance. The humanoid robot includes a torso, a head connected to the torso, and a camera module installed on the head, and the camera module includes at least one of a lens member and a filter member, which selectively substitutes a part thereof according to a recognition state of an object. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058801 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS USING LIGHT EMITTING DEVICE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - An image pickup apparatus which is capable of reducing possibility of missing a good moment to take a photo and reducing electric power wasted for strobe shooting. The image pickup apparatus is capable of shooting using a strobe. A motion detector detects an amount of motion of an object of which an image is to be picked up. A camera controller sets a target charge voltage level of a main capacitor based on the detected amount of motion of the object. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058802 | SIGNAL MEASUREMENTS EMPLOYED TO AFFECT PHOTOGRAPHIC PARAMETERS - Subject matter disclosed herein relates to setting photographic parameters based, at least in part, on signal measurements, such as, for example, without limitation, position of the Sun. Briefly, in accordance with one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise the following: a wireless communication capable device (E.G., | 2011-03-10 |
20110058803 | Aperture control device and camera - An aperture control device includes: an aperture first driving member that controls an aperture of a diaphragm through which light flux passes; an aperture second driving member that drives the aperture first driving member; a motor that drives the aperture second driving member; a detection device that detects start of movement of the aperture first driving member caused by the aperture second driving member driven by the motor; and a motor control device that controls an aperture value of the diaphragm by controlling a rotational amount of the motor after the detection device detects the start of movement of the aperture first driving member. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058804 | Image Pickup Apparatus With Back Focus Adjustment Mechanism - An image pickup apparatus according to the present invention includes an apparatus body including an image sensor built therein, and a lens unit, the apparatus body is provided with a back focus adjustment mechanism and a sliding member which is slidable in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the image sensor, the sliding member is provided with an infrared blocking filter and a dummy glass plate arranged next to each other, the apparatus is capable of switching modes between a day photographing mode in which the infrared blocking filter is positioned on the optical axis of the image sensor and a night photographing mode in which the dummy glass plate is positioned on the optical axis of the image sensor, and the dummy glass plate has a thickness greater than a thickness with which optical path length extension equivalent to that with the infrared blocking filter is obtained. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058805 | IMAGE PICKUP UNIT AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - An apparatus includes an image sensor unit, a retaining member configured to retain the image sensor unit on a photographer side and to retain an optical member on an object side, a first sealing member configured, when the image sensor unit is mounted on the retaining member, to form a closely sealed space by sealing between the image sensor unit and the retaining member, the first sealing member being provided on the photographer side of the retaining member, and a second sealing member configured, when the optical member is mounted on the retaining member, to form a closely sealed space by sealing between the optical member and the retaining member, the second sealing member being provided on the object side. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058806 | System and Method for Distributed Fault Sensing and Recovery - A method and system for distributed fault sensing and recovery in a communication system. A master controller is provided in each cable station of the system. Each master controller receives local alarms, e.g. aggregated alarms from associated shelf controllers, and may receive remote alarms from other master controllers. Local and remote alarms are compared to a profile provisioned in the master controllers for determining whether to perform a fault recovery function. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058807 | TRANSMISSION APPARATUS, TRANSMISSION SYSTEM AND FAILURE DETECTION METHOD - To detect a transmission path cut-off or deterioration depending on the presence or absence of receiving a packet signal at a fixed time interval without transferring an OAM packet. At a transmitting side, a conversion section periodically sends a main signal without including a maintenance operation signal packet. At a receiving side, a transmission path failure detection device judges that a transmission path failure is detected if it is determined that the next main signal is not received for a preset time after receiving the main signal. An OAM processing section detects a state where the main signal is not transmitted to the opposed transmission apparatus or an idle state, based on the detection of the transmission path failure by the transmission path failure detection device, and sends a maintenance operation signal for notifying the transmission path failure to the opposed transmission apparatus when in the idle state. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058808 | Channel Power Estimation Means - A channel power estimator for estimating the power of each channel in a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) signal, comprising filter means to select and output a sub-band of an incoming WDM signal, function application means to apply a weighting function at least once to the output from the filter means and then output the weighted signal to reconstruction means, storage means for storing optical characteristic data on at least the function application means, wherein the reconstruction means calculates an estimation of the power distribution of the incoming WDM signal using the weighted signal and the optical characteristic data. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058809 | Thermally optimized microwave channel multiplexing device and signals repetition device comprising at least one such multiplexing device - A microwave channel multiplexing device comprises several elementary filters connected in parallel with a common output port by way of a transverse waveguide, each filter comprising a lower end fixed to a support common to all the filters and an upper end away from the support, an external peripheral wall, at least one internal cavity defining an internal channel, a signal input connected to the internal cavity and a signal output connected to the transverse waveguide. The multiplexing device furthermore comprises a conducto-radiative device coupled mechanically and thermally to at least two filters, the conducto-radiative device comprising at least one thermally conducting plate, and linked to the external peripheral walls of each of said at least two filters, the plate being fixed at the level of the upper end of the filters. The invention applies to the field of satellite telecommunications and more particularly to signals repetition devices aboard satellites. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058810 | OPTICAL NETWORK UNIT (ONU) AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE ONU - Provided is an Optical Network Unit (ONU) and a method of operating the ONU. The ONU may include: a measurement unit to measure a downstream optical signal strength of downstream data received from an Optical Line Termination (OLT) via an optical splitter; a determination unit to determine an upstream optical signal strength based on the measured downstream optical signal strength; and a communication unit to transmit, to the OLT via the optical splitter, upstream data generated based on the determined upstream optical signal strength. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058811 | Method And System For An Asymmetric Optical Phy Operation For Ethernet A/V Bridging And Ethernet A/V Bridging Extensions - A network device comprising an asymmetric, multi-rate, Ethernet, optical MAC and an asymmetric, multi-rate, Ethernet, optical PHY, communicates optical signals via a network utilizing NV bridging services. Higher bandwidth NV optical signals are communicated and lower bandwidth optical signals are received and/or vice versa. Optical signals may be communicated based on a plurality of different single mode Ethernet optical protocols and/or different multimode Ethernet optical protocols. Optical signals may be communicated at 10 Gbps in one direction and at a lower rate in a reverse direction. Extended range mode may be utilized. PDUs comprise time stamps, traffic class designations and/or destination addresses. Data rate requests, resource reservation messages and/or registration for delivery of PDUs may be communicated. Time stamps enable end to end transport within a specified latency target. Video signals may be compressed, uncompressed, encrypted, unencrypted and/or formatted for a video display interface. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058812 | Optically Enabled Broadcast Bus - Embodiments of the present invention are directed to optical multiprocessing buses. In one embodiment, an optical broadcast bus includes a repeater, a fan-in bus optically coupled to a number of nodes and the repeater, and a fan-out bus optically coupled to the nodes and the repeater. The fan-in bus is configured to receive optical signals from each node and transmit the optical signals to the repeater, which regenerates the optical signals. The fan-out bus is configured to receive the regenerated optical signals output from the repeater and distribute the regenerated optical signals to the nodes. The repeater can also serve as an arbiter by granting one node at a time access to the fan-in bus. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058813 | Ethernet Passive Optical Network Over Coaxial (EPOC) - Embodiments of the present invention exploit the existing capabilities of the Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON) MAC layer, designed for fiber optics communications, to provide a low cost MAC layer with upper layer connectivity over a hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC) network. In particular, embodiments allow for the EPON MAC to be used end-to-end (i.e., from an optical line terminal (OLT) to a coaxial network unit (CNU)) in a HFC network, thereby fully leveraging the packet processing capabilities, QoS functions, and management features of the EPON MAC. Furthermore, embodiments enable unified provisioning and management for both fiber and coaxial network units in a HFC network. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058814 | FIBER OPTIC OBSERVATORY LINK FOR MEDIUM BANDWIDTH DATA COMMUNICATION - Systems and methods for a reconfigurable, long-range, underwater data-communication network are described. The network provides a low cost, low power, lightweight, and easy to deploy underwater communication system capable of being operated at long distances. The network may include a cabled ocean observatory, which may be deployed underwater and connected to a surface buoy. The cabled ocean observatory may be connected to one or more removable underwater sensors via fiber optic cables. The underwater sensors may be disposed at underwater locations at long distances from the cabled ocean observatory. Fiber optic extension modules may be permanently connected to each end of the fiber optic cables. Each fiber optic extension module may include an optical transceiver, a power supply, and an inductive element for removably coupling an underwater sensor or the cabled ocean observatory to the fiber optic cable. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058815 | Oceanic communications system - A system of buoys is connected by vertical cables to submarine fiber optic communications cable on the ocean floor or in cases where no submarine fiber optic cable is present, the buoys will use satellite communication. The buoys are aligned on the surface of the ocean, underneath heavily traveled oceanic air routes to provide platforms for radios. The satellite or cable connection to the buoys enables high bandwidth communications backhaul from the buoy to the internet or public switched telephone network. The high bandwidth buoys provide a platform to put different radio systems, enabling a substantially uninterrupted radio connection to high altitude aircraft as they transit oceanic airspace. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058816 | TRANSMISSION MODULE AND ELECTRONIC SYSTEM UTILIZING THE SAME - A transmission module including an emitter device, a first reflection device, and a second reflection device is disclosed. The emitter device emits a light. The first reflection device reflects the light to generate a first reflected light. The second reflection device reflects the light to generate a second reflected light. The energy of the first reflected light is different from the energy of the second reflected light. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058817 | ARRAYS, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BI-DIRECTIONAL DATA TRANSMISSION - A system for bi-directional data transmission includes a first array coupled to a first subsystem and a second array coupled to a second subsystem. The first array includes a first plurality of transmitters that produce first optical signals that are transmitted through free space, and a first plurality of receivers. The second array includes a second plurality of transmitters that produce second optical signals that are transmitted through free space to the first plurality of receivers, and a second plurality of receivers that is configured to receive the first optical signals. An image-forming apparatus is operatively positioned between the first and second arrays and is configured to concurrently form an image of the first plurality of transmitters on the second plurality of receivers and an image of the second plurality of transmitters on the first plurality of receivers. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058818 | OPTICAL TRANSCEIVER ASSEMBLY WITH INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER & TRANSMITTER DRIVER ON A FLEXIBLE CIRCUIT - A flexible circuit assembly is described that integrates a first fiber optic die, for example a transmitter die, a second fiber optic die, for example a receiver die, a trans-impedance amplifier die and a transmitter driver die on a single flexible circuit. Alignment holes and multiple die are accurately placed on a single flexible circuit. The precise placement of alignment holes and fiber optic die facilitate micron alignment accuracy to a fiber optic connector, preferably a mechanical transfer (MT) connector. A heat sink is provided that transfers heat from the trans-impedance amplifier die and the transmitter driver die and isolates the fiber optic die from the heat source. Circuitry for the first fiber optic die, second fiber optic die, impedance die, and driver die, including isolated grounding circuitry, is also integrated on the flexible circuit assembly. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058819 | OPTICAL TRANSMISSION DEVICE - Provided is an optical transmission device which includes: an optical transmission unit including a light-emitting element; an optical reception unit including a static current source generating bias current for driving the light-emitting element; a light-transmitting medium optically connecting the light-emitting element and a light-receiving element to each other; and an electricity-transmitting medium transmitting the bias current from the static current source to the light-emitting element. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058820 | Optical transmission system, optical transmission equipment, and chromatic dispersion compensation method - An optical transmission system includes an optical transmission equipment and an optical receiving device. The optical transmission equipment transmits an optical signal from a first adjacent node to a second adjacent node, and includes an optical multiplexing and demultiplexing unit that demultiplexes the optical signal from the first adjacent node into an optical transmission signal to be transmitted to the second adjacent node and an optical demultiplexed signal, and a compensating unit that partially compensates chromatic dispersion in the optical demultiplexed signal. The optical receiving device receives the optical signal from the optical transmission equipment, and includes a converting unit that converts the optical demultiplexed signal the chromatic dispersion of which is partially compensated by the compensating unit into an electric digital signal, and a digital processing unit that compensates chromatic dispersion remaining in the electric digital signal. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058821 | OPTICAL TRANSMISSION APPARATUS, OPTICAL TRANSMISSION SYSTEM, AND OPTICAL TRANSMISSION METHOD - An optical transmission apparatus in an optical transmission system that transmits an optical signal through a transmission fiber includes a measurement device that measures Raman gain efficiency of the transmission fiber; a level determiner that determines an input level of the optical signal based on Raman gain efficiency measured by the measurement device; and a controller that controls a level of the optical signal input to the transmission fiber to become the input level determined by the level determiner. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058822 | IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM - An image forming system includes image forming apparatuses that communicate with each other via a network. Each of the image forming apparatuses includes a network computer, a power saving controller for applying a power saving control in a first power saving mode in which a supply of power to a printing function portion that forms an image on a sheet is stopped and a power is fed to the network controller when the apparatus acts as a main apparatus, and applying a power saving control in a second power saving mode in which a supply of power to the printing function portion and the network controller is stopped when the apparatus acts as subordinate apparatus, and a main apparatus deciding unit for deciding the image forming apparatus out of the plurality of image forming apparatuses based on a calculation of power consumption of the plurality of image forming apparatuses. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058823 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT - A toner-image detecting sensor for detecting a toner image before being transferred onto a recording sheet and a fixed-image detecting sensor for detecting the toner image after being secondarily transferred and fixed on the recording sheet are arranged so that the positions of them in a main scanning corresponding direction are aligned. An image forming apparatus has a first image adjustment mode and a second image adjustment mode. In the first image adjustment mode, image adjustment is made on the basis of only a result of detection by the toner-image detecting sensor without transferring the test pattern onto the recording sheet. In the second image adjustment mode, the test pattern is transferred onto the recording sheet, and image adjustment is made on the basis of both a result of detection by the toner-image detecting sensor and a result of detection by the fixed-image detecting sensor. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058824 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: a developing device; a toner supply device that supplies toner to the developing device; a toner concentration controller that directs the toner supply device to perform toner supply to the developing device; and a toner empty determiner for determining that no toner is left in the toner supply device. The developing device includes a toner supply detecting sensor that detects whether toner is supplied from the toner supply device into the developer container, in the developer container. The toner concentration controller gives directions to perform the toner supply when the toner concentration of the developer in the developing device has become lower than a predetermined level. The toner empty determiner determines that the toner supply device has no toner left therein when no effect of the toner supply is detected by the toner supply detecting sensor after the toner supply is directed by the toner concentration controller. The toner supply detecting sensor is disposed in the preliminary agitating section. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058825 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of cartridges for supplying developers, the cartridges being detachably mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus; a plurality of first doors, provided correspondingly to cartridges, respectively, for opening and closing inserting openings for permitting insertion of the cartridges into the main assembly, independently from each other; a remaining amount detecting device for detecting information relating to an amount of the developer contained in the cartridges; a locking device for locking the first doors; a controller for controlling the locking device, on the basis of a result of detection of the remaining amount detecting device, to unlock only the first door corresponding to the cartridge to be exchanged; a moving mechanism for moving the first door from a position closing to an opening position with the unlocking of the locking device; and a second door movable between a closing position for preventing access to the first doors and an opening position for permitting access to the first doors; an opening and closing detecting device for detecting opening and closing of the second door; wherein the controller unlocks the first door on the basis of the results of detection of the opening and closing detecting device and the remaining amount detecting device. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058826 | APPARATUS AND METHOD TO PROTECT HALF OR FULL BRIDGE CIRCUIT INCLUDING FIRST SWITCHING UNIT AND SECOND SWITCHING UNIT IN IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS PERFORMING INDUCTION HEATING - An apparatus to protect a half or full bridge circuit including a first switching unit and a second switching unit in an image forming apparatus performing induction heating, the apparatus including a switching control unit to control operations of the first switching unit and the second switching unit by generating and outputting a first driving signal to turn on or off the first switching unit and a second driving signal to turn on or off the second switching unit; and an arm-short detecting unit to output a disable signal to stop operation of the switching control unit in response to the first driving signal and the second driving signal simultaneously being signals to turn on the first switching unit and the second switching unit. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058827 | Image forming device - A main controlling part is configured to choose and execute either a constant belt speed control which controls a driving motor (a driving source for an intermediate transfer belt) to move the intermediate transfer belt at a predetermined target belt speed or a constant motor speed control which rotates the driving motor at a predetermined target rotational speed according to a print command, and then, prior to a first-time print job, after executing a writing position correcting process while moving the intermediate transfer belt under the constant belt speed control, forms a color shift detecting image by switching from the constant belt speed control to the constant motor speed control, measures a difference between amounts of color shift, and executes a speed correcting process for correcting the target rotational speed of the driving motor in the constant motor speed control based on the measurement result. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058828 | LENGTH MEASUREMENT APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A length measurement apparatus including: a measurement portion that measures a sheet length based on a rotational amount of a length measurement roll for a first detection period in which first and third sensors detect the sheet, and a sheet length based on a rotational amount of the length measurement roll for a second detection period in which the second sensor and any one of the first and third sensors detect the sheet, the any one of the first and third sensors being disposed at a position opposite to the second sensor via the length measurement roll; and a whole length calculation portion that selects the sheet length nearer to integral multiples of the circumference length of the length measurement roll from the sheet lengths measured for the first and second detection periods, and calculates the whole length of the sheet by using the selected sheet length. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058829 | Sheet thickness detector and image forming apparatus using same - The sheet thickness detector includes a fixed member, a displacement roller disposed opposite the fixed member and movable in such a linear direction as to be contacted with or separated from the fixed member when the sheet passes through a nip therebetween, bearings rotatably supporting a shaft of the displacement roller, a displacement member movable in the linear direction in conjunction with the displacement roller and integrated with at least one of the bearings, and a displacement sensor operatively connected to the displacement member and detecting displacement of the displacement member. The thickness of the sheet passing through the nip is determined based on the amount of displacement of the displacement member. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058830 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - An image forming apparatus including: an image bearing belt that bears an image; an image creation unit that transfers the image on the image bearing belt; a first driving source; a driving roller that is rotationally driven by the first driving source and causes the image bearing belt to move; a transfer roller that has a concaved portion in a circumferential surface, forms a transfer nip by the transfer roller making contact with the image bearing belt, and transfers the image on the image bearing belt to a recording material; a second driving source that rotationally drives the transfer roller; a material type determination unit that determines a type of the recording material; and a control unit that controls a number of rotation of the transfer roller when the recording material is nipped by the transfer nip based on information of the type determined by the material type determination unit. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058831 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An apparatus includes: an image carrier; a charger to uniformly charge a surface of the image carrier; an exposing unit to perform write scanning on the image carrier; a developing unit that includes a developer carrier carrying a developer including a toner and that is configured to perform a visible image process on an electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier; and a transferor to transfer a toner image that has been subjected to the process onto a material. If length Lg of a non-image part directly before an image part in an image carrier moving direction has the relation of | 2011-03-10 |
20110058832 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - By using a black-image forming device, an abrasive pattern is formed on a sheet conveying belt so that toner is input to a contact section where a cleaning blade is in contact with the sheet conveying belt. After the toner is input to the contact section where the cleaning blade is in contact with the sheet conveying belt and then the sheet conveying belt makes one or more revolutions, a process control is performed in which Y, M, and C tone patterns and B tone pattern are transferred onto the sheet conveying belt. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058833 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: a charging unit which charges a surface of an image bearing member by contacting the image bearing member with a charging member to which a charging bias is applied, the charging bias being a voltage obtained by superimposing an AC voltage on a DC voltage; an electrostatic latent image forming unit which forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the image bearing member which is charged by the charging unit; a developing unit which develops the electrostatic latent image by using a developing bias formed by the voltage obtained by superimposing the AC voltage on the DC voltage; and a control unit which performs changing control of an AC frequency of the charging bias while maintaining a frequency ratio of an AC frequency of the developing bias to be an integral multiple of the AC frequency of the charging bias. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058834 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus comprising a rotatable image bearing member for carrying a toner image; a charging member for contacting a surface of the image bearing member to discharge the surface; a cleaning blade for contacting the surface of the image bearing member to remove toner remaining on the surface of the image bearing member after a toner image is transferred from said image bearing member onto a transfer material; and a control device for controlling a voltage applied to said charging member; wherein the control device applies to the charging member a first charged potential which includes a peak-to-peak voltage larger than a discharge starting voltage in image forming operation, and applies to the charging member a second voltage which includes a peak-to-peak voltage is smaller than the discharge starting voltage, for at least one full rotation of said image bearing member, after completion of the image forming operation and before an AC voltage component applied to the charging member is shut off. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058835 | DEVELOPING DEVICE, AND CONTROLLING METHOD THEREOF - A developing device is provided with a first transporting member for transporting a developer containing a toner and a carrier; a second transporting member opposite to the first transporting member to interpose a first spatial region therebetween and opposite to an electrostatic latent image carrying member to interpose a second spatial region therebetween; a first electric field forming device, composed of first and second power sources, for shifting the toner in the developer held onto the first transporting member to the second transporting member; and a second electric field forming device, composed of the second power source, for shifting the toner held onto the second transporting member to an electrostatic latent image on the carrying member. The operation of the second electric field forming device is controlled based on electric currents flowing in the first and second power sources, which are detected by first and second detecting blocks, respectively. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058836 | DEVELOPING DEVICE, AND CONTROLLING METHOD THEREOF - A developing device is provided with a developer transporting member for transporting a developer containing a toner and a carrier; a toner transporting member opposite to the developer transporting member and opposite to an electrostatic latent image carrying member; a first electric field forming device, which is composed of a power source for the developer transporting member and a power source for the toner transporting member, for shifting the toner in the developer held onto the developer transporting member to the toner transporting member; and a second electric field forming device for shifting the toner held onto the toner transporting member to an electrostatic latent image on the carrying member. Operation of the first electric field forming device is controlled based on an electric current flowing in the developer transporting member power source, which is detected by a detecting block. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058837 | DETECTING COLORANTS WITHIN CARRIER LIQUID - A detecting apparatus is to at least assist in determining the concentration of colorants within a carrier liquid. The colorants at least absorb light and/or diverge light. The detecting apparatus includes one or more light sources to emit light, and one or more light detectors to detect light. The light sources and the light detectors are positionally configured in relation to one another such that both light directly emitted by the light sources and that has not been absorbed or diverged by the colorants, as well as light diverged by the colorants within the carrier liquid, are detected and/or determined. The concentration of colorants is determined based on the light directly emitted by the light sources that has not been absorbed or diverged by the colorants and/or on the light diverged by the colorants within the carrier liquid. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058838 | METHOD TO DETERMINE THE CONCENTRATION OF TONER PARTICLES FOR A LIQUID DEVELOPER SYSTEM - In a method to determine concentration of toner particles in a carrier fluid in a liquid developer system for a printer or carrier, a suspension of the carrier fluid in the toner particles is charged with an ultrasonic wave. A delay of the ultrasonic wave in the suspension is determined. A concentration of the toner particles in the suspension is determined from the delay. A system is also provided employing the above steps. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058839 | HEATING FIXER AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A heating fixer, including a fixing member heating and melting a toner image; a pressure member contacting the fixing member upon application of pressure to form a nip; a variable device varying the pressure of the pressure member to the fixing member with rotation of a cam to vary a width of the nip into at least three steps; a drive motor driving the cam; and at least two position detectors detecting a rotational position of the cam, wherein each of the position detectors is formed of a fixed transmission sensor and a blocking filler coaxially rotating with the cam in a body, the blocking filler includes a blocking blade capable of blocking light received by the transmission sensor, the plural blocking fillers include blocking blades so as to have phases different from each other among the blocking fillers. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058840 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - When executing an image forming process for same sheets divisionally a plurality of number of times, a subsequent image forming process needs to be prevented from becoming impossible depending on the process result of a preceding image forming process. To accomplish this, when executing a second image forming process for a sheet having an image formed by a first image forming process is designated, an image forming apparatus of this invention restricts execution of post-processing for the sheet that has undergone the first image forming process even when executing the post-processing for the sheet is designated. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058841 | HIGH VOLTAGE POWER SUPPLY AND METHOD OF OUTPUTTING PLUS/MINUS HIGH-VOLTAGE IN IMAGE FORMING APPARATUSES - A high-voltage power supply to output a plus/minus high-voltage, which is applied to image forming apparatuses, includes a plus high-voltage output unit outputting the plus high-voltage by using a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) signal, a minus high-voltage operation control unit charging a certain voltage while the plus high-voltage output unit is outputting the plus high-voltage, a minus high-voltage output unit outputting the minus high-voltage by using the certain voltage charged in the minus high-voltage operation control unit, and a minus high-voltage blocking unit to block the output of the minus high-voltage from the minus high-voltage output unit while the plus high-voltage output unit is outputting the plus high-voltage. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058842 | HIGH-VOLTAGE POWER SUPPLY OF IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A high-voltage power supply usable in an image forming apparatus includes a power transformation unit that generates an alternate-current (AC) voltage by transforming a voltage applied to the high-voltage power supply and a plurality of rectification units that are connected to the power transformation unit in order to rectify the AC voltage into different DC voltages, respectively. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058843 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier; a latent image forming device; a developing device; an electrode which faces to the image carrier; an electric power source, a toner contamination detecting device for detecting toner contamination onto the electrode; an electrode cleaning device for cleaning the electrode; and a controlling section, wherein the control section controls the electric power source to apply at least an alternating current voltage to the electrode so that toner image is rearranged by reciprocally moving toner of the toner image between the image carrier and the electrode control section and allows the electrode cleaning device to clean the electrode when the toner contamination detecting device detects toner contamination on the electrode, and performs the toner rearrangement by the electrode from which the toner contamination is removed. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058844 | CHARGER, IMAGE FORMING UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A charger includes: a first electrode; a second electrode that has a mesh pattern and is arranged on a side closer to a photoconductor than the first electrode; a cleaner that moves along the second electrode to clean the second electrode by a brush thereof. The second electrode has the mesh pattern successively arranged in a certain direction, and a peripheral region of the mesh pattern of the second electrode has been changed to prevent catching of the brush of the cleaner. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058845 | BELT CLEANING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - There is provided a belt cleaning apparatus which is excellent in removing efficiency of removing residual toner as well as is capable of efficiently removing foreign matters which are more difficult to be removed than the residual toner such as paper powder, talc and kaolin adhered to a cleaning section from the cleaning section, which makes it possible to form a high quality image over a long term. A belt cleaning apparatus is, when removing the residual toner by abutting on an outer circumferential surface of an intermediate transfer belt by a cleaning blade, configured to vibrate the intermediate transfer belt by applying alternating current voltage to an electrode member by a power source through a blade supporting member. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058846 | CARTRIDGE - A cartridge includes: a first frame member which has an opening through which a developer accommodated therein is fed; a sealing member which seals the opening and which is pulled out to unseal the opening; a second frame member which sandwiches the sealing member with the first frame member; a welding portion which is formed on one of the first frame member and the second frame member and adapted to weld the first frame member and the second frame member at an area outside the opening; and a sandwiching portion which is formed on one of the first frame member and the second frame member and which is melted with the welding of the welding portion at an area outside the opening and inside the welding portion to sandwich the sealing member between the first frame member and the second frame member. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058847 | Image forming apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes a transfer belt that conveys a transfer material, and a photosensitive body that catches the transfer material between the photosensitive body and the transfer belt and that transfers a toner image to the transfer material. The transfer belt is driven in conjunction with the opening action of the front cover, and the photosensitive body is separated from the transfer belt in conjunction with the opening action of the front cover. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058848 | IMAGE-FORMING APPARATUS - An image-forming apparatus includes an image-forming member assembly including a photosensitive member, a developing unit, and a rotating unit; a driving unit; a positioning member having a positioning hole in which a shaft of the photosensitive member is rotatably supported and positioned; and a support member having a support hole that has a guide side to guide a rotating shaft of the rotating unit and supports the rotating shaft in a direction toward and away from the positioning hole. When a force received by the rotating shaft while the driving unit drives the rotating unit is divided into a first component force along the guide side and a second component force orthogonal to the guide side, the first component force has a direction in which a contact force of the shaft of the photosensitive member against an edge of the positioning hole is increased. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058849 | Image Forming Apparatus Having Movable Drawer Detachably Supporting a Plurality of Process Cartridges - An image forming apparatus capable of easily performing exchange in a process cartridge with a new cartridge and performing removal of a jammed sheet without detachment of a drawer from a casing. The drawer detachably holds a plurality of process cartridges, and is movable in frontward/rearward direction to one of an operable position where each photosensitive drum is in direct confrontation with a conveyer belt, a cartridge exchangeable position where all of the cartridges are positioned out of the casing, and a jammed sheet processing position ahead of the cartridge exchangeable position for removing a jammed sheet. A regulation mechanism is provided for selectively regulating the movement of the drawer dependent on detachment of a rearmost process cartridge from the drawer. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058850 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - When a charging member charge a photosensitive member by being applied with a direct-current voltage, a gap between the charging member and the photosensitive member is exposed to light with a constant light amount. However, if the process speed is lowered, charging non-uniformity occurs. Therefore, when the process speed is low, the amount of light radiated to the charging gap is made higher than that when the process speed is low. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058851 | IMAGE FORMING DEVICE AND CARTRIDGE - An image forming device comprising: a device main body; a cartridge detachably attachable to the device main body; a main body transmission unit to rotate about a first rotation axis; a main body joint unit to rotate about a second rotation axis allowed to intersect with the first rotation axis; a cartridge transmission unit configured to rotate about a third rotation axis and to transmit a driving force to a rotation body; and a cartridge joint unit configured to be able to rotate about a fourth rotation axis allowed to intersect with the third rotation axis, and configured to rotate coaxially with respect to the main body joint unit and to rotate the cartridge transmission unit when the main body transmission unit rotates in a state where the cartridge is attached to the device main body and the cartridge joint unit is coupled to the main body joint unit. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058852 | CHARGING DEVICE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A charging device and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including the same. A charging electrode of the charging device includes a porous insulating layer including a plurality of hollow rods vertically formed on a substrate formed of a conductive material, and a conductive nano structure formed in the hollow rods of the porous insulating layer. A grid electrode is supported by a spacer and is separated from the nano structure of the charging electrode. Furthermore, the charging electrode of the charging device may include a plurality of protrusions formed on a substrate, a porous insulating layer formed on the plurality of protrusions, and a conductive nano structure formed in hollow rods of the porous insulating layer. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058853 | PLASTIC OPTICAL ELEMENT, OPTICAL SCANNING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A plastic optical element for use in an optical scanning device including light effective portions that focus light, and at least one link portion that connects the light effective portions in the sub-scanning direction, the link portion forming a border arc having a curvature radius R of 2 mm or greater and contacting the light effective portions such that the tangent of the light effective portion at the connection point of the light effective portion and the border arc matches the tangent of the border arc at the connection point. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058854 | DEVELOPING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS USING THE SAME - A developing device includes: a developing vessel for storing a developer containing a toner and a magnetic carrier; a first conveying passage through which the developer is conveyed approximately horizontally; and a toner supply port for leading toner to the first conveying passage. The toner supply port is formed over the first conveying passage. The developing device includes a multiple number of electromagnets that intermittently attract and release the developer, over the first conveying passage. At the same time, a multiple number of downward slopes that go down toward the downstream side with respect to the developer conveying direction are formed in the bottom of the first conveying passage in areas in which the developer that has been attracted to the electromagnets and is released from the electromagnets falls. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058855 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND TONER CONTAINER - An image forming apparatus includes: a feed portion that is fed with toner from above; a transport path that includes an inlet through which the toner fed to the feed portion enters, that allows the toner to be transported therethrough, and that is in a cylindrical shape; and a transporting member provided to continuously extend from the feed portion to the transport path, the transporting member transporting along the transport path the toner fed to the feed portion, wherein an amount of transportation of the toner per unit of time at a part of the transporting member located in the transport path is larger than an amount of transportation of the toner per unit of time at a part of the transporting member located in the feed portion. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058856 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND TONER CONTAINER - An image forming apparatus includes: a feed portion that is fed with toner from above; a transport path that includes an inlet through which the toner fed to the feed portion enters, that allows the toner to be transported therethrough, and that is in a cylindrical shape; and a transporting member including: a rotary shaft provided to extend in the feed portion and the transport path; and a moving portion pressing toner with rotation of the rotary shaft to move the toner, and that transports along the transport path the toner fed to the feed portion, a part of the rotary shaft of the transporting member located in the transport path having a larger diameter than a part of the rotary shaft located in the feed portion. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058857 | TONER CONTAINER, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME, AND CONNECTING STRUCTURE FOR CONNECTING TONER CONTAINER AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A toner container includes a cylindrical container body, a cap having a toner outlet, and a shutter. The cap includes a primary positioning primary positioning hole, formed in a top front surface perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the toner container, extending in the longitudinal direction, to determine an installation position of the cap relative to the image forming apparatus, a secondary positioning hole, formed in a bottom front surface perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the toner container, extending in the longitudinal direction forward the toner outlet, to subsidiary determine the installation position of the cap, and a first restriction member to position the cap in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, projecting vertically upward from an outer circumferential surface of the cap and symmetrical about a virtual perpendicular line passing through a cross-sectional center position of the primary positioning hole perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058858 | DEVELOPING DEVICE, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - There is provided a separation member for separating a first conveying path formed by a first conveying member from a second conveying path formed by a second conveying member. There is also provided an opposed member facing a magnetic pole H4 at an upstream side of two magnetic poles H4 and H6 that forms a developer-releasing magnetic pole H5. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058859 | Transfer device and image forming apparatus including same - A transfer device includes a rotatable intermediate transfer belt wound around and stretched between a pair of rollers, facing a plurality of image bearing members bearing toner images, a plurality of transfer members facing the image bearing members through the intermediate transfer member, to transfer overlappingly the toner images onto the intermediate transfer member forming a composite toner image, a lubricant applicator disposed upstream from the image bearing members in a direction of rotation of the intermediate transfer belt and on the same plane as the image bearing members, to apply a lubricant on the intermediate transfer member, an opposing member disposed opposite the lubricant applicator, to contact the lubricant applicator through the intermediate transfer member, and a pressure member disposed upstream from the image bearing members and downstream from the lubricant applicator in the direction of rotation of the intermediate transfer belt, to press against the intermediate transfer member. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058860 | SUPPORT MECHANISM FOR COIL TENSION SPRING - A support mechanism includes a coil spring that generates a tensile force, a hook, and a support member. The hook includes a first position extending from the coil spring, an open end, and a second position that is closer to the open end than the first position. The support member includes a first edge facing the first position and a second edge facing the second position. The second edge is convex in a direction away from the first edge, the direction crossing a plane passing through the first edge, the first position, and the second position. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058861 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - An image heating apparatus comprising a heating rotatable member for heating an image on a recording material; a pressing rotatable member for contacting the heating rotatable member to form a nip therebetween; a driving source; a first helical gear rotatable by a driving force supplied from the driving source; a second helical gear rotatable by a driving force supplied from the driving source, the second helical gear has a twisting direction which is different from that of the first helical gear; a first switching member for switching between rotation transmission and non-transmission from the driving gear to the first helical gear; a second switching member for switching between rotation transmission and non-transmission from the driving gear to the second helical gear; a third helical gear provided on the heating rotatable member in meshing engagement with the first helical gear; a fourth helical gear provided on the heating rotatable member in meshing engagement with the second helical gear; and switching means for switching at least between drive transmission by first switching member and drive transmission by the second switching member to change a position of the heating rotatable member with respect to a rotational axis direction of the heating rotatable member. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058862 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS EMPLOYING THE FIXING DEVICE - A fixing device includes an endless, flexible fixing member, a metal member, a heater, a pressing member, a temperature detector, and a supporting member. The fixing member is rotatably provided in the fixing device to heat a toner image thereon. The metal member is fixedly mounted in the fixing device so as to be opposite an inner circumferential surface of the fixing member, to maintain the fixing member in a substantially circularly loop shape. The heater is disposed near the metal member to heat the metal member. The pressing member is rotatably pressed against an outer circumferential surface of the fixing member to form a nip portion between the pressing member and the fixing member. The temperature detector is disposed in contact with the metal member, to detect a temperature of the metal member. The supporting member is disposed between the heater and the temperature detector to support the temperature detector. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058863 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS EMPLOYING THE FIXING DEVICE - A fixing device includes an endless, flexible fixing member, a heat conductive member, a heater, a pressing member, a nip formation member, and a radiation member. The endless, flexible fixing member is formed into a loop. The heat conductive member is disposed within the loop formed by the fixing member to conduct heat to the fixing member. The heater is disposed near the heat conductive member to heat the heat conductive member. The pressing member is rotatably pressed against the fixing member to form a fixing nip between the fixing member and the pressing member. The recording medium is conveyed through the fixing nip. The radiation member is detachably pressable against an outer circumference of the fixing member to contact the fixing member with the heat conductive member to cool the fixing member and the heat conductive member. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058864 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME - A fixing device to fix a toner image on a sheet includes a first rotary member that rotates in a predetermined direction and a second rotary member that contacts an outer circumferential surface of the first rotary member. A stationary member is fixed inside the first rotary member to press the first and second rotary members together to form a nip portion between the rotary members. A reinforcement member is fixedly provided inside the first rotary member and pressed against the stationary member. The fixing device includes heat source to heat the first rotary member and a reflector to reflect heater light emitted from the heat source toward the first rotary member. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058865 | Fixing device and image forming apparatus employing the fixing device - A fixing device includes an endless flexible fixing member, a supporting member having a pipe shape disposed inside a loop formed by the fixing member to support the fixing member, a pressing member disposed opposite the supporting member via the fixing member, and a nip formation member disposed opposite the pressing member via the fixing member to form a fixing nip between the fixing member and the pressing member. The fixing member contacts an outer circumferential face of the supporting member at a side opposite a side at which the fixing member contacts the nip formation member at the fixing nip. The fixing member has slack portions formed upstream and downstream from the fixing nip in a conveyance direction of a recording medium. The slack portions extend toward the pressing member over the fixing nip without contacting either the supporting member or the pressing member. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058866 | Fixing device and image forming apparatus employing the fixing device - A fixing device includes an endless, rotatable fixing member, a rotational pressing member, a nip formation member, and an urging unit. The rotational pressing member is rotatably provided in contact with the fixing member. The nip formation member is disposed opposite the rotational pressing member via the fixing member to form a fixing nip between the fixing member and the rotational pressing member. The urging unit is disposed opposite the rotational pressing member via the nip formation member and the fixing member to push against and deform the nip formation member to change a curvature of a contact face between the fixing member and the rotational pressing member at the fixing nip. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058867 | FIXING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND TONER IMAGE FIXING METHOD - According to an aspect of the invention, a fixing device includes a laser beam irradiation unit and a conveying unit. The laser beam irradiation unit includes a plurality of laser beam sources and emits a plurality of laser beams to a surface of a recording medium. The conveying unit conveys the recording medium and/or the laser beam irradiation unit so that irradiated regions irradiated with the laser beams are moved in a given direction. When the plurality of laser beams is emitted to a toner image to fix the toner image, the plurality of laser beams satisfies conditions (A) and (B). The condition (A) is that the plurality of laser beams has substantially the same beam power and substantially the same width. The condition (B) is that the plurality of laser beams is independently emitted to the toner image. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058868 | Apparatus for electrographic printing or copying - In an apparatus for the electrographic printing or copying of an object wherein a toner is applied to a medium according to the object to be printed or copied and the toner is fixed to the medium by the application of heat, a hot air blower is provided which directs hot air onto the medium and whose inlet is connected to a suction line having an intake end remote from the hot air blower arranged in close proximity of the medium being heated. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058869 | LASER FIXING DEVICE - A laser fixing device, which is for use in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, including: a carrying device for carrying a sheet; and a laser array section which is made up of a plurality of laser sources arrayed in a line, the plurality of laser sources irradiating a non-fixed toner image, which is attached to the sheet that is being carried by the carrying device, with a laser beam so that the non-fixed toner image is fused and fixed to the sheet. In the laser fixing device, an irradiation region length and a sheet carrying speed are set so that tn≧0.259·mt | 2011-03-10 |
20110058870 | Sheet conveyance device and image forming apparatus including same - A sheet conveyance device for conveying a recording medium includes a fixed roller, a movable roller, an urging member, and a shock absorber, and an image forming apparatus including the sheet conveyance device. The position of the fixed roller is fixed. The movable roller is disposed opposite the fixed roller to contact the fixed roller, thereby defining a nip. The urging member urges the movable member to contact the fixed roller in the absence of the recording medium in the nip and allows the movable member to separate from the fixed roller by an amount corresponding to a thickness of a recording medium when the recording medium enters the nip. The shock absorber absorbs displacement energy generated when the urging member urges the movable roller to contact the fixed roller again after the recording medium passes through the nip. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058871 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image onto each sheet, an ejection unit on which the sheet is ejected, a sorting unit configured to sort the sheets ejected on the ejection unit into subsets, and a control unit configured to, when executing a mode for forming images on first sides of the sheets, ejecting the sheets with the images on the first sides, and forming images on second sides of the ejected sheets manually placed on a feeding unit for second-side image formation, control the sorting unit to sort the ejected sheets after first-side image formation into subsets so that the number of sheets in each subset does not exceed a maximum number of sheets stackable on the feeding unit. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058872 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR THE REGISTRATION AND DE-SKEW OF SUBSTRATE MEDIA - According to aspects described herein, there is disclosed an apparatus and method for de-skewing substrate media in a printing system. The apparatus includes at least one sensor for measuring skew of the substrate media being transferred relative to a process direction, and a nip assembly for moving the substrate media in the process direction. The nip assembly includes a nip having a drive roller and an idler roller for engaging the substrate media. The nip assembly is pivotal from a default position an amount responsive to the measured media skew. The drive roller is selectively stopped to permit a leading edge of the substrate media to engage the stopped drive roller. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058873 | Conveyer and image forming apparatus including the same - A conveyer includes a first rotating body; a second rotating body pair; and an intermediate rotating body arranged between the first rotating body and the second rotating body pair. A curl of the recording medium is corrected by winding and bending the recording medium around and with the intermediate rotating body at a bent angle formed by a tangent line shared by the intermediate rotating body and the first rotating body, and a line on which such a tangent line of the intermediate rotating body is connected to a nip point of the second rotating body pair. The intermediate rotating body includes an escape mechanism that is capable of causing the intermediate rotating body to escape in a direction to increase the bent angle depending on the width of the recording medium. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058874 | PRINT-MEDIUM POST-TREATMENT APPARATUS - Disclosed is a print-medium post-treatment apparatus, in which a converting guide to guide a print medium to any one of a first delivery path and a second delivery path is operated upon receiving rotational force from a delivery motor for delivery of the print medium. This enables omission of a drive device to operate the converting guide. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058875 | Sheet folding apparatus and image formation system provided with the apparatus - A sheet folding path for performing folding processing on a sequentially fed sheet to carry to the downstream side is made small and compact. An apparatus for performing folding processing on a sheet from a carry-in entrance | 2011-03-10 |
20110058876 | Sheet folding device and image forming apparatus with sheet folding device - A sheet folding device includes a transport unit that transports a sheet; an abutting unit that abuts an end of the sheet being transported to form a bent portion at the sheet; a folding unit that nips the bent portion of the sheet by a pair of folding rollers to form a fold line in the sheet; a guide member that partially covers the folding roller and guides the sheet; and a position adjustment unit that adjusts a position of the guide member. An exposure amount of the folding roller with respect to the sheet can be varied by adjusting the position of the guide member through the position adjustment unit. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058877 | PRINT HEAD AND PRINT APPARATUS - Lift of the rotation fulcrum of the armature is prevented. In the print head in which a print wire is furnished at an end portion, and that has an armature that is furnished rotatably, a yoke touches a rotation fulcrum of the armature; an elasticity member of a cantilever structure presses the rotation fulcrum of the armature to the yoke by sandwiching the armature between the yoke and the elasticity member; a housing fixes an end portion of the elasticity member and covers the elasticity member through forming a gap between the elasticity member and the housing; and a pressing member is arranged between the housing and the elasticity member and touches the housing and the elasticity member. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058878 | THERMAL PRINTER - A thermal printer in which an upper lid portion and a printing unit can be opened off a main body of the printer by a single operation and the upper lid portion is not closed even when a closing direction force is exerted on the printing unit during ink ribbon replacement. The upper lid portion has a stopper | 2011-03-10 |
20110058879 | PRINTING DEVICE AND METHOD - According to one embodiment, a printing device may include first and second printers respectively having first and second controllers. The first and second printers may be configured to share a common paper path with each other. The first controller in the first printer may enable the first printer to operate if the common paper path is not in use by the second printer. In this case, the first controller may inform the second printer that the common paper path is in use by the first printer. On the other hand, the second controller in the second printer may enable the second printer to operate if the common paper path is not in use by the first printer. In this case, the second controller may inform the first printer that the common paper path is in use by the second printer. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058880 | PRINTER - A printer includes a conveying path for conveying a printing medium therealong. The printer also includes a thickness detecting unit configured to detect change in thickness of the printing medium along the conveying direction, which is conveyed along the conveying path. The printer also includes a first print unit configured to print information on one surface of the printing medium whose thickness change is detected by the thickness detecting unit, and a second print unit configured to print information on another surface of the printing medium. The printer also includes a pressure mechanism configured to press the print head against the platen of each of the first and second print units, and a control unit configured to reduce pressure applied to the print head by the pressure mechanism if the thickness of the printing medium detected by the thickness detecting unit is greater than a predetermined threshold value. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058881 | SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS AND IMAGE READING APPARATUS - A sheet feeding apparatus, an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus which can suppress curl of a sheet without obstructing sheet feeding are provided. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058882 | PRINT PROCESSING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - A print processing apparatus processes a print job that includes print data corresponding to a plurality of pages and first paper information relating to papers used in printing of the print data. The microprocessor unit sets second paper information relating to a paper stacking order of a paper stack including a plurality of types of papers placed in a mixed state in one paper feeding tray. Then, the microprocessor unit compares the first paper information with the second paper information. The microprocessor unit controls the printer based on an obtained comparison result so that the print data can be printed on a target paper on which the print data should be printed, and controls the printer based on the obtained comparison result so that any surplus paper other than papers that are necessary and sufficient can be separated from papers on which the print data has been printed. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058883 | PRINTING MEDIUM FEEDING CASSETTE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - Disclosed are a printing media holder and an image forming apparatus including the same. The printing media holder includes an printing media alignment unit capable of moving bidirectionally toward and away from the printing media loaded on the printing media holder, and includes a release mechanism that releases the printing media alignment unit, to allow the printing media alignment unit to move its position for aligning of print media of different sizes, in response to a force received thereto in any of the bidirectional directions. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058884 | TAPE CASSETTE - A tape cassette that includes a cassette case that includes a top case and a bottom case, a tape as a print medium that is mounted within the cassette case, an arm portion that includes a part of a front surface of the cassette case and directs the tape toward an exit along a portion of a predetermined feed path, the portion extending in parallel with the front surface, a latching portion that is provided in the vicinity of an upstream end of the arm portion in a feeding direction of the tape and by which the top case and the bottom case are engaged with each other, and a contact portion that is provided in the vicinity of the exit and that is configured to allow the top case and the bottom case to contact or separate from each other. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058885 | Variable format device for cutting print substrates and folder and printing press having a device of this kind - A device for cutting print substrates, i.e., paper webs, having a cutting module which comprises a cutting device, a folder, and a printing press with a device of this kind, wherein the cutting module includes guide devices having at least a partially planar and/or movable guide area for guiding the print substrate or paper web through the cutting module. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058886 | Sanitary Disposable Writing Instrument, Method of Making and Dispenser Therefore - A sanitary disposable writing instrument for minimizing the transfer of bacteria, viruses and/or chemicals from one person to another including a strip of flexible holding material, a writing implement removably secured to the flexible holding material, and a writing tip associated with the writing implement. At least a second writing instrument can be provided to form a series of removably secured writing instruments wherein removal of one writing instrument from the series causes a next writing instrument to be positioned for removal from the series. Combination dispenser and holding members for dispensing the series of writing instruments in a sanitary manner is also provided. The holding members can be mounted on either a vertical or horizontal support surface and can receive replacement dispensers therein. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058887 | ROTARY PENCIL - A rotary pencil includes a sleeve-shaped shaft having a front end and a rear end, a threaded spindle mounted to be fixed against rotation and axially movable in said shaft and having an at least single-start external thread. At least one threaded element is fixed in axial and rotating directions relative to the shaft and engages into the external thread. The front end of the external thread is adjoined by a cylindrical spindle section which extends over the entire circumference of the spindle, namely a free-running section, and has an external diameter corresponding to a core diameter of the external thread. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058888 | SLIDE TYPE WRITING TOOL PREVENTING DRYNESS - A retractable writing instrument having a dryness prevention device is disclosed. The retractable writing instrument includes a casing ( | 2011-03-10 |
20110058889 | COSMETIC UNIT WITH SWIVELING CLOSURE - The cosmetics unit ( | 2011-03-10 |
20110058890 | Tip for Ball Point Pen - Provided is a tip for a ball point pen that implements more comfortable writing by increasing the outflow amount of ink in writing. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058891 | DENTAL CLEANSER AND STAIN PREVENTION APPARATUS - Several embodiments of a dental cleanser and stain prevention apparatus for portable use are described. In each embodiment an apparatus for use in on-the-go dental cleansing is described. In one series of embodiments, disposable dental cleaning devices are described. In another series of embodiments, reusable and refillable dental cleaning devices are described. Packaging of various types is also disclosed for use in housing the dental cleanser and stain prevention apparatus. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058892 | DOCKING SYSTEM - An end effector operatively coupled to an extendable tensile element extended from a first vehicle engages a primary receptacle of a second vehicle. The first and second vehicles are drawn together by retracting the extendable tensile element into the first vehicle until contact therebetween, after which roll axes of the first and second vehicles become substantially aligned responsive to a further retraction of the extendable tensile element into the first vehicle and a resulting tension in the extendable tensile element. At least one alignment post of at least one of the first and second vehicles engages with at least one surface of at least one corresponding secondary receptacle so as to at least substantially align the first and second vehicles in roll responsive to the tension in the extendable tensile element. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058893 | CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE POSITIONING DEVICE - A continuously variable positioning device includes a first body having a first engagement surface. At least part of the first engagement surface is covered with a pattern of movable actuators. A second body has a second engagement surface in contact with the first engagement surface. At least a part of the second engagement surface having an actuator engaging profile, at least some of the movable actuators being depressed and others of the movable actuators being extended to conform to the actuator engaging profile. A drive assembly is provided for creating relative movement of the first body and the second body while maintaining the first engagement surface continuously engaged with the second engagement surface, the movable actuators moving axially during relative movement of the first body and the second body. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058894 | A LOCK ASSEMBLY FOR AN EXCAVATOR WEAR MEMBER - A lock assembly for releasably securing an excavator tooth on a nose of an excavator. The lock assembly has a rigid lock member having a base portion and a retaining portion extending from the base portion. The base portion is adapted to be located in a retaining cavity of the nose and the retaining portion adapted to at least partially extend into a retaining aperture of the wear member. The lock assembly also has a resiliently deformable lock member, in use, adapted to be located within the retaining cavity of the nose to abut an upper face of the rigid lock member to thereby captively retain the base portion of the rigid lock member in the retaining cavity and the retaining portion at least partially within the retaining aperture such that side walls of the retaining portion of the rigid lock member bear against complimentary side walls of the retaining aperture of the wear member and opposed bearing faces of the base portion of the rigid lock member oppose and engage respective side walls of the retaining cavity of the nose of the excavator to thereby releasably secure the wear member on the nose of the excavator. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058895 | Device for fixing accessories in a motorcycle, in particular for a windshield - There is described a device ( | 2011-03-10 |
20110058896 | CONNECTOR FOR PANELS OR PANEL-LIKE COMPONENTS - A connector is provided for connecting a first panel to a second panel. The first panel has one edge fixed relative to a surface of the second panel. The two panels extend transversely to each other. The connector comprises at least one component having a plate-like base with a peripheral edge, an operative outer surface and an inner surface from which one or more attachment lugs extend. The attachment lugs are received in an aperture or recess in the first panel. The attachment lugs are configured to retain the anchor unit in the assembled condition of the connector. In the operative position, two lugs are laterally offset relative to each other and are shaped to cooperate with a fastener passing between them. The fastener urges the two lugs apart to lock the component(s) in position relative to the first panel as the fastener is introduced into its operative position. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058897 | WOVEN GEOSYNTHETIC FABRIC WITH DIFFERENTIAL WICKING CAPABILITY - The present invention is directed to a geosynthetic wicking fabric for transporting water from beneath pavement structures to reduce or prevent damaged caused by frost heave and thaw. Further, the present invention is directed to a wicking drainage system employing the wicking fabric. | 2011-03-10 |
20110058898 | SAFETY MARKER WITH CONVECTION FAN - In accordance with the present invention, there is provided is a safety marker with an on-board convection fan for marking areas/hazards to be avoided while concurrently producing a convection effect upon the adjacent, surrounding surfaces so as to enhance evaporation of liquids/moisture thereon. Along these lines, the safety marker will not only mitigate risks by allowing for the marking of an area to be avoided, but also, uniquely, by accelerating the elimination of what is most often the root cause of the risk; wetness on the floor. | 2011-03-10 |