34th week of 2009 patent applcation highlights part 32 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20090208198 | Camera integrated with direct and indirect flash units - A compact camera with a compact camera body integrated with a lens, a direct flash module and an indirect flash module. The direct flash unit includes a flash light emission window arranged to project direct illumination in a first direction toward an object to be photographed. The indirect flash unit includes an indirect flash light emission window arranged to project indirect bounce illumination in a second direction off of an indirect reflecting surface to the object. The camera also has a controller that receives a first signal containing information from a first light sensor connected to the direct flash unit, and a second signal containing information from a second light sensor connected to the indirect flash unit. In response to the received first and second signals, the controller selectively adjusts the amount of flash illumination projected from the direct and indirect flash units. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208199 | Mirror retention structure and camera equipped therewith - Objects of the present invention are to reduce rebounding of a sub-mirror and to prevent shifting of the mirror-down position. The present invention provides a mirror retention structure comprising, a main mirror retention frame that retains a main mirror, a sub-mirror retention frame that retains a sub-mirror and is axially supported at the main mirror retention frame, and a receiving pin that abuts against the sub-mirror retention frame and sets an angle of the sub-mirror at a mirror-down position, wherein the sub-mirror retention frame is provided with, a first abutting portion that touches against the receiving pin at the mirror-down position; and a second abutting portion, at a different position from the first abutting portion, that touches against the receiving pin at a position prior to the mirror-down position in a transition from a mirror-up position to the mirror-down position. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208200 | SYNCHRONOUS OPTICAL SIGNAL GENERATING DEVICE AND SYNCHRONOUS OPTICAL SIGNAL GENERATING METHOD - A synchronous optical signal generation device includes: an optical phase detector that compares the phase of a reference optical signal with a phase of an optical beat signal to generate a phase error signal; a shaping mechanism that shapes the phase error signal; and a voltage controlled optical signal generator that generates an optical beat signal based on the shaped phase error signal and that outputs the optical beat signal while feeding the optical beat signal back to the phase detector. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208201 | FAST FAULT NOTIFICATIONS OF AN OPTICAL NETWORK - A method and apparatus for fault notification in an optical network are described herein. In one embodiment, an exemplary process includes detecting at a node that at least a portion of a first unidirectional path of an optical circuit is down, where the first unidirectional path is originated from a first terminating node. In response to the detection, the node signals the first terminating node by removing at least a portion of light of a second unidirectional path in an opposite direction of the first unidirectional path of the optical circuit, to indicate a path between the node and the first terminating node is down. Other methods and apparatuses are also described. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208202 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR COMPLEX ANALYSIS OF OPTICAL SPECTRUMS - This invention relates to a device and associated process capable of obtaining the optical spectrum phase of an optical signal or test signal to be analyzed using techniques for heterodyning between two monochromatic spectral components simultaneously extracted from the test signal itself by means of stimulated Brillouin scattering. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208203 | METHODS OF RESTORATION IN AN ULTRA-LONG HAUL OPTICAL NETWORK - A method includes receiving a restoration indicator associated with a path that includes an optical cross-connect (OXC). The OXC is reconfigured from a standby configuration to a restoration configuration in response to the restoration indicator. An optical signal received in a first direction at a first wavelength is optically regenerated to produce an optical signal in the first direction at a second wavelength. An optical signal received in a second direction at the second wavelength is optically regenerated to produce an optical signal in the second direction at the first wavelength. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208204 | PASSIVE OPTICAL NETWORK SYSTEM - A passive optical network system according to the present invention includes an optical network unit and an optical line terminal connected to a plurality of optical network units. The optical line terminal has: an interface which receives from the optical network unit, a logical link assignment request message containing a communication priority for deciding a priority of a communication flow between a source terminal and a destination terminal, from the destination; and a control unit which assigns a logical link identifier for identifying a communication flow to the logical link assignment request message received from the interface and controls the interface so as to communicate with the optical network unit by using the communication priority. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208205 | Photonic Based Cross-Correlation Homodyne Detection with Low Phase Noise - In one aspect, this document provides an implementation of a system for characterizing an oscillator. This system includes an input port that receives an oscillation signal from an oscillator under test; an input port signal splitter that splits the received oscillation signal into a first oscillation signal and a second oscillation signal; a first photonic signal processing branch circuit that processes the first oscillation signal to produce a first branch output signal; a second photonic signal processing branch circuit that processes the second oscillation signal to produce a second branch output signal; a dual channel signal analyzer that receives the first and second branch output signals to measure noise in the received oscillation signal; and a computer controller that controls the first and second photonic signal processing branch circuits and the dual channel signal analyzer to control measurements of the noise in the received oscillation signal. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208206 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PRIVATE NETWORK-TO-NETWORK INTERFACE OUT-OF-BAND SIGNALING AND PATH BLOCKING - The present invention provides systems and methods to mix In-Band (IB) and Out-of-Band (OOB) signaling mechanisms under the Private Network-to-Network (PNNI) protocol for optical control plane connectivity. The present invention provides mechanisms for establishing and controlling OOB control plane communications. By default, the mechanisms treat all links as IB to discover nodes and links using IB mechanisms. For any blocked links, the link can be configured as OOB if there is a data communication network (DCN) connection to the remote node | 2009-08-20 |
20090208207 | System, method and computer readable medium for providing dual rate transmission on a gigabit passive optical network - In a dual rate gigabit passive optical network, an optical line termination (OLT) transmits a first rate (GPON) message frame interleaved with a second rate (NGPON) message frame. An unused ATM partition of the GPON message frame is provided with a header and payload portion of the NGPON message frame so that the message frame remains at a predetermined length required by the network. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208208 | METHOD, APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR TRANSMITTING ETHERNET SIGNALS IN OPTICAL TRANSPORT NETWORK - A method, apparatus and system for transmitting Ethernet signals in an OTN are provided. The method may include: mapping the Ethernet signals to timeslot units, where a VCG composed of multiple OPUs is divided into the timeslot units; mapping the Ethernet signals into the OPUs, and then mapped into OTUs and output to the OTN for transmitting. In this way, the Ethernet signals may be transmitted in the OTN transparently. The apparatus may further include: a first adaptation protocol frame mapping module, a first virtual concatenation module, and a first line terminal module, which convert the Ethernet signals to the OTUs. The system may include a first adaptation protocol frame mapping module, a second adaptation protocol frame mapping module, a first virtual concatenation module, a second virtual concatenation module, a first line terminal module, and a second line terminal module, which convert the Ethernet signals to the OTUs and vice versa. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208209 | RECONFIGURABLE OPTICAL FILTERS FORMED BY INTEGRATION OF ELECTRICALLY TUNABLE MICRORESONATORS - The present invention describes a microresonator that can be used as a 1:f variable coupler in a unit cell. It is described how a cascade of unit cells can be used to form a tunable, higher-order RF-filter with reconfigurable passbands. The disclosed filter structure can be utilized for the narrowband channelization of RF signals that have been modulated onto optical carriers. It is also disclosed how to utilize add/drop capabilities of the contemplated microdisks to confer connectivity and cascading in two dimensions. The present invention can conveniently provide a wavelength division multiplexing router, where an array of unit cells as provided herein can form a programmable optical switching matrix, through electronic programming of filter parameters. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208210 | PASSIVE OPTICAL NETWORK REMOTE PROTOCOL TERMINATION - A system, method, and node for extending the reach of a fiber-based access network. A Remote Protocol Termination (RPT) is implemented remotely from a central office Optical Line Termination (OLT). The RPT receives a data signal transmitted by a user's Optical Network Unit/Termination (ONU/T) over a Passive Optical Network (PON) utilizing a PON protocol or Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM)_based protocol, and converts the signal to a long-reach transport protocol. The RPT then transmits the data signal to the central office OLT utilizing the long-reach transport protocol. The RPT also performs this protocol conversion in the opposite direction for signals transmitted from the central office OLT to the ONU/T. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208211 | Optical communications network and intensity adjustment method for optical communications network - An optical communications network in which one optical line terminal is connected to multiple optical network units and in which code division multiplexing communication is carried out between the optical line terminal and the optical network units. The optical intensities of upstream optical signals transmitted from each optical network unit are made constant at the time of multiplexing by an optical directional coupler, and the optical intensity of a downstream optical signal received by an optical network unit and an upstream optical signal received by the optical line terminal is contained within a dynamic range. Each optical network unit is provided with a variable optical attenuator that is common for an upstream optical signal and a downstream optical signal. The upstream optical signal and the downstream optical signal are attenuated by an equal attenuation. Moreover, the optical line terminal controls the attenuation at the variable optical attenuator. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208212 | BIDIRECTIONAL WAVELENGTH-DIVISION-MULTIPLEXED PASSIVE OPTICAL NETWORK - Provided is a bidirectional wavelength division multiplexed passive optical network (WDM-PON) which includes a central office (CO) that transmits and receives multiplexed optical signals, a remote node (RN) that communicates with the CO, receives a multiplexed optical signal to demultiplex, and receives a demultiplexed optical signal to multiplex, an optical network unit (ONU) that transmits and receives demultiplexed optical signals to and from the RN, operational and protective backbone optical fibers that connect the CO to the RN, and operational and protective distribution optical fibers that connect the RN to the ONU. The ONU transmits and receives optical signals through the operational distribution optical fiber and the operational backbone optical fiber, and, where a failure occurs in the operational distribution optical fiber or the operational backbone optical fiber, the ONU transmits and receives optical signals through the protective distribution optical fiber and the protective backbone optical fiber. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208213 | Code division multiplex signal receiving apparatus and code division multiplex transmitting and receiving system - In a code division multiplex transmitting and receiving system, the transmitting apparatus inserts a clock signal in the code division multiplex signal. The clock signal has a frequency equal to a null frequency in the frequency spectrum of the code division multiplex signal. The receiving apparatus extracts this frequency component from the received signal and recovers the clock signal, using an ordinary clock recovery device of the type designed to recover a clock signal from a bi-level signal. The recovered clock signal is used as a synchronizing signal in the processing of the received signal. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208214 | EXTINCTION RATIO CONTROL USING A FREQUENCY SPREAD TONE TO MODULATE OPTICAL SIGNAL POWER LEVELS - An optical transmitter that controls the extinction ratio by modulating a power level of an optical signal using a frequency spread tone. An electro-optic transducer driver generates an electrical signal that is to be converted into an optical signal. Meanwhile, a tone generator generates an electrical tone having a relatively narrow frequency spectrum. A frequency spreading circuit frequency spreads the electrical tone. A modulator modulates a power level of the electrical signal using the frequency spread electrical tone. An electro-optic transducer then converts the modulated electrical signal into a corresponding optical signal. An optoelectronic transducer recovers the modulated electrical signal by monitoring the optical signal. The tone is then recovered from the signal, and demodulated. The demodulated tone is then used to control the extinction ratio. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208215 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR STABILIZING MULTI-CHANNEL OPTICAL SIGNAL WAVELENGTHS - A method for stabilizing multi-channel optical signal wavelengths includes the following steps. A first detecting signal is stacked on a plurality of driving signals in sequence. A plurality of optical signals generated after being driven by the plurality of driving signals is combined into one optical total signal. A wavelength detection is performed on the optical total signal. A second detecting signal with a frequency band the same as that of the first detecting signal is extracted from the signals obtained after the wavelength detection. The wavelength of the optical signal in the corresponding channel among the multiple channels is controlled according to the second detecting signal. A device for stabilizing multi-channel optical signal wavelengths is also provided. Using the above method or device, the multi-channel optical signal wavelengths can be stabilized, which requires less elements, and has a simple circuit structure, a high integration level, and a low cost. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208216 | Dispersion compensation - A dispersion compensation system comprises a detector for receiving an optical input signal and a compensator for processing the detector outputs and re-constituting the original signal. The detector generates at least two signals which depend on the instantaneous amplitude and frequency of the distorted signal in different ways, and the compensator electrically processes the detector outputs. The detector comprises a wavelength selective device (such as an asymmetric MZI) and two or more opto electronic detectors providing the electrical signals. The detector subtracts outputs of the MZI to provide frequency information and sums MZI outputs to provide amplitude information. The detector may have a dedicated amplitude detector. The compensator may have a local oscillator which is modulated by amplitude and phase or frequency information of the detector output signals, and the local oscillator may operate in the range of 11 to 100 GHz. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208217 | RADIATION MODULATION BY REFLECTION FROM CONTROLLED COMPOSITE MATERIAL - Modulation of electromagnetic radiation is described in which an incident radiation beam is directed toward a surface of a composite material and at least partially reflects to form a reflected radiation beam. The composite material comprises an arrangement of electromagnetically reactive cells of small dimension relative to a wavelength of the incident radiation beam, and exhibits at least one of a negative effective permeability and a negative effective permittivity for at least one frequency. A modulation signal is applied to the composite material to cause a variation in at least one of the effective permeability and the effective permittivity, at least one characteristic of the reflected radiation beam being modulated according to the modulation signal. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208218 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPATCHING SIGNALS IN AN OPTICAL TRANSPORT NETWORK - Methods and apparatuses for dispatching OTN signals are disclosed. The method includes receiving an OTN signal frame; determining in sequence whether each byte in the OTN signal frame is an overhead byte; determining, if the byte is an overhead byte, whether the byte includes frame alignment data; and assigning, if the byte includes frame alignment data, the byte in sequence to a corresponding channel based on a sequence number of an OTN signal frame period, or storing, if the byte does not include frame alignment data, the byte in a buffer; or assigning, if the byte is not an overhead byte, the byte in sequence to a corresponding channel based on a location of the byte in the OTN signal frame. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208219 | Multimode Communications System - A multimode wireless communications system that uses the three mechanisms of light, radio and acoustic carriers either in combination or through selection of the most appropriate carrier. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208220 | Systems and methods for generating RF pulses with reduced phase error - Systems and methods for generating RF pulses that have a reduced phase error are disclosed. The systems are optical based and thus are highly linear, so that phase errors, including jitter, are significantly reduced as compared to electrical RF pulse generation systems and methods. The optical-based RF pulse generation methods includes generating laser light, imparting an envelope modulation to the laser light, imparting a carrier modulation to the laser light, and detecting the envelope-modulated and carrier-modulated light to form the electrical RF pulse. The electrical RF pulse can then be carried by a cable to an external device. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208221 | OPTICAL SPACE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM USING VISIBLE LIGHT AND INFRARED LIGHT - There are provided a first modulation section for performing low-speed digital modulation of first data; a second modulation section for performing high-speed digital modulation of second data; a first light transmitting section for emitting/quenching visible light in accordance with an output signal of the first modulation section to transmit a visible light signal which conveys the first data; and a second light transmitting section for changing the intensity of the infrared light in accordance with an output signal of the second modulation section to transmit an infrared light signal, which conveys the second data, in parallel with the visible light signal. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208222 | OPTICAL TRANSCEIVER, ITS COMMUNICATION METHOD, AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - An optical transceiver includes an optical transmission section that transmits an optical signal, an optical reception section that receives an optical signal, and a control section that controls the optical transmission section and the optical reception section. The control section optically communicates with an external device through the optical transmission section and the optical reception section. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208223 | FOUR WAVE MIXING SUPPRESSION - Methods, systems and computer program products for countering the effects of four wave mixing are described. In one implementation, a controller can be used to shift an operating wavelength of an optical transmitter away from a zero-dispersion wavelength through which signals of the optical transmitter are transmitted. The controller can perform the shifting process while allowing sufficient margin for division multiplexing and minimal dispersion. The controller may determine an appropriate offset to be used for shifting the operating wavelength without subjecting the signals to a significant increase in undesirable effects such as dispersion, crosstalk and signal distortion which can impact the overall bit-error rate. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208224 | OPTICAL FIELD RECEIVER, OPTICAL MULTILEVEL SIGNAL RECEIVER, AND OPTICAL TRANSMISSION SYSTEM - An optical field receiver comprises an optical branching circuit for branching a received optical multilevel signal into first and second optical signals, a first optical delayed demodulator for performing delayed demodulation on the first optical signal at a delay time T (T=symbol time), a second optical delayed demodulator for performing delayed demodulation on the second optical signal at the delay time T with an optical phase difference deviating from the first optical delayed demodulator by 90°, first and second optical receivers for converting each of the delayed demodulation signals representing x and y components of complex signals output from the first and second delayed demodulators into first and second electrical signals, and a field processing unit fort generating a first reconstructed signal representing an inter-symbol phase difference or a phase angle of a received symbol from the first and second electrical signals for each symbol time T. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208225 | VARIABLE OPTICAL ATTENUATOR INTEGRATION INTO TRANSMITTER OPTICAL SUBASSEMBLIES - A small-scale VOA system includes a polarization rotator, a voltage multiplier circuit, and at least one transistor. The polarization rotator can be positioned within a TOSA along the emission axis of a corresponding optical signal source in addition to one or more polarizers. A microcontroller provides a first low voltage control signal to a voltage multiplier to generate a large voltage DC signal which is provided to the transistor. The transistor modulates the large voltage signal with a second control signal from the microcontroller to generate a large voltage AC signal for driving the polarization rotator. The polarization rotation of the polarization rotator can be altered depending on the applied large-voltage AC signal. As a result, the polarization rotator and one or more polarizers can variably attenuate signals emitted by the optical signal source or act as a shutter. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208226 | Bang-bang architecture - In one embodiment, the present invention includes an apparatus having a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) to generate a first clock signal having a frequency controlled by a bias current coupling ratio of first and second bias currents, and a control circuit coupled to the VCO to generate a first pair of control signals to adjust the bias current coupling ratio. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208227 | OPTICAL APPARATUS AND USE METHOD THEREOF FOR PASSIVE OPTICAL NETWORK SYSTEM - An optical apparatus receives an upward signal light from a plurality of subscriber units, where the upward signal light is composed of a plurality of time slots corresponding to the plurality of optical subscriber units. The optical apparatus includes a driving unit configured to determine a respective required gain for light from each of the plurality of optical subscriber units, an amplifying section configured to amplify the upward signal light with the required gain corresponding to the time slots of the upward signal light, and a receiver configured to receive the amplified upward signal light. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208228 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - An image forming apparatus and an image forming method are provided, which can reduce time and effort needed by consistency examination between a printed code data and a paper fingerprint data. In the present invention, paper fingerprint information before starting of the printing of the paper for output on which the document to be guaranteed in the originality authenticity is to be printed is acquired. When printing the document to be guaranteed in the originality authenticity, a code image data generated based on the paper fingerprint data of the paper for output on which the document is to be printed and the document mentioned above, are printed on the paper for output. Subsequently, the paper fingerprint data before starting of the printing and the paper fingerprint data after finishing of the printing are collated, then, it is judged whether the paper for output mentioned above is a paper-fingerprint deformation paper. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208229 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes an endless belt which is wound around a plural rollers and conveys a recording medium in a conveying direction; a plurality of image forming units which sequentially form images on the recording medium conveyed by the endless belt in an overlap manner; a fixing unit which is provided at a downstream of the endless belt in the conveying direction; a first detection unit which detects a temperature of a roller closest to the fixing unit; a second detection unit which detects a temperature of the endless belt; an error calculation unit which calculates an error of a conveying speed of the recording medium based on a difference between the detected temperatures, and a number of a recording medium, on which images are next to be formed; and a compensation unit which compensates the error calculated by the error calculation unit. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208230 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - High quality images are provided by controlling development conditions based on the proportion of the toner layer potential difference, which a difference between the toner layer potential and electrostatic latent image potential, to the development contrast potential difference, which is a difference between the development bias potential and electrostatic latent image potential. The control section for controlling a development power supply controls the voltage supplied by the development power supply, based on the toner layer potential difference and development contrast potential difference in the development section. This arrangement ensures formation of high-quality images free from concentration of toner. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208231 | ELECTRONIC PHOTOGRAPH PRINTER - A electronic photograph printer includes a density-measurement section and a density controller section. The density-measurement section includes a density sensor | 2009-08-20 |
20090208232 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a photoreceptor drum, a developing roller, and a control section. The photoreceptor drum is configured to form an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof in accordance with image data. The developing roller has a surface for bearing a two-component developer at least a partial region of which faces the photoreceptor drum and is configured to be driven so as to feed the developer to the photoreceptor drum. The control section is configured to detect a print coverage for image data to be used during continuous formation of images in accordance with plural image data items and then set a relative velocity of the developing roller to the photoreceptor drum to a higher value when the print coverage is relatively high and set the relative velocity to a lower value when the print coverage is relatively low. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208233 | Image forming apparatus, control method thereof, program and recording medium - An image forming apparatus is provided which is of an electrophotographic type, and is capable of setting a gradation number of a patch pattern to be formed corresponding to various factor information, and to perform a process control. The image forming apparatus includes a patch pattern forming part to form a toner image of a patch pattern on an image carrier; a developing part to develop the patch pattern; a toner image density detecting part to measure a toner image density of the patch pattern; and a process control performing part to vary an image forming process condition based on detection results obtained from the toner image density detecting part, and to stabilize an image density. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208234 | MAGNETIC MATERIAL DETECTING DEVICE - A magnetic material detecting device, in which a concentration of magnetic material can be correctly detected, even when the magnetic material with unevenness in its density distribution flows. A magnetic field generating device is arranged in a two-component developer composed of magnetic carrier and non-magnetic toner and generates a magnetic field. A signal output device is arranged in the developer and outputs a signal depending on a magnetic permeability of the developer due to the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generating device. An agitating unit agitates the developer and makes the developer flow between the magnetic field generating device and the signal output device. A detecting unit detects a proportion of the toner in the developer based on a result of multiple times sampling of the signal outputted from the signal output device after the agitating unit starts to operate. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208235 | TERMINAL DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND PRINTING SYSTEM HAVING THE SAME, AND PRINTING METHOD THEREOF - A printing method using a terminal device connected to an image forming apparatus includes analyzing an object of an initial page of a medium to be printed and setting fusing conditions if a print command is input, and transmitting the set fusing conditions and print data to the image forming apparatus. The fusing conditions are set differently according to characteristics of an initial page of a medium to be printed, and thus the preheating time can be reduced and the printing speed can be increased. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208236 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - In a fixing unit, a fixing roller is rotated under driving force transmitted from a paper discharge unit-side gear of a driving section via a fixing roller driving gear, and holds and conveys a recording medium in cooperation with a pressure roller in a nip region. When a control section determines that acceleration conditions are fulfilled, the driving section increases the rotating speed of the paper discharge unit-side gear so that it is rotated at higher speed than before-acceleration speed over predetermined high-speed rotating period. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208237 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main unit; a detected unit that is placed in the apparatus main unit; a temperature detection member that is provided out of contact with the detected unit in the apparatus main unit for detecting a temperature of the detected unit; a change member for changing a state of an air current in the apparatus main unit; and a temperature correction unit for correcting a value relevant to the temperature detected by the temperature detection member based on change of the state of the air current by the change member. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208238 | IMAGE FORMING DEVICE AND METHOD - An image forming device that uses only one temperature sensor to detect temperatures of the recording sheet and a rotation member for fixing, and can perform the temperature adjustment control carefully in detail during the image forming operation. The CPU 61 performs the temperature adjustment control 1 by executing the temperature adjustment program 64 | 2009-08-20 |
20090208239 | Charging Roller and Image Forming Apparatus - A charging roller, adapted to face an image carrier at a predetermined charging gap and charge the image carrier in a non-contact state, including: a conductive shaft, provided with a pair of annular concave portions formed on an outer circumferential surface at both ends thereof; a conductive layer, formed on the outer circumference surface at a center portion of the conductive shaft defined between the pair of concave portions; and an insulating layer, formed on the outer circumferential surface at outer portions of the conductive shaft from the pair of annular concave portions. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208240 | Transfer Device and Image Forming Apparatus - A transfer device includes: a transfer belt hung around a roller; and a transfer belt sealing member in contact with a transfer surface and a circumferential end surface of the transfer belt and in contact with the circumferential end surface of the transfer belt diagonally relative to a thickness direction of the transfer belt. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208241 | BELT CARRYING DEVICE, INTERMEDIATE TRANSFER DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A belt carrying device includes supporting rollers, an endless belt supported by the supporting rollers, and guiding members provided on the endless belt. The endless belt is rotated by rotation of the supporting rollers. An outer peripheral surface of the endless belt is in contact with a cleaning member. The guiding members are provided on those projecting areas of the endless belt, which project in an axial direction of the supporting rollers from both end surfaces of the supporting roller. A guiding member suppresses meandering of the endless belt by coming into contact with an end surface of the supporting roller. Formed on the end surfaces of at least one of the supporting rollers are projecting sections and groove sections, which are rotated around a rotation axis of the at least one of the supporting rollers in response to rotation of the at least one of the supporting rollers. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208242 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes an endless belt that is rotated, an image forming device configured to form an image on a recording medium which fed on the endless belt, a cleaning roller configured to be rotated and clean the endless belt, a pair of registration rollers configured to be rotated in a recording medium feeding direction and to feed a recording medium to the image forming device, and a motor configured to rotate in two directions. The image forming apparatus may further include first, second, and third gear mechanisms. The first and second gear mechanisms are configured to switch between transmission and non-transmission of a driving force to the cleaning roller according to rotational direction of the motor. The third gear mechanism is configured to switch between transmission and non-transmission of the driving force to the registration roller according to the rotational direction of the motor. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208243 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS WITH CLEANING DEVICE AND CLEANING METHOD - In an image forming apparatus including a cleaning device having a cleaning blade arranged so as to make contact with and separate from a cleaned surface, an occurrence of excessive cutting when the cleaning blade makes contact with the cleaned surface is prevented. The image forming apparatus includes the cleaning blade for making contact with and separating from the cleaned surface and scraping off toner adhered onto the cleaned surface and a regulation unit for regulating a movement of the cleaning blade in the direction of contact with the cleaned surface up to a position where a pressing force to the cleaned surface by the cleaning blade does not exceed a predetermined pressing force. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208244 | Methods and apparatus for remanufacturing toner cartridges - A cutting device for use in detaching a drum from a printer cartridge, the drum defining a hollow interior, the hollow interior being surrounded by an interior wall of the drum, the cutting device comprising a shaft and a pointed edge protruding from the shaft, the pointed edge being configured to rotate with the shaft when the drum is being detached from the printer cartridge. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208245 | Image Forming Apparatus and Process Cartridge - The invention provides an image forming apparatus including a casing, a process cartridge, and a toner box. The process cartridge includes: a first housing which supports an electrostatic latent image carrier and which has a first opening and a first edge portion; and a second housing which supports a toner carrier, which is attached to the first housing so that the toner carrier confronts the electrostatic latent image carrier and the second housing is movable relative to the first housing and which has a second opening and a second edge portion. The process cartridge further includes an elastic element which blocks a gap between the first edge portion and the second edge portion and which permits relative movement between the first opening and the second opening, while ensuring toner communication between the first opening and the second opening. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208246 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - An image forming apparatus including an image bearing member which has an electroconductive substrate, a photosensitive layer overlying the electroconductive substrate and a cross-linked resin surface layer overlying the photosensitive layer and bears a latent electrostatic image on the surface thereof, an application device to apply a solid lubricant to the image bearing member; a charging device to charge the surface of the image bearing member, an irradiation device to irradiate the surface of the image bearing member with light to form the latent electrostatic image thereon, a development device to develop the latent electrostatic with toner to obtain a developed image, a transfer device to transfer the developed image to a recording medium, and; a cleaning device to clean the surface of the image bearing member, wherein the cross-linked resin surface layer includes a cross-linked body of trimethylol propane triacrylate and particulates including silicon and an average diameter of agglomeration areas of the particulates containing silicon on the surface of the cross-linked resin surface layer is from 0.5 to 2.2 μm. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208247 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, METHOD OF PRODUCING ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - An electrophotographic photosensitive member is provided in which both a potential variation over a long time period and a potential variation within a short time period are suppressed. A method of producing the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus each having the electrophotographic photosensitive member are also provided. In the electrophotographic photosensitive member, an intermediate layer is a layer formed by coating and drying a coating liquid for an intermediate layer, containing an acidic titania sol and an organic resin, and the acidic titania sol is an acidic sol containing anatase-type titanium oxide crystal particles having an average primary particle diameter of 3 nm or more and 9 nm or less. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208248 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND ATTACHING METHOD OF CHARGER UNIT IN IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - In this invention, the charging units are in the separate construction for the main chargers and for the ozone ducts. When installing the process units, the ozone ducts are placed on the elastic sheets of the duct cases that are fixed to the main frame. The process units are slid while slanting the ozone ducts to the duct cases by the main chargers against the bias force of the elastic sheets. Fluctuation in manufacturing accuracy is absorbed by the elastic sheets and the maintenance efficiency when installing/removing the process units is improved by sliding the process units smoothly. Further, the charging units are supported certainly by the main frame. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208249 | COATING LIQUID FOR FORMING UNDERCOAT LAYER, METHOD FOR PREPARING COATING LIQUID FOR FORMING UNDERCOAT LAYER, ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTORECEPTOR, IMAGE-FORMING APPARATUS, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC CARTRIDGE - Provided is a coating liquid for forming an undercoat layer of an electrophotographic photoreceptor exhibiting high stability. In the coating liquid for forming an undercoat layer of an electrophotographic photoreceptor containing metal oxide particles and a binder resin, the metal oxide particles have a cumulative volume average diameter D | 2009-08-20 |
20090208250 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTORECEPTOR, IMAGE-FORMING APPARATUS, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC CARTRIDGE - An electrophotographic photoreceptor having high sensitivity and hardly affected by the transfer in an electrophotographic process is provided. The electrophotographic photoreceptor includes an undercoat layer containing metal oxide particles and a binder resin and a photosensitive layer disposed on the undercoat layer, wherein the metal oxide particles have a volume average particle diameter of 0.1 μm or less and a 90% cumulative particle diameter of 0.3 μm or less which are measured by a dynamic light-scattering method in a liquid of the undercoat layer dispersed in a solvent mixture of methanol and 1-propanol at a weight ratio of 7:3, and the photosensitive layer contains a binder resin having an ester bond. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208251 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A conductive drum flange is provided in a cylindrical member of a photoconductive drum. A first gear is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the drum flange. A nonconductive gear member is provided in a shaft member of a transfer roller. A second gear to which driving force is transmitted from the first gear is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the gear member. A groove is formed in at least one of two sides of the gear member. A distance for insulation along the side is increased by groove walls of the groove. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208252 | Developing device for image forming apparatus and process cartridge having the same - A developing device that can reliably supply toner from a toner supply roller to a developing roller and that does not generate scraping irregularities in the toner thin layer on the developing roller, and a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus having the same. The developing device has: a toner supply chamber; a developing roller provided in the toner supply chamber; a toner supply roller provided in the toner supply chamber for supplying toner to the developing roller; and a layer regulation member for forming the toner on the developing roller into a thin layer, and develops electrostatic latent images on an image carrier by applying bias voltage to the developing roller. An intermediate contact member is interposed between the developing roller and the toner supply roller. The intermediate contact member is a sheet member fixed at one end, and the free end of the sheet member is interposed between the developing roller and the toner supply roller, with the free end side protruding therebetween. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208253 | TONER BOTTLE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A toner bottle includes a bottle main body for discharging toner contained therein by rotation of the bottle main body and a scraping member disposed inside the bottle main body for rubbing the inner wall surface of the bottle main body 20 by rotation of the bottle main body. A shaft section for supporting a rubbing section included in the scraping member has an inclined support section extending with a predetermined angle inclined in a direction deviating from a direction in which an axis of rotation of the bottle main body extends. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208254 | DEVELOPING UNIT, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND FLOATING DEVELOPER COLLECTING METHOD FOR DEVELOPING UNIT - A suction duct that sucks air is provided downstream from a magnet roller that applies a developer to a photoconductor while rotating, in a direction of rotation of the photoconductor, and upstream of a surface potential sensor that measures surface potential of the photoconductor. Moreover, ribs for adjusting an air flow are arranged within the suction duct in such a manner that a width of an air flow passage formed by a rear end in a direction of air flow and a forward end of a nearest rib in the direction of air flow is narrowed from a rib installed upstream in the direction of air flow toward a rib installed downstream. The collection duct collects a floating developer by using a negative pressure. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208255 | Development Roller, Development Device, and Image Forming Apparatus - A development roller includes a base unit having a base recess and a base projection formed in a predetermined area of a circumference surface of the base unit, and a surface layer formed on the circumference surface of the base unit and having a recess and a projection formed respectively in accordance with the base recess and the base projection of the base unit. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208256 | Development Roller, Development Device, and Image Forming Apparatus - A development roller includes a base unit having a base recess and a base projection that are formed in a predetermined area of a circumference surface of the base unit by pressing a regular pattern in pressure machining, and a surface layer formed on the circumference surface of the base unit and having a recess and a projection formed respectively in accordance with the base recess and the base projection of the base unit. A thickness of the surface layer is larger than a maximum height of a base swollen portion close to the side edge of the base projection from a regular surface of the base projection. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208257 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - One end of a sheet guiding member on a transfer nip side is located on a straight line connecting an exit of a registration nip formed between a pair of registration rollers and an entrance of the transfer nip or on an opposite side of an intermediate transfer belt across the straight line and on one side of a triangle formed by connecting rotation centers of the transfer member, the transfer roller, and the transfer guide roller or inside the triangle. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208258 | INTERMEDIATE TRANSFER MEDIUM, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS USING THE INTERMEDIATE TRANSFER MEDIUM - An intermediate transfer belt, which receives plural color toner images from one or more image bearing members and then transfers the plural color toner images onto a receiving material. The intermediate transfer belt includes a substrate; and an outermost layer located overlying the substrate and including an epoxy-silicone copolymer. An image forming apparatus including at least one image bearing member configured to bear plural color toner images thereon; a primary transfer device including the intermediate transfer belt, wherein the primary transfer device transfers the plural color toner images from the at least one image bearing member to the intermediate transfer belt to form a combined color toner image thereon; and a secondary transfer device configured to transfer the combined color toner image onto a receiving material. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208259 | TRANSFER APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - A transfer apparatus includes a transfer belt that conveys a toner image which has been transferred to an outer periphery face thereof; a transfer member that, at a contact portion, causes the toner image to be transferred from the outer periphery face of the transfer belt to a recording medium; an opposing roller that is disposed to oppose the transfer member at an inner periphery side of the transfer belt; an opposing belt that is wound round the opposing roller; and a tension member that is disposed at an upstream side of a conveyance direction of the transfer belt relative to the opposing roller, the opposing belt being wound round the tension member, and the tension member causing the opposing belt to touch against the inner side of the transfer belt at the upstream side relative to the contact portion. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208260 | CONVEYOR-BELT APPARATUS AND IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - An image heating apparatus including: an endless belt; a heating rotary member for heating a toner image on a sheet at a heating nip between the belt and the rotary member; a pressure member provided slidably on an inner surface of the belt at the heating nip, for bringing the belt into pressure contact with the rotary member; and a lubricant applying roller including a lubricant retaining layer for retaining a lubricant and a lubricant applying amount controlling layer for controlling an applying amount of the lubricant, the lubricant applying roller abutting against the inner surface of the belt to apply the lubricant onto the inner surface of the belt while rotating, in which the lubricant applying roller is brought into contact with the belt and includes a high frictional portion having a coefficient of friction higher than that of the lubricant applying amount controlling layer. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208261 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - In a fixing device, a heat roller and a fixing gear for rotating the heat roller are arranged concentrically, and coupled to each other by inserting a key formed in the fixing gear into a keyway formed in the heat roller. The keyway is designed such that the key is allowed to move along a direction in which the heat roller is rotated. For example, the keyway is formed by notching a free end of a one-side rotary shaft of the heat roller so as to extend along the direction in which the heat roller is rotated. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208262 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - In an image heating apparatus, outer peripheral surfaces of two endless belts are held in contact with each other to form a nip portion, and a recording material bearing a toner image is heated at the nip portion while being pinched and conveyed. In the image heating apparatus, the nip portion has a pre-nip portion formed by regions of the endless belts with no backup by pressure members, and a pressure nip portion where one endless belt with backup by the pressure members is held in contact with another endless belt. The image heating apparatus is capable of securing a large nip width compatible with an increase in speed and free from “pressure-absence” leading to image abnormality such as misregistration, thus enabling an image having a sufficient gloss to be obtained. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208263 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes: a heating section; and a press section which presses the heating section and thereby forms a fixing nip section, wherein at least one of the heating section and the press section comprises, an endless fixing belt; a press member which presses the fixing belt to the fixing nip; and a sliding sheet covering the press member, wherein the sliding sheet is wider than the fixing belt; projections are provided at a first area which is inside of an end part of the press member of a surface of the sliding sheet in the width direction; and projections lower than the projections provided at the first area are provided at a second area which is near the end of the fixing belt of the surface of the sliding sheet, or projections are not provided at all at the second area. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208264 | Fixing device and image forming apparatus including same - A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressure member, a contact member, and a heater. The fixing member is provided in a width direction of a recording medium and to heat and fuse a toner image on the recording medium. The pressure member is to press against the fixing member. The contact member is provided inside the fixing member and to contact the pressure member through the fixing member to form a nip portion between the pressure member and the fixing member. The heater includes a heating element and is to heat the contact member. The heating element of the heater is a mold member of a relatively thin plate extending in a width direction of the fixing member and includes a flat surface that faces the contact member. An image forming apparatus for forming an image includes the fixing device. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208265 | IMAGE HEATING DEVICE - The present invention relates to an image heating device comprising, a first belt which heats an image on a recording material at a nip, a second belt which forms the nip with the first belt, a first pressure member and a first rotating member which press the first belt at the nip, the first pressure member and the first rotating member being provided while not being in contact with each other; and a second pressure member and a second rotating member which press the second belt at the nip, the second pressure member and the second rotating member being provided while not being in contact with each other. The nip is formed by a region where at least one of the first pressure member, the first rotating member, the second pressure member, and the second rotating member is in contact with the corresponding belt. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208266 | FUSING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS USING THE SAME - A fusing unit is comprised of a fusing roller and a pressing roller, having an elastic layer on their outer peripheral surface and a pressing structure for pressing the fusing roller against the pressing roller, and causes a sheet of paper with an unfixed toner image to pass through the nip portion where the fusing roller and pressing roller are put in press-contact with each other so as to fuse the toner image and fix it to the paper. This fusing unit further includes a pressure release lever for regulating the pressing action of the pressing structure when the rollers are put in press-contact with each other by the pressing structure. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208267 | IMAGE-FORMING DEVICE AND IMAGE-FORMING METHOD - An image-forming device includes: a tension applying unit that applies tension to a recording medium; an image carrier that holds a toner image; a transfer unit that transfers the toner image held by the image carrier to the recording medium while tension is applied to the recording medium; a fixing unit that fixes the toner image transferred to the recording medium; and a retreat unit that causes the recording medium to move away from the fixing unit while tension is not applied to the recording medium, wherein rotation of the image carrier is suspended after the toner image is transferred from the image carrier to the recording medium, and after the suspension of rotation of the image carrier, application of tension to the recording medium is suspended, and the recording medium is caused to move away from the fixing unit by the retreat unit. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208268 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING PRINTED PRODUCTS - A method for producing at least one printed product, the method including conveying the printed product to a processing apparatus, wherein the printed product includes a detectable identification code. The method further includes supplying the printed product to at least one tool of the processing apparatus and processing the printed product with the at least one tool. The processing includes detecting data, with a reading device, from the detectable identification code on the printed product and transmitting the data to a control unit. The processing further includes controlling, by the control unit, the at least one tool to process the printed product in dependence of the transmitted data. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208269 | Cosmetic applicator - Various embodiments of an applicator for applying a cosmetic product are disclosed. The applicator may include at least two applicator elements, each including at least one periodic pattern with at least one undulation, where the at least two periodic patterns may be different from one another. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208270 | OPTICAL READER MARKER - There is a marker configured to dispense a fluid. The marker includes a fluid container configured to store a fluid. The marker also includes a dispenser configured to selectably dispense a fluid. The marker further includes a tip head coupled to the dispenser, wherein the tip head includes a substantially rigid frontal profile configured to apply the fluid from the dispenser to a surface in a two-dimensional shape substantially identical to the frontal profile. The tip head is selectably removable; wherein the tip head includes a plurality of tip heads each having substantially different frontal profiles. The tip head further includes a daubing protrusion. The marker includes a fluid disposed within the fluid container, wherein the fluid is a machine readable ink. The marker also includes an eraser coupled to the fluid container, opposite of the dispenser, respectively, and configured to erase the fluid deposited on a paper substrate. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208271 | MODULAR COUPLING SYSTEM - The present invention generally relates to a modular coupling system, which may comprise one or more casing members and one or more modular connectors. The casing members are adapted to be connected to the modular connectors of the system and may take the form of almost any type of fitting or connecting device (such as a tee, elbow, valve, coupling, container, machinery or equipment). The modular connectors are adapted to be connected to the casing members of the system and also to one or more ducts (such as pipes or tubing that may have threaded, slip, quick-connect, or other connecting means). Thus, the system allows the use of multiple modular connectors (which may each be adapted to connect to a different type of duct) to be used interchangeably with multiple types of casing members. The invention also includes certain kits and methods of using the system. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208272 | CLAMPING AND/OR BRAKING DEVICE - The invention relates to a clamping and/or braking device, in particular a pneumatically actuatable clamping and/or braking device, with a housing having a space in which a hydraulic medium constructed least in part as a solid body is accommodated, wherein the space for accommodating the hydraulic medium is delimited on one side by a wall of the housing and on the other by a clamping and/or braking element, and with at least one actuating element that acts on the hydraulic medium to produce a clamping and/or braking force which can be transmitted by the clamping and/or braking element to an impinging element. According to the invention, at least one actuating element is shaped like a pin or a spike. The actuating element is movable along a predetermined spatial curve, and acts on the hydraulic medium through an aperture in the wall of the housing delimiting the space for accommodating the hydraulic medium. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208273 | JOINT ARRANGEMENT FOR A VEHICLE - Joint arrangement for a vehicle, with a joint ( | 2009-08-20 |
20090208274 | Swivel coupling device - A swivel coupling device includes a base member having a stem extended from a carrier, and a channel formed in an outer peripheral portion of the stem, and a swivel member includes a passage formed in a support member, and an inner peripheral groove formed in the support member and communicating with the passage of the support member for forming an endless pathway between the support member of the swivel member and the stem of the base member when the stem is engaged into the passage of the support member and for receiving bearing members which prevent the support member of the swivel member and the stem of the base member from being disengaged from each other. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208275 | STRUCTURE FOR EXHAUST PIPE CONNECTION SECTION OF MUFFLER - In an exhaust pipe connecting structure of a muffler, a through-hole | 2009-08-20 |
20090208276 | Connecting Arrangement Between a Shaft Journal and a Joint Part - A connecting arrangement between a shaft journal ( | 2009-08-20 |
20090208277 | SANITARY CLAMP - A sanitary clamp for connection to a pair of barb connectors each having one end terminating at a funnel shaped portion is described herein. The sanitary clamp includes a first member having a first semi-circular center portion disposed between a first end and a second end. A second member has a second semi-circular center portion disposed between a first end and a second end. Said first ends of the first and second members are configured to pivotally connect to each other, and said second ends of the first and second members include a locking mechanism for selectively locking the second ends of the first and second members in engagement. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208278 | CONNECTING ASSEMBLY WITH SECURING RING - A connecting assembly for transmitting torque comprising a shaft journal with an outer annular groove and a hollow shaft with an inner annular groove, wherein, for torque transmitting purposes, the hollow shaft is rotationally fixed to the shaft journal and comprises at least one recess towards the outer circumferential face of the hollow shaft in a partial circumferential region of the inner annular groove. The connecting assembly also includes a radially elastically widenable axial securing ring which is positioned in the outer annular groove of the shaft journal and in the inner annular groove of the hollow shaft, wherein the axial securing ring comprises at least one outwardly projecting projection which is arranged in the at least one recess of the hollow shaft, and securing means which cover the at least one recess and prevent the axial securing ring from being radially widened. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208279 | CONNECTING ASSEMBLY BETWEEN A SHAFT JOURNAL AND A CONSTANT VELOCITY UNIVERSAL JOINT - The invention relates to a connecting assembly, more particularly for use in the driveline of a motor vehicle. The connecting assembly comprises a shaft journal with an outer journal groove; a constant velocity universal joint with an inner joint part which, for the purpose of transmitting torque, is connected to the shaft journal in a rotationally fixed way and which comprises a sleeve projection, wherein, in an outer circumferential face of the sleeve projection, there is provided an engagement recess; a securing sleeve for axially fixing the inner joint part relative to the shaft journal; wherein the securing sleeve comprises inner holding portions which engage the journal groove, as well as outer holding portions which engage the at least one engagement recess. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208280 | MULTIPLE GROOVED VACUUM COUPLING - The present invention relates to a coupling system ( | 2009-08-20 |
20090208281 | CONNECTING DEVICE OF PARKING CABLE FOR ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE - Disclosed is a connecting device of a parking cable for an electric parking brake, which connects an actuator for the electric parking brake with a parking cable. The connecting device includes a connector and a reaction force member. The connector includes a small diameter section having one side into which an outer peripheral surface of the parking brake is inserted, a large diameter section that extends from the small diameter section to have a diameter larger than that of the small diameter section, an axial cutout slit axially formed through upper and lower surfaces of an outer peripheral portion of the large diameter section such that protrusions circumferentially protruding from the actuator are inserted into the axial cutout slit through the large diameter section, a circumferential cutout slit that extends from an inner end of the axial cutout slit in a circumferential direction, and a cutout groove that axially extends from the circumferential cutout slit. The reaction force member is inserted into the large diameter section to press the protrusions such that the protrusions are seated in the cutout groove through the axial cutout slit and the circumferential cutout slit. According to the connecting device, the assembly work is facilitated, so the assembly efficiency can be improved and connection work using the connector can be easily performed. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208282 | Connector for Pipe Cleaning Apparatus - The present invention relates to an improved coupling apparatus for tandemly connecting, by hand, separate lengths of a pipe cleaning cable, also referred to as a “snake,” to obtain a cable of extended length suitable for the length of pipe being cleaned. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208283 | AUTOMOTIVE DRIVETRAIN HAVING DEFLECTION COMPENSATION - A deflection compensation system for automobile drivetrain components is provided, wherein a shaft is able to continue in driving relationship to another shaft or coupler in driven relationship when their respective axes of rotation are misaligned. At least one of the shaft and the coupler is preferably supported independently of the other and provided with crown involute splines, whereby one of the shaft and coupler when out of relative alignment, continues to drive the other without the necessity of adding additional moving parts to the drivetrain component. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208284 | Clamped friction joint - A clamped friction joint comprising: a composite component; and a second component which overlaps with the composite component in a region of overlap. A clamping member engages a first surface of the composite component in the region of overlap and a first surface of the second component outside the region of overlap. A fastener is arranged to pull the clamping member and the second component together so as to compress the composite component between the clamping member and the second component in the region of overlap. The clamping force applied by the clamping member and the second component facilitates load transfer across the joint without requiring any bolt hole in the composite component, or any additional bonding material. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208285 | Anti-ram system and method of installation - An anti-ram system and method of construction having a shallow mounted base pad from which extend a plurality of bollards. Very little or only a shallow excavation is required for the base of the bollard system, which can be partially or fully assembled prior to bringing it to the installation site. The shallow mounting pad or base of the bollard system of this invention may be formed or constructed in various ways and of various materials, and in various configurations. The shallow mounting pad or base is constructed so as to have considerable mass. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208286 | Synthetic Kerbs and Method of Installation - A plastics or rubber kerbstone ( | 2009-08-20 |
20090208287 | ZERO VELOCITY BEAD DISPENSER - A zero velocity bead dispenser is provided for a paint striping vehicle. The dispenser includes an electric motor which rotates a pair of rollers. A bead gun directs reflective particles into the nip point between the rollers, which discharge the particles or beads with a rearward velocity substantially matching the forward velocity of the vehicle. Therefore, the beads are discharged into the wet paint on the road with a net zero velocity so as to minimize or eliminate rolling of the beads in the paint, thereby maximizing the reflective properties of the beads. A speed sensor continuously monitors the vehicle speed and automatically adjusts the motor speed, and thus the roller speed, so as to maintain the relative zero velocity of the discharged beads. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208288 | Geotextile Tube with Flat Ends - A flexible water-permeable geotextile tube having flat ends when filled with fill material. The tube has separate end panels that are attached to a tube body at the tube body's opposing ends. In one embodiment of this invention, the separate end panels are configured to have the same shape as that of a cross-section of the tube body when the tube body is filled and installed. The cross section of the tube body may be determined before installation by determining the relationship between the height, circumference, the fill material, and the surrounding environment into which the tube is planned to be installed. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208289 | Half and half gate - The present invention comprises a sewer water gate to be located at the opening to a subsurface catch basin of a storm drain system that will exclude trash and debris from the system while still permitting a flow of water, but which will partially open to allow full access for water and entrained material when the rate of flow is sufficiently high while still obstructing the flow of heavier materials. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208290 | CONTAMINANT-REACTIVE GEOCOMPOSITE MAT AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE AND USE - Reactive geocomposite mats, and their method of manufacture, for treating contaminants in sediment, soil or water that allow the passage of essentially non-contaminated water therethrough. The geocomposite mat includes a pre-formed woven or non-woven geotextile, that is needlepunched to an outer geotextile sheet layer to provide a high loft, structurally secured, pre-formed geotextile having a thickness of about 6 mm to about 200 mm, and having, a porosity sufficient to receive a powdered or granular contaminant-reactive material, contaminant-sorptive material, or a contaminant-neutralizing material (hereinafter collectively referred to as “contaminant-reactant material” or “contaminant-reactive material”) throughout its thickness, or in any portion of the thickness across its entire major surface(s). The powdered or granular contaminant-reactive material is disposed within the pores of the previously formed, high loft geotextile mat to surround the fibers, e.g., by vacuum or vibrating the high loft mat while in contact with the contaminant-reactive material to allow the powdered or granular contaminant-reactive material to flow by gravity into the pores of the previously formed, needlepunched geotextile. A liquid-permeable outer geotextile sheet then is secured to the filled geotextile, preferably by heating upwardly extending fibers of the pre-formed geotextile mat to prevent the powdered or granular material from escaping from the geotextile during transportation and installation. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208291 | Lining material and pipeline lining method - A flexible tubular lining material impregnated with a thermosetting resin is folded and bound with a tape to provide a reduced width. Two steel belts are inserted into belt loops and are removably attached so as to sandwich the lining material. Another steel belt is fixedly attached to one end of the lining material. During pipeline lining work, first, the steel-belted lining material is inserted into a lateral pipe from the main pipe. The steel belts are then removed from the lining material so that the lining material may remain inside the pipeline. After the steel belts are extracted from the pipeline, the lining material is made to expand via application of pressure from the inside. While kept in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the pipeline, the lining material is heated in order to cure the thermosetting resin therein. Such an arrangement allows the lining material to be easily and smoothly inserted into a pipeline even where there is a plurality of sections bent at a right angle or close to a right angle. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208292 | Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicle - A remotely operated underwater vehicle includes a case to which is attached a camera for transmitting video to a remotely located base station. A tether having four pairs of twisted wire operably connects the underwater vehicle, and the camera to the base station. Video is transmitted from the camera to the base station on a pair of twisted wire. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208293 | Propulsion and Steering Mechanism for an Underwater Vehicle - A propulsion system is provided for an underwater vehicle such as a Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV). Two propellers are independently driven by motors, while the orientation of the propellers is simultaneously controlled by a third motor. A means is provided for reprogramming the control electronics that can be disabled when the vehicle is underwater. The control electronics also provides that all signals including video are transmitted to a base station without requiring coaxial cable. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208294 | APPARATUS FOR OFF-SHORE PROCESSING OF A HYDROCARBON STREAM - An apparatus for off-shore processing of a hydrocarbon stream, at least comprising: a jack-up platform; one or more jack-up legs rootable to a sea-bed; and one or more hydrocarbon stream processing units on the jack-up platform. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208295 | Drilling rig riser identification apparatus - A riser having a riser body having an interior surface, an exterior surface, and two spaced-apart ends, at least one identification assembly on the riser body, the identification assembly having an assembly body and a wave energizable apparatus in the body, the assembly body having an interior surface, an exterior surface, and a channel therethrough in which is positioned part of the riser body, the assembly body releasably secured on the riser body, and the wave energizable apparatus positioned within the assembly body. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims, 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b). | 2009-08-20 |
20090208296 | DROP MASS SOIL COMPACTION APPARATUS - The invention concerns a drop mass soil compaction apparatus ( | 2009-08-20 |
20090208297 | Soil Compactor Having Low Profile Muffler - A ramming device for compacting soil includes an upper mass and a lower mass. The lower mass is driven linearly back and forth with respect to the upper mass to compact material therebelow. An engine drives the lower mass and is supported by the upper mass. A muffler is fluidly connected to the engine and is contoured such that a majority of the muffler is positioned inboard of a footprint of a side of the ramming device. Preferably, the muffler has a shape that substantially matches a shape of the upper mass adjacent to the muffler thereby further reducing the distance that the muffler extends beyond a footprint of a sidewall of the device. | 2009-08-20 |