36th week of 2011 patent applcation highlights part 29 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20110217013 | LIGHT COLLECTING AND EMITTING APPARATUS, METHOD, AND APPLICATIONS - A light guide apparatus includes a light guide layer having a top surface and a bottom surface, and a transversely oriented side-end surface that forms an output aperture of the light guide, characterized by an index of refraction, n | 2011-09-08 |
20110217014 | Adaptor for mounting cable connectors - An adapter is provided and includes a process for mounting the connectors on two cables being connected in a control cabinet. The adapter includes a circular sleeve with a flange positioned at one end of the sleeve for creating a rigid, fixed connection of the connectors in a conduit bringing cables into the control cabinet. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217015 | FIBER DISTRIBUTION HUB WITH CONNECTORIZED STUB CABLES - A fiber distribution hub includes an enclosure; a splitter region; a termination region including a plurality of adapters; at least a first feeder stub cable; and at least a first subscriber stub cable routed into the enclosure. The subscriber cable includes at least two optical fibers that each have a connectorized end inserted into one of the adapters at the termination region. The subscriber cable is terminated at a remote end by a multi-fiber connector. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217016 | FIBER OPTIC COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - An integrated fiber cable management system comprises a fitting having a body with a collet through which a cable passes. A lock nut is threaded on a first end of the body to hold the body in relation to a chassis. A sealing nut is threaded on a second end of the body to tighten the collet on the cable to hold the cable in place in relation to the chassis. A flexible protector extends from the sealing nut to control the bend of the cable between the chassis and a fiber cable cassette. The flexible protector restricts the bend of the cable and thus extends the life of the cable. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217017 | SEALING ENCLOSURE - An enclosure ( | 2011-09-08 |
20110217018 | COMPACT THERMAL ACTUATED VARIABLE OPTICAL ATTENUATOR - A MEMS variable optical attenuator (VOA) chip includes a frame having a planar surface, a micro-electric actuator with a movable optical shutter arranged with respect to the planar surface of the frame, where the VOA is actuated by thermal expansion. The micro-electric actuator comprises semiconductor conductors (“wires”) that can be moved, upon applying an electrical current, by thermal expansion. In one embodiment, the MEMS VOA chip is configured in a multiple wire arrangement that restricts the shutter movement in a plane. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217019 | IMAGING DEVICE AND DIGEST PLAYBACK METHOD - An imaging device comprises: a first memory unit operable to store one or a plurality of audio-video data, each composed of a plurality of scenes and including a video data and an audio data; a second memory unit operable to store one or a plurality of BGM data; a creating unit operable to create, based on information designating one or more of the scenes composing the audio-video data stored in the first memory unit, a playlist for digest playback that allows the one or more of the scenes to be played back continuously; and a playback unit operable to play back the audio-video data in accordance with the playlist for digest playback so as not to play back the audio data included in the audio-video data but so as to play back only the video data included in the audio-video data, and for playing back the BGM data stored in the second memory unit while playing back the video data. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217020 | Mobile Movie Editing System - Editing mobile phone style-obtained movies on a remotely-accessible website. Mobile movies are obtained by a thin clients such as a cellular phone. The movies can be uploaded to a website and then edited on the website, via an interface that is accessible from the mode mobile phone. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217021 | Generation of Composited Video Programming - Provided are, among other things, systems, methods and techniques for creating a talk shows and other video programming. In one example, a host processor-based facility is configured for: (i) accepting inputs of content and stylistic information for designing a composited video program, (ii); and electronically transferring such content and stylistic information to the processor-based production server; the host processor-based facility and a set of the participant processor-based devices, each associated with a user, are configured: (i) to communicate with each other over an electronic communications network as participating devices in a live conference that includes audio communication, with each of the participating devices transmitting a live first data stream; and (ii) to transmit a second data stream to a processor-based production server; both the first data stream and the second data stream represent a corresponding user's participation in the live conference; and the processor-based production server is configured to receive the second data streams and assemble them into a final composited video program using the content and stylistic information. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217022 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENRICHING VIDEO DATA - A method for enhancing video data comprises a) extracting said video data into a plurality of segments; b) analyzing said extracted video data with regard to one or more features within or between said segments; c) finding at least one location for placing at least one message in one of said segments; and d) integrating a message at said at least one location according to information obtained from user consumption and/or interaction with the video. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217023 | DIGITAL MEDIA ASSET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SUPPORTING MULTIPLE USERS - An approach provides editing of digital media. A platform, as maintained by a service provider, provides a remote proxy editing capability of a plurality of media streams. A first one of the media streams is transmitted to a player of a first customer of the service provider. Further, the method comprises transmitting a second one of the media streams to a player of a second customer of the service provider. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217024 | SYSTEM, METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR CUSTOM STREAM GENERATION - Methods, systems, and computer program products that filter available content, produce a set of clean, discrete clips, and mix the clips to produce a package of content that matches a user's substantive preferences and conforms to a length and format specified by the user. Clips that do not match the user's preferences may be eliminated from use, as may be clips that have been viewed by the user previously. Moreover, the user can react to the received clips and judge them as to desirability and relevance to his or her preferences. These reactions may then become part of a user's set of preferences for generation of subsequent mixes. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217025 | AUXILIARY AUDIO TRANSMISSION FOR PRESERVING SYNCHRONIZED PLAYOUT WITH PACED-DOWN VIDEO - In one method embodiment, providing a multiplex of compressed versions of a first video stream and a first audio stream, each corresponding to an audiovisual (A/V) program, the first video stream and the first audio stream each corresponding to a first playout rate and un-synchronized with each other for an initial playout portion; and providing a compressed version of a second audio stream, the second audio stream corresponding to a pitch-preserving, second playout rate different than the first playout rate, the second audio stream synchronized to the initial playout portion of the first video stream when the first video stream is played out at the second playout rate, the first audio stream replaceable by the second audio stream for the initial playout portion. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217026 | VIDEO STRUCTURING DEVICE - A video structuring device includes: character string extraction means for determining whether or not a character string is present in a frame image, and if it determines that a character string is present, generating character string position information for the character string present in a character string present frame image in which the character string is present, and outputting the character string position information, frame identifying information for identifying the character string present frame image, and the character string present frame image; video information storage means for storing frame identifying information, character string present frame image and character string position information in an index file all associated with one another; and structure information presentation means for associating character string display in the form of an image which is produced by cutting an area where the character string is present based on the character string present frame image and character string position information stored in the index file and displaying them on display means. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217027 | INSERT FOR A FLOW THROUGH HEATER - When feedback loop control is used for controlling a temperature of liquid at an outlet ( | 2011-09-08 |
20110217028 | FORMABLE PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVICE - A photographic device including a formable portion comprising a reflective surface, wherein said formable portion is for retainably forming the reflective surface into a plurality of shapes, and wherein the reflective surface is for reflecting light from a photographic light source; and a base portion coupled to the formable portion, wherein the base portion is configured for coupling the photographic device to an object. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217029 | ANTI-SHAKE STRUCTURE FOR AUTO-FOCUS MODULAR - An anti-shake structure for auto-focus module includes an auto-focus module for driving a lens to move forward and rearward in a light entering path, i.e. in z-axis direction, so that the lens focuses light on an image sensor; a frame for holding the auto-focus module therein; a lens suspender with a compensation lens arranged thereon being connected to a plurality of suspension wires while the latter are connected at respective another end to the top cover plate of the frame, so that the compensation lens is correspondingly suspended in the frame in the light entering path and located behind the lens; and a shake compensation driving unit for driving the lens suspender to move horizontally in x-axis or y-axis direction, so as to compensate any image shift caused by hand shaking. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217030 | Method to determine auto focus of a digital camera - An image is focused onto an image sensor array by efficient movement of an adjustable focus lens by a lens focus motor. A minimum of three focus positions is required to determine an estimated best focus position of the lens focus motor. After which a sweep of the focus positions surrounding the estimated best focus position is performed to verify and determine the best actual focus position of the lens focus motor. A sharpness value of the image being focused comprising a Sobel edge detection or other detections means provide sharpness data to evaluate image sharpness at various lens focus motor positions. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217031 | Method And Apparatus For Shape Memory Alloy Bender Actuator - In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a retention end, a free end, a shape memory alloy (SMA) wire, and a conductive wire. The retention end is configured to be connected to a first member. The free end is configured to be connected to a second member. The SMA wire has a first length. The SMA wire extends between the retention end and the free end. The conductive wire is spaced from the SMA wire. The conductive wire includes a second length substantially equal to the first length when the SMA wire is at a first temperature. The conductive wire extends between the retention end and the free end. The SMA wire is configured to contract when the first temperature is increased. The free end is configured to move in response to the contraction of the SMA wire. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217032 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR POWER MANAGEMENT IN AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - An electronic device and method for power management in an electronic device is provided. In an embodiment, the electronic device includes the functionality of a personal digital assistant, wireless email paging and a camera with a flash that is operated via self-contained power supply in the form of a battery. The device also includes a supervisor circuit which causes the device to enter sleep mode, or disables the device or certain features of the device, if the battery level falls below a certain threshold. A method in accordance with an embodiment performs, in response to a request to fire the flash, a pre-flash test which is selected so as to not trip the supervisor circuit. The battery level is examined after the pre-flash test. If the battery level meets certain criteria, the full flash is permitted to proceed, else the full flash is not permitted to proceed. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217033 | MECHANICAL SHUTTER AND PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH SAME - A mechanical shutter includes a base, a cover, a primary blade and a secondary blade. The base includes a first through hole and a connecting shaft extending from the base. The cover includes a second through hole and a connecting hole. The connecting shaft of the base extends through the connecting hole to secure the cover to the base. The first through hole is coaxial to the second through hole, thereby cooperatively forming an light passage. The primary blade and the secondary blade are moveably interconnected so when the primary blade rotates around the connecting shaft relative to the base, the primary blade carries the secondary blade to move, and the secondary blade moves together to cover or expose the light passage. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217034 | SPACER MEMBER FOR CAMERA MODULE AND CAMERA MODULE EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME - Provided is a spacer member of a camera module which fixes a border of an elastic member for elastically supporting a lens holder upward and downward to a housing, and a camera module equipped with the same. The spacer member for a camera module, which is disposed between a cover and a plate spring of the camera module so as to fix a border of the plate spring to a housing, is characterized in that the spacer member is formed of an elastic material having cushion performance, and the spacer member is compressed toward the plate spring by the cover so that the plate spring is fixedly compressed to the housing. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217035 | Protection Mechanism for a Communications Network - The invention relates to a protection mechanism for a communications network. A node, a method, a computer program product and a communications network to provide protection for an optical communications network are disclosed. Communications traffic is selecting from a working path in the optical network. A first fault condition is determining on the working path. The communications traffic is selected from a protection path in the optical network in response to clearing of the first fault and determining a second fault condition on the working path within a first predetermined time period of determining the first fault condition. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217036 | FIBRE MONITORING IN OPTICAL NETWORKS - A method of monitoring ( | 2011-09-08 |
20110217037 | WAVELENGTH SELECTIVE SWITCH - A wavelength selective switch includes a substrate. On the substrate, the wavelength selective switch includes at least one input port, a dispersive element, a light converging element, a light deflecting member, an output port, and a driving mechanism which drives at least one of the dispersive element, the light condenser element, and the light deflecting member, and drive by the driving mechanism is a rotational drive around an axis perpendicular to the substrate, for the dispersive element, and is a translational drive in a direction of dispersion of wavelength with respect to the substrate, for the light condenser element or the light deflecting member. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217038 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR OPTICAL SWITCHING - A method and a device for optical switching are disclosed. The method includes: receiving input optical signals; switching the input optical signals to an optical grouping unit when the input optical signals need to be grouped, and then receiving grouped optical signals; and switching the grouped optical signals to corresponding output ports for outputting. The device includes an optical switching unit and an optical grouping unit. A part of output ports of the optical switching unit are connected to input ports of the optical grouping unit, and output ports of the optical grouping unit are connected to input ports of the optical switching unit. The optical switching unit is configured to control transmission paths of the optical signals, and the optical grouping unit is configured to group the optical signals. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217039 | Wavelength Division Multiplexing Transmission Equipment - An optical transmission network comprises a multi-wavelength source ( | 2011-09-08 |
20110217040 | OPTICAL TRANSMISSION SYSTEM - An optical transmission system includes a polarization multiplexing optical transmitter for transmitting an optical signal, where an X-polarized signal and a Y-polarized signal each having a having predetermined frame structure are polarization-multiplexed, to an optical fiber transmission path, and a polarization multiplexing receiver for receiving the optical signal that has propagated through the optical transmission path. The polarization multiplexing optical transmitter delays a frame assignment signal (FAS) in the Y-polarized signal, by a predetermined delay time τ, relative to FAS in the X-polarized signal. The polarization multiplexing optical receiver includes a polarization splitter for splitting the received optical signal into two branches of polarized signals which are orthogonal to each other, a time difference detector for detecting a time difference of FASs between the two polarized signals, and a polarization identifying unit for identifying which of the two polarized signals is the X-polarized signal or Y-polarized signal. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217041 | PON SYSTEM, STATION-SIDE APPARATUS FOR PON SYSTEM, AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - An OLT, which is one of the embodiments of the present invention, is provided with: an allocation request receiving unit that receives a bandwidth allocation request from each of 1 G-ONUs and each of 10 G-ONUs; an allocation execution unit that allocates to each of the ONUs a time slot for data transmission in accordance with an allocation rule based on fairness in time allocation or an allocation rule based on fairness in throughput allocation; and an allocation result notification unit that notifies each of the ONUs of information regarding the time slot. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217042 | HIGH PERFORMANCE GIGABIT PASSIVE OPTICAL NETWORK - A system includes an optical line terminal (OLT) that includes an OLT transmitter. The OLT transmitter includes one or more fixed wavelength optical sources that generate an optical signal at a first wavelength, and an optical waveguide that transmits the optical signal at the first wavelength in an optical network. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217043 | ITERATIVE CARRIER-PHASE ESTIMATION AND DATA RECOVERY FOR COHERENT OPTICAL RECEIVERS - In one embodiment, a coherent optical receiver has an optical detector coupled to a digital processor. The optical detector mixes a received modulated optical signal with a local-oscillator signal to produce a digital measure of the modulated optical signal. The digital processor processes the digital measure using a primary carrier- and data-recovery (CDR) stage and one or more secondary CDR stages serially connected to one another. The processing performed in each secondary CDR stage is decision-directed and uses the symbol estimate generated by the preceding CDR stage to obtain a respective estimate of the carrier-phase offset and a respective symbol estimate. Since each subsequent CDR stage typically improves the accuracies of its estimates compared to those of the preceding CDR stage(s), the receiver has a lower bit-error rate than a receiver employing a single CDR stage. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217044 | VISIBLE LIGHT MULTIPLEX COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - A visible light multiplex communication system, and more particularly, a visible light multiplex communication system in which identification (ID) information and data information can be simultaneously transmitted and received to and from a server and a plurality of clients by using visible light, is disclosed. Visible light communication can be smoothly performed in a state where visible light ID communication and visible light data communication do not interfere with each other in the same space. In addition, data can be efficiently transmitted and received to and from a plurality of ID clients and a plurality of data clients by using visible light. In addition, visible light ID communication and visible light data communication can be efficiently performed in a state where interference between a plurality of clients using different protocols does not occur in the same place. Furthermore, a specific unit that is capable of efficiently transmitting and receiving data to and from a plurality of clients by using visible light can be provided. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217045 | CROSSTALK MITIGATION IN OPTICAL TRANSCEIVERS - The invention relates to a method of improving the performance of optical receivers within optical transceivers by compensating for crosstalk, both optical and electrical. Optical crosstalk may arise within the optical receiver from a variety of sources including directly from the optical emitter within, indirectly from the optical emitter via losses, and losses of other received wavelengths within the optical transceiver coupled to the optical receiver. Electrical crosstalk may arise for example between the electrical transmission lines of the optical transmitter and optical receiver. The method comprises providing a secondary optical receiver in predetermined location to the primary optical receiver, the optical receivers being electrically coupled such that the crosstalk induced photocurrent in the secondary optical receiver is subtracted from the photocurrent within the primary optical receiver. The method may be applicable to either monolithic and hybrid optical transceivers. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217046 | REMOTE CONTROL UNIT FOR CONTROLLING A PLURALITY OF DEVICES AND CORRESPONDING METHODS OF USING THE REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE - There are provided a remote control unit configurable to be used to control a plurality of devices together with corresponding methods to use the remote control. Advantageously, the transmission of both master IR signals and an illumination beam from the remote control unit is adjustable for varying a field of coverage of the master IR signals, with at least one of the plurality of devices within the field of coverage receiving the master IR signals allowing the at least one of the plurality of devices to be controlled. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217047 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING CLIENT SIGNAL IN OPTICAL TRANSPORT NETWORK - A method for transporting a client signal in an optical transport network (OTN) includes steps as follows. A byte number Cn of a client signal transported in a OTN frame period is generated according to a client signal clock and a system clock. If the Cn of the OTN frame falls in a certain range, a predetermined area in an optical channel payload unit-k (OPUk) overhead field is identified as normal, and the Cn is filled in the OPUk overhead field of the OTN frame. Therefore, the reliability for transporting the client byte number can be improved and an OPUk overhead byte space needed for transporting the client signal byte number can be saved. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217048 | Delayed interferometer and optical receiver - A delayed interferometer includes a branching unit that branches an optical signal into a first optical signal and a second optical signal; a guiding unit that guides the first optical signal in a first optical path to delay the first optical signal when a polarization direction of the first optical signal is the first direction, and guides the first optical signal in a second optical path when the polarization direction of the first optical signal is the second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a demodulating unit that causes the first optical signal guided in the first optical path or the second optical path and the second optical signal branched by the branching unit to interfere with each other, thereby demodulating the optical signal; and a polarization direction adjusting unit to adjust the polarization direction of the first optical signal in the first direction or the second direction. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217049 | PRINT CONTROL APPARATUS AND PRINT CONTROL PROGRAM - A print control apparatus includes a communication unit which communicates with a server, a print instruction acceptance unit which accepts a print instruction to make a printing apparatus execute printing, a judgment unit which judges whether or not the printing apparatus is a registered printing apparatus, a permission unit which permits the printing apparatus to execute printing based on the print instruction when the printing apparatus has been judged to be the registered printing apparatus, a restriction unit which inhibits the printing apparatus from executing printing based on the print instruction when the printing apparatus has not been judged to be the registered printing apparatus, and a notification unit which makes a notification for prompting a user to register the printing apparatus on the server as the registered printing apparatus when the printing apparatus has not been judged to be the registered printing apparatus. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217050 | PRINTING SYSTEM, PRINTING METHOD AND PROGRAM FOR EXECUTING PRINTING METHOD - In a printing apparatus, first printing data used for the first printing apparatus to perform a print is associated with second printing data generated from the same print job as the first printing data. A printing apparatus detects an operating state of the apparatus. The printing apparatus, when the detected operating state shows generation of an error and the error is not removed, in a case where it is determined that a job inputted into a printing system and associated is not completed, displays information in regard to a removal method of the error on an I/F. In addition, the printing apparatus notifies the printing apparatus of generation information of the error. The printing apparatus displays the information showing that the error is generated on an I/F. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217051 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND GENUINE PRODUCT DETERMINING METHOD FOR TONER CARTRIDGE - An image forming apparatus includes: a loading unit on which a toner cartridge is loaded, the toner cartridge having a first storage unit in which first information indicating at least a date of manufacture of toner is stored; an image forming unit which forms an image on a sheet; a counting unit which counts time; and a determination unit which determines whether the toner cartridge is a genuine product or not, based on how large a difference is between the first information and second information specified on the basis of a count result from the counting unit. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217052 | COLOR IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING FUNCTION OF OBTAINING COLOR INFORMATION OF PATCH - An image forming apparatus uses the difference in time taken for each patch to reach a color sensor, which occurs upon reversing the conveyance direction of a printing material. Due to this difference in time, the temperature of the printing material in detection by the color sensor differs among the respective patches. The error of a colorimetric value due to thermochromism is reduced by placing a patch with a colorimetric value which has a low temperature dependence so as to be detected earlier, and a patch with a colorimetric value which has a high temperature dependence so as to be detected later. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217053 | Mark detecting device, adjustment method, and printing apparatus - A mark detecting device detects a positioning mark on a transfer medium based on light that is emitted to and then reflected from the transfer medium. The mark detecting device includes a light emitting unit that emits light to a target position on the transfer medium; a light receiving unit that receives light reflected from the target position; and an adjusting unit that rotatably supports a detecting unit including at least one of the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit about a center of rotation, which passes through the target position, on the transfer medium and adjusts the rotation angle of the detecting unit with respect to the center of rotation. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217054 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS CAPABLE OF EFFECTIVELY SUPPRESSING THERMAL ENERGY RELEASED EXTERNALLY FROM DEVICE DUE TO THERMAL CONVECTION AND HOT AIR FLOW - A fixing device for fixing a toner image onto a recording paper includes a heating member for heating the recording paper, a pressing member for pressing the heating member by pressure-applying contact, a casing accommodating the heating member and the pressing member, and being provided with an exit port for discharging the recording paper, and a closing unit added to the exit port for keeping a temperature of the casing. The closing unit has a rotation member, and an opposed member forming a nip region together with the rotation member. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217055 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND TONER SUPPLY METHOD - Toner is supplied from a toner container to a developing part that causes the toner to adhere to a latent image formed on a latent image carrying member and develops the latent image, a pre-toner-supply operation of supplying a predetermined amount of toner to the developing part is carried out, a fog detecting image is formed and fog is detected in the fog detecting image, a toner supply amount to be supplied to the developing part is determined based on the fog detected in the detecting and an operational status of the developing part since the toner was supplied to the developing part the last time, and the toner supply amount of the toner determined in the determining is supplied to the developing part. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217056 | Fixing device and image forming apparatus including same - A fixing device includes a substantially cylindrical metal member, a heater, an endless, flexible fixing member, a rotary pressing member, a stationary member, a first temperature detector, and a second temperature detector. The first temperature detector is disposed upstream from a nip in a rotation direction of the fixing member to detect a surface temperature of the fixing member. The second temperature detector is disposed downstream from the nip in a rotation direction of the pressing member to detect a surface temperature of the pressing member. When a difference between a surface temperature of the fixing member detected by the first temperature detector and a surface temperature of the pressing member detected by the second temperature detector after a predetermined time has elapsed since the first temperature detector detects the surface temperature of the fixing member is greater than a predetermined threshold, the heater stops heating the metal member. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217057 | Fixing device and image forming apparatus including same - A fixing device includes a heat conductive member; a flexible fixing belt looped around the heat conductive member, an inner circumference of the flexible fixing belt slidably contacting a portion of an outer circumferential surface of the heat conductive member; a rotary pressing member disposed opposing the heat conductive member; heat sources disposed in a circumferential direction of the fixing belt at a predetermined interval to heat the heat conductive member; and temperature detectors provided to detect a surface temperature of the fixing belt at a detection position at which heating intensity of a corresponding one of the heat sources is not affected by any other one. In operation, the inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt contacts the heat conductive member at a position at which each temperature detector contacts the fixing belt as the detection position or a position proximal to the detection position of each temperature detector. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217058 | Image forming apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit forming an image on a sheet transported along a transport path in a printing operation; a sheet stacking unit in which the sheet ejected at the end of the transport path is stacked; a sheet detecting unit detecting the presence or absence of the sheet in the transport path; a counting unit counting number-of-sheet data of the sheet detected by the sheet detecting unit; and a control unit controlling the printing operation in accordance with a first print request from a print instructing unit for a print job and based on a count value obtained by the counting unit. The control unit clears the count value in the absence of a next print request from the print instructing unit within a predetermined time after completion of the printing operation. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217059 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing a developer image; a developing device including a developer carrying member for forming the developer image on the image bearing member; a fixing device for fixing the developer image on a sheet material, on which the developer image has been transferred, by heating the sheet material; a memory medium for storing an operation hysteresis value, of the developing device, which varies depending on a state of an operation of the developing device from start of the operation; and a controller for controlling a temperature of the fixing device. The controller controls, when the operation hysteresis value stored in the memory medium reaches a preset threshold, the temperature of the fixing device so as to be lower than that before the operation hysteresis value reaches the preset threshold. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217060 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - When toner on an intermediate transfer member is picked up by a cleaning unit by transferring the toner to an image bearing member in a recovery operation, pickup conditions are controlled to be changed on the basis of the ambience detected in performing the recovery operation and such that the toner on the intermediate transfer member is picked up by the cleaning unit while being temporarily retained by a secondary transfer roller. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217061 | Image forming apparatus, image forming system, fixing control method, and computer program product - An image forming apparatus includes: a PDL analyzing unit that analyzes print data and obtains a drawing condition; a drawing unit that uses a type of dither selected from types of dither, prepared and associated with drawing conditions, according to the drawing condition analyzed, and generates output image data; an image forming unit; a fixing unit that fixes an image formed on a recording sheet by heating the image to a fixing temperature; a fixing control unit that controls the fixing temperature to a target value; and a database in which each of the types of dither is associated with the target value of fixing temperature for power saving. The fixing control unit obtains from the database the target value of fixing temperature corresponding to the type of dither used in the drawing unit and carries out control to conduct fixing at the target value thus obtained. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217062 | HEATER CONTROLLER, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, METHOD FOR CONTROLLING HEATER - A heater controller performs on/off control of a plurality of heaters and includes a storage unit that stores therein a plurality of pattern sets. Each of the pattern sets includes a plurality of heater-on/off patterns for respectively controlling the heaters. The heater controller calculates a reference value representing an average of values of electric power supplied to the heater controller over a predetermined period of time; calculates, for each of the pattern sets, an output power value to be supplied to the heaters when the heaters are turned-on according to the heater-on/off patterns included in the pattern set; calculates, for each of the pattern sets, a difference between the reference value and the output power value; selects, from the pattern sets, one pattern set having a smallest difference; and performs on/off control of the heaters according to the heater-on/off patterns included in the pattern set thus selected. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217063 | FUSER AND TEMPERATURE CONTROL METHOD OF FUSER - According to one embodiment, a fuser including a heating section which heats a hot-melt visualizing material fixed to a sheet medium and the sheet medium, a heat generator which increases the temperature of the heating section in accordance with supply of power, a temperature detector which detects the temperature of the heating section, and a controller which outputs temperature information during the increasing of the temperature on the basis of the temperature of the heating section detected by the temperature detector while the temperature of the heating section increases so that notification can be provided that fusing is possible for an image only using a single color hot-melt visualizing material. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217064 | HIGH-VOLTAGE OUTPUT APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The high-voltage output apparatus includes a voltage application part that applies a DC voltage to the charge member; a current detection part that detects a value of a current flowing in the image bearing member when the DC voltage is applied to the charge member; and a control part that calculates a plurality of discharge start voltages for the image bearing member, based on a plurality of current values detected by the current detection part as a result of the voltage application part applying a plurality of different DC voltages to the charge member, and controls the DC voltage applied to the charge member, using the plurality of calculated discharge start voltages. Consequently, a high-quality image can be formed by maintaining a potential on a photosensitive drum to be constant irrespective of the states of the circumstances and/or the drum layer thickness. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217065 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus has a toner image carrier that rotates in a specified direction, a developing device comprising a toner supporting member that faces to a surface of the toner image carrier to form a developing area and that rotates in a same direction with the toner image carrier at the developing area, a transfer member for transferring a toner image from the surface of the toner image carrier onto a recording sheet, a guide for guiding a recording sheet to between the toner image carrier and the transfer member, and an air aspirator for aspirating air from the developing area and a location of the guide to a location of the transfer member. The air aspirator causes a first airflow, which carries toner, from the developing area and a second airflow, which does not carry toner, from the location of the guide. The second airflow prevents the first airflow from flowing to the location of the guide. Further, an opening is made at a position upstream from the guide with respect to a direction of the second airflow as an air inlet of the second airflow. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217066 | IMAGE FORMING DEVICE HAVING EXHAUST CHANNEL FOR EXHAUSTING AIR OUT OF THE DEVICE - An image forming device includes a main casing, a process unit, a fixing unit, and a duct. The duct is disposed between the process unit and the fixing unit with respect to a direction in which a recording medium is conveyed. The duct defines an exhaust channel for exhausting air out of the main casing. The duct includes at least two partitioning walls extending in a second direction intersecting with the first direction, and is formed with at least three inlet ports partitioned by the partitioning walls in the first direction. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217067 | TONER CARTRIDGE - A toner cartridge includes a toner cartridge main body having a cylindrical toner container that contains toner therein, a toner discharge port disposed on one end of the toner container, and a rotating shaft disposed on the other end of the toner container; and an annular IC chip holder that is fitted to the rotating shaft of the toner cartridge main body to rotate together with the toner cartridge main body, and has a notch formed in an outer peripheral surface in which an IC chip is mounted, wherein the IC chip holder rotates together with the toner cartridge main body until the IC chip holder is fixed to an IC chip contact holder having a contact member for contacting a terminal of the IC chip disposed in the image forming apparatus main body. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217068 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING TONER CARTRIDGE - A holder unit is movable between an accommodated position and a pulled out position. A plurality of toner cartridges is detachably attached to the holder unit. A shutter provided on each toner cartridge is movable between a block position where the shutter blocks an opening of a case and an open position where the shutter opens the opening. An operation member of each toner cartridge operates the shutter such that the shutter moves between a first position and a second position. The shutter is located at the open position when the operation member is located at the first position. The shutter is located at the block position when the operation member is located at the second position. An interference member is configured such that the operation members abut the interference member to be displaced from the second position to the first position when the holder unit is moved from the pulled out position to the accommodated position. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217069 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING TONER CARTRIDGE - Each of the toner cartridges includes a case, a shutter, a first operation portion and a second operation portion. The shutter is located at an open position where the shutter opens an opening of a case when the first operation portion is located at a first position. The shutter is located at a block position the shutter blocks the opening when the first operation portion is located at a second position. The shutter is located at the open position when the second operation portion is located at a third position. The shutter is located at the block position when the second operation portion is located at a fourth position. An interference unit is configured such that a first operation portions abut the interference unit to be displaced from the second position to the first position when a holder unit is moved from a pulled out position to an accommodated position and such that the second operation portions abut the interference unit to be displaced from the third position to the fourth position when the holder unit is moved from the accommodated position to the pulled out position. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217070 | IMAGE-FORMING APPARATUS - An image-forming apparatus includes: an image-holding member casing that encases an image-holding member; an apparatus main body into which the image-holding member casing is inserted to a predetermined position; a developing device casing provided in the apparatus main body, the developing device casing encasing a developing device; a pushing member provided in the apparatus main body to push the developing device casing in a first direction toward the image-holding member; and a contact portion provided on the image-holding member casing so as to contact the developing device casing for a predetermined period during insertion of the image-holding member casing toward the predetermined position, to push the developing device casing in a second direction opposite to the first direction, wherein, after the predetermined period, when the image-holding member casing reaches the predetermined position, the contact portion does not push the developing device casing in the second direction. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217071 | PHOTORECEPTOR UNIT OF IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A photoreceptor unit of an image forming apparatus includes an attachment body, a photoreceptor body, a first gripping portion, and a second gripping portion. The attachment body is attached to the image forming apparatus and is detachable from the image forming apparatus. The photoreceptor body is rotatably provided in the attachment body. The first gripping portion is provided in the attachment body. The second gripping portion is provided in the attachment body and is contactable with the photoreceptor body when the photoreceptor unit is gripped. The second gripping portion does not contact the photoreceptor body when the photoreceptor unit is attached to the image forming apparatus. The photoreceptor body is provided between the first gripping portion and the second gripping portion and is allow to be gripped by using the first gripping portion and the second gripping portion. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217072 | CHARGING MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - The present invention relates to a charging member that achieves a high level of compatibility between the suppression of the bleeding of a low-molecular weight component from its elastic layer to its surface and charging performance for an electrophotographic photosensitive member. The charging member has a substrate, an elastic layer, and a surface layer. The surface layer contains a polymer having a Si—O—Ti bond, and the polymer has a constitutional unit represented by the following general formula (1) and a constitutional unit represented by the following general formula (2). | 2011-09-08 |
20110217073 | Driving Component, Photosensitive Drum and Process Cartridge - The present invention provides a driving component, a photosensitive drum and a process cartridge. The driving component comprises a gear having one fixed end and a regulating component having a rotational driving force receiver outside the other end projecting from the gear. The regulating component is provided within the gear by being moved reciprocally and translationally along the gear's longitudinal direction and a first direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction relative to the gear. A spring support part and a longitudinal position limit part are provided between the regulating component and the gear. The rotational driving force receiver is provided inside the regulating component by rotating around its own axis. Compared to the existing technology, the process cartridge using this driving component has a smooth engagement with a printer, reliable performance and stable work. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217074 | COLOR ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein a plurality of cartridges is detachably mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus, includes a cartridge supporting member movable between an inside position which is inside the main assembly and an outside position which is outside the main assembly, supporting the cartridges, wherein the cartridges are mounted to and dismounted from the cartridge supporting member placed in the outside position; an opening which is provided in the main assembly and through which the cartridge supporting member is passed when the cartridge supporting member moves between the inside position and the outside position; a receiving member for receiving developed images from photosensitive members provided on the cartridge supporting member in the state that cartridge supporting member is placed in the inside position, the receiving member is rotatable along below the photosensitive members; a transfer member for transferring the developed images transferred on the receiving member onto a recording material at a transfer position; a fixing member for fixing the developed images transferred onto the recording material on the recording material; and a feeding path for feeding the recording material to a removing position by way of the transfer position, the inside of the opening and the fixing member from a stacking portion for stacking the recording material, wherein the cartridge supporting member is movable between the inside position and the outside position intersecting the feeding path. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217075 | Image Forming Apparatus - A positioning guide is configured to guide a rotational axis of a photosensitive body when a process cartridge is mounted on a main body, and to determine a position of the rotation axis of the photosensitive body with respect to the main body in a mounting state in which the process cartridge has been mounted on the main body. A photosensitive body drive gear is configured to be capable of rotating in a forward and reverse direction and to transmit a rotational drive force to the photosensitive body in the mounting state. A regulating member is configured to be in a lock state and an unlock state. In the lock state, the regulating member prohibits the rotational axis of the photosensitive body from moving in the mounting/removing direction. The rotational axis of the photosensitive body is released from the regulating member in the unlock state. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217076 | LIGHT GUIDE AND CHARGE ELIMINATING UNIT, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE READING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - Disclosed are a light guide member, a charge eliminating unit and an image forming apparatus and/or an image reading apparatus having the same. The light guide member may include an incidence face through which light is introduced, an irregular reflection portion arranged along a longitudinal direction of the light guide member for irregular reflection of the light introduced through the incidence face and an emission face arranged opposite the irregular reflection portion for emission of the light. At least one recess may be formed in the incidence face for diffusion of the light introduced through the incidence face. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217077 | SURFACE-EMITTING LASER DEVICE, SURFACE-EMITTING LASER ARRAY, OPTICAL SCANNING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A surface-emitting laser device configured to emit laser light in a direction perpendicular to a substrate includes a p-side electrode surrounding an emitting area on an emitting surface to emit the laser light; and a transparent dielectric film formed on an outside area outside a center part of the emitting area and within the emitting area to lower a reflectance to be less than that of the center part. The outside area within the emitting area has shape anisotropy in two mutually perpendicular directions. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217078 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTORECEPTOR AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An organic photoreceptor having a photosensitive layer on a conductive support is disclosed, in which the photosensitive layer contains a pigment containing an adduct of titanyl phthalocyanine and at least either of (2R,3R)-2,3-butanediol and (2S,3S)-2,3-butanediol, the spectrum of the photosensitive layer has the absorption maximum value in the region of 750 to 780 nm, and the ratio of the absorbance at 780 nm (Abs 780) to the absorbance at 750 nm (Abs 750) (Abs 780/Abs 750, a value obtained by correcting the absorbance at 1000 nm as 0) is 0.6 to 1.0. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217079 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF ADJUSTING GAP BETWEEN ROLLERS - According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a first roller, a second roller, and a separating mechanism. The first roller is formed in a longitudinal shape. The second roller is formed in a longitudinal shape and arranged in parallel to the first roller via a gap. The separating mechanism moves the second roller in a direction further away from the first roller such that the gap between the first roller and the second roller in a direction orthogonal to the axis direction of the second roller increases. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217080 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a detaching and pressing mechanism for releasing developing rollers of developer cartridges mounted in a drum unit from photosensitive drums and pressing the developing rollers on the photosensitive drums. The detaching and pressing mechanism includes a pair of translation cam members, intermediate members provided on the translation cam members, cam holders for holding the translation cam members in such a manner as to be linearly movable in an anteroposterior direction, and a synchronous movement mechanism for allowing the pair of translation cam members to linearly move in synchronization. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217081 | LIQUID DEVELOPMENT APPARATUS AND CLEANING METHOD - Provided is a liquid development apparatus having a constitution in which liquid developer containing carrier liquid with toner dispersed therein is supplied from a liquid developer/cleaning liquid supply member on a pool forming member arranged facing to a supply roller so as to form a pool of the liquid developer, from which pool the liquid developer is supplied to the supply roller, wherein a liquid developer/cleaning liquid supply member supplies cleaning liquid on a pool forming member to form a suitable pooling portion of the cleaning liquid and the liquid developer remaining on the surface of the supply roller is removed and cleaned. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217082 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING - Electrophotographic printing apparatus and method of printing using electrophotographic printing apparatus, the apparatus comprising an image-forming member having a surface on which a latent electrostatic image can be formed and developed for transfer of the developed image to a substrate via an intermediate transfer member. The apparatus comprises a voltage supply for generating electric potential between the surface of the intermediate transfer member and the image-forming member such that the developed image formed on the surface of the image-forming member is transferred to the intermediate transfer member. A controller of the apparatus controls the voltage supply to adjust the electrical potential to affect the transfer of ink to the intermediate transfer member from the image-forming member. In this way, the apparatus can adjust for changes in the electrical properties of the intermediate transfer member. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217083 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - The image forming apparatus includes a latent image carrier that holds a latent image thereon, a developer carrier that develops the latent image on the latent image carrier by using a liquid developer including a toner and a carrier liquid, a squeeze roller being in contact with the latent image carrier, that holds an image developed by the developer carrier, to squeeze the liquid developer on the latent image, and a control unit that applies a first bias to the squeeze roller, when a first position of the latent image carrier that does not hold the latent image is in contact with the squeeze roller, and that applies a second bias being different from the first bias to the squeeze roller, when a second position of the latent image carrier that holds the latent image is in contact with the squeeze roller. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217084 | DEVELOPING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developing device includes a developer bearing body, a first developer supply member, a second developer supply member, and a compression member. The developer bearing body bears a developer. The first developer supply member supplies the developer to the developer bearing body. The second developer supply member moves the developer in the vicinity of the first developer supply member to the first developer supply member. The compression member opposes, and is out of contact with, the first developer supply member. The compression member also directs the developer moved by the second developer supply member to the first developer supply member, and compresses the developer between the first developer supply member and the compression member. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217085 | DEVELOPING APPARATUS, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developing apparatus contains a developer for developing a latent image formed on an image carrier. The developing apparatus includes a developer carrier disposed opposite to the image carrier; a developer regulating member regulating an amount of the developer carried by the developer carrier; and a developer circulating unit transporting the developer in a circulating path. The developer circulating unit includes a rotatable first transport member supplying the developer to the developer carrier while transporting the developer in a horizontal direction, a shielding member preventing the developer separated from the developer carrier from flowing back toward the first transport member, and a rotatable second transport member collecting the developer separated from the developer carrier while transporting the developer in the horizontal direction. A distance between the second transport member and the developer carrier is greater than a distance between the first transport member and the developer carrier. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217086 | IMAGE-FORMING APPARATUS - An image-forming apparatus includes: image-forming units arranged along a direction inclined at an acute angle relative to a horizontal direction, each of the image-forming units forming an image with developer; developer-containing units positioned above the image-forming units and arranged along the horizontal direction or along a direction inclined relative to the horizontal direction at an angle smaller than the acute angle; and developer conveyance paths that connect the image-forming units to respective developer-containing units, each developer conveyance path having a tubular passage that defines a space through which the developer contained in the developer-containing unit is conveyed to the image-forming unit, wherein the tubular passage of a developer conveyance path connected to an image-forming unit located at a position higher than that of another image-forming unit has a vertically extending portion shorter than that of the tubular passage of a developer conveyance path connected to the another image-forming unit. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217087 | TONER SUPPLY DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ARRANGING TONER SUPPLY DEVICE - According to one embodiment, a toner supply device includes a plurality of conveyor tubes, each of which has a first supply hole at a receiving side to receive toner, a second supply hole to communicate with a developing device, and a conveying portion to convey the toner supplied from the first supply hole at the receiving side to the second supply hole, wherein each of the first supply holes at the receiving side is arranged at a position with a different angle assuming each of the second supply holes as an axis, a plurality of toner cartridges, each of which houses toner of a different color, and has a first supply hole at a supply side to supply the toner, wherein each of the toner cartridge is located at a position shifted in a predetermined direction so that each of the first supply holes at the supply side communicates with each of the first supply holes at the receiving side of the conveyor tubes, and a plurality of transmitting portions, each of which transmits power to each of the conveying portions of the conveyor tubes. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217088 | Method and System for Printing Electrostatically or Electrographically Generated Images to Contoured Surfaces of Ceramic and Glass Items Such as Dishware - A glass or ceramic dishware item having a contoured surface with an image disposed thereon is provided. The image is transferred to the contoured surface from a layered ink composite. The layered ink composite is created by depositing a first layer of thermoplastic ink onto a silicone substrate. A ceramic toner configured as an image is electrographically deposited onto the first layer of thermoplastic ink. A second layer of thermoplastic ink is then deposited onto the ceramic toner. The image is transferred, at ambient temperature, from the layered ink composite to the contoured surface of the dishware item by moving the second layer of thermoplastic ink and the contoured surface into contact. The dishware item is then fired. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217089 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM - An image forming apparatus includes a first acquiring unit, a determination unit, a second acquiring unit, and a notifying unit. The first acquiring unit acquires first settable region information on a plane-shaped recording medium in other image forming apparatus. The first settable region information indicates a first settable region on which a registration mark is settable. The determination unit determines a first region based on the first settable region information. The first region is a region on which the registration mark is formable in a cascade printing system including the image forming apparatus and the other image forming apparatus. The second acquiring unit acquires second settable region information on the plane-shaped recording medium. The second settable region information indicates a second settable region on which the registration mark is formable in the plane-shaped recording medium. The notifying unit provides invalidity information indicating the registration mark is possible invalid. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217090 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a rotatable belt member for carrying a toner image transferred from the image bearing member or for carrying a recording material carrying a toner image transferred from the image bearing member; a rotatable supporting roller for stretching the belt member; a steering roller for stretching the belt member and for moving the belt member in a widthwise direction by inclining operation; detecting means for detecting a position of the belt member with respect to the widthwise direction; first control means, responsive to an output of the detecting means, for controlling an amount inclining operation of the steering roller to control a force of moving the belt member in the widthwise direction; and second control means, responsive to an output of the detecting means, for controlling an amount inclining operation of the steering roller to displacing the belt member in the widthwise direction. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217091 | Fixing device and image forming apparatus including same - A fixing device includes a heater, a rotary fixing member, and a rotary pressing member pressing against the rotary fixing member to form a nip therebetween through which a recording medium bearing a toner image passes to fix the toner image thereon. The fixing device includes an air supply tube disposed downstream from the nip in the direction of conveyance of the recording medium and connected to an air source of an image forming apparatus, to supply compressed air to a plurality of nozzles disposed on the air supply tube along a long axis of the nip perpendicular to the direction of conveyance and inject pulsed compressed air against the recording medium passing through the nip. The air supply tube includes an exhaust opening disposed at an extreme upstream end of the flow of the compressed air outside the recording medium passing area near the air source. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217092 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS, PRESSURE ROLLER TO BE USED IN THE IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS, AND MANUFACTURING METHOD FOR THE PRESSURE ROLLER - The image heating apparatus includes a rubber layer and a resin tube layer on a metal core. The rubber layer includes a solid rubber layer having a thermal conductivity in a thickness direction of 0.16 W/(m·K) or more and 0.40 W/(m·K) or less, and a self-bonded silicone rubber layer that contains a filler of 5 vol % or more and 40 vol % or less, and has a thermal conductivity in an axial direction of 2.5 W/(m·K) or more and a thickness of 0.5 mm or more and 5.0 mm or less, the filler having a length of 0.05 mm or more and 1 mm or less and a thermal conductivity in a length direction of 500 W/(m·K) or more, so that a pressure roller to moderate temperature rise in a non-sheet feeding area when a small sized recording material has undergone sheet feeding can be easily manufactured. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217093 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A fixing device includes a fixing member formed into a loop inside which a nip formation member, a core holder, a heater support, and a laminated heater are provided, and a pressing member provided outside the loop formed by the fixing member. The pressing member is pressed against the nip formation member via the fixing member. The heater support is between the laminated heater and the nip formation member to support the laminated heater. The core holder is between the nip formation member and the heater support to support the nip formation member and the heater support. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217094 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A fixing device includes a frame, a tubular heat pipe, a flexible fuser belt, a fuser pad, a pressure member, and a deformation relief mechanism. The heat pipe extends in an axial direction. The fuser belt is looped for rotation around the heat pipe. The fuser pad extends in the axial direction inside the loop of the fuser belt. The pressure member extends opposite the heat pipe in the axial direction. The fuser pad is pressed against the pressure member through the fuser belt in a load direction perpendicular to the axial direction to form a fixing nip. The heat pipe and the fuser pad establish stationary contact with each other at their respective axial ends upon formation of the fixing nip. The deformation relief mechanism is provided to at least one of the heat pipe and the fuser pad to relieve deformation of the fuser pad. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217095 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A fixing device includes an endless belt-shaped fixing member; a pressing member; a contact member provided inside the loop formed by the fixing member and pressed against the pressing member via the fixing member to form a nip between the pressing member and the fixing member, a laminated heater facing an inner circumferential face of the fixing member to heat the fixing member, connected to an external power source, and including a heat generation sheet that includes a heat-resistant resin in which conductive particles to receive electricity from the external power source and generate heat are unevenly dispersed throughout the heat-resistant resin to have a dispersal gradient of increasing particle dispersion density from an inner face toward an outer face of the heat generation sheet; and a heater support to support the laminated heater along the inner circumferential face of the fixing member. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217096 | FIXING DEVICE - A fixing device includes a fixing belt comprising a first metal heat generating layer, a pressurizing unit which faces an outer circumference of the fixing belt, an induced current generating coil located within a hollow part of the fixing belt, a nip forming member which pressurizes the fixing belt to the pressurizing unit, and an auxiliary heat generating member located in a periphery of the fixing belt and comprising a second metal heat generating layer. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217097 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A fixing device includes a rotating fixing body fixes a toner image on a recording medium by heating, the rotating fixing body having a cylindrical metal core formed of a magnetic shunt alloy and having a thickness less than a magnetic-field permeation depth at a temperature higher than or equal to a Curie temperature of the metal core, a coil provided along an outer surface of the rotating fixing body so as to generate magnetic flux that subjects the rotating fixing body to induction heating, and an electrically conductive arch-shaped saddle ring member disposed at a position opposing the coil with the metal core being disposed therebetween and in an orientation such that magnetic flux leakage associated with loss of ferromagnetism of the metal core penetrates the ring member. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217098 | Fixing device and image forming apparatus - A disclosed fixing device includes a fixer application unit configured to apply a fixer containing a softener, capable of softening resin by dissolving or swelling at least a part of the resin, and water to resin particles formed on a recording medium such that the resin particles are fixed on the recording medium, and an anti-tack agent application unit configured to apply a liquid anti-tack agent immiscible with the softener to surfaces of the resin particles that are mixed with the softener by the application of the fixer containing the softener. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217099 | Fixing device and image forming apparatus - A disclosed fixing device for fixing resin particles softened by applying a foam fixer thereon to a recording medium includes a foam fixer generator unit to introduce air bubbles into a liquid fixer containing a softener for softening the resin particles by dissolving or swelling a part of the resin particles to generate the foam fixer, a fixer application member to be brought into contact with a facing member facing the fixer application member to form an application nip and transfer the generated foam fixer to the application nip by moving its surface while carrying the foam fixer to apply the foam fixer to a surface of the recording medium carrying the resin particles at the application nip, and a foam accumulation detector unit to detect a foam accumulation formed of the foam fixer accumulated at an entrance side of the application nip. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217100 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a gloss applying mode for applying gloss to an image on a sheet and a non-gloss-applying mode. The image forming apparatus includes a fixing device including a fixing member and a pressurizing member that is pressed into contact with the fixing member to form a fixing nip portion in which toner is fixed to the sheet; and a gloss applying device including a first roller including a heating unit and a second roller that is pressed into contact with the first roller to form a gloss applying nip portion in which gloss is applied to the toner. The fixing device and the gloss applying device are provided on a sheet conveying path line. When the sheet is conveyed in the non-gloss-applying mode, nip pressure of the gloss applying nip portion in the gloss applying device is lower than that in the gloss applying mode. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217101 | Lubricant applying device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus - A lubricant applying device includes a solid lubricant, and a rotatable applying member scraping lubricant off the solid lubricant and applying the scraped lubricant onto an application subject. In the lubricant applying device, a pressing unit applies that applies an applying pressure of pressing the solid lubricant against the applying member and that varies the applying pressure in accordance with a rotation speed of the applying member. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217102 | CLEANING BLADE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - A cleaning blade, including a reed-shaped elastic blade configured to move an edge of the elastic blade on the surface of a member to be cleaned while contacting the edge to the surface thereof to remove a powder therefrom, wherein surface layers harder than the elastic blade are formed on an distal face having the edge as one of its lines facing the member to be cleaned and an proximal face having the edge as one of its lines parallel in a thickness direction of the blade, respectively, and wherein a friction coefficient between the surface layer on the distal face of the blade and the member to be cleaned is lower than that between the surface layer on the proximal face of the blade and the member to be cleaned. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217103 | COLLECTION CONTAINER AND IMAGE-FORMING APPARATUS - A collection container includes: a first receiving unit that receives toner removed from a toner holder, via an aperture; a conveyance member that is provided in the first receiving unit to convey the received toner in a direction across a first direction in which the first receiving unit extends; a toner container that has a width extending in the first direction to receive and store the conveyed toner across the width; an elastic body that supports the toner container against a weight of the toner container so that at least one end of the toner container is movable within a range greater than that of another part of the toner container; and a moving member that moves in accordance with a movement of one end of the toner container, when the elastic body elastically deformed caused by an increase in an amount of toner stored. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217104 | PARRYING STRUCTURE AROUND SHEET JUNCTION - According to one embodiment, a parrying structure around sheet junction including a first transporting guide that guides a sheet medium, a second transporting guide that guides the sheet medium toward the first transporting guide at a larger angle than a predetermined angle with respect to a direction where the sheet medium is guided by the first transporting guide, and a third transporting guide that guides a leading edge of the sheet medium, which is guided by the second transporting guide and moved to the first transporting guide, toward the first transporting guide. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217105 | GAP CONTROL METHOD FOR A MEDIA PROCESSING DEVICE, AND A MEDIA PROCESSING DEVICE - A media processing device moves a first printhead in a direction away from a first platen and sets the gap L therebetween to a wide second gap until the magnetic ink character printing area of the recording medium passes the reading position. When this printing area on the recording medium passes the reading position A, the first printhead moves in the direction approaching the first platen, and the gap L therebetween is reset to a first gap that is narrower than the second gap. Because the gap L is wide during the magnetic ink character reading operation, the leading end of the recording medium when conveyed to a position passed the first printhead will not catch on the second printhead | 2011-09-08 |
20110217106 | INFORMATION OUTPUT APPARATUS, LABEL PRINTER AND INFORMATION OUTPUT METHOD - An information output apparatus includes a reception part, a determination part and an information output part. The reception part receives identification information of a product. The determination part reads a content of a nutrient contained in the product having the identification information received by the reception part from a storage part, compares the read content of the nutrient with a reference value indicating a display allowable range in which a display relating to the content of the nutrient may be performed, and determines whether the display relating the content of the nutrient may be performed for the product. When it is determined that the display relating the content of the nutrient may be performed for the product, the information output part outputs information relating to the content of the nutrient. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217107 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, METHOD FOR DETERMINING COMPATIBILITY OF SHEET FEEDER, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE FORM - An image forming apparatus includes a sheet feeder attaching unit, a communication unit, a connection determining unit, an acquiring unit, a storage unit, a compatibility determining unit and a forcible unconnected control unit. The connection determining unit causes the communication unit to communicate with a communication section of a sheet feeder, and determines whether the sheet feeder is connected based on a communication result. The acquiring unit acquires attribute information of the sheet feeder. The storage unit stores attribute information of sheet feeders being compatible, in terms of control, with the image forming apparatus. The compatibility determining unit determines whether the connected sheet feeder is compatible by comparing the acquired attribute information of the connected sheet feeder with the stored attribute information. The forcible unconnected control unit establishes a forcible unconnected state between the connected sheet feeder and the image forming apparatus if the compatibility determining unit determines not-compatible. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217108 | LABEL PRODUCING APPARATUS AND LABEL PRODUCING METHOD - This disclosure discloses a label producing apparatus comprising: a housing; a feeding device that feeds a label tape; a printing device that prints desired print; an optical sensor comprising a light projecting device and a light receiving device capable of outputting a detected voltage value; a light-on control portion that controls said optical sensor so that said light projecting device is turned on; an initial value storage device that stores a predetermined initial threshold value; a threshold value correction portion that calculates a corrected threshold value using said initial threshold value; a mark detecting portion that detects a positioning mark by an arrival of said detected voltage value at said corrected threshold value after calculation of said corrected threshold value; a feeding control portion that controls said feeding device; and a print control portion that controls a print operation of said printing device. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217109 | DESKTOP CARD PRINTER - A desktop card print having an improved automatic card feed hopper that employs a card picking mechanism that includes an automatic gate mechanism in combination with a card edge assist picker while providing a card exception slot for manual feeding of a card, a removable ribbon cassette that employs a magnetic encoder mechanism for tracking the motion of a ribbon mounted on the ribbon cassette, a scanning station that is configured and arranged to capture an image of one or more surfaces of the card as it passes the scanner, and a power take-off (PTO) gear adjacent the rear end of the printer for use in driving an additional processing mechanism to be mounted at the rear of the printer. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217110 | DETACHABLE LINKING SYSTEM FOR TWO COMPONENTS - The system of the present method, system, and device comprises a mechanism for linking components including: a rod having a widened and elastically deformable end; an axially movable needle; and a body surrounding the interacting ends of said rod and said needle; and a control device acting on said needle and capable of switching said widened elastically deformable end from an open position to a closed position. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217111 | CLAMP-PROOF JOINT - A clamp-proof joint for a pushchair is provided. The clamp-proof joint is assembled between two fulcrum bars of the pushchair. The clamp-proof joint includes a joint socket and at least one joint head. The joint socket includes a baffle portion and a filling portion. The baffle portion and the filling portion are configured at opposite sides of the joint socket. The joint head is configured with an arc-shaped surface. The joint head is pivotally coupled to a hinge at one end of the joint socket. The joint head is further fixedly coupled to a fulcrum bar, so that the fulcrum bar is adapted for pivotally rotating with the hinge of the joint socket as a pivot thereof. | 2011-09-08 |
20110217112 | BALL STUD OF BALL JOINT FOR VEHICLE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME - Disclosed herein is a ball stud of a ball joint for a vehicle. The ball stud includes a ball stud body and an auxiliary flange plate. The ball stud body includes a spherical head, a neck provided on the spherical head, a flange provided on the neck, a connection part provided on the flange, and a threaded part which is coaxially provided on the connection part. A thread is formed on the threaded part. The threaded part has an outer diameter greater than a diameter of the connection part. The auxiliary flange plate is fitted over the connection part. A coupling hole is formed through a central portion of the auxiliary flange plate. The coupling hole has a diameter less than the outer diameter of the threaded part. The auxiliary flange plate has a support area greater than a support area of the flange. | 2011-09-08 |