35th week of 2014 patent applcation highlights part 41 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20140241697 | RECORDING APPARATUS, RECORDING METHOD, AND PROGRAM - A recording apparatus is arranged to control a file name of recorded moving image file and a file name of the recorded. still image file, so as to, after a recording stop instruction, in accordance with the file name of at least one of the moving image file and still, image file recorded in a period of time from a recording start instruction to the recording stop instruction, change the file name of at least one of the moving image file and still image file recorded in that period so that the file names of the plurality of moving image files recorded in that period have consecutive file numbers corresponding to recording order of the moving image files and the file names of the plurality of still image files recorded in that period have consecutive file numbers corresponding to recording order of the still image files. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241698 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF PROCESSING PROGRAMMING WISH LIST DATA - A method includes receiving, from a first user of a media distribution system, first wish list data identifying a program and a first program option associated with the program. When the first wish list data is received, the program is not scheduled for transmission via the media distribution system based on a published program guide available to the first user. The method also includes receiving, from a second user of the media distribution system, second wish list data identifying the program and a second program option associated with the program. The method further includes determining interest in the program based on the first program option and the second program option. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241699 | CONTENT PLAYBACK INFORMATION ESTIMATION APPARATUS AND METHOD AND PROGRAM - A content playback information estimation apparatus, for estimating a state on playback of content, that is provided between a distribution server and a terminal in a system in which the distribution server distributes the content to the terminal via a network and the terminal plays the content, the content playback information estimation apparatus including: a unit configured to obtain packet data distributed from the distribution server to the terminal and to store the packet data in a storage unit; a unit configured to estimate a data amount in a buffer of the terminal based on obtained packet data; and a unit configured to estimate a state on playback at each time of the content in the terminal by comparing the estimated data amount with a predetermined threshold. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241700 | MOVIE ADVERTISING PLAYBACK SYSTEMS AND METHODS - An ad in a movie can be a static ad having a position in the movie that cannot be moved, or a dynamic ad having a position in the movie that can be changed. When a viewer of the movie wishes to skip a portion of the movie containing the ad, the playback system determines whether the ad is static or dynamic. If the ad is static, then only the portion of the movie preceding the static ad can be skipped, that is, the ad is unskippable; this technique is referred to as “bounceback” since the end of the skip bounces back to the start of the static ad. If the ad is dynamic, then the ad is moved to after the end of the skip; this technique is referred to as “slipad” since the ad slips to later in the movie. When a movie has multiple ads, some can be static and some can be dynamic. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241701 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM STORING AN IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAM, AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An image processing apparatus is provided. The image processing apparatus includes a storage unit having a first storage area and a second storage area, as well as an output processing unit, a record storage unit, and a display control unit. The output processing unit executes output processing for exporting and/or printing on one or more frames selected by a user from a video stored in the first storage area. The record storage unit stores, in the second storage area, a record of the output processing that includes an identifier for each frame that was subjected to the output processing. The display control unit references the second storage area and displays a record screen for displaying the record of the output processing. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241702 | DYNAMIC AUDIO PERSPECTIVE CHANGE DURING VIDEO PLAYBACK - Systems and methods for a dynamic audio perspective change during video playback are provided. A pre-recorded video is played with an associated raw audio signal. The audio signal is modified in real time based on an audio processing mode. The audio processing mode can be selected during the video playback via a graphic user interface. By selecting the audio processing mode, a user can attenuate one or more components of the pre-recorded raw audio signal. The components include near source sounds, distant source sounds, and a noise. After the desired audio processing mode is selected the entire audio signal is reprocessed according to the selected mode in a background process and stored in a memory. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241703 | TRANSMISSION SCHEME AND IMAGE QUALITY ADAPTIVE SECURITY CAMERA AND DVR SYSTEM - The present invention relates to an image quality adaptive video security system, a security camera generating an original video signal from a camera sensor, inserting an image quality discrimination signal including image quality information for video to the original video signal and generating a video signal. A DVR system determines whether a video signal from a security camera is transmitted in an analog transmission scheme or in a digital transmission scheme. In the case of the analog transmission scheme, the DVR system decodes the analog video signal to a first digital component video signal and detects image quality information. In a case of the digital transmission scheme, the DVR system converts the digital video signal to a digital second component video signal and detects image quality information. A video processing unit scales, compresses, stores or displays the first or the second component video signal with reference to the image quality information of the detected analog or digital video signal. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241704 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING RECORDING AND PLAYBACK OF INTERACTIVE APPLICATIONS - Disclosed are methods and systems for controlling the playback and recording of television programming containing interactive applications. In particular, the disclosed methods and systems detail how “trick modes” can be handled when playing applications that are distributed with the television programming. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241705 | LINE OF SIGHT MOUNTING SYSTEM FOR DIGITAL MEDIA PLAYERS - The inventions disclosed herein include devices and methods that allow users to couple a digital media player to a display screen. Some embodiments position the digital media player along a bottomside of the screen. Some embodiments position the digital media player along a topside of the screen. In several embodiments, the digital media player is positioned approximately horizontally such that the digital media player is oriented approximately parallel to the floor of the room. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241706 | LINE OF SIGHT MOUNTING SYSTEM FOR DIGITAL MEDIA PLAYERS - The inventions disclosed herein include devices and methods that allow users to couple a digital media player to a display screen. Some embodiments position the digital media player along a bottomside of the screen. Some embodiments position the digital media player along a topside of the screen. In several embodiments, the digital media player is positioned approximately horizontally such that the digital media player is oriented approximately parallel to the floor of the room. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241707 | INTEGRATED SOLUTION FOR SOLID STATE LIGHT SOURCES IN A PROCESS CHAMBER - Apparatus for providing pulsed or continuous energy in a process chamber, and methods of fabricated said apparatus, are provided herein. The apparatus may include a substrate having a plurality of electrical terminals disposed on one or more surfaces of the substrate, a plurality of solid state sources grown on top of the plurality of electrical terminals, the plurality of solid state sources providing pulsed or continuous energy when electrically powered, and one or more cooling channels formed in one or more areas of the substrate. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241708 | ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEM FOR ELECTRIC WATER HEATER - In an electric water heater having adjustable set point and differential temperatures, upper and lower heating elements, and associated temperature sensors respectively operative to sense upper and lower tank water temperatures, a specially designed control system is provided for controlling the heating elements. The control system is operative to automatically set a selected setpoint temperature to a second setpoint temperature less than or equal to a predetermined magnitude, and to reduced the second setpoint temperature and/or the differential temperature, as a predetermined function of the magnitudes of detected time intervals between successive heat demands of the water heater, to reduce the energy cost associated with the water heater. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241709 | CAMERA STABILIZATION PLATFORM SYSTEM - There is provided a camera stabilization platform system comprising a body, a rotation sensor system in a fixed orientation relative to the body, a motor system and a rotatable member system operable to be rotated by the motor system relative to the body, the rotation sensor system operable to measure a rotation angle and a rotation direction, wherein the motor system is configured to rotate the rotatable member system by the sensed rotation angle in a rotation direction opposite to the sensed rotation direction. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241710 | Photographic Synchronization Optimization System and Method - A system and method for synchronizing a photographic lighting device to image acquisition by a camera using light emission profile information to position a light emission profile at a desired location in an image acquisition window. A light energy balance point of a light emission profile can be used to position the balance point at a desired location in an image acquisition window. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241711 | Low Latency Data Transmission Network - A communications networking having reduced transmission latency and improved reliability is described. To reduce signal transmission latency, network management data is removed from a data stream to prioritize the transmission of payload data at higher transmission rates. Management data is returned to the data stream in such a way that it minimizes an impact to payload transmission rates. To improve communications network reliability, the network is configured to form a primary communication path and a redundant communication path. Upon failure of a transceiver at one node, the network engages redundant transceivers on a per-node basis thereby using a segment of the redundant communication path. The data stream is returned to the primary communication path upon circumvention of the failed transceiver. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241712 | LARGE-CAPACITY FIBER OPTICAL SWITCHING DEVICE AND OPTICAL TRANSMISSION SYSTEM - A highly reliable optical switching device and optical switching method ensure restoration of the failure in the large-capacity high density wiring of the multicore fiber with the general number of cores (7 cores, 19 cores and the like). An optical transmission system which transmits a supervisory control signal concerning a transmission path switching to one or more cores of a single or multiple multicore fibers, an active signal to one or more cores, and a standby signal to one or more cores includes optical switching devices connected to respective ends of the optical transmission system. Upon detection of the transmission failure of the active signal based on the signal transmission condition and information from the supervisory control signal, it is switched to the standby signal. The supervisory control signal is transmitted to the center core of the multicore fiber. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241713 | Collecting Status From A Partner Management Domain - An apparatus comprising a Generic Status Portal (GSP) configured to grant access to a Managed Entity (ME) via an Optical Network Terminal (ONT) Management and Control Interface (OMCI), wherein the ME comprises status information about a non-OMCI management domain at the ONT. Also included is an apparatus comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising initializing an ONT ME, adding status information associated with a managed function to the ONT ME, indicating a status information update of the ONT ME, and providing the status information via an OMCI. Included is a method comprising providing status and performance monitoring (PM) information from an ONT via an OMCI at the ONT, wherein the status and PM information is associated with at least one managed function instance of at least one non-OMCI domain. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241714 | PROTOCOL SYSTEM AND RELATED METHOD OF AUTOMATICALLY SWITCHING CONNECTION - A method of automatically switching connection is disclosed in the present invention. The method is applied to connection setting between a signal transmission device and at least one signal transceiver device. The method includes outputting a detecting signal to search the signal transceiver device within an effective range of the detecting signal, receiving a reacting signal generated according to the detecting signal, analyzing the detecting signal wherein the detecting signal represents a distance between the signal transmission device and the signal transceiver device, and switching the connection setting of the signal transmission device when the distance is smaller than a threshold, so that the signal transmission device can be matched with the signal transceiver device. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241715 | METHOD AND CONTROLLER FOR COMMISSIONING WAVELENGTH DIVISION MULTIPLEXING OPTICAL NETWORK DURING CAPACITY EXPANSION - The present invention discloses a method and a controller for commissioning a wave division multiplexing optical network during capacity expansion. The method includes: calculating, according to a preset rule, initial power of a wavelength service to be added and adding one or more wavelength services according to the initial power; detecting power of each newly-added wavelength service in transmission and separately calculating target power of each newly-added wavelength service according to a detected value and the initial power; calculating end-to-end performance of an existing wavelength service and end-to-end performance of each newly-added wavelength service when each newly-added wavelength service reaches its respective target power; and adjusting the power of each newly-added wavelength service when each newly-added wavelength service reaches its respective target power and the end-to-end performance of the existing wavelength service and the end-to-end performance of each newly-added wavelength service meets their respective lowest threshold requirements. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241716 | SCENE ILLUMINATOR - A system is disclosed to identify authorized EO devices and unauthorized EO devices within a scene. The system hampers the operation of the unauthorized EO devices detected within the scene. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241717 | Dynamic Wavelength Virtualization and/or On-Demand Flow Provisioning in Optical Networks - A network apparatus used in an optical network is disclosed. The network apparatus includes one or more first tunable and temperature controlled (TTC) lasers, one or more transmitters each of which is connected to one of said one or more TTC lasers, one or more second TTC lasers, one or more digital signal processing (DSP) transponders (TPNDs) each of which is connected to one of said one or more second TTC lasers, one or more receivers, and a controller to control said one or more transmitters and said one or more DSP TPNDs, wherein said one or more transmitters defragment an optical access spectrum, and said one or more DSP TPNDs exploit a newly available spectrum. Other apparatuses, systems, and methods also are disclosed. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241718 | Optical Transceiver Device - An optical transceiver device is provided, including an O/E transceiver module, an optical switching module and a switching control module, for providing network communication services for a first and a second optical fiber network equipment. The O/E transceiver module is an integrated chip having multiple transceiver units integrated therein. The switching control module is connected to an in-line equipment and the optical switching module for controlling the optical switching module to execute corresponding optical path switching operation according to an optical path switching control signal output from the inline equipment. In comparison with conventional optical transceiver devices, the invention is advantageous of simple structure, smaller volume and more flexible optical path switching. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241719 | WAVELENGTH PATH SWITCHING METHOD, OPTICAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, OPTICAL COMMUNICATION DEVICE, OPTICAL RELAY DEVICE, AND NETWORK MANAGEMENT DEVICE - At least one of a first device, a second device, and a relay device compensates for wavelength dispersion in a first optical wavelength path. The first or second device changes a wavelength dispersion compensation amount at the first or second device so that wavelength dispersion in a second optical wavelength path is compensated. The relay device changes a wavelength dispersion compensation amount at the relay device so that a total amount of wavelength dispersion of the signal light compensated in the first optical wavelength path does not change substantially with the change in the wavelength dispersion compensation amount at the first or second device. The first optical wavelength path is switched to the second optical wavelength path after the wavelength dispersion compensation amount at the first or second device is changed to a value that can compensate for the wavelength dispersion in the second optical wavelength path. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241720 | LATCHING OPTICAL SWITCH AND SUBSYSTEM USING BISTABLE LIQUID CRYSTAL - A submarine network includes a submarine network with a branching unit BU for splitting or combining a signal between a main trunk path and a branch path for allowing signals from different paths to share a same fiber optic path, said BU and submarine network normally having a fixed and predetermined wavelength arrangement preventing reconfigurability of the submarine network, and a latching wavelength selective switch WSS or wavelength blocker WB in the branching unit for splitting or combining the signals between the main trunk path and branch path to enable a latching capability and enable reconfigurability of the branching unit BU, the latching WSSS being a bistable liquid crystal based material without moving parts for increased stability and lower power consumption over use of conventional mono-stable liquid crystal LC switches in a submarine network. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241721 | OPTICAL BURST SWITCHED NETWORK NODES - An optical node includes a wavelength splitter configured to split optical signals comprising multiple optical wavelengths into separate outputs, with each of the separate outputs having a different wavelength. The optical node further includes a detector configured to detect optical signals associated with packets at each of the separate outputs, and determine a modulation applied to the optical signals at each of the separate outputs. The optical node also includes a processing unit configured to identify destination optical nodes for the packets based on the determined modulation. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241722 | PDM-(M) Ask Optical Systems And Methods For Metro Network Applications - An apparatus, e.g. an optical communication system, includes an optical transmitter and an optical receiver. The transmitter includes a laser configured to provide an optical signal amplitude-modulated among M different levels, e.g. in two polarizations. The receiver is configured to demodulate the optical signal to produce a received symbol constellation including a plurality of symbol rings in a complex I-Q space. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241723 | Bandwidth Distribution Based on Prior Granting Cycles - An apparatus comprises a receiver configured to receive a reported queue depth for a current granting cycle, and a processor coupled to the receiver and configured to determine accumulated bandwidth credits from at least one granting cycle prior to the current granting cycle. An apparatus comprises a transmitter configured to transmit a reported queue depth for a second granting cycle, a processor coupled to the transmitter, and a receiver coupled to the processor and configured to receive a transmission grant size that is based on the reported queue depth and accumulated bandwidth credits from a first granting cycle prior to the second granting cycle. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241724 | Transmission Prioritization Based on Polling Time - An apparatus comprises a receiver configured to receive a plurality of instructions, a plurality of first messages, and a plurality of second messages, a processor coupled to the receiver and configured to process the instructions, the first messages, and the second messages, and a transmitter coupled to the processor and configured to transmit the second messages based on the instructions, wherein the instructions instruct the processor to transmit the second messages based on polling times. An apparatus comprises a processor configured to compile instructions, wherein the instructions instruct prioritizing of data transmissions based on propagation delays, and a transmitter coupled to the processor and configured to transmit the instructions. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241725 | Wavelength Assignment for Multiple Operator Support - An apparatus comprising a plurality of optical line terminals (OLTs) corresponding to different providers that share an optical distribution network (ODN), a plurality of optical network units (ONUs) coupled to the OLTs via the same ODN and configured to communicate with the different OLTs using different corresponding pairs of upstream and downstream channels, wherein the upstream and downstream channels are interleaved across a plurality of wavelength bands and comprise a sequence of alternating and contiguous upstream and downstream channels, are aligned with a plurality of wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) channels, and satisfy a plurality of design requirements for the OLTs and ONUs. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241726 | TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED MULTI-CHANNEL TRANSMITTER OPTICAL SUBASSEMBLY AND OPTICAL TRANSCEIVER MODULE INCLUDING SAME - A temperature controlled multi-channel transmitter optical subassembly (TOSA) may be used in a multi-channel optical transceiver. The temperature controlled multi-channel TOSA generally includes an array of lasers optically coupled to an optical multiplexer, such as an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG), to combine multiple optical signals at different channel wavelengths. The lasers may be thermally tuned to the channel wavelengths by establishing a global temperature for the array of lasers and separately raising local temperatures of individual lasers in response to monitored wavelengths associated with the lasers. A temperature control device, such as a TEC cooler coupled to the laser array, may provide the global temperature and individual heaters, such as resistors adjacent respective lasers, may provide the local temperatures. The optical transceiver may be used in a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical system, for example, in an optical line terminal (OLT) in a WDM passive optical network (PON). | 2014-08-28 |
20140241727 | COMMUNICATION BETWEEN TRANSCEIVERS USING IN-BAND SUBCARRIER TONES - The invention relates to a system and method of communication between optical transceivers in an optical WDM network, wherein a broad-band modulation of optical signals in a primary frequency band is utilized for transmitting primary high-speed data, while a plurality of relatively low-frequency in-band subcarriers is used to modulate the optical signals to transmit secondary data between network nodes, wherein the plurality of low-frequency subcarriers lie at least in part within the primary frequency band. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241728 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR RECEIVING AN OPTICAL-DUO-BINARY SIGNAL - The invention inter alia relates to a method of receiving an optical-duo-binary, ODB, signal (S), which has a predefined ODB-transmission bit-rate (B), using a photoreceiver, said method comprising the step of filtering the ODB signal using a filter ( | 2014-08-28 |
20140241729 | OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM - An optical communications system is disclosed. In the optical communications system, a received light source is modulated in accordance with an electrical signal using an acousto-optic modulator. The acousto-optic modulator modulates an amplitude of the received light source in accordance with an amplitude of the electrical signal. Furthermore, an angle of diffraction of a beam produced by the acousto-optic modulator is a function of a frequency of the electrical signal. The optical communications system is equipped with a waveplate that converts a polarization of the diffracted beam to correspond to the polarization of an undiffracted beam. Improved detection and recovery of the electrical signal may be achieved due to the polarization correspondence between the diffracted beam and the undiffracted beam. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241730 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR POWER-EFFICIENT JOINT DIMMING AND VISIBLE LIGHT COMMUNICATION - A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for communication are provided. The apparatus obtains a message for communication using visible light communication (VLC) through a light emitting diode (LED) luminary device and formats the message using a synchronization signal followed by one or more data signals. The synchronization signal and/or the one or more data signals are modulated using a Frequency Shift Keying (FSK) modulation scheme. The apparatus further receives a dimming level value associated with a brightness of light to be emitted from the LED luminary device, generates a waveform with frequencies based on the formatted message and a duty cycle for the LED luminary device based on the dimming level value, and sends the generated waveform to the LED luminary device for communication using VLC. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241731 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FREE SPACE OPTICAL COMMUNICATION BEAM ACQUISITION - A free space optical communication system ( | 2014-08-28 |
20140241732 | TRANSMITTER, RECEIVER, AND METHOD - A feature of the present invention pertains to a transmitter for transmitting data by video, the transmitter including a transmission data control unit that distributes the data to multiple colors constituting the video, and a display unit that converts the distributed data into a sequence of a predetermined color value with respect to each of the multiple colors and lighting the multiple colors in a communication area on a display in accordance with the sequence of the color value. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241733 | OPTICAL COMMUNICATION APPARATUS - An optical communication apparatus includes a substrate having a through hole; an optical element which includes a light terminal for receiving or sending light and is mounted on a surface of the substrate so that the light terminal faces an opening of the through hole; a light guide member which includes a first lens facing the light terminal of the optical element, a surrounding portion which surrounds a periphery of the first lens on a side of the opening of the through hole, and a guide portion which is provided inside the through hole and guides the light between the opening and another opening of the through hole; and a light waveguide which is arranged on a side of another surface of the substrate and includes a light guide optically connected to the light guide member on a side of the another opening of the through hole. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241734 | LIGHT EMITTING DEVICE, MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF, AND OPTICAL TRANSCEIVER - The light emitting device includes an active layer formed on a semiconductor substrate for emitting light, a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type electrically connected to one end of the active layer, a semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type electrically connected to the other end of the active layer, first and second electrodes, a feedback mechanism for laser oscillation, and a waveguide for guiding the light emitted from the active layer, in which the active layer is made of a semiconductor having an affinity with a silicon CMOS process, and the semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type and the semiconductor layer of the second conductivity type, and the waveguide are each made of silicon as a part of the semiconductor substrate. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241735 | Visible Light Communication with Increased Signal-to-Noise Ratio - A method of increasing modulation of a visible light signal. The method can include receiving a signal that corresponds to the visible light signal, where the visible light signal has a magnitude. The method can also include adjusting, by a controller and based on the signal, a dimmer level of a dimmer by an amount, where the amount is proportional to the magnitude of the visible light signal, and where the dimmer level adjusts an output of a driver circuit. The visible light signal and the output of the driver circuit can be combined into a power signal and sent to one or more light sources. The one or more light sources can use the power signal to generate a light output that includes a visible light communication signal that is received by a receiver. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241736 | Image Forming Apparatus Including Cartridge for Protecting Photosensitive Drum - An image forming apparatus includes a main body and a cartridge attached to the main body. The cartridge includes: a casing extending in a longitudinal direction; a photosensitive drum extending in the longitudinal direction; and a separating member that is detachably attached to the casing. The photosensitive drum has a peripheral surface and is positioned in confrontation with the endless belt as a result of attachment of the cartridge to the main body. The separating member is attached to the casing and separates the photosensitive drum from the endless belt when the main body is packaged while the cartridge is attached to the main body. The separating member includes first and second end portions disposed on both end portions of the casing, and a connecting portion connecting the first and second end portions and is configured to cover the peripheral surface. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241737 | SHEET PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM, AND SHEET PROCESSING CONTROL METHOD - When performing a purging process in which remaining sheets remaining in the image forming system are gathered and ejected to any of trays in an ejection section, any of the trays other than a valid sheet tray to which a sheet having a normally formed imager has been ejected is set as a purge tray which is a tray to which the remaining sheets are to be ejected by the purging process, and the ejection section is controlled to eject the remaining sheet to such purge tray | 2014-08-28 |
20140241738 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a cassette chamber, a paper feed cassette, a sheet size sensor, a lift-up sensor, and an arithmetic control unit. The paper feed cassette can be mounted in the cassette chamber, and lifts up a recording sheet placed in the paper feed cassette upon being mounted in the cassette chamber. The arithmetic control unit is configured to decide that the paper feed cassette is mounted when the lift-up sensor detects that the recording sheet is lifted up, despite the sheet size sensor having detected that the paper feed cassette is not mounted. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241739 | Image Forming Apparatus That Performs Effective Toner Refresh Process, Non-Transitory Computer-Readable Recording Medium, and Image Forming Method - An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a toner carrier, a region setting unit, a printing-rate detecting unit, a discharge-region determining unit, and a region redividing unit. The region setting unit is configured to set a plurality of regions divided along an image width direction on the image carrier. The printing-rate detecting unit is configured to detect a printing rate when forming the image for each of the plurality of regions. The discharge-region determining unit is configured to determine necessity of a toner discharge for each region based on the detected printing rate. The region redividing unit is configured to redivide a region determined to require the toner discharge into a plurality of regions in which respective printing rates during subsequent image formation are individually detected. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241740 | ABNORMALITY DETECTION METHOD AND ABNORMALITY DETECTION DEVICE FOR IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An abnormality detection device for an image forming apparatus detects an abnormality in the image forming apparatus which includes a heating belt looped around a heating roller and a fixing roller. The abnormality detection device for an image forming apparatus includes: thermistors for detecting temperatures of one widthwise end portion and the other widthwise end portion of the heating belt; a temperature difference detection section for determining whether or not a temperature difference between the temperature of the one end portion and the temperature of the other end portion which are detected by the thermistors is greater than a predetermined value; and a judgment section for judging that an abnormality has occurred in the image forming apparatus when it is determined in the temperature difference detection section that the temperature difference is greater than the predetermined value. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241741 | CORRECTION CONTROL METHOD AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A correction control method includes performing correction control to bring a control value to a target value or a change through a prediction control system that previously applies a predetermined amount of correction and a predetermined timing. The prediction control system is constructed without performing data offset processing for deriving the predetermined amount of correction and the predetermined timing. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241742 | SENSOR AND IMAGE-FORMING APPARATUS - A sensor comprising an optical sensor including a light source and a plurality of light receivers which receive light emitted from the light source and light regularly reflected and diffusely reflected by an object, a database including output data regarding multiple objects of known and different types from the plurality of light receivers when an incident direction of light emitted from the light source forms a first direction to the object and when the incident direction of light emitted from the light source forms a second direction which is orthogonal to the first direction, and a processor which controls the light emitted from the light source to illuminate an object of unknown type and specifies the type of the object by matching the output data of the plurality of light receivers to the database. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241743 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a plurality of photosensitive members arranged to align in parallel with one another, an exposure device arranged in an upper position with respect to the plurality of photosensitive members and configured to expose the photosensitive members to light, an exposure controller arranged in an upper position with respect to the exposure device and configured to control the exposure device according to inputted image data, a power board, arranged in a lower position with respect to the plurality of photosensitive members and configured to convert alternate current power to direct current power, and a voltage converter arranged in un upper position with respect to the exposure device and configured to convert the direct current power supplied from the power board into an at least single-leveled first voltage and supply the first voltage to the exposure controller. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241744 | TRANSFER DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME - A transfer device includes a nip forming member to contact a surface of an image bearing member to form a transfer nip therebetween, a pressing device, and a nip pressure changing device. The pressing device includes a plurality of elastic members, to produce a contact pressure between the nip forming member and the image bearing member according to a restoring force of at least one of the elastic members upon deformation of the elastic member. The nip pressure changing device changes an amount of elastic deformation of the elastic member between at least two stages to change a nip pressure of the transfer nip. While the contact pressure is produced by one of the elastic members, the nip pressure changing device changes the amount of elastic deformation of a different elastic member, different from the one that produces the contact pressure, to change the nip pressure of the transfer nip. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241745 | ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT - An electric power control unit alternately repeats a first electric power control period and a second electric power control period when a low electric power mode is set by a mode setting unit. When a sleep mode is set by the mode setting unit, a second electric power control is executed. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241746 | Image Forming Apparatus Adequately Controlling Motor - An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device, a motor, and a control device. The fixing device includes a heating member, a drive roller in contact with the heating member at a nip portion therebetween, and a memory configured to store an outer diameter of the drive roller. The motor is configured to drive the drive roller. The control device is configured to read the outer diameter from the memory, adjust a rotation speed of the motor such that the rotation speed of the motor becomes smaller as the outer diameter read from the memory becomes larger, and drive the motor at an adjusted rotation speed. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241747 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a printing portion, an ordinary printing controller, and an energy-saving printing controller. The ordinary printing controller causes the printing portion to perform ordinary printing at a first fixing temperature. The energy-saving printing controller causes the printing portion to perform energy-saving printing at a second fixing temperature lower than the first fixing temperature. The energy-saving printing controller selectively performs first energy-saving printing of performing the energy-saving printing by setting the sheet conveying speed to a first speed and setting the sheet interval to a first interval, and second energy-saving printing of performing the energy-saving printing by setting the sheet conveying speed to a second speed faster than the first speed and setting the sheet interval to a second interval larger than the first interval. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241748 | Self Lubricating Fuser and Method of Operation - A belt fuser assembly which dispenses lubricant oil or other depleted lubricant component to the inner surface of the fuser belt. The belt fuser assembly may include a lubricant dispenser positioned to be heated by the heating element of the fuser assembly for dispensing a lubricant oil to the inner surface of the fuser belt. A controller coupled to the heating element activates the heating element to generate heat at a fusing temperature during a fusing operation and at at least one second temperature greater than the fusing temperature during a lubricant dispensing operation so as to cause lubricant to dispense from the lubricant dispenser. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241749 | Image Forming Apparatus Having Cartridges - An image forming apparatus includes: a main body; a first cartridge; a second cartridge; and a retaining member. The main body includes a first power-supplying part; and a second power-supplying part. The first cartridge includes a first power-receiving part. The second cartridge includes a second power-receiving part. The first and second power-receiving parts are configured to contact with the first and second power-supplying parts respectively. The retaining member is configured to retain the first and second cartridges and includes one side wall having a frame formed of a resin material and a reinforcing member formed of a metal material. A top edge of the frame is positioned lower than top edges of the first and second power-receiving parts. A top edge of the reinforcing member is positioned at a same vertical position as or lower than the top edge of the frame. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241750 | FILTER ON TOP OUTPUT BIN OF A PRINTER - A filter on top output bin of a printer is consisted of a box wherein a chamber inside of a box, filtering exit on the top of the box, sealing strips sealed along the edge of the filtering exit, filtering entrance under the box, anti-paper jam strips bored on two literal side of the filtering entrance, and an opening bored on a literal side of the box, a filtering net inside of the box is surrounded by frames, and electrostatic filter attached on the top of the filtering net. The filter can be placed on the top output bin on the printer, or be supported the box by having flexible holder adapted to a variety printer. The output papers won't be impacted into the filtering net by having anti-paper jam strips therefore filter can absorb toner emissions and odor so as to clear the air. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241751 | BELT CLEANING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - A belt cleaning device includes a collection roller, a cleaning blade, a sealing member, a first thrust mechanism, and a second thrust mechanism. The collection roller collects remaining toner on an intermediate transfer belt. The cleaning blade extends along the collection roller and scrapes off the toner of a surface of the collection roller. The sealing member softly comes into contact with the surface of the collection roller and prevents counterflow of the toner. The first thrust mechanism displaces the collection roller in its rotating shaft direction by a rotational driving force transmitted to the collection roller and. The second thrust mechanism thrusts the cleaning blade in the rotating shaft direction of the collection roller in a thrust cycle shorter than that of the collection roller based on the first thrust mechanism. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241752 | DEVELOPER STORAGE CONTAINER, DEVELOPING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developer storage container includes a first storage member storing a developer, a second storage member fitted to the first storage member, and a sealing member that seals between the first storage member and the second storage member for preventing leakage of the developer. The first storage member includes a first fitting portion. The second storage member includes a second fitting portion fitted to the first fitting portion. The first fitting portion includes a pressing portion pressing the sealing member. The pressing portion includes an inclined portion that faces the second fitting portion. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241753 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an LED unit capable of being in an exposing position or a retracted position, and a cartridge capable of being inserted into or pulled out with the LED unit in the retracted position. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241754 | TONER CARTRIDGE PACKAGING - A toner cartridge packaging having a non-planar top surface is disclosed. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241755 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus, the cartridge including a photosensitive drum, a drum frame supporting the drum, a force receiving portion for receiving a driving force for driving the drum from the main assembly, and a regulated portion, provided on the drum frame, for regulating rotation of the cartridge; a transfer member for transferring a developer image onto a toner image receiving member; a supporting member movable between an inside position and in which the supporting member detachably supports the cartridge and an outer position and in which the cartridge is mountable and demountable; a moving member capable of taking a first position in which the moving member urges the regulated portion to space the drum from the transfer member and a second position in which the moving member to contact the drum to the transfer member; and a regulating portion for engaging with the regulated portion to regulate rotation of the cartridge when the moving member is in the second position and the force receiving portion receives the force, and for permitting movement of the supporting member between the outer position and the inside position with the regulating portion being in engagement with the regulated portion to limit rotation of the cartridge. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241756 | DETECTING A DEVELOPING CARTRIDGE - A developing cartridge is provided. The developing cartridge includes a housing which accommodates developer therein, a receiving member which receives a driving force output member provided in an image forming apparatus, a developing roller which rotates by the driving force received by the receiving member, and a detectable rotary member including a detectable portion, which is a detection target to be detected by a detection member provided in the image forming apparatus, and a contact portion which is provided away from the detectable portion. The detectable rotary member rotates from a retreat position to an initial position where the detectable rotary member is rotated by the driving force received by the receiving member, by the contact portion contacting an interference member fixed in the image forming apparatus in a process of mounting the developing cartridge into the image forming apparatus. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241757 | NOZZLE INSERTION MEMBER, POWDER CONTAINER, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A nozzle insertion member arranged in a powder container includes a nozzle insertion opening; an opening/closing member opening/closing the nozzle insertion opening; a supporting member supporting the opening/closing member; and a biasing member provided to the supporting member to bias the opening/closing member toward a closing position. When the powder is supplied to the conveying nozzle along with rotation of a rotary conveyor arranged inside the powder container, the supporting member rotates with the rotation of the conveyor. The opening/closing member is rotated by a drive transmitting mechanism with rotation of the supporting member. The mechanism includes an elongated member arranged on the opening/closing member and penetrating through an opening formed on the supporting member; and a drive transmitted portion formed on the elongated member; and a drive transmitting portion formed on an inner surface of the opening and configured to come into contact with the drive transmitted portion. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241758 | Toner Cartridge Having a Shutter Lock Mechanism - An example toner cartridge includes a reservoir for containing toner and an exit port in fluid communication with the reservoir. A shutter is positioned at the exit port and movable between an open position and a closed position. A first linkage member is operatively connected to the shutter to open the shutter upon being actuated by a first engagement feature. A second linkage member is pivotally attached to a side wall of the housing and biased toward a home position. A third linkage member is movable with the second linkage member. When the second linkage member is in the home position, the third linkage member is in a blocking position preventing the first linkage member from opening the shutter. When the second linkage member pivots away from the home position, the third linkage member moves to a non-blocking position permitting the first linkage member to open the shutter. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241759 | TONER CASE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A toner case includes a case main body and an agitating member. The case main body contains a toner. The agitating member agitates the toner contained in the case main body by rotating along an inner surface of the case main body. A rib is protruded on the inner surface of the case main body along a rotation direction of the agitating member. The agitating member is provided with a slit extending along the rotation direction and located at a position corresponding to the rib. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241760 | DEVELOPMENT DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMATION APPARATUS - A development device includes a developer carrier, a restriction member to control a layer thickness of the developer on the developer carrier, first and second developer supply members being in contact with the developer carrier. Each of the developer supply members is configured to rotate at a speed having a constant ratio to a rotation speed of the developer carrier. The second developer supply member and the restriction member are arranged in this order downstream of the first developer supply member in a rotating direction of the developer carrier. A peripheral speed (a speed of the outer peripheral surface) of the second developer supply member is set to be slower than that of the first developer supply member. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241761 | DEVELOPING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developing device and an image forming apparatus including the developing device are provided. The developing device includes a housing, a developer carrier which is rotatably supported by the housing, and which carries developer on a circumferential surface thereof, a layer thickness regulating member which includes, a blade contacting the circumferential surface of the developer carrier along a rotational axial direction of the developer carrier, and a support member supporting the blade, the layer thickness regulating member for regulating a layer thickness of the developer on the circumferential surface of the developer carrier. The support member includes: a contact part which contacts the blade; and a pair of attachment parts which are attached to the housing. The attachment parts are provide at both sides of the contact part in the rotational axial direction and are further protruded than the contact part in a direction away from the developer carrier. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241762 | ENDLESS BELT FOR IMAGE FORMING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING DEVICE HAVING THE SAME - An endless belt for an image forming device includes a base member that is shaped in a loop and is to be rotated around a center of the loop, and a reinforcement tape that is attached to a side of the base member, has two ends that are overlapped with each other, and has a bonding portion between the two ends in the overlapped portion. The bonding portion has an outer portion, an inner portion and a center portion between the inner and outer portions. A length of the center portion in a rotating direction of the base member is greater than a length of the inner portion and a length of the outer portion. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241763 | Self Lubricating Fuser and Method of Operation - A belt fuser assembly which dispenses lubricant oil or other depleted lubricant component to the inner surface of the fuser belt. The belt fuser assembly may include a lubricant dispenser positioned to be heated by the heating element of the fuser assembly for dispensing a lubricant oil to the inner surface of the fuser belt. The lubricant dispenser may include a reservoir containing the lubricant oil and an exit port for delivering the lubricant oil from the reservoir to the inner surface of the fuser belt upon the reservoir being heated by the heating element at a temperature above the fusing temperature of the belt fuser assembly. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241764 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A fixing device includes a fixing member including a heat generator and an induction heater to heat the fixing member by electromagnetic induction. The induction heater includes an excitation coil, a ferromagnetic core to form a magnetic path to direct magnetic flux arising from the excitation coil to the fixing member, and a holder to hold the excitation coil and the ferromagnetic core. The holder has a surface facing the heat generator. The surface has a plurality of slits extending parallel to a direction of rotation of the fixing member. The ferromagnetic core is coupled to the holder and covers an open bottom portion of each slit of the plurality of slits to form a plurality of bottomed grooves. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241765 | FIXING DEVICE - Provided is a fixing device including a transparent belt, a press roller that is rotated with being opposed to and contacting with the transparent belt, and transports a recording medium interposed therebetween, a press member-cum-optical system that contacts with the transparent belt from an opposite side to the press roller, forms a press region for pressing a toner image formed on the recording medium in cooperation with the press roller during transport of the recording medium, and collects laser light on the toner image in the press region in a transport direction of the recording medium, and a laser light irradiation unit that irradiates the press member-cum-optical system with laser light. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241766 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS WITH SAME - A fixing device fixes an unfixed image onto a recording medium by heating the recording medium conveyed to a fixing nip. The fixing device includes a rotator, a belt rotatable by contacting the rotator, and a fixing nip-forming member provided inside a loop of the fixing belt to together form the fixing nip with the rotator via the fixing belt. A sliding pad is placed between the fixing nip-forming member and the fixing belt to retain lubricant and render the fixing belt to smoothly slide thereon. The sliding pad includes a first fibrous layer contacting the fixing belt and a second fibrous layer closer to the fixing nip-forming member than the first fibrous layer. The second fibrous layer has less fiber density than the first fibrous layer. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241767 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a fixing belt, a pressuring rotator, a pressing member, a heat source, a supporting member, and an end cap. The fixing belt is rotatably provided. The pressuring rotator is rotatably provided, and comes into pressure contact with the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the fixing belt and the pressuring rotator. The pressing member presses the fixing belt from inside toward the pressuring rotator. The heat source is disposed outside of the fixing belt, and heats the fixing belt. The supporting member faces the heat source across the fixing belt, and supports the fixing belt from inside. The end cap is mounted to an end part in the direction of a rotation axis of the fixing belt, and is rotatably supported by the supporting member. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241768 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a fixing belt, a pressuring rotator, a pressing member, a holding member, and an end cap. The fixing belt is rotatably provided. The pressuring rotator is rotatably provided, and comes into pressure contact with the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the fixing belt and the pressuring rotator. The pressing member presses the fixing belt from inside toward the pressuring rotator. The holding member holds the pressing member. The end cap is mounted to an end part in a direction of a rotation axis of the fixing belt, and is movable in a radial direction of the fixing belt with respect to the holding member. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241769 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS, LUBRICANT APPLICATION SYSTEM, LUBRICANT APPLICATION METHOD, AND LUBRICANT CONTAINER-APPLICATOR - An image heating apparatus to which a lubricant application container is dismountably mountable, the image heating apparatus includes an endless belt configured to heat, in a nip, a toner image on a sheet; a rotatable member cooperative with the belt to form the nip; an urging member extending in a widthwise direction of the belt and configured and positioned to urge the belt toward the rotatable member; and a guide portion configured and positioned to guide a sliding movement of the lubricant application container while substantially preventing dismounting of the lubricant application container during the sliding movement, wherein the lubricant application container applies a lubricant to a sliding surface of the urging member relative to the belt along a longitudinal direction, when the belt is dismounted from the image heating apparatus. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241770 | FIXING MEMBER, FIXING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing member used for fixing toner includes a base, an elastic layer provided on an outer circumference of the base, and a release layer provided on an outer circumference of the elastic layer. The elastic layer includes silicone rubber, carbon fibers, saturated hydrocarbon having a liquid form at room temperature, and hole portions. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241771 | BASE FOR FIXING BELT, FIXING BELT, FIXING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A base for a fixing belt comprising at least: a nickel layer; and a copper layer, both laminated each other, wherein an orientation ratio I(200)/I(111) calculated based on a ratio between a peak strength of (200) crystal face and a peak strength of (111) crystal face by X-ray diffraction analysis of the copper layer is 0.1 or less. The base for the fixing belt further includes a protective layer, disposed on a surface of the copper layer opposite a surface on which the nickel layer is laminated, and the protective layer is formed of nickel. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241772 | CLEANING DEVICE, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A cleaning device includes a cleaning member for removing a developer from a surface of a member to be cleaned and the cleaning member includes a blade portion, and a flexible plate-like supporting member configured to support the blade portion, the supporting member including one end portion, in which the blade portion is provided, the other end portion, which has a portion to be fixed to a frame member, a bent portion, which is positioned between the one end portion and a side plate portion projecting from a side end of the one end portion, and a sealing member, which is provided between the cleaning member and the frame member, configured to prevent the developer from leaking from a storage chamber and fixed to one of the side plate portion and the frame member. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241773 | CLEANING MEMBER, CLEANING DEVICE, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A cleaning member for removing a developer from a surface of a member to be cleaned includes a blade member configured to make contact with the member to be cleaned in a direction counter to a moving direction of the member to be cleaned, and a flexible plate-like supporting member configured to support the blade member, which includes one end with the blade member, the other end with a fixed portion fixed to a frame member, and a bent portion between the ends which is located outwardly away from the surface of the member to be cleaned relative to a segment connecting the fixed portion and a contact portion between the blade member and the member to be cleaned. The fixed portion arranged downstream of the moving direction of the member to be cleaned relative to the contact portion has a folded-back shape to nip part of the frame member. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241774 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - An image forming apparatus capable of increasing the speed of successively discharging printed printing media in order to increase the overall print speed and a control method thereof. The image forming apparatus includes a first discharge roller to feed printed printing medium rearward from a print unit disposed at an inner front portion of a main body, a reverse roller to reverse a moving direction of the printed printing medium fed from the first discharge roller from a rear to a front of the main body, a second discharge roller to discharge the printed printing medium whose moving direction is reversed outside, and an intermediate discharge roller unit which is provided between the first discharge roller and the reverse roller, the intermediate discharge roller unit including a main roller, a sub discharge roller and a sub supply roller which are in contact with the main roller. While a preceding printed printing medium fed from the reverse roller is discharged between the main roller and the sub discharge roller, a following printed printing medium fed from the first discharge roller is supplied between the main roller and the sub supply roller. Accordingly, since the interval between the preceding printed printing medium and the following printed printing medium becomes shorter than that of a conventional image forming apparatus, the speed of successively discharging printed printing media increases, and as a result the overall print speed increases. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241775 | SHEET TRAY, SHEET FEEDER WITH SHEET TRAY,IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS WITH SHEET TRAY, AND IMAGE READING DEVICE WITH SHEET TRAY - A sheet tray includes a tray section. A rear end portion of the tray section capable of supporting an upstream side of a sheet in a direction of conveyance of the sheet extends in a width direction of the sheet transversely of the direction of conveyance of the sheet. Both ends of the rear end portion of the tray section in the width direction of the sheet are raised upward perpendicularly to a placement surface relative to the middle of the rear end portion in the width direction of the sheet. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241776 | MEDIUM CARRYING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A medium carrying device includes a first carrying part and a second carrying part that are configured to carry a medium, making a nip part therebetween. The guide member includes a medium regulation part having a surface to regulate the medium, an arm part that is at a side of the surface and extend in a direction away from the surface, and a rotation supporting point that is on a distal end of the arm part, and the guide member is formed rotatable around the rotation supporting point between the guide position and a retreat position, the retreat position being more distant to the nip part than the guide position. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241777 | RECORDING MEDIUM CONVEYING MECHANISM AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - A recording medium conveying mechanism includes a conveying guide, a guide member, and a rotating mechanism. The conveying guide conveys recording paper to a nip zone between a mountable/demountable intermediate transfer unit and a secondary transfer roller. The guide member acting as a part of the conveying guide is rotated by the rotating mechanism so that a tip thereof is disposed up to a position just adjacent to the nip zone when the intermediate transfer unit is mounted in the apparatus main body. When the intermediate transfer unit is mounted/demounted in/from the apparatus main body, the guide member is rotated up to a position at which the tip thereof does not exceed an arrangement position of the intermediate transfer belt portion in a conveying direction of the recording paper, in a movement direction of the intermediate transfer unit during the mounting/demounting. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241778 | Tandem Type Image Forming Apparatus - To facilitate replacing photosensitive drums and/or developing devices in an image forming apparatus, a photosensitive member unit including a plurality of photosensitive members is loaded in a main casing. A developing device unit including a plurality of developing devices is also loaded in the main casing. Both an intermediate transfer belt and the photosensitive member unit are configured to be movable toward and away from the developing device unit. Further, when the photosensitive member unit is separated from the developing device unit, the intermediate transfer belt and the plurality of photosensitive members are also separated from each other. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241779 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes a feed tray, an image forming unit including a photosensitive member, a registration mechanism including a registration roller pair and configured such that, after a leading edge of the sheet fed from the feed tray reaches the registration roller pair, the registration roller pair rotates to convey the sheet toward the photosensitive member along a conveying path, a switchback mechanism for switching back, along a re-conveying path, the sheet having an image formed thereon by the image forming unit, and a re-conveying roller for conveying the switched-back sheet toward the registration roller pair via a conjunction between the re-conveying path and the conveying path. The registration roller pair includes a registration driving roller and a registration pinch roller driven by the registration driving roller. The re-conveying roller in contact with the registration driving roller is driven by the registration driving roller. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241780 | TOUCH TYPE KEYBOARD WITH HOME ROW EMBEDDED CURSOR CONTROL - A touch-type keyboard having shifted functions accessed by a concurrent combination of multiple home row keys. Cursor control keys embedded in the home row of a touch-type keyboard. Cursor key functions are mapped to a location on a home row and an immediately adjacent location. Access to the cursor control functions is provided by concurrently actuating at least one other home row key. One embodiment includes key configurations to reduce hand motion, and labeling configurations to reduce visual clutter. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241781 | LIQUID APPLICATOR - When the cap is released, the application body that is urged to the applicator front end side slides to the applicator front end side, and in this condition, the click button is actuated in linkage by the inclined part of the click button being pushed by the application body projection so that the click button moves up and juts out from the peripheral side of the front barrel and the valve set opens at approximately the same time. Upon usage, when the jutting click button is pushed and released, the application body is slid in the axial direction by the abutment between the inclined part of the click button and the applicator body projection so as to be able to open and close the valve set. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241782 | APPLICATOR FOR DRIVE CHAIN LIQUID DISPENSING - Liquid dispensing applicators adapted to be mounted to a container of lubricating oil or degreaser and used to lubricate or apply degreaser to a drive chain of a bicycle or motorcycle are disclosed. The applicator housing has an open slot to receive the chain. A wear-resistant and absorbent pad is positioned within the housing to engage the chain. A conduit between the absorbent pad and the container transmits liquid to the absorbent pad such that the chain can be cleaned or lubricated. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241783 | WRITING IMPLEMENT - A writing implement may include a housing with an operating side and a writing side, a nib assembly longitudinally axially displaceably arranged in the housing with an ink reservoir and a piston longitudinally axially adjustably arranged therein, and an operating element, arranged on the operating side, which is rotatable and longitudinally axially displaceable into a first operating position and a second operating position. The operating element is mechanically connected to the nib assembly in the first operating position for the longitudinal axial displacement of the nib assembly and mechanically connected to the piston in the second operating position for the longitudinal axial adjustment of the piston. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241784 | INTERACTIVE RETAINING DEVICE - In one embodiment, a retaining device is provided herein, the retaining device includes a body portion including at least a first planar cover member and a second planar cover member, each of the first and second planar cover members including an outer edge and an inner edge. The first and second planar cover members are associated with one another at each respective inner edge. The retaining device further includes a user interactive component associated with the body, wherein the user interactive component provides an output to a user of the retaining device. In another embodiment, a container having a plurality of walls and an interactive component providing an output to a user is provided. The outputs include sensory outputs such as visual, audio, scent emission and heat. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241785 | Loose-Leaf Paper Binder Ring - A loose-leaf paper binder ring comprising a generally tubular shaped body; a first connecting end of said body arranged for releasably connecting with a complementary second connecting end for opening and closing the ring; a series of lower locking teeth being laterally spaced and extending along the length of said first connecting end; a series of upper locking teeth being laterally spaced and extending along the length of said second connecting end; whereby said upper locking teeth engage said lower locking teeth when said first connecting end is directly overlapped with said second connecting end; and, whereby a lateral displacement of said upper and lower locking teeth causes said first and second connecting ends to release. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241786 | SAFETY DEVICE FOR QUICK-FIT ATTACHMENTS USED FOR FITTING A TOOL TO THE END OF THE ARM OF A HYDRAULIC EXCAVATOR - Safety device for quick-fit attachments comprising two parts ( | 2014-08-28 |
20140241787 | EXPANSION JOINT COMPRISING A HYBRID POLYUREA-POLYURETHANE HEADER COMPOSITION - Provided is a header composition for an expansion joint system. The header composition includes a hybrid polyurea-polyurethane composition and is designed to have a short cure time at low temperatures. Also provided are an expansion joint system incorporating the hybrid polyurea-polyurethane header composition and a method for applying the header composition into the expansion joint system. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241788 | Swivel Attachment and Branch Line Restraint - A swivel attachment and/or branch line restraint device with angular versatility and mobility for facilitating connection of installation components to support a pipe or other load relative to a support surface is provided. Advantageously, embodiments of the device provide a plurality of rotational or swivel degrees of freedom, which are substantially independently controllable, for its mating portions, which respectively engage corresponding mating portions of other installation components. The device embodiments can desirably be configured in male-female, male-male or female-female arrangements to enhance device utility and/or versatility, thereby advantageously allowing for use in a myriad of applications and installations, such as construction, utilities and the like, among others, to reliably support loads. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241789 | LOCKING DEVICE FOR AN EXTENDIBLE TUBE ASSEMBLY - A locking device for an extendible tube assembly has: an extendible tube, an enforced locking block and a controlling member. The extendible tube includes an inner tube and an outer tube, an end of the outer tube having a through hole on a pivoting base. The enforced locking block has a first end and a second end, the second end includes an indented portion that provides a resting edge; the second end of the enforced locking block is inserted in the through hole of the outer tube such that the resting edge of the second end makes contact with the inner tube in the outer tube. A pivoting portion of the controlling member is provided with an eccentric block, another end of the controlling member is provided with a handle; the pivoting portion of the controlling member is pivoted onto the pivoting base of the extendible tube. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241790 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF FORMING AN INJECTION-BONDED JOINT - A method of forming an injection-bonded joint may include forming a chamber wall within a bondline region between mating surfaces of a first part and a second part. The chamber wall may divide a bondline length and define at least one adhesive chamber. The method may include injecting a structural adhesive into the adhesive chamber through an injection port, and discharging excess adhesive from the adhesive chamber through a bleed hole. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241791 | LINK MECHANISM AND UNIVERSAL COUPLER BASED ON THE SAME - Provided are a link mechanism which can be variously combined and can be easily assembled and disassembled, and a universal coupler including the same. The link mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a first plate and a second coupling piece. Here, the first plate has a flat plate shape and a first thickness and includes a plurality of first coupling holes formed to pass therethrough, the first coupling holes have the same size and shape and are disposed at a first interval in at least one of a column direction and a row direction. The first coupling piece is inserted into the first coupling holes of two or more first plates to couple two or more first plates to each other. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241792 | Attachment System for an Exterior Cover of a Vehicle Mirror Assembly - A carrier plate including mounting tabs. A cover including attachment sockets releasably engaging the mounting tabs. A spring clip carried in each of the attachment sockets releasably engaging the mounting tabs. A bezel extending around the carrier plate including a bezel lip extending along select portions of the bezel, and a cover lip receiving slot disposed along select portions of the bezel not including the bezel lip. A cover lip included on the cover extending along select portions of a perimeter edge of the cover, and a bezel lip receiving slot extending along select portions of the perimeter edge not including the cover lip. The cover lip is received into the cover lip receiving slot and the bezel lip is received into the bezel lip receiving slot for mounting the cover to the carrier plate. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241793 | VORTEX-INDUCED VIBRATION SUPPRESSION DEVICE AND MATING COLLAR SYSTEM - A system including a vortex-induced vibration (VIV) suppression device dimensioned to suppress a vortex-induced vibration of a support structure, the VIV suppression device having a base portion that encircles at least a portion of the support structure and a support member formed along the base portion. The system further including a collar having a body portion defining an annular channel and a flange portion extending outwardly from the annular channel, the flange portion dimensioned to form a receiving channel around the support structure for receiving the support member. The support member is received within the receiving channel to secure the VIV suppression device to the support structure and the VIV suppression device is capable of rotating around the support structure along the receiving channel. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241794 | CONNECTOR SYSTEM FOR STRUCTURAL FRAMEWORK - A connector system of a structural frame work for display structures, the system comprising a socket device and a plug device that can be coupled to the socket device, the socket device including an outer housing and a socket member in the socket housing, the socket member having a socket hole of non-circular cross-section disposed in a distance behind a coupling hole that is bordered by a retainer wall of the outer socket housing, the plug device comprises a plug body and a coupling sleeve slidably and rotatably fitted onto the plug body that includes an exposed plug end portion axially projecting out of the coupling sleeve to fit into the socket hole of the socket member, the coupling sleeve including at least one radial locking nose projecting outwardly from the free end portion of the coupling sleeve that fits through the coupling hole of the socket housing when the coupling sleeve is in a release position, the plug body and the coupling sleeve include axial cam members engaging each other to cooperate upon a rotation of the coupling sleeve for an axial displacement of the coupling sleeve between the release position and a coupling position so that the plug end portion of the plug member can be fitted into the socket hole of the socket member while the free end portion of the coupling sleeve is inserted through the coupling hole into the socket housing, and the locking nose is displaced towards and against the retainer wall of the socket housing upon a relative rotation of the plug device and the socket device. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241795 | Steering Arrangement - A steering arrangement includes a steering spindle and a steering coupling provided with a fork crown bearing a connecting element that connects an end of the steering spindle to the steering coupling in the form of a plug connection. To enable the combined steering spindle and steering coupling ends to be connected to each other in the correct relative position and thus to be able to prevent a defective assembly, the steering spindle end and the connecting element are coaxial plug partners on ends facing each other, by means of at least one tongue and groove guide element pair that provides a torque-transmitting priority control. The at least one groove and/or the at least one tongue of the guide element pair is molded on the interior of the shaft. A clamping device clamps the plug partners against each other in a plugging position so that they cannot come loose. | 2014-08-28 |
20140241796 | Connection Element for a Support Frame System - A connection element for a support frame system includes at least two part elements configured substantially in U shape and joinable together in mirror-inverted form. The elements can be plugged into one another in mirror-inverted form, with the first part element connectable to at least one fastening element and with the second part element connectable to at least one positioning element and/or having at least one positioning element. | 2014-08-28 |