| 13th week of 2010 patent applcation highlights part 31 |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20100080529 | Closed Caption Tagging System - A method for displaying a webpage is described. The method involves receiving a broadcast stream including a program, playing the program in the broadcast stream to a viewer, displaying an icon to the viewer and receiving viewer input in response to display of the icon, pausing the playing of the program in response to receiving the viewer input, displaying a web page to the viewer in response to receiving the viewer input, and resuming the playing of the program. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080530 | Handling of Recording Clashes Which Are Not Known When User Creates Recording Request - A programming recorder receives information after receiving at least two programming event recording requests, detects a conflict between the programming event recording requests based on the received information, creates a ranked list of alternative sources for the programming event recording requests, and resolves the conflict by fulfilling at least one of the at least two programming event recording requests utilizing an alternative source. The alternative source may be automatically selected or selected by a user. The ranked list of alternative sources may be ordered utilizing a set of one or more priority criteria. The programming event recording requests and/or the received programming information may include metadata and determining alternative sources may comprise comparing the metadata. The programming recorder may display an indication that the conflict between the at least two programming event recording requests was detected and resolved. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080531 | VIDEO TELOP SELECTION APPARATUS AND METHOD - A video telop selection apparatus includes a video playback unit which plays back a video, a determination unit which determines appearance positions of telops and appearance intervals of the telops, a frame storage unit which stores frames containing the telops, an index generating unit which generates telop indices having the appearance positions of the telops and the appearance intervals of the telops, an index storage unit which stores the telop indices, an index selection unit which selects a telop index for a preferential telop from the telop indices, wherein the preferential telop is a telop that is given a priority based on an appearance position of the telop and an appearance interval of the telop, and an index display unit which generates an index selection frame, based on the telop index for the preferential telop and a frame containing the preferential telop, and displays the index selection frame. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080532 | Synchronizing Video with Audio Beats - A computer-implemented method to synchronize video with beats in audio is described. Multiple video frames and multiple audio frames are displayed in a first and second bounded region, respectively, in a user interface. The multiple audio frames represent audio content that includes a periodic beat that is audible when the audio content is played. Input is received to associate one or more video frames with the multiple audio frames using a cursor. In response to the input, the first video frame is synchronized with a beat audio frame in the multiple audio frames. In response to a playback input, the first video frame is displayed in the user interface when the beat audio frame is played. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080533 | NETWORK MEDIA PLAYER WITH USER-GENERATED PLAYBACK CONTROL - A network media player enables user-controlled playback of video or other content from various sources according to a playback control record. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080534 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD, PROGRAM AND RECORDED MEDIUM - An AV stream, as an entity of contents, is managed by ClipInformation. The reproduction of the AV stream is managed by PlayList. The attribute information of the AV stream, that is the address information RSPN_arrival_time_discontinuity of the discontinuous point in the AV stream, the information EP_map and TU_map correlating the time information in the AV stream and the address information, and the time information ClipMark of a characteristic picture in the AV stream, are recorded in the ClipInformation. This enables a preset mark to be retrieved promptly. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080535 | APPARATUS FOR RECORDING SIGNALS ON DISK RECORDING MEDIUM - A recording apparatus of this invention detects the state of management information, which pertains to a recording address of an image signal, and which is reproduced from a disk-like recording medium having a first area for the image signal and a second area for the management information. On the basis of the detection result, management data is reproduced from the first area of the disk-like recording medium. On the basis of the management data reproduced from the first area, the management information reproduced from the second area is modified. A modify unit records the modified management information in the second area. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080536 | INFORMATION RECORDING/REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND VIDEO CAMERA - A video camera which can, without requiring troublesome operations, create a disc having a superimposed dialogue through voice recognition with use of a camera main body alone, and which allows a user to enjoy viewing a video with the superimposed dialogue with use of a general-purpose player. Since such a menu which allows person-by-person display based on face-recognized information is created, a video searching performance is enhanced and thus the user can quickly search for a person appearing in the content. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080537 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR SYNCHRONIZING DIGITAL SOUND WITH IMAGES ON CINEMATOGRAPHIC FILM - Device and method for synchronizing digital sound with images on cinematographic film. The sound is represented by sound data and the images are represented by image data. The device comprises a sampling device for sampling a stream of sound data, a memory device for storing the sampled sound data, and a transmitting device for transmitting the sampled sound data in synchronization with transmitting the image data. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080538 | MICROCOMPUTER, SYSTEM INCLUDING THE SAME, AND DATA TRANSFER DEVICE - A microcomputer is provided, which can load data of different areas in parallel and transfer the loaded data to a storage circuit. The microcomputer includes a CPU to control a DRIs each of which loads image data of a prescribed area out of image data inputted from a camera and transfers the image data to a memory blocks, and the DRIs each of which transfers image data of respectively different area out of the image data inputted from the camera to the memory blocks. Therefore, it becomes possible to load image data of different areas in parallel and to transfer the loaded image data to the memory blocks. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080539 | Multi-setting circuits for the portable dryer - A dryer circuit includes a main circuit and a connection controller. The dryer circuit includes a power unit, a first and second heating units, a first and a second switches, a motor having a fan installed, a resistor, a first diode, and a second diode. The first and the second heating units are coupled to ground respectively through the first and the second switches. The resistor is coupled between the first heating unit and the motor. The first diode is coupled between the second heating unit and the motor. The second diode is coupled between the first heating unit and the motor and in series with the resistor. The connection controller controls the first and the second switches on or off for adjusting the power supplied to the motor, and the first and the second heating units at the same time. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080540 | STEAM GENERATOR FOR A HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE, HEATABLE USING A HEAT ACCUMULATOR - A steam generator for a household appliance. The steam generator includes an evaporation chamber having a substantially planar evaporation surface with first and second sections. A water supply line is in fluid communication with the evaporation chamber and a steam discharge line is also in fluid communication with the evaporation chamber. The steam generator includes a heat accumulator configured to heat the evaporation surface. At least one of a valve and a pump is associated with the water supply line and operable to control an introduction of water into the evaporation chamber. An electric controller controls the heating of the heat accumulator by the heater and the introduction of water into the evaporation chamber using the at least one of valve and pump. The first section of the evaporation surface is a starter section that is thermally conductively coupled to the heat accumulator such that heat flow from the heat accumulator to the starter section is limited compared to the second section. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080541 | Process of creating and applying live tree fragrance and aroma for artificial christmas trees - A process of creating and applying live tree fragrance and aroma for artificial Christmas trees. This process utilizes an all natural organic fluid extracted from the conifer tree family. The conifer needle oil is heated to its vaporization point within the vapor dispenser to produce its true fragrance. Then it is gently fanned to disperse the fragrance and aroma around an artificial Christmas tree. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080542 | INFRARED LED APPARATUS AND SURFACE HEATER - An infrared LED apparatus and surface heater for heating complex surfaces that need to transmit light is disclosed. The infrared LED heater includes an infrared LED light source comprising a number of LEDs, which can be utilized to elevate the surface temperature of a lens utilizing less energy. The lens can be filled with an IR opaque and visible light transparent filler to elevate the lens surface temperature utilizing less energy. The filler is durable and opaque to infrared wavelengths and is transparent in the visible wavelengths. The infrared LED heaters can be utilized to heat complex surfaces that transmit light while consuming less energy than conventional resistive heaters. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080543 | PORTABLE CAMERA DEVICE - A portable camera device includes a first casing, a second casing and an extendable mechanism. The second casing contains a lens module and has a lower part connected to a first connecting position of the first casing such that the lens module is arranged above the first casing. The extendable mechanism has a rear end with a document holding structure for holding a document and a front end connected to a second connecting position of the first casing via a first pivotal mechanism. The extendable mechanism is selectively folded or unfolded with respect to the first casing when the extendable mechanism is rotated in various directions by adjusting the first pivotal mechanism. A relative spatial correlation between the lens module and the document is adjusted such that the lens module is focused on a selected area of the document for capturing an image of the document. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080544 | VEIN IMAGING APPARATUS AND THUMBNAIL IMAGE CREATION METHOD - A vein imaging apparatus includes a lens array including a plurality of photo-receiving lenses arranged in an array, a plurality of near-infrared illumination sources placed along opposed ends of the lens array to illuminate a part of a living body with near-infrared light, an image pickup device to create a picked-up image of a vein based on the near-infrared light scattered inside the living body, transmitted through the vein and gathered by the lens array, where a plurality of photoreceptors are allocated to one photo-receiving lens, and a thumbnail image creation unit to acquire information about the near-infrared light received by one photoreceptor among the plurality of photoreceptors allocated to one photo-receiving lens as pixel information corresponding to one photo-receiving lens, acquire the pixel information for all the photo-receiving lenses included in the lens array and create a thumbnail image based on the acquired pixel information. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080545 | MULTI-DRIVE MECHANISM LENS ACTUATOR - Subject matter disclosed herein may relate to lens actuators used, for example, in auto-focus and/or vibration compensation systems of digital cameras. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080546 | AUTO-FOCUS SYSTEM AND AUTO-FOCUS METHOD THEREOF - An exemplary auto-focus method includes the following steps. An ambient brightness is measured before a pre-flash. Then, a pre-flash ambient brightness is also measured during the pre-flash is fired. A main flash ratio is subsequently calculated using the ambient brightness, the pre-flash ambient brightness, and a preset desired brightness. Next, an object distance is indexed using the calculated main flash ratio and a table. The table includes a collection of main flash ratios and a collection of object distances, where each flash ratio is associated with a corresponding object distance. Then an image distance corresponding to the indexed object distance is calculated using the imaging formula. The calculated image distance is converted into a number of focus steps of a focus lens. Finally, the focus lens is moved with a corresponding number of focus steps. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080547 | FOCAL POINT DETECTION DEVICE AND CAMERA SYSTEM - A focal point detection device includes: a rate conversion section which converts a transmission rate of an image signal, which is associated with a subject image imaged via an imaging lens on a part of a receiving surface of an imaging device, such that the image signal input to the rate conversion section at a first transmission rate is output from the rate conversion section at a second transmission rate that is slower than the first transmission rate; a filter which extracts a frequency component from the image signal output at the second transmission rate from the rate conversion section; and an evaluation value calculation section which calculates an evaluation value of a focus state of the imaging lens, based on a signal of the frequency component that is extracted by the filter. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080548 | COVERT CAMERA WITH A FIXED LENS - A covert camera for surveillance in an aircraft comprises a front panel that can have an appearance other than a conventional camera. The front panel can include at least one aperture therethrough. A lens can be in or near the aperture, the lens having a field of view. A camera mount can be positioned on the front panel. The camera mount can include a sensor capable of receiving an image of at least a portion of the field of view. The camera mount can be capable of adjustment without movement of the lens. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080549 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING FLASH EMISSION - An imaging apparatus includes: flash driving means for driving a flash during a set preliminary emission period and a set main emission period; and an image sensor constituted by a plurality of photoelectric converting elements which are arranged in a matrix and capable of being accessed randomly. The charge accumulation initiation timing and the charge accumulation cessation timing of the photoelectric converting elements are controlled line by line or pixel by pixel. The imaging apparatus forms images employing pixel signals output from the photoelectric converting elements, and extracts pixel signals output from photoelectric converting elements in which charge accumulation is initiated prior to the preliminary emission period and ceased after the preliminary emission period. An emission amount to be employed during the main emission period is determined by executing predetermined calculations based on the extracted pixel signals. Main emission of flash is performed with the determined emission amount. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080550 | PHOTOGRAPHY APPARATUS AND PHOTOGRAPHY METHOD - Two photography operations are performed without emitting flash during a second photography operation, to obtain image signals P | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080551 | Geotagging Photographs Using Annotations - Labels of elements in images may be compared to known elements to determine a region from which an image was created. Using this information, the approximate image position can be found, additional elements may be recognized, labels may be checked for accuracy and additional labels may be added. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080552 | LENS FRAME, LENS ASSEMBLY AND IMAGE-TAKING APPARATUS - A lens assembly made of porous ceramic is provided with concave sections into which an adhesive for fixing lenses inserted into a lens frame is injected. Each of the concave sections has an outward opening and a spacing wall provided between a hollow part of the lens frame and the opening. The adhesive injected into the concave sections passes through multiple pores in the lens frame made of porous ceramic, and reaches the periphery of each of the lenses, thereby fixing the lenses to an inner wall of the hollow part of the lens frame. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080553 | AUTOMATIC LASER SHUTDOWN AND RECOVERY IN RESPONSE TO A LINK BREAK - A communication system may include a first control circuit to detect a break on a first optical link; a first optical source to supply a first optical signal on a second optical link in response to detecting the break on the first optical link, the first optical signal propagating in a first direction on the second optical link; a second control circuit to detect a presence of the first optical signal on the second optical link, and output a control signal in response to detecting the presence of the first optical signal; and a second optical source to supply a second optical signal on the second optical link, the second optical signal propagating in a second direction opposite the first direction, where the Raman pump is disabled in response to the control signal. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080554 | Fiber Optic Cable Diagnostics Using Digital Modulation - Embodiments are directed to fiber optic cable diagnostics using digital modulation. A contact of a RFID (radio frequency identification) device located in a cable is connected with a contact of an optical transceiver. Data through the cable is using digital modulation and monitored to determine if the fiber optic cable and the optical transceiver are properly functioning. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080555 | METHOD AND ARCHITECTURE FOR PROVIDING HIGH BANDWIDTH BROADBAND COMMUNICATION TO FAST MOVING USERS - A wireless communication network architecture | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080556 | CHROMATIC DISPERSION COMPENSATION DESIGN SYSTEM AND CHROMATIC DISPERSION COMPENSATION DESIGN METHOD - A chromatic dispersion compensation design system includes: an input unit that inputs information of an optical network having a plurality of nodes optically coupled to each other via an optical transmission path; an allowable range determining unit that determines an allowable range of a residual chromatic dispersion with respect to every wavelength path of a plurality of signals from a starting node to a terminal node, based on the information of the optical network; and a calculation unit that calculates a wavelength path capacity in the allowable range of the residual chromatic dispersion, in view of a chromatic dispersion variability of each optical element in the optical network. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080557 | INTER-UNIT SETTING SYNCHRONIZATION DEVICE - In a transponder serving as a functional device having plural units, I/O RAM for holding functions settings contents is prepared for two sides, i.e. an ACT side and a STBY side in each unit. When functions settings contents are to be modified, the unit CPU in each unit switches the I/O RAM from the ACT side to the STBY side. The units continue to operate by using the settings contents of I/O RAM on the ACT sides, but set new settings contents for the STBY sides. The CPUs instruct that new settings contents be set simultaneously, thereby each unit reads the settings contents of I/O RAM on the STBY sides, and sets functions in the LSI. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080558 | Passive Optical Network System and Operating Method Thereof - The passive optical network includes a master station and slave stations connected via an optical fiber network including an optical splitter and a plurality of optical fibers. The master station includes a bandwidth control unit which decides a volume of a transmission signal to be granted to each slave station in every first period and in accordance with a request from the slave station, and a transmission timing control unit which decides, in one of a plurality of second periods and in accordance with the decided volume of the signal, transmission timing in which the slave station should transmit a signal. When the signal is to be transmitted by division over the plurality of second periods, the bandwidth control unit or the transmission timing control unit is controlled based on a volume of a signal to be attached by division processing, so that the granted signal can be transmitted in the first period. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080559 | Synchronized code division multiplexing communication method and synchronized code division multiplexing communication system - A synchronized CDM communication system performs 1-to-N communication by CDM between a central office and first to N-th optical network units (ONU). The synchronized CDM communication system adds structural elements for realizing a connection state acquisition section to a conventional synchronized CDM communication system. A central office includes a presence check section, a ranging processing section and the connection state acquisition section. The presence check section checks the ONUs that are connected with the central office and the ONUs that are not connected. The ranging processing section performs transmission timing adjustments for the ONUs that are connected. The connection state acquisition section verifies whether all of ONUs are connected with the central office, and performs a discovery of a ONU, among the ONUs that were not connected at the time of the check, that has resumed participation in communication since the check ended. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080560 | OFDM DIRECT DETECTION USING A BALANCED RECEIVER - A receiver for demodulating optical OFDM signals may detect an optical OFDM signal that includes a carrier and data subcarriers by optically splitting the carrier from the subcarriers using a frequency selective filter and then recombining the carrier and the subcarriers using an optical coupler and balanced detector. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080561 | DIGITAL FRAMER ARCHITECTURE WITH A FRAMING MARKER - Embodiments of the present invention provide for diverse routing of a plurality of data streams, representative of a client signal of an unknown format, across multiple communication paths of a digital optical network through the use of a marker embedded in the client signal which is then inserted into the client payload portion of a transport frame. The multiple communication paths include different signal and path attributes related to the optical signals which transport the data streams across the digital optical network, as well as the physical structure of the digital optical network itself, all leading to timing variations in the multiple communication paths. The digital optical network transports the plurality of data streams in the form of wavelength division multiplexed signals, or banded wavelength division multiplexed signals. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080562 | DEGRADATION ADAPTATION NETWORK - Consistent with the present disclosure, based on system requirements or in response to an increase in optical signal-to-noise level of an optical channel, such as a WDM channel, additional FEC bits are inserted into and replace selected data payload bits in each frame carried by the channel. The replaced data payload bits may then be transmitted in subsequent frames on the same channel. As a result, the transmitted frames have a reduced data payload rate, but a higher coding gain. Alternatively, the replaced data payload bits may be included in frames transmitted on another optical channel. In that case, the frames carried by the two channels typically have the same bit length or number of bits and may thus be compliant with the frame length requirements of G.709, for example. Preferably, the number of coding bits may be changed dynamically to obtain different coding gains. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080563 | MAGNETIC CONNECTOR WITH OPTICAL SIGNAL PATH - Circuits, apparatus, and methods that provide a connector system that can supply both power and data to a mobile computing or other type of device using a single connection. Further examples also provide a power and data adapter that can provide power and data to a mobile computing device using a single cable. Further examples provide an easy disengagement when a cable connected to the connector is pulled. One such example provides a magnetic connector that uncouples without binding when its cord is pulled. Another example prevents power from being provided at a connector insert until the connector insert is placed in a connector receptacle. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080564 | Optical phase locked loop - A single sideband modulator uses a radio-frequency signal output by a voltage controlled oscillator to modulate a reference optical signal output by a local light source, thereby obtaining several sideband signals, and combines the sideband signals into a single reproduced optical signal. The optical coupler couples the reproduced optical signal with a received optical signal to generate an optical beat signal, from which a photoelectric transducer and loop filter generate a control voltage for the voltage controlled oscillator. These components operate as an optical phase locked loop that efficiently locks the reproduced optical signal in frequency and phase with the received optical signal by using the energy of all sidebands of the reference optical signal. The phase locked loop is useful for coherent detection of the received optical signal. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080565 | Electronic Wavefront Correction for Free-Space Optical Communications - Systems and methods of electronic wavefront correction are disclosed. An example method receiving an optical signal representing a wavefront traveling along a plurality of propagation paths, and electronically correcting distortion in the wavefront. An example apparatus includes an receiver and an electronic wavefront corrector. The receiver is configured to coherently receive an optical signal representing a wavefront traveling along a plurality of propagation paths. The electronic wavefront corrector is configured to correct phase distortion in the wavefront. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080566 | MULTI-CHANNEL OPTICAL RELAYS FOR ENABLING A NETWORKED COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM - A free-space optical communications network for allowing a plurality of geographically-distributed users to communicate may include free-space multi-channel relay converters for tracking a plurality of users, and a connection system in communication with each of the plurality of multi-channel relay converters. The connection system may include an internal alignment reference and steering mirrors. Each free-space multi-channel relay converter may be adapted to align with the internal alignment reference. The connection system may be adapted to align the plurality of free-space multi-channel relay converters with one another to allow the plurality of geographically-distributed users to communicate. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080567 | PARALLEL OPTICAL TRANSCEIVER MODULE HAVING A BALANCED LASER DRIVER ARRANGEMENT - A parallel optical transceiver module is provided that has a balanced laser driver arrangement. The balanced laser driver arrangement of the invention includes at least two laser diode driver ICs, which preferably are located on opposite sides of a laser diode IC. Each laser diode driver IC drives a subset (e.g., half) of the total number of laser diodes of the laser diode IC. Because each laser diode driver IC drives a subset of the total number of laser diodes of the laser diode IC, the pitch (i.e., distance) between the high-speed signal pathways within the laser diode driver ICs can be increased. Increasing the pitch between the high-speed signal pathways provides several advantages, including, for example, reducing the potential for electrical cross-talk and inductive coupling between adjacent wire bonds that connect the output driver pads on the driver IC to the respective input pads on the laser diode IC. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080568 | Optical Swapping of Digitally-Encoded Optical Labels - A method and a device are provided for swapping optical labels in an optical communication network. Optical information, including payload data and label data digitally encoded into the optical information, is received. At least one group of bits within the optical information is selectively inverted to rewrite the label data with new label data without changing the payload data. Each of the at least one group of inverted bits includes at least two bits and all bits of each of the at least one group of inverted bits are contiguous bits. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080569 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING DQPSK ENCODING OPTICAL SIGNAL - A method and an apparatus for generating a differential quadrature phase shift keying (DQPSK) code optical signal are provided. The method may includes splitting an optical signal to obtain two polarized optical signals, modulating and phase-shifting one of the two polarized optical signals to obtain a phase-shifted and polarized optical signal, and modulating the other of the two polarized optical signals to obtain another polarized and modulated optical signal. The phase-shifted and polarized optical signal may be combined with the other polarized and modulated optical signal to obtain a polarization multiplexed optical signal. The method may further include, polarizing the polarization multiplexed optical signal to obtain the DQPSK code optical signal. The apparatus may include a polarization beam splitter (PBS), modulators, a phase-shift controller, a polarization beam combiner (PBC), and a polarizer. Through the processes of beam splitting, modulation, phase-shifting, beam combination, and polarization, the DQPSK code optical signal can be generated stably. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080570 | Multichannel Optical Transport Network Optical Detection Skew Calibration - A system and method are provided for calibrating temporal skew in a multichannel optical transport network (OTN) transmission device. The method accepts a pair of 2 | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080571 | OPTICAL SIGNAL TRANSMITTER - An optical signal transmitter includes first and second modulation units, a combiner, and a control unit. The first and second modulation units generate first and second modulated optical signals, respectively. The combiner combines the first and second modulated optical signals to generate a polarization multiplexed optical signal. The control unit controls at least one of the first and second modulation units so that the optical powers of the first and second modulated optical signals become approximately equal to each other. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080572 | PRINTING DEVICE, PRINTING SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER USABLE MEDIUM THEREFOR - A printing apparatus connectable with an external storage device is provided. The printing apparatus includes a printer unit to execute a printing operation to print an image in a current print job, a print log provider to provide a print log, which indicates a record of the printing operation for the current print job, to the external storage device, a print log obtainer to obtain a preceding print log, indicating a record of an earlier printing operation executed earlier in the printing apparatus, provided to and stored in the external storage device, a print log examiner to examine the preceding print log and determine normality of the preceding print log based on the record of the earlier print operation, and a controller to permit the printer unit to print the image and restrict the printer unit from printing the image depending on normality of the obtained print logs. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080573 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS FOR CHECKING CONNECTION STATUS OF DEVELOPING UNIT AND METHOD THEREOF - An image forming apparatus is provided which includes a multiplexer (MUX) which is able to be connected to at least one developer supplier, at least one pull-up resistor which is connected in parallel to at least one connection line between the at least one developer supplier and the MUX, and a central processing unit (CPU) which detects a connection signal from the at least one pullup resistor and the at least one connection line, and determines whether an initial developer supplier is mounted according to the value of the connection signal. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080574 | PRINTING DEVICE WITH SENSOR FOR OUTPUT TRAY - To solve the problem of incorrect jam recovery, a printer is equipped with one or more sensors to detect the number of sheets outputted to the output tray(s) of the printer. The number of sheets outputted to the tray(s) for a print job is counted, and compared to the number of pages to be printed in the print job. If the numbers do not match, the printer notifies the user of the mismatch. The user may then inspect the printed sheets to determine whether some pages are missing or extra pages have been printed, and take appropriate corrective actions. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080575 | METHOD FOR PROCESSING PAPER JAM IN IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING AT LEAST ONE OPTION CASSETTE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS THAT PERFORMS THE METHOD - An image forming apparatus including at least one option cassette, and a paper jam handling method performed in the image forming apparatus are provided. The paper jam handling method includes the operations of detecting whether paper jam occurs in the image forming apparatus, checking whether paper sheets exist on a transfer path of the image forming apparatus and on a transfer path of the option cassette, when the paper jam is detected, and leaving the paper sheet on the transfer path of the option cassette as it is and discharging the paper sheet caught on the transfer path of the image forming apparatus. Accordingly, paper damage or paper consumption may be prevented by not discharging a paper sheet caught on a transfer path of at least one option cassette during paper jam. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080576 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a latent image carrier, a developing unit to develop a latent image on the image carrier with developer including toner and carrier, a developer bearing member, a first detector to detect a toner adhesion amount per unit area of a toner image developed by the developing unit, a second detector to detect humidity, and a controller to calculate an index indicating toner chargeability of the carrier based on detection results of the toner adhesion amount obtained by the first detector and perform a given control process based on calculation results thereof and including a data storage unit to store an algorithm to correct the index to a specific value according to a specific humidity, based on detection results of the humidity obtained by the second detector. The controller corrects the index obtained based on the amount of toner adhesion based on the algorithm. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080577 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes: a carrier; a forming device configured to form a mark on the carrier; a sensor including a light emitting device and a light receiving device, the light emitting device being configured to emit light toward the carrier, and the light receiving device being configured to receive light reflected from at least one of the carrier and the mark and output a light reception signal corresponding to a quantity of the received light; a determiner configured to determine a position of the mark on a basis of the light reception signal; a changer configured to change a sensor sensitivity of the sensor by changing at least one of a quantity of light emitted by the light emitting device and a sensitivity of the light receiving device; an evaluator configured to obtain the light reception signal a plurality of times and configured to evaluate a degree of closeness between an average level of the light reception signal obtained a plurality of times and a target level; and a controller configured to control the changer to change the sensor sensitivity of the sensor according to a result of the evaluation of the evaluator. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080578 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND WASTE POWDER TRANSPORTING METHOD - An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section that forms an image on a recording medium; a storage container that is detachably and attachably provided and that stores waste powder having been discarded and transported from the image forming section; a first transporting section that transports, from the image forming section, the waste powder having been discarded in the image forming section; a transport path through which the waste powder having been transported by the first transporting section is caused to fall down and is transported; a second transporting section that transports, to the storage container, the waste powder having been transported through the transport path; and a controller that stops driving of the second transporting section if an operation set in advance is executed when the storage container is removed. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080579 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND APPARATUS - The image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section forming an image on a recording medium; an attachable and detachable storing container storing waste powder discarded and transported from the image forming section; a transport path for transporting the waste powder; a first discharging part allowed to be shut off and discharging the waste powder to an outside of the transport path; a second discharging part provided downstream of the first discharging part in a transporting direction and discharging the waste powder to the storing container; a powder storage part storing the waste powder when the storing container is removed; and a controller causing the shut first discharging part to be opened when the storing container is removed, and causing the waste powder to be discharged from the first discharging part. The powder storage part has capacity enough for storing the waste powder when the first discharging part is opened. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080580 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section forming an image on a recording medium; first and second storing containers attachably and detachably provided and storing waste powder discarded from the image forming section; a first discharging part allowed to be shut off and discharging the waste powder to the first storing container; a second discharging part discharging the waste powder to the second storing container; a first transporting section transporting the waste powder to the first discharging part; a second transporting section transporting, toward the second discharging part, the waste powder transported to the first discharging part, when the first discharging part is shut off; and a controller shutting off the first discharging part and stopping the first transporting section or reducing an output of the first transporting section, when the first storing container is removed in a state where the first discharging part is opened. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080581 | Image-Forming Device - In the image-forming device, the second driving force is transmitted from each input coupling to the corresponding output coupling to rotate the corresponding photosensitive drum when each input coupling is positioned at a predetermined position for the corresponding output coupling. The first detecting unit and the second detecting units detect a position of each input coupling and a position of each output coupling respectively before the first driving unit begins to provide the first driving force and the second driving unit begins to provide the first driving force. The calculating unit calculates, based on the position of each input coupling and the position of each output coupling, a first start timing when a first photosensitive drum starts to rotate and a second start timing when a second photosensitive drum starts to rotate. The controlling unit controls the first driving unit to begin to provide the first driving force after the first start timing and before the second start timing. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080582 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an alternative printing unit. The alternative printing unit performs alternative printing of a black image by mixing images of color materials of three colors of cyan, yellow, and magenta. The alternative printing unit includes a color material amount control unit that controls amounts of the respective color materials, which form the images of the color materials of the three colors, so as to be smaller than those at a time of normal printing. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080583 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CORRECTING COLOR REGISTRATION ERROR THEREOF - Disclosed are an image forming apparatus capable of correcting a color registration error and a method for correcting the color registration error. The image forming apparatus can include an image receptor, a light scanning unit having a plurality of light sources and one or more beam deflectors, a developing unit, a transfer unit, and a color registration error correction unit configured to generate data about a color registration error based on a change in a light output value of the plurality of light source and to correct the color registration error between visible images formed on the image receptor. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080584 | Transfer Print Voltage Adjustment Based on Temperature, Humidity, and Transfer Feedback Voltage - An electrographic image forming device may use a feedback loop to determine environmental conditions and accordingly set one or more operating parameters. The device may detect a resistance/capacitance characteristic of a feedback loop comprising an interface between a first component and a second component of an image forming unit. The device may detect temperature measurements and humidity measurements that can be used to calculate wet-bulb temperature or other metrics used to characterize ambient environmental conditions. The interface may be one in which a toner image is transferred during image forming device operation. A controller may adjust the resistance/capacitance characteristic in response to wet-bulb temperature in conjunction with measured transfer feedback voltage. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080585 | System and Method for Adjusting Selected Operating Parameter of Image Forming Device Based on Selected Environmental Conditions to Control White Vector - A system for adjusting a selected operating parameter of an image forming device to control white vector based on selected environmental conditions includes an image forming station having a photoconductive surface with a latent image formed by discharged areas leaving non-discharged areas different from the discharged areas, a sensor mechanism for measuring selected environmental conditions of dry-bulb temperature and relative humidity, a control mechanism for reading the sensor mechanism to adjust the voltage bias of a charging unit by an offset applied to the charging unit based on a wet-bulb temperature value so as to minimize white vector without enabling onset of development of toner background on non-discharged areas, and a memory connected to and accessible by the control mechanism and storing a lookup table of a list of wet-bulb temperature values related to measured dry-bulb temperature and relative humidity values and correlated to a list of voltage bias offsets. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080586 | Method for Adjusting Transfer Voltage Controls Based on Environmental Conditions to Improve Print Quality in a Direct Transfer Image Forming Device - The present application is directed to methods of controlling the transfer voltage in a transfer nip formed between the photoconductive member and the transfer member. The methods offset the effects of large transfer current spikes caused when a media sheet enters and exits the transfer nip and account for temperature and humidity operating parameters using wet-bulb temperature measurements to adjust the transfer voltage. The control may include either ramping up or ramping down the transfer voltage. The ramped transfer voltage may include a series of alternating positive and negative steps that generally trend to ramp up or down. The size of the steps may further be adjusted to provide a smooth transition. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080587 | System and Method for Adjusting Selected Operating Parameters of Image Forming Device Based on Selected Environmental Conditions to Improve Color Registration - A system for adjusting selected operating parameters of an image forming device to improve color registration based on selected environmental conditions includes a first image forming station to print a first registration mark on a substrate, a second image forming station to at least partially erase the first registration mark to form a registration pattern in a reverse transfer process of the color registration, and a control mechanism to adjust voltage biases of charge and developer rolls of the second image forming station based on wet-bulb temperature values determined from measured dry-bulb temperature and relative humidity values and stored in a lookup table so as to maintain a predetermined potential difference between charged and uncharged areas of a PC drum of the second image forming station that avoids Paschen breakdown and the development of toner at charged areas of the PC drum during the reverse transfer process of the color registration. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080588 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes first and second image supporting members; first and second developer supporting members for forming a first developer image in a first color and a second developer image in a second color, respectively; first and second transfer members for transferring the first developer image and the second developer image to a medium, respectively; a voltage applying unit for applying a first voltage to one of the first image supporting member and the first transfer member and a second voltage to one of the second image supporting member and the second transfer member. The voltage applying unit is arranged to apply the second voltage greater than the first voltage to one of the second image supporting member and the second transfer member when a printing operation is performed to form an image only in the first color. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080589 | TRANSFER DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A transfer device includes: a first transfer unit that transfers a developer image formed on an image carrier to an intermediate transfer member; a second transfer unit that transfers the developer image on the intermediate transfer member to a recording medium; and a control unit that controls at least one of a transfer pressure and a transfer electric field by the first transfer unit in accordance with a type of the recording medium to which the developer image is transferred. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080590 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus comprising an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet, a sheet feeder that feeds the sheet to the image forming unit, a detector that detects a width of the sheet, a setting unit that is operated by a user to input a width and a length of a nonstandard-size sheet, a determination unit that determines whether the width of the nonstandard-size sheet detected by the detector and the width of the nonstandard-size sheet inputted by the user to the setting unit differ from each other, when the image is printed on the nonstandard-size sheet and a controller that controls the image forming unit to form the image, based on the width of the sheet detected by the detector and the length of the sheet inputted by the user to the setting unit, when the determination unit determines that the detected width and the inputted width differ from each other. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080591 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearing member on which a toner image is to be formed; a transferring device for transferring the toner image onto a transfer material at a transfer position; a separating member, disposed downstream of the transfer position with respect to a rotational direction of the image bearing member so as to contact the image bearing member, for separating the transfer material from the image bearing member; a density detecting device, disposed downstream of the transfer position with respect to the rotational direction of the image bearing member, for detecting a density of an image for density detection formed on the image bearing member; and an air moving device for moving air in the image forming apparatus in a direction of a rotation shaft of the image bearing member; wherein the density detecting device is disposed upstream of the separating member with respect to a direction of air movement by the air moving device. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080592 | IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - An image forming device includes plural electrostatic latent image holding bodies that hold, on surfaces thereof, electrostatic latent images to be developed with developers of multiple colors, respectively, plural electrification control units that face the electrostatic latent image holding bodies and charge or discharge the surfaces of the electrostatic latent image holding bodies, respectively, a current controller that controls electric currents, each of which is supplied between the electrostatic latent image holding body and the electrification control unit for a corresponding one of the multiple colors, to be a constant target current, a maximum voltage output unit that outputs a maximum voltage among voltages each of which is applied between the electrostatic latent image holding body and the electrification control unit for a corresponding one of the multiple colors, and a detector that detects malfunction of the electrification control units when the maximum voltage exceeds a predetermined value. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080593 | IMAGE FORMATION DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMATION METHOD - An image formation device for forming an image on a print medium by an electrophotographic process comprises a photosensitive body on which a developer image to be transferred to the print medium is formed by the electrophotographic process including charging of the photosensitive body, a charging unit which includes a charging wire and a grid and thereby electrically charges the photosensitive body, a charging power unit which applies wire potential to the charging wire, a wire potential measuring unit which measures the wire potential, and a charging control unit which controls the amount of electric charge supplied from the charging unit to the photosensitive body by controlling the wire potential based on the wire potential measured by the wire potential measurement unit. The charging control unit includes a control range restricting unit which restricts a control range of the wire potential within a prescribed electric potential. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080594 | Image Forming Apparatus and Image Forming Method - An image forming apparatus includes: a latent image carrier; and an exposure head having light-emitting elements configured to emit light beams and form beam spots on the latent image carrier and image forming optical systems configured to form images of light beams emitted from the light-emitting elements arranged in a first direction and form group of beam spots on the latent image carrier, wherein the different image forming optical systems form the group of beam spots in an overlapped manner in the first direction, and the light-emitting elements include the light-emitting elements which define a first spot center distance Dsp | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080595 | Image Forming Apparatus, Developing Method, and Image Forming Method - An image forming apparatus includes: a latent image carrier on which a latent image is formed; a charging unit that charges the latent image carrier; an exposing unit that exposes the latent image carrier charged by the charging unit and forms the latent image; a developing unit including a developer carrier that carries liquid developer including toner and carrier liquid, a developer feeding member that feeds the liquid developer to the developer carrier, a bias applying member that applies a bias to the liquid developer on the developer carrier, a developer carrier cleaning member that collects the liquid developer on the developer carrier, a collected developer storing portion that stores the liquid developer collected by the developer carrier cleaning member, a feeding unit that feeds the liquid developer to the collected developer storing portion and the developer feeding member, a conveying member that stirs the liquid developer collected by the collected developer storing portion, and a stirring amount adjusting member that adjusts the stirring amount of the conveying member; and a transfer member that transfers an image on the latent image carrier. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080596 | ADAPTIVE TRANSFER PERFORMANCE REGULATION BY FEEDBACK AND CONTROL - An adaptive approach is described that maximizes xerographic transfer efficiency, i.e. minimizes post toner image transfer residual mass, in response to changes in operational conditions, variations in material, and/or changes in other factors that may otherwise adversely affect xerographic transfer efficiency. The described approach may be used during a set up phase, or startup phase, of a xerographic system to determine an initial transfer field that provides a desired level of toner image transfer efficiency. The described approach may also be used in real time to dynamically adjust a transfer field to maintain a desired level of transfer efficiency. The described approach allows optimal toner image transfer efficiency to be achieved despite changes in the operational environments, and/or changes in the materials, e.g., paper, toner, etc., being processed. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080597 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a transfer roller that can be separated from an intermediate transfer belt. When an operational mode is switched from a multicolor mode to a mono-color mode, the image forming apparatus changes a rotational speed of the intermediate transfer belt to a level slower than a rotational speed of the intermediate transfer belt to be set in the multicolor mode to transfer a toner image to the intermediate transfer belt, then separates a first transfer member from the intermediate transfer belt, and after the first transfer member is separated from the intermediate transfer belt, the image forming apparatus increases the rotational speed of the intermediate transfer belt to a rotational speed to be set in the mono-color mode to transfer the toner image to the intermediate transfer belt. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080598 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus capable of improving the reliability of intermediate transfer belt shift control and attaining a high quality image. The image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer belt onto which a toner image is transferred and formed, a shift position detecting sensor that detects a shift position of the belt, a shift control roller that changes the shift position of the belt, and an angle adjustment cam and an angle adjustment arm that correct an inclination angle of the roller. An amount of correction for the inclination angle is calculated by an ASIC based on the belt shift position detected by the sensor. In a Kf multiplier and a Kr multiplier, coefficient values used for the calculation of the amount of correction for the inclination angle can variably be changed independently for respective directions of control for the roller inclination angle. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080599 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The image forming apparatus has a heat member for heating an unfixed image and is configured so that a longitudinal center of the heat member becomes a conveyance center of the recording material, the image forming apparatus including a central portion temperature detection part adjacent to the conveyance center, an end portion temperature detection part for detecting an end portion temperature of the heat member, and a width detection part for detecting a lateral width of the recording material, wherein the width detection part is disposed at a side opposite to a side at which the end portion temperature detection part is disposed with respect to the conveyance center position of the recording material. The image forming apparatus achieves the control for error setting of the recording material based on the width detection part and the end portion temperature detection part. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080600 | Collection container, cleaning unit, and image forming apparatus capable of collecting waste toner efficiently - A collection container for collecting and containing waste toner includes a leveling member, a detector, and at least one inlet. The leveling member levels the waste toner contained in the collection container. The detector detects an amount of the waste toner contained in the collection container. The leveling member levels the waste toner delivered to the collection container through the at least one inlet by conveying the waste toner simultaneously in a first direction toward the detector and a second direction opposite to the first direction, starting from an origination position corresponding to the at least one inlet. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080601 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes: a carrier; an image forming unit configured to form an image on the carrier using colorant, the image including a pattern; a pattern sensor configured to detect the pattern formed on the carrier; a cleaner configured to perform cleaning of the carrier; and a residue sensor configured to perform detection of residual colorant remaining on the carrier after the cleaner performs the cleaning of the carrier. A detection condition for the residue sensor to perform the detection of the residual colorant is more suitable for detecting colorant than the detection condition for the pattern sensor to detect the pattern. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080602 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier carrying a latent image, a charging device uniformly charging a surface of the image carrier, an exposure device performing, in accordance with image data, an exposure operation on the charged image carrier surface to write the latent image, a development device supplying toner to the latent image to develop a visible image, a transfer device transferring the visible image to an intermediate transfer member or a recording medium, a lubricant application device applying lubricant to the image carrier surface, a cleaning device cleaning the image carrier surface after a transfer operation, a fixing device fixing the transferred image on the recording medium, and a control device controlling, in accordance with recent print information, the operation in a lubricant application mode in which the lubricant application device applies the lubricant to the image carrier surface. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080603 | Method of Forming Registration Mark and Image Forming Apparatus - A method of forming registration marks and an image forming apparatus are provided. The registration mark includes two first patterns and one second pattern on an image carrier. The method includes: forming two first patterns on the image carrier; and forming a second pattern on the image carrier between the two first patterns. A specular reflection component in a light reflected by the second pattern is less than a specular reflection component in a light reflected by the image carrier. A diffuse reflection component in a light reflected by the second pattern is less than a diffuse reflection component in a light reflected by the first pattern. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080604 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS TO CONTROL NOISE AND METHOD THEREOF - Provided is an image forming apparatus and a method of controlling the same. When an external power is supplied to a heating resistance member of a fusing unit in the image forming apparatus that is in a standby mode, a power supply unit supplies an internal power to a different load (for example, an exposure unit, a developing unit, or a transfer unit) in one or more time sections so as to supply the internal power to the load at a continuously changing operating frequency. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080605 | Wiring Structure for an Electrical Device and an Image Forming Apparatus Equipped with Such a Wiring Structure - A wiring structure of an image forming apparatus includes a main body frame; a cylindrical motor disposed on the main body frame and having a cylindrical surface, an end surface, and a peripheral edge between the cylindrical surface and the end surface; a wire routed near the motor and along the main body frame; and a flexible sheet member attached along the cylindrical surface of the motor so as to cover at least a part of the peripheral edge and having a shape substantially capable of maintaining the wire in a routed state. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080606 | DEVELOPING UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS COMPRISING SAME - A developing unit includes a unit main body having an internal space defined by a predetermined frame and capable of supplying a developer to the outside while agitating the developer within the internal space, a unit-side cooling duct attached to the unit main body, and a duct connecting member connecting the unit-side cooling duct and an external duct which supplies a cooling gas to the unit-side cooling duct from outside the unit main body. The unit-side cooling duct is structured by a duct piece and a part of the predetermined frame. The duct piece is detachably attached to the unit main body in opposed relation to the part of the predetermined frame, and has an end that is fitted to the duct connecting member. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080607 | DEVELOPER STORAGE CONTAINER AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS PROVIDED THEREWITH - To a lower part of a housing | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080608 | DEVELOPING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - An embodiment of a developing device may include a housing, magnetic developer, and a developer bearing member. In some embodiments, the developer bearing member may include a magnet member. The magnet member may allow the developer to remain in the housing. A developer regulating member may be positioned proximate the developer bearing member and have one or more cut portions. In some embodiments, the cut portions may be positioned at each end of the developer regulating member in a surface facing the developer bearing member. The developer regulating member may regulate an amount of the developer held on the developer bearing member. A magnetic sealing member may extend along an outer peripheral surface of the developer bearing member at each end and may be positioned proximate the cut portion. In some embodiments, a portion of the magnetic sealing member may be positioned within the cut portion. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080609 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - The invention provides an image forming apparatus, comprising: an electrophotographic photoreceptor, a charging unit, an exposure unit, a developing unit, a transfer unit, a fixing unit, and a cleaning unit; the electrophotographic photoreceptor having an outermost layer containing a charge transporting material and at least one curable resin selected from the group consisting of a phenol resin, an epoxy resin and a melamine resin, and the toner having an ammonium ion concentration as determined by ion chromatography of from about 50 ppm to about 300 ppm. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080610 | DEVELOPING CARTRIDGE THAT INCLUDES MEMBER TO BE PRESSED BY IMAGE-BEARING-MEMBER CARTRIDGE - A process cartridge includes an image bearing member cartridge and a developing cartridge detachably installed in the image bearing member cartridge. The image bearing member cartridge has a pair of first and second side plates, a latent image bearing member, and a pressure member. The developing cartridge has a pair of third and fourth side plates and a pair of first and second light guides fixed at the third and fourth side plates, respectively. The pressure member presses side surfaces of the first and the second light guides, thereby urging the developing agent bearing member toward the latent image bearing member. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080611 | DEVELOPING ROLLER, DEVELOPING ROLLER PRODUCTION METHOD, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - A developing roller is provided which supplies a toner to a photosensitive member to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive member. The developing roller has a surface layer which includes carbon black and a polyurethane resin. The polyurethane resin has a specific structure. The surface layer has a specific ester group concentration and a specific urethane group concentration. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080612 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a plurality of detachable unit components and a frame assembly to hold the detachable unit components in predetermined positions in the image forming apparatus. The frame assembly includes a pair of metal frames and a pair of resin frames, each of which is attached to one of the metal frames. Each of the metal frames includes a first positioning structure, which corresponds to an original point of the metal frame, a first fixing structure, a second positioning structure, wherein each of the resin frames includes, a first positioning structure, which corresponds to an original point of the resin frame, a fixing structure, a second positioning structure, and a plurality of pressing pieces, by which the resin frame is pressed against one of the metal frame. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080613 | Method for Attaching Charging Wire, Method for Manufacturing Process Cartridge, and Process Cartridge - The disclosed is a method for attaching a charging wire. At first, a first end of a charging wire is locked to a wire locking portion of a process frame, and portion of a torsion spring shaped wire electrode is engaged with a second end of the charging wire. Thereafter, a coil portion of the wire electrode is attached to a coil support portion of the process frame in a state in which a tension less than a set value is applied to the charging wire. Thereafter, a second spring leg portion of the wire electrode is moved to a fixed position fixed to an electrode support portion of the process frame in a direction in which a deformation amount of the wire electrode increases, without exceeding the fixed position in the first direction. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080614 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An electrophotographic image forming apparatus in the state that cartridge is detachably mounted to a main assembly of the apparatus, the apparatus includes a cartridge supporting member movable between an inside position in the main assembly and an outside position outside the main assembly when a cartridge is mountable thereto and dismountable from the cartridge supporting member; a first opening through which the cartridge supporting member passes between the inside position and the outside position; a first openable member for openably closing the first opening; a second opening continuing from the first opening and provided above the first opening, the second opening being effective to permit the cartridge to be removed from the cartridge supporting member in the state that cartridge supporting member takes the outside position and being effective to permit the supporting member to support the cartridge; a second openable member for openably closing the second opening, the second openable member being effective to prevent external light from entering the main assembly when the second openable member closes the second opening; and an interrelating means for moving the second openable member to the opening position in interrelation with movement of the supporting member from the inside position to the outside position. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080615 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a developing cartridge including a developing roller for developing a latent image formed on the drum, a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer to be used by the developing roller to develop the electrostatic latent image, and a developing roller shutter movable between a protecting position for covering a part of a peripheral surface of the developing roller and a retracted position, retracted from the protecting position, for exposure the part of the peripheral surface of the developing roller, wherein the developing cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus; a cartridge supporting member movable, while detachably mounting the developing cartridge, between an inside position which is inside of the main assembly of the apparatus to Mount the developing cartridge to the main assembly of the apparatus and an outside position which is outside of the main assembly of the apparatus to remove the developing cartridge from the main assembly of the apparatus; a force receiving portion, provided on the developing cartridge, for receiving a force for moving the developing roller shutter from the protecting position to the retracted position; and a force applying portion provided in the main assembly of the apparatus, wherein when the cartridge supporting member is moved from the outside position to the inside position, the force receiving portion contacts to the force applying portion to move the cartridge supporting member from the outside position to the inside position, in interrelation with which the force receiving portion contacted to the force applying portion receives the force from the force applying portion, thus moving the developing roller shutter from the protecting position to the retracted position. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080616 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - An image forming apparatus includes: a rotatable photosensitive member; an exposure member, which includes a plurality of blinking units arranged in an axial direction of the photosensitive member, and which exposes the photosensitive member; a pair of spacing members that holds a space between the photosensitive member and the exposure member by being in contact with the photosensitive member; and a pair of cleaning members that slidably contacts with the photosensitive member to remove extraneous matter from the photosensitive member. The pair of spacing members and the pair of cleaning members are disposed at corresponding positions in the axial direction of the photosensitive member. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080617 | COLOR ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus wherein cartridges are detachably mountable to a main assembly of the image forming apparatus, includes a supporting member for supporting the cartridge, movable between an inside position and an outside position; an outer wall; an opening provided in the outer wall, the opening being passed through by the supporting member, when the supporting member moves between the inside position and the outside position; a guiding member for supporting the supporting member movably so that the supporting member moves linearly between the inside position and the outside position, wherein when the supporting member is in the outside position, the guiding member supports the supporting member, so that a downstream side thereof is pivotable downwardly about an upstream side of the supporting member with respect to a movement direction to the outside position from the inside position, wherein in the state that the downstream side is pivoted downwardly about an upstream side of the supporting member with respect to a movement direction to the outside position from the inside position, the cartridge is mounted to the supporting member from above the supporting member, and the cartridge supported on the supporting member is dismounted upwardly of the supporting member. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080618 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material in the state that cartridge is detachably mounted to a main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising an opening; a cartridge supporting member linearly movable through the opening between an inside position, in the main assembly of the apparatus, for forming an image using the cartridge and an outside position which is outside the main assembly of the apparatus; retracting means for retracting the cartridge supporting member from a region in which the cartridge supporting member faces the opening, in the state that cartridge supporting member is in the outside position; and locking means for releasably locking the cartridge supporting member at the retracted position. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080619 | 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, and wherein the cartridge supporting member is movable between the inside position and the outside position intersecting a feeding path of a recording material. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080620 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus which forms an image with an image forming section includes: a casing in which the image forming section is arranged; a cover which is displaceably attached to the casing; a first elastic portion which is elastically deformable, and which is provided on one of the casing and the cover, the first elastic portion having an engage-objective portion which is engageable with an engaging portion provided on the other of the casing and the cover; and a second elastic portion which is elastically deformable, and which applies, to the first elastic portion, a force in a direction returning the first elastic portion to an original state when the first elastic portion is deformed. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080621 | Process Cartridge - A process cartridge includes a cylindrical image carrier, a developing roller, a process case, and a cover removably fitted to the process case. The image carrier and the developing roller are relatively movable in the process case between a contact position in which the image carrier contacts the developing roller and a separated position in which the image carrier is separated from the developing roller. A releasing member is provided at the cover. The releasing member can be interposed into a released position between an end portion of the image carrier and an end portion of the developing roller. In a state in which the cover is fitted to the process case and covers the image carrier, the releasing member is movable from an unreleased position, in which the contact between the image carrier and the developing roller is not released, to a released position. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080622 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material in a state in which a drum cartridge including a photosensitive drum is detachably mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus and in a state in which a developing cartridge including a developing roller for developing with a developer an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum and including a developer accommodating portion for accommodating the developer is detachably mountably to the main assembly, is constituted by a cartridge supporting member movable, in a state of detachably supporting the drum and developing cartridges, between an inside position in which the cartridge supporting member is located inside the main assembly and from which the drum and developing cartridges are movable to an image forming position in which the drum and developing cartridges effect image formation and an outside position in which the cartridge supporting member is located outside the main assembly and in which the drum and developing cartridges are mountable and demountable; and a preventing member, provided to the developing cartridge, for preventing demounting of the drum cartridge from the cartridge supporting member in a state in which the developing cartridge is supported by the cartridge supporting member. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080623 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a cartridge supporting member movable between an inside position inside the main assembly of the apparatus and an outside position outside the main assembly, a light source, a light guide member, on the cartridge supporting member, for guiding the light from the light source to electrically discharge charge remaining on a drum after a developed image on the drum is transferred onto recording material when the cartridge is in an image forming position, an interrelating member for moving the light source to an operating position where the light enters the light guide member in interrelation with movement of the cartridge supporting member from the outside to the inside positions, and a positioning member positioning the light source at the operating position. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080624 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a drum cartridge including an electrophotographic photosensitive member drum; a developing cartridge including a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum using a developer; a supporting member movable between an inside position and a retracted position in the state that supporting member supports the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge, wherein the inside position is inside the main assembly of the apparatus, and the retracted position is retracted from the main assembly of the apparatus; wherein the supporting member supports the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge independently demountably therefrom, wherein mounting and demounting directions of the drum cartridge relative to the supporting member and mounting and demounting directions of the developing cartridge are different from each other. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080625 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS WITH IMPROVED HOUSING PANEL STRUCTURAL STRENGTH - In an image forming apparatus, a moving member is provided with a first engagement member. A lever is provided with a second engagement member to engage and disengage the first engagement member provided in the moving member. The lever moves between a predetermined first position and a second position different from the first position to move the moving member in such a manner that when the lever is at the first position, a transfer member reaches a contact position at which the transfer member is pressed against an image carrier via a belt, and when the lever is at the second position, the transfer member reaches a separation position at which the transfer member separates from the image carrier. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080626 | Multicolor image uniformity by reducing sensitivity to gear train drive non-uniformity - A method and system for printing documents using a variety of gear arrangements and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for printing image elements within a document to minimize print artifacts by reducing sensitivity to gear train drive non-uniformity. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080627 | COLOR ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A color image forming apparatus to which cartridges are detachably mountable includes a cartridge supporting member movable between a set position and an outside position; a driving source; a driving member provided opposite to the driving source through the cartridge supporting member, a first driving force transmission member for transmitting a driving force of the driving source; a second driving force transmission member provided oppositely to the first driving force transmission member through the cartridge supporting member; and a third driving force transmission member provided to the cartridge supporting member. The third driving force transmission member is, in a state in which the cartridge supporting member is located at the set position, connected to the first and second driving force transmission members to transmit the driving force of the driving source to the driving member. | 2010-04-01 |
| 20100080628 | SCOROTRON APPARATUS FOR CHARGING A PHOTOCONDUCTOR - An apparatus ( | 2010-04-01 |
