| 18th week of 2016 patent applcation highlights part 43 |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
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| 20160124301 | METHOD OF FORMING PHOTOMASK - A photomask and a method of forming the same, the photomask including a transparent substrate; a light shielding pattern on the transparent substrate, the light shielding pattern including molybdenum and silicon; and an etch stop layer covering at least a sidewall of the light shielding pattern, wherein the etch stop layer has an etch rate lower than an etch rate of the light shielding pattern with respect to an ammonia-based cleaning solution. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124302 | OPERATION/MARGIN ENHANCEMENT FEATURE FOR SURFACE-MEMS STRUCTURE; SCULPTING RAISED ADDRESS ELECTRODE - A method of forming a micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) pixel, such as a DMD type pixel, by forming a substrate having a non-planar upper surface, and depositing a photoresist spacer layer upon the substrate. The spacer layer is exposed to a grey-scale lithographic mask to shape an upper surface of the spacer layer. A control member is formed upon the planarized spacer layer, and an image member is formed over the control member. The image member is configured to be positioned as a function of the control member to form a spatial light modulator (SLM). The spacer layer is planarized by masking a selected portion of the spacer layer with a grey-scale lithographic mask to remove binge in the selected portion. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124303 | RESIST COMPOSITION - The resist composition according to the present invention is a resist composition comprising a solid component comprising a resist base material, and a solvent. In the resist composition according to the present invention, the resist composition contains 1 to 80% by mass of the solid component and 20 to 99% by mass of the solvent, the resist base material comprises a compound (ctt form) represented by a predetermined formula (1) and a compound represented by a predetermined formula (3), the proportion of the compound (ctt form) represented by the predetermined formula (1) to the resist base material is from 65 to 99% by mass, and the mass ratio of the compound represented by the predetermined formula (3) to the compound (ctt form) represented by the predetermined formula (1) is from 0.01 to 0.53. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124304 | PHOTOACID GENERATORS AND PHOTORESISTS COMPRISING SAME - New methods are provided for synthesis of photoacid generator compounds (“PAGs”), new photoacid generator compounds and photoresist compositions that comprise such PAG compounds. In a particular aspect, sulfonium-containing (S+) photoacid generators and methods of synthesis of sulfonium photoacid generators are provided. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124305 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING PATTERN-FORMED BODY - To provide a production method of a pattern-formed body, which can simply provide a pattern with surface free energy differences. A cured resin layer, to which a pattern of a master ( | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124306 | IMAGE FORMING MATERIALS, PREPARATIONS, AND COMPOSITIONS - Coating compositions and image forming materials made therefrom, the coating compositions comprising at least one non-photosensitive source of reducible silver ions, at least one reducing agent capable of reducing the reducible silver ions, a first binder comprising vinyl butyral repeat units and vinyl alcohol repeat units, a second binder comprising vinyl butyral repeat units and vinyl alcohol repeat units, the second binder having a composition differing from that of the first binder, and a third binder comprising vinyl pyrrolidone repeat units and vinyl acetate repeat units. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124307 | SUBSTRATE TREATMENT METHOD, COMPUTER STORAGE MEDIUM AND SUBSTRATE TREATMENT SYSTEM - A substrate treatment method includes: a polymer separation step of phase-separating a block copolymer into a hydrophilic polymer and a hydrophobic polymer; and a polymer removal step of selectively removing the hydrophilic polymer from the phase-separated block copolymer, wherein in the polymer removal step, the hydrophilic polymer is removed by: irradiating the phase-separated block copolymer with an energy ray; then supplying a first polar organic solvent having a first degree of dissolving the hydrophilic polymer, being lower in boiling point than water and capable of dissolving water, and not dissolving the hydrophobic polymer, to the block copolymer; and then supplying a second polar organic solvent having a second dissolving degree lower than the first dissolving degree, being higher in boiling point than water, and not dissolving the hydrophobic polymer, to the block copolymer. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124308 | ALTERNATING SPACE DECOMPOSITION IN CIRCUIT STRUCTURE FABRICATION - Fabrication of a circuit structure is facilitated, in which a first exposure of a multi-layer structure is performed using a first mask, which defines positioning of at least one edge of an element to be formed above a substrate of the multi-layer structure. A second exposure of the multi-layer structure is performed using a second mask, which defines positioning of at least one other edge of the element. At least some material of the multi-layer structure is removed using, at least in part, the defined positioning of the at least one edge and the at least one other edges of the element, to form the element above the substrate. In some examples, multiple elements are formed, the multiple elements being hardmask elements to facilitate an etch process to etch a substrate material. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124309 | PATTERN FORMATION METHODS - Methods of forming an electronic device, comprise: (a) providing a semiconductor substrate comprising one or more layers to be patterned; (b) forming a photoresist layer over the one or more layers to be patterned, wherein the photoresist layer is formed from a composition that comprises: a matrix polymer comprising a unit having an acid labile group; a photoacid generator; and an organic solvent; (c) coating a photoresist overcoat composition over the photoresist layer, wherein the overcoat composition comprises: a matrix polymer; an additive polymer; a basic quencher; and an organic solvent; wherein the additive polymer has a lower surface energy than a surface energy of the matrix polymer, and wherein the additive polymer is present in the overcoat composition in an amount of from 1 to 20 wt % based on total solids of the overcoat composition; (d) exposing the photoresist layer to activating radiation; (e) heating the substrate in a post-exposure bake process; and (f) developing the exposed film with an organic solvent developer. The methods have particular applicability in the semiconductor manufacturing industry. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124310 | Lithography Patterning Technique - A method for lithography patterning includes providing a substrate; forming a material layer over the substrate; exposing the material layer to a radiation, resulting in an exposed material layer; and removing a portion of the exposed material layer in a developer, resulting in a patterned material layer. The developer is an alkaline aqueous solution having an organic base that is a quaternary ammonium hydroxide. In an embodiment, the organic base has a bulky group in its side chain, reducing its etching distance. In another embodiment, the organic base includes electron withdrawing groups, reducing its basicity. In yet another embodiment, the developer has a loading of the quaternary ammine ranging from about 0.01% to about 2.37%. The developer results in reduced line edge roughness and reduced line width roughness in the patterned material layer. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124311 | SLOPED ELECTRODE ELEMENT FOR A TORSIONAL SPATIAL LIGHT MODULATOR - A method of forming a micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) pixel, such as a DMD-type pixel, by depositing a photoresist spacer layer upon a substrate. The photoresist spacer layer is exposed to a grey-scale lithographic mask to shape an upper surface of the photoresist spacer layer. A control member is formed upon the shaped spacer layer, and has a sloped portion configured to maximize energy density. An image member is configured to be positioned as a function of the control member to form a spatial light modulator (SLM). | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124312 | PATTERN FORMING PROCESS AND SHRINK AGENT - A negative pattern is formed by applying a resist composition onto a substrate, exposing the resist film, and developing the exposed resist film in an organic solvent developer. The process further involves coating the negative pattern with a shrink agent solution of a polymer comprising recurring units capable of forming lactam under the action of acid in a C | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124313 | PATTERN FORMING PROCESS AND SHRINK AGENT - A negative pattern is formed by applying a resist composition onto a substrate, exposing the resist film, and developing the exposed resist film in an organic solvent developer. The process further involves coating the negative pattern with a shrink agent solution of a polymer comprising recurring units having an acid labile group-substituted hydroxyl and/or carboxyl group in a C | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124314 | CONTROLLER FOR OPTICAL DEVICE, EXPOSURE METHOD AND APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING DEVICE - An exposure method for exposing a mask pattern, which includes plural types of patterns, with a high throughput and optimal illumination conditions for each type of pattern. The method includes guiding light from a first spatial light modulator illuminated with pulse lights of illumination light to a second spatial light modulator and exposing a wafer with light from the second spatial light modulator, accompanied by: controlling a conversion state of the second spatial light modulator including a plurality of second mirror elements; and controlling a conversion state of the first spatial light modulator including a plurality of first mirror elements to control intensity distribution of the illumination light on a predetermined plane between the first spatial light modulator and the second spatial light modulator. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124315 | SUPPORT FOR A COMPONENT OF AN OPTICAL DEVICE - The disclosure provides an arrangement for an optical device including a component of the optical device and a support structure supporting the component. The support structure includes at least one locking device connected to the component and including a first fixation device and an associated second fixation device. The first fixation device and the second fixation device are adapted to be, in a movable state, movable with respect to each other along a first degree of freedom and a second degree of freedom into a final position. The first fixation device and the second fixation device are further adapted to be, in a locked state, fixed in the final position by at least one locking device contacting the first fixation device and the second fixation device. In the movable state, the first fixation device and the second fixation device are movable, up to the final position, in a manner free from a mutual pre-stress resulting from a restoring force exerted by at least a part of one of the first fixation device and the second fixation device. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124316 | OPTICAL PROJECTION ARRAY EXPOSURE SYSTEM - A spatial light modulator imaging system is disclosed. The system comprises an illumination module configured to provide illumination light representing data patterns to be imaged by the spatial light modulator imaging system, a projection module configured to project the illumination light to a substrate, and an illumination-projection beam separator coupled between the illumination module and the projection module, where the illumination-projection beam separator is configured to receive the illumination light along an illumination optical axis and transmit the illumination light received to the projection module along a projection optical axis, and where the illumination optical axis and the projection optical axis are substantially parallel to each other. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124317 | Exposure condition determination method, exposure method, exposure apparatus, and device manufacturing method involving detection of the situation of a liquid immersion region - A method, for determining an exposure condition for exposing a substrate held on a holder by irradiating the substrate with exposure light via an immersion liquid, includes: moving an object held on the holder relative to a liquid immersion area formed under a projection system under a movement condition and an immersion condition; obtaining information on a leakage of the immersion liquid which may be caused when moving the object held on the holder under the movement condition; and determining the exposure condition for exposing the substrate based on the obtained information. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124318 | EXPOSURE METHOD, EXPOSURE APPARATUS, AND ARTICLE MANUFACTURING METHOD - This exposure method comprises a first step of performing the exposure processing by irradiating a projection optical system (the system) by a first pupil plane illumination distribution (the first distribution) of the system; a second step of performing the exposure processing by irradiating the system by a second pupil plane illumination distribution (the second distribution) that is different from the first distribution, after the first step; a change amount obtaining step of obtaining a change amount of an imaging performance of the system in a condition of the second distribution, with respect to the imaging performance in the first step; and a correction amount obtaining step of obtaining a correction amount for correcting the imaging performance in the second step, by using the change amount, wherein, in the second step, the exposure processing is performed by correcting the imaging performance using the correction amount. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124319 | LITHOGRAPHIC APPARATUS AND A METHOD OF OPERATING THE APPARATUS - A lithographic apparatus is disclosed that includes a projection system, and a liquid confinement structure configured to at least partly confine immersion liquid to an immersion space defined by the projection system, the liquid confinement structure and a substrate and/or substrate table. Measures are taken in the lithographic apparatus, for example, to reduce the effect of droplets on the final element of the projection system or to substantially avoid such droplet formation. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124320 | EXPOSURE APPARATUS, LIQUID HOLDING METHOD, AND DEVICE MANUFACTURING METHOD - An exposure apparatus includes a first member disposed at least in a part of a periphery of an optical path of the exposure light, and has a first face that faces an upper face of the object through a first gap and holds the liquid between the upper face of the object and the first face, a second member disposed at an outer side of the first face with respect to the optical path and has a second face facing the upper face of the object through a second gap, a first supply port disposed at an outer side of the second face and supplies a fluid, and a first suction port disposed between the first face and the second face, and suctions at least part of gas in an outer space of the second member via a gap between the second face and the upper face of the object. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124321 | LITHOGRAPHIC APPARATUS AND DEVICE MANUFACTURING METHOD - In an immersion lithography apparatus in which immersion liquid is supplied to a localized space, the space is substantially polygonal in plan substantially parallel to the substrate. In an embodiment, two corners of the space have a radius of curvature no greater than the width of a transition zone between the space configured to contain liquid and a surrounding configured not to contain liquid. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124322 | LITHOGRAPHY APPARATUS, LITHOGRAPHY METHOD, AND ARTICLE MANUFACTURING METHOD - At least one lithography apparatus, lithography method and method of manufacturing an article are provided herein. At least one lithography apparatus for performing patterning on a substrate, includes a stage configured to hold the substrate and be movable, an irradiation device configured to irradiate the substrate with a beam for the patterning, and a controller configured to cause the stage and the irradiation device to perform a first process of forming, on a substrate including a zeroth mark for overlay inspection, a first mark for overlay inspection to be paired with the zeroth mark and a second mark for overlay inspection, with the patterning not being performed, and to perform a second process of forming, on the substrate, a third mark for overlay inspection to be paired with the second mark, with the patterning being performed. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124323 | EXPOSURE METHOD OF WAFER SUBSTRATE, MANUFACTURING METHOD OF SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE, AND EXPOSURE TOOL - A method for exposing a wafer substrate includes forming a reticle having a device pattern. A relative orientation between the device pattern and a mask field of an exposure tool is determined based on mask field utilization. The reticle is loaded on the exposure tool. The wafer substrate is rotated based on an orientation of the device pattern. Radiation is projected through the reticle onto the rotated wafer substrate by the exposure tool, thereby imaging the device pattern onto the rotated wafer substrate. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124324 | Peripheral Exposure Method and Apparatus Therefor - A peripheral exposure method for performing an exposure treatment by illuminating light to a periphery of a resist film formed on a substrate to be processed is discussed. The method includes rotating the substrate to be processed on a horizontal plane, bringing a coolant gas into contact with the periphery of the resist film of the substrate to be processed which is being rotated, and cooling the substrate to be processed. Further, the method also includes measuring a temperature of the substrate to be processed, wherein when the temperature of the substrate to be processed is equal to or less than a predetermined temperature, the exposure treatment is performed. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124325 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS, AND CHLOROGALLIUM PHTHALOCYANINE CRYSTAL AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME - An electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a support and a photosensitive layer in this order. The photosensitive layer contains a chlorogallium phthalocyanine crystal obtained by mixing a hydroxygallium phthalocyanine crystal and an aqueous hydrochloric acid solution. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124326 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS, AND CHLOROGALLIUM PHTHALOCYANINE CRYSTAL AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME - An electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a support and a photosensitive layer in this order. The photosensitive layer contains a chlorogallium phthalocyanine crystal. The chlorogallium phthalocyanine crystal has one or more peaks in each of a wavelength range of 646 nm or more and 668 nm or less and a wavelength range of 782 nm or more and 809 nm or less in an absorption spectrum. When a peak with a maximum absorbance among the peaks in the wavelength range of 646 nm or more and 668 nm or less is assumed to be a first peak and a peak with a maximum absorbance among the peaks in the wavelength range of 782 nm or more and 809 nm or less is assumed to be a second peak, an absorbance of the first peak is larger than an absorbance of the second peak. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124327 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTORECEPTOR, ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTORECEPTOR CARTRIDGE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND POLYARYLATE RESIN - An electrophotographic photoreceptor comprises a conductive support and, at least a photosensitive layer on the conductive support, wherein the photosensitive layer includes a polyarylate resin and the polyarylate resin has a repeating structure represented by formula (1), and the amount of bisphenol residues represented by formula (3) after the polyarylate resin is hydrolyzed, is 0.2% to 1%, in terms of intensity ratio, based on the total amount of bisphenol residues represented by formula (2) and formula (3) after the polyarylate resin is hydrolyzed, the bisphenol residues being detected with a gas chromatograph employing a hydrogen flame ionization detector (FID). | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124328 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - An electrophotographic photosensitive member wherein a charge generating layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a gallium phthalocyanine crystal in which an organic compound is contained, wherein the organic compound is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of dimethylsulfoxide, N,N-dimethylformamide, N-methylformamide, N-propylformamide, N-vinylformamide and N-methylpyrrolidone, the content of the organic compound is 0.1% by mass or more and 2.0% by mass or less based on a gallium phthalocyanine in the gallium phthalocyanine crystal, and a charge transporting layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a polycarbonate resin having structural units represented by formulae (1) and (2). | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124329 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS, AND CHLOROGALLIUM PHTHALOCYANINE CRYSTAL AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME - An electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a support and a photosensitive layer in this order. The photosensitive layer contains a chlorogallium phthalocyanine crystal represented by formula (1) in which at least one organic compound selected from N,N-dimethylformamide and dimethyl sulfoxide is contained. The content of the organic compound contained in the chlorogallium phthalocyanine crystal represented by the formula (1) is 0.10 mass % or more and 0.80 mass % or less based on a content of the chlorogallium phthalocyanine crystal represented by the formula (1). | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124330 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - The present invention provides an electrophotographic photosensitive member which includes a support, an undercoat layer formed on the support, a photosensitive layer formed on the undercoat layer, and the undercoat layer contains metal oxide particles and a compound represented by the formula (1). | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124331 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONVENTIONAL PARTICLE ROUNDING UTILIZING CONTINUOUS EMULSION-AGGREGATION (EA) TECHNOLOGY - In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a continuous process for rounding conventional toner particles includes forming a conventional toner particle slurry by mixing a dispersant and/or a liquid with dry toner particles, heating the conventional toner particle slurry to a first temperature beyond its glass transition temperature to form a coalesced toner particle slurry, quenching the coalesced toner particle slurry to a second temperature below the glass transition temperature after a residence time has elapsed, and recovering the quenched particle slurry at an outlet wherein the circularity of the conventional toner particles in the quenched toner particle slurry is from approximately 0.940 to 0.999 and the time frame for the heating, quenching and recovering steps is less than 20 minutes. An apparatus for practicing the novel continuous coalescence of toner particles, includes an inlet passage, a first heat exchanger coupled to the inlet passage, a residence time coil coupled to the first heat exchanger, a cooling device coupled to the residence time coil; and an outlet passage coupled to the cooling device. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124332 | TONER, DEVELOPER AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING TONER - A toner is provided. The toner includes a binder resin, a colorant, a release agent and an external additive. The toner has an average circularity of from 0.965 to less than 0.985. The toner has BET specific surface area of less than 1.20 m | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124333 | COMPOSITION SUITABLE FOR MULTIFUNCTIONAL PRINTING AND RECORDING SHEET CONTAINING SAME - A paper sizing or coating composition is provided, which includes: a first binder resin, which is compatible with dry toner binder resin; a second binder resin, which is compatible with liquid toner binder resin, and which is different from the first binder resin; a first pigment, which has a BET surface area of from greater than zero to about 35 m | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124334 | ELECTROSTATIC CHARGE IMAGE DEVELOPING TONER, ELECTROSTATIC CHARGE IMAGE DEVELOPER, AND TONER CARTRIDGE - An electrostatic charge image developing toner includes a toner particle that has a sea-island structure including a sea portion containing a binder resin and an island portion containing a release agent and having at least two maximum values of distribution of a degree of uneven distribution B of the island portion shown by the following Equation (1): | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124335 | POSITIVELY CHARGEABLE TONER FOR ELECTROSTATIC LATENT IMAGE DEVELOPMENT - A positively chargeable toner for electrostatic latent image development includes toner particles. The toner particles each include a toner core containing boron nitride and a shell layer disposed over a surface of the toner core. The boron nitride is contained in an amount of no less than 0.05% by mass and no greater than 35% by mass relative to total mass of the toner core. The boron nitride has a thermal conductivity of no less than 40 W/m·K and no greater than 220 W/m·K. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124336 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS THAT SPECIFY PIXELS TO BE SUBJECTED TO CORRECTION, AND CORRECT EXPOSURE AMOUNT - An image forming apparatus includes: specifying unit configured to specify, based on image data, a pixel to be subjected to correction from among pixels of an image to be formed from the image data; and a correction unit configured to correct an exposure amount by a exposure unit for the pixel to be subjected to correction from an exposure amount indicated by the image data. The correction unit is further configured to correct the exposure amount applied by the exposure unit to the pixel to be subjected to correction by not exposing at least a portion of a region of the pixel to be subjected to correction according to a distance between the pixel to be subjected to correction and an edge of the image to be formed from the image data. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124337 | OPTICAL WRITING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - An optical writing device including light-emitting elements forming element arrays. The element arrays are each composed of light-emitting elements arranged in line in a main scanning direction, and reside at respective positions along a sub-scanning direction. A correction unit receives signal values in one-to-one correspondence with the light-emitting elements and performs correction to acquire corrected signal values each indicating a light amount of a corresponding light-emitting element. The correction is for eliminating a light amount difference in the main scanning direction occurring for each element array. A driving unit supplies driving currents to the light-emitting elements based on the corrected signal values, and a control unit performs a control of causing at least two element arrays to emit light for different durations within one main scanning period. The control is for eliminating a light amount difference in the sub scanning direction occurring between the at least two element arrays. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124338 | NEUTRALIZATION DEVICE, NEUTRALIZATION METHOD AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - There are provided a neutralization device, a neutralization method and an image forming apparatus including such a neutralization device. In the neutralization device that includes a plurality of light sources and that applies neutralization light to the charged circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum from the light sources to neutralize the photosensitive drum, the amount of neutralization light on the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum can be made constant in the drum shaft direction. The neutralization device includes a light amount control wall portion that is extended in the drum shaft direction, and corresponding portions between the light sources adjacent to each other in the light amount control wall portion are formed in such a shape or formed of such a material that the amount of the neutralization light on the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum is made constant in the drum shaft direction. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124339 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A structure in which a shutter is moved in a first direction by a motor, an opening is provided in the shutter, and the shutter is moved in a second direction using an elastic force of a spring connected to an upper cover of a light scanning device and an inside wall at the opening of the shutter increases the size of the structure of the shutter and the structure of the light scanning device due to the position of the spring. Therefore, a recess is provided in an opposing surface of a cover opposing a shutter, and a spring for sliding the shutter is connected to a connection portion provided at the recess. The recess is provided at a side opposite to the light source units with a polygon mirror being interposed therebetween. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124340 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS THAT INDICATES OPERATING STATUS USING LUMINOUS BODY - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section, a body housing, a protruding housing, a light diffusing portion, a light source, a light guide path, and a control unit. The image forming section performs image formation on a sheet. The body housing is formed by a box body with a top surface, and contains the image forming section. The protruding housing is located on the top surface, and has a top portion protruding upwardly above the top surface. The light diffusing portion is located in or near the top portion of the protruding housing. The light source is located inside the body housing or the protruding housing, and emits light. The light guide path guides light emitted by the light source to the light diffusing portion. The control unit controls illumination of the light source based on the information related to the image formation. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124341 | Developing Cartridge - A developing cartridge may include a housing configured to hold toner. The cartridge may further include a developing roller including a developing roller shaft, a supply roller including a supply roller shaft, a developing electrode and a supply electrode. The developing electrode and supply electrode may be configured to guide an electrical contact of an image forming apparatus in one or more directions. In some examples, the developing electrode and supply electrode may have angled surfaces that extend toward one another. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124342 | DRIVING APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, METHOD OF DRIVING CONTROL AND PROGRAM - There is provided a driving apparatus comprising: a driving unit configured to rotate a driving shaft; a speed setting unit for setting a rotational speed of the driving shaft; a driving shaft joint connected with the driving shaft to rotate with the driving shaft for transmitting driving-force to a driven apparatus, the driving shaft joint being fitted into a driven shaft joint connected with the driven apparatus that is made detachable; a rotational position detection unit configured to detect a predetermined rotational position of the driving shaft joint; and a driving control unit configured to control the driving unit; wherein upon the driven apparatus being detached, the driving control unit controls the driving unit to stop the rotating driving shaft based on a detection result of the rotational position detection unit after the speed setting unit sets the rotational speed of the driving shaft to be a first rotational speed. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124343 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM AND CONCENTRATION UNEVENNESS DETECTING METHOD - An image forming apparatus includes: a rotatable image carrier; an image forming unit configured to form a plurality of divided patch images, which is obtained by dividing a patch image for detecting a concentration of an image in a rotation direction of the image carrier, on the image carrier at regular intervals and form an image to be formed on a paper sheet on the image carrier; a concentration detecting unit configured to detect the concentration of the plurality of divided patch images formed by the image forming unit; and a controller configured to combine the concentration of divided patch images detected by the concentration detecting unit in chronological order and detect concentration unevenness of the image in the vertical scanning direction which is a paper sheet conveying direction of the paper sheet. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124344 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, TONER STORAGE MEMBER AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a toner storage member which includes a substrate portion and which supplies a toner, a terminal portion and a determination portion. The substrate portion is one substrate which includes a remaining amount detection portion and a memory. The remaining amount detection portion includes a detection circuit which outputs a voltage corresponding to the remaining amount of toner. The memory stores an output value (empty output value) of the detection circuit when the toner storage member is in an empty state. The determination portion compares the empty output value with the output value of the detection circuit to determine whether or not the toner storage member is in the empty state. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124345 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Provided is an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording material, the apparatus including: a first helical gear and a second helical gear that are engaged with each other; and a driving portion that applies a driving force to the first helical gear, wherein at least one of the first helical gear and the second helical gear is a helical gear in which torsional rigidity in a tooth width direction of one side end in a width direction of the gear is larger than torsional rigidity in a tooth width direction of the other side end, and wherein a twist direction of helical teeth and a rotational direction of the first helical gear due to the driving portion are set such that the other side end is engaged earlier than the one side end. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124346 | NOZZLE RECEIVER, POWDER CONTAINER, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A nozzle receiver is to be arranged in a powder container used in an image forming apparatus. The nozzle receiver includes a nozzle receiving opening, in which a conveying nozzle for conveying powder supplied from the powder container is inserted in the image forming apparatus; an opening/closing member to open and to close the nozzle receiving opening; and a supporter to support the opening/closing member. The opening/closing member includes a sealing portion to seal the nozzle insertion opening. The supporter includes an end surface portion perpendicular to a moving direction of the opening/closing member. The projection area of the end surface portion in the moving direction of the opening/closing member is smaller than a projection area of the sealing portion in the moving direction of the opening/closing member. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124347 | REMANUFACTURING METHOD OF DEVELOPER ACCOMMODATING UNIT - Provided is a remanufacturing method of a developer accommodating unit including a flexible container provided with an opening and configured to accommodate developer, and a frame member configured to accommodate the flexible container. The remanufacturing method includes refilling the developer into the flexible container. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124348 | SEALING MEMBER, TONER ACCOMMODATING CONTAINER AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A toner supply container includes a toner container body including a cylindrical portion and an opening, and a sealing member provided at one axial end portion of the container body. The sealing member is movable relative to the container body in an axial direction and includes a sealing portion provided at a side adjacent the container body and a coupling portion provided at a side remote from the container body. The coupling portion includes a supporting portion provided on the sealing portion, an engaging portion provided at a free end of the supporting portion, and a displacing force receiving portion provided on the supporting portion at a position closer to the container body than the engaging portion. The displacing force receiving portion is displaceable with the supporting portion and has a radially outermost part that is more remote from a rotation axis of the container body than a radially outermost part of the engaging portion. The supporting portion, the engaging portion, and the displacing force receiving portion are made of a plastic material. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124349 | Ink Transfer Element - An ink transfer element for a printing apparatus, the ink transfer element comprising a surface for transferring ink applied thereto to at least one further ink transfer element, wherein the surface is configured to, when an ink comprising pigment particles and a liquid vehicle is applied to the surface, at least partly separate the liquid vehicle from the pigment particles, through the surface. The ink transfer element further relates to printing apparatus and a method of printing. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124350 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a sheet stacking portion, a feed portion, a transfer portion transferring a toner image on a sheet fed by the feed portion, and a switching portion. The switching portion switches the sheet stacking portion between a grounded condition in which the sheet stacking portion is electrically earthed and an insulated condition in which the sheet stacking portion is electrically insulated. The sheet stacking portion is switched into the insulated condition in a state in which the transfer bias is applied and the sheet stacking portion is switched into the grounded condition in a state in which no transfer bias is applied. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124351 | INTERMEDIATE TRANSFER MEMBERS - An intermediate transfer member that contains a mixture of a polyimide, an optional conductive component, and a fluoroaliphatic phosphate. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124352 | DESTATICIZING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A destaticizing device includes: a first destaticizing member that is disposed at a downstream side in a conveyance direction of a medium relatively to a transfer area where an image held in a surface of an image holder is transferred to the medium, the first destaticizing member being grounded and destaticizing the medium; and a second destaticizing member that is disposed adjacent to the first destaticizing member with respect to the conveyance direction of the medium, the second destaticizing member being grounded and destaticizing the medium. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124353 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a charging member for electrically charging the photosensitive member to a first polarity, an intermediary transfer belt, a transfer member, a constant-voltage element, a voltage source, and a controller for executing an adjusting operation for applying at least a voltage of a second polarity, opposite to the first polarity from the voltage source to the transfer member during non-image formation in which both of primary transfer and secondary transfer are not effected. When the voltage of the second polarity is applied from the voltage source to the transfer member in the adjusting operation, the controller continuously applies the voltage for a time corresponding to a substantially integer multiple of a time required for one full turn of the photosensitive member. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124354 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes a belt, a plurality of image forming devices including a photosensitive member, a developing device, a transfer device and a blade, and a control device configured to form a pattern image on a first photosensitive member, when an image to be printed on a sheet is not formed, by applying a developing voltage to a first developing device, an absolute value thereof is greater than that when an image to be printed on a sheet is formed, transfer the pattern image onto the belt and apply a transfer voltage or transfer current having the same polarity as that applied to a second transfer device when an image to be printed on a sheet is formed to the second transfer device when the pattern image to be conveyed by the belt passes the second transfer device. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124355 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum; a charger; an intermediary transfer belt; a transfer member; a constant voltage element; a switch for selectively providing a first state using the constant voltage element and a second state not using the constant voltage element; a voltage source for applying a current to the constant voltage element by applying a voltage of a second polarity opposite the first polarity to the transfer member to form a secondary electric field in the secondary-transfer position and a primary electric field in the primary transfer position; and a controller for executing an adjustment applying the second polarity voltage to the transfer member when neither the primary-transfer operation nor the secondary-transfer is carried out, wherein the controller provides the second state using the switching portion in a period in which the second polarity voltage is applied to the transfer member. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124356 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing part including a heater, and a first temperature detection part configured to detect the temperature of the heater; a chopper circuit including a reactor, a freewheeling element, and a switching element, the chopper circuit being configured to switch an input direct current on and off in a specified duty cycle by using the switching element and to supply the current to the heater; and a control part configured to control the duty cycle based on a detection result obtained by the first temperature detection part, as well as to control a switching frequency of the switching element based on an operation mode of the image forming apparatus. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124357 | CLEANER FOR ROTARY FIXING MEMBER, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING THE CLEANER, AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD EXECUTED BY THE IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a rotary fixing member cleaner that includes a freely rotatable rotary unwinding member, around which a cleaning web winds, a rotary winding member to wind the cleaning web thereon from one end thereof, and a load applicator to apply a load to the cleaning web unwound from the rotary unwinding member. The rotary fixing member cleaner removes any unnecessary substance adhering to an outer circumferential surface of the rotary fixing member therefrom by unwinding and moving the cleaning web from the rotary unwinding member in an opposite direction to a direction of movement of the outer circumferential surface of the rotary fixing member at a contacting point at which the cleaning web contacts the outer circumferential surface of the rotary fixing member. The load applicator presses against the cleaning web winding around the rotary unwinding member at a prescribed angular contact position. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124358 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - To provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming method which can rapidly decrease (cool) the temperature of a fixing section. The image forming apparatus of the invention includes a fixing section fixing a toner image on a sheet, and a controller performing switching control of press-contact state/separated state of the fixing section, and conveyance control of the sheet. The controller, after completion of printing, rapidly cools the fixing section while keeping it in the press-contact state by conveying the sheet at a first conveying speed. The controller naturally cools the fixing section by bringing it into the separated state at a predetermined timing to convey the sheet at a second conveying speed slower than the first conveying speed, and stops conveying it when the temperature of the fixing section becomes not higher than a predetermined temperature. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124359 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - An image forming apparatus includes a fixing rotator and an opposed rotator pressed against the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip therebetween, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A heater heats the fixing rotator. A temperature sensor contacts the opposed rotator to detect a temperature of the opposed rotator. A conveyor conveys the recording medium to the fixing nip. A driver drives the conveyor. A controller, operatively connected to the temperature sensor and the driver, controls the driver to drive the conveyor to convey the recording medium to the fixing nip based on the temperature of the opposed rotator detected by the temperature sensor. The controller causes the driver to be ready to drive the conveyor when a change in the detected temperature of the opposed rotator per unit time reaches a predetermined threshold. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124360 | FUSING DEVICE EMPLOYING INDUCTION HEATING METHOD AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS USING THE SAME - A fusing device is provided. The fusing device includes a heating roller having two end regions and an inner region between the two end regions, a coil module, and a controller. The coil module includes a first coil arranged along an axial direction of the heating roller; two second coils, one second coil arranged in each end region of the heating roller; and a third coil arranged in the inner region of the heating roller. The controller controls current directions of currents in the first coil, the second coils, and the third coil. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124361 | SEPARATION DEVICE, FIXING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A separation device separates a recording medium ejected from a fixing nip formed between a first rotator and a second rotator from the first rotator. The separation device includes a separator including a front end disposed opposite the fixing nip and the recording medium and a plurality of recesses disposed on the front end of the separator at least in a conveyance span on the separator where the recording medium is conveyed. The plurality of recesses includes a first recess extending in a first extension line that is oblique relative to a recording medium conveyance direction and a second recess adjacent to the first recess and extending in a second extension line that is oblique relative to the recording medium conveyance direction. The second extension line overlaps the first extension line in a direction perpendicular to the recording medium conveyance direction to define an overlap span. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124362 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD FOR THE SAME - An image forming apparatus comprises: an image forming unit configured to form an image; an image scanning unit configured to scan an image; and a control unit configured to perform control of the image forming unit and the image scanning unit, wherein the control unit controls the image scanning unit to scan an original, controls the image forming unit to form an additional image on the original after the scanning of the original is completed, and controls the image forming unit to form, after the formation of the additional image on the original is completed, an image in which the original is copied based on image information of the original scanned by the image scanning unit. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124363 | SHEET LENGTH MEASURING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A sheet length measuring apparatus includes first and second detection units respectively provided downstream and upstream of a conveyance unit, each detection unit detecting passage of an edge of a sheet medium; a first control unit to, until a predetermined set time passes since the detection of the passage of a leading edge of the sheet medium, regard detection of the passage of an edge of the sheet medium by each of the first and second detection units as not detected; and a second control unit to, when passage of an edge of the sheet medium is not detected again before a lapse of a predetermined monitoring time since the second detection unit detects passage of an edge of the sheet medium being passing a detection position of the second detection unit, judge that the edge detected by the second detection unit is a trailing edge of the sheet medium. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124364 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD - An image forming apparatus supplies, to an image carrying member, a toner to which a lubricant is externally added to form a toner image and transfers the toner image to a sheet transported to the image carrying member. The image forming apparatus includes a control portion that controls, when a toner patch is formed onto the image carrying member in a part corresponding to a region between the sheets transported continuously, the drawing of the toner patch based on coverage information of the toner image transferred to the sheet transported in a predetermined period. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124365 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND CONSUMABLE CARTRIDGE MANAGING METHOD - Provided is an image forming apparatus and a consumable cartridge managing method including a read/write part to read/write an information piece from/to the IC tag and a control part having a memory part on which a first apparatus intrinsic number is written. The control part determines whether or not a second apparatus intrinsic number is written on a use history region of the memory when the consumable cartridge is loaded. If the result is No, the control part writes the first apparatus number on the use history region and records additionally the first intrinsic number as the second apparatus intrinsic number on a replacement history region/loading history region of the memory part. If the result is Yes, the control part records additionally the second apparatus intrinsic number on the replacement history region/loading region of the memory part. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124366 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD - An image forming apparatus in which a sheet conveyance speed is changeable includes a development section, a replenishment section, and a control section. The development section performs development with a developer. The replenishment section replenishes the development section with the developer. The control section controls the replenishment section to control an amount of the developer for replenishment of the development section in response to a change of the sheet conveyance speed. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124367 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus that includes an imaging device, a transferrer, a rotator, a rotation position sensor, an adhesion amount sensor, a power supply, and a controller. The controller executes a construction process to construct output pattern data to change a voltage output from the power supply, according to a result obtained by detecting a toner adhesion amount of a toner image for density unevenness detection and a detection result from the rotation position sensor obtained when the toner image is formed, and an output change process to execute a predetermined process while changing the voltage according to the detection result and the output pattern data. The controller executes a determination process to determine propriety of an output range of the voltage output from the power supply by the output change process and a data process for a shift to shift the range when a determination result is inappropriate. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124368 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - An image forming apparatus includes a printer engine having an exposure unit configured to form an electrostatic latent image based on data of an input image and a development unit configured to develop the formed electrostatic latent image, a specification unit configured to specify a pixel in an edge portion in which an edge-effect and a sweeping-effect are expected to occur, from among a plurality of pixels constituting the input image, and a correction unit configured to correct a toner amount with respect to the pixel in the edge portion in which the edge-effect and the sweeping-effect are expected to occur, which is specified by the specification unit, in order to suppress excessive consumption of toner caused by an effect expected to occur. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124369 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, an exposure device, and a developing device. A sensor detects a toner image formed by the developing device to output density information, and a supply device supplies developer to the developing device. In addition, a controller controls the supply device on the basis of a detection result of a supply control toner image formed by the exposure device, a storing portion stores the detection result, and an exchange detecting portion detects information for discriminating exchange of the photosensitive member and the developing device. When the developing device is not exchanged but the photosensitive member is exchanged, the controller executes an operation in a mode in which the controller adjusts an exposure condition for forming the supply control toner image by the exposure device after exchange of the photosensitive member. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124370 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes: an electrophotographic image forming section; a sheet feeding tray; a conveying roller; a sheet discharging tray; a sheet discharging roller that is switched between a first state in which the sheet discharging roller rotates in a first direction and a second state in which the sheet discharging roller rotates in a second direction in which the sheet is conveyed back toward the image forming section; and a re-conveying roller that conveys the sheet conveyed back toward the image forming section by the sheet discharging roller, the re-conveying roller having an axial direction parallel to an axial direction of the conveying roller and being located at a position at which the re-conveying roller projected onto a first virtual plane that is perpendicular to the axial direction at least partially overlap with the conveying roller projected onto the first virtual plane. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124371 | POST-PROCESSING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM - A post-processing device receives sheets ejected one by one from an image forming device, stores, in a storage tray, a number of sheets included in one set on which post processing is to be performed at a post-processing position at once, performs conveyance processing of one stored set of a sheet stack to the post-processing position, ejects the sheet stack to an ejection unit, detects a paper jam of the sheet stack during conveyance processing, when detecting the paper jam, predicts a first time when a beginning sheet of a subsequent ejected set arrives at the storage tray and a second time when the sheet stack with the paper jam is completely ejected in case of retrying conveyance processing, judges that retrial of conveyance processing is possible when the first time is no earlier than the second time, and when judging that the retrial is possible, retries conveyance processing. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124372 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus ( | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124373 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a voltage application unit, a target device, a voltage application line, and an electric-current return line. The voltage application unit applies a voltage to the target device through the voltage application line made of a conductor. The electric-current return line made of a conductor connects the target device to the voltage application unit. An electric current that flows upon application of the voltage from the voltage application unit to the target device returns to the voltage application unit through the electric-current return line. The electric-current return line has a length shorter than a path by way of the casing of the image forming apparatus. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124374 | CLEANING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A cleaning device includes a cleaner, a plurality of cleaning sub-units, a sub-unit holder, a detachable transmission assembly, and a plurality of joint couplers. The cleaner scrapes off adhered material from a surface of a cleaning target while contacting the surface of the cleaning target. The cleaning sub-units each includes a holder to hold the cleaner and a drive-receive rotator to receive a driving force. The sub-unit holder holds the cleaning sub-units. The detachable transmission assembly includes a driving-force receive rotator to receive a driving force from an external unit and a plurality of drive transmission rotators to transmit the driving force received by the driving-force receive rotator to the drive-receive rotators of the cleaning sub-units. The joint couplers mounted on the drive-receive rotators and the drive transmission rotators couple the drive-receive rotators with the drive transmission rotators in a rotation axial direction. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124375 | CLEANING BLADE, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - A cleaning blade includes an image region and a non-image region in which Young's moduli at positions separated by a distance of L μm from an edge portion in contact with an photosensitive drum are respectively defined as Y | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124376 | CLEANING BLADE AND CLEANING DEVICE - To provide a cleaning blade having an elastic body portion containing urethane rubber and a support member supporting the elastic body portion. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124377 | WASTE TONER STORING CONTAINER, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING WASTE TONER STORING CONTAINER - A waste toner storing container includes a container main body, a conveyance guide portion, a conveyance portion, a conversion portion, a moving member, and a restriction member. The container main body stores waste toner. The conveyance guide portion has an inclined guide surface that guides the waste toner diagonally downward from a reception port. The conveyance portion is rotatably provided in the inside of the container main body. The conversion portion converts a rotational motion of the rotation shaft to a reciprocating motion in conjunction. The moving member reciprocally moves in a direction along the inclined guide surface by a force of the reciprocating motion received from the conversion portion. The restriction member restricts the moving member from being displaced upward from the inclined guide surface by pressing the moving member toward the inclined guide surface. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124378 | WASTE TONER STORING CONTAINER, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING WASTE TONER STORING CONTAINER - A waste toner storing container includes a container main body, a first conveyance portion, and a second conveyance portion. The container main body stores waste toner discharged from a plurality of image-carrying members provided in an image forming apparatus. The first conveyance portion is rotatably provided in the container main body and configured to, by being rotated, convey the waste toner toward one side in a direction along a rotation axis line. The second conveyance portion is rotatably provided below and parallel to the first conveyance portion in the container main body and configured to, by being rotated, convey the waste toner toward another side that is opposite to the one side. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124379 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an exterior cover having a plurality of faces. The exterior cover is configured so that one face of the plurality of faces is divided into a plurality of cover boards. The plurality of cover boards are configured so that adjacent cover boards of the plurality of cover boards include respective overlapping parts overlapping onto each other formed in the respective adjacent cover boards and the one face is composed by overlapping the overlapping parts from the outside in predetermined order. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124380 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus, including an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet in an electro-photographic method and detachably attached to a body of the image forming apparatus; a chassis configured to accommodate the image forming unit and including an opening portion, through which the image forming unit is detachably attached to the body; a handle arranged in the image forming unit to protrude at least partly through the opening portion when the image forming unit is attached to the body; and a cover movable between a closed position, in which the opening portion is closed, and an open position, in which the opening portion is exposed, the cover including a protrusion cover configured to cover a protrusive part of the handle protruded through the opening portion when the cover is in the closed position, is provided. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124381 | OPENING-CLOSING MECHANISM AND IMAGE-FORMING APPARATUS - A movable member | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124382 | Fixing Device That Ensures Downsized Opening/Closing Space of Fixing Cover and Image Forming Apparatus - A fixing device includes a fixing device main body and a fixing cover. The fixing device main body has an opening across a back portion and an upper portion of a conveying passage of a recording sheet. The fixing cover openably/closably covers the opening by rotatably supported with a first axle as a rotational central axle. The first axle extends in width direction of the recording sheet in a lower end of the back portion of the opening. The fixing cover includes a first fixing cover portion and a second fixing cover portion. The first fixing cover portion covers the back portion of the conveying passage and its lower end portion is rotatably supported with the first axle as the rotational central axle. The second fixing cover portion covers the upper portion of the conveying passage and has a bendable structure with respect to the first fixing cover portion. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124383 | END MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND METHOD OF SEPARATING PROCESS CARTRIDGE - Provided is an end member which allows appropriate transmission of rotary power, and smooth attachment and detachment with respect to an apparatus body. The end member includes a tubular bearing member and a shaft member that is held by the bearing member. The shaft member includes a turning shaft which moves in an axial line direction in accordance with turning about an axial line, a rotary power reception member which is arranged at one end of the turning shaft and includes an engagement member engaging with a drive shaft of an image forming apparatus body, and a regulation member which is pressed to engage with or be detached from the turning shaft or the rotary power reception member, whereby the engagement member switches between an engagement posture and a non-engagement posture with respect to the drive shaft. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124384 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND TONER COLLECTING CASE FOR USE IN IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - In an image forming apparatus, a dust collecting unit is disposed in the front side of image forming units. The dust collecting unit includes a dust collecting box and a fan. The dust collecting box is communicated with developer cases. The fan sucks air in the dust collecting box and discharges the air. The fan sucks air that has passed through a filter in the dust collecting box and discharges the air to an exhaust duct. The exhaust duct is disposed between a toner container and a fixing device and forms an air passage that extends in a front-rear direction to reach an opening portion provided in the rear side. The air is discharged to an outside of the apparatus from the opening portion. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124385 | CHARACTER DISPLAY MECHANISM FOR A TIMEPIECE - The character display mechanism for a timepiece includes a first indicator member disposed underneath a mask and arranged to rotate in steps about an axis, the first indicator member bearing a series of intertwined figures distributed over a circular track, the mask including a display area having a plurality of first openings, the figures being intended to appear successively through the first openings during the rotation of the first indicator member, and the first openings being disposed such that only one figure at a time appears in the display area. The first indicator member is pierced with second openings, said second openings being arranged to stop directly underneath one of said first openings during the step-by-step rotation of the first indicator member. The display mechanism includes a second indicator member at least partially superposed on the first indicator member in the display area. The second indicator member bears a pattern comprising segments. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124386 | GRAND DATE DISPLAY DEVICE FOR A TIMEPIECE - The invention concerns a grand date display device that can change from displaying the last day of the month to displaying the first day of the following month by means of a single step of the first and of the second upper plates. This feature avoids the requirement for a correction at the end of months of less than 31 days. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124387 | TIMEPIECE COMPRISING A DEVICE FOR DISPLAYING THE EQUATION OF TIME - The present invention relates to a timepiece comprising a frame and a device ( | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124388 | MECHANISM FOR SELECTING AND ACTUATING FUNCTIONS OF A CLOCKWORK MOVEMENT - The present application relates to a mechanism for selecting and actuating n functions of a clock movement, where n is an integer no lower than 1, preferably no lower than 2, more preferably no lower than 3, including a winding mechanism rod ending in a crown, a device for actuating a function, said device being kinematically connected to the crown and arranged such as to move and assume n selection positions and n actuation positions in which the actuation device is kinematically connected to an actuation member of the selected function, and a selecting device arranged such as to move the actuation device into a selection position. Said mechanism further includes a base onto which the actuation device is moveably mounted such as to be moved and positioned, by the selecting device, into a selection position facing the actuation member of the selected function, and such as to be moved, by an axial movement of the winding mechanism rod, into the actuation position thereof in order to engage with said actuation member of the selected function. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124389 | SHOCK ABSORBER WITH A BAYONET FITTING - A shock absorber device for an arbor of a timepiece element including: a support including a base cup surmounted by a peripheral rim, which is delimited, opposite the cup, by an upper surface, the cup and the rim together defining a housing; a pivot system extending along an arbor, the pivot system being arranged in the housing and including a base including an elastic return mechanism at the periphery thereof, formed by at least one curved arm, including an opening in which is inserted a pivot element configured to cooperate with the arbor. The at least one curved arm is used for locking the pivot system in a bayonet fitting. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124390 | WRISTWATCH - A wristwatch including a case including a band attachment section having an attachment hole, a band including a coupling hole in one end portion located coaxially with the attachment hole of the band attachment section, a coupling member inserted into the coupling hole of the band and the attachment hole of the band attachment section and coupling the band with the band attachment section, and a fixing member fixing the coupling member to the attachment hole of the band attachment section or the coupling hole of the band. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124391 | COMPONENT FOR A TIMEPIECE MOVEMENT - A micromechanical component for a timepiece movement including a metal body formed using a single material. The single material is of high-interstitial austenitic steel type including at least one non-metal as the interstitial atom in a proportion between 0.15% and 1.2% with respect to total mass of the material. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124392 | CHRONOGRAPH MECHANISM AND TIMEPIECE COMPRISING THE CHRONOGRAPH MECHANISM - A chronograph mechanism includes an intermediate chronograph mobile which is provided for transmitting a drive to first and second sweep-hand mobiles. A first and a second return device are configured to return the first sweep-hand mobile to a first predetermined angular position relative to the intermediate chronograph mobile, in the absence of angular immobilization of the first sweep-hand mobile by a first brake, and the second sweep-hand mobile to a second predetermined angular position relative to the intermediate chronograph mobile, in the absence of angular immobilization of the second sweep-hand mobile by a second brake. A control system includes a coordination device arranged to maintain the first and second brakes alternately in two opposite configurations, in each of which one of the first and second brakes is in an inactive state and the other is in an active state. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124393 | EVENT DRIVEN SIGNAL CONVERTERS - In some implementations, a method comprises: generating, by an event system of an integrated circuit, a first event signal in response to a clock signal; distributing the first event signal to a first digital converter, where the first event signal triggers conversion of a first analog signal to a first digital value by the first digital converter; generating, by the event system, a second event signal in response to the clock signal; and distributing the second event signal to a second digital converter, where the second event signal triggers conversion of a second analog signal to a second digital value. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124394 | WIRELESS INDUCTIVE POINTER CLOCK - A wireless inductive display clock includes a wireless inductive receiver module, a control circuit module, and a display unit. The wireless inductive receiver module can be, for example, an NFC module. The control circuit module is electrically connected to the wireless inductive receiver module for receiving an information signal from the wireless inductive receiver module and converting it into an information display signal, for example, time display signal. The display unit is, for example, a LCD electrically connected to the control circuit module for receiving the information display signal and drivable by the control circuit module to display the information. Thus, the wireless inductive receiver module can receive a wireless information signal from a mobile phone or other electronic information device so that the control circuit module can process the information signal and then drive the display unit to display the time and/or other information, enabling the time on wireless inductive display clock to be synchronized to the time on the electronic information device. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124395 | WRIST-WATCH TYPE FLEXIBLE DISPLAY DEVICE - A wrist watch type flexible display device, or more specifically, a wrist type display device having a flexible display which is rotatable and convertible between bent state and un-bent state, is provided. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124396 | ANTENNA APPARATUS AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE HAVING THE SAME - An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a housing comprising a recess portion formed along an edge of the housing, a sealing member arranged in the recess portion, so as to provide a seal between structures coupled with the housing, an antenna member disposed in at least a portion of the sealing member, and a substrate electrically connected with the antenna member. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124397 | HANDHELD UNIT WITH COMBINED SIGNAL EVALUATION - A handheld unit for an industrial technical system comprising some of the following: a proximity sensor, an acceleration sensor, an orientation sensor, a position-determining device and an image-capturing device. Commands input by a user to the handheld unit and output signals from the modules are fed to an evaluation device in the handheld unit that transmits control commands to a control device in the industrial technical system. The evaluation device compares output signals of the modules to predetermined first signal patterns and transmits commands that activate components in the industrial technical system to the control device only if the command requested and the output signals of the modules match one of the predetermined first signal patterns. Otherwise the evaluation device does not transmit the control commands. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124398 | CONTROL SYSTEM CAPABLE OF PERIODICALLY DRIVING A CORRESPONDING DEVICE BASED ON TRIGGER POLICY AND METHOD THEREOF - The present invention is to provide a control system including a sensing device capable of periodically driving a corresponding operation device based on a trigger policy, wherein the sensing device and the operation device have the same trigger policy stored therein. The control system is characterized in that the trigger policy at least includes a trigger code, a time data (such as “after 15 minutes”) and an operation data (such as “turn on a lamp”). When the sensing device detects a sensing signal, the sensing device generates and transmits a trigger instruction to the operation device. When the operation device determines that a trigger code carried in the trigger instruction matches with a second identification code stored therein, the operation device calculates an expiration time of the time data based on the current time, and then executes an action corresponding to the operation data at the expiration time. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124399 | SYSTEMS FOR MODE SWITCHING IN AN APPLIANCE - Described herein are systems for mode switching in an appliance, and related analysis and reporting. Associated methods can include determining, by circuitry of an appliance, that an operation of the appliance is abnormal. The determination can include sensing the abnormality and identifying that the operation of the appliance is an abnormal operation according to the sensing of the abnormality. The methods also include switching, by the circuitry, the operation of the appliance to a safe mode. The safe mode can include reducing power used with the operation (such as to stop or reduce speed of rotation of a fan in the appliance). The method also includes communicating, by the circuitry, information regarding the abnormality and/or that the abnormality was resolved, to an electronic device and/or a server. The electronic device can display the information on a display device. The server can generate statistics according to the information. | 2016-05-05 |
| 20160124400 | POWER ELECTRONICS DEVICE, CONTROL METHOD, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM - According to one embodiment, a control device in a power electronics device includes a controller, a configuration determiner and a manager. The controller performs control associated with power conversion, in accordance with a first logical configuration of control between the power electronics device and other power electronics device. The configuration determiner performs determination processing of a second logical configuration when a change condition of the first logical configuration is satisfied. The manager instructs the controller to perform the control in accordance with the second logical configuration, the manager performing management such that the controller performs the control in accordance with previously given control information for a period after the change condition of the first logical configuration is satisfied and until the manager instructs the controller to perform the control associated with the power conversion in accordance with the second logical configuration. | 2016-05-05 |
