Patents by Inventor Akihiko Uchiyama

Akihiko Uchiyama has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6473574
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image bearing members for respectively bearing toner images, a moving member, a plurality of transfer devices for electrostatically transferring a toner image on each of the image bearing members onto the moving member or a transfer material borne by the moving member, a plurality of collecting devices for respectively collecting toner on each image bearing member, a selecting device for selecting an image bearing member to which toner on the moving member is to be transferred to the plural image bearing members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masatake Usui, Akihiko Takeuchi, Hideyuki Yano, Akihiko Uchiyama, Kazuhiro Funatani
  • Patent number: 6177153
    Abstract: A film of the present invention is an oriented film having a light-scattering property varying with an incident angle and is useful e.g. as a viewing angle improvement film effective for improving the picture quality of a liquid crystal display device, especially for expanding the viewing angle. This oriented film is composed of a thermoplastic polymer and contains a number of micro voids participating in the above scattering property in the film. It can be produced by uniaxially drawing a film composed of a thermoplastic polymer under temperature and draw-ratio conditions to form grooves on the surface of the film perpendicular to the drawing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Teijin Limited
    Inventors: Akihiko Uchiyama, Toshiaki Yatabe
  • Patent number: 6101286
    Abstract: It is an object of this invention to provide an image processing apparatus which, when nonmagnetic mono-component development is performed, prevents the formation of white gaps in pattern boundaries between different colors and thereby prevents degradation in the image quality of the formed image. To achieve this object, in one embodiment of the invention, the density value VD(n) of the nth pixel on a certain line is applied to the A input terminal of a selector 207, and the density value VD(n-1) of the (n-1)th pixel is applied to the B input terminal of the selector 207. A subtracter 203 calculates the increase of VD(n) from VD(n-1). If a comparator 204 determines that the increase is a predetermined value C1 or less, a selection signal in the selector 207 is so set that the terminal B (the value of the immediately preceding pixel) is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Shimizu, Haruo Fujii, Hiroshi Sasame, Tatsuya Kobayashi, Takashi Kawana, Tetsuya Kobayashi, Naoki Enomoto, Akihiko Uchiyama, Yoshiro Saito, Yoichiro Maebashi, Takaaki Tsuruya
  • Patent number: 5940654
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member electrostatic latent image forming device for forming an electrostatic latent image on the image bearing member, the image forming device forming, on the image bearing member, an electrostatic latent image usable for controlling image formation. A developing device is provided for developing an electrostatic latent image on the image bearing member, a density difference detecting device is provided for detecting a density difference in an image for the control developed by the developing device, and a control device is provided for controlling a developing condition of the developing device on the basis of an output of the density difference detecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiko Uchiyama, Hiroshi Sasame, Tatsuya Kobayashi, Youichirou Maebashi
  • Patent number: 5873010
    Abstract: A color image forming apparatus having a plurality of developers is disclosed. The apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a density sensor for detecting a developed control toner image, CPU and RAM. The apparatus performs a first control for image formation based on a density of a control toner image developed by a first developer, a second control for image formation based on a density of a control toner image developed by a second developer, and determining whether the second control is to be performed based on the density of the control toner image developed by the first developer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Enomoto, Takao Aoki, Haruo Fujii, Hiroshi Sasame, Tatsuhiko Hayakawa, Tatsuya Kobayashi, Tetsuya Kobayashi, Akihiko Uchiyama, Yoshiro Saito, Yoichiro Maebashi
  • Patent number: 5697011
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing an electrostatic image, a plurality of developing units for accommodating developers having different colors, a light source for projecting light onto a developed image, and a photosensor for sensing reflected light from the developed image. The apparatus operates in either a first mode for determining the density of the developed image based on the output of the photosensor when light having a predetermined amount is projected from the light source, or in a second mode for determining the density of the developed image based on the amount of light projected from the light source when the output of the photosensor has a predetermined value. Either the first mode or the second mode is selected in accordance with the color of a developer being utilized during the image formation operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuya Kobayashi, Akihiko Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 5678130
    Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developer carrying member, disposed opposed to an image bearing member, for carrying a developer; a developing bias voltage applying source for applying a developing bias voltage having an oscillating component to the developer carrying member to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member; wherein10.0.ltoreq.T11/(T11+T12).times.100.ltoreq.90.0,where T11 is a time period of a first step in which an electric field is formed in a direction for directing the developer from the developer carrying member toward the image bearing member in one cycle of the oscillating component of the developing bias voltage applied by the developing bias application source, and T12 is a time period of a third step between the first step and a second step in which an electric field is formed in a direction for directing the developer from the image bearing member to the developer carrying member, and T11/(T11+T12) is an inclination of the developing bias voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Enomoto, Haruo Fujii, Hiroshi Sasame, Motoi Katoh, Tatsuya Kobayashi, Masao Nakano, Kazuhisa Kemmochi, Tetsuya Kobayashi, Toshiaki Miyashiro, Akihiko Uchiyama, Yoshiro Saito
  • Patent number: 5666588
    Abstract: By altering a developing bias, a plurality of patch images are formed on a photoconductor, and a density of each patch image is measured, thereby judging whether or not a target density value is within a range of the plurality of measured density values. If the target density value is outside the range, a developing bias which realizes the target density is obtained by an interpolation, in accordance with two measured density values that are closest to the target density value among a plurality of measured densities, and with a developing bias of two patch images that are related to these two measured density values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiko Uchiyama, Haruo Fujii, Hiroshi Sasame, Tatsuya Kobayashi, Tetsuya Kobayashi, Naoki Enomoto, Yoshiro Saito, Yoichiro Maebashi, Takaaki Tsuruya
  • Patent number: 5666597
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing an image, the image bearing member being rotatable at a first speed and a second speed which is different from the first speed, wherein during image formation on the image bearing member, the first speed is selected, and after completion of image formation on the image bearing member, a speed of rotation of the image bearing member is switchable from the first speed to the second speed; a discharger for electrically discharging the image bearing member at a discharging position, the discharger discharging the image bearing member at least one turn after the trailing edge of the image on the image bearing member passes through the discharging position and before the speed of the image bearing member is switched from the first speed to the second speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sasame, Haruo Fujii, Tatsuhiko Hayakawa, Tatsuya Kobayashi, Tetsuya Kobayashi, Naoki Enomoto, Akihiko Uchiyama, Yoshiro Saito, Youichirou Maebashi
  • Patent number: 5559591
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including image forming unit for forming an unfixed image on a recording medium, a pair of fixing rotary members for fixing the unfixed image on the recording medium, a cleaning member for cleaning surfaces of the fixing rotary members, the fixing rotary members and the cleaning member being an integral unit separable from the apparatus, detection unit for detecting remaining quantity of the cleaning member, and a unit for requesting the exchange of the integral unit of the fixing rotary member pair and the cleaning member in response to the output of the detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Motoi Kato, Haruo Fujii, Toshifumi Moritani, Tatsuya Kobayashi, Tetsuya Kobayashi, Toshiaki Miyashiro, Naoki Enomoto, Akihiko Uchiyama, Yoshiro Saito
  • Patent number: 5548381
    Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a toner carrying member, disposed opposite an image bearing member for bearing an electrostatic image, for carrying toner to the image bearing member; an electric field forming device for forming an alternating electric field between the image bearing member and the toner carrying member, wherein the alternating electric field includes a first phase in which a constant electric field for urging the toner from said image bearing member toward said toner carrying member continues for a predetermined period, a second phase in which a constant electric field for urging the toner from said toner carrying member toward said image bearing member continues for a predetermined period, and a third phase in which the electric field gradually changes from that in the first phase to that in the second phase within a predetermined period .DELTA.T, and a controller for changing a ratio (.DELTA.T/T), where T is one period of the alternating electric field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiro Saito, Haruo Fujii, Hiroshi Sasame, Tatsuhiko Hayakawa, Tatsuya Kobayashi, Tetsuya Kobayashi, Naoki Enomoto, Akihiko Uchiyama, Youichirou Maebashi
  • Patent number: 5543900
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing an image of toner and a charging member contactable to the image bearing member to charge the image bearing member. The charging member is adapted to receive a voltage and the toner has a melt index of not less than 0.5 g/10 min. In the apparatus,P/(V.times.L).ltoreq.50J/m.sup.2where v is a movement speed of the image bearing member when the image bearing member is charged by the charging member (m/sec), L is an effective charging length of the charging member, measured in a direction perpendicular to the movement direction of the image bearing member (m), and P is an amount of electric power consumed by the charging member (W).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Youichirou Maebashi, Haruo Fujii, Hiroshi Sasame, Hiroaki Kawakami, Tatsuya Kobayashi, Tetsuya Kobayashi, Naoki Enomoto, Akihiko Uchiyama, Yoshiro Saito
  • Patent number: 5523829
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes an image bearing member; a recording material carrying member for carrying a recording material to a transfer position for transfer of an image; a moving device for imparting relative movement between the image bearing member and the recording material carrying member; and a recess in the recording material carrying member for permitting the image bearing member and the recording material carrying member to face each other without contact therebetween. The recording material feeding speed is switched from a first speed different from the fixing speed to a second speed substantially the same so that when it imparts the approaching relative movement, the peripheral speeds of the recording material carrying member and image bearing member are substantially equal immediately before they contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiaki Miyashiro, Haruo Fujii, Motoi Katoh, Tatsuya Kobayashi, Tetsuya Kobayashi, Akira Ito, Naoki Enomoto, Akihiko Uchiyama, Yoshiro Saito
  • Patent number: 5508796
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus with an image bearing member capable of rotating while bearing a toner image thereon, a transfer device for transferring the toner image from the image bearing member to a recording material at a transfer position, recording material bearing member capable of rotating while bearing the recording material thereon and adapted to convey the recording material to the transfer position, a pair of rotary members arranged at an upstream side of the recording material bearing member in a recording material conveying direction and adapted to pinch and convey the recording material, and a separation device for separating the recording material from the recording material bearing member at a separation position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sasame, Takao Aoki, Haruo Fujii, Toshihiko Ochiai, Motoi Kato, Tatsuya Kobayashi, Tetsuya Kobayashi, Toshiaki Miyashiro, Naoki Enomoto, Akihiko Uchiyama, Yoshiro Saito, Takehiko Suzuki, Yoichiro Maebashi
  • Patent number: 5369478
    Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a rotatable developer carrying member for carrying one component developer to a developing zone for developing an electrostatic latent image for an image bearing member; a regulating member for regulating a thickness of a layer of the developer to be carried by the developer carrying member to the developing zone; a rotatable developer, in contact with the developer carrying member, for supplying the developer; a developer guiding portion for guiding reverse movement of the developer blocked by the regulating member; wherein 0.02.ltoreq.d/Vs.ltoreq.0.1 is satisfied, where d is a minimum distance between the developer guiding portion and the developer feeding member (mm), and Vs is a peripheral speed of the developer feeding member (mm)/sec.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya Kobayashi, Hiroshi Sasame, Tatsuya Kobayashi, Naoki Enomoto, Akihiko Uchiyama, Yoshiro Saito
  • Patent number: 5307127
    Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developer carrying member for supplying a developer to an image bearing member, wherein the developer is a one component developer, and has a flowability index of 5-30%. A developing bias voltage application device applies a developing bias to the developer carrying member, wherein the developing bias application device applies an oscillating bias voltage, including a first peak voltage, for an application period T1, for forming an electric field for urging the developer from the developer carrying member to the image bearing member, and a second peak voltage, for an application period T2, for forming an electric field for urging the developer from the image bearing member to the developer carrying member, wherein T1:T2 satisfies 1:2-1:10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya Kobayashi, Haruo Fujii, Motoi Katoh, Tatsuya Kobayashi, Toshiaki Miyashiro, Naoki Enomoto, Akihiko Uchiyama, Yoshiro Saito