Patents by Inventor Atsutoshi Ando
Atsutoshi Ando 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).
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Patent number: 10268145Abstract: A fixing device includes a cylindrical film having an inner surface and a plate-like heater that extends in a longitudinal direction of the film, with the heater having (i) a first surface that contacts the inner surface of the film, and (ii) a second surface opposite to the first surface. The fixing device further includes a heat conduction plate that extends in the longitudinal direction of the film and contacts the second surface of the heater, and a supporting member that supports the heater through the heat conduction plate. An image that is formed on a recording material is heated by heat from the heater through the film.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2017Date of Patent: April 23, 2019Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Atsutoshi Ando, Takashi Narahara, Toru Imaizumi, Yasuhito Minamishima
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Patent number: 9983522Abstract: A fixing device includes a cylindrical film, a planar heater, a heat conduction member, a supporting member, a limiting member for limiting heater end portions with respect to a generatrix direction of the film so as to prevent the end portions from moving in a heater thickness direction relative to the supporting member, and a pressing member. A fixing device state is switchable between a first state in which a press-contact force in the nip is enough to fix the toner image and a second state in which the press-contact force in the nip is smaller than the press-contact force in the first state. A surface where the supporting member opposes the heat conduction member has a shape such that with respect to the generatrix direction, a central portion of the film is projected toward the pressing member to a greater extent than an end portion of the film.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2016Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toru Imaizumi, Takashi Narahara, Atsutoshi Ando, Yasuhito Minamishima, Tomoya Tateishi, Masafumi Maeda
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Publication number: 20180081305Abstract: A fixing device includes a cylindrical film having an inner surface and a plate-like heater that extends in a longitudinal direction of the film, with the heater having (i) a first surface that contacts the inner surface of the film, and (ii) a second surface opposite to the first surface. The fixing device further includes a heat conduction plate that extends in the longitudinal direction of the film and contacts the second surface of the heater, and a supporting member that supports the heater through the heat conduction plate. An image that is formed on a recording material is heated by heat from the heater through the film.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2017Publication date: March 22, 2018Inventors: Atsutoshi Ando, Takashi Narahara, Toru Imaizumi, Yasuhito Minamishima
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Patent number: 9829839Abstract: An image heating apparatus heats a toner image formed on a recording material, and includes: a heater including a substrate and a heat generating resistor thereon for generating heat for heating the toner image, by electric power supply; an electric power shut-off member operable in response to an abnormal temperature rise of the heater to shut off the electric power supply; and a heat conduction member having a thermal conductivity, in a direction of a thickness of the substrate, higher than that of the substrate. The contact area between the heat conduction member and the substrate is larger than the contact area between the heat conduction member and the electric power shut-off member.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2013Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Atsutoshi Ando, Takashi Narahara, Toru Imaizumi, Yasuhito Minamishima
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Publication number: 20170031283Abstract: A fixing device includes a cylindrical film, a planar heater, a heat conduction member, a supporting member, a limiting member for limiting heater end portions with respect to a generatrix direction of the film so as to prevent the end portions from moving in a heater thickness direction relative to the supporting member, and a pressing member. A fixing device state is switchable between a first state in which a press-contact force in the nip is enough to fix the toner image and a second state in which the press-contact force in the nip is smaller than the press-contact force in the first state. A surface where the supporting member opposes the heat conduction member has a shape such that with respect to the generatrix direction, a central portion of the film is projected toward the pressing member to a greater extent than an end portion of the film.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2016Publication date: February 2, 2017Inventors: Toru Imaizumi, Takashi Narahara, Atsutoshi Ando, Yasuhito Minamishima, Tomoya Tateishi, Masafumi Maeda
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Patent number: 9507303Abstract: A fixing device includes a cylindrical film, a planar heater, a heat conduction member, a supporting member, a limiting member for limiting heater end portions with respect to a generatrix direction of the film so as to prevent the end portions from moving in a heater thickness direction relative to the supporting member, and a pressing member. A fixing device state is switchable between a first state in which a press-contact force in the nip is enough to fix the toner image and a second state in which the press-contact force in the nip is smaller than the press-contact force in the first state. A surface where the supporting member opposes the heat conduction member has a shape such that with respect to the generatrix direction, a central portion of the film is projected toward the pressing member to a greater extent than an end portion of the film.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2015Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toru Imaizumi, Takashi Narahara, Atsutoshi Ando, Yasuhito Minamishima, Tomoya Tateishi, Masafumi Maeda
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Patent number: 9417576Abstract: A fixing device for fixing a toner image on a recording material includes: a cylindrical film; a plate-like heater contacting an inner surface of the film; a roller for forming a nip in cooperation with the heater through the film; and a thermo-sensitive member for detecting the temperature of the heater to interrupt electric power supply to the heater when the temperature of the heater reaches an abnormal temperature. The heater has a heat generating pattern symmetric with respect to a center line thereof extending in a direction perpendicular to a recording material feeding direction. The thermo-sensitive member is provided in a side which is opposite from a surface of the heater contacting the inner surface of the film and which is downstream of the center line of the heater with respect to the recording material feeding direction.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2015Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yasuhito Minamishima, Toru Imaizumi, Takashi Narahara, Atsutoshi Ando
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Publication number: 20160085191Abstract: A fixing device includes a cylindrical film, a planar heater, a heat conduction member, a supporting member, a limiting member for limiting heater end portions with respect to a generatrix direction of the film so as to prevent the end portions from moving in a heater thickness direction relative to the supporting member, and a pressing member. A fixing device state is switchable between a first state in which a press-contact force in the nip is enough to fix the toner image and a second state in which the press-contact force in the nip is smaller than the press-contact force in the first state. A surface where the supporting member opposes the heat conduction member has a shape such that with respect to the generatrix direction, a central portion of the film is projected toward the pressing member than an end portion of the film.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2015Publication date: March 24, 2016Inventors: Toru Imaizumi, Takashi Narahara, Atsutoshi Ando, Yasuhito Minamishima, Tomoya Tateishi, Masafumi Maeda
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Publication number: 20160062281Abstract: A fixing device for fixing a toner image on a recording material includes a cylindrical film; a plate-like heater contacting an inner surface of the film; a roller for forming a nip in cooperation with the heater through the film; and a thermo-sensitive member for detecting a temperature of the heater to interrupt electric power supply to said heater when the temperature of said heater reaches an abnormal temperature. The heater has a heat generating pattern symmetric with respect to a center line thereof extending in a direction perpendicular to a recording material feeding direction. The thermo-sensitive member is provided in a side which is opposite from a surface of the heater contacting the inner surface of the film and which is downstream of the center line of the heater with respect to the recording material feeding direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2015Publication date: March 3, 2016Inventors: Yasuhito Minamishima, Toru Imaizumi, Takashi Narahara, Atsutoshi Ando
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Patent number: 9235172Abstract: A fixing device for fixing a toner image formed on a sheet includes a cylindrical film; a heater having a first surface contacting an inner surface of the film; an opposed member forming a press-contact portion with the film therebetween; a supporting member for supporting a second surface of the heater opposite the first surface; and a heat conduction member contacting the second surface. In a generatrix direction of the film, an end portion of a contact region between the heat conduction member and the second surface is at or inside an end portion of the press-contact portion. In a region from an end portion of the contact region to an outside of an end portion of the press-contact portion with respect to the direction, the supporting member includes a first region not contacting the second surface and a second region contacting the second surface outside the first region.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2014Date of Patent: January 12, 2016Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toru Imaizumi, Takashi Narahara, Atsutoshi Ando, Yasuhito Minamishima, Masafumi Maeda, Tomoya Tateishi
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Patent number: 9229388Abstract: A fixing device includes a cylindrical film, a planar heater, a heat conduction member, a supporting member, a limiting member for limiting heater end portions with respect to a generatrix direction of the film so as to prevent the end portions from moving in a heater thickness direction relative to the supporting member, and a pressing member. A fixing device state is switchable between a first state in which a press-contact force in the nip is enough to fix the toner image and a second state in which the press-contact force in the nip is smaller than the press-contact force in the first state. A surface where the supporting member opposes the heat conduction member has a shape such that with respect to the generatrix direction, a central portion of the film is projected toward the pressing member to a greater extent than an end portion of the film.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2013Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaihsaInventors: Toru Imaizumi, Takashi Narahara, Atsutoshi Ando, Yasuhito Minamishima, Tomoya Tateishi, Masafumi Maeda
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Publication number: 20150227091Abstract: An image heating apparatus for heating a toner image formed on a recording material, the image heating apparatus includes a heater including a substrate and a heat generating resistor thereon for generating heat for heating the toner image, by electric power supply; an electric power shut-off member operable in response to an abnormality temperature rise of the heater to shut off the electric power supply; and a heat conduction member having a thermal conductivity, in a direction of a thickness of the substrate, higher than that of the substrate, wherein a contact area between the heat conduction member and the substrate is larger than a contact area between the heat conduction member and the electric power shut-off member.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2013Publication date: August 13, 2015Inventors: Atsutoshi Ando, Takashi Narahara, Toru Imaizumi, Yasuhito Minamishima
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Publication number: 20150168878Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes: a contact member, contacting the recording material, to which a voltage to be applied; a first electroconductive member contacting the recording material downstream of the contact member with respect to a recording material feeding direction, wherein the first electroconductive member is grounded; and a second electroconductive member contacting the recording material. A distance between the contact member and the first electroconductive member is not more than a length of a longest recording material capable of being fed by the image forming apparatus. A contact resistance between the second electroconductive member and the recording material is smaller than a contact resistance between the first electroconductive member and the recording material. The first and the second electroconductive member are electrically connected in parallel to each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2014Publication date: June 18, 2015Inventors: Toru Imaizumi, Takashi Narahara, Atsutoshi Ando, Yasuhito Minamishima
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Patent number: 9002249Abstract: The image heating apparatus includes an endless belt, a roller which contacts an outer face of the belt, and a nip portion forming unit which contacts an inner face of the belt, and forms a nip portion with the roller, for nipping and conveying a recording material. The nip portion forming unit includes a component which is longer than the belt in a generatrix direction of the belt. The apparatus also includes a regulation portion provided to oppose an end face of the belt, for regulating a shift movement of the belt to the generatrix direction of the belt. The regulation portion is integrally-molded with the component. As a result, damage of the end of the endless belt can be reduced.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2013Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Eiji Uekawa, Tohru Saito, Atsutoshi Ando, Masashi Tanaka
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Publication number: 20150023704Abstract: A fixing device for fixing a toner image formed on a sheet includes a cylindrical film; a heater having a first surface contacting an inner surface of the film; an opposed member forming a press-contact portion with the film therebetween; a supporting member for supporting a second surface of the heater opposite the first surface; and a heat conduction member contacting the second surface, wherein in a generatrix direction of the film, an end portion of a contact region between the heat conduction member and the second surface is at or inside an end portion of the press-contact portion. In a region from an end portion of the contact region to an outside of an end portion of the press-contact portion with respect to the direction, the supporting member includes a first region not contacting the second surface and a second region contacting the second surface outside the first region.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2014Publication date: January 22, 2015Inventors: Toru Imaizumi, Takashi Narahara, Atsutoshi Ando, Yasuhito Minamishima, Masafumi Maeda, Tomoya Tateishi
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Patent number: 8879974Abstract: An image heating device includes an endless belt including a base layer and an elastic layer formed around the base layer, a contact member contacting an inner surface of the endless belt, a pressure rotating member forming a nip portion configured to convey a recording material while nipping the recording material along with the contact member via the endless belt, wherein an image formed on the recording material is heated at the nip portion using heat from the endless belt, and wherein one end of the endless belt is coated with the elastic layer and the other end of the endless belt is not coated with the elastic layer, and a belt lateral shifting direction regulating mechanism configured to regulate a direction in which the endless belt shifts when the endless belt is rotated, toward the end coated with the elastic layer.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2012Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Atsutoshi Ando, Tohru Saito, Eiji Uekawa, Masashi Tanaka
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Publication number: 20140186078Abstract: A fixing device includes a cylindrical film, a planar heater, a heat conduction member, a supporting member, a limiting member for limiting heater end portions with respect to a generatrix direction of the film so as to prevent the end portions from moving in a heater thickness direction relative to the supporting member, and a pressing member. A fixing device state is switchable between a first state in which a press-contact force in the nip is enough to fix the toner image and a second state in which the press-contact force in the nip is smaller than the press-contact force in the first state. A surface where the supporting member opposes the heat conduction member has a shape such that with respect to the generatrix direction, a central portion of the film is projected toward the pressing member than an end portion of the film.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2013Publication date: July 3, 2014Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Toru Imaizumi, Takashi Narahara, Atsutoshi Ando, Yasuhito Minamishima, Tomoya Tateishi, Masafumi Maeda
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Patent number: 8712303Abstract: An image heating device includes a heating rotatable member; and a pressing pad contacted to said heating rotatable member and forming a nip with said heating rotatable member to nip and feed a recording material, said pressing member being provided with an electroconductive material dispersed resin material layer contacting said heating rotatable member.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2011Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Atsutoshi Ando, Shoichiro Ikegami
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Patent number: 8670702Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a heating rotatable member; a pad-like pressing member contacted to the heating rotatable member and cooperating with the heating rotatable member to provide a nip for nipping and feeding a recording material, wherein the pressing member includes a base material having a roughened surface and a parting layer on the roughened surface, the parting layer being contacted to the heating rotatable member.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2011Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shoichiro Ikegami, Akihito Kanamori, Atsutoshi Ando
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Publication number: 20130272762Abstract: The image heating apparatus includes an endless belt, a roller which contacts an outer face of the belt, a nip portion forming unit which contacts an inner face of the belt, and forms a nip portion with the roller, for nipping and conveying a recording material, the nip portion forming unit including a component which is longer than the belt in a generatrix direction of the belt; and a regulation portion provided to oppose an end face of the belt, for regulating a shift movement of the belt to the generatrix direction of the belt, wherein the regulation portion is integrally-molded with the component. Thereby, a damage of the end of the endless belt can be reduced.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2013Publication date: October 17, 2013Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Eiji Uekawa, Tohru Saito, Atsutoshi Ando, Masashi Tanaka