Patents by Inventor Hideki Kuge

Hideki Kuge 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).

  • Publication number: 20180253027
    Abstract: A developer supply device includes a container body that receives and contains a developer with which a toner cartridge is filled and that has a supply port used for supplying the developer, which is contained in the container body, to a developing device, a sensing member that detects the developer contained in the container body, a first transport member that is rotatably disposed in the container body and that transports the developer at a first transport speed by rotating, and a second transport member that is rotatably disposed in the container body in such a manner as to face the sensing member and that transports the developer at a second transport speed that is higher than the first transport speed by rotating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshinori TANAKA, Atsushi FUNADA, Hideki KUGE, Seigo SHINOZAKI, Takayuki YAMADA
  • Publication number: 20180217523
    Abstract: A container for powder detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus body includes a discharge channel and a wall member. The discharge channel has an upper end. Powder is discharged through the discharge channel. The wall member is disposed such that a gap is formed between the wall member and the upper end of the discharge channel. A transport part that transports the powder toward the discharge channel is provided in the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyohito HORII, Seigo SHINOZAKI, Atsushi FUNADA, Hideki KUGE, Makoto KANNO, Shinichiro FUJIMORI, Daisuke NAKAI
  • Patent number: 9958808
    Abstract: A container for powder detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus body includes a discharge channel and a wall member. The discharge channel has an upper end. Powder is discharged through the discharge channel. The wall member is disposed such that a gap is formed between the wall member and the upper end of the discharge channel. A transport part that transports the powder toward the discharge channel is provided in the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyohito Horii, Seigo Shinozaki, Atsushi Funada, Hideki Kuge, Makoto Kanno, Shinichiro Fujimori, Daisuke Nakai
  • Patent number: 9766573
    Abstract: A developer vessel includes a container that includes a discharge port through which developer is discharged, and a transport portion that rotates to transport the developer toward the discharge port, a first protrusion that protrudes from an outer surface of the container, a second protrusion that protrudes from the outer surface at a position on an opposite side to the first protrusion with a virtual line being interposed between the first and second protrusions, the virtual line passing through a rotational axis of the transport portion and on a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis of the transport portion and being parallel to the discharge port, and an extending portion that is disposed at an outer end of each of the first and second protrusions on the plane and that extends in a direction intersecting with the respective first and second protrusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seigo Shinozaki, Keisuke Kubo, Hideki Kuge, Makoto Kanno
  • Publication number: 20170261885
    Abstract: A developer vessel includes a container that includes a discharge port through which developer is discharged, and a transport portion that rotates to transport the developer toward the discharge port, a first protrusion that protrudes from an outer surface of the container, a second protrusion that protrudes from the outer surface at a position on an opposite side to the first protrusion with a virtual line being interposed between the first and second protrusions, the virtual line passing through a rotational axis of the transport portion and on a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis of the transport portion and being parallel to the discharge port, and an extending portion that is disposed at an outer end of each of the first and second protrusions on the plane and that extends in a direction intersecting with the respective first and second protrusions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seigo SHINOZAKI, Keisuke KUBO, Hideki KUGE, Makoto KANNO
  • Patent number: 9684266
    Abstract: A developer transport device includes a cylinder member including first and second cylinders in which a transport path, through which a developer is transported, is formed, a transport member disposed in the transport path so as to transport the developer by rotating, a to-be-fastened member that is formed on one of the first and second cylinders and that has a first surface formed in a downstream end portion thereof in a direction in which the second cylinder is fastened to the first cylinder and a second surface extending in the direction, and a fastening member that is formed on another one of the first and second cylinders and is to be fastened to the to-be-fastened member, the fastening member having first and a second fastening surfaces that respectively face the first and second surfaces when the fastening member is fastened to the to-be-fastened member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki Kuge, Atsushi Funada, Kiyohito Horii, Makoto Kanno
  • Publication number: 20160274493
    Abstract: A container for powder detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus body includes a discharge channel and a wall member. The discharge channel has an upper end. Powder is discharged through the discharge channel. The wall member is disposed such that a gap is formed between the wall member and the upper end of the discharge channel. A transport part that transports the powder toward the discharge channel is provided in the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyohito HORII, Seigo SHINOZAKI, Atsushi FUNADA, Hideki KUGE, Makoto KANNO, Shinichiro FUJIMORI, Daisuke NAKAI
  • Publication number: 20150277366
    Abstract: A process cartridge includes an image holding body assembly that includes an image holding body, a developing assembly that includes a developer holding body, an urging member, a contacting and separating mechanism, and a gap forming mechanism. The image holding body assembly is inserted into and pulled from an assembly receiving portion. The urging member urges the developing assembly so that the developer holding body is pressed against the image holding body. The contacting and separating mechanism is disposed on the front side and operated to separate the image holding body assembly and the developing assembly from each other against an urging force. The gap forming mechanism forms a gap between the image holding body and the developer holding body on the rear side against the urging force. The size of the gap is larger than that existing before the image holding body assembly is pulled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki KUGE, Toyohiko AWANO, Keisuke MORITA, Yoshiyuki TAKASHIMA, Kohyu SHIGEMORI, Masatoshi YAMADA
  • Patent number: 9141082
    Abstract: A process cartridge includes an image holding body assembly that includes an image holding body, a developing assembly that includes a developer holding body, an urging member, a contacting and separating mechanism, and a gap forming mechanism. The image holding body assembly is inserted into and pulled from an assembly receiving portion. The urging member urges the developing assembly so that the developer holding body is pressed against the image holding body. The contacting and separating mechanism is disposed on the front side and operated to separate the image holding body assembly and the developing assembly from each other against an urging force. The gap forming mechanism forms a gap between the image holding body and the developer holding body on the rear side against the urging force. The size of the gap is larger than that existing before the image holding body assembly is pulled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki Kuge, Toyohiko Awano, Keisuke Morita, Yoshiyuki Takashima, Kohyu Shigemori, Masatoshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 8781356
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming assembly including an image carrier including a support portion and a developing device including a projecting portion, an image forming apparatus body including a frame and an assembly covering member that rotates between a closed state and an open state and that has a support hole for receiving the support portion and an interference avoiding hole for receiving the projecting portion, and a vibration reducing member. The vibration reducing member reduces vibration of the developing device relative to the image carrier by being fitted in a gap around the projecting portion in the interference avoiding hole in the state in which the projecting portion is inserted in the interference avoiding hole in the assembly covering member in the closed state. The image forming apparatus is operated in the state in which the vibration reducing member is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keisuke Morita, Hideki Kuge, Nobumasa Furuya
  • Patent number: 8639164
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, a toner cartridge includes a container body, a first cover, and a second cover. The container body contains toner and that has an opening portion provided on an outer face of the container body and a guide piece provided on the outer face. The first cover opens and closes the opening portion. The second cover is supported by the guide piece and that is movable in an noncontact state with a bottom portion of the first cover to cover the first cover when the container body is pulled out from an image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Kuge, Yoshiyuki Takashima
  • Patent number: 8417159
    Abstract: A powder container includes: a cylindrical powder containing portion that contains a powder, and is able to be pulled out of an image forming apparatus; a covering member facing an outer surface of the powder containing portion, being provided to be movable on a movement route along an axial direction of the powder containing portion, the covering member, whose movement is regulated by a protruding portion of the apparatus, moving relative to the powder containing portion, thereby covering a specific portion on a lower side of the powder containing portion when the powder containing portion is pulled out of the apparatus; and a pressing portion provided between the outer surface of the powder containing portion and the movement route of the covering member, the pressing portion pressing the protruding portion when the powder containing portion is pulled out of the apparatus, thereby removing the regulation provided by the protruding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Takashima, Hideki Kuge, Nobumasa Furuya
  • Publication number: 20130071135
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming assembly including an image carrier including a support portion and a developing device including a projecting portion, an image forming apparatus body including a frame and an assembly covering member that rotates between a closed state and an open state and that has a support hole for receiving the support portion and an interference avoiding hole for receiving the projecting portion, and a vibration reducing member. The vibration reducing member reduces vibration of the developing device relative to the image carrier by being fitted in a gap around the projecting portion in the interference avoiding hole in the state in which the projecting portion is inserted in the interference avoiding hole in the assembly covering member in the closed state. The image forming apparatus is operated in the state in which the vibration reducing member is removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keisuke MORITA, Hideki KUGE, Nobumasa FURUYA
  • Patent number: 8391753
    Abstract: A powder container includes: a powder containing portion that has an opening formed thereon and contains powder inside thereof, the powder containing portion being attached to an image forming apparatus; a closing member, when the powder containing portion is attached to the image forming apparatus, whose movement is regulated by striking against a regulation member provided to the image forming apparatus to relatively move against the powder containing portion to open the opening, and the closing member, when the powder containing portion is detached from the image forming apparatus, whose movement is regulated by moving and making contact with the image forming apparatus to relatively move against the powder containing portion to close the opening; and a moving portion that moves the regulation member when the powder containing portion is detached from the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Takashima, Hideki Kuge, Kouji Fukumuro
  • Patent number: 8374529
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an accommodation portion accommodating a tubular powder container containing a powder; and a guide portion guiding a guided portion provided to the powder container. The guided portion includes: a base portion provided with one end portion at downstream side in an insertion direction of the powder container and the other end portion at upstream side, and a part of the one end portion provided along the axial direction and protruding from an outer circumferential surface of the powder container toward a radial direction; a first facing portion provided along the axial direction, protruding from the base portion in one direction and arranged to face the outer circumferential surface with a gap; and a second facing portion provided along the axial direction, protruding from the base portion in a direction opposite to the one direction and arranged to face the outer circumferential surface with a gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Kuge, Yoshiyuki Takashima, Nobumasa Furuya
  • Patent number: 8369736
    Abstract: A developing device includes: a developer holding member that faces an image carrier on which a latent image is formed and rotating while holding developer; a developing housing with a holding member mount that mounts developer holding member, and accommodates developer; a developer container connected to the developing housing and containing developer that flows into the developing housing; a partition member disposed in the developer container and partitioning an inner space of the developer container; and a loosening member having a loosening portion disposed in the developer container and extending along one side surface and another side surface of the partition member to partition the developer container, and a drawing portion that is connected to the loosening portion and extends from a port formed in the developer container to the outside of the developer container. When the drawing portion is drawn out, the loosening portion moves to loosen the developer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Takashima, Hideki Kuge, Takuji Matsumoto, Taiyou Uehara, Shingo Natsume, Youichi Seki
  • Publication number: 20110142499
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, a toner cartridge includes a container body, a first cover, and a second cover. The container body contains toner and that has an opening portion provided on an outer face of the container body and a guide piece provided on the outer face. The first cover opens and closes the opening portion. The second cover is supported by the guide piece and that is movable in an noncontact state with a bottom portion of the first cover to cover the first cover when the container body is pulled out from an image forming apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki KUGE, Yoshiyuki TAKASHIMA
  • Publication number: 20110123232
    Abstract: A powder container includes: a powder containing portion that has an opening formed thereon and contains powder inside thereof, the powder containing portion being attached to an image forming apparatus; a closing member, when the powder containing portion is attached to the image forming apparatus, whose movement is regulated by striking against a regulation member provided to the image forming apparatus to relatively move against the powder containing portion to open the opening, and the closing member, when the powder containing portion is detached from the image forming apparatus, whose movement is regulated by moving and making contact with the image forming apparatus to relatively move against the powder containing portion to close the opening; and a moving portion that moves the regulation member when the powder containing portion is detached from the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki TAKASHIMA, Hideki KUGE, Kouji FUKUMURO
  • Publication number: 20110123229
    Abstract: A developing device includes: a developer holding member that faces an image carrier on which a latent image is formed and rotating while holding developer; a developing housing with a holding member mount that mounts developer holding member, and accommodates developer; a developer container connected to the developing housing and containing developer that flows into the developing housing; a partition member disposed in the developer container and partitioning an inner space of the developer container; and a loosening member having a loosening portion disposed in the developer container and extending along one side surface and another side surface of the partition member to partition the developer container, and a drawing portion that is connected to the loosening portion and extends from a port formed in the developer container to the outside of the developer container. When the drawing portion is drawn out, the loosening portion moves to loosen the developer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Takashima, Hideki Kuge, Takuji Matsumoto, Taiyou Uehara, Shingo Natsume, Youichi Seki
  • Publication number: 20110116843
    Abstract: A powder container includes: a cylindrical powder containing portion that contains a powder, and is able to be pulled out of an image forming apparatus; a covering member facing an outer surface of the powder containing portion, being provided to be movable on a movement route along an axial direction of the powder containing portion, the covering member, whose movement is regulated by a protruding portion of the apparatus, moving relative to the powder containing portion, thereby covering a specific portion on a lower side of the powder containing portion when the powder containing portion is pulled out of the apparatus; and a pressing portion provided between the outer surface of the powder containing portion and the movement route of the covering member, the pressing portion pressing the protruding portion when the powder containing portion is pulled out of the apparatus, thereby removing the regulation provided by the protruding portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Takashima, Hideki Kuge, Nobumasa Furuya