Patents by Inventor Kuniaki Nakano

Kuniaki Nakano 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: 11822273
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressurizing member, a charging portion, and a control portion. The fixing member rotates while being heated. The pressurizing member forms a nip portion between itself and a surface of the fixing member in such a way as to hold a sheet therebetween and conveys the sheet by rotating together with the fixing member, wherein an image of toner has been formed on the sheet. The charging portion electrically charges the surface of the fixing member to a polarity that is same as a charging polarity of the toner by supplying a charging current to a pair of electrodes that is disposed to face the surface of the fixing member. The control portion derives an index value of a charge amount of the toner on the sheet, and adjusts the charging current based on the index value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Einosuke Kikuchi, Kuniaki Nakano
  • Patent number: 11782369
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a first fixing member, a second fixing member, a charging portion, and a control portion. The first fixing member makes contact with a toner image on a sheet conveyed along a conveying passage. The second fixing member forms a nip. The charging portion generates an application current. The control portion can perform an application mode, in which the application current is generated, and a standby mode, in which no application current is generated. The control portion performs the application mode during a first period after initial start-up until the passage of a predetermined period and performs the standby mode during a second period after the passage of the first period until the passage of a predetermined period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Kuniaki Nakano, Takashi Miyake, Kenichi Kasama
  • Patent number: 11619896
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressurizing member, a charging portion, and a control portion. The fixing member rotates while being heated. The pressurizing member forms a nip portion between itself and a surface of the fixing member in such a way as to hold a sheet therebetween and conveys the sheet by rotating together with the fixing member, wherein an image of toner has been formed on the sheet. The charging portion electrically charges the surface of the fixing member to a polarity that is same as a charging polarity of the toner by supplying a charging current to a pair of electrodes that is disposed to face the surface of the fixing member. The control portion increases the charging current as time passes during a control time period that corresponds to a time period for which the sheet passes through the nip portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Einosuke Kikuchi, Kuniaki Nakano
  • Publication number: 20220397849
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a first fixing member, a second fixing member, a charging portion, and a control portion. The first fixing member makes contact with a toner image on a sheet conveyed along a conveying passage. The second fixing member forms a nip. The charging portion generates an application current. The control portion can perform an application mode, in which the application current is generated, and a standby mode, in which no application current is generated. The control portion performs the application mode during a first period after initial start-up until the passage of a predetermined period and performs the standby mode during a second period after the passage of the first period until the passage of a predetermined period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Kuniaki NAKANO, Takashi MIYAKE, Kenichi KASAMA
  • Patent number: 11520261
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressurizing member, a charging portion, and a control portion. The fixing member rotates while being heated. The pressurizing member forms a nip portion between itself and a surface of the fixing member in such a way as to hold a sheet therebetween and conveys the sheet by rotating together with the fixing member, wherein an image of toner has been formed on the sheet. The charging portion electrically charges the surface of the fixing member to a polarity that is same as a charging polarity of the toner by supplying a charging current to a pair of electrodes that is disposed to face the surface of the fixing member. The control portion acquires sheet information that includes one or more of length information, width information, and thickness information of the sheet and adjusts the charging current based on the sheet information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Einosuke Kikuchi, Kuniaki Nakano
  • Publication number: 20220269199
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressurizing member, a charging portion, and a control portion. The fixing member rotates while being heated. The pressurizing member forms a nip portion between itself and a surface of the fixing member in such a way as to hold a sheet therebetween and conveys the sheet by rotating together with the fixing member, wherein an image of toner has been formed on the sheet. The charging portion electrically charges the surface of the fixing member to a polarity that is same as a charging polarity of the toner by supplying a charging current to a pair of electrodes that is disposed to face the surface of the fixing member. The control portion derives an index value of a charge amount of the toner on the sheet, and adjusts the charging current based on the index value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Einosuke Kikuchi, Kuniaki Nakano
  • Publication number: 20220236671
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressurizing member, a charging portion, and a control portion. The fixing member rotates while being heated. The pressurizing member forms a nip portion between itself and a surface of the fixing member in such a way as to hold a sheet therebetween and conveys the sheet by rotating together with the fixing member, wherein an image of toner has been formed on the sheet. The charging portion electrically charges the surface of the fixing member to a polarity that is same as a charging polarity of the toner by supplying a charging current to a pair of electrodes that is disposed to face the surface of the fixing member. The control portion increases the charging current as time passes during a control time period that corresponds to a time period for which the sheet passes through the nip portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Einosuke Kikuchi, Kuniaki Nakano
  • Publication number: 20220236674
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressurizing member, a charging portion, and a control portion. The fixing member rotates while being heated. The pressurizing member forms a nip portion between itself and a surface of the fixing member in such a way as to hold a sheet therebetween and conveys the sheet by rotating together with the fixing member, wherein an image of toner has been formed on the sheet. The charging portion electrically charges the surface of the fixing member to a polarity that is same as a charging polarity of the toner by supplying a charging current to a pair of electrodes that is disposed to face the surface of the fixing member. The control portion acquires sheet information that includes one or more of length information, width information, and thickness information of the sheet and adjusts the charging current based on the sheet information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Einosuke Kikuchi, Kuniaki Nakano
  • Patent number: 11281140
    Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless fixing belt, a belt guide, and a frame member. The belt guide has a fastening portion, an arc portion, and a contact portion. The fastening portion is fastened to the frame member. The arc portion extends from the fastening portion while curving in an arc shape along the inner circumferential face of the fixing belt and has an elastic force acting outward in the radial direction. The contact portion extends from one end of the arc portion in the circumferential direction toward the frame member and has a counter-face facing the inner circumferential face of the arc portion. The frame member has a regulating portion that extends toward the belt guide to make surface contact with, so as to overlap, the counter-face of the contact portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Shoko Gon, Kuniaki Nakano
  • Publication number: 20210240117
    Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless fixing belt, a belt guide, and a frame member. The belt guide has a fastening portion, an arc portion, and a contact portion. The fastening portion is fastened to the frame member. The arc portion extends from the fastening portion while curving in an arc shape along the inner circumferential face of the fixing belt and has an elastic force acting outward in the radial direction. The contact portion extends from one end of the arc portion in the circumferential direction toward the frame member and has a counter-face facing the inner circumferential face of the arc portion. The frame member has a regulating portion that extends toward the belt guide to make surface contact with, so as to overlap, the counter-face of the contact portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Shoko GON, Kuniaki NAKANO
  • Patent number: 10303092
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressing member, a pressure adjustment part and a linkage part. The pressing member forms a pressing area with the fixing member. The pressure adjustment part moves one of the fixing member and the pressing member in a direction close to the other of the fixing member and the pressing member to increase a pressure of the pressing area and moves one of the fixing member and the pressing member in a direction away from the other of the fixing member and the pressing member to decrease the pressure of the pressing area. The linkage part transmits an operation to decrease the pressure of the pressing area to the fixing member and then moves the fixing member along an axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Kuniaki Nakano
  • Publication number: 20190011866
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressing member, a pressure adjustment part and a linkage part. The pressing member forms a pressing area with the fixing member. The pressure adjustment part moves one of the fixing member and the pressing member in a direction close to the other of the fixing member and the pressing member to increase a pressure of the pressing area and moves one of the fixing member and the pressing member in a direction away from the other of the fixing member and the pressing member to decrease the pressure of the pressing area. The linkage part transmits an operation to decrease the pressure of the pressing area to the fixing member and then moves the fixing member along an axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Kuniaki NAKANO
  • Patent number: 10082754
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressing member, a charger, and adjusting part. The fixing member heats toner images on media. The pressing member forms nips with the fixing member and presses the media. The charger uses a corona discharge that occurs in an electric field generated around a discharging electrode so as to charge the fixing member to a same polarity of toner in the toner images. The adjusting part increases a bias applied to the discharging electrode in accordance with increase of a cumulative number calculated by accumulating a number of the media on which the toner images are fixed or increase of a cumulative printing amount calculated by multiplying a printing rate that indicates a ratio of an area of the toner images to an area of the media by the cumulative number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Kenichi Kasama, Akihiro Kondo, Kuniaki Nakano
  • Publication number: 20180196382
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressing member, a charger, and adjusting part. The fixing member heats toner images on media. The pressing member forms nips with the fixing member and presses the media. The charger uses a corona discharge that occurs in an electric field generated around a discharging electrode so as to charge the fixing member to a same polarity of toner in the toner images. The adjusting part increases a bias applied to the discharging electrode in accordance with increase of a cumulative number calculated by accumulating a number of the media on which the toner images are fixed or increase of a cumulative printing amount calculated by multiplying a printing rate that indicates a ratio of an area of the toner images to an area of the media by the cumulative number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Kenichi KASAMA, Akihiro KONDO, Kuniaki NAKANO
  • Patent number: 9841709
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a first fixing member, a second fixing member, and a charge application portion. The first fixing member contacts unfixed toner on a sheet conveyed along a conveyance path. The second fixing member forms a nip portion between itself and the first fixing member such that the sheet passes through the nip portion. The charge application portion applies an electric charge to the unfixed toner on the sheet and to an outer circumferential surface of the first fixing member at a region on an upstream side of the nip portion in a movement direction of the outer circumferential surface, by causing a corona discharge to be generated between a discharge electrode and a counter electrode that are disposed apart from the outer circumferential surface of the first fixing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Kuniaki Nakano
  • Publication number: 20170299989
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a first fixing member, a second fixing member, and a charge application portion. The first fixing member contacts unfixed toner on a sheet conveyed along a conveyance path. The second fixing member forms a nip portion between itself and the first fixing member such that the sheet passes through the nip portion. The charge application portion applies an electric charge to the unfixed toner on the sheet and to an outer circumferential surface of the first fixing member at a region on an upstream side of the nip portion in a movement direction of the outer circumferential surface, by causing a corona discharge to be generated between a discharge electrode and a counter electrode that are disposed apart from the outer circumferential surface of the first fixing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventor: Kuniaki Nakano
  • Patent number: 9389542
    Abstract: A unit assembly (10) includes an image forming unit (20) and an intermediate transfer unit (40), and is configured insertably/removably with respect to an apparatus main body. The image forming unit (20) includes a plurality of process units (200A to 200D) and a joint member (80) that joints the plurality of process units (200A to 200D). The intermediate transfer unit (40) is held by the image forming unit (20). The intermediate transfer unit (40) and the joint member (80) have a first positioning section (611, 612) for mutually relative positioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kuniaki Nakano, Naoaki Kurimoto
  • Patent number: 9342043
    Abstract: A unit assembly (10) is provided with an image forming unit (20) and an intermediate transfer unit (40), and is configured to be capable of being inserted into and removed from an apparatus body (110). The image forming unit (20) has first processing units (200A to 200D), developing units (4A to 4D), a positioning portion, and a link member (80). The positioning portion is provided in each of the developing units (4A to 4D) and determines the mutual relative positions of the developing units (4A to 4D). The link member (80) links the developing units (4A to 4D) to each other. The intermediate transfer unit (40) is held by the image forming unit (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoaki Kurimoto, Kuniaki Nakano, Hiroshi Kubota
  • Patent number: 9304456
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt, a pressuring member, a heating source, a heat conducting member and a reflecting member. The fixing belt is arranged rotatably. The pressuring member is arranged outside the fixing belt and comes into pressure contact with the fixing belt to form a fixing nip. The heating source is arranged inside the fixing belt to emit radiant heat. The heat conducting member comes into contact with an inner circumference face of the fixing belt and absorbs the radiant heat emitted from the heating source. The reflecting member includes a reflecting part and a nip forming part. The reflecting part reflects the radiant heat emitted from the heating source toward the heat conducting member. The nip forming part is unified with the reflecting part and comes into contact with the inner circumference face of the fixing belt to press the fixing belt to the pressuring member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Kuniaki Nakano
  • Patent number: 9250604
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus (1) includes, as working sections, a paper output tray (16), a paper feeding cassette (13), and attachment sections to which toner cartridges (71) through (74), a waste toner container (69), and a unit assembly (11) are attached. Out of the working sections, a high-frequency working section with a high working frequency is provided on a front surface of the image forming apparatus, and a low-frequency working section with a low working frequency is provided on a side surface of the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoaki Kurimoto, Kuniaki Nakano, Hiroshi Kubota