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: 7130570
    Abstract: A transfer device has a plurality of first transfer rollers provided, one in each of a plurality of first transfer regions. The first transfer rollers are arranged downstream of respective image carriers in a traveling direction of an intermediate transfer belt, so as to be out of contact with the image carriers through the belt. In the first transfer region that is located most upstream in the traveling direction, there is a pressure member provided upstream of the image carrier in the traveling direction for pressing the intermediate transfer belt against the image carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Susumu Murakami, Takahiro Fukunaga, Yoshie Iwakura, Kuniaki Nakano, Hideshi Izumi, Minoru Tomiyori
  • Publication number: 20060216090
    Abstract: A discharge unit is disposed downstream of a principal transport path of a compound machine, and a shifter function is provided in this discharge unit. By shifting the paper passage position relative to a photosensitive drum when printing the front side and the paper passage position relative to the photosensitive drum when printing the back side, the region in which the surface electric potential of the photosensitive drum increases is diminished, and the region in which photographic fog is generated is made smaller. Thus, when printing the second and subsequent sheets, even when a slight amount of displacement of the transport position of the recording paper occurs, it is possible to suppress that recording paper making contact in the photographic fog region on the photosensitive drum, and defective printing can be prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Publication date: September 28, 2006
    Inventors: Susumu Murakami, Minoru Tomiyori, Hideshi Izumi, Takahisa Narikiyo, Kuniaki Nakano, Yoshie Iwakura
  • Patent number: 7081333
    Abstract: A radiation image conversion panel exhibiting improved resistance to peeling or shock as well as enhanced sharpness is disclosed, comprising on a support a stimulable phosphor layer composed of columnar phosphor crystals formed through gas phase deposition, wherein the stimulable phosphor layer exhibits an X-ray diffraction pattern meeting the following ratio (I2/I1) of the highest peak intensity I1 and the second highest peak intensity I2: 0.3?I2/I1?1.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Medical & Graphic, Inc.
    Inventors: Hideki Shibuya, Kuniaki Nakano, Shigetami Kasai
  • Patent number: 7070916
    Abstract: A radiation image conversion panel comprising a support and a stimulable phosphor layer provided on the support, in which the stimulable phosphor layer is formed by a gas-phase growing method so that the layer thickness of not less than 50 ?m and the surface of the support is composed of polyimide resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Medical & Graphic, Inc.
    Inventors: Akihiro Maezawa, Kuniaki Nakano, Osamu Morikawa, Katsuya Kishinami, Noriyuki Mishina
  • Publication number: 20060141134
    Abstract: Disclosed is a preparation method of a radiation image conversion panel by a vapor deposition method, in which a support member is supported and rotated and the stimulable phosphor evaporated from the evaporation source is deposited onto the support member to form a stimulable phosphor layer. The radiation image conversion panel manufactured by the method is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Publication date: June 29, 2006
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA MEDICAL & GRAPHIC, INC.
    Inventors: Masashi Kondo, Kuniaki Nakano, Shigetami Kasai, Hideki Shibuya
  • Patent number: 7062209
    Abstract: A transfer device has primary transfer rollers supported so as to be upwardly and downwardly movable within a path of movement and opposed to respective of photosensitive drums across a portion of an intermediate transfer belt. There are also provided a slide member for full-color image formation and a slide member for monochromatic image formation, which are capable of reciprocation in a horizontal direction. The transfer device includes roller lifting means each L-shaped and each having one end supporting an associated one of the transfer rollers for rotation and another end engaging an associated one of the slide members, and first and second coaxial rotating cams. The transfer device is capable of switching between three paths of movement of the intermediate transfer belt selectively by the first and second rotating cams rotating together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Susumu Murakami, Yoshie Iwakura, Takahiro Fukunaga, Masanori Yamada, Kuniaki Nakano
  • Publication number: 20060083557
    Abstract: A color image forming apparatus includes: a multiple number of process printing units, each having an photoreceptor drum for supporting a developer image formed with a developer corresponding to each color of color-separated image information; a transfer belt to which the developer images formed on the photoreceptor drums are transferred; and a transfer roller for transferring the transferred developer image to recording paper, and is constructed so that the transfer belt is formed of a material which makes it possible for the transfer belt to attenuate the voltage charged thereon by 1,000 V or greater while it moves from a position where secondary transfer is performed to a position where the initial primary transfer is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Publication date: April 20, 2006
    Inventors: Kuniaki Nakano, Yoshie Iwakura, Susumu Murakami
  • Patent number: 7029836
    Abstract: A radiographic image conversion panel including a support, and at least one photostimulable phosphor layer formed on the support by a vapor phase deposition method (vapor phase growth). The panel is manufactured according to deposition, and a temperature of the support at the time of deposition is controlled at 50° C. to 150° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Kuniaki Nakano, Osamu Morikawa, Akihiro Maezawa, Satoshi Honda
  • Publication number: 20060067720
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the present invention is provided with a plurality of image bearing members, an intermediate transfer member, a plurality of first transfer devices, a second transfer device, and a charge amount adjustment section. The image bearing members carry images of respective colors. The intermediate transfer member is rotatably disposed at a position opposed to the image bearing members. The first transfer devices form a full-color toner image on the intermediate transfer member by transferring color toner images formed on the image bearing members to the intermediate transfer member. The second transfer device transfers the full-color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer member to a recording sheet. The charge amount adjustment section adjusts the charge amount of toner particles constituting the full-color toner image so as to reduce non-uniformity in a charge amount of toner particles of the full-color toner image on the intermediate transfer member per unit area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2005
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Inventors: Yoshie Iwakura, Kuniaki Nakano
  • Publication number: 20060055959
    Abstract: A color image forming apparatus 1 includes: a multiple number of process printing units 20, each having an photoreceptor drum 21 for bearing a developer image formed with a toner corresponding to a different color of color-separated image information; a transfer belt 31 to which a multiple number of developer images are comprised in layers; and a transfer roller 36 for transferring the developer images that have been comprised in layers on transfer belt 31, all at once, to recording paper, wherein the multiple number of process printing units 20 are arranged along transfer belt 31, and is characterized in that among the developer images to be transferred from the photoreceptor drums 21 of multiple image forming units 20 onto transfer belt 31, the toner for the developer image of the color to be transferred first is specified to produce a base-layer of the color images of information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2005
    Publication date: March 16, 2006
    Inventors: Yoshie Iwakura, Susumu Murakami, Kuniaki Nakano
  • Publication number: 20060038136
    Abstract: A radiographic image conversion panel containing a substrate having thereon a phosphor layer formed by a vapor-accumulating method, wherein the phosphor layer has a thickness distribution of not more than ±20%, the thickness distribution being defined by the formula: ((Dmax?Dmin)/(Dmax+Dmin))×100, provided that Dmax is a maximum thickness of the phosphor layer; and Dmin is a minimum thickness of the phosphor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Publication date: February 23, 2006
    Inventors: Hideki Shibuya, Kuniaki Nakano, Shigetami Kasai
  • Publication number: 20060024083
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus that uses a charging unit to charge a photosensitive drum, forms an electrostatic latent image by carrying out image exposure according to image information, and transfers to a paper the electrostatic latent image by developing the electrostatic latent image into a visible image using a developer so that the image information is presented, an exhaust duct 33 for exhausting air that contains ozone produced within a drum unit 30, which includes a photosensitive drum 3 and a charging unit 5, and a duct 32 for taking in air, which draws in fresh air, are provided within the drum unit 30 so that ventilation of the drum unit 30 can be carried out with excellent efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2005
    Publication date: February 2, 2006
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Hori, Kuniaki Nakano, Tomohiko Fujii, Yoshie Iwakura
  • Publication number: 20060024073
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus a primary transfer is carried out such that toner images on a plurality of photoreceptors are transferred and laminated onto an intermediate transfer member, and a recording paper and the intermediate transfer member are sandwiched between a secondary transfer roller disposed so as to be in contact with the intermediate transfer member and a secondary transfer counter roller disposed opposite to the secondary transfer roller, to carry out a secondary transfer that the toner images on the intermediate transfer member are transferred onto the recording paper. At the time, an electric field is applied to the recording paper, and further the secondary transfer counter roller is switched by a switch between grounded state and floating state so that a potential difference between the intermediate transfer member and the secondary transfer roller can be adjusted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Publication date: February 2, 2006
    Inventors: Susumu Murakami, Yoshie Iwakura, Kuniaki Nakano
  • Publication number: 20050258377
    Abstract: A radiation image conversion panel is disclosed, comprising a support having thereon a stimulable phosphor layer comprising a stimulable phosphor having a columnar crystal structure, and the columnar crystal structure having the columnar crystal diameter ratio meeting the following equation (1): 0?D2/D1?3.0 ??(1) A preparation method of the radiation image conversion panel is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2003
    Publication date: November 24, 2005
    Inventors: Kuniaki Nakano, Satoshi Honda, Osamu Morikawa
  • Patent number: 6953941
    Abstract: The invention relates to a radiation image conversion panel comprising a substrate having thereon a stimulable phosphor layer and a protective layer. The stimulable phosphor layer is provided on the substrate by a vapor-phase deposition method. Further, a construction including the substrate and the protective layer has a flexibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Kuniaki Nakano, Satoshi Honda, Osamu Morikawa
  • Publication number: 20050185991
    Abstract: A transfer apparatus and an image forming apparatus are disclosed, in which a plurality of photosensitive drums corresponding to the respective colors are arranged along the outer peripheral surface of a transfer belt and a plurality of intermediate transfer rollers for applying a transfer field to the photosensitive drums are arranged offset downstream side from each of the photosensitive drums, respectively. In addition to that, the process, the intermediate transfer rollers are arranged in such positions that each of the nip width are increased progressively downstream side, respectively and each of the nip pressure are decreased progressively downstream side, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2005
    Publication date: August 25, 2005
    Inventors: Yoshie Iwakura, Susumu Murakami, Kuniaki Nakano
  • Publication number: 20050185992
    Abstract: A transfer apparatus and an image forming apparatus capable of transferring an image satisfactorily using developing agent are disclosed. A transfer system includes photosensitive drums corresponding to the respective colors arranged along the outer peripheral surface of a transfer belt and intermediate transfer rollers arranged offset downstream side from the respective photosensitive drums for applying a transfer field to the respective photosensitive drums. The transfer belt is configured of a material such as polyimide or polycarbonate in which a surge current of not less than a specified value flows immediately after application of a transfer voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2005
    Publication date: August 25, 2005
    Inventors: Yoshie Iwakura, Susumu Murakami, Kuniaki Nakano
  • Publication number: 20050180785
    Abstract: A cleaning system includes a rotating member and a cleaning blade which is forced against a curved outer surface of the rotating member to scrape off matter to be removed (toner) which is present along the outer surface of the rotating member. The cleaning blade has greater hardness than the outer surface of the rotating member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Publication date: August 18, 2005
    Inventors: Susumu Murakami, Yoshie Iwakura, Kuniaki Nakano
  • Publication number: 20050158085
    Abstract: A transfer device has primary transfer rollers supported so as to be upwardly and downwardly movable within a path of movement and opposed to respective of photosensitive drums across a portion of an intermediate transfer belt. There are also provided a slide member for full-color image formation and a slide member for monochromatic image formation, which are capable of reciprocation in a horizontal direction. The transfer device includes roller lifting means each L-shaped and each having one end supporting an associated one of the transfer rollers for rotation and another end engaging an associated one of the slide members, and first and second coaxial rotating cams. The transfer device is capable of switching between three paths of movement of the intermediate transfer belt selectively by the first and second rotating cams rotating together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Publication date: July 21, 2005
    Inventors: Susumu Murakami, Yoshie Iwakura, Takahiro Fukunaga, Masanori Yamada, Kuniaki Nakano
  • Publication number: 20050158074
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a pair of optical sensing devices for monochrome image forming and full-color image forming which are disposed at the rear of the image forming apparatus and a pair of generally L-shaped light shielding members for monochrome image forming and full-color image forming which are mounted swingably on a rear side of an image transfer unit with one end of each light shielding member attached to one of two sliding members. When each of the sliding members moves back and forth, the light shielding member for monochrome image forming or full-color image forming, whichever applicable, swings and the relevant optical sensing device detects the other end of the light shielding member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Publication date: July 21, 2005
    Inventors: Susumu Murakami, Yoshie Iwakura, Takahiro Fukunaga, Masanori Yamada, Kuniaki Nakano