Patents by Inventor Makoto Yabuki
Makoto Yabuki 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: 8995895Abstract: A fixing member is rotatably supported. A first pressing member faces the fixing member. A running member runs while being sandwiched between the fixing member and the first pressing member. A first mechanism urges the first pressing member against the fixing member, defining a first nip between the fixing member and the running member. A second pressing member presses the running member against the fixing member. A second mechanism includes a holding member that holds the second pressing member and an urging member therein, and urges the second pressing member against the fixing member with the running member sandwiched therebetween, defining a second nip, adjacent to the first nip, between the fixing member and the running member. The second pressing member and the holding member abut each other through a plurality of projections formed on at least one of the second pressing member and second pressing mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2013Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: Oki Data CorporationInventor: Makoto Yabuki
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Publication number: 20130259547Abstract: A fixing member is rotatably supported. A first pressing member faces the fixing member. A running member runs while being sandwiched between the fixing member and the first pressing member. A first mechanism urges the first pressing member against the fixing member, defining a first nip between the fixing member and the running member. A second pressing member presses the running member against the fixing member. A second mechanism includes a holding member that holds the second pressing member and an urging member therein, and urges the second pressing member against the fixing member with the running member sandwiched therebetween, defining a second nip, adjacent to the first nip, between the fixing member and the running member. The second pressing member and the holding member abut each other through a plurality of projections formed on at least one of the second pressing member and second pressing mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2013Publication date: October 3, 2013Inventor: Makoto YABUKI
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Patent number: 8045902Abstract: A developer conveying apparatus includes a first developer storing portion, a second developer storing portion, and a conveying pipe that connects the first and second developer storing portions. The conveying pipe includes a tubular main body and a conveying member rotatably provided in the main body. A groove is formed on a surface of the conveying member, and the groove has a depth less than or equal to 5 ?m.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2008Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignee: Oki Data CorporationInventor: Makoto Yabuki
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Publication number: 20090087223Abstract: A developer conveying apparatus includes a first developer storing portion, a second developer storing portion, and a conveying pipe that connects the first and second developer storing portions. The conveying pipe includes a tubular main body and a conveying member rotatably provided in the main body. A groove is formed on a surface of the conveying member, and the groove has a depth less than or equal to 5 ?m.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2008Publication date: April 2, 2009Applicant: OKI DATA CORPORATIONInventor: Makoto YABUKI
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Patent number: 7171132Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes an image-forming section, a detection section, and a controller. The image-forming section has an image-bearing body on which an electrostatic latent image is formed and a developing unit that develops the electrostatic latent image. The detection section generates an output indicative of a remaining amount of toner in the developing unit. The controller drives the drive section to cause the image-forming section to move from one position to another, and determines a position of the image-forming section based on the output of the detection section. The detection section is mounted to a toner cartridge within the developing unit. When the image-forming section is moved from one position to another, the detection section receives light reflected by a high-reflectivity area and a low-reflectivity area, thereby detecting the position of the image-forming section.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2004Date of Patent: January 30, 2007Assignee: Oki Data CorporationInventors: Makoto Yabuki, Hiroyuki Inoue, Yasunaga Yamaguchi, Kazuaki Arai
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Patent number: 6859635Abstract: A color image recording apparatus includes a mechanism that switches a plurality of image forming sections between image forming positions where the photoconductive drums are in contact with a transport belt and non-image forming positions where the photoconductive drums are not in contact with the transport belt. A pair of slide links extend and are slidable in a direction in which the image forming sections are aligned. Each of the slide links has first guide surfaces and second guide surfaces. When the image forming sections are at the image forming positions, supporting shafts of corresponding one of image forming sections rest on the first guide surfaces. When the image forming sections at the non-image forming positions, the supporting shafts of corresponding one of image forming sections rest on the second guide surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2003Date of Patent: February 22, 2005Assignee: Oki Data CorporationInventors: Makoto Yabuki, Masanori Maekawa
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Publication number: 20040264984Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes an image-forming section, a detection section, and a controller. The image-forming section has an image-bearing body on which an electrostatic latent image is formed and a developing unit that develops the electrostatic latent image. The detection section generates an output indicative of a remaining amount of toner in the developing unit. The controller drives the drive section to cause the image-forming section to move from one position to another, and determines a position of the image-forming section based on the output of the detection section. The detection section is mounted to a toner cartridge within the developing unit. When the image-forming section is moved from one position to another, the detection section receives light reflected by a high-reflectivity area and a low-reflectivity area, thereby detecting the position of the image-forming section.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2004Publication date: December 30, 2004Applicant: Oki Data CorporationInventors: Makoto Yabuki, Hiroyuki Inoue, Yasunaga Yamaguchi, Kazuaki Arai
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Publication number: 20030138275Abstract: A color image recording apparatus includes a mechanism that switches a plurality of image forming sections between image forming positions where the photoconductive drums are in contact with a transport belt and non-image forming positions where the photoconductive drums are not in contact with the transport belt. A pair of slide links extend and are slidable in a direction in which the image forming sections are aligned. Each of the slide links has first guide surfaces and second guide surfaces. When the image forming sections are at the image forming positions, supporting shafts of corresponding one of image forming sections rest on the first guide surfaces. When the image forming sections at the non-image forming positions, the supporting shafts of corresponding one of image forming sections rest on the second guide surfaces.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2003Publication date: July 24, 2003Inventors: Makoto Yabuki, Masanori Maekawa
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Patent number: 6112037Abstract: A color image forming apparatus includes a carrier belt which runs along a transport path of a recording medium to transport the recording medium. A number of image-forming sections are aligned in the transport path. Each of the plurality of image-forming sections forms a toner image of a corresponding color included in an image signal. A plurality of transfer units are provided, with each being disposed to oppose a corresponding one of the number of image-forming sections. Each of the number of transfer units transferring the toner image of the corresponding color to the recording medium. A fixing unit is provided that fixes the toner image to the recording medium. A controller is provided that detects a number of colors in the image signal. The controller sets one set of speeds from a plurality of different sets of speeds in accordance with the number of colors.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 1999Date of Patent: August 29, 2000Assignee: Oki Data CorporationInventors: Masato Nagata, Hisao Ono, Yoshiharu Momiyama, Noboru Otaki, Atsushi Kurabayashi, Shinichi Murakami, Yoshitatsu Okiyama, Mikio Yamamoto, Shigeki Nakajima, Masato Sakai, Fumiaki Yoshida, Norio Ebata, Makoto Yabuki, Makoto Otake
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Patent number: 6023594Abstract: An image forming apparatus such as color electrophotographic printer has a plurality of image forming stations. Each image forming station includes an image forming cartridge and a toner cartridge mounted therein. The toner cartridge has a corresponding first engagement portion. The image forming cartridge has a receiving section with a corresponding second engagement portion. The receiving section detachably receives the corresponding toner cartridge therein with the second engagement portion fittingly engaging the first engagement portion. The first and second engagement portions are of a construction that they can be polarized such that the first engagement portions engage the second engagement portions in different engagement relations when the devices are received in the receiving sections, each of the toner cartridges being received in a corresponding one of the receiving sections.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 1998Date of Patent: February 8, 2000Assignee: Oki Data CorporationInventors: Yoshitatsu Okiyama, Makoto Yabuki, Junichi Ito
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Patent number: 5983042Abstract: A color image forming apparatus provides the prolonged life of the photosensitive drums, carrier belt, and toner of the respective colors and improves the quality of the printed color image. A carrier belt transports a recording medium placed thereon so that the recording medium passes through a plurality of printing mechanisms which print images of different colors on the recording medium in superposition. Each printing mechanism prints an image of a corresponding color. The printing mechanism is adapted to be moved into its operative position where the photosensitive drum of the printing mechanism is in contact with the carrier belt to print the image on the recording medium, and into its non-operative position where the photosensitive drum of the printing mechanism is not in contact with the carrier belt.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 1997Date of Patent: November 9, 1999Assignee: Oki Data CorporationInventors: Masato Nagata, Hisao Ono, Yoshiharu Momiyama, Noboru Otaki, Atsushi Kurabayashi, Shinichi Murakami, Yoshitatsu Okiyama, Mikio Yamamoto, Shigeki Nakajima, Masato Sakai, Fumiaki Yoshida, Norio Ebata, Makoto Yabuki, Makoto Otake
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Patent number: 5878301Abstract: A toner image fixing device in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus has a heating roller containing a heater and a backup roller, a surface of which is in contact with a surface of the heating roller. A toner image on the paper is fixed by causing the paper to pass through a contacting portion of the heating roller and the backup roller. The toner image fixing device also has a driving device for supplying driving power to the heating roller or the backup roller to rotate both the heating roller and the backup roller, and a controller. The controller controls the driving section in such a way that both the heating roller and the backup roller begin to rotate intermittently immediately after an electric power supply switch of the apparatus is turned on and heat generation from the heater is initiated, and subsequently begin to rotate continuously when the backup roller achieves one revolution by the intermittent rotation.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 1997Date of Patent: March 2, 1999Assignee: Oki Data CorporationInventors: Shinichi Katakura, Noboru Otaki, Yoshiharu Momiyama, Hisao Ono, Makoto Yabuki
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Patent number: D374250Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 1995Date of Patent: October 1, 1996Assignee: Oki Data CorporationInventors: Makoto Yabuki, Takashi Itaya, Minoru Mizutani