Patents by Inventor Masaya Arakawa

Masaya Arakawa 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: 20220303416
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an exit tray, a printing unit, an output unit, and a control unit. A printing medium after printing is discharged to the exit tray. The printing unit performs printing of an image on the printing medium, and discharges the printing medium after printing to the exit tray. The output unit outputs information. The control unit causes the printing unit to stop the printing of the image on the printing medium, and causes the output unit to output alert information on discharge of the printing medium to the exit tray, if the number of printing media on the exit tray is equal to or greater than a predetermined first threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventors: Kazumasa Yasui, Masaya Arakawa, Ken Iguchi
  • Patent number: 11381698
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an exit tray, a printing unit, an output unit, and a control unit. A printing medium after printing is discharged to the exit tray. The printing unit performs printing of an image on the printing medium, and discharges the printing medium after printing to the exit tray. The output unit outputs information. The control unit causes the printing unit to stop the printing of the image on the printing medium, and causes the output unit to output alert information on discharge of the printing medium to the exit tray, if the number of printing media on the exit tray is equal to or greater than a predetermined first threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazumasa Yasui, Masaya Arakawa, Ken Iguchi
  • Publication number: 20220094804
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an exit tray, a printing unit, an output unit, and a control unit. A printing medium after printing is discharged to the exit tray. The printing unit performs printing of an image on the printing medium, and discharges the printing medium after printing to the exit tray. The output unit outputs information. The control unit causes the printing unit to stop the printing of the image on the printing medium, and causes the output unit to output alert information on discharge of the printing medium to the exit tray, if the number of printing media on the exit tray is equal to or greater than a predetermined first threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Kazumasa Yasui, Masaya Arakawa, Ken Iguchi
  • Publication number: 20210181658
    Abstract: According to one or more embodiments, an image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit, a heating unit, and a controller. The transfer unit transfers a toner image indicating a document image to a sheet. The heating unit comprises a plurality of heating members in a direction orthogonal to a sheet conveyance direction and is configured to heat the sheet to which the toner image has been transferred. The controller controls heat generation amounts of the heating members in accordance with an operation mode determined based on a document image type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventor: Masaya ARAKAWA
  • Patent number: 10955779
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of heater elements arranged in a direction perpendicular to a sheet transport direction to heat the sheet, a plurality of temperature sensors, each of which is configured to detect a temperature of one of the heater elements, and a controller configured to control each of the sensors to detect a first temperature before the sheet is passed by the corresponding heater element and a second temperature of the heater element after the sheet is passed by the corresponding heater element, and determine one or more of the heater elements to be energized based on the first temperatures and the second temperatures detected by the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaya Arakawa
  • Publication number: 20200201216
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of heater elements arranged in a direction perpendicular to a sheet transport direction to heat the sheet, a plurality of temperature sensors, each of which is configured to detect a temperature of one of the heater elements, and a controller configured to control each of the sensors to detect a first temperature before the sheet is passed by the corresponding heater element and a second temperature of the heater element after the sheet is passed by the corresponding heater element, and determine one or more of the heater elements to be energized based on the first temperatures and the second temperatures detected by the sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventor: Masaya ARAKAWA
  • Patent number: 10591854
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of heater elements arranged in a direction perpendicular to a sheet transport direction to heat the sheet, a plurality of temperature sensors, each of which is configured to detect a temperature of one of the heater elements, and a controller configured to control each of the sensors to detect a first temperature before the sheet is passed by the corresponding heater element and a second temperature of the heater element after the sheet is passed by the corresponding heater element, and determine one or more of the heater elements to be energized based on the first temperatures and the second temperatures detected by the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaya Arakawa
  • Publication number: 20190289145
    Abstract: An exposure device includes a predetermined number of light emitting elements. A sheet setting unit accepts a user setting of the sheet on which the image is to be formed. The sheet on which the image is to be formed includes at least a first sheet and a second sheet different from the first sheet. The first sheet is a maximum sheet which can be used by the image forming apparatus. A controller determines a width of a margin based on the user setting of the sheet on which the image is to be formed. The margin is a region provided on each of both sides of the direction orthogonal to the sheet and on which the image is not formed. The controller forms the image on the sheet set by the user by controlling the exposure device according to the determined margin width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaya ARAKAWA
  • Publication number: 20190094765
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transport unit, a printing unit, a fixing unit, and a control unit. The transport unit transports a first printing medium having an adhering matter and a second printing medium other than the first printing medium. The printing unit forms an image on the first printing medium. The fixing unit heats and presses the first printing medium at a fixing temperature. The control unit executes a printing operation on the first printing medium and executes a cleaning operation based on a usage amount of the first printing medium. In the printing operation, the first printing medium is transported by the transport unit, an image is formed on the first printing medium, and the first printing medium is heated and pressed by the fixing unit. In the cleaning operation, the second printing medium is transported and is passed through the fixing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventor: Masaya Arakawa
  • Patent number: 10241449
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transport unit, a printing unit, a fixing unit, and a control unit. The transport unit transports a first printing medium having an adhering matter and a second printing medium other than the first printing medium. The printing unit forms an image on the first printing medium. The fixing unit heats and presses the first printing medium at a fixing temperature. The control unit executes a printing operation on the first printing medium and executes a cleaning operation based on a usage amount of the first printing medium. In the printing operation, the first printing medium is transported by the transport unit, an image is formed on the first printing medium, and the first printing medium is heated and pressed by the fixing unit. In the cleaning operation, the second printing medium is transported and is passed through the fixing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaya Arakawa
  • Publication number: 20160363901
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, an image forming apparatus comprises an image forming section configured to form an image on a sheet; a tray to which the sheet subjected to the image forming processing by the image forming section is discharged; a sensor configured to output a detection signal based on a stacking height of sheets in the tray; and a control section configured to control operations of the image forming section, compare a stacking number of sheets according to a detection signal of the sensor with the actual number of sheets discharged to the tray and carry out a given processing for suppressing a curl of sheet to be subjected to an image forming processing by the image forming section in a case in which a difference between a stacking number of sheets and an actual discharged number of sheets is greater than a preset value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventor: Masaya Arakawa
  • Patent number: 8731423
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section including a fixing device configured to fix an image on a sheet; an acquiring section configured to acquire setting information of printing target data; a determining section configured to determine a first time on the basis of the setting information acquired by the acquiring section; and an output section configured to output a control signal to the fixing device to set a heat accumulation time of the fixing device to the first time determined by the determining section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaya Arakawa
  • Patent number: 8282092
    Abstract: To provide an image forming apparatus that can highly accurately position and convey, even if an inter-sheet distance of sheets to be conveyed is reduced, the sheets from registration rollers to a transfer position when a toner image on an image bearing member moving at process speed is transferred onto the sheet in the transfer position. A sheet fed from a paper feeding cassette by a pulse-motor driven paper feeding roller is conveyed to pulse-motor driven registration rollers by pulse-motor driven conveying rollers. When the sheet is conveyed to the transfer position according to restart of the registration rollers, the sheet is conveyed by the registration rollers at sheet conveying speed different from the process speed before the leading end of the sheet reaches the transfer position and is conveyed at the process speed after that.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazumasa Yasui, Masaya Arakawa
  • Publication number: 20120183317
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section including a fixing device configured to fix an image on a sheet; an acquiring section configured to acquire setting information of printing target data; a determining section configured to determine a first time on the basis of the setting information acquired by the acquiring section; and an output section configured to output a control signal to the fixing device to set a heat accumulation time of the fixing device to the first time determined by the determining section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicants: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Masaya ARAKAWA
  • Publication number: 20120014731
    Abstract: To provide an image forming apparatus that can highly accurately position and convey, even if an inter-sheet distance of sheets to be conveyed is reduced, the sheets from registration rollers to a transfer position when a toner image on an image bearing member moving at process speed is transferred onto the sheet in the transfer position. A sheet fed from a paper feeding cassette by a pulse-motor driven paper feeding roller is conveyed to pulse-motor driven registration rollers by pulse-motor driven conveying rollers. When the sheet is conveyed to the transfer position according to restart of the registration rollers, the sheet is conveyed by the registration rollers at sheet conveying speed different from the process speed before the leading end of the sheet reaches the transfer position and is conveyed at the process speed after that.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Kazumasa YASUI, Masaya Arakawa
  • Patent number: 8047528
    Abstract: To provide an image forming apparatus that can highly accurately position and convey, even if an inter-sheet distance of sheets to be conveyed is reduced, the sheets from registration rollers to a transfer position when a toner image on an image bearing member moving at process speed is transferred onto the sheet in the transfer position. A sheet fed from a paper feeding cassette by a pulse-motor driven paper feeding roller is conveyed to pulse-motor driven registration rollers by pulse-motor driven conveying rollers. When the sheet is conveyed to the transfer position according to restart of the registration rollers, the sheet is conveyed by the registration rollers at sheet conveying speed different from the process speed before the leading end of the sheet reaches the transfer position and is conveyed at the process speed after that.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba TEC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazumasa Yasui, Masaya Arakawa
  • Publication number: 20110188876
    Abstract: An image forming device includes an image forming section that forms toner images on paper, a fixer that fixes the toner images to the paper through heating, and a controller that changes a reference value for a warm-up control of the fixer according to a connection status of plural option devices which work by being supplied with power from the image forming device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaya Arakawa
  • Publication number: 20110180988
    Abstract: A technique in an image forming apparatus in which the front and back sides of a sheet are reversed by using a reversal conveyance path is provided for causing the sheet to wait such that the sheet is not damaged when a unit for conveying the sheet to the reversal conveyance path is pulled out for the purpose of clearing a jam or the like. A roller for conveying the sheet is controlled such that the sheet to be turned back and directed into the reversal conveyance path is caused to wait until the sheet can be conveyed into the reversal conveyance path. As a standby position of the sheet while the sheet is caused to wait, a position is set such that an upstream end portion in the second conveying direction of the sheet to be directed into the reversal conveyance path does not extend for a predetermined length or longer into another conveyance unit adjacent to the intermediate conveyance unit upstream from the intermediate conveyance unit in the second conveying direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masataka MURATANI, Kazumasa Yasui, Masaya Arakawa
  • Patent number: 7942416
    Abstract: A technique in an image forming apparatus in which the front and back sides of a sheet are reversed by using a reversal conveyance path is provided for causing the sheet to wait such that the sheet is not damaged when a unit for conveying the sheet to the reversal conveyance path is pulled out for the purpose of clearing a jam or the like. A roller for conveying the sheet is controlled such that the sheet to be turned back and directed into the reversal conveyance path is caused to wait until the sheet can be conveyed into the reversal conveyance path. As a standby position of the sheet while the sheet is caused to wait, a position is set such that an upstream end portion in the second conveying direction of the sheet to be directed into the reversal conveyance path does not extend for a predetermined length or longer into another conveyance unit adjacent to the intermediate conveyance unit upstream from the intermediate conveyance unit in the second conveying direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masataka Muratani, Kazumasa Yasui, Masaya Arakawa
  • Publication number: 20090309291
    Abstract: To provide an image forming apparatus that can highly accurately position and convey, even if an inter-sheet distance of sheets to be conveyed is reduced, the sheets from registration rollers to a transfer position when a toner image on an image bearing member moving at process speed is transferred onto the sheet in the transfer position. A sheet fed from a paper feeding cassette by a pulse-motor driven paper feeding roller is conveyed to pulse-motor driven registration rollers by pulse-motor driven conveying rollers. When the sheet is conveyed to the transfer position according to restart of the registration rollers, the sheet is conveyed by the registration rollers at sheet conveying speed different from the process speed before the leading end of the sheet reaches the transfer position and is conveyed at the process speed after that.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazumasa YASUI, Masaya ARAKAWA