Patents by Inventor Norio Kurosawa

Norio Kurosawa 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: 11474462
    Abstract: An image forming device includes an image forming unit, a fuser, a memory, and a control circuit. The image forming unit forms an image on a recording medium with a decolorable toner based on image data. The decolorable toner decolorizes at a first temperature and does not decolorize at a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature. The fuser has a plurality of regions extending in a direction orthogonal to a direction of conveyance of the recording medium. The fuser generates heat in each of the plurality of regions to fuse the image onto the recording medium. The memory stores a correspondence between the plurality of regions and positions of a plurality of areas positioned along a main scanning direction in the image data. The control circuit changes the correspondence based on a degree of color development or decolorization of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Norio Kurosawa
  • Patent number: 11385562
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image reading apparatus includes an exposure unit, a light sensor, and a controller. The exposure unit selectively emits light to positions along a first scan direction to write pixels in accordance with a main scan line of image data. The light sensor is at a position to receive light from the exposure unit and is configured to output a synchronization signal according to the detection of the light emitted for each main scan line of image data. The controller adjusts a starting pixel position along the first scan direction for a main scan line of image data based on a change in an output interval of the synchronization signal resulting from a change in an intensity of light emitted by the exposure unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Norio Kurosawa
  • Publication number: 20220100131
    Abstract: An image forming device includes an image forming unit, a fuser, a memory, and a control circuit. The image forming unit forms an image on a recording medium with a decolorable toner based on image data. The decolorable toner decolorizes at a first temperature and does not decolorize at a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature. The fuser has a plurality of regions extending in a direction orthogonal to a direction of conveyance of the recording medium. The fuser generates heat in each of the plurality of regions to fuse the image onto the recording medium. The memory stores a correspondence between the plurality of regions and positions of a plurality of areas positioned along a main scanning direction in the image data. The control circuit changes the correspondence based on a degree of color development or decolorization of the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Applicant: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Norio KUROSAWA
  • Patent number: 11226576
    Abstract: An image forming device includes an image forming unit, a fuser, a memory, and a control circuit. The image forming unit forms an image on a recording medium with a decolorable toner based on image data. The decolorable toner decolorizes at a first temperature and does not decolorize at a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature. The fuser has a plurality of regions extending in a direction orthogonal to a direction of conveyance of the recording medium. The fuser generates heat in each of the plurality of regions to fuse the image onto the recording medium. The memory stores a correspondence between the plurality of regions and positions of a plurality of areas positioned along a main scanning direction in the image data. The control circuit changes the correspondence based on a degree of color development or decolorization of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Norio Kurosawa
  • Patent number: 11163252
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a sensor, and a control unit. The image forming unit forms a pattern constituted by a plurality of straight lines intersecting each other on a sheet or a transfer belt. The sensor detects the pattern formed on the sheet or the transfer belt. The control unit adjusts a writing position in a main scanning direction on the basis of the pattern detected by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Norio Kurosawa
  • Publication number: 20210063934
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a sensor, and a control unit. The image forming unit forms a pattern constituted by a plurality of straight lines intersecting each other on a sheet or a transfer belt. The sensor detects the pattern formed on the sheet or the transfer belt. The control unit adjusts a writing position in a main scanning direction on the basis of the pattern detected by the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Norio KUROSAWA
  • Patent number: 10761467
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a sensor, and a control unit. The image forming unit forms a pattern constituted by a plurality of straight lines intersecting each other on a sheet or a transfer belt. The sensor detects the pattern formed on the sheet or the transfer belt. The control unit adjusts a writing position in a main scanning direction on the basis of the pattern detected by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Norio Kurosawa
  • Patent number: 10616438
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, an image reading apparatus comprises a conveyance system, a reading section, a movement sensor and a processor. The conveyance system conveys a document in a conveyance route including a reading position. The reading section reads an image on a surface of the document passing through the reading position. The movement sensor detects a conveyance speed of the document conveyed by the conveyance system. In a case in which the conveyance speed of the document detected by the movement sensor differs from a reference speed, if the conveyance speed of the document is within an adjustable range, the processor performs control to adjust a reading processing in response to the conveyance speed of the document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Norio Kurosawa
  • Publication number: 20190373133
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, an image reading apparatus comprises a conveyance system, a reading section, a movement sensor and a processor. The conveyance system conveys a document in a conveyance route including a reading position. The reading section reads an image on a surface of the document passing through the reading position. The movement sensor detects a conveyance speed of the document conveyed by the conveyance system. In a case in which the conveyance speed of the document detected by the movement sensor differs from a reference speed, if the conveyance speed of the document is within an adjustable range, the processor performs control to adjust a reading processing in response to the conveyance speed of the document.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventor: Norio Kurosawa
  • Patent number: 10481533
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a temperature measurement sensor, a movement mechanism, a movement time calculation section, a movement position calculation section, and a temperature control section. The movement mechanism moves the temperature measurement sensor to scan non-heated regions and a heated region along a width direction of the fixing member. The movement time calculation section obtains an arrival time on the basis of a temperature change measured by the temperature measurement sensor due to movement of the temperature measurement sensor. The movement position calculation section calculates the movement position on the basis of a ratio of a second movement time to a first movement time. The temperature control section performs temperature control on the fixing member on the basis of the movement position calculated by the movement position calculation section, and the temperature measured by the temperature measurement sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Norio Kurosawa
  • Publication number: 20190278203
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a temperature measurement sensor, a movement mechanism, a movement time calculation section, a movement position calculation section, and a temperature control section. The movement mechanism moves the temperature measurement sensor to scan non-heated regions and a heated region along a width direction of the fixing member. The movement time calculation section obtains an arrival time on the basis of a temperature change measured by the temperature measurement sensor due to movement of the temperature measurement sensor. The movement position calculation section calculates the movement position on the basis of a ratio of a second movement time to a first movement time. The temperature control section performs temperature control on the fixing member on the basis of the movement position calculated by the movement position calculation section, and the temperature measured by the temperature measurement sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Norio KUROSAWA
  • Publication number: 20190098164
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, an image reading apparatus comprises a conveyance system, a reading section, a movement sensor and a processor. The conveyance system conveys a document in a conveyance route including a reading position. The reading section reads an image on a surface of the document passing through the reading position. The movement sensor detects a conveyance speed of the document conveyed by the conveyance system. In a case in which the conveyance speed of the document detected by the movement sensor differs from a reference speed, if the conveyance speed of the document is within an adjustable range, the processor performs control to adjust a reading processing in response to the conveyance speed of the document.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventor: Norio Kurosawa
  • Patent number: 10180645
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a temperature measurement sensor, a movement mechanism, a movement time calculation section, a movement position calculation section, and a temperature control section. The movement mechanism moves the temperature measurement sensor to scan non-heated regions and a heated region along a width direction of the fixing member. The movement time calculation section obtains an arrival time on the basis of a temperature change measured by the temperature measurement sensor due to movement of the temperature measurement sensor. The movement position calculation section calculates the movement position on the basis of a ratio of a second movement time to a first movement time. The temperature control section performs temperature control on the fixing member on the basis of the movement position calculated by the movement position calculation section, and the temperature measured by the temperature measurement sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaish
    Inventor: Norio Kurosawa
  • Publication number: 20180309899
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a printer section and a controller. The printer section forms an image using a decolorable recording agent. The controller controls the printer section to form a concealing code image for concealing a secret code image indicating secret information which corresponds to a concealed object in an area at least a part of the secret code image with the decolorable recording agent in such a manner that the secret code image formed on the sheet cannot be decoded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Norio KUROSAWA
  • Patent number: 8120630
    Abstract: First patterns for setting a first adjustment value and second patterns for setting a second adjustment value are formed on a transfer belt running at a first process speed. By this, an image shift adjustment value in a sub-scanning direction is made common to the first process speed and a second process speed. Image shift adjustment values in a main scanning direction are set for the first process speed and the second process speed, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Norio Kurosawa
  • Publication number: 20120002237
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a printer includes plural control units having a high rank and low rank relation with one another and serially connected in order from a high rank control unit to a low rank control unit. The low rank control unit notifies the high rank control unit of a download condition for the low rank control unit. The high rank control unit determines, if data to be downloaded to the low rank control unit is input from the outside, whether the accepted data meets the notified download condition and transfers, if the input data meets the download condition, the input data to the low rank control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicants: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Norio Kurosawa
  • Publication number: 20100233774
    Abstract: A circulatory biomass energy recovery system and method raising an energy recovery efficiency are provided. The circulatory biomass energy recovery system has a culture unit 10 filled with a culture solution culturing phytoplankton as a biomass material, a biomass material recovery unit 11 recovering the biomass material from the culture unit, an energy source conversion unit 12 converting the biomass material to an energy source capable of energy recovery, an energy recovery unit 13 recovering the energy from the energy source converted at the energy source conversion unit 12, and a carbon dioxide recovery unit 14 returning the carbon dioxide produced in the energy recovery unit 13 to the culture unit and is configured so that the energy source conversion unit 12 includes a methane fermentation unit 22 performing methane fermentation of the biomass material and a hydrogen production unit 21 by photosynthesis bacteria using the biomass material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventors: Tatsuki Toda, Norio Nagao, Norio Kurosawa
  • Publication number: 20090067893
    Abstract: First patterns for setting a first adjustment value and second patterns for setting a second adjustment value are formed on a transfer belt running at a first process speed. By this, an image shift adjustment value in a sub-scanning direction is made common to the first process speed and a second process speed. Image shift adjustment values in a main scanning direction are set for the first process speed and the second process speed, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Norio KUROSAWA
  • Patent number: 7440716
    Abstract: An image copying apparatus includes a control panel to a user interface; a scanner; a memory that stores an image; an image rotation processing unit that rotates the image depending on the direction in which the image is to be printed; a printer; a printer controller; and a system controller. The printer includes a light-emitting element, an image printing start position adjusting element that adjusts a start position of a printing position of the image to be printed, an image printing area adjusting element that sets a printing area of the image to be printed, a polygon mirror, and a polygon motor. According to the image copying apparatus, even when the size of a read image has been adjusted at the time of printing, the printing results of the same manuscript can be made the same regardless of differences in the printing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Norio Kurosawa
  • Publication number: 20070236555
    Abstract: An image copying apparatus comprises: a control panel is a user interface; a scanner; a memory that stores the image; an image rotation processing unit that rotates the image depending on the direction in which the image is to be printed; a printer; a printer controller; and a system controller that controls the entire apparatus, wherein the printer includes a light-emitting element, an image printing start position adjusting element that adjusts a start position of a printing position of the image to be printed, an image printing area adjusting element that sets a printing area of the image to be printed, a polygon mirror, and a polygon motor. According to the image copying apparatus, even when the size of a read image has been adjusted at the time of printing, the printing results of the same manuscript can be made the same regardless of differences in the printing direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Norio Kurosawa