Patents by Inventor Shinichi Oba

Shinichi Oba 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: 10359734
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a developing roller, a biasing member, and a fluctuation preventing member. A latent image is formed on the image carrier. The developing roller is provided to face the image carrier and develops the latent image on the image carrier. The biasing member is provided on an outside of an end portion of the developing roller and biases the image carrier and the developing roller in a direction where the image carrier and the developing roller approach each other. The fluctuation preventing member is interposed between the image carrier and the developing roller and prevents, along with the biasing member, a fluctuation in a distance between a surface of the developing roller and a surface of the image carrier in a region where the image carrier and the developing roller face each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nao Kato, Mutsumi Kikuchi, Kenji Hayamizu, Shota Makita, Shinichi Oba, Iori Togu
  • Patent number: 10203629
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including an image carrier on which a latent image is developed, a developing roller that is provided to face the image carrier to perform development for the latent image of the image carrier, an urging unit that urges the image carrier and the developing roller so that the image carrier and the developing roller approach each other, and a distance regulating unit that includes a viscoelastic body that is deformed according to a change of a distance between the image carrier and the developing roller, and regulates at least one of a maximum value of the distance between the image carrier and the developing roller and a minimum value of the distance between the image carrier and the developing roller so that the distance between the image carrier and the developing roller falls within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shota Makita, Shinichi Oba, Mutsumi Kikuchi, Nao Kato, Iori Togu
  • Patent number: 9983504
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including an image carrier on which a latent image is developed, a developing roller that is provided to face the image carrier to perform development for the latent image on the image carrier, an urging unit that urges the image carrier and the developing roller so that the image carrier and the developing roller approach each other, and a distance regulating unit that includes a viscoelastic body that is deformed according to a change of a distance between the image carrier and the developing roller, and regulates at least one of a maximum value of the distance between the image carrier and the developing roller and a minimum value of the distance between the image carrier and the developing roller so that the distance between the image carrier and the developing roller falls within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shota Makita, Shinichi Oba, Mutsumi Kikuchi, Nao Kato, Iori Togu
  • Publication number: 20180088488
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including an image carrier on which a latent image is developed, a developing roller that is provided to face the image carrier to perform development for the latent image of the image carrier, an urging unit that urges the image carrier and the developing roller so that the image carrier and the developing roller approach each other, and a distance regulating unit that includes a viscoelastic body that is deformed according to a change of a distance between the image carrier and the developing roller, and regulates at least one of a maximum value of the distance between the image carrier and the developing roller and a minimum value of the distance between the image carrier and the developing roller so that the distance between the image carrier and the developing roller falls within a predetermined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shota MAKITA, Shinichi OBA, Mutsumi KIKUCHI, Nao KATO, Iori TOGU
  • Publication number: 20180088487
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including an image carrier on which a latent image is developed, a developing roller that is provided to face the image carrier to perform development for the latent image on the image carrier, an urging unit that urges the image carrier and the developing roller so that the image carrier and the developing roller approach each other, and a distance regulating unit that includes a viscoelastic body that is deformed according to a change of a distance between the image carrier and the developing roller, and regulates at least one of a maximum value of the distance between the image carrier and the developing roller and a minimum value of the distance between the image carrier and the developing roller so that the distance between the image carrier and the developing roller falls within a predetermined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shota MAKITA, Shinichi OBA, Mutsumi KIKUCHI, Nao KATO, Iori TOGU
  • Patent number: 9880491
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including an image carrier on which a latent image is developed, a developing roller that is provided to face the image carrier to perform development for the latent image of the image carrier, an urging unit that urges the image carrier and the developing roller so that the image carrier and the developing roller approach each other, and a distance regulating unit that includes a viscoelastic body that is deformed according to a change of a distance between the image carrier and the developing roller, and regulates at least one of a maximum value of the distance between the image carrier and the developing roller and a minimum value of the distance between the image carrier and the developing roller so that the distance between the image carrier and the developing roller falls within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shota Makita, Shinichi Oba, Mutsumi Kikuchi, Nao Kato, Iori Togu
  • Publication number: 20170307998
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a developing roller, a biasing member, and a fluctuation preventing member. A latent image is formed on the image carrier. The developing roller is provided to face the image carrier and develops the latent image on the image carrier. The biasing member is provided on an outside of an end portion of the developing roller and biases the image carrier and the developing roller in a direction where the image carrier and the developing roller approach each other. The fluctuation preventing member is interposed between the image carrier and the developing roller and prevents, along with the biasing member, a fluctuation in a distance between a surface of the developing roller and a surface of the image carrier in a region where the image carrier and the developing roller face each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nao KATO, Mutsumi KIKUCHI, Kenji HAYAMIZU, Shota MAKITA, Shinichi OBA, Iori TOGU
  • Patent number: 9037044
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes image bearing members that bear formed images; a driving source that rotationally drives the image bearing members and whose rotational direction is switchable between a first direction and a second direction; a first driving-force transmitting unit that transmits a rotational driving force of the driving source rotationally driven in the first direction as a unidirectional rotational driving force to the image bearing members; and a second driving-force transmitting unit that transmits a rotational driving force of the driving source rotationally driven in the second direction as a unidirectional rotational driving force to one or more of the image bearing members and does not transmit the rotational driving force to a remaining one or more of the image bearing members. The first and second driving-force transmitting units are switched therebetween by changing the rotational direction of the driving source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shinichi Oba
  • Publication number: 20150104214
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes image bearing members that bear formed images; a driving source that rotationally drives the image bearing members and whose rotational direction is switchable between a first direction and a second direction; a first driving-force transmitting unit that transmits a rotational driving force of the driving source rotationally driven in the first direction as a unidirectional rotational driving force to the image bearing members; and a second driving-force transmitting unit that transmits a rotational driving force of the driving source rotationally driven in the second direction as a unidirectional rotational driving force to one or more of the image bearing members and does not transmit the rotational driving force to a remaining one or more of the image bearing members. The first and second driving-force transmitting units are switched therebetween by changing the rotational direction of the driving source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventor: Shinichi OBA
  • Patent number: 7048291
    Abstract: A front fork in a two-wheeled vehicle or the like, wherein an annular groove in which both end portions in an axial direction are closed is formed in an upper inner periphery of an outer tube. An annular bush having a closed gap in a free state is attached to the annular groove. An annular gap between an inner periphery of the outer tube and an outer periphery of the inner tube forms a smaller thickness than the bush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Showa Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Wada, Shinichi Oba, Takao Tomonaga, Koichi Nakano
  • Patent number: 6974143
    Abstract: In a hydraulic shock absorber for a vehicle in which a slide pipe is slidably provided within a cylinder tube, and a working fluid chamber is provided within the cylinder tube and the slide pipe, a guide bush coated with a polytetrafluoroethylene and an oil seal sealing the fluid chamber are provided in an inner periphery of the cylinder tube so as to be in slide contact with an outer periphery of the slide pipe. An amorphous hard carbon film is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the slide pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Showa Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Oba, Tomoya Toda
  • Patent number: 6918605
    Abstract: An inverted type front fork in a two-wheeled vehicle or the like, wherein an annular groove in which both end portions in an axial direction are closed is formed in an upper inner periphery of an outer tube, and an annular bush having a closed gap in a free state is attached to the annular groove, and an annular gap between an inner periphery of the outer tube and an outer periphery of the inner tube forms a smaller thickness than the bush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Showa Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Wada, Shinichi Oba, Takao Tomonaga
  • Publication number: 20050073128
    Abstract: An inverted type front fork in a two-wheeled vehicle or the like, wherein an annular groove in which both end portions in an axial direction are closed is formed in an upper inner periphery of an outer tube, and an annular bush having a closed gap in a free state is attached to the annular groove, and an annular gap between an inner periphery of the outer tube and an outer periphery of the inner tube forms a smaller thickness than the bush.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Publication date: April 7, 2005
    Inventors: Kazuo Wada, Shinichi Oba, Takao Tomonaga
  • Publication number: 20050074189
    Abstract: A front fork in a two-wheeled vehicle or the like, wherein an annular groove in which both end portions in an axial direction are closed is formed in an upper inner periphery of an outer tube. An annular bush having a closed gap in a free state is attached to the annular groove. An annular gap between an inner periphery of the outer tube and an outer periphery of the inner tube forms a smaller thickness than the bush.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Publication date: April 7, 2005
    Inventors: Kazuo Wada, Shinichi Oba, Takao Tomonaga, Koichi Nakano
  • Publication number: 20050000770
    Abstract: In a hydraulic shock absorber for a vehicle in which a slide pipe is slidably provided within a cylinder tube, and a working fluid chamber is provided within the cylinder tube and the slide pipe, a guide bush coated with a polytetrafluoroethylene and an oil seal sealing the fluid chamber are provided in an inner periphery of the cylinder tube so as to be in slide contact with an outer periphery of the slide pipe. An amorphous hard carbon film is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the slide pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Publication date: January 6, 2005
    Inventors: Shinichi Oba, Tomoya Toda