Patents by Inventor Tsuyoshi Maruyama

Tsuyoshi Maruyama 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: 8676067
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photoconductor; a charger configured to charge the photoconductor, the charger including a discharge wire and a grid; a voltage applying circuit configured to generate charge voltage and apply the charge voltage to the discharge wire of the charger; a grid-current detector configured to detect a grid current passing through the grid; a controller configured to control the voltage applying circuit on the basis of a detection value detected by the grid-current detector so that the grid current is constant; an abnormal-discharge detector configured to detect an abnormal discharge occurring in the charger; and a suppression resistor configured to suppress abnormal discharge energy. The suppression resistor includes a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal is connected to the grid. The second terminal is connected to at least one of the grid-current detector and the abnormal-discharge detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Maruyama, Katsumi Inukai
  • Patent number: 8594521
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a plurality of photosensitive drums; a plurality of scorotron chargers provided for the plurality of photosensitive drums, respectively, a voltage application circuit commonly connected to the plurality of scorotron chargers, a plurality of wires provided for the plurality of scorotron chargers, respectively; a plurality of grid electrodes provided for the plurality of scorotron chargers, respectively; at least one of current detecting units provided for at least one of the plurality of grid electrodes, respectively, and at least one of the current detecting units detecting grid current which flows into at least one of the grid electrodes, respectively; and a control device configured to control the voltage application circuit such that at least one of the grid currents detected by at least one of the current detecting units become equal to or higher than a reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Maruyama, Masahito Hamaya, Katsumi Inukai
  • Publication number: 20130195479
    Abstract: A heating device includes: an alternating current (AC) power supply line configured to supply AC current from an AC power supply; a heat generation unit configured to generate heat in accordance with the AC current; an energization regulation unit configured to regulate energization time of the AC current to the heat generation unit; a switching unit configured to switch a connection state between the AC power supply and the heat generation unit; and a high-voltage protection unit, which is connected between the AC power supply line at a rear stage of the switching unit, and which is configured to protect the energization regulation unit against an abnormal input high voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki TSUJIHARA, Tsuyoshi MARUYAMA, Katsumi INUKAI
  • Publication number: 20130170850
    Abstract: In a power supply device, the controller outputs a control signal specifying a voltage value. The voltage conversion unit converts a first voltage to a second voltage in response to a control signal specifying a voltage value output from the controller. The voltage conversion unit converts the first voltage to a start voltage, as the second voltage, in response to a first control signal specifying a start voltage value output from the controller and further converts the first voltage to a target voltage, as the second voltage, in response to a second control signal specifying a target voltage value output from the controller. A transition period of time is intervened between generation of the start voltage and generation of the target voltage during which the controller outputs a third control signal specifying the intermediate voltage value between the start voltage value and the target voltage value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi MARUYAMA, Katsumi INUKAI
  • Patent number: 8391728
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a voltage applying unit for applying a voltage to an electric load; a sub control unit for controlling the voltage applying unit; a restarting unit for restarting the sub control unit in response to receipt of a restart signal; a determining unit for determining whether or not a restart of the sub control unit is an abnormal restart; and a main control unit. The main control unit generates a control start signal for allowing the voltage applying unit to start generation of the voltage, and the restart signal. When the determining unit determines that the restart of the sub control unit is an abnormal restart, the main control unit sends again the control start signal to the sub control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Maruyama, Masahito Hamaya, Katsumi Inukai
  • Publication number: 20120230744
    Abstract: A heating apparatus includes a switching circuit configured to switch on/off current-feeding from an AC power source to the heater, a temperature detector configured to detect a temperature of the heater, and a current-feed controller configured to execute a first current-feed mode of changing a current-feed ratio of current-feeding time to unit time by controlling switching of the switching circuit so that the temperature detected by the temperature detector falls within a target range. The current-feed controller executes a second current-feed mode of fixing the current-feed ratio to almost 100% or almost 0% during execution of the first current-feed mode in place of the first current-feed mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi MARUYAMA, Katsumi INUKAI
  • Patent number: 8256161
    Abstract: An automatic opening/closing apparatus for vehicle including a detected subject and a detection sensor for detecting rotation of an output shaft is downsized. A worm gear mechanism decelerating a rotation speed of an electric motor to output it from the output shaft is accommodated in a gear case, and a drum is fixed to a tip portion of the output shaft projecting from the gear case to the outside, whereby motive power of the output shaft is transmitted from this drum to a sliding door. A concave portion centering at an axial center and recessed in an axial direction is formed in a worm wheel constituting the worm gear mechanism, a magnet unit constituting a rotation sensor is disposed inside the concave portion of the worm wheel, and a magnetic sensor for detecting rotation of the magnet unit is fixed to an inner surface of the gear case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsuba Corporation
    Inventors: Kei Nagai, Hiroki Kuroiwa, Takahisa Miura, Wataru Suzuki, Tsuyoshi Maruyama, Akihiro Kaihatsu
  • Patent number: 8259353
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. A first cleaning unit is configured to collect a particle deposited on an object. An applying unit is configured to apply a voltage to the first cleaning unit. A first detector is configured to detect a first current flowing between the first cleaning unit and the object. A controller is configured to control the applying unit. When the detected first current becomes equal to or greater than a first predetermined value, the controller controls the applying unit to reduce the voltage applied to the first cleaning unit so as to make the first current smaller than the first predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahito Hamaya, Tsuyoshi Maruyama
  • Patent number: 8249473
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a carrier configured to carry developer; a voltage applying unit configured to apply a voltage to the carrier so that a carrier current flows from the voltage applying unit through the carrier; and a current detecting unit configured to detect the carrier current. The current detecting unit detects the carrier current at an uncharged portion of the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Maruyama
  • Patent number: 8203066
    Abstract: An electronic keyboard apparatus capable of changing, with a simple construction, a musical tone control characteristic for each pedal manipulation stroke section. A detection value representing a pedal depression depth is converted into an output value according to a table group, and a musical tone parameter is controlled based on the output value. The table group includes default and alternate tables exhibiting a hysteresis such that the output value converted from the same detection value becomes smaller in a reverse pedal stroke than in a forward pedal stoke. In the forward stroke, the default table is changed to the alternate table when the detection value passes a second threshold value provided on a deeper depression depth side than a first threshold value. In the reverse stroke, the alternate table is changed to the default table when the detection value passes the first threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Maruyama
  • Publication number: 20120134699
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided, which includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a recording medium, a cleaned body that is an intended body to be cleaned, a cleaning member configured to clean at least attached matter, which is generated in image formation by the image forming unit, on the cleaned body, a backup member disposed to face the cleaning member across the cleaned body, a voltage supply unit configured to supply the backup member with a cleaning voltage having a polarity identical to a charge polarity of the attached matter, in an operation of cleaning the cleaned body, a detector configured to detect an electric quantity of the cleaning member when the cleaning voltage is supplied to the backup member by the voltage supply unit, and a controller configured to control the detected electric quantity of the cleaning member to be a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsumi INUKAI, Masahito HAMAYA, Tsuyoshi MARUYAMA
  • Publication number: 20120082470
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photoconductor; a charger configured to charge the photoconductor, the charger having a discharge wire and a grid; a charge-voltage applying device configured to generate charge voltage and apply the charge voltage to the discharge wire; and an abnormal-discharge detector provided between an output end portion of the charge-voltage applying device and the ground. The abnormal-discharge detector is configured to detect an abnormal discharge occurring in the charger by detecting an abnormal current passing via the grid and the ground upon occurrence of the abnormal discharge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsumi INUKAI, Tsuyoshi MARUYAMA
  • Publication number: 20120051762
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photoconductor; a charger configured to charge the photoconductor, the charger including a discharge wire and a grid; a voltage applying circuit configured to generate charge voltage and apply the charge voltage to the discharge wire of the charger; a grid-current detector configured to detect a grid current passing through the grid; a controller configured to control the voltage applying circuit on the basis of a detection value detected by the grid-current detector so that the grid current is constant; an abnormal-discharge detector configured to detect an abnormal discharge occurring in the charger; and a suppression resistor configured to suppress abnormal discharge energy. The suppression resistor includes a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal is connected to the grid. The second terminal is connected to at least one of the grid-current detector and the abnormal-discharge detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi MARUYAMA, Katsumi INUKAI
  • Publication number: 20120027437
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, includes: at lease one photosensitive element; a plurality of chargers configured to charge the at lease one photosensitive element; a voltage applying circuit commonly connected to the plurality of chargers and configured to apply a voltage to the plurality of chargers; a current detecting unit configured to detect a current sum of current that flows to the plurality of chargers from the voltage applying circuit; and a control device configured to control the voltage applying circuit so that the current sum detected by the current detecting unit becomes equal to or larger than a reference value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi MARUYAMA, Masahito HAMAYA, Katsumi INUKAI
  • Publication number: 20120027436
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a plurality of photosensitive drums; a plurality of scorotron chargers provided for the plurality of photosensitive drums, respectively, a voltage application circuit commonly connected to the plurality of scorotron chargers, a plurality of wires provided for the plurality of scorotron chargers, respectively; a plurality of grid electrodes provided for the plurality of scorotron chargers, respectively; at least one of current detecting units provided for at least one of the plurality of grid electrodes, respectively, and at least one of the current detecting units detecting grid current which flows into at least one of the grid electrodes, respectively; and a control device configured to control the voltage application circuit such that at least one of the grid currents detected by at least one of the current detecting units become equal to or higher than a reference value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi MARUYAMA, Masahito HAMAYA, Katsumi INUKAI
  • Publication number: 20110262120
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid heating apparatus capable of heating fluid such as peroxosulfuric acid solution to high temperature in a short time. The heating apparatus includes: a flow channel member forming a flow channel 4 allowing liquid to flow and having flow channel thickness of 10 mm or smaller, the flow channel member composed of material transmitting near-infrared rays; and a near-infrared heaters 7, 8 placed over the outside of at least one of opposite flow channel surfaces of the flow channel and heating the liquid in the flow channel. The liquid flowing through the flow channel is instantaneously and evenly heated using near-infrared rays. It is preferable that spacers 6 be further provided within the flow channel 4 in order to limit the volume of the flow channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventors: Minoru Uchida, Tsuyoshi Maruyama
  • Patent number: 7905558
    Abstract: The vehicular brake hydraulic control device includes a plurality of electromagnetic valves arranged at regular intervals on a first attaching plane of a body, and coil assemblies fit over each of the electromagnetic valves, wherein the coil assemblies adjacent to one another are arranged apart by a predetermined gap. The vehicular brake hydraulic control device further includes a rubber seal having a linear segment formed in a convex sectional shape swelling outwardly of the first attaching plane of the body, in which the hem of the seal is sandwiched between the coil assemblies and the first attaching plane of the body, and the apex of the seal enters between the coil assemblies adjacent to one each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Nissin Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Wagu, Tsuyoshi Maruyama
  • Patent number: 7899351
    Abstract: There is provided an image forming device, including: a first electrical load; a second electrical load; a voltage generation circuit that generates a second voltage to be applied to the second electrical load; a shunt circuit that located between an output side of the voltage generation circuit and the first electrical load; and a controller that executes first control of controlling the shunt circuit to change a first voltage applied from the shunt circuit to the first electrical load to a first target level, and second control of controlling the voltage generation circuit to change the second voltage to a second target level. The controller executes voltage change suppression control of controlling the second voltage such that change of the second voltage becomes gentler as a difference between the first voltage and the first target level becomes larger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Maruyama, Masahito Hamaya, Kazushi Shumiya
  • Publication number: 20100278547
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a voltage applying unit for applying a voltage to an electric load; a sub control unit for controlling the voltage applying unit; a restarting unit for restarting the sub control unit in response to receipt of a restart signal; a determining unit for determining whether or not restart of the sub control unit is abnormal restart; and a main control unit. The main control unit generates a control start signal for allowing the voltage applying unit to start generation of the voltage, and the restart signal. When the determining unit determines that restart of the sub control unit is abnormal restart, the main control unit sends again the control start signal to the sub control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi MARUYAMA, Masahito HAMAYA, Katsumi INUKAI
  • Publication number: 20100111557
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a carrier configured to carry developer; a voltage applying unit configured to apply a voltage to the carrier so that a carrier current flows from the voltage applying unit through the carrier; and a current detecting unit configured to detect the carrier current. The current detecting unit detects the carrier current at an uncharged portion of the carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Maruyama