Patents by Inventor Yasuharu Chiyoda

Yasuharu Chiyoda 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: 10021261
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a human-body detection unit, an instruction receiver, and a controller. The controller determines whether an adjustment process is to be performed in accordance with a result of a determination, at an end of an image forming process, as to whether a human body is detected. The controller executes the adjustment process when the image forming process is terminated where the human-body detection unit does not detect a human body. The controller starts the image forming process before the adjustment process is executed where a human body is detected and the image forming instruction is received within a predetermined period. The controller executes the adjustment process when the predetermined period has elapsed while the image forming instruction is not received after the end of the image forming process where the human-body detection unit detects a human body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masanobu Tanaka, Yasuharu Chiyoda, Oki Kitagawa, Asuna Fukamachi
  • Publication number: 20180181047
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a correcting portion to correct gradation of inputted image data on the basis of a correction condition, an image forming device to form, on a recording material, a toner image corresponding to the corrected image data, a mounting portion, an executing portion to execute an output process for forming and outputting, on the recording material, a predetermined toner image for generating the correction condition, the predetermined toner image including a plurality of image regions different in density, an input portion to permit input of an execution instruction of the output process by an operator, and a controller to control notification of information to the operator. The controller provides notification prompting exchange of the fixing portions in certain cases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventor: Yasuharu Chiyoda
  • Patent number: 9989911
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming station for forming an unfixed toner image on a sheet; a fixing portion detachably mountable to the apparatus, said fixing portion including a rotatable member for being contacted by an image carrying surface of the sheet; a jam detector for detecting jamming in said fixing portion; an executing portion for executing a cleaning process for said rotatable member after clearance of the jamming; a storing portion, provided on said fixing portion, for storing information as to whether or not the cleaning process is executed; and a display for displaying a state of capability of image forming operation. The executing portion executes the cleaning process before said display displays the state, when the information stored in said storing portion of said fixing portion mounted in said main assembly indicates non-execution of said cleaning process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuya Nakama, Satoru Yamamoto, Masahiro Tsujibayashi, Yasuharu Chiyoda, Nobuhiro Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 9952544
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion for forming an image, a human presence sensor for detecting presence of a human body adjacent the apparatus, and a controller capable of executing an adjustment process operation for the image forming portion when a first predetermined number of prints are produced. When the human presence sensor detects a human body in the neighborhood of the apparatus, the execution of the adjustment process operation is deferred to reduce the waiting time necessitated by the adjustment operation, but if a second predetermined number of prints are produced, the image forming operation of the image forming portion is interrupted, and the deferred adjustment process is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masanobu Tanaka, Yasuharu Chiyoda, Oki Kitagawa, Asuna Fukamachi
  • Publication number: 20180074449
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a gradation correcting portion, an image forming device, a toner image fixing device, a fixing device mounting portion, a detector, and an executing portion configured to execute a calibration process for generating a gradation correction condition on the basis of a result of detection of a predetermined toner image by the detector. The predetermined toner image is a toner image which is formed, on the basis of predetermined data, on the recording material by the image forming device and which is fixed by the fixing device mounted in the mounting portion, and the predetermined toner image forms a plurality of image regions different in density. The executing portion permits execution of the calibration process when the fixing device is the first fixing device, and prohibits the execution of the calibration process when the fixing device is the second fixing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventor: Yasuharu Chiyoda
  • Publication number: 20170185012
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion, a fixing portion including a rotatable member and an information storing portion, an information acquiring portion, and a controller configured to control whether or not a cleaning process for removing a deposited matter on a surface of the rotatable member is executed depending on an elapsed time from a fixing portion demounting time indicated by information acquired by the information acquiring portion. When the elapsed time is not less than a predetermined time, the controller executes the cleaning process in a period from the mounting of the fixing portion to a start of fixing, and when the elapsed time is less than the predetermined time, the controller does not executes the cleaning process in the period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Inventors: Masahiro Tsujibayashi, Satoru Yamamoto, Katsuya Nakama, Yasuharu Chiyoda, Nobuhiro Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 9684271
    Abstract: A controller for controlling an image heating device which includes first and second rollers for heating therebetween a toner image on a sheet, a first rubbing roller for rubbing the first roller, and a second rubbing roller for rubbing the second roller, said controller including a counter configured to count a number of heated sheets; a first executing portion configured to execute rubbing by the first rubbing roller in accordance with an output of the counter; a second executing portion configured to execute rubbing by the second rubbing roller in accordance with an output of the counter; an acquiring portion execution instructions of an image glossiness improving mode operation provided by an operator; and a determination portion configured to determine which roller or rollers of the first second rollers is to be rubbed in accordance with an output of the counter, when the acquiring portion acquires the execution instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junichi Moteki, Yasuharu Chiyoda
  • Publication number: 20170160686
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion for forming an image; a human presence sensor for detecting presence of a human body adjacent the apparatus, and a controller capable of executing an adjustment process operation for said image forming portion when a first predetermined number of prints are produced. When the human presence sensor detects a human body in the neighborhood of the apparatus, the execution of the adjustment process operation is deferred to reduce the waiting time necessitated by the adjustment operation, but a second predetermined number of prints are produced, the image forming operation of the image forming portion is interrupted, and the deferred adjustment process is executed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Masanobu Tanaka, Yasuharu Chiyoda, Oki Kitagawa, Asuna Fukamachi
  • Publication number: 20170142278
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a human-body detection unit, an instruction receiver, and a controller. The controller determines whether an adjustment process is to be performed in accordance with a result of a determination, at an end of an image forming process, as to whether a human body is detected. The controller executes the adjustment process when the image forming process is terminated where the human-body detection unit does not detect a human body. The controller starts the image forming process before the adjustment process is executed where a human body is detected and the image forming instruction is received within a predetermined period. The controller executes the adjustment process when the predetermined period has elapsed while the image forming instruction is not received after the end of the image forming process where the human-body detection unit detects a human body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventors: Masanobu Tanaka, Yasuharu Chiyoda, Oki Kitagawa, Asuna Fukamachi
  • Publication number: 20170031307
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming station; a mounting portion for mounting one of fixing devices each including a first roller and a second roller which cooperate to form a nip for fixing a toner image on a sheet fed from the image forming station, a rubbing roller configured to rub a surface of the first roller, a storing portion capable of storing information; a counter for counting sheets fed to the fixing device mounted on the mounting portion and to store number indicative of the number counted by the counter in the storing portion of the fixing device; and an executing portion for effecting a rubbing treatment to the first roller of the fixing device, when the number counted by the counter on the basis of the number in the storing portion of the fixing device mounted on the mounting portion exceeds a predetermined number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: Katsuya Nakama, Satoru Yamamoto, Masahiro Tsujibayashi, Yasuharu Chiyoda, Nobuhiro Kikuchi, Akinobu Nishikata, Akihiro Kawakita, Toshiyuki Miyake, Koji Yumoto, Riki Fukuhara
  • Publication number: 20170003637
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming station for forming an unfixed toner image on a sheet; a fixing portion detachably mountable to the apparatus, said fixing portion including a rotatable member for being contacted by an image carrying surface of the sheet; a jam detector for detecting jamming in said fixing portion; an executing portion for executing a cleaning process for said rotatable member after clearance of the jamming; a storing portion, provided on said fixing portion, for storing information as to whether or not the cleaning process is executed; and a display for displaying a state of capability of image forming operation. The executing portion executes the cleaning process before said display displays the state, when the information stored in said storing portion of said fixing portion mounted in said main assembly indicates non-execution of said cleaning process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Katsuya Nakama, Satoru Yamamoto, Masahiro Tsujibayashi, Yasuharu Chiyoda, Nobuhiro Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20160327895
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion configured to form a toner image on a recording material to execute a job; a fixing portion configured to fix, on the recording material, the toner image formed by the image forming portion, the fixing portion being capable of being replaced with another fixing portion depending on a content of the job; and a selecting portion configured to cause an operator to select one of a plurality of modes when a plurality of jobs are successively reserved. The plurality of modes includes a first mode in which execution order is changed so as to decrease a number of times of replacement of the fixing portion and then the plurality of jobs are executed in the changed execution order and a second mode in which the plurality of jobs are executed in reserved order.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Kikuchi, Yasuharu Chiyoda, Masahiro Tsujibayashi, Satoru Yamamoto, Katsuya Nakama
  • Publication number: 20160170346
    Abstract: A controller for controlling an image heating device which includes first and second rollers for heating therebetween a toner image on a sheet, a first rubbing roller for rubbing the first roller, and a second rubbing roller for rubbing the second roller, said controller including a counter configured to count a number of heated sheets; a first executing portion configured to execute rubbing by the first rubbing roller in accordance with an output of the counter; a second executing portion configured to execute rubbing by the second rubbing roller in accordance with an output of the counter; an acquiring portion execution instructions of an image glossiness improving mode operation provided by an operator; and a determination portion configured to determine which roller or rollers of the first second rollers is to be rubbed in accordance with an output of the counter, when the acquiring portion acquires the execution instructions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Junichi Moteki, Yasuharu Chiyoda
  • Publication number: 20160170345
    Abstract: A controller for controlling an image heating device which includes first and second rollers for heating therebetween a toner image on a sheet, a first rubbing roller for rubbing the first roller, and a second rubbing roller for rubbing the second roller, said controller including a counter configured to count a number of heated sheets; a first executing portion configured to execute rubbing by the first rubbing roller in accordance with an output of the counter; a second executing portion configured to execute rubbing by the second rubbing roller in accordance with an output of the counter; an acquiring portion execution instructions of an image glossiness improving mode operation provided by an operator; and a determination portion configured to determine which roller or rollers of the first second rollers is to be rubbed in accordance with an output of the counter, when the acquiring portion acquires the execution instructions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Junichi Moteki, Yasuharu Chiyoda
  • Patent number: 9304462
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first heating rotator and a first pressing rotator forming a fixing nip fixing a non-fixed toner image formed in an image forming portion onto a sheet, a second heating rotator and a second pressing rotator forming a heating nip heating the fixed toner image on the predetermined sheet that has passed through the fixing nip, a first rubbing member keeping a range of the first heating rotator contactable with the sheet at a predetermined surface roughness by rubbing a surface of the first heating rotator, and a second rubbing member keeping a range of the second heating rotator contactable with the sheet at a surface roughness smaller than the predetermined surface roughness by rubbing a surface of the second heating rotator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuharu Chiyoda
  • Patent number: 9298140
    Abstract: A controller for controlling an image heating device which includes first and second rollers for heating therebetween a toner image on a sheet, a first rubbing roller for rubbing the first roller, and a second rubbing roller for rubbing the second roller, said controller including a counter configured to count a number of heated sheets; a first executing portion configured to execute rubbing by the first rubbing roller in accordance with an output of the counter; a second executing portion configured to execute rubbing by the second rubbing roller in accordance with an output of the counter; an acquiring portion execution instructions of an image glossiness improving mode operation provided by an operator; and a determination portion configured to determine which roller or rollers of the first second rollers is to be rubbed in accordance with an output of the counter, when the acquiring portion acquires the execution instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junichi Moteki, Yasuharu Chiyoda
  • Patent number: 9261825
    Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes: first and second rotatable members configured and positioned to form a nip for heating a toner image on a sheet; a rubbing rotatable member configured to rub a surface of the first rotatable member; a moving mechanism configured to move the rubbing rotatable member relative to the first rotatable member between a rubbing position for carrying out a rubbing process for the first rotatable member and a retracted position retracted from the rubbing position; and an executing portion configured to execute the rubbing process in accordance with a number and a kind of the sheet processed by the image heating apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuharu Chiyoda
  • Publication number: 20160011544
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first heating rotator and a first pressing rotator forming a fixing nip fixing a non-fixed toner image formed in an image forming portion onto a sheet, a second heating rotator and a second pressing rotator forming a heating nip heating the fixed toner image on the predetermined sheet that has passed through the fixing nip, a first rubbing member keeping a range of the first heating rotator contactable with the sheet at predetermined surface roughness by rubbing a surface of the first heating rotator, and a second rubbing member keeping a range of the second heating rotator contactable with the sheet at surface roughness smaller than the predetermined surface roughness by rubbing a surface of the second heating rotator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventor: Yasuharu Chiyoda
  • Patent number: 9075355
    Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes: first and second rotatable members configured to form a nip for heating a toner image on a recording material; a rotatable rubbing member configured to rub the first rotatable member to substantially refresh a surface property of the first rotatable member; and an air blowing mechanism configured to blow air onto the rotatable rubbing member to clean the rotatable rubbing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuharu Chiyoda, Kazunari Hatazaki
  • Publication number: 20150104205
    Abstract: A controller for controlling an image heating device which includes first and second rollers for heating therebetween a toner image on a sheet, a first rubbing roller for rubbing the first roller, and a second rubbing roller for rubbing the second roller, said controller including a counter configured to count a number of heated sheets; a first executing portion configured to execute rubbing by the first rubbing roller in accordance with an output of the counter; a second executing portion configured to execute rubbing by the second rubbing roller in accordance with an output of the counter; an acquiring portion execution instructions of an image glossiness improving mode operation provided by an operator; and a determination portion configured to determine which roller or rollers of the first second rollers is to be rubbed in accordance with an output of the counter, when the acquiring portion acquires the execution instructions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Junichi Moteki, Yasuharu Chiyoda