Patents by Inventor Yukihiro Ichiki

Yukihiro Ichiki 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: 20240103405
    Abstract: A scraping device includes: a scraping part that comes into contact with a rotating contact part to scrape off attached matter attached to the contact part; a rotation part that rotates; and an applying part that is attached to the rotation part, rotates with the rotation part, and strikes the scraping part to apply an impact to the scraping part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Takuya Ogino, Akira Shimodaira, Yukihiro Ichiki
  • Publication number: 20240103426
    Abstract: A cleaning device includes: a plate-like cleaning member that cleans a cleaning target surface, which is moved with toner attached thereto, of a cleaning target body by scraping the toner with a part of a distal end surface of the cleaning member contacting the cleaning target surface; a body that has a storage space that stores waste toner that has fallen after being scraped by the cleaning member; and a transport member disposed in the storage space of the body at a position below the distal end surface of the cleaning member to transport the waste toner stored in the storage space along a longitudinal direction of the cleaning member. The transport member includes a non-transport portion that exerts no transport force in a direction along the longitudinal direction of the cleaning member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Akira Shimodaira, Yukihiro Ichiki
  • Publication number: 20240103427
    Abstract: A cleaning device includes: a plate-like cleaning member that cleans a cleaning target surface, which is moved with toner attached thereto, of a cleaning target body by scraping the toner with a part of a distal end surface of the cleaning member contacting the cleaning target surface; a body that has a storage space that stores waste toner that has fallen after being scraped by the cleaning member; and a transport member disposed in the storage space of the body at a position below the distal end surface of the cleaning member to transport the waste toner stored in the storage space along a longitudinal direction of the cleaning member. The transport member includes a non-transport portion that exerts no transport force in a direction along the longitudinal direction of the cleaning member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Akira SHIMODAIRA, Yukihiro ICHIKI
  • Patent number: 11460791
    Abstract: A connection seal structure includes: a first structure including a connector that is removably connected; and a second structure that includes a connectable portion that allows the connector to be received thereon and connected thereto, the connectable portion allowing an elastic member including an elastic layer to be attached to at least a portion of the connectable portion facing the connector. The elastic member has an end bent in such a direction as not to come into contact with the connector while the connector is inserted or removed, the end being on a side closer to the connector while the connector is inserted, and the connection seal structure further comprises a retainer that keeps the bent end of the elastic member in a bent state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Takashi Anzai, Satoru Ishii, Yukihiro Ichiki
  • Patent number: 11385570
    Abstract: A powder leveler includes: a structure having an internal space in which powder moves; a sheet-shaped leveling member that rotates while having a first end thereof attached to a rotation shaft disposed inside the structure, and that comes into contact with part of the powder accumulating at a portion inside the structure close to a free end thereof located away from the rotation shaft to level out the powder; and an obstacle located inside the structure at a position on a rotation path of the leveling member to obstruct the rotation path, the obstacle allowing the leveling member to pass thereby while the leveling member is rotating and being bent as a result of partially coming into contact with the obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Shota Matsumae, Yukihiro Ichiki
  • Publication number: 20220163904
    Abstract: A connection seal structure includes: a first structure including a connector that is removably connected; and a second structure that includes a connectable portion that allows the connector to be received thereon and connected thereto, the connectable portion allowing an elastic member including an elastic layer to be attached to at least a portion of the connectable portion facing the connector. The elastic member has an end bent in such a direction as not to come into contact with the connector while the connector is inserted or removed, the end being on a side closer to the connector while the connector is inserted, and the connection seal structure further comprises a retainer that keeps the bent end of the elastic member in a bent state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Takashi ANZAI, Satoru Ishii, Yukihiro Ichiki
  • Publication number: 20220121137
    Abstract: A powder leveler includes: a structure having an internal space in which powder moves; a sheet-shaped leveling member that rotates while having a first end thereof attached to a rotation shaft disposed inside the structure, and that comes into contact with part of the powder accumulating at a portion inside the structure close to a free end thereof located away from the rotation shaft to level out the powder; and an obstacle located inside the structure at a position on a rotation path of the leveling member to obstruct the rotation path, the obstacle allowing the leveling member to pass thereby while the leveling member is rotating and being bent as a result of partially coming into contact with the obstacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Shota MATSUMAE, Yukihiro ICHIKI
  • Patent number: 11262674
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transport belt, a first intermediate transfer belt, and a second intermediate transfer belt. The transport belt is disposed along a transport path extending in a vertical direction. The transport belt is configured to transport a recording medium while coming into contact with one surface of the recording medium. The first intermediate transfer belt is configured to sandwich the recording medium together with the transport belt. An image is transferred from the first intermediate transfer belt to the recording medium. The second intermediate transfer belt is disposed above the first intermediate transfer belt. The second intermediate transfer belt is configured to sandwich, together with the transport belt, the recording medium which is in a state where the recording medium is sandwiched between the first intermediate transfer belt and the transport belt. An image being transferred from the second intermediate transfer belt to the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Yukihiro Ichiki, Akira Shimodaira, Keita Hashimoto, Toshihiro Goda, Masaki Suto
  • Patent number: 11262697
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a medium transport path; a first image transport path that is disposed so as to oppose the medium transport path and along which an image to be formed on the medium is transported; an image forming part that forms the image and is disposed adjacent to the first image transport path; and a second image transport path that is disposed so as to oppose the medium transport path, that is located at a distance from the image forming part, and along which an image to be formed on the medium is transported, the second image transport path, the first image transport path, and the medium transport path, together surrounding the image forming part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Goda, Yukihiro Ichiki, Akira Shimodaira, Keita Hashimoto, Masaki Suto
  • Patent number: 11144000
    Abstract: A paper ejection device includes: an ejection portion that ejects sheets of paper; a housing portion that houses the ejected sheets of paper in a sequentially stacked state; and a guiding portion that guides the sheets of paper, before being ejected, to the ejection portion while curving the sheets of paper. The housing portion is adjustable to plural angles including at least an angle at which the ejected sheets of paper are housed while being curved in a direction opposite to a direction in which the sheets of paper have been curved by the guiding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Fumiyuki Honda, Yukihiro Ichiki, Sota Hara, Kenichi Ishikura, Kazuhiro Tobita, Sho Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20210294263
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a medium transport path; a first image transport path that is disposed so as to oppose the medium transport path and along which an image to be formed on the medium is transported; an image forming part that forms the image and is disposed adjacent to the first image transport path; and a second image transport path that is disposed so as to oppose the medium transport path, that is located at a distance from the image forming part, and along which an image to be formed on the medium is transported, the second image transport path, the first image transport path, and the medium transport path, together surrounding the image forming part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshihiro GODA, Yukihiro ICHIKI, Akira SHIMODAIRA, Keita HASHIMOTO, Masaki SUTO
  • Publication number: 20210124290
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transport belt, a first intermediate transfer belt, and a second intermediate transfer belt. The transport belt is disposed along a transport path extending in a vertical direction. The transport belt is configured to transport a recording medium while coming into contact with one surface of the recording medium. The first intermediate transfer belt is configured to sandwich the recording medium together with the transport belt. An image is transferred from the first intermediate transfer belt to the recording medium. The second intermediate transfer belt is disposed above the first intermediate transfer belt. The second intermediate transfer belt is configured to sandwich, together with the transport belt, the recording medium which is in a state where the recording medium is sandwiched between the first intermediate transfer belt and the transport belt. An image being transferred from the second intermediate transfer belt to the recording medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Publication date: April 29, 2021
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yukihiro ICHIKI, Akira SHIMODAIRA, Keita HASHIMOTO, Toshihiro GODA, Masaki SUTO
  • Patent number: 10915043
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transport belt, a first intermediate transfer belt, and a second intermediate transfer belt. The transport belt is disposed along a transport path extending in a vertical direction. The transport belt is configured to transport a recording medium while coming into contact with one surface of the recording medium. The first intermediate transfer belt is configured to sandwich the recording medium together with the transport belt. An image is transferred from the first intermediate transfer belt to the recording medium. The second intermediate transfer belt is disposed above the first intermediate transfer belt. The second intermediate transfer belt is configured to sandwich, together with the transport belt, the recording medium which is in a state where the recording medium is sandwiched between the first intermediate transfer belt and the transport belt. An image being transferred from the second intermediate transfer belt to the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yukihiro Ichiki, Akira Shimodaira, Keita Hashimoto, Toshihiro Goda, Masaki Suto
  • Patent number: 10901347
    Abstract: An intermediate transfer device includes: an endless belt that circulates, receives transfer of a toner image at a first transfer position, and holds the toner image until the toner image reaches a second transfer position at which the toner image is transferred to a transfer receiver; a first cleaning unit that is disposed downstream of the second transfer position and upstream of the first transfer position in a circulation direction of the belt and removes residual toner from the belt after transfer; and a second cleaning unit that is disposed downstream of the first cleaning unit and upstream of the first transfer position in the circulation direction and removes residues from the belt after removal by the first cleaning unit, in which the second cleaning unit includes: a contact cleaning part that extends in a width direction intersecting the circulation direction and is in contact with the belt; and a support guide receiving part that supports the contact cleaning part, and receives a guide for attachme
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yukihiro Ichiki, Sota Hara, Tomoya Oki
  • Patent number: 10871728
    Abstract: A cleaning device for a rotational body is provided. The cleaning device includes a scraping portion whose edge is pressed against a rotational body to which toner adheres. The scraping portion scrapes the toner off the rotational body. The cleaning device also includes a guide portion that guides a recording medium toward the rotational body, and a guide support portion that supports the guide portion. The guide support portion is disposed at a position separated from the scraping portion in a state in which the guide support portion is pressed by the guide portion that is guiding the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuya Ogishima, Sota Hara, Kazuhiro Saito, Yukihiro Ichiki, Hiroki Shiba, Akira Shimodaira
  • Publication number: 20200379370
    Abstract: A cleaning device for a rotational body is provided. The cleaning device includes a scraping portion whose edge is pressed against a rotational body to which toner adheres. The scaping portion scrapes the toner off the rotational body. The cleaning device also includes a guide portion that guides a recording medium toward the rotational body, and a guide support portion that supports the guide portion. The guide support portion is disposed at a position separated from the scraping portion in a state in which the guide support portion is pressed by the guide portion that is guiding the recording medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuya OGISHIMA, Sota HARA, Kazuhiro SAITO, Yukihiro ICHIKI, Hiroki SHIBA, Akira SHIMODAIRA
  • Patent number: 10852669
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a transport path that transports an image forming medium in a top-bottom direction; a first image forming unit including a first intermediate transfer belt, which is disposed so as to face the transport path, to which toner images formed in multiple first toner-image forming units are transferred, and from which the toner images are transferred to the medium transported along the transport path; a second image forming unit including a second intermediate transfer belt, which is disposed upstream of the first image forming unit in a medium transport direction so as to face the transport path, to which toner images formed in multiple second toner-image forming units are transferred, and from which the toner images are transferred to the medium transported along the transport path; and a ventilation path formed between the first image forming unit and the second image forming unit, which are spaced apart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Goda, Yukihiro Ichiki, Akira Shimodaira, Keita Hashimoto, Masaki Suto
  • Publication number: 20200257231
    Abstract: A paper ejection device includes: an ejection portion that ejects sheets of paper; a housing portion that houses the ejected sheets of paper in a sequentially stacked state; and a guiding portion that guides the sheets of paper, before being ejected, to the ejection portion while curving the sheets of paper. The housing portion is adjustable to plural angles including at least an angle at which the ejected sheets of paper are housed while being curved in a direction opposite to a direction in which the sheets of paper have been curved by the guiding portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fumiyuki HONDA, Yukihiro Ichiki, Sota Hara, Kenichi Ishikura, Kazuhiro Tobita, Sho Ogawa
  • Patent number: 10670996
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first forming unit that forms a superimposed toner image, in which yellow, magenta, and cyan toner images are superimposed on one another, on a first intermediate transfer unit; a second forming unit that is located downstream of the first forming unit in a recording-medium transport direction and that forms a black toner image on a second intermediate transfer unit; a first transfer part that transfers the superimposed toner image formed on the first intermediate transfer unit by the first forming unit to a recording medium; and a second transfer part that is located downstream of the first transfer part in the recording-medium transport direction and that transfers, in a superimposed manner, the black toner image formed on the second intermediate transfer unit by the second forming unit to the superimposed toner image on the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keita Hashimoto, Yukihiro Ichiki, Masaki Suto, Akira Shimodaira, Toshihiro Goda
  • Publication number: 20200096915
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first forming unit that forms a superimposed toner image, in which yellow, magenta, and cyan toner images are superimposed on one another, on a first intermediate transfer unit; a second forming unit that is located downstream of the first forming unit in a recording-medium transport direction and that forms a black toner image on a second intermediate transfer unit; a first transfer part that transfers the superimposed toner image formed on the first intermediate transfer unit by the first forming unit to a recording medium; and a second transfer part that is located downstream of the first transfer part in the recording-medium transport direction and that transfers, in a superimposed manner, the black toner image formed on the second intermediate transfer unit by the second forming unit to the superimposed toner image on the recording medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keita HASHIMOTO, Yukihiro ICHIKI, Masaki SUTO, Akira SHIMODAIRA, Toshihiro GODA