Patents by Inventor Akinobu Okuda

Akinobu Okuda 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: 20060029436
    Abstract: The present invention provides a one-component development type developing apparatus including a rotatable electrostatic latent image holding member 1 on the surface of which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and using a toner 4 for rendering the electrostatic latent image visible, wherein when the shape factor SF-1 of a toner fine particle is expressed by: SF-1=(M2/A)×(?/4)×100 where A is the projected area of the fine particle and M is the absolute maximum length of the fine particle, then the shape factor SF-1 of the toner 4 is at least 100 and at most 140, and the developing apparatus includes: a toner holding member 3 that is formed from a silicone rubber elastic material and that is for holding the toner 4 and transporting it to the electrostatic latent image holding member 1; a toner layer regulating member 9 for forming the toner on the toner holding member 3 into a thin layer; and a toner supply member 5 that is formed from a silicone rubber foam and that rotates, in a position opposed to t
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2005
    Publication date: February 9, 2006
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akinori Toyoda, Kazumasa Hayashi, Akinobu Okuda, Masao Ootsuka, Asao Toda, Hideki Yasuda
  • Publication number: 20050286086
    Abstract: An image output apparatus for controlling an output image stably. The image output apparatus comprises a database for storing data giving a relation between manipulated variables and a controlled variable for a reference pattern. The apparatus estimates sets of values of the manipulated variables used when outputting an image of the reference pattern, by using the data on the database to obtain values of the manipulated variables from a desired value for the reference pattern. By means of detected values for a plurality of images of the reference pattern outputted according to the estimated values of the manipulated variables, set values of the manipulated variables for the desired value is calculated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Publication date: December 29, 2005
    Inventors: Naoki Takahashi, Kazumasa Hayashi, Akinori Toyoda, Masao Ootsuka, Akinobu Okuda, Hideki Yasuda
  • Publication number: 20050281588
    Abstract: The developing apparatus of the present invention includes a developer holding member for supplying a developer including a toner and a carrier onto the surface of an electrostatic latent image holding member; first developer transporter for transporting the developer in a first direction, the first developer transporter being disposed in a first developer transport path; second developer transporter for transporting the developer in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction and supplying the developer to the developer holding member, the second developer transporter being disposed in a second developer transport path; a magnet roller for drawing up the developer that has been transported through the second developer transport path into the first developer transport path; and an inclined surface that is disposed in contact with or close to the surface of the magnet roller and that is inclined such that the height thereof decreases along the first direction, wherein the developer that is held
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Publication date: December 22, 2005
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akinobu Okuda, Kazumasa Hayashi, Akinori Toyoda, Masao Ootsuka, Hideki Yasuda, Naoki Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20050098716
    Abstract: A light scanner includes a semiconductor laser, a polygon mirror, a first imaging optical system for guiding a light beam from the laser to the deflection surface of the polygon mirror, a second imaging optical system of a single curved mirror for guiding the light beam from the polygon mirror to a photosensitive drum, and a photodiode for detecting the light beam scanned by the polygon mirror. The first imaging optical system, the polygon mirror, and the second imaging optical system are located at different positions in the sub-scanning direction so that the light beam from the first imaging optical system enters the deflection surface obliquely, and the light beam from the polygon mirror enters the curved mirror obliquely.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Publication date: May 12, 2005
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Yoshikawa, Akinobu Okuda
  • Publication number: 20040252178
    Abstract: An optical scan apparatus includes an optical deflection unit (4), an image formation optical system (3), and curved surface mirrors (7a to b 7d). Light fluxes from the image formation optical system (3) come onto the deflection surface (4a) of die optical deflection unit (4) in an oblique direction. Light fluxes from the optical deflection unit (4) come onto the curved surface mirrors (7a to 7d) in an oblique direction. When a boundary is a plane (6) including a normal at the center of the deflection surface (4a) and parallel to the main scan direction, the curved surface mirrors (7a to 7d) are arranged in the same space divided by the boundary and the scan speeds of fluxes scanning the surfaces to be scanned (8a to 8d) are almost identical. Thus, it is possible to obtain identical drive frequencies of the light sources (1a to 1d), thereby simplifying the circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Inventors: Motonobu Yoshikawa, Yoshiharu Yamamoto, Daizaburo Matsuki, Hajime Yamamoto, Masanori Yoshikawa, Akinobu Okuda
  • Publication number: 20040100672
    Abstract: An image reading device comprising a rotary polygon mirror (6) for scanning a light flux from a light source (1), an imaging optical system (4) for forming in a reflection plane of the mirror (6) a linear image larger than the width in a main scanning direction of the one reflection plane, and a curved-face mirror (7), wherein the light source (1) , the imaging optical system (4), the rotary polygon mirror (6) and the curved-face mirror (7) are disposed in different positions in a sub-scanning direction, a light flux from the imaging optical system (4) shines obliquely onto the polygon mirror (6), and a light flux reflected off the mirror (6) beams obliquely onto the curved-face mirror (7). Since one curved-face mirror can beam a light flux reflected from the rotary polygon mirror onto a surface to be scanned and the rotary polygon mirror having a small inscribed radius and many reflection planes can be used, satisfactory optical performance and high-speed feature can be realized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Yamamoto, Motonobu Yoshikawa, Daizaburo Matsuki, Hajime Yamamoto, Masanori Yoshikawa, Akinobu Okuda
  • Publication number: 20020050562
    Abstract: A light scanner includes a semiconductor laser, a polygon mirror, a first imaging optical system for guiding a light beam from the semiconductor laser to the deflection surface of the polygon mirror, a second imaging optical system of a single curved mirror for guiding the light beam from the polygon mirror to a photosensitive drum, and a photodiode for detecting the light beam scanned by the polygon mirror. The first imaging optical system, the polygon mirror, and the second imaging optical system are located at different positions in the sub-scanning direction so that the light beam from the first imaging optical system enters obliquely with respect to a plane containing the normal to the deflection surface of the polygon mirror and being parallel to the main scanning direction, and the light beam from the polygon mirror enters obliquely with respect to a plane containing the normal to the curved mirror at its vertex and being parallel to the main scanning direction (i.e., a Y-Z plane).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Publication date: May 2, 2002
    Inventors: Masanori Yoshikawa, Akinobu Okuda