Patents by Inventor Akira Fukano

Akira Fukano 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: 20240358048
    Abstract: Provided is a corn wet milling-derived article having a reduced sulfur dioxide concentration. The corn wet milling-derived article is a solid filamentous fungus culture. The corn wet milling-derived article may be one or more selected from the group consisting of corn gluten meal, corn gluten feed, and corn germ. The sulfur dioxide content in the solid filamentous fungus culture may be 30 ppm or less. The filamentous fungus may be non-mycotoxin-producing microbes. The solid filamentous fungus culture may include an enzyme produced by the filamentous fungus. The solid filamentous fungus culture may include polysaccharides that constitute the fungus body of the filamentous fungus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2022
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Inventors: Satoko Senoo, Natsuki Fukano, Akira Mori, Masahiro Kariyama, Naoki Oshida, Jun Kamiya
  • Patent number: 6715858
    Abstract: An image forming device includes a developer carrier (1) for carrying a charged developer (2), and a developer passing controller (3) for applying a voltage corresponding to an image. signal to a plurality of control electrodes (10) to control the passing of said developer (2), the developer passing controller having a plurality of developer passing holes (4) through which the developer (2) passes and said control electrodes being arranged to surround the surroundings of the developer passing holes. The width (W1) of a control electrode row (5) in the longitudinal direction where the control electrodes (10) are arranged is wider than the width (W2) of an image forming area, and both ends (B1, B2) of the control electrode row (5) in the longitudinal direction are arranged outside the width (W2) of an image forming area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Ogawa, Masahiro Aizawa, Akira Kumon, Akira Fukano
  • Patent number: 6673386
    Abstract: A method for forming a pattern on a surface of a panel substrate, includes electrically charging pattern-forming material particles, jetting out the electrically charged pattern-forming material particles through a nozzle by applying electrostatic force to the pattern-forming material particles to form a pattern, and fixing the pattern onto the panel substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daido Komyoji, Naoko Matsuda, Akira Fukano, Katsutoshi Ogawa, Akira Kumon, Hiroyuki Naka
  • Patent number: 6574431
    Abstract: A protective cover (13) for a taking lens is provided in the front of a lens-fitted photo film unit. The protective cover cooperates with a shutter locking mechanism which locks a shutter button (4) when the protective cover is in a closed position in front of the taking lens. The protective cover also cooperates with a flash prevention mechanism which turns off a flash charge switch off when the protective cover moves in the closed position, prevents the flash charge switch from being moved to its ON position so long as the protective cover is in the closed position, and allows the flash charge switch to be moved to the ON position when the protective cover is moved away from the taking lens. The protective cover is slidable in a horizontal direction on a front surface portion of the film unit, and the front surface portion is straight in the horizontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Mikami, Osamu Noguchi, Nobuyuki Kameyama, Toshihide Nagasaka, Akira Fukano
  • Patent number: 6557980
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a toner carrier and a toner passing control having a plurality of toner passing holes for controlling passage of a toner. The toner passing control has upstream side secured, the downstream side extended by a spring, and is contacted with a stay on the downstream side of the contact point with the toner carrier, so that corrugation deformation is prevented. A vibrating plate and an ultrasonic vibration generator are coupled through a coupling portion, thereby relative displacement between the vibrating plate and the ultrasonic vibration generator is allowed. A detachable toner cartridge is formed by integrating a developing roller and a toner storing container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Array Printers AB
    Inventors: Taichi Ito, Takuya Kitahara, Hidenori Tomachi, Akira Kumon, Katsutoshi Ogawa, Yoshitaka Kitaoka, Takahiro Tsujimoto, Akira Fukano, Masayoshi Miura, Akira Ryoji, Masaichiro Tatekawa
  • Publication number: 20030011652
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a toner holding element 10 and a toner passage controller 4 having a plurality of toner passage holes 14, for controlling passage of toner 3. In order to prevent shortage of toner supply from the toner holding element 10 and form a high-quality image at a sufficient image density without producing thin white lines in such an image forming apparatus, the traveling speed of the toner holding element 10 is preset based on the traveling speed of an image receiving means 7 and at least one of the weight per unit area or the length in the scanning direction of the toner 3 that is applied to an image receiving means 7, the weight per unit area of the toner 3 held on the toner holding element 10 or the length of a toner-less region in the main scanning direction, and the number of pixels successively formed at different positions in the main scanning direction through the same toner passage hole 14.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Inventors: Taichi Itoh, Takuya Kitahara, Yoshihiro Teshima, Akira Fukano, Masahiro Aizawa, Akira Kumon, Yoshitaka Kitaoka
  • Patent number: 6499830
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus for use in a printer for computers and the like includes an image forming head (7) between a developing sleeve (2) and an opposing electrode. (6). Control electrodes (19) are provided around respective openings (16) of the head (7), so that the openings (16) are electrostatically opened and closed by controlling a voltage applied to the respective control electrodes (19). In order to prevent the openings (16) of the head (7) from being clogged with toner (5), the percentage of the area of the opening (16) to the sum of the area of the extent of the control electrode (19) around the opening (16) and the area of the opening (16) is set to 8% or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kumon, Akira Fukano, Yoshitaka Kitaoka, Akira Ryoji
  • Patent number: 6471342
    Abstract: An ink jet head having a plate-like actuator 14 to be deformed by field induction distortion serving as a drive source, causing ink in at least one pressure chamber 12 to be discharged, each deformable portion of the actuator 14 having a thickness of several &mgr;m and having an oval section in a plan elevation. Such pressure chambers 12 are disposed in a plurality of columns. A group of electric contacts 37 is disposed outside of the outermost pressure-chamber column. Wiring lines of individual electrodes of the actuator 14 of the pressure chambers 12 pass between adjacent pressure chambers 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Horio, Yutaka Miyazono, Koji Ikeda, Akira Fukano
  • Publication number: 20020154906
    Abstract: A protective cover (13) for a taking lens is provided in the front of a lens-fitted photo film unit. The protective cover cooperates with a shutter locking mechanism which locks a shutter button (4) when the protective cover is in a closed position in front of the taking lens. The protective cover also cooperates with a flash prevention mechanism which turns off a flash charge switch off when the protective cover moves in the closed position, prevents the flash charge switch from being moved to its ON position so long as the protective cover is in the closed position, and allows the flash charge switch to be moved to the ON position when the protective cover is moved away from the taking lens. The protective cover is slidable in a horizontal direction on a front surface portion of the film unit, and the front surface portion is straight in the horizontal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuji Mikami, Osamu Noguchi, Nobuyuki Kameyama, Toshihide Nagasaka, Akira Fukano
  • Patent number: 6424803
    Abstract: A protective cover (13) for a taking lens is provided in the front of a lens-fitted photo film unit. The protective cover cooperates with a shutter locking mechanism which locks a shutter button (4) when the protective cover is in a closed position in front of the taking lens. The protective cover also cooperates with a flash prevention mechanism which turns off a flash charge switch off when the protective cover moves in the closed position, prevents the flash charge switch from being moved to its ON position so long as the protective cover is in the closed position, and allows the flash charge switch to be moved to the ON position when the protective cover is moved away from the taking lens. The protective cover is slidable in a horizontal direction on a front surface portion of the film unit, and the front surface portion is straight in the horizontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Mikami, Osamu Noguchi, Nobuyuki Kameyama, Toshihide Nagasaka, Akira Fukano
  • Patent number: 6409314
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus of the present invention, image signal electrodes are provided on a flexible printed circuit base in opposing relation to a developer carrying member such that they are disposed around the openings of developer passage holes, different voltages are applied thereto during dot formation and during non-dot formation, a throttle electrode is provided on the flexible printed circuit base in opposing relation to a counter electrode, a voltage always lower than the voltage applied to the image signal electrodes is applied to the throttle electrode when a developer of negative polarity is applied, and a voltage always higher than the voltage applied to the image signal electrodes is applied to the throttle electrode when a developer of positive polarity is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Array Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Kitaoka, Akira Kumon, Katsutoshi Ogawa, Akira Fukano, Masahiro Aizawa, Hiroyuki Matsuo
  • Patent number: 6394587
    Abstract: An image forming device includes a toner carrier (1) for holding and conveying charged toner (2), and a toner passage controller (3) including a plurality of holes (4) through which toner (2) is passed and control electrodes (10) disposed surrounding the holes. The control of passing of the toner (2) through the holes is effected by applying voltage to the control electrodes in accordance with image signals. The holes (4) have an elongated shape, with the length along a direction in which the toner carrier (1) moves being longer than the width orthogonal to the lengthwise direction, so that the consumption areas of toner (2) on the toner carrier (1) do not interfere with each other while the open area of the holes (4) is sufficiently secured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Array AB Publ.
    Inventors: Masahiro Aizawa, Yoshitaka Kitaoka, Akira Kumon, Akira Fukano
  • Publication number: 20020050061
    Abstract: A method for forming a pattern on a surface of a panel substrate, includes electrically charging pattern-forming material particles, jetting out the electrically charged pattern-forming material particles through a nozzle by applying electrostatic force to the pattern-forming material particles to form a pattern, and fixing the pattern onto the panel substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Publication date: May 2, 2002
    Inventors: Daido Komyoji, Naoko Matsuda, Akira Fukano, Katsutoshi Ogawa, Akira Kumon, Hiroyuki Naka
  • Patent number: 6309050
    Abstract: A nozzle of an ink jet head is formed such that a droplet of ink is emitted in a direction nonparallel to a virtual plane formed by a scanning direction X and an electric field direction Z. A voltage is applied between a nozzle plate and a facing electrode for creating an electric field. First and second ink droplets are emitted from the same nozzle during one print cycle. The first ink droplet is emitted in an uncharged state in order not to be deflected by the electric field. On the other hand, the second ink droplet is emitted in a charged state in order to be deflected by the electric field. Because of the difference in deflection amount, the landing positions of the first and second ink droplets are varied, whereby dot density can be improved to be twice as great as nozzle density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Ikeda, Atsushi Sogami, Akira Fukano
  • Patent number: 6286936
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus and an image forming method are characterized in that charged particle jumping can be controlled by applying signals having a small potential difference, and that low-voltage type switching devices can be used as switching devices for the power source. Control electrodes 16 are provided to move charged particles detached from a development roller 2 and to control the movement amount of the charged particles by generating a transfer electric field directly or indirectly between the development roller 2 and a rear electrode 8. A bias electrostatic field is generated between the development roller 2 and the control electrodes 16 by applying a voltage under a jumping start voltage, which is a voltage having the polarity opposite to the polarity of the charged particles and is lower than the jumping start voltage for detaching the charged particles from the development roller 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignees: Array Aktiebolag, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kumon, Masahiro Aizawa, Yoshitaka Kitaoka, Katsutoshi Ogawa, Hiroyuki Matsuo, Akira Fukano, Akira Ryouji
  • Patent number: 6183933
    Abstract: A photosensitive material which when imagewise exposed to record a latent image thereon is formed with an image by heating with a prescribed processing material superimposed thereon is used as a photographic film or the like, the photosensitive material is exposed to record an image thereon, the exposed photosensitive material is developed by superimposing and heating the photosensitive material and the processing material to form the image on the photosensitive material and then peeling the photosensitive material formed with the image off the processing material, the developed image on the photosensitive material is read with a scanner to obtain image data representing the image, and the image data are subjected to prescribed image processing to generate reproducible digital image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shun-ichi Ishikawa, Seiiti Kubodera, Akira Fukano, Keishi Kato, Isao Taniguchi, Yoshiharu Okino, Nagao Ogiwara
  • Patent number: 6155726
    Abstract: A photosensitive material which when imagewise exposed to record a latent image thereon is formed with an image by heating with a prescribed processing material superimposed thereon is used as a photographic film or the like, the photosensitive material is exposed to record an image thereon, the exposed photosensitive material is developed by superimposing and heating the photosensitive material and the processing material to form the image on the photosensitive material and then peeling the photosensitive material formed with the image off the processing material, the developed image on the photosensitive material is read with a scanner to obtain image data representing the image, and the image data are subjected to prescribed image processing to generate reproducible digital image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shun-ichi Ishikawa, Seiiti Kubodera, Akira Fukano, Keishi Kato, Isao Taniguchi, Yoshiharu Okino, Nagao Ogiwara
  • Patent number: 6144394
    Abstract: In an image forming device wherein printing is accomplished such that passing of charged toners fed from a developer roller 2 through a plurality of openings 14 is controlled by control electrodes 16 of an aperture electrode 12 in accordance with image signals, toners held on the developer roller 2 are caused to reach the vicinity of the openings 14, by inputting a predetermined signal to the control electrodes 16 of the aperture electrode 12, at least once during the period when no image forming action in accordance with the prescribed image signals is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Array Printers AB
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Ogawa, Yoshitaka Kitaoka, Akira Kumon, Masahiro Aizawa, Hiroyuki Matsuo, Akira Fukano, Akira Ryoji
  • Patent number: 5593806
    Abstract: A two-component developer suitable for use with an image-forming apparatus which permits the removal and recovery of a toner remaining on a photoconductive drum after the transfer of the toner to a receptor sheet without using cleaning means, comprisinga toner formed of toner matrix particles containing a binder resin and a colorant as main components, and a magnetic powder adhering to a surface of each toner matrix particle, anda magnetic carrier having a saturation magnetization of 90 to 200 emu/g in an external magnetic field of 3,000 oersted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Tomoegawa Paper Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryuji Nishiyama, Akira Fukano, Koji Harakawa, Makoto Miura
  • Patent number: 5160964
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus has a paper feeding system, a process unit for performing an electrophotographic process, a fixing system, an optical system, and a delivery system. The process unit is detachable from a main body through a front cover. The front cover has a container attached to its inner surface. The process unit can be divided into two parts which are separable from each other: a first part including a developer and a toner cartridge, and a second part including a photosensitive drum, a charger, a transferrer, and a cleaner. The paper feeding system is disposed on an upper portion of a main body of the image recording apparatus. The process unit and the fixing system are positioned diagonally below and forward of the paper feeding system such that a paper path connecting the paper feeding system and the fixing system descends forward. The optical system is disposed in a lower portion of the main body in such a manner as to partially underlie the process unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Takahashi, Shigemitsu Tani, Akira Fukano, Kazuto Katakura, Hitoshi Makimoto, Yoshikazu Watanabe