Patents by Inventor Akira SHIMODAIRA
Akira SHIMODAIRA 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).
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Publication number: 20210011399Abstract: A sheet-member guide structure includes a first guide member that guides a sheet member from a fixing unit to a transport roller unit, the fixing unit fixing an image formed on the sheet member to the sheet member by heating the sheet member that is transported, the transport roller unit transporting the sheet member; and a second guide member that comes into contact with the sheet member to which the image has been fixed by the fixing unit and guides the sheet member to the transport roller unit, the second guide member being disposed downstream of the first guide member in a transporting direction in which the sheet member is transported and being made of a material having a thermal conductivity higher than a thermal conductivity of a material of the first guide member.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2020Publication date: January 14, 2021Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.Inventor: Akira SHIMODAIRA
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Patent number: 10871728Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 24, 2019Date of Patent: December 22, 2020Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.Inventors: Kazuya Ogishima, Sota Hara, Kazuhiro Saito, Yukihiro Ichiki, Hiroki Shiba, Akira Shimodaira
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Publication number: 20200379370Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2019Publication date: December 3, 2020Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.Inventors: Kazuya OGISHIMA, Sota HARA, Kazuhiro SAITO, Yukihiro ICHIKI, Hiroki SHIBA, Akira SHIMODAIRA
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Patent number: 10852669Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 21, 2019Date of Patent: December 1, 2020Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.Inventors: Toshihiro Goda, Yukihiro Ichiki, Akira Shimodaira, Keita Hashimoto, Masaki Suto
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Patent number: 10768555Abstract: A cleaning device includes a scraping portion whose edge is pressed against a rotational body to which toner adheres and that scrapes the toner off the rotational body, and a container that contains the toner that has been scraped off the rotational body. The container has a through-hole that opens in a portion of the container facing the scraping portion and that allows a gas to flow from an inside of the container toward the scraping portion.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2019Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.Inventors: Kazuya Ogishima, Akira Shimodaira
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Publication number: 20200264539Abstract: A cleaning device includes a scraping portion whose edge is pressed against a rotational body to which toner adheres and that scrapes the toner off the rotational body, and a container that contains the toner that has been scraped off the rotational body. The container has a through-hole that opens in a portion of the container facing the scraping portion and that allows a gas to flow from an inside of the container toward the scraping portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2019Publication date: August 20, 2020Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.Inventors: Kazuya OGISHIMA, Akira SHIMODAIRA
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Publication number: 20200264549Abstract: A paper guide member includes plural thread-shaped protrusions extending in a passing direction of paper to guide the paper after a toner image is transferred so that the paper passes with a distance secured from a static eliminator that eliminates static electricity in proximity to the paper in a width direction of the paper. The plural thread-shaped protrusions adjoin each other across a slit in the width direction of the paper. The plural thread-shaped protrusions include first thread-shaped protrusions each having a height at which the paper is supported and guided, and second thread-shaped protrusions each having a height smaller than the height of each of the first thread-shaped protrusions and present in regions on an outer side of both ends in the width direction of each passing region where paper having each width passes.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2019Publication date: August 20, 2020Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., Ltd.Inventor: Akira SHIMODAIRA
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Patent number: 10747148Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer section, a guide section, and a plate material. The transfer section transfers an image to a recording material. The guide section guides the recording material toward the transfer section. The plate material is provided on the guide section, and is more easily elastically deformable than the guide section. The plate material guides the recording material, which is transported to the plate material, along a plate surface of the plate material. The plate material is thinner on a downstream side in a transport direction than on an upstream side.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2019Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.Inventors: Hiroki Oka, Akira Shimodaira
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Patent number: 10725404Abstract: A guide structure includes a contact member disposed downstream of a nipping unit in a transporting direction in which a recording medium is transported, the nipping unit nipping the recording medium between a heating roller, which heats an image formed on the recording medium that is transported, and a pressure roller, which presses the recording medium against the heating roller, the contact member protruding toward the recording medium and being rubbed against an image surface of the recording medium, on which the image is formed, while being in contact with the image surface over a region extending in a width direction of the recording medium and while the recording medium is nipped by the nipping portion.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2019Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.Inventor: Akira Shimodaira
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Patent number: 10670996Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 25, 2019Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.Inventors: Keita Hashimoto, Yukihiro Ichiki, Masaki Suto, Akira Shimodaira, Toshihiro Goda
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Publication number: 20200096915Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2019Publication date: March 26, 2020Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.Inventors: Keita HASHIMOTO, Yukihiro ICHIKI, Masaki SUTO, Akira SHIMODAIRA, Toshihiro GODA
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Publication number: 20200096912Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2019Publication date: March 26, 2020Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.Inventors: Toshihiro GODA, Yukihiro ICHIKI, Akira SHIMODAIRA, Keita HASHIMOTO, Masaki SUTO
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Publication number: 20200073293Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2019Publication date: March 5, 2020Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.Inventors: Yukihiro ICHIKI, Akira SHIMODAIRA, Keita HASHIMOTO, Toshihiro GODA, Masaki SUTO
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Publication number: 20200033765Abstract: A guide structure includes a contact member disposed downstream of a nipping unit in a transporting direction in which a recording medium is transported, the nipping unit nipping the recording medium between a heating roller, which heats an image formed on the recording medium that is transported, and a pressure roller, which presses the recording medium against the heating roller, the contact member protruding toward the recording medium and being rubbed against an image surface of the recording medium, on which the image is formed, while being in contact with the image surface over a region extending in a width direction of the recording medium and while the recording medium is nipped by the nipping portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2019Publication date: January 30, 2020Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.Inventor: Akira SHIMODAIRA
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Publication number: 20200026233Abstract: A guide structure includes a first guide member that guides a recording medium from a fixing unit to a transport roller unit, the fixing unit fixing an image formed on the recording medium to the recording medium by heating the recording medium that is transported, the transport roller unit transporting the recording medium; and a second guide member that comes into contact with the recording medium to which the image has been fixed by the fixing unit and guides the recording medium to the transport roller unit, the second guide member being disposed downstream of the first guide member in a transporting direction in which the recording medium is transported and being made of a material having a thermal conductivity higher than a thermal conductivity of a material of the first guide member.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2019Publication date: January 23, 2020Applicant: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.Inventor: Akira SHIMODAIRA
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Publication number: 20190384212Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit that transports a sheet of paper carrying an unfixed image through a nip part to fix the unfixed image to the sheet, a first guide unit coming into contact with a side of the sheet that guides transport of the sheet, and a second guide unit coming into contact with an opposite side of the sheet that guides transport of the sheet. The first guide unit has a recess serving as a guide part, the recess being recessed in a direction away from a transport path of the sheet. The second guide unit has a bending part serving as a guide part, the bending part having a shape of a circular arc in cross-section, the bending part being disposed such that at least a portion of the bending part lies inside the recess.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2018Publication date: December 19, 2019Applicant: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yukihiro Ichiki, Kyogo Soshi, Akira Shimodaira, Sota Hara, Yosuke Ninomiya
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Patent number: 10509345Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit that transports a sheet of paper carrying an unfixed image through a nip part to fix the unfixed image to the sheet, a first guide unit coming into contact with a side of the sheet that guides transport of the sheet, and a second guide unit coming into contact with an opposite side of the sheet that guides transport of the sheet. The first guide unit has a recess serving as a guide part, the recess being recessed in a direction away from a transport path of the sheet. The second guide unit has a bending part serving as a guide part, the bending part having a shape of a circular arc in cross-section, the bending part being disposed such that at least a portion of the bending part lies inside the recess.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2018Date of Patent: December 17, 2019Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yukihiro Ichiki, Kyogo Soshi, Akira Shimodaira, Sota Hara, Yosuke Ninomiya
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Publication number: 20190317425Abstract: A transfer device includes a transfer member that rotates to transfer an image held on an image carrier to a medium; an opposing member opposing the transfer member and forming, between the opposing member and the transfer member, a transfer area for an image to be transferred; a recovery member disposed in contact with the transfer member to electrically attract and recover an adherent adhering to the transfer member; and a bias-voltage applicating device that applies a transfer bias voltage to the transfer area via the recovery member, the transfer member, and the opposing member.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2018Publication date: October 17, 2019Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.Inventor: Akira SHIMODAIRA
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Patent number: 10317830Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first image forming part that forms an image on one surface of a recording material; and a second image forming part provided at an upper side of the first image forming part in a gravitational direction, the second image forming part that transports the recording material received from the first image forming part such that the one surface faces downward in the gravitational direction and that forms an image on the one surface from a lower side in the gravitational direction.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2018Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.Inventors: Yosuke Ninomiya, Keita Hashimoto, Sho Watanabe, Akira Shimodaira, Toshihiro Goda
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Patent number: 10308465Abstract: A sheet transport device includes pre-transfer sheet-transport rollers that transport a sheet to a transfer position at which an unfixed image is transferred, the pre-transfer sheet-transport rollers including a first roller in which three or more separate rollers attached to a first shaft rotate, and a second roller in which three or more separate rollers attached to a second shaft are in contact with the separate rollers of the first roller and rotate. The hardness of an inner separate roller of the first roller is lower than the hardness of end separate rollers of the first roller. The outside diameter of an inner separate roller of the second roller is greater than the outside diameter of end separate rollers of the second roller.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2017Date of Patent: June 4, 2019Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.Inventor: Akira Shimodaira