Patents by Inventor Asami Sasaki

Asami Sasaki 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: 20250199454
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying member, a charging device, an exposure device, a development device, and a development voltage power supply. The image carrying member has an amorphous silicon photosensitive layer formed on its surface. The development device includes a developer carrying member carrying two-component developer containing toner and carrier. The development voltage power supply applies to the developer carrying member a development voltage having an alternating-current voltage superposed on a direct-current voltage. When the blank part potential on the image carrying member is V0 [V], the direct-current voltage is Vdc [V], the peak-to-peak value of the alternating-current voltage Vac is Vpp [kV], and the gap between the image carrying member and the developer carrying member is Ds [mm], 10?V0?Vdc?90 and 1.2?Vpp/Ds?3.5 are fulfilled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2024
    Publication date: June 19, 2025
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Minoru WADA, Hiroshi YAMAZAKI, Asami SASAKI
  • Publication number: 20250110417
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a two-component developer, a photosensitive member, a charging device, a development device and an intermediate transfer belt. The intermediate transfer belt contains a base resin and a conductive agent. The base resin includes a thermoplastic resin or a thermosetting resin. The photosensitive member includes a base member and an amorphous silicon photosensitive layer. The arithmetic average roughness Ra of the surface of the photosensitive member is equal to or greater than 37 nm but equal to or less than 105 nm. The toner particle includes a toner base particle and a toner external additive that is adhered to the surface of the toner base particle. The toner external additive includes a spacer particle. The number average primary particle diameter of the spacer particle is greater than the arithmetic average roughness Ra of the surface of the photosensitive member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2024
    Publication date: April 3, 2025
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Tamotsu SHIMIZU, Akira MATAYOSHI, Norio KUBO, Asami SASAKI, Kazuaki FUJIWARA, Einosuke KIKUCHI
  • Patent number: 12055873
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developer, a development device, and an image bearing member. The developer includes an initial developer containing an initial carrier and a replenishment developer containing a replenishment carrier. The initial carrier has a surface roughness Sa1 of at least 0.3 ?m and no greater than 1.0 ?m. A ratio Sa1/Sa2 of the surface roughness Sa1 of the initial carrier to a surface roughness Sa2 of the replenishment carrier is at least 1.2 and no greater than 3.4. The packing volume Vp calculated from equation (1)“Vp=100×Y/(Z×DS)” was at least 40% and no greater than 70%. In equation (1), Y represents an amount of the developer conveyed by a developer bearing member. Z represents an apparent density of the initial developer. DS represents a width of a space between the developer bearing member and the image bearing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Masashi Fujishima, Tamotsu Shimizu, Asami Sasaki, Eriko Takeuchi
  • Publication number: 20240069469
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developer, a development device, and an image bearing member. The developer includes an initial developer containing an initial carrier and a replenishment developer containing a replenishment carrier. The initial carrier has a surface roughness Sa1 of at least 0.3 ?m and no greater than 1.0 ?m. A ratio Sa1/Sa2 of the surface roughness Sa1 of the initial carrier to a surface roughness Sa2 of the replenishment carrier is at least 1.2 and no greater than 3.4. The packing volume Vp calculated from equation (1)“Vp=100×Y/(Z×DS)” was at least 40% and no greater than 70%. In equation (1), Y represents an amount of the developer conveyed by a developer bearing member. Z represents an apparent density of the initial developer. DS represents a width of a space between the developer bearing member and the image bearing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Masashi FUJISHIMA, Tamotsu SHIMIZU, Asami SASAKI, Eriko TAKEUCHI
  • Publication number: 20240069458
    Abstract: A developer set includes a first developer and a second developer. The first developer contains a first toner containing first toner particles and a first carrier containing first carrier particles. The second developer contains a second toner containing second toner particles and a second carrier containing second carrier particles. The first toner particles and the second toner particles each include a toner mother particle and external additive particles attached to the surface of the toner mother particle. The external additive particles include spacer particles. The spacer particles have a number average primary particle diameter of at least 32 nm and no greater than 145 nm. The first carrier particles each include a first carrier mother particle and strontium titanate particles attached to the surface of the first carrier mother particle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Asami SASAKI, Norio KUBO, Masashi FUJISHIMA, Kohei TERASAKI
  • Patent number: 11314183
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer container, a developer carrier, and first and second stirring/conveying members. The developer container includes a first partition wall partitioning between the two conveying chambers longitudinally, a first communication portion for passing developer from the first to the second conveying chamber, a second communication portion for passing developer from the second to the first conveying chamber, a developer supply port for supplying developer in, a developer discharge portion for discharging excessive developer, a second partition wall arranged, adjacent to the regulating portion, downstream of the second communication portion to partition between the first conveying chamber and the regulating portion, and a shield portion connected to the two partition walls to bridge between them to shield a top part of the second communication portion. A gap is formed between an upper end part of the shield portion and the inner surface of the developer container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Masashi Fujishima, Norio Kubo, Asami Sasaki, Yasuhiro Tauchi, Tamotsu Shimizu, Akira Matayoshi, Masaki Kadota, Koji Suenami, Yuji Toyota
  • Patent number: 11209752
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer container, a developer carrier, and first and second members for stirring/conveying. The developer container includes a first partition wall between first and second chambers, a communication portion through which those chambers communicate at opposite ends of the first partition wall, a developer supply port, and a developer discharge portion. The first member stirs and conveys developer in the first chamber in a first direction. The second member stirs and conveys developer in the second chamber in a second direction and includes a regulating portion and a discharging blade. The developer container includes a second partition wall between the first chamber and the regulating portion. The gap from the upper end of the second partition wall to the inner surface of the developer container is larger than the gap thereto from the upper ends of a first helical blade and the regulating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Asami Sasaki, Akira Matayoshi, Norio Kubo, Koji Suenami, Yuji Toyota, Tamotsu Shimizu, Masashi Fujishima, Yasuhiro Tauchi
  • Publication number: 20210364951
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer container, a developer carrier, and first and second members for stirring/conveying. The developer container includes a first partition wall between first and second chambers, a communication portion through which those chambers communicate at opposite ends of the first partition wall, a developer supply port, and a developer discharge portion. The first member stirs and conveys developer in the first chamber in a first direction. The second member stirs and conveys developer in the second chamber in a second direction and includes a regulating portion and a discharging blade. The developer container includes a second partition wall between the first chamber and the regulating portion. The gap from the upper end of the second partition wall to the inner surface of the developer container is larger than the gap thereto from the upper ends of a first helical blade and the regulating portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Asami SASAKI, Akira MATAYOSHI, Norio KUBO, Koji SUENAMI, Yuji TOYOTA, Tamotsu SHIMIZU, Masashi FUJISHIMA, Yasuhiro TAUCHI
  • Publication number: 20210364944
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer container, a developer carrier, and first and second stirring/conveying members. The developer container includes a first partition wall partitioning between the two conveying chambers longitudinally, a first communication portion for passing developer from the first to the second conveying chamber, a second communication portion for passing developer from the second to the first conveying chamber, a developer supply port for supplying developer in, a developer discharge portion for discharging excessive developer, a second partition wall arranged, adjacent to the regulating portion, downstream of the second communication portion to partition between the first conveying chamber and the regulating portion, and a shield portion connected to the two partition walls to bridge between them to shield a top part of the second communication portion. A gap is formed between an upper end part of the shield portion and the inner surface of the developer container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Masashi FUJISHIMA, Norio KUBO, Asami SASAKI, Yasuhiro TAUCHI, Tamotsu SHIMIZU, Akira MATAYOSHI, Masaki KADOTA, Koji SUENAMI, Yuji TOYOTA
  • Patent number: 11163243
    Abstract: A bias condition determiner executes, in order, a first direct current voltage determination mode (first DC calibration) for determining a provisional reference direct current voltage that is a provisional reference for a direct current voltage of a developing bias applied to a developing roller, an inter-peak voltage determination mode (AC calibration) for determining a reference inter-peak voltage that is a reference for an inter-peak voltage of an alternating current voltage of the developing bias applied to the developing roller in an image forming operation, and a second direct current voltage determination mode (second DC calibration) for determining a reference direct current voltage that is a reference for the direct current voltage of the developing bias applied to the developing roller in the image forming operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Tamotsu Shimizu, Norio Kubo, Asami Sasaki, Yasuhiro Tauchi, Yuji Toyota
  • Publication number: 20210302867
    Abstract: A bias condition determiner executes, in order, a first direct current voltage determination mode (first DC calibration) for determining a provisional reference direct current voltage that is a provisional reference for a direct current voltage of a developing bias applied to a developing roller, an inter-peak voltage determination mode (AC calibration) for determining a reference inter-peak voltage that is a reference for an inter-peak voltage of an alternating current voltage of the developing bias applied to the developing roller in an image forming operation, and a second direct current voltage determination mode (second DC calibration) for determining a reference direct current voltage that is a reference for the direct current voltage of the developing bias applied to the developing roller in the image forming operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Tamotsu Shimizu, Norio Kubo, Asami Sasaki, Yasuhiro Tauchi, Yuji Toyota
  • Publication number: 20210302866
    Abstract: A bias condition determiner executes a direct current voltage determination mode (DC calibration) for determining a reference direct current voltage that is a reference for a direct current voltage of a developing bias applied to a developing roller in an image forming operation and an inter-peak voltage determination mode (AC calibration) for determining a reference inter-peak voltage that is a reference for an inter-peak voltage of an alternating current voltage of the developing bias applied to the developing roller in the image forming operation. A calibration executor determines whether the inter-peak voltage determination mode needs to be executed in accordance with a value of the reference direct current voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Tamotsu SHIMIZU, Norio KUBO, Asami SASAKI, Yasuhiro TAUCHI, Yuji TOYOTA
  • Patent number: 11112722
    Abstract: A bias condition determiner executes a direct current voltage determination mode (DC calibration) for determining a reference direct current voltage that is a reference for a direct current voltage of a developing bias applied to a developing roller in an image forming operation and an inter-peak voltage determination mode (AC calibration) for determining a reference inter-peak voltage that is a reference for an inter-peak voltage of an alternating current voltage of the developing bias applied to the developing roller in the image forming operation. A calibration executor determines whether the inter-peak voltage determination mode needs to be executed in accordance with a value of the reference direct current voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Tamotsu Shimizu, Norio Kubo, Asami Sasaki, Yasuhiro Tauchi, Yuji Toyota
  • Patent number: 10417195
    Abstract: A management system displays two or more columns lined up in accordance with a sequence order of a selected display rule. Each display rule is a customized rule, and includes a first type, one or more second types, and a sequence order of display for two or more columns respectively corresponding to the first type and the one or more second types. In a first column, which corresponds to a selection type, one or more objects is displayed respectively corresponding to a one or more elements, and in each of a one or more second columns, an object is displayed which belongs to a type corresponding to the second column, and corresponds to an element that is topologically related to at least one of the one or more selected elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Asami Sasaki, Taiki Eiraku, Yuusuke Asai, Kousuke Shibata
  • Patent number: 10345741
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developing container, first and second stirring-conveyance members, a developer carrier, a toner concentration sensor, a scraper, and a scraper attachment unit. The second stirring-conveyance member includes a rotation shaft, a first spiral blade to convey developer in an axial direction, and a second spiral blade to overlap a region where the first spiral blade is formed, which is opposite to the first spiral blade in phase, and lower than the first spiral blade in height in a radial direction. An absent region, where the second spiral blade does not exist, is formed in one pitch of the first spiral blade, the one pitch facing the toner concentration sensor. The scraper attachment unit is formed to extend, along a straight line passing through intersection points of the first and second spiral blades and parallel to the rotation shaft, into the absent region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Masashi Fujishima, Norio Kubo, Junichi Nakagawa, Asami Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20180253033
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developing container, first and second stirring-conveyance members, a developer carrier, a toner concentration sensor, a scraper, and a scraper attachment unit. The second stirring-conveyance member includes a rotation shaft, a first spiral blade to convey developer in an axial direction, and a second spiral blade to overlap a region where the first spiral blade is formed, which is opposite to the first spiral blade in phase, and lower than the first spiral blade in height in a radial direction. An absent region, where the second spiral blade does not exist, is formed in one pitch of the first spiral blade, the one pitch facing the toner concentration sensor. The scraper attachment unit is formed to extend, along a straight line passing through intersection points of the first and second spiral blades and parallel to the rotation shaft, into the absent region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Masashi FUJISHIMA, Norio KUBO, Junichi NAKAGAWA, Asami SASAKI
  • Publication number: 20180046620
    Abstract: A management system displays two or more columns lined up in accordance with a sequence order of a selected display rule. Each display rule is a customized rule, and includes a first type, one or more second types, and a sequence order of display for two or more columns respectively corresponding to the first type and the one or more second types. In a first column, which corresponds to a selection type, one or more objects is displayed respectively corresponding to a one or more elements, and in each of a one or more second columns, an object is displayed which belongs to a type corresponding to the second column, and corresponds to an element that is topologically related to at least one of the one or more selected elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Asami SASAKI, Taiki EIRAKU, Yuusuke ASAI, Kousuke SHIBATA
  • Patent number: 9372443
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developing container, a toner carrier, and a plurality of air outlet ports. The plurality of air outlet ports are formed in such part of a wall of the developing container as faces the toner carrier, along a longitudinal direction of the developing container, the air outlet ports communicating with a duct next to the developing container. The toner carrier includes a coat layer on the outer circumferential surface thereof. The coat layer is formed by dripping the toner carrier into a resin coating liquid with one end in the longitudinal direction thereof first, the one end being a lower end of during the dipping, and then lifting the toner carrier out of the resin coating liquid. The toner carrier is arranged such that the lower end of during the dipping is disposed on an upstream side with respect to an airflow direction in the duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Asami Sasaki, Masaru Hatano, Norio Kubo
  • Publication number: 20160077464
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developing container, a toner carrier, and a plurality of air outlet ports. The plurality of air outlet ports are formed in such part of a wall of the developing container as faces the toner carrier, along a longitudinal direction of the developing container, the air outlet ports communicating with a duct next to the developing container. The toner carrier includes a coat layer on the outer circumferential surface thereof. The coat layer is formed by dripping the toner carrier into a resin coating liquid with one end in the longitudinal direction thereof first, the one end being a lower end of during the dipping, and then lifting the toner carrier out of the resin coating liquid. The toner carrier is arranged such that the lower end of during the dipping is disposed on an upstream side with respect to an airflow direction in the duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Asami SASAKI, Masaru HATANO, Norio KUBO
  • Patent number: D884902
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: OMRON HEALTHCARE Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kengo Nishiyama, Tsuyoshi Ogihara, Yoshikazu Inami, Asa Hirasawa, Masaaki Nonoyama, Yuki Suzuki, Yuki Kinpara, Asami Sasaki