Patents by Inventor Ayumi Noguchi

Ayumi Noguchi 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).

  • Patent number: 11092908
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image holding unit that holds an image that is formed of a developer, the image being intended to be transferred onto a medium, and an image that is not intended to be transferred onto a medium, a transfer unit that transfers the image that is intended to be transferred onto a medium onto a medium, a removing unit that removes the image that is not intended to be transferred onto a medium from the image holding unit, and a forming unit that forms the image that is not intended to be transferred onto a medium onto the image holding unit by using a developer and that has a first forming mode for a first medium and a second forming mode for a second medium that has a transfer sensitivity lower than a transfer sensitivity of the first medium, the forming unit being configured to use a larger amount of the developer in formation of the image that is not intended to be transferred onto a medium in the first forming mode than in the second forming mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Masaaki Yamaura, Yoshiyuki Tominaga, Kotaro Araki, Ayumi Noguchi
  • Patent number: 11086250
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that carries an image, a developing unit that applies a developing voltage to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier with a developer, a transfer unit that electrostatically transfers the image onto media of different types, and a development controller that controls a developing operation of the developing unit. The development controller has a first control mode for a first medium, and a second control mode for a second medium having a lower transferability than the first medium. In the first control mode, the developing unit applies the developing voltage according to a first developing condition. In the second control mode, the developing unit applies the developing voltage according to a second developing condition in which a developing property is reduced as compared with the first developing condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Tominaga, Masaaki Yamaura, Kotaro Araki, Ayumi Noguchi
  • Patent number: 11029625
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier configured to carry an image; a transfer unit configured to transfer the image to a medium; and a cleaner configured to remove deposits on a surface of the image carrier after passing through a position of the transfer unit, in which when a type of a medium to be used is a first medium, the cleaner improves an ability to remove the deposits from the image carrier as compared with a case where the medium to be used is a second medium having a lower transfer sensitivity than the first medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP.
    Inventors: Kotaro Araki, Masaaki Yamaura, Yoshinori Takahashi, Yoshiyuki Tominaga, Ayumi Noguchi, Takeshi Yasuda, Masahiro Katahira
  • Patent number: 10996624
    Abstract: A charging device includes: a charging roll configured to charge a photoconductor; a housing that houses the charging roll; and a heating unit that directly heats the housing or the charging roll. In the charging device, the heating unit may be disposed in contact with an outside or inside of the housing, and at least a part of the outside or inside of the housing may be covered with a thermally conductive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ayumi Noguchi
  • Publication number: 20210080854
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that carries an image, a developing unit that applies a developing voltage to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier with a developer, a transfer unit that electrostatically transfers the image onto media of different types, and a development controller that controls a developing operation of the developing unit. The development controller has a first control mode for a first medium, and a second control mode for a second medium having a lower transferability than the first medium. In the first control mode, the developing unit applies the developing voltage according to a first developing condition. In the second control mode, the developing unit applies the developing voltage according to a second developing condition in which a developing property is reduced as compared with the first developing condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki TOMINAGA, Masaaki YAMAURA, Kotaro ARAKI, Ayumi NOGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20210072694
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier configured to carry an image; a transfer unit configured to transfer the image to a medium; and a cleaner configured to remove deposits on a surface of the image carrier after passing through a position of the transfer unit, in which when a type of a medium to be used is a first medium, the cleaner improves an ability to remove the deposits from the image carrier as compared with a case where the medium to be used is a second medium having a lower transfer sensitivity than the first medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO.,LTD.
    Inventors: Kotaro Araki, Masaaki Yamaura, Yoshinori Takahashi, Yoshiyuki Tominaga, Ayumi Noguchi, Takeshi Yasuda, Masahiro Katahira
  • Publication number: 20210072700
    Abstract: A charging device includes: a charging roll configured to charge a photoconductor; a housing that houses the charging roll; and a heating unit that directly heats the housing or the charging roll. In the charging device, the heating unit may be disposed in contact with an outside or inside of the housing, and at least a part of the outside or inside of the housing may be covered with a thermally conductive member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ayumi NOGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20210072658
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image holding unit that holds an image that is formed of a developer, the image being intended to be transferred onto a medium, and an image that is not intended to be transferred onto a medium, a transfer unit that transfers the image that is intended to be transferred onto a medium onto a medium, a removing unit that removes the image that is not intended to be transferred onto a medium from the image holding unit, and a forming unit that forms the image that is not intended to be transferred onto a medium onto the image holding unit by using a developer and that has a first forming mode for a first medium and a second forming mode for a second medium that has a transfer sensitivity lower than a transfer sensitivity of the first medium, the forming unit being configured to use a larger amount of the developer in formation of the image that is not intended to be transferred onto a medium in the first forming mode than in the second forming mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki YAMAURA, Yoshiyuki TOMINAGA, Kotaro ARAKI, Ayumi NOGUCHI
  • Patent number: 10613454
    Abstract: A developing device includes: a container for accommodating developer, the container having an exhaust port; and a merging section where airflows directed from the interior of the container to the exhaust port join together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ayumi Noguchi, Shinichi Kuramoto, Norihiro Tamazawa, Yoshitaka Nakajima, Tomoyuki Yoshii, Masanori Kato, Ryota Tomishi
  • Publication number: 20200096901
    Abstract: A developing device includes: a container for accommodating developer, the container having an exhaust port; and a merging section where airflows directed from the interior of the container to the exhaust port join together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ayumi NOGUCHI, Shinichi KURAMOTO, Norihiro TAMAZAWA, Yoshitaka NAKAJIMA, Tomoyuki YOSHII, Masanori KATO, Ryota TOMISHI
  • Patent number: 10496010
    Abstract: A developing device includes an accommodating section that accommodates a developer; a developing section; a transporting section that is disposed below the developing section in a gravitational direction; a flow channel portion that extends from an inner side to an outer side of the accommodating section; a first wall portion that extends towards the transporting section at an end portion on an inner side of the flow channel portion; and a second wall portion that extends towards the transporting section at the end portion on the inner side of the flow channel portion, a distance from the second wall portion to an outer peripheral edge of the transporting section being greater than or equal to a distance from the first wall portion to the outer peripheral edge of the transporting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi Kuramoto, Ayumi Noguchi
  • Patent number: 10496012
    Abstract: A developing device includes: a container for accommodating developer, the container having an exhaust port and an opening; an air flow path having an inlet of air directed to the exhaust port and through which the air passes; a cylindrical rotation member disposed at the opening in the container and is rotated such that a portion thereof facing the interior of the container moves upward; a transport member that rotates about a rotation axis extending along the rotation member and transports the developer inside the container; and an attachment magnetic pole that is disposed inside the rotation member and that allows the developer transported by the transport member to attach to the rotation member. The inlet of the air flow path is located above the attachment magnetic pole in a top-bottom direction. The inlet is located farther from the attachment magnetic pole than the rotation axis of the transport member is in the horizontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi Kuramoto, Ayumi Noguchi
  • Publication number: 20190294077
    Abstract: A developing device includes an accommodating section that accommodates a developer; a developing section; a transporting section that is disposed below the developing section in a gravitational direction; a flow channel portion that extends from an inner side to an outer side of the accommodating section; a first wall portion that extends towards the transporting section at an end portion on an inner side of the flow channel portion; and a second wall portion that extends towards the transporting section at the end portion on the inner side of the flow channel portion, a distance from the second wall portion to an outer peripheral edge of the transporting section being greater than or equal to a distance from the first wall portion to the outer peripheral edge of the transporting section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO.,LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi KURAMOTO, Ayumi NOGUCHI
  • Patent number: 10162284
    Abstract: A developing device includes a container that contains developer; a rotating body that rotates while carrying the developer and supplies the developer to a latent image formed on an image carrier; a channel through which air in the container is discharged out of the container; a first member that is positioned downstream of a position at which the developer is separated from the rotating body in a rotation direction of the rotating body and with which the developer separated from the rotating body comes into contact; and a second member that is positioned downstream of the first member in the rotation direction of the rotating body and with which the developer separated from the rotating body comes into contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi Kuramoto, Yoshitaka Nakajima, Ayumi Noguchi
  • Publication number: 20180267427
    Abstract: A developing device includes a container that contains developer; a rotating body that rotates while carrying the developer and supplies the developer to a latent image formed on an image carrier; a channel through which air in the container is discharged out of the container; a first member that is positioned downstream of a position at which the developer is separated from the rotating body in a rotation direction of the rotating body and with which the developer separated from the rotating body comes into contact; and a second member that is positioned downstream of the first member in the rotation direction of the rotating body and with which the developer separated from the rotating body comes into contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi KURAMOTO, Yoshitaka NAKAJIMA, Ayumi NOGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20170277077
    Abstract: A developer transport device includes a transport path through which a developer is transported from a developer container to a developing device; an inlet portion that is disposed at an upstream end of the transport path in a developer transport direction and into which the developer falls freely from an outlet opening of the developer container; a transport member that is disposed in the transport path and that transports the developer by rotating; and a rotation control unit that causes, if the transport member has not been driven for a predetermined period, the transport member to rotate in a backward direction that is opposite to a forward direction in which the transport member rotates when supplying the developer to the developing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ayumi NOGUCHI, Shota OBA, Norihiro TAMAZAWA
  • Patent number: 9645526
    Abstract: Provided is a powder containing device including a powder container that contains powder, that has a first end which is closed, that has a second end which is opened, that includes a main body section and a tapered section which is disposed on the second end side from the main body section and has a diameter reduced as close to the second end side, and that has an inner circumferential surface on which a protruding ridge is formed to convey the powder to the second end side by rotating around a rotation axis extending in a direction in which the first end and the second end is connected, and a lid member that is provided with an outlet of the powder, is maintained in a non-rotating state, and causes the powder flowing from the opening to flow out from the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shota Oba, Norihiro Tamazawa, Ayumi Noguchi, Makoto Kanno, Keisuke Kubo, Seigo Shinozaki
  • Patent number: 9639028
    Abstract: A container for developer detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus body includes a container body, a discharge member, a resistive member, and a resistance reduction mechanism. The container body contains developer and is rotated when drive is transmitted from the image forming apparatus body. The discharge member supports the container body rotatable relative to the discharge member and has a discharge port through which the developer is discharged. The resistive member is brought into contact with the container body so as to apply resistance to the rotation of the container body. The resistance reduction mechanism changes a contact state between the resistive member and the container body so as to reduce the resistance between the resistive member and the container body when the container is mounted to the image forming apparatus body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyohito Horii, Seigo Shinozaki, Makoto Kanno, Shota Oba, Norihiro Tamazawa, Ayumi Noguchi, Shigeru Inaba, Shinichiro Fujimori
  • Patent number: 9639029
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an accommodation container, a storage medium, and a controller. The accommodation container includes a rotational portion and outflow portion. The rotational portion accommodates a developer therein and has a helical-shaped transport section formed in an inner surface thereof. The outflow portion rotatably supports the rotational portion and has an outflow port through which the developer transported during rotation of the rotational portion flows out. The storage medium stores use state information of the developer accommodated in the rotational portion. The controller controls a driving source which drives the rotational portion. When a use state of the accommodation container for the developer is a use state which is set in advance, the controller intermittently drives the rotational portion by performing driving at a rotation angle of (n+½)?±18 degrees or less than 90 degrees and stopping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ayumi Noguchi, Shota Oba, Norihiro Tamazawa, Makoto Kanno, Seigo Shinozaki, Keisuke Kubo
  • Publication number: 20170090346
    Abstract: Provided is a developer-containing vessel including a fixing section that includes a discharge portion through which developer is discharged, a rotation section that includes a container in which the developer is contained and a dispersion member which is supported to be integrally rotatable along with the container and disperses the developer during rotation, and that is supported to be rotatable with respect to the fixing section, and a transport portion that is formed in the container, is inclined with respect to a rotational axis direction of the rotation section, and transports the developer during the rotation of the rotation section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Norihiro TAMAZAWA, Shota OBA, Ayumi NOGUCHI, Makoto KANNO, Keisuke KUBO, Seigo SHINOZAKI