Patents by Inventor Haruhiko Omata

Haruhiko Omata 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: 20240210858
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a heater including first and second heating members, the first heating member is longer than the second heating member in a widthwise direction. The image forming apparatus performs image formation on a first recording material shorter than the second heating member and a second recording material shorter than the first heating member and longer than the second heating member. In a case that first and second sheet are the first recording material, an electric power supplied to the first heating member is a first electric power while the first sheet passes through a nip, and in a case that the first sheet is the first recording material and the second sheet is the second recording material, the electric power is a second electric power smaller than the first electric power while the first sheet passes through the nip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2023
    Publication date: June 27, 2024
    Inventor: HARUHIKO OMATA
  • Patent number: 11509782
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, an intermediate transfer member, a transfer member, a power source, a fixing unit, a photo sensor photosensor, and a control unit configured to perform a mode to output a test chart which is formed by transferring a plurality of test toner images from the intermediate transfer member onto a plurality of sheets of the recording material, the test chart being used to adjust the transfer voltage applied to the transfer member. The control unit is configured to adjust the transfer voltage based on a detection result of the photo sensor photosensor detecting the plurality of test toner images recovered fixed on the recording material. In a case where a jam occurred during execution of the mode, the control unit is configured to resume the mode after the jam has been recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Haruhiko Omata
  • Publication number: 20220159135
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, an intermediate transfer member, a transfer member, a power source, a fixing unit, a photo sensor photosensor, and a control unit configured to perform a mode to output a test chart which is formed by transferring a plurality of test toner images from the intermediate transfer member onto a plurality of sheets of the recording material, the test chart being used to adjust the transfer voltage applied to the transfer member. The control unit is configured to adjust the transfer voltage based on a detection result of the photo sensor photosensor detecting the plurality of test toner images recovered fixed on the recording material. In a case where a jam occurred during execution of the mode, the control unit is configured to resume the mode after the jam has been recovered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventor: Haruhiko Omata
  • Publication number: 20220146968
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, an intermediate transfer member, a power source, and a control unit configured to perform a mode to output a test chart which is formed by transferring a plurality of test toner images from the intermediate transfer member to a plurality of sheets of the recording material. In a case where a jam occurred during execution of the mode, the control unit is configured to resume the mode after the jam has been recovered. In a case where the control unit resumes the mode after the jam has occurred during the execution of the mode, the control unit is configured to resume the mode from a first sheet of the plurality of sheets of the recording material regardless of a number of sheets of the recording material not discharged due to the jam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventor: Haruhiko Omata
  • Patent number: 11308369
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a transfer member configured to transfer a toner image carried on the image bearing member to a sheet by being applied with a voltage; a controller configured to execute a mode of outputting a test chart for setting a voltage to be applied to the transfer member during image formation, the mode being a mode of transferring a plurality of test images to the test chart by applying a plurality of different voltages to the transfer member; and an operation portion capable of setting a type of a sheet on which the mode is executed. The controller is configured to preset a voltage value for setting a voltage to be applied when the test images are transferred in execution of the mode based on a voltage value, which is set in the previous execution of the mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Haruhiko Omata
  • Patent number: 11277529
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, an intermediate transfer member, a transfer member, a power source, a fixing unit, a photosensor, and a control unit configured to perform a mode to output a test chart which is formed by transferring a plurality of test toner images from the intermediate transfer member onto a plurality of sheets of the recording material, the test chart being used to adjust the transfer voltage applied to the transfer member. The control unit is configured to adjust the transfer voltage based on a detection result of the photosensor detecting the plurality of test toner images fixed on the recording material. In a case where a jam occurred during execution of the mode, the control unit is configured to resume the mode after the jam has been recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Haruhiko Omata
  • Patent number: 11249422
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, an intermediate transfer member, a power source, and a control unit configured to perform a mode to output a test chart which is formed by transferring a plurality of test toner images from the intermediate transfer member to a plurality of sheets of the recording material. In a case where a jam occurred during execution of the mode, the control unit is configured to resume the mode after the jam has been recovered. In a case where the control unit resumes the mode after the jam has occurred during the execution of the mode, the control unit is configured to resume the mode from a first sheet of the plurality of sheets of the recording material regardless of a number of sheets of the recording material not discharged due to the jam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Haruhiko Omata
  • Patent number: 11195068
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a transfer member; and a controller configured to execute a plurality of modes of outputting a test chart, the modes involving transferring a plurality of test images to the test chart by applying a plurality of different voltages to the transfer member. The modes include a first mode and a second mode, the first mode being a mode in which a number of voltage levels to be applied to the transfer member when the plurality of test images are transferred to the test chart is a first predetermined number, and the second mode being a mode in which the number of voltage levels to be applied to the transfer member when the plurality of test images are transferred to the test chart is a second predetermined number which is greater than the first predetermined number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Haruhiko Omata
  • Publication number: 20210311418
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, an intermediate transfer member, a power source, and a control unit configured to perform a mode to output a test chart which is formed by transferring a plurality of test toner images from the intermediate transfer member to a plurality of sheets of the recording material. In a case where a jam occurred during execution of the mode, the control unit is configured to resume the mode after the jam has been recovered. In a case where the control unit resumes the mode after the jam has occurred during the execution of the mode, the control unit is configured to resume the mode from a first sheet of the plurality of sheets of the recording material regardless of a number of sheets of the recording material not discharged due to the jam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventor: Haruhiko Omata
  • Publication number: 20210314453
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, an intermediate transfer member, a transfer member, a power source, a fixing unit, a photo sensor, and a control unit configured to perform a mode to output a test chart which is formed by transferring a plurality of test toner images from the intermediate transfer member onto a plurality of sheets of the recording material, the test chart being used to adjust the transfer voltage applied to the transfer member. The control unit is configured to adjust the transfer voltage based on a detection result of the photo sensor detecting the plurality of test toner images recovered on the recording material. In a case where a jam occurred during execution of the mode, the control unit is configured to resume the mode after the jam has been recovered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventor: Haruhiko Omata
  • Patent number: 10990051
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, an image transfer device for transferring a toner image from the image bearing member to a sheet, an application device for applying a transfer voltage to the image transfer device, and a controller for controlling an output mode operation for outputting a predetermined chart in which test halftone toner images transferred with different transfer voltages are formed to adjust the transfer voltage. When outputting a maximum size of the chart, the controller forms the test toner images in a region within 50 mm from an edge in a width direction perpendicular to a feeding direction of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Haruhiko Omata, Tatsuomi Murayama
  • Publication number: 20200242428
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image bearing member; a transfer member; and a controller configured to execute a plurality of modes of outputting a test chart, the modes being a mode of transferring a plurality of test images to the test chart by applying a plurality of different voltages to the transfer member; wherein the modes include a first mode and a second mode, the first mode being a mode in which a number of voltage levels to be applied to the transfer member when the plurality of test images are transferred to the test chart is a first predetermined number, the second mode being a mode in which the number of voltage levels to be applied to the transfer member when the plurality of test images are transferred to the test chart is a second predetermined number which is greater than the first predetermined number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventor: Haruhiko Omata
  • Publication number: 20200242426
    Abstract: A image forming apparatus includes: an image bearing member; a transfer member configured to transfer a toner image carried on the image bearing member to a sheet by being applied with a voltage; a controller configured to execute a mode of outputting a test chart for setting a voltage to be applied to the transfer member during image formation, the mode being a mode of transferring a plurality of test images to the test chart by applying a plurality of different voltages to the transfer member; and an operation portion capable of setting a type of a sheet on which the mode is executed; wherein the controller is configured to preset a voltage value for setting a voltage to be applied when the test images are transferred in the mode based on a voltage value, which is set in the previous mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventor: Haruhiko Omata
  • Publication number: 20200166881
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; an image transfer device for transferring a toner image from aid image bearing member to a sheet; an application device for applying a transfer voltage to the image transfer device; and a controller for controlling an output mode operation for outputting a predetermined chart in which test halftone toner images transferred with different transfer voltages are formed to adjust the transfer voltage. When outputting a maximum size of the chart, the controller forms the test toner images in a region within 50 mm from an edge in a width direction perpendicular to a feeding direction of the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Haruhiko Omata, Tatsuomi Murayama
  • Patent number: 10585376
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a controller configured to control a first and a second voltage applied to a transfer device when transferring an image to a first and a second side of a recording material, respectively. The controller controls a mode that outputs a test chart on which at least one of a plurality of first test images for adjusting the first voltage and a plurality of second test images for adjusting the second voltage is formed. In a case of forming the second test images on a second side of the test chart, and before forming the second test images, the controller forms a plurality of predetermined toner images under a same image forming condition on a first side of the test chart so that the predetermined toner images are formed on a plurality of predetermined areas overlapping each area where the second test images are to be formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuomi Murayama, Haruhiko Omata
  • Publication number: 20190107797
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a controller configured to control a first and a second voltage applied to a transfer device when transferring an image to a first and a second side of a recording material, respectively, the controller performing a mode that outputs a test chart on which at least one of a plurality of first test images for adjusting the first voltage and a plurality of second test images for adjusting the second voltage is formed, wherein in a case of forming the second test images on a second side of the test chart, and before forming the second test images, the controller forms a plurality of predetermined toner images under a same image forming condition on a first side of the test chart so that predetermined toner images are formed on a plurality of predetermined areas overlapping each area where the second test images to be formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Tatsuomi Murayama, Haruhiko Omata
  • Patent number: 9927741
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an intermediary transfer member, a toner image forming unit, a rotatable transfer member, a cleaning unit, a feeding unit, a feeding portion and an executing portion configured to execute a supplying operation for supplying a supplying toner image to a cleaning portion. The executing portion forms the supplying toner image at a position including a position different from a position where an adjusting toner image for adjusting an image forming condition is formed, with respect to a widthwise direction crossing a movement direction of an intermediary transfer member provided in contact with the rotatable transfer member. The executing portion performs the supplying operation at least one time in a double-sided image forming job and does not perform the supplying operation in a single-sided image forming job.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiro Noguchi, Haruhiko Omata, Tatsuomi Murayama, Yasuki Kamimori
  • Patent number: 9766574
    Abstract: When a drive roller is at a stopped state, an execution portion executes a move mode in which a time from when a rotation of a drive roller has been stopped is measured, and based on the measured result, rotation of the drive roller is started and stopped. In the move mode, a portion of a secondary transfer belt having been at a first contact position in the stopped state is moved to a position other than the first contact position and the second contact position, and the rotation of the drive roller is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Haruhiko Omata, Tatsuomi Murayama
  • Patent number: 9760041
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a movable intermediary transfer member, a toner image forming unit, a rotatable transfer member, a fixing unit, a recording material feeding portion, an executing portion, and first and second cleaning units. The first cleaning unit includes a first brush roller, a first rotatable member and a first blade member. The second cleaning unit includes a second brush roller, a second rotatable member, a second blade member and a third blade member. The third blade member is disposed downstream of the cleaning portion and upstream of a contact portion, between the second rotatable member and the second brush roller, with respect to a rotational direction of the second rotatable member, and scrapes a deposited matter off the second rotatable member with the rotation of the second rotatable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Haruhiko Omata, Akihiro Noguchi, Tatsuomi Murayama, Yasuki Kamimori
  • Patent number: 9658577
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image bearing member; a toner image forming unit; an endless transfer belt; a transfer roller urged from an inner peripheral surface of the transfer belt toward the image bearing member via the transfer belt; a feeding surface forming roller, provided downstream of the transfer roller with respect to a traveling direction of the transfer belt, having such a shape that a diameter at each of end portions is smaller than a diameter at a central portion with respect to a rotational axis direction; and a stretching roller, downstream of the feeding surface forming roller with respect to the traveling direction of the transfer belt, having such a shape that a diameter at each of end portions is larger than a diameter at a central portion with respect to the rotational axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yutaka Kakehi, Hiroshi Kokubo, Haruhiko Omata, Takashi Fujita, Hideaki Kosasa